Book 1: I was reincarnated as the youngest daughter of the Marquis

Chapter 8: first day

The Royalist Academy was packed on the first day. New students, old students—it felt like everyone from every corner of the country was squeezed into the grand hall. And we were all wearing these stiff, formal blouses with snug vests and straight pants. It was supposed to feel sophisticated, but mostly, it felt like I was playing dress-up. all my nine years of living in this world an still, i cant get used to all this formal wear.

Enchanted lamps floated above us and adjusted their light automatically, probably to show off how the academy didn't rely on torches like everyone else. Still, it was pretty cool seeing them hover and glow just right over the crowd.

I found myself squished between students my age up at the front row—thankfully, would have been awkward if i was the only nine year old in the entire academy. headmaster Elara was right at the elevated theater with a bunch of other old looking people who you can assume were the other professors. He kicked things off with a speech about "growth," "opportunity," and all that. Honestly, most of it went in one ear and out the other.

Once the formalities of the opening ceremony wrapped up, I spotted Master Fredrick in the crowd, waiting with that all-too-familiar look of exasperation.

"Ella," he greeted with a sigh that practically echoed. "A whole new setting, a fresh start... maybe even a bit of focus?"

I grinned back at him. "Of course, Master Fredrick! I'll sign up for Concentration 101, just for you." He rolled his eyes, but I caught the tiny smirk he tried to hide.

Instead of a lecture, though, he handed me a sleek bracelet. It looked like plain silver at first glance, but tiny symbols glowed faintly along the edges. "Focus bracelet," he said, slipping it over my wrist. "Wear it whenever we practice, and it'll help you stay tuned in on a single element. One at a time. Don't think you're jumping right into all four here at the academy."

I groaned. "Do I have to?"

"Yes." He gave me that look—the one that meant I know exactly what you're thinking. "And if I hear about any 'accidental' firework displays because you got... distracted, we're back to basic theory exercises. Understood?"

"Perfectly, Master Fredrick." I tried to keep a straight face, but he wasn't buying it.

Still, with him, I didn't need to act like some perfect noble student. He knew I wasn't here to play by the rules, and somehow, that just made him all the better as a teacher.

Master Fredrick led me into a quiet study tucked away from the busy academy halls, where a polished wooden table waited in the center of the room. It was empty except for a few chairs—and then the door opened, and two other professors entered. I tried not to squirm under their gaze.

"Ella," Master Fredrick began, nodding towards the woman with the piercing gaze. "This is Professor Renna; she'll be overseeing your etiquette and diplomacy training."

Renna gave a small, scrutinizing smile. "I've heard much about you, Ella. Let's hope your actions here at the academy match your... potential." Her eyes narrowed just a bit, like she could already see right through me.

"Potential?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'm just here to learn a few spells, not save the world."

Professor Lyron, who was quietly observing, chuckled softly. "Perhaps not yet," he said, his voice calm. "But you have quite a unique gift, Ella. It's rare for someone so young to be attuned to all four elements. With the right training, you could make a real difference, you know."

I blinked, trying to piece it together. "So... what does that mean? Am I supposed to, like, fight dragons or something?"

Fredrick smirked. "Not quite. But it does mean we'll expect a bit more from you than the average student. You'll have extra lessons, sometimes even private ones. It's... a responsibility."