Roy: "Well… I still find it hard to believe that all this is going to become our daily life."
"Four years here, running, training… and surviving other people's stares."
Minerva nodded gently.
Minerva: "We'll have to learn to live with it… no matter what other people think."
The tour ended in front of the dormitories.
Mariana explained the rules:
Boys and girls were separated, each dormitory equipped with individual rooms, but with common areas to encourage camaraderie and discipline.
The numbers were clear:
83 boys and 67 girls for this year's class.
The students were methodically assigned, each receiving their room and basic belongings.
Minerva, accompanied by Roy and Frédéric, was led to her girls' dormitory.
Upon entering, she sensed an atmosphere of apprehension and curiosity.
The other girls looked at her with a mixture of mistrust, curiosity, and excitement.
Some were already whispering to each other, probably about her curse and her ability to be the "Butterfly Queen."
Minerva took a deep breath and put her things down in her room.
Minerva: "Four years… I have to hold on… no matter what awaits me."
Roy, on the other side of the boys' dormitory, was also preparing, still marked by his "Curse of the Mace," but determined to overcome this first day.
And as the sun began to sink behind the high walls of the Academy, the young students understood that their lives had just changed forever.
Minerva walked calmly toward the first-year dormitory, clutching her bag.
The corridor was long, lit by soft wall lanterns, and each door bore an engraved plaque indicating the room number.
She already knew the room assignment.
There were 67 girls in her year.
Each room was designed for three people.
Minerva had done the math almost involuntarily.
Twelve rooms could accommodate sixty-six students.
Which meant that one girl would be alone.
Minerva: "Logically… it should have been me."
She had almost prepared herself for it.
With her curse, with the averted glances, with the whispers… she had expected to be ostracized.
Yet, that wasn't the case.
Her name was on a metal plaque, engraved beneath those of two other students, in front of the door to room 7.
Minerva paused for a moment in front of the door.
Minerva: "…Strange."
She took a deep breath, then went inside.
The room was simple, but clean and well-maintained.
Three beds occupied the space:
— A bunk bed, against the left wall.
— And a single bed, placed near the window.
Between the beds were a few wooden chests and small, rudimentary desks.
The evening light filtered through the light curtains, giving the room an almost peaceful atmosphere.
Minerva slowly placed her bag next to the single bed, looking around.
Minerva: "I suppose this is mine…"
Her two roommates hadn't arrived yet.
Silence reigned, broken only by the distant murmur of the other students settling in.
Minerva sat on the edge of the bed, letting her shoulders drop.
Minerva: "At least... I'm not alone."
For the first time since the revelation of her curse, an unexpected emotion stirred within her.
A quiet relief.
But deep down, a question lingered.
Minerva: "Who will they be... and how will they see me?"
She looked up at the door, aware that this room, these beds, and these future roommates would mark the very beginning of her new life at the Academy.
Minerva rose slowly and approached the window.
She parted the curtain slightly and gazed out.
The girls' dormitory rose five stories high, imposing and perfectly symmetrical, built of light-colored stone that reflected the evening light.
From here, she could make out the building's layout, which had been explained to them earlier that day.
Minerva: "Five floor... it's practically a small fortress."
— Ground floor: The girls' hall, spacious and lively, with its sofas, tables, and bulletin boards.
— First floor: The first-year dormitory, where she was now.
— Second floor: The second-year dormitory.
— Third floor: The third-year dormitory.
— Fourth floor: The fourth-year dormitory.
A building designed to house entire generations of students.
For now, though, a large part of the dormitory was empty.
Minerva: "The others aren't here yet..."
The first week was reserved solely for first-year students, to give them time to adapt to the Academy, its rules... and their new abilities.
Below, Minerva saw a few students from her year crossing the courtyard, still hesitant, searching for their way or talking in hushed tones.
The relative calm almost made her forget the day's tension.
Minerva rested her forehead against the cold windowpane.
Minerva: "A week to get used to it..."
She wondered if that would be enough.
Then her gaze drifted to the sky, which was beginning to turn orange.
Minerva: "Four years..."
Four years in this place.
Four years of learning, of fighting... and of living with who she had become.
Behind her, room 7 remained silent, still empty of its future roommates.
Minerva took a deep breath.
Minerva: "No matter what happens… I won't back down."
And as the daylight gradually faded, Minerva understood that this dormitory would now be the stage for her first joys… and her first trials at the Academy.
BAM
The door slammed violently, making Minerva jump.
Before she even had time to turn around completely, two girls entered the room.
The first made a… spectacular entrance.
A tall, energetic blonde with green eyes crossed the threshold as if she were stepping onto a stage.
She placed one foot forward, fist clenched, chin held high, looking triumphant.
???: "YOOO! ROOM 7!"
She burst out laughing, full of confidence.
???: "Cynthia Fadere!"
"Future great knight!"
"Pleased to meet you!"
Her energy literally filled the room.
Behind her entered a second, more discreet girl.
A redhead with dark eyes, her gaze calm and composed.
She gently closed the door, a stark contrast to the first woman's exuberance.
Petra: "Petra Fadere."
"Pleased to meet you."
Her voice was soft, almost monotonous, but pleasant.
Minerva froze for a few seconds, surprised by this sudden arrival.
Minerva: "They're... complete opposites."
Cynthia suddenly sat up, crossing her arms, as if posing for a heroic illustration.
Cynthia: "Okay!"
"Now that everyone's here, we might as well get acquainted."
She turned her head...
Cynthia: "..."
And saw Minerva.
Cynthia's smile froze.
Her green eyes widened slightly.
Cynthia: "...Oh."
Minerva felt her heart clench.
Minerva: "She knows."
Cynthia: "HHHHHHHHHAAAAAAA."
Instinctively, Cynthia took a step back.
Then, without even realizing it, she positioned herself behind Petra, using her sister as a human shield.
Cynthia: "Um... Petra..."?
Petra tilted her head slightly in surprise.
Petra: "Yes?"
Cynthia whispered, but not quietly enough.
Cynthia: "It's... it's her, isn't it?"
"The girl with the weird curse..."
Minerva: "......"
Minerva looked down, clutching the bedsheets in her fingers.
Petra watched Minerva intently.
For a long time.
Without Fear.
Without mockery.
Then she took a step forward, positioning herself slightly in front of Cynthia.
Petra: "You're Minerva Caesula, right?"
Minerva slowly raised her head.
"......... "
"...Yes. "
A short silence followed.
Cynthia swallowed hard behind Petra.
Cynthia: "She... she's not going to eat us, is she?"
Petra sighed softly.
Petra: "Cynthia."
Cynthia: "What?"
"You never know!"
Minerva felt her cheeks burn, a mixture of shame and sadness.
Minerva: "Even here..."
But Petra didn't look away.
Petra: "You look tired."
"It must have been a long day."
Minerva blinked in surprise.
Minerva: "...Yes."
Petra simply nodded.
Petra: "In that case, we'll talk later."
"For now, we'll share this room."
Cynthia slowly stepped out from behind her sister, still Wary, but intrigued.
Cynthia: "...You don't seem so creepy."
Minerva gave a shy, almost imperceptible smile.
Minerva: "Maybe... all hope isn't lost."
The door closed.
Room 7 was no longer empty.
That same evening, room 7 was bathed in soft light, the glow of lanterns hanging from the walls of the outside corridor.
The sounds of the dormitory had subsided, replaced by a distant, soothing murmur.
The three girls were settled in the room:
- Minerva was sitting on her bed, her hands resting on her knees.
- Petra was at the desk by the window.
- While Cynthia had settled cross-legged on the lower bunk of the bunk.
The atmosphere was… surprisingly calm.
Cynthia still glanced discreetly at Minerva from time to time, as if to make sure she wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary.
Cynthia: "So… um… what do you like, besides… well…"
She made a vague gesture with her hand, unable to finish her sentence.
Petra rolled her eyes.
Petra: "Apart from what people have decided to stick on her, you mean?"
Cynthia scratched her cheek, a little embarrassed.
Cynthia: "Yeah... that's it."
Chapter 11: Cynthia et Petra Fadere
The End