Chapter 25: Starry Sky

"Run! Run away from this place, Clara!"

"Get away from her!"

"Kyaaaaaaaaa!!!!"

A dark, hairy monster with gleaming red eyes opens it's horribly large mouth revealing it's sharp and long teeth, howling loudly. Students run about, in a state of utter panic and chaos. In the midst of it, a group of handsome boys circle around a young girl, protecting her. As the monsters surrounded the group, the body of another student was visible. Shocked eyes, a missing leg, and long pink hair dyed red in her own blood.

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"Ahh!!!"

I wake up with a jolt, my nightgown sticking to my back from the sweat. A quick rap on the door resounds and Emma comes straight into my room, with a slightly worried expression on her face.

"Princess?"

"Sorry, it was a nightmare; what time is it?"

"It's five in the morning, Princess. Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm alright. It's a bit early, but could you prepare a bath for me? I want to refresh myself."

"As you wish."

Emma swiftly enters the bathroom and prepares the bath. After a few minutes, she comes back reporting that the bath is ready. Emma is about to follow me inside, but I stop her.

"Is it alright if I could have some time for myself? I need some time to calm down."

She hesitates for a bit, but nods her head and closes the bathroom door. I strip down my nightgown and enter the lavender-scented bath. The calming scent drifts to my nose as I calm down my pounding heart. Snippets of the nightmare come back, making shiver in the hot water. Seeing your own dead body isn't really the best wake up call. Since I've already experienced dying once, I'm even more scared to die again. Will I just turn into nothingness? Or will I have to carry on my memories to another life? Who knows if I'll be reincarnated again in the first place?

I sink lower into the bath, covering my body up to my chin. I let myself forget about everything else and relax as much as time allows.

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Emma knocked on the door to signal it was time for me to leave the bath. I wrap a bathrobe around myself and exit the bathroom, letting Emma take care of everything else. While she dries my hair, she speaks to me in a soft voice.

"Princess, is it alright if I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"...Do you love His Highness Ren?"

I almost jump out of my chair. My cheeks turn slightly pink and I whip my head in Emma's direction subconsciously.

"Excuse me. I shouldn't have asked that."

"No, no. It's fine. I was just a bit surprised, that's all."

"Then...do you?"

I turned back to the mirror in front of me and looked at my reflection.

"Frankly...I love him. I love him a lot."

"I see...may I ask why?"

"Hmm...well, he's kind, funny, strong...oh; and he's fun to tease. But most of all, I love the way he smiles. It's genuine and full of kindness; the kind that brings warmth to one's heart...why are you asking this all of a sudden?"

"...no particular reason."

I felt her hand slightly tremble as she brushes my hair. I pretend to not notice as I sneak a glimpse at her expression. Her eyes dim quickly, a grim expression on her face.

"I see."

I quickly switch the topic to something else.

"Did a letter arrive from the academy yet?"

"Oh, yes; here you go."

She pulls out a thick sealed envelope out of her pocket and hands it to me. A slight magical response emits from it so I'm guessing it is indeed from the Reinsdor Academy.

When I open the letter, the page is found blank but small letters soon form on the page. Numerous papers are also enclosed, so I dig out the acceptance letter first.

Dear Miss Liliane Mary Acton,

We are pleased to inform that you have been accepted to the Reinsdor Academy. Your uniform and your school emblem has been delivered to your residence. You will find a list of supplies needed and your schedule enclosed along with this letter.

You can teleport directly to the island of the Reinsdor Academy through the injection of mana into the emblem of the school. The brooch will not be reissued, so please do not lose it.

Rankings of your exam results and homeroom classes are also posted in front of the Academy, so please take a look later on. Also, you may bring your magic gems to the Academy. A holder for those have been provided in the uniform. I hope the uniform suits your tastes.

You are expected to arrive at the entrance ceremony for the new students three days from now. Please present this letter and your emblem when you enter via the gates of the academy.

Best regards,

Headmaster Riff

I open up the other two letters and find my schedule and the list of supplies like it was mentioned in the first. Emma congratulates me and informs that the uniform is being adjusted to fit perfectly at the moment.

After I leave the letters to my trusted maid, I called Admaris and Earlene to my room to help me get ready for the day. I choose an elegant and simple dress to wear and have my hair pulled up into a loose bun. My tiara sits on my head comfortably and a bit of rouge is applied on my lips.

I thank and dismiss the two after the preparations are done and head downstairs with Emma. I bump into mother and father on the way to the dining hall so we chat our way there together.

Today, we were served earl grey tea with some freshly baked croissants and vegetable soup. Freshly cut fruits were assorted in the middle of the table, making a perfect combination with mornings.

While I eat, flashes of my nightmare rise back up, stopping my hands from time to time. My mother noticed, and she asks me if there is anything going on. I obviously can't say that I was worried that I could die in the next year or so I make a somewhat believable excuse.

"No, it's just that I'm a bit nervous for school I guess. I'm worried since I'll be away from you, father and Emma for a long time. I don't know if I'll be able to survive without her."

"Oh honey, you don't have to worry about a single thing. Just have fun."

Mother smiles and laughs it off, then stops as if she thought of something. She claps her hands together and exclaims,

"Why don't we all exchange something with each other?"

"That's a wonderful idea."

Father pitches in, smiling at the suggestion. He takes a sip off his tea and continues speaking.

"I'll hand you my old rapier then. I don't use it anymore and the old thing would be happy to be put in action again."

"I'll hand you my protective earrings. My mother gave them to me when I left the house to marry your father. I don't need them in the castle and I barely used them since your father is always around."

"What should I give you in return?"

"You don't need to give us anything."

"But you said exchange-"

"It was just an excuse for us to give you gifts, alright? Just accept them."

She giggles and says so. I giggle along, soon father joins in and everyone around the table is laughing.

After we finished up our breakfasts, father and mother leave to do their tasks. I leave for my room to finish up packing. Emma helps me pack my training clothes and some regular clothes to wear when I don't have any classes.

I pack some other necessities that the letter listed, and everything fit snugly into two suitcases. I look over the list with Emma again and find a few other things I will have to prepare. Most of the things I can buy at the island, so everything can be considered set and ready for my departure.

Since I will need to gather a few items on the island, my parents and I decide I will leave 2 days before the entrance ceremony. That means I will leave the castle tomorrow.

The day passes like any other, and my parent's servants delivers their gifts to my room. I put the beautiful transparent crystal earrings from my mother on the dresser and put my father's rapier leaning against my two suitcases.

To get a breath of fresh air, I go out on the balcony attached to my room and gaze at the setting sun. The amber sky soon turns dark as the stars flicker on the black canvas. A refreshing night breeze brushes through my hair as I hear the leaves rustling in the garden below.

It's a breathtaking sight— a fitting scene for my last view from the castle walls for a while.