Chapter 6 : Avalon College

When Via opened her eyes, she was lying on the floor, having slept in a terrible position.

Warm sunlight spilled over the pink-haired girl, making her realize morning had come.

“I dreamed last night that… huh?”

Via recalled a strange dream about a demon boy and a human girl meeting.

After waking, the details of their conversation had blurred; she couldn’t remember them.

A complex emotion inexplicably surged in her chest, as if a piece of her heart had been carved out.

“They both gave their names. What was the demon called again—V-Vi—?”

No matter how she thought, Via couldn’t recall.

The dream felt bizarre—demons and humans trying to communicate peacefully?

Not even novels dared such a premise.

Anyone who wrote it would be branded a heretic, hauled off for investigation by holy knights.

She hadn’t read anything like it recently. Why such a strange dream?

Odd.

Via slowly stood.

She glanced at the bed—predictably, Sophie was gone.

Unlike Via, who still attended school, her outstanding sister had graduated long ago and was training as an apprentice saintess in the Holy Land. She was always busy, with few chances to meet.

“I heard Sis has to join holy knights to subjugate dangerous beasts lately. She probably left this morning…”

Via walked to the window, opened it, breathed the fresh air, but felt depressed.

“If I were more capable, inherited Mother’s excellent talent, maybe I could join Sis on beast hunts and stay together always.”

“Via, awake?”

A woman’s voice came from the doorway.

“Nanny!”

Via reflexively smoothed her messy pink hair and stood properly.

“…Vacation’s over. Time to return to school,” the strict old nun said flatly. “I hear the assessment is near. Perform well. Don’t shame the Holy Land further.”

“I really don’t want to go to school…”

In the carriage, Via glanced at the window glass. The reflected girl no longer wore Holy Land nun robes but an Avalon student uniform.

A light gold jacket over a white lining, exquisite material and unique design exuding elite nobility, with the academy crest on the chest.

Semi-transparent white stockings wrapped her perfectly curved legs, paired with a blue pleated skirt, highlighting youthful vitality.

“Sigh.”

Via looked at herself and sighed.

This was probably one of her few merits—inheriting a nationally idol-level face from her mother.

But if she entered idol auditions, she might not pass preliminaries.

Her personality was too awful.

Shy and socially anxious, she stammered under many gazes.

Aside from looks, she was practically useless.

“We’re here, Miss Via,” the coachman stopped. “Your other belongings were sent to the dorm ahead.”

“…Okay.”

Via opened the door and stepped out.

Looking up, a massive gate loomed, with magnificent buildings beyond.

This was Avalon Academy, the empire’s premier institution, cradle of heroes.

With vacation ending, students were returning, crowding the entrance with extravagant carriages.

But the Holy Land carriage stood out. The moment Via stepped down, her striking pink hair drew countless eyes.

What would Sylvia Sheliford do here?

She’d flash an infectious smile, greet everyone with trained charm, instantly becoming a sun-like focal point.

“Uh…”

Sweat beaded on Via’s forehead.

She couldn’t.

Though Nanny constantly taught her to be outstanding like Mother, Via couldn’t easily respond to everyone.

She lowered her head, avoiding gazes, ostrich-like, hurrying to escape the stares.

“As expected, she’s still like that.”

“You know how she did at the banquet? Totally crushed by Sophie!”

“No surprise—she’s Pink Rice Cake.”

Via heard the students’ mocking laughter.

Rice Cake was her nickname.

Soft and glutinous, just like the literal meaning.

“Abyssal energy is extremely dangerous, highly corrosive and lethal, severely harming all life.”

“If a beast’s magic core is corrupted, it may become a frenzied abyssal beast, slaughtering indiscriminately. If we contact it, light cases mean death; severe cases turn us into mad demonized beings—these heretics harm former kin and spread the energy.”

In class, middle-aged Professor Anima, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, lectured the students.

This was a basic assessment topic.

“Demons are exceptions—these innately evil beings can handle and adapt to abyssal energy, infecting beasts to attack humanity.”

“Fortunately, we have countermeasures: saintesses purify it with holy power.”

Pausing, Anima raised his voice.

“Via!”

“Y-Yes, Professor! Here!”

Via, taking notes, stood panicked from her seat.

“Do you know what happened in Teya Year 4725?” Anima asked.

Teya was the continent’s name; the calendar was universal.

“Let me think…”

Via pondered; studied history flashed in her mind.

Though lacking in ability, she studied privately—written scores were decent.

“Silver Sword Princess Lady Serena defeated Demon King Viel, bringing peace to humanity.”

“Correct. The deranged Demon King started a horrific war, using abyssal energy to raze our cities, controlling demonized beings to slaughter us—”

Anima continued per the textbook.

But then, Via inexplicably grew irritated.

She uttered a statement that could send her to Holy Land heresy trials, shocking the entire class.

“No, Viel never thought that way.”