Chapter 22 : Anger and Ferocity
Ailiya stormed out of the courtyard, her skirt flaring like an angry white wave with her hurried steps.
All her life, she’d been like a snail in its shell.
Cautious, submissive, always yielding to others.
In her past life, she’d learned the rule of survival: don’t bother others, and they won’t bother you.
Keep your head down, and you’ll dodge most storms.
But she was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
Since arriving in this world, she hadn’t felt such raw, unfiltered, viscous malice in a long time.
As a child, bullied by town kids, she endured silently. When her parents fled with their massive debt, she felt only bewilderment. When Liliane threatened to feed her to bugs, it was fear.
But this time was different.
Seeing the bulletin board’s venomous words targeting Aurora, so similar to those against her, a strange, searing emotion exploded in her chest.
It wasn’t grievance or fear.
It was anger.
Pure, unadulterated anger.
They could attack her, call her a country bumpkin, shameless.
She was a commoner, a maid, with nothing to her name.
But how dare they target Aurora?
Because she was a special-admit? Because she dared dream of being top student? Because she was her friend?
Ailiya’s fists clenched tightly at her sides.
I’ve made up my mind.
Whoever’s behind this—some pampered noble daughter or untouchable big shot—when I drag you out, I’ll land at least a hundred solid punches on your pretty face!
None of you will escape!
But first, she needed to check on Aurora.
Ailiya reached her classroom, pushing open the door. The noisy room fell silent, all eyes snapping to her.
Unlike usual, she didn’t lower her head. She scanned the room coldly, rolling her eyes at the hostile glares.
She strode to the teacher and asked for Aurora’s whereabouts.
The teacher said Aurora, like Ailiya, had been suspended due to the bulletin board incident, for the same reasons.
“Thank you, teacher.”
Ailiya turned to leave for the noble dorms.
Before exiting, her gaze drifted to a familiar spot by the window.
Liliane sat there, not working on papers, her deep violet eyes fixed on Ailiya across the room.
Ailiya’s face showed no emotion—no plea, no grievance, no anger.
She simply turned, cold and calm, and walked out.
At the noble dorms, Ailiya confirmed Aurora’s room number with the dorm matron.
She knocked on an ornate, clearly expensive carved wooden door.
It opened quickly.
Aurora’s face lit up with surprise: “Ailiya! You came! Come in, come in!”
Aurora’s room was a world apart from Ailiya’s spartan servant dorm.
Soft wool carpets, a grand bed with velvet drapes, a private sitting area, even a small balcony.
It was messy but in a personal way—open magic books strewn on the sofa, half-eaten snacks on the table, and a massive magical gaming console in the corner.
“Look at this!”
Aurora dragged Ailiya to the console, beaming.
“I had this imported from a neighboring kingdom—top-of-the-line! Monster Hunter: Dragon’s Roar! Super fun! Come on, play with me!”
Ailiya hesitated but, seeing Aurora’s enthusiasm, nodded and took the crystal controller.
Aurora drew the curtains, darkening the room, the console’s glowing screen illuminating their excited faces.
During the game’s loading, Ailiya couldn’t help asking: “The bulletin board… you know about it, right?”
“Yup,” Aurora said casually, fiddling with her controller. “Got suspended this morning, same as you.”
“Are you…” Ailiya worried.
“No big deal!” Aurora laughed brightly. “I knew this might happen when I declared I’d be top student. This little trial? Nothing. Maybe their jealousy and slander are just proof I’m doing something right!”
“Your attitude’s amazing,” Ailiya said, genuinely impressed.
They dove into the game.
Ailiya, a gamer in her past life, adapted quickly despite the magic-driven motion controls, her reflexes and skill surpassing even Aurora’s.
During a fire dragon boss fight, Aurora’s character misstepped, caught by a tail swipe, about to be incinerated by dragon breath.
At the critical moment, Ailiya’s character executed a precise dodge-roll, raising a shield to block the fatal blast, saving Aurora.
“Wow, Ailiya, you’re incredible!” Aurora exclaimed. “You saved me!”
They played happily all morning until their stomachs growled, reluctantly exiting the game.
“Let’s grab lunch! My treat!” Aurora said.
“No,” Ailiya shook her head, setting down the controller. “I have something to do.”
She recounted last night’s events and the compass to Aurora.
“You’re going after them now?” Aurora’s smile faded. “If the compass is off and you accuse the wrong person, they could turn it against you. It’s dangerous!”
“I know,” Ailiya said, her eyes stubbornly resolute.
“I want to act recklessly.”
Looking at Aurora, she said firmly: “Everyone at St. Freya sees me as a lowly, insignificant maid they can trample. They’re so high and mighty, they don’t even notice me. I’m going to use their arrogance and disdain against them.”
She glanced at the ornate wall clock.
The hands were nearing noon, when morning classes ended and the campus would be packed.
She stood, taking a deep breath.
“Since ancient times, oppression has always demanded resistance.”
“This is my first step to fight back.”