Chapter 5: Trial by Timetable
Morning at Arcanmere smelled like burning robes, overcooked mana, and poor decisions.
Liana stood at the front of the cracked assembly stage, clutching a clipboard like it was a weapon. Behind her, Mordain was levitating a chalkboard that said:
"Day 1: Orientation / Trial by Timetable / Potential Emotional Damage"
Students lounged around the courtyard, eyeing each other like they were in a prison yard instead of a school.
The demonic girl was filing her claws.The vampire was using her coffin lid as a sunshade.The lich was busy folding bones into origami.The human girl sat perfectly straight and smiled.
Too perfect. Liana would be keeping one suspicious eye on her at all times.
She cleared her throat.
"Ahem. Good morning, students! Welcome to Arcanmere Academy, where you'll be learning advanced magic, explosive alchemy, and—if you're lucky—how to survive lunch without growing extra limbs."
No one laughed.
A golem sneezed and vaporized a shrub.
Liana soldiered on.
"You may be wondering about the schedule. So, let's clear that up."
She turned to Mordain. "Professor?"
With a grin that could curdle holy water, he floated the Timetable of Madness™ into view.
Arcanmere Daily Schedule
7:00 AM – Mandatory Morning Screaming (Therapeutic)7:30 AM – Breakfast (Survival Rate: 92%)8:00 AM – Classes Begin • Monday: Forbidden Spellcraft & Fire Safety (ironic pairing) • Tuesday: Cursed Object Identification (Hands-Off, Mostly) • Wednesday: Dungeon Survival Simulation (Bring Backup Robes) • Thursday: Ethics of Mind Control (Optional) • Friday: Duel Club, Detention, and General Mayhem
12:00 PM – Lunch (Magical Allergy Forms Required)1:00 PM – Study, Quests, or Emergency Portal Repairs9:00 PM – Lights out or Midnight Summoning Practice
A hand shot up. It belonged to the red-haired demon girl.
"Question: Do we get graded… on bloodshed?"
Professor Mordain beamed. "Only if it's artistic."
The human girl raised her hand next. "What if I prefer a more academically structured program without… uh… spiritual torment?"
Liana narrowed her eyes. "You enrolled in a school with a screaming hour."
"…Fair."
A zombie student groaned, "What about homework?"
Mordain cackled. "You'll either hand it in, or I'll raise it from your corpse. Either way, it's getting marked."
Dormitory Assignments:
The students huddled in tight packs as crystals floated down and hovered above their heads. The crystals scanned their mana signatures and zapped instructions into their minds.
The vampire got assigned to the Underground Wing (No Sunlight, Free Coffin Maintenance).
The demon girl went to Obsidian Tower Dorms, with lava jacuzzi privileges.
The human girl… was sent to the Forbidden North Wing, which hadn't been opened in centuries.
Even Liana blinked. "Wait… System, is that safe?"
[Technically, no. But her soul compatibility is… off the charts.]
"...Oh no. She's the chosen one, isn't she."
[Possibly. Or she's a ticking magical bomb. It's a mystery box situation.]
Liana sighed. "So it's Wednesday already."
Later, Liana slumped in her chair.
Her tea was cold. Her phoenix had stolen her biscuits. Her professor was running illegal alchemy betting rings with the students. And her student body was either cursed, caffeinated, or carnivorous.
[Academy Status: 17% Restored][Student Mental Health: Questionable][Your Sanity: ...uhhhh…]
She looked up as a loud BOOM echoed from the north wing.
"System?"
[The human girl found the sealed archive vault.]
"Is it locked?"
[Was. Past tense.]
"...Oh. Great."
End of Chapter 5