TWO MONTHS AGO, she was Celine Reyes, a 17-year-old student. Just a regular girl who loved iced coffee, cramming, and sometimes be a human. Then came the accident — a lightning strike, of all things. One second, she was clutching her soaked backpack and the next... she woke up in a luxurious canopy bed with velvet curtains and gold tassels.
"Lady Seraphina... Lady Seraphina, you're awake!"
"Inform the Lord."
She opened her eyes to find herself in someone else's body — in a strange world where people called her Lady Seraphina Virel, daughter of Baron Kael Virel of the Eastern Province.
"Anak ng—" (Son of...) She almost swore the first time they handed her a mirror.
Silver hair. Purple pale eyes. Delicate features. And apparently, magic in her bloodline. They told her that she was poison and was tragically pushed put of the window.
So it isn't a surprise that she lost her memories – that's what she's thankful for at that moment when they told her it's probably the accident that she can't remember anything.
"Zena, right?" She asked the girl that's fixing her hair. For a brief moment, the girl stops as she answer her lady.
"Yes, My Lady." The young girl whispered.
If I am not mistaken, we're almost the same age. She's only two or three years younger than me.
She's quietly packing her ladyship's things since the body that Celine transmigrated to is a fifth-year student in a magic academy—one of the biggest academies here in their empire.
Seraphina Virel, she's the daughter of a baron, but surprisingly— every corner of this room and their mansion scream of luxuries.
While Celine is reading the diary of the body she transmigrated to—Seraphina, she couldn't help but wonder what kind of life she lives in to feel like you're reading a drama novel in her diary where even a happy moment sounds like the saddest moment for her.
"Who's Raiven?" Seraphina (Celine) asked, but she knows who he is. The heir of the duke from the house of Thorne—Raiven Thorne —his black hair shines like a black hole in the galaxy, his red eyes like blood that pours down into his irises, shining when the sun hits them.
His back shouts dignity and grace that intimidate the people around him despite being a 17-year-old boy only but he grew up differently—since people expect a lot from him, so he has to mature more than his age.
He rarely smiles, but when he smiles—it feels like the stars have ascended from heaven to bestow blessings to whoever he's smiling at.
Typical girl.
She whispered to her self as she continuously to read the girl's diary.
Seraphina describes him so handsomely—she also learns that Seraphina has a huge crush on this guy named Raiven.
It is not even a secret to everyone.
"He is the Young Lord from the Great House of Thorne, My Lady."
The girl politely and concisely answered, a typical answer she expects, but not what she wants.
If she's in the body of Seraphina, she needs to learn about the people around her, so she spent her whole day reading the diary of Seraphina, but there's nothing special in it.
It is just her everyday life in the academy—the time she was invited to a tea party hosted by one of the princesses of this Empire—but one thing she noticed from the point of view of her diary—it was written from her point of view, but it seems like she doesn't belong to any of it.
It's like a third person point of view, describing every detail but has no participation in any of happenings.
Feels like invisible.
Celine got more and more curious about what kind of person Seraphina is, she sounds like a douche who loves to please the people around her, and she knows how fucking annoying that would be. Celine hates people who are always a yes-type of person because she believes that everyone has the right to say no and reject requests.
She grew up without her parents besides her so she has to be strong enough to stand for herself because no one will do it for her so she has to.
"Zena, what is my favorite color?" She asked again, even though it is written in the diary—she still wants to know how they see Seraphina with their own eyes.
"The color of pink, My Lady." The young servant smiled faintly when she answered.
"Favorite dessert?" She started asking Zena basic questions that Zena was able to answer right away—the things she likes is written down in her diary.
She only wants to know if what is in the diary is the same as they perceive her.
"Typical girl. An ordinary one. A see-through type of character. She is the type of woman that people find to manipulate easily." While holding the gaslight that is powered by a magic stone—like a flashlight in my world, but in a lamp form.
She's advice to rest for the mean-time but she cannot just stay in one place so she has to find the library.
A History Book about the Empire she's living in right now. She's been locking herseldfor the whole week after learning tha she transmigrated here in this new world.
For her it is just a dream.
And she'll wake up if she will stay in that room.
Caelithra is the biggest continent of the five continents in this world.
Caelithra is divided into five regions.
The four regions, the East, West, South, and North, are led by the four houses, the four dukedoms. The last region is the Central part of the Caelithra Empire.
Each region have a duke that protects the border of the Empire.
As time pass by—new generation arises and creates new rules and some wants more than what they have until they crosses a boarder they shouldn't have.
The Northern people stops every communication with the other founder.
The rivalry runs deep. Old grudges from generations ago still burn quietly beneath the surface—masked by diplomatic smiles and formal alliances.
The Northerners, proud and fierce, have long resented the Central court's increasing interference in their governance. Rumors whisper of an underground movement in the North, one that seeks to cut ties completely with the Empire and revive their ancestral sovereignty.
The Royal Family wants to control the north again so they tried their best to send every diplomatic for them to open up.
The North agrees. They send their people in the central to enroll in the academy the Central are proud of.
That is why the Royal Family has made several attempts to reestablish communication with the Northern Region.
The Empire stands on unsteady ground, for the moment the North chooses full independence, the balance of Caelithra will shatter.
And so, the Royal Family persists, continuing every effort to restore communication and control over the Northern Region—before it is too late.
Craige Wintervale, if I am not mistaken—Seraphina as their class representatives, she's the one who guide him and told him about things.
Naturally, they become friends.
That's what Seraphina thinks…
That they are friends as for Craige, no one knows what he thinks so people assumes that he's only using the young and naive girl, Seraphine. But for Seraphina who doesn't have a friend she can call hers—those rumors don't matter.
If Craige is only acting, Seraphina thinks that she doesn't have anything to offer. She is just a Baron's daughter, no power or influence to offer.
Today is her first day at Eldara Academy as Celine but as Seraphina — it's Seraphina's fifth year. The kingdom's elite school for nobles, magic-wielders, and future rulers.
"It's already late, you're still awake."
That made her jump from her seat when she heard a voice. For a moment, she paused to regain her composure as she closes the book she's holding, she smiles at the man in front of her—the father of girl.
"F-father..." She's still not used to it.
"I…I can't seem to get my sleep. I apologize if ever I have disturbed you…father…" Pauses between phrases because she's scared to say a word that might seem off and unusual.
"You should go to your bed now. You have to take a long journey tomorrow." Seraphina's father said after a minute of silent between them…like two people who should know each other feels like a stranger.
"Yes…father." A whisper. She didn't think twice or plead to stay, she immediately followed what he said.
Her sandals that makes the sound every steps she makes.
"Have a safe trip... tomorrow." That froze her,
"Thank you. May you have a good and peaceful rest… Father."
The word Father still felt foreign on Celine's tongue. She could not get used to calling the man before her by that name.
He looked like her father, spoke like him—but since she had grown to despise her real father, the word itself felt heavy and wrong, no matter how many times she tried to say it.
"It seems the ritual was a success, My Lord," The trusted butler of the family said when they thought Celine had gone back to her manor.
"It looks like that way. Once Seraphina regains her mana, we will try to erase her memory fully and…" The man, Seraphine calls father pauses; he didn't continue what he was saying.
"Let's not talk about that here. Someone might hear us, make sure my daughter will have a smooth journey tomorrow."
---
"Okay, Celine… I mean, Seraphina. Just blend in."
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Even though she had been in this world for a few weeks, everything still felt new and strange to her.
"Don't stand out. No unnecessary talking," she whispered.
She rode the enchanted carriage with her young maid. Her gloved hands were shaking a little on her lap as they headed to the train station. The train looked almost the same as the ones she knew back on Earth—just with a bit of magic in the air.
Eastern Express Way
"Lady Sera… back to school again?" the knight greeted her.
Her father, despite being just a baron, was well-known as one of the loyal supporters of the House of Thorne—a family still standing firm with them despite all the controversies surrounding the House.
"Yes. It's been a while…" She answered politely. One thing about Celine, she was trying her best to imitate the way Seraphina carried herself.
The knight smiled and let them in after checking the one-way ticket. They quickly boarded the train, with her personal maid leading the way. She swiftly found her lady's designated seat and began placing the young lady's luggage in the overhead compartment.
"My Lady, I've secured your belongings above. Just be careful when unloading them later—you may ask the train staff for assistance if needed. This will be a long journey, as this Express is connected to the Northern line. They'll need to make a detour through the Northern Region Express." she said, as if giving instructions to a little girl who didn't know how things worked. She slowly nodded her head as she looked around at the busy people around her—the train was unusually wide and spacious; even in the hallway, two people could still walk side by side without needing to move aside.
"Also, I followed your instructions regarding Young Lord Craige. He said he managed to secure the seat next to yours, using the number you gave him." She looked at her maid and smiled at her.
"Thank you, Zena. You may go back now… I can manage myself from here."
Zena bowed her head to her ladyship, though she was a little surprised by how differently her lady was acting now. Suspicious, even. At moments like this, Seraphina used to say, "Don't leave me here, Zena, please,"—but now, she was the one turning her away.
Still, Zena smiled at her lady and brushed the feeling off.
"Zena…" she called, just as the maid was two steps away. Zena turned to look at her lady again.
"Did you pack the book I asked you to acquire?"
That disappointed her a little—she had been waiting for her lady to act like she did last year.
Zena nodded and answered, "Yes." She placed the book into the handbag that was on the table.
She reached for the small handbag to get the book she was referring to—it was a spell book. She had learned that this was a world of magic, and to familiarize herself with everything, she needed all the information she could get.
Her father, upon realizing she had forgotten everything, had assigned a magic tutor to teach her the basics.
"Tangina… I know I made a wish before to be part of this world, but now that I'm here, I regret saying those words.
"She slammed herself onto the cushioned seat and dramatically laid her head on the table, kicking her feet against the floor like a lost child.
"This is ridiculous."
She kicked the floor hard one more time before rising from the table. She stared at the book in her hands—then, all of a sudden, threw it onto the seat in front of her.
"Acting like a kid again? Poor book."