I CHOSE to be a VILLAIN, not a THIRD-RATE EXTRA!!
Chapter 186 - 186: Welcome Party (4)

The Prince was student born of power, both literal and political, he seemed determined to bring the very same rigid hierarchy of the outside world into the Academy's walls.

'I truly wonder how the Academy believes its negligence fosters growth,' Valencia thought bitterly, her fingers tightening slightly on the plate.

'How are we meant to thrive in an environment that rewards dominance and calls it development?'

She sighed quietly, frustration swelling in her chest.

She could fight for her place—she was strong enough to do that much. But strength had limits, and hers was already stretched thin.

There were others stronger than her in the Academy.

And she still had classes to attend. She still had her own path of growth to follow.

She couldn't afford to stop entirely, to burn herself out protecting those who hadn't yet found their strength.

While Valencia stood lost in thought, the murmur of the hall fading into the background, a familiar voice called out gently.

"It's been a long time, Valencia," said Elara.

Valencia blinked, the weight of her thoughts briefly lifting as she turned toward the voice. A small smile tugged at her lips as she met Elara's eyes.

"Elara… it has been a while," she said warmly, then added with a playful note, "But don't go around using my name so casually—I am your Senior now, you know."

She gave a soft laugh, the sound light and rare on her tongue, before turning her attention to the two figures standing beside Elara.

"Hello, Senior Valencia," said the Leon politely, his posture straight and respectful. "I'm Leon."

"And I'm Isolde. Pleased to greet you, Senior," Isolde added, offering a small, formal bow.

Valencia gave them both a measured nod, noting the calm confidence in Leon's gaze and the quiet composure that radiated from Isolde.

"I heard you were the one who helped deliver the invitations," she said to Leon, her tone softening with gratitude. "Thank you—for stepping in at the last moment."

Leon grinned, the easy smile lighting up his face. "Haha, it was nothing! Honestly, it was an honor to be of help to you, Senior."

Valencia's gaze lingered on Leon longer than she realized. 'So that's him… the new Hero.'

Her eyes narrowed slightly, not in suspicion, but in quiet curiosity. 'There's something different in his eyes, he doesn't have the same look like the others.'

What she didn't know was that Leon's Physic had started to perform its magic—subtle, unconscious, and yet deeply felt.

Something in his presence drew her attention like a quiet tug on her mind.

"Ahem!" Elara's voice cut in, her tone laced with amused reproach. "Senior, just how long are you planning to stare at my classmate?"

Valencia blinked, startled slightly as if waking from a dream. She turned her head and noticed Leon flinching, clearly unnerved under the weight of her intense gaze.

"My apologies," Valencia said, composing herself with a soft breath. "I was lost in thought."

Then, as if to shift the focus, her tone changed, analytical yet impressed. "You've been wielding a heavy sword for a long time, haven't you, Leon? And you," she said, glancing at Isolde, "have trained in the rapier extensively.."

Isolde's brows lifted in surprise, while Leon's eyes widened in delight.

"You could tell just by looking?" Leon asked, unable to hide his excitement. "That's amazing, Senior! We only just met—I didn't think anyone could read that from my face."

Valencia smiled faintly. "Not your face," she said, lifting her hand to gesture loosely toward their palms.

"Your hands speak volumes. Calluses, muscle tension, even the way your fingers rest—those things never lie."

"My father taught me to read swordsmen, even before I could wield one properly," she added, the warmth in her voice carrying a quiet pride.

"Once you've seen enough warriors, you learn to see the sword even when they're unarmed."

Isolde nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense… the body remembers more than the mind sometimes."

Valencia met her eyes. "Exactly."

"Senior… you don't mean I've been slacking, do you?" Elara asked, lips forming a slight pout as she tilted her head, feigning offense.

Valencia raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Elara, how long do you think I've known you? Do you really think that kind of question would work on me?"

Still, her tone softened just a bit as she added, "Though I can tell—even you haven't stopped training with the sword."

Elara straightened slightly. "Even me? And what's that supposed to mean?" she asked, mock indignation in her voice.

Valencia only chuckled, a rare, genuine laugh slipping past her lips. The kind that didn't come easily anymore. "You know exactly what I meant."

Isolde watched the exchange with a quiet smile. "Senior, it seems you and Elara are quite close."

"Yes, we were—" Valencia began, her voice gentling with nostalgia. But she didn't get to finish.

A voice cut through the moment.

"Apologies for interrupting your conversation with the First Years, Valencia," said a Second Year, stepping forward from behind her.

He was polite, smiling, but there was something too smooth in his demeanor. His gaze flicked briefly toward Leon, Elara, and Isolde before returning to Valencia. "I'd like to borrow them for a while, if you don't mind."

Valencia's expression shifted ever so slightly—just enough to show her displeasure.

Her eyes narrowed for a brief second, but she gave a polite nod.

"Of course," she said coolly. Then turning to the three First Years, she offered a reassuring smile. "I'll be right here. Go on—it's good to get to know Seniors from other divisions too."

Leon gave a respectful nod, while Isolde gave a small bow.

Elara hesitated for the briefest moment, her eyes lingering on Valencia as if trying to gauge something unspoken, but then she turned and followed the Second Year.

Leon and Isolde followed close behind, chatting quietly, unaware of the undercurrent stirring beneath the party's glimmer.

Behind them, Valencia stood still, her arms folded as she watched the three disappear into the sea of masks and laughter.

Her expression remained unreadable, but her thoughts whispered louder than any spoken word.

'I'm sorry, Elara. I can't go against your brother. Not openly. If I take your side, it'll only make things worse for you.'

Meanwhile, across the expansive grounds of the Aether Dormitory, the same scene was unfolding again and again.

Small groups of First Years were politely, even cheerfully, redirected by Second Years—escorted without question, their suspicions dulled by the calm, routine presence of upperclassmen.

There were Seniors everywhere—chatting, offering smiles, some even joking with the younger students.

Nothing seemed out of place. After all, what danger could there be in the Academy's most prestigious dormitory?

The First Years had been arranged into a wide circle at the center.

There were dozens of them now, quietly shifting in place, whispering to one another. No one had said anything, but the realization was beginning to spread.

Around them, the Second Years had formed a ring—silent, their expressions unreadable.

And in front of them, like a wall of rising tide, the Third Years stood shoulder to shoulder, their presence commanding, their faces masked in barely contained anticipation.

"Is there something going on, Seniors?" asked Daniel, his voice cutting through the uncertain murmur rippling through the First Years and he was not alone others soon followed.

But the only replies they received were vague and unsettling.

"You'll know soon."

"It's a surprise event."

"Relax. This is part of the Welcome Party."

That last one earned a few nervous laughs—more out of habit than actual amusement.

Among the crowd, Mira's instincts were screaming.

Something about the way the older students moved set every alarm off in her head. She gently nudged her brother, Zog, who had already started to scan the perimeter.

She gave him a subtle nod toward the dormitory behind them. 'Let's go.'

Without a word, the two siblings began backing away—slowly, carefully.

But before they could slip past the edge of the circle, their path was cut off.

A row of Second Years stood behind them now, forming a seamless wall of uniforms and polite smiles that didn't reach their eyes.

Zog stepped forward calmly but firmly. "We'd like to leave, Seniors," he said, placing himself between Mira and the taller student blocking their way.

The Second Year turned his head toward them, eyes sharp and flat. There was a smile on his lips, but it was brittle, forced.

And then Mira saw it.

That look again.

That thin, quiet contempt—like they were being tolerated, not welcomed. The same expression they'd seen too many times in class.

The same one that followed them through the hallways, whispered just behind their backs.

But just as that familiar look of contempt flickered in the Second Year's eyes, it vanished—snapped away like a mask being adjusted.

A wide, too-friendly smile took its place, smooth and practiced.

"What's the hurry, Juniors?" the Second Year asked, his tone dripping with false warmth. "By the way… do you two happen to know a Teach—"

CLAP!

CLAP!

Two sharp claps rang out, cutting clean through the gathering noise like a blade.

The entire courtyard seemed to pause, the sound echoing off the tall dormitory walls and instantly drawing every gaze forward.

From the wall of Third Years at the front, one figure stepped out with a confident stride. The crowd parted around him like waves retreating from the shore.

It was the same Third Year who had approached Valencia earlier—the one with the too-smooth smile and the glint of something calculated in his eyes.

He stood at the center of the clearing, back straight, hands clasped behind him.

"First Years," he began, his voice clear and composed, carrying across the courtyard with practiced ease, "I imagine many of you are quite confused."

A few nervous chuckles rose from the circle of First Years. No one responded.

"No need to worry," he continued, flashing a reassuring smile that didn't quite touch his eyes. "The party will resume shortly. But before that, I'd like to share a few rules of the Aether Dormitory"

"Just a few words," he said with a disarming chuckle. "I'm sure no one here would mind a brief speech from an upperclassman, right?"