I was in the hallway, roaming around it early for my first class, which gave me extra time to wander and try to familiarize myself with the place. I was figuring out my schedules, how to make my time to manage all this up, I have a lot on my sleeves and there's no way I can put some of my relaxing hobbies to it. 
Callista was willing to show me around and then when I woke up early she was still in the living room, sleeping on the couch as paper works from the Vanguard leader’s office were scattered around the floor. Instead of waking her, I put a blanket around her to keep her warm. 
"Excuse me, are you looking for something?" A voice so sweet, with a hint of a foreign accent, caught my attention. I turned around, and I couldn’t help but be surprised.
A lady stood before me, her long golden-blonde hair shining, her sapphire eyes sparkling, and a soft smile on her pink lips.
Princess Stellamarisse Von Stein.
I immediately bowed in respect, stunned. How does a princess end up at a school like this?
"No, no, please don't do that," she said, her voice soft and startling. I lifted my head to meet her gaze again, mesmerized by her presence.
Though Princess’s mother is one of the best mana surgeons I've known, I've never known Princess Stella will follow in her mother's footsteps, but Mana surgeon is not really fit for her since she is still a princess but at least she's not the first in line to the throne. 
She smiled warmly at me. "Please, address me as one of your co-students. I’m here because we share slightly the same goal," she said, her smile comforting.
My brows furrowed. "Princess Stella, I didn't know that you're here!” I exclaimed with excitement. 
She chuckled. "Well, same as you. We have dreams and goals to fulfill."
Her warm smile brought me a sense of peace. She didn’t seem to care about my condition; she was having a normal conversation with me, just like Callista had.
"You're early for a class," she commented.
"I-I was just roaming around, trying to find my way to my classroom," I explained.
"Don't you have any colleagues to show you around?" she asked.
"Well, I didn’t want to wake her up," I smiled.
"Really? Who's your roommate?” she asked again.
"Callista Oakley," I replied.
Her sapphire blue eyes widened in surprise. "Oh Callista, that explains it. She's a dear friend of mine we enrolled together last year” 
“You're the luminarian girl that she's talking about, she's quite interested in you,” she smiled. 
My heart giggled with excitement “Are you also one of the vanguard leaders?” I asked. 
“Thankfully not, I don't want to hold responsibilities in the school. Dealing and negotiating with dumb people are irritating” she sighed rolling her eyes. 
I can't blame her. I can't even pull myself when it comes to politics and royal business. 
“Can I ask for your name?” she asked. 
"Zaira. Zaira Winter ,Coffey," I said.
"Nice meeting you, Zaira, how about I'll tour you around” she offered. 
Excitement surged within me as I nodded and followed her.
This is incredible!
Moments later, Stella showed me the school, the classrooms, and the laboratories. She also told me that she specializes as a celestial healer. I was quite surprised since she chooses to be one, it's actually doctors that usually work in the royal family.
I noticed the time and realized my class was about to start.
"Your Highness—oh! I mean, Stella," I called out, still uncomfortable by calling her name. 
"Yes?" she asked.
"My class is about to start. Would it be okay if I go?" I asked.
"Of course! What time will you finish class? Can I join you and Callista for lunch?" she asked.
"Well, I need to check with her first, but I'm sure she’ll be fine with it," I said, unsure.
"Don’t worry. I’ll see you around. Nice meeting you, Zaira," she said with a smile as she walked away.
I quickened my steps toward my assigned classroom. As I was walking, I nearly bumped into someone. The familiar scent of leather filled the air. I looked up and found myself staring into raven-black eyes.
"Good morning," he greeted.
I quickly averted my gaze, stunned to speak when those intense raven black eyes met mine "Good Morning," I replied calmly. 
"You should be here 15 minutes before, miss. You're lucky it's the first day of class; otherwise, you'd be facing a punishment," he said. 
"I-I won’t do it again," I stammered.
I entered first inside the classroom as he followed, his aura was strong as he walked through the spaces in the classroom. He was wearing a button-up shirt, the fabric hugging his muscular frame.
"Good morning." His deep, frosty tone sent shivers to my spine.
The murmurs and gossip from my classmates stopped as he began speaking in front. I noticed some of them had admiration in their eyes as they looked at him.
"So, I guess you already know me from the student orientation, correct?" he said.
"I’ll be your professor this morning. In this course, you'll soon encounter a lot of knowledge drawn from clinical experiences," he continued.
"Before I begin, I want to let you all know that by the end of the semester, I’ll be selecting ten students who are worthy based on their knowledge, skill, and attitude. These students will volunteer with me in remote villages," he said, leaning casually against his desk.
A student raised his hand. "What kind of places will we be going to?" he asked.
"This semester, I’ve been scheduled to work in Glacierbrook Village," he answered. "But I still need approval from the Supremes."
"But sir," another student interjected, "Glacierbrook is known for its many bandits. Is it safe for us to go there?"
He made a good point. Glacierbrook was famous for its icy mountains and snowy landscapes, but it was also an easy target for criminals. The village struggled with a lack of crops and medical supplies, and many of its infrastructures were in disrepair.
"I’m aware of that," he replied, crossing his arms. 
"If the Supremes approve my recommendation, we’ve already planned for the safety of students. Other schools, including those of Cadets and Knights, will also be volunteering for support."
Professor Thorne’s proposal was intriguing. Gaining community experience would be a good opportunity. I just needed to meet the standard of skill, knowledge, and attitude he was expecting.
"So... I’ll ask a few starting questions," he said, semiling.
"What are the proper and basic observations you should make during clinical observations?"
A hand shot up. The student who stood two tables away from me had a commanding presence. He wore the same uniform as everyone else, but his clean-cut hair, pointed nose, and intense, serious aura set him apart.
"Maintain confidentiality," he said.
"Explain," Professor Thorne demanded.
"Confidentiality is one of the basics you’ll need to remember as a student. Any information, including faces, names, or personal details of a patient, must be kept private to respect their privacy," the student explained.
Indeed, he made a good point.
Professor Thorne nodded. "You're correct, but that's not the first basic thing, Mr...?"
"Caden Keegan," he said.
"I see... Any other answers?" Professor Thorne asked. I was distracted, scribbling down my notes, letting my mind wander with unnecessary words.
"The lady at the back," he said, suddenly directing his attention to me.
I froze, feeling all eyes on me as my classmates turned to look. It was a jolt of surprise.
"Any ideas?" His raven eyes locked on mine, intense and piercing.
"Observe cleanliness, sir," I said, my voice a bit shaky.
His brows furrowed. "Explain."
"Cleanliness is crucial in medical settings. An unclean environment can harbor harmful microorganisms that lead to illness. This was something Florence Nightingale observed during the Crimean War. It’s a basic principle that should be second nature to any student," I explained, trying to sound confident.
The room fell silent. Professor Thorne just stared at me, as if he were scanning my every word, every movement.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Zaira Winter Coffey," I replied.
"I'm impressed. You know quite a bit about Nightingale. I’m aware she’s not very famous in this realm, correct?" he asked, his tone curious.
I shook my head. "Yes, I read some books mentioning her, Professor. Her environmental theory changed medical practices, even here in this dimension."
He smiled as he walked away. "Miss Coffey is right. Environment and cleanliness should always be the first things to observe before placing a patient in any setting," he said, his gaze meeting mine. I quickly looked away.
His raven eyes always captivated me. It was as if they were pulling me in, making it hard to look away.
"You may take your seat. Thank you to both of you," he said.
As he continued to teach, I focused on taking notes, highlighting key points.
"I won’t hold you long, everyone, but we’ll have a recitation tomorrow," he added.
A recitation? What kind of recitation would that be? He hadn’t even given us any lessons to prepare for.
"Good luck," he said before leaving without another word. Well, that’s a pain.
I packed my things and I was planning to go to the library to borrow some books. I still have an hour to check before my next class starts, when I was about to, I heard Callista’s voice echoing. 
"Zaira!" She exclaimed happily waving at me. 
"Where are you going?" Stella asked.
"I still have a few notes to finish," I replied.
"We can do that later. I’ve already asked someone to save our table," Callista said.
I hesitated, but it would be a bit rude to decline, especially since they're already here assuming they'd wait for me. 
I sighed and walked toward them, and together, we headed to the nearest cafeteria. The cafeteria was bustling, filled with long tables. Half of the seats were taken, and many students were enjoying their meals.
"Ainsley!" Stella called.
We made our way toward a table near the window, where a girl waved at us with a warm smile.
"Ainsley, this is Zaira, the one I mentioned earlier," Stella said.
Ainsley looked so innocent. Her chocolate-brown hair was styled into a neat ponytail, and her doe-like hazel eyes met mine. She seemed easy to read, her expression warm and welcoming. Her perfectly heart-shaped lips curved into a smile.
"It’s nice to meet you, Zaira. I’m Ainsley Scuderi," she said, extending her hand with a friendly smile.
I looked away lightly—her sweetness was almost overwhelming. "Zaira Coffey," I replied, accepting her hand.
"You know each other from the past?" I asked, curious.
"Not exactly," Callista answered.
"I’ve known Callista for a while. We decided to enroll here, and surprisingly, she ended up becoming Vice President," Stella explained.
"I met Stella in our first class, and I invited her to join us today," Ainsley added.
Callista is quite familiar, with her aura and face. She’s always insisted that she isn’t from a noble family, yet I can’t help but feel a sense of nobility around her. I’ve never heard of a noble house called Oakley, though. Maybe I’m wrong.
"Okay, so how was the first class?" Callista asked, smiling at us as if she were a mother asking about her children’s day at school.
"It was great. But if you don’t mind me asking, what specialized courses are you all taking?" Ainsley asked.
"Great question!" Callista said proudly. "Well, I’m a Vialist."
Ainsley's doe eyes widened yet she smiled "I'm Rune apothecary" she said. 
Rune Apothecaries are the same with vialists—they make medicines. They're difference is Rune Apothecaries Prioritizes herbal medicines instead of chemicals, they familiarize or even memorize plants that may give a healing effect. As I've said Medical herbs are less expensive than yet it is one of the commands in the kingdom. 
"Mana Surgeon," Stella said, raising her hand.
Confused, I looked at her. She mentioned that she was a Celestial Healer. I glanced at her and Callista was surprised too. For someone like Stella, a princess, it’s a pretty risky path to choose. Royals are gifted with Mana energy, yet when they lack mana energy this may result in the worst effects..
"You shifted courses?" Callista asked, her eyes wide with surprise.
"I thought you were a Celestial Healer?" Callista asked, her voice tinged with concern, clearly because she understood the kind of course that was.
"Well... I decided to be a Mana Surgeon," Stella replied with a soft smile. "I just want to follow in my mother's footsteps, you know that, Cal."
I guess they were that close to understanding each other's families so well.
"You're definitely insane, what will your brother say? " Callista commented teasingly.
“Oh please, don't tell me you'll tell him?” Stella shot back. 
Callista durrendered and sighed “I guess not” 
"You're brave, you know that?" Ainsley said, smiling at Stella warmly.
Stella chuckled. "Cut it out. It's not as bad as it looks. I know what I’ve gotten myself into, but I really want this," she said, smiling.
She spoke with such warmth, softness, and an undeniable sense of purpose. Based on what she said, I think she’s the bravest princess I’ve ever met.
"What about you, Zai?" Stella asked, turning her attention to me.
"Mystic Chirurgeon," I answered.
Her sapphire eyes widened, and Ainsley’s doe-like eyes looked at me in surprise.
"Well, that’s my girls!” Callista clapped dramatically. 
"Zai..." Cali interrupted me while I was eating. I looked at her with furrowed brows.
"I heard Professor Ackerman teaches Cirurgeon students” she grinned. 
"Uhh... yes?" I replied, uncertain where this was heading.
"WAIT, REALLY?" Stella and Ainsley exclaimed together.
Callista groaned. "So how did it go? Does he look hot discussing Anatomy—Oh God I love men that'll outsmart me” she said hissing. 
I chuckled “Why are you so interested, it's just a normal professor job” I said, though a memory of him being a center of attraction and that masculine body fitted on his button up shirt—don't go there. 
“Oh come on, give me a break. I rather listen to how hot Thorne is than dealing with Seth” he let out a breath. 
"The president!?" Stella and Ainsley exclaimed again, clearly surprised.
"The president is a Vialist?" I asked, baffled.
"I don’t even know why he shifted courses," Callista muttered.
It wasn’t entirely luck that I ended up under Thorne Ackerman. So far our relationship is what I'd expected he's professional n
enough to forget what I did at the orientation, I admit, that it was a mistake and it's a little bit disrespectful.