The lecture hall was larger than I remembered—arched ceilings, floating lanterns, and rows of students whispering nervously behind embroidered sleeves.
But all I saw was Reina.
She sat near the center, surrounded by a neat half-circle of nobles. Girls from major houses. Boys from strategic ones. She smiled, nodded, laughed at just the right moments.
A perfect performance.
In my last life, I saw her and thought: she's well-liked.
Now, I see the strings.This wasn't friendship. It was control. Quiet, calculated influence.
"Everyone take a seat," the professor called out, entering with a flick of his robe. "Today, we begin with a basic attunement test."
Attunement. A simple spell—detecting a student's magical affinity. It wasn't hard. But it was... revealing.
I sat beside Elyse near the back, unnoticed.
"Groups of three," the professor continued. "By row."
My heart stilled.
I remembered this lesson.In my last life, I had been paired with Lilliana Vade—a noble girl who smiled sweetly but despised me. And Reina had switched seats just moments before the pairing.
She hadn't needed to attack me outright. She only needed to place the knife and let someone else press it.
Was that the start? Was that when she began turning them against me?
"Hi," a voice said beside me.
I turned.
It was her.Lilliana again.
"Looks like we're together," she said, lips curved, eyes cool.
I smiled politely. "So it seems."
This time, I was ready.
The test began. A crystal orb placed before us, designed to glow based on magical resonance.
Lilliana stepped up first. Pale blue. Water affinity.The boy beside her—Earth.Then me.
I placed my hand on the orb.
For a heartbeat, nothing.
Then a warm gold flickered. Not too strong. Not too weak.
Balanced. Contained.
Exactly what I wanted them to see.
"Light, hmm?" the professor murmured. "Interesting."
I returned to my seat as whispers spread behind hands.Not loud. But enough.
Just like Reina used to do.
I glanced toward her.She was watching.Still smiling.