“Big sister, big sister…”
“Time to get up, the sun’s shining on your back.”
Early the next morning, Vellandelle was shaken awake.
She grumbled in displeasure, pulling the blanket over herself.
“No, I’m still sleepy…”
“Sleepy? We clearly went to bed together last night.”
“That’s not me.”
Before Vellandelle could say more, Rosasys yanked the blanket off her in one swift motion.
“Get up.”
“Ugh, fine…”
She flipped over once, but eventually had no choice but to get out of bed.
After getting up, it was only through Rosasys’s description that she understood what was happening outside.
Though it was still early morning, a continuous stream of students was heading toward the contest venue.
This popularity contest seemed to be an extremely important event.
Not only were students required to attend, but the school officials were also reportedly giving a speech afterward.
Faced with this, Kelosha and Rosasys had no choice but to leave first, hoping to snag good seats.
Vellandelle, meanwhile, headed toward the back for preparations.
After bidding farewell to her younger sister, she walked alone toward the competition preparation area.
The closer she got to the Main Hall, the denser the crowd became.
Groups of students excitedly chatted about the upcoming contest.
Vellandelle’s popularity among freshmen was quite high; many recognized her and cast curious glances her way.
During this, she noticed some individuals she couldn’t quite place, but who gave off a subtly strange vibe, making her somewhat uneasy.
The preparation room was located in a spacious chamber behind the Main Hall, already filled with many contestants.
Upon entering, Vellandelle immediately sensed the charged atmosphere of competition.
A few noble young ladies dressed in splendid attire were seated on one side.
They looked at her with obvious scrutiny.
Judging by their clothing, they were clearly wealthy and weren’t competing for the prize money; they were after something far more significant—fame.
Yet they probably hadn’t expected Karlenasha to participate in this contest.
Vellandelle found a corner to sit down, gently closing her eyes as she mentally reviewed the melody of.
Her fingertips tapped lightly on her knee, mimicking the touch of piano keys.
“Nervous?”
A slightly teasing voice suddenly sounded beside her.
Vellandelle snapped her eyes open to see Karlenasha standing there, seemingly having appeared out of nowhere.
The dragoness senior wore a flowing ice-blue gown that complemented her hair perfectly.
She exuded a cold yet noble aura.
“A little,” Vellandelle admitted honestly.
Karlenasha chuckled softly and sat down beside her.
“Don’t worry, your performance will be wonderful.”
Vellandelle’s heart skipped a beat.
Karlenasha’s words always carried a subtle hint, leaving her inexplicably unsettled.
“Why do you say that, senpai?”
Karlenasha didn’t answer directly.
Instead, she reached out to gently brush a stray lock of hair from Vellandelle’s forehead, an unexpectedly intimate gesture.
“Sometimes, the most moving music comes from the most illogical sources. And you, dear junior, are that illogical source.”
“You know, I once met someone illogical—a person whose compositions were twisted and strange, yet deeply emotional. But he…”
At that moment, staff began calling the contestants for the drawing of performance order.
Vellandelle drew a number toward the middle-late range, while Karlenasha drew the final spot.
“Looks like we’ll meet on stage,” Karlenasha said, waving her number card with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“Let’s see how you react, little one…”
As the first contestant was called onto the stage, the tension in the preparation room thickened.
Vellandelle faintly heard singing and instrument sounds from the front, along with occasional applause.
She took a deep breath and approached the practice piano in the corner, softly pressing a few notes.
The familiar feel calmed her slightly. No matter what Karlenasha knew, no matter what secrets the contest held, right now the only thing she had to do was play well.
Having Karlenasha here meant she didn’t have to dream of winning a hundred Gold Coins, but second and third place also came with substantial prizes.
When the announcer called her number, Vellandelle stood up and smoothed her dress.
As she walked toward the stage entrance, she felt Karlenasha’s gaze following her every step.
“Good luck.”
Just as she was about to step onto the stage, Karlenasha whispered, a trace of genuine encouragement in her voice.
Near the entrance, the girl who had just finished performing bowed her head, coughing lightly.
“Thank you for your effort, senpai.”
Vellandelle kindly expressed concern, but the girl passed by without any response, still keeping her head down.
Vellandelle smiled helplessly and stepped onto the stage.
The view suddenly opened wide—rows upon rows of black-clad spectators.
She could hear the hum of whispered conversations.
“Big sister!”
“Big sister!”
“Roommate!”
“…”
She caught distant shouts and smiled, waving in reply.
In the audience, Seleste watched Vellandelle take the stage, thoughtful.
After a moment, she let out a soft chuckle and relaxed.
“Whatever happens, it’s none of my business. I’ll just enjoy Miss Vellandelle’s performance first.”
***
Vellandelle approached the black grand piano at center stage, sat down, and gently placed her hands on the keys.
At that moment, all her tension and distractions vanished.
In her world, there was only her and the piano.
The first note rang out, clear and pure like a drop of spring water.
The familiar melody flowed forth like a stream, filling the entire Main Hall.
The noisy murmurs gradually quieted as everyone became captivated by the beautiful music, unlike anything they had ever heard before.
Vellandelle was fully immersed, her fingers dancing lightly across the keys.
Unbeknownst to her, from the side stage, Karlenasha watched silently, her ice-blue eyes reflecting something complex.
Below, Rosasys and Kelosha listened with delight.
The piano’s melody echoed through the hall as if imbued with some magic, making time itself pause at this moment.
Back in the preparation room, the girl who had bowed her head earlier slowly walked toward Karlenasha’s quarters.
As the music reached its most intricate contrapuntal section, disaster struck.
A massive explosion erupted from the preparation room. Everyone turned toward the back in alarm.
A piercing scream came from a corner of the hall, followed by a thick, dark red liquid and mist gushing from the ventilation ducts.
Where the mist spread, students covered their mouths and noses, coughing uncontrollably.
Some who inhaled it went blank-eyed, muttering mechanically.
Vellandelle’s playing abruptly stopped. She saw the crowd below casting protective spells to fend off the encroaching mist.
“Quiet! Everyone, maintain order!”
Professors onstage hurried to control the chaos. No one could have imagined that the legendary Aurora Academy, which had never known war or conflict, was under attack.
At the same time, a strange, sickly sweet scent wafted in from the opposite side of the hall.
Several professors, originally helping evacuate students, suddenly froze.
Their faces turned blank with infatuated smiles as they began blocking escape routes.
“Stay… and enjoy eternal bliss…”
They murmured, eyes glazed over.
The Blood Worship Cult, the Eternal Society… at least two different cult factions were attacking simultaneously.
How could this be?
This wasn’t in any of the scripts!
Vellandelle stared at the chaos, helpless and disoriented.
She couldn’t even locate the enemy—there was no visible target.
“Keep playing.”
A voice echoed directly in her mind. It was Karlenasha, emerging from the explosion as a figure floating in the air.
“No one has ever dared to run rampant in the Academy before…”