Chapter 2:
The iron gates of Aetheria Academy—the most prestigious school in the five kingdoms—towered over the new applicants. Lusi Mariano stood amongst the crowd of elite students, her presence drawing hushed whispers. Even without the heavy, unflattering makeup she once wore, she carried an aura of cold authority that made the other students instinctively step aside.
"Is that the 'Ugly Princess' of the Dark Kingdom?" someone muttered.
"She looks... different. Like a goddess of shadows."
Lusi ignored the noise. She was no longer the girl who cried over a failed engagement. She was a princess reborn with a mission.
The Perfect Score
The first challenge was the written entrance exam, a test so difficult that even the brightest scholars of the Light Kingdom often failed. As Lusi sat in the grand hall, her pen moved with surgical precision. She answered questions on ancient magic circles, legendary herbalism, and the complex history of the five elemental kingdoms: Healing, Fire, Wind, Nature, and Water.
When the results were magically projected onto the academy walls an hour later, a collective gasp echoed through the courtyard.
Student: Lusi Mariano
Score: 100/100
It was the first perfect score in the history of Aetheria. But the real shock was yet to come.
The Dragon's Wrath
Next came the Mana Measurement. Every student had to place their hand on the Ancient Mana Crystal to test their elemental affinity and power capacity.
As Lusi stepped onto the platform, the atmosphere shifted. The moment her palm touched the cold stone, the sky above the academy fractured. The bright afternoon sun was swallowed by a sudden, swirling darkness. From the depths of the crystal, a terrifying roar erupted—the sound of the Ancient Prime Dragon, the strongest being to ever exist.
A massive, ethereal silhouette of the dragon soared above the academy, its eyes glowing purple. The crystal hummed violently until it shattered into a thousand jagged pieces.
The High Priest stepped forward, his face pale. "This... this is impossible. She doesn't just have one element. She holds all five elements, fueled by the darkest mana. And her capacity... she holds 51% of the Prime Dragon's total essence."
The crowd went deathly silent. Most elite mages struggled to reach 5%, yet here was a girl holding more than half the power of a god.
The Exile to Section C
Despite her genius and god-like power, the professors looked at Lusi with fear.
"Her power is tied to her emotions," the Headmaster whispered urgently. "She is unstable. If she loses her temper, this academy—no, this entire kingdom—could be leveled."
To keep her "contained," the school made a strategic decision.
"Lusi Mariano," the announcement rang out. "Due to the unstable nature of your mana, you are assigned to Section C."
Section C was the place for outcasts, the "misfits" who couldn't control their magic. But Lusi only smirked as she picked up her bags. The academy had a rule: the strongest and smartest in each section would be named Captain. And from those captains, a legendary group of five would be formed to rule the school.
"Section C what I want Lusi whispered as she walked toward the dilapidated classroom. "You've just given me a throne that no one will see coming."
As she pushed open the heavy oak doors of her new classroom, she saw them—the students they called "trash." Among them were faces that would soon change the world. The era of the Villainess had truly begun.