Alya Vaelion was convinced the universe was her biggest hater.
Why else would she be standing in front of the Royal Celestian Academy, the most powerful magical institution in the kingdom, while holding the title of "The Only Student With Negative Magic Ability"?
Well… not negative.
Just secret.
And borderline god-tier.
But no one could know that.
"Okay, Alya," she whispered to herself. "Just stay calm. Stay quiet. Stay invisible. Be a background character. A flowerpot. A pebble."
Behind her, a carriage door opened.
"Alya?" Lunessa's gentle voice called.
Alya's soul evaporated.
"Oh no. I forgot I'm not alone."
Lunessa stepped down gracefully, the wind catching her pastel-blue hair like she was posing for a divine portrait.
Alya glanced at her own reflection in the carriage window.
Great, her inner monologue grumbled. She looks like a moon goddess. I look like a sleep-deprived raccoon in a fancy dress.
Lunessa smiled at her. "Sister, are you ready?"
Ready?
To face the three male leads who hated Stellaria's guts?
To hide her explosive magic?
To avoid getting roasted alive by noble kids?
"Totally," Alya lied. "I'm super ready. I'm vibrating with readiness."
"You're shaking," Lunessa pointed out softly.
"That's just… enthusiasm."
The academy's enormous white spires gleamed under the sunlight, magic symbols glowing faintly across the gates. Students from noble families poured in, showing off spells like it was a parade.
Alya flinched every time magic sparks flew near her.
If one of these fireballs touches me and I accidentally heal it instead of screaming, she thought, I will literally flee the country.
A few students stared at her, whispering.
"Is that her? Stellaria Vaelion?"
"The magicless one?"
"The one who bullied Lady Lunessa last year?"
"I heard she tried to sabotage Prince Damon's duel!"
Alya blinked.
What the—?! Why did Stellaria do all that?!
Why was original Stellaria so… extra?Girl, what were you cooking??She took a deep breath.
"Stay calm. Don't react. Don't punch anyone," she murmured.
"Did you say punch?" Lunessa asked.
"No. I said lunch."
"You definitely said punch."
"Lunessa, I am a peaceful citizen."
The applicants gathered inside a massive hall decorated with floating mana crystals.
Alya immediately saw them.
The three male leads.
And her soul tried to crawl out of her body.
Prince Damon Arclight
Standing tall, graceful, an aura so elegant he looked like he was born to wear the crown.
Stoic expression, eyes cold as glass.
Why is he shiny? Alya thought. Is that natural or is he using highlighter?
He glanced at Lunessa with warmth.
Then at Alya… like she was a stain on the carpet.
Great start.
Elias Stormhart
The knight prodigy. Muscles. Serious expression. War-ready stance.
He looked like he could bench-press a house.
He nodded at Lunessa respectfully.
Then his eyes landed on Alya—
And narrowed.
The kind of narrow that said: I've seen demons friendlier than you.
Alya gulped.
Cyril Ravenshade
The mage.
Dark robes, dark hair, darker eyebags.
The epitome of "I study magic instead of sleeping."
He bowed politely to Lunessa.
Then looked at Alya like she had personally burned down his laboratory.
Bro, Alya thought. I just got reincarnated yesterday.
A tall instructor stepped forward.
"Welcome, students. Your entrance exam begins with a mana assessment. Please place your hand on the crystal. It will glow according to your magic capacity."
Alya internally screamed.
NO NO NO— if I touch that crystal it will explode or levitate or turn into glitter or start singing—
She needed an excuse.
Any excuse.
"Miss Vaelion," the instructor called. "Step forward."
Alya looked at Lunessa.
Lunessa gave her a reassuring smile.
Behind Lunessa, the three male leads stared at Alya like they were waiting for her to embarrass herself.
Alya exhaled shakily.
"Okay. Just… fake faint? No, that's dramatic. Become invisible? Can't. Run? They'll chase me. I could pretend I'm allergic to crystals—"
But she was already standing in front of the mana orb.
Girl, her inner monologue said, this is where you die.
She reached out.
Her hand hovered.
The orb began to vibrate.
Alya snatched her hand away instantly.
"NOPE! I—um—I can't touch it!"
Murmurs spread.
"Why?" asked the instructor.
Alya panicked.
"Because… because…"
Think think think think!
"…because it's… unsanitary?"
Silence.
Dead silence.
The kind of silence that could end nations.
Prince Damon pinched the bridge of his nose.
Elias muttered something like "unbelievable."
Cyril stared so hard she felt her soul peeling.
Lunessa gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Sister… it's not dirty. It's a magic artifact."
Alya tried not to cry.
"I'm… allergic to magic artifacts?"
The instructor frowned.
"That is not a real medical condition."
"Well, it is now!"
"Lady Stellaria," the instructor said firmly, "you must attempt the exam."
Alya swallowed.
Her heart pounded.
She slowly reached out—
Do NOT react, she warned herself.
No glowing. No exploding. No healing the crystal. No freezing it. No fire. Just be normal. NORMAL is the goal.
Her fingers brushed the orb—
And instantly, the orb cracked.
LOUDLY.
A sharp KRRRRAAACK cut through the hall.
The orb glowed blinding gold.
Students screamed.
Alya yanked her hand back like she'd touched a hot stove.
"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!"
The orb pulsed violently.
A shockwave burst out.
Wind exploded through the hall, sending papers flying.
Someone yelled, "It's going to blow!"
Alya panicked.
Her body moved on instinct—
Her hidden magic surged—
She threw a shield of invisible energy around the orb.
The explosion muffled.
Contained.
Silent.
When the light faded, the hall fell into eerie quiet.
The orb sat harmlessly.
Perfectly whole.
Like nothing happened.
Alya quickly dropped her hand and stepped back.
Everyone stared at her.
She froze.
Time froze.
Her brain: Act dumb. Act SO dumb they'll believe it.
"…was it supposed to do that?" she asked weakly.
The instructor blinked.
The male students whispered.
"I think… it malfunctioned," the instructor finally said.
Alya almost collapsed in relief.
Lunessa rushed to her. "Alya! Are you alright?"
"Yes! I'm fine! Totally fine! Very fine! The fiiiine-est!"
Behind Lunessa, the three male leads watched her.
Not with hatred.
With suspicion.
Very intense suspicion.
Damon's eyes narrowed.
Elias crossed his arms.
Cyril stared a little too long.
Alya felt sweat drip down her back.
Oh no, she thought. They noticed something. Play stupid. You ARE stupid. Easy.
She forced the fakest smile ever created.
"I think the orb just hates me! Haha! So funny!"
None of them laughed.
Next was the combat potential evaluation.
Students demonstrated small spells. Fireballs. Ice shards. A wind push. Harmless attacks.
Alya clapped awkwardly.
"Wow, so talented," she muttered. "I could sneeze and accidentally recreate a natural disaster."
During one demonstration, a girl accidentally misfired an ice spell—
And the shard shot straight toward Lunessa.
People screamed.
Even the male leads lunged forward.
But Alya was faster.
Her instincts kicked in—
Time seemed to slow—
Her hidden magic flowed—
She flicked her fingers behind her back.
A gust of invisible wind pushed the shard off course.
It shattered harmlessly on the floor.
Everyone froze.
Lunessa blinked.
"Stellaria… did you—?"
"Nope!" Alya said too fast. "Must've been… the breeze! The architecture! The air pressure!"
Prince Damon stepped closer, suspicious.
"That was no breeze."
"Oh really?" Alya laughed nervously. "Well I'm no meteorologist."
Cyril narrowed his eyes.
"You moved unnaturally fast."
"I'm just… athletic?"
Elias looked between the broken shard and Alya.
"You didn't have magic last year."
"And I still don't! I promise!" she squeaked.
Girl, her inner monologue said, they definitely don't believe you.
When the exam ended, students moved outside.
Alya tried to escape.
Key word: tried.
Prince Damon stepped in front of her.
Elias behind her.
Cyril to the side.
They boxed her in like she was an escaped criminal.
Alya gulped.
"Oh. Wow. Hi. Fancy seeing you all here. Together. Blocking my oxygen."
Damon spoke first.
"What game are you playing, Stellaria?"
"I don't play games. Except maybe… chess?"
Cyril's gaze sharpened.
"You avoided touching the orb."
Elias added, "And you reacted before Lunessa was even in danger."
Alya slowly raised her hands.
"Gentlemen… I am simply a below-average citizen."
None of them looked convinced.
Damon stepped closer.
"So why are you acting differently?"
Because I'm literally not Stellaria, Alya thought.
But aloud, she said:
"I'm trying something new. Character development!"
Elias snorted.
"You? Developing?"
"Hey! I can grow!"Cyril tilted his head.
"Then why do you look terrified right now?"
Alya deadpanned.
"Because you're all extremely tall, extremely dramatic, and extremely close to my face?"
They blinked.
Elias looked away first.Damon straightened.
Cyril cleared his throat.Alya seized the chance.
"Anyway! I'm late for my appointment with… uhm… destiny! Goodbye!"
And she ran.Like her life depended on it.Because it kind of did.