As class ends, I close all of my notebooks, but before I can close my research notebook, a bunch of orange juice spills onto it and ruins a bunch of my writing. I glance up at a group of girls, the leader of which has high pigtails and holds an empty cup upside down over my book. Without looking back down, I mutter, . Slowly, the notebook returns to its original state and the orange juice gathers in the air above me. I flick my finger and it splashes the girl, currently in stupor. Then, I pack my notebook.

“What was that for?” the girl yells, glaring at me.

“I only paid back what you owed.” I stand up and move to leave, but the girl sticks out her arm.

“You aren’t allowed to leave yet.”

“And who are you to stop me?”

Retracting her arm, she looks down her nose at me. “I’m the leader of Sir Jorein’s followers. I have every right to stop you.”

My jaw drops. “Does he know about this?”

“Of course he does.” She crosses her arms and stands to one side proudly. “We have deemed that you are guilty.”

“Of what?”

“You have taken away Sir Jorein’s precious time. As first years, you should not focus on love or adoration.” As she talks, I can’t help myself from giggling. She stops for a second before saying, “You should not be laughing right now.”

“Sorry, I can’t take you seriously, drenched in orange juice like that.” I lightly smile.

A girl with red hair and blue eyes pulls back the president and stands in the same way. So cliché. “Nova Allandis, you are merely a first year. Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

“And where does that place you all? I’m guessing you’re all in higher grades, and therefore age thirteen at least, whereas I am ten years old.”

“What are you getting at?”

I turn the corners of my lips upward. “I’m only warning you about your image as ‘Jennis’ followers.’”

The girl slams her hand on my desk. “How rude. We are merely teaching you a lesson.”

“And teaching a lesson includes surrounding someone smaller and younger, intimidating and possibly traumatizing her? Do you know who I am?” I keep my voice as neutral as possible.

“You are a first year, Miss Allandis,” she hisses. “I’m warning you, stay away from Sir Jorein.”

I can’t help the ridiculing laugh that bubbles out of me. Indeed, people are the same in every world. “I’m guessing from your hair and eye color that you are from Viscount Bartron’s family, and Sasha Bartron attends the Royal Academy, so that means you must be Selina Bartron. I, on the other hand, am the daughter of Duke Allandis.”

“Using your status in this school is against the regulations, Miss Allandis.”

“That’s true, but have you been so caught up in your studies that you forgot about the outside world, Miss Bartron?”

She raises her brow. “What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I mean. You saw those two spells I just cast. Don’t forget, they bent the rule of the age limit for me.” Teenagers are so dumb. I can’t believe that I used to be one. Selina’s face pales, and I turn to the door. “Oh, and just so you know, it’s not me taking up his time, but him taking up mine.”

The girls all turn around to see Jennis waiting, a frown on his face. “What are all of you doing?” he asks in an emotionless tone.

“We… we were just…” the president stutters, her face turning a bright shade of red.

I pick up my bag and push through the crowd to Jennis. “Ignore them, Jennis. Where did you want to go?”

He glances over the girls before turning back to me. “I was thinking we could go to the dessert shop that just opened.”

“You mean the one in the schooltown?”

“Yea. I heard they have unique recipes for cakes.”

“Unique doesn’t necessarily mean delicious.”

“That’s true.” He stops me outside the door. “Hang on.” Then he turns back to the crowd. “Follower or whatever, I don’t care what you all are, but Nova is my friend, and I won’t forgive anyone who touches her.” Then he turns back to me.

After we turn the corner of the hallway, I say, “Won’t that affect your image? People will start thinking that you like me or something.”

“That’s fine. I’d rather allow that than see you bullied.”

“Can anyone bully me?” I toss my hair over my shoulder.

He chuckles. “Either way, it means less trouble for you.”

“That’s true. Bullying is a hassle to deal with.” After all, it wouldn’t have gone on for so long in my previous life if I wasn’t too lazy to deal with it.