The Headmaster

(PoV Elysia)

The trees had finished shedding all their leaves. The biting wind signaled the coming of winter. Elysia stood before the window, staring blankly at the lazy white clouds drifting outside.

Someone approached her side. She did not need to turn, her ears had already memorized the sound of that girl’s footsteps.

“I know what you’re thinking, Ely.” Celina’s high-pitched voice broke the silence.

Elysia turned, tilting her head slightly.

A confident smile curved on Celina’s lips. “After five months, the winter holiday is finally coming. You must be excited to see your family too, right?”

Elysia nodded softly, offering a brief smile.

Who would have thought she would look forward to a holiday, longing for her family’s warmth? Since her reincarnation, her bond with her family had become deeply affectionate. They had always treated her with love and care. There was no reason for Elysia to be indifferent to them, let alone hate them.

Ding... ding... ding...

The bell rang three times, signaling the start of class.

All the students quickly took their seats. Some had already opened their bags and laid out their books on their desks.

“We’re finally going to meet the headmaster, Ely! She’s never appeared once, not even since the start of the term!” Celina shook Elysia’s shoulders with excitement. “I can’t wait! I can’t wait, Ely!”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” she replied lazily, unable to stop Celina’s shaking.

“You don’t seem excited, Ely. Aren’t you curious about her? I heard from the seniors that she’s very kind.”

Elysia sighed, looking away. “Is that so...? Perhaps you’re right.”

Celina puffed her cheeks and released Elysia’s arm. “You’re so boring, Ely.”

Elysia didn’t answer. She took her book from her bag. “Rather than thinking about it, you’d better read your book. Maybe you’ll impress the headmaster by answering her questions.”

“Oh, good idea!”

Celina immediately opened her book and read with full focus. Seeing that, Elysia smiled faintly. At last, the noise that pricked her ears had vanished, and she could read in peace.

She had turned a few pages when something felt off. The door ahead still hadn’t opened. The students began murmuring in confusion, especially Celina, who looked restless beside her.

“Where’s the headmaster? Why isn’t she coming yet?”

“Be patient, she’s probably busy.”

“But, Ely...”

Elysia placed her finger gently on Celina’s lips. “Trust me.”

That single phrase was enough to make Celina slump back in her seat.

Her violet eyes turned toward the still-closed door. They were supposed to be studying about dungeons, but the headmaster who was scheduled to teach had not shown up.

It was unusual for a teacher to be this late. Normally, before the second bell rang, they would already be sitting up front, resting their chin in their hands.

Yet just a few minutes into that thought, the floor beneath their classroom began to glow green.

“W-what magic circle is this?!”

“What’s happening?”

“Who did this?!”

Shouts of confusion echoed around her. Unable to bear the noise, Elysia folded her rabbit ears down until they touched her hair, covering them with her palms.

The glowing circle flared brightly before swallowing them all.

******

Thud.

As the light faded, the students collapsed onto a mound of sand.

Elysia looked around. The wooden desks, elegant decorations, and cabinets full of tools were gone, replaced by dust swirling across an open field. The cozy classroom was no more.

“Huh? Where are we?”

Celina’s question was the first she heard. “A field... maybe?” Elysia replied flatly.

Celina’s eyes darted around. “But Ely... this doesn’t look like a field. It’s too wide, isn’t it?”

Elysia nodded.

Soon after, several enormous magic circles appeared in the distance. Like rain, students from other classes fell onto the sand, raising clouds of dust that made many cough.

Before the dust reached her, Elysia twirled her finger and summoned a magic circle beneath her feet. A gentle wind blew, sweeping the dust away from her and Celina.

“You’re amazing, Ely!”

“Thank you.”

Then a figure brighter than the sun, more radiant than a sunflower, leapt toward her.

“Elyyyy!” Irine threw her arms around her twin sister, rubbing her cheek against Elysia’s. “Is this fate? How are you here?”

“Get off me, you annoying summer rabbit!” Elysia pushed her face away until the hug broke.

Irine and Celina locked eyes, tilting their heads.

“Huh, Irine?”

“Celina?”

They stretched their arms toward each other and embraced. All eyes turned toward the two of them, far too conspicuous for comfort. Elysia shifted uneasily under the stares.

“What are you two doing here? No—more precisely, why are you here?”

“We were in class, then whoosh! We were suddenly teleported here. What about you?”

“No different from you.”

In the midst of the confusion, a sharp clapping sound drew their attention forward. An elderly woman in a purple robe lined with gold stood before them.

Her hair was completely white. Wrinkled skin and dim emerald eyes told of an age that had long devoured her youthful beauty.

Yet in exchange, the gentle smile blooming on her lips was warm, like that of a grandmother smiling at her grandchildren. It was enough to soften every face present.

Nearly every student gaped as the old woman waved her frail hand toward them.

Clang!

Unfortunately, the silence was soon shattered by the sound of metal striking the ground.

Elysia didn’t need to look. She knew that sound all too well. It was the elf teacher with a temper—Miss Lily.

“Mind your manners!” her firm voice rang out. “Before you stands the headmaster who has led this academy for nearly three decades. You should be grateful and show respect—”

The old woman patted Lily’s shoulder. “That’s enough, little Lily. No need to be so formal. I like spirited young people.”

“But...”

“No buts, my dear girl. Or would you prefer I tell your students your little secret from your teenage years?” said the headmaster, laughing softly.

Professor Lily froze, retreating a few steps without protest, though reluctance flickered in her eyes.

The headmaster turned her gaze back to the students. “Hi, my dear grandchildren. My name is Madonna. Don’t be shy, think of me as your grandmother.”

The smile that followed left everyone silent for a heartbeat. Even Elysia’s heart stirred—not by her words, but by the sincerity in her smile.

One of the girls raised her hand, asking why they had all been gathered together instead of remaining in their respective classes.

Madonna chuckled lightly before answering.

“I’m too old to visit each of your classrooms one by one. That’s why I gathered you all here. Forgive me if it’s inconvenient.”

An apology? Those simple words left every student stunned. It was something they had never expected to hear.

“Huooooh!”

The students cheered joyfully, fists raised to the sky.

“Thank you, Grandma!” shouted the boys in unison.

Elysia pursed her lips, unable to understand why the boys were so excited. Men. I’ll never understand them.

Her gaze shifted back to Madonna. A faint smile crossed her lips. That grandmother... she truly understands her students.

“Ahem!”

Lily cleared her throat loudly, and silence fell at once. Her strictness seemed to extend beyond Elysia’s class to every other as well.

“Lily...” Madonna’s gentle tone sounded like a grandmother scolding her grandchild.

Professor Lily flinched, her shoulders tensing before she turned away.

Madonna lifted her shoulders. “I don’t like your methods, but thank you for keeping the class quiet.” She then placed her fingertips on her collarbone, and a faint glowing circle appeared.

“Now, let us begin our lesson, my sweet children.”

Elysia’s shoulders lifted slightly. The voice sounded so clear, as if it spoke directly into her mind. Her eyes widened as a green sheet of light unfolded before her.

A hologram?! The headmaster just created a holographic board?!

When Madonna moved her fingers, the board filled with glowing characters. The sight left everyone in awe, including Elysia—who silently wondered what kind of magic the woman was using and how she could do it.

“Now, today we’ll learn about dungeons. I’m sure some of you already know a little about them. Who would like to come forward and explain?”

Almost every student raised their hand at once.

Madonna clapped once, a fragile smile brightening her aging face. “My, it seems many of you already understand. How about we skip the basics then? I’m sure all of you already know them, right?”

“Eh?”

Everyone looked around in confusion. Only Elysia narrowed her eyes, trying to guess what Madonna was planning.

“So? Do you agree? Wouldn’t it be better to go straight to practice instead of drowning in theory?” she asked, smiling again like a grandmother coaxing her grandchildren.

Everyone still looked confused. No one dared to answer aloud. But then, Madonna drew their attention again with a single clap.

“Silence means agreement. Since no one objects, let us proceed to the next session.” The corners of her lips curved upward, full of mystery.

“Dungeon exploration for the first-year students!”

Elysia tilted her head. Dungeon exploration...? Is that really part of today’s lesson? Isn’t it too soon?