Academy Enrollment
This world is home to countless races and nations, and just as many academies to match. The only common rule among them is that, once enrolled, the class divide between nobles and commoners vanishes—everyone's treated equally.
Well, aside from that. There are academies exclusive to nobles, others just for commoners, and all sorts in between. Some accept only specific races; others are so elite you can't even approach without talent. I picked the most straightforward and renowned one. Truth be told, it was also the closest to home.
My plan was to enroll there as a commoner. Things had gone completely sideways from the start, but I couldn't just sit around moping, right?
I took in the sight of distant Pluwitch Academy, gawking like the country bumpkin I was, my head swiveling every which way in awe.
[Grand Duke: "You don't come to the city often, do you?"]
"Nope! Too busy working the fields back home, and no real reason to push myself for a long trip."
Sure, the markets sold all sorts of curiosities and tasty treats, but our village had Merlen's bakery, which was insanely famous. Our local specialties were cheese and milk, and folks even said that was all thanks to her.
"She was close with Mom, too... wonder why she suddenly went on that long business trip."
I'd planned to ask her discreetly since Grand Duke was around, but she'd left for her trip the very day Mom vanished. With a bakery that popular, maybe some noble summoned her?
"Anyway, cities really are packed, huh?"
[Grand Duke: "Truly clueless... What did the first generation even teach you?"]
"Stop badmouthing my mom!"
[Grand Duke: "No need for lectures from the teenage boy who drove his own mother out of the house."]
"Ugh."
Grand Duke, who never missed a chance to jab, opened his beak to explain why the city was so crowded.
[Grand Duke: "They're here for academy enrollment. As you know, academies have no age limits—racial differences make for huge age gaps."]
"Oh... so not just class, but age equality too?"
[Grand Duke: "Indeed. They use senior-junior titles. That's why dropouts and repeaters flock back for re-enrollment."]
"What? Doesn't concern me!"
[Grand Duke: "Haha, true enough."]
Commoners could enroll just by paying tuition—no tests needed. I wasn't some titled noble; just a rural farmer. No competing with repeaters for me.
Grand Duke knew that, chuckling as he stretched his wings and pointed ahead. "Let's get your enrollment sorted quick."
[Grand Duke: "Mother and son attending the same academy... quite the fateful bond."]
"Huh? Mom went here too?"
[Grand Duke: "Probably why we settled nearby. We spent ages together, but honestly, I never could read her mind."]
Even his contracted familiar couldn't fathom Mom's thoughts? She always had that quirky side where you couldn't guess what was going on in her head, but apparently it ran deeper than I'd realized.
"...Is that really all the line?"
I figured I'd come early to buy my uniform too, but this crowd was the line? Shocking.
[Grand Duke: "Bored of standing? I'll handle the enrollment."]
"Familiars are for that, right?" With a flap, he soared over the crowd and vanished.
Was cutting like that okay? But there seemed more nobles than commoners anyway, so probably fine.
"Do commoners just submit fees and bounce, leaving lines like this for nobles?"
Better not to irk the nobles and get blacklisted—maybe they rushed it and left.
Still feels off somehow.
I'd taken the carriage since dawn, but no other commoners like me in sight. And those stares I'd been feeling... unsettling. Grand Duke must've sensed them too, sending him flying ahead.
"Guess I'll grab the uniform while I wait..."
My body was female now, but my mind was still very much male. The shirt fit, long sleeves aside, but pants? They squeezed over my hips and butt—barely got them on. Normally I'd belt them to stay up; now they pinched so tight my waist throbbed.
"Haa... this sucks."
Just standing made my back and shoulders ache. And Mom's precious sword, light as a feather in one hand as a guy? Now it took two to lift.
"Eh, no swinging needed... it's more a good-luck charm anyway."
Thinking back, Mom gave it to me—couldn't be cursed, right?
Academy enrollment season had returned. Those who flunked entrance exams or got expelled mid-term eyed their second chances.
Graduation helped with jobs, sure, but for nobles, it was basic training. They called it proof you'd "made it" as a full-fledged member of society.
Of course, if you were talented enough, no need for academy. But the connections you forged there became your network later—and such learning opportunities weren't everywhere. Most enrolled unless exceptional.
Thus, failures and dropouts steeled themselves for another shot.
—But that applied only to those with titles or status. Commoners living in their world just paid tuition and enrolled—no exam required. Why bother otherwise?
Unless driven to succeed, to brighten their future, or blessed with talent, no reason to come. Academies scaled with growth, so no tests for commoners. Catching up as years advanced was their exam.
"Phew, time to enter the academy—the 'social demon realm' at last."
"Heard if you befriend the wrong crowd, you end up a professor's assistant, trapped forever."
"Catch a dropout's eye, and you're done. They have grade retention, but expulsion screams 'major delinquent'."
"Please, just match me with someone decent for the exam!"
Saplings from fine families, yet right now, just hopeful kids craving equality in enrollment.
Even the old man on the bench tensed, eyeing potential rivals warily, guarding against pre-exam injury.
Then the bustling city froze in eerie silence.
Perplexed by the inexplicable, no one spoke. They realized their own mouths were sealed, heads turning instinctively to look.
And there they saw it.
Golden eyes that chilled souls with a mere glance. Despite the sun, her robe hid pitch-black darkness within. Contrasting stark white hair and lashes gleamed so bright they nearly glowed gold like her eyes.
But what truly chilled them? The crow on her shoulder.
No words needed—"six eyes" scanning about. No noble ignorant of it.
"W-Witchcraft...?"
To Pluwitch Academy alumni, she was terror, nightmare—a name legends feared uttering.
Know the legendary witch? Then you knew her "six-eyed crow."
Others, unaware of witches or Witchcraft, simply buckled under her presence.
Please, don't talk to us...!
Mom, I think I'm done for this year too...
Bro... let's enroll together next year...
Overwhelming pressure crushed spirits instantly. Her scanning gaze felt like a predator hunting prey—everyone whipped away.
Even busy folk froze solid. Seeing the vanished line, Witchcraft halted.
For the terrified, pure madness. But she sent her familiar ahead, left with it upon return—and only then did breaths release.
"Gotta skip enrollment this year."
"Nah, just avoid her, right?"
"What's she got to do with Witchcraft?"
"Can we even enroll this year?"
Prospective students quaked in fear.
Pluwitch had been utterly demolished four times—not by outside terror, but her antics as a student. Half-destructions, classroom craters, dorm infernos piled on. No wonder "calamity" stuck.
And her heir enrolling this year?
The bench old-timer stood, neatly abandoning plans. "Third time's the charm—in three years."
"Whoa, where'd everyone go?"
The street emptied while I shopped for my uniform. That endless line—gone? Should've just waited patiently instead of sending Grand Duke.
Standing out like that? Bound to hear whispers, and it'd sting. My body's betrayal already made tears well up against my will. Emotions harder to bottle now.
"Too worried... can't shake this gloom. Think I can handle academy life?"
Missing runaway Mom, my gender swap, academy ahead—nothing eased my mind. Sigh after sigh.
Grand Duke comforted: no worries needed.
"Wanna chat with fellow newbies before enrolling, but they're avoiding me."
[Grand Duke: "Relax. Nothing's more untouchable than a transgender minority black girl."]
"What're you even saying?"
[Grand Duke: "Get slapped with 'racial discrimination against classmate' expulsion? Even a prince chokes."]
"A commoner meeting a prince? Dream on."
[Grand Duke: "Commoner?"]
"...I'm not?"
[Grand Duke: "Your mother's a duchess in this land."]
"...? Then you filed my enrollment as noble, not commoner?"
[Grand Duke: "Yep."]
"We're screwed...!"
What?! Spill the biggest bombshell first!! I'd lived my whole life as a commoner farmer!!
"H-Hey!! I can't take the exam!!! I'll flunk!! No powers at all!!!"
[Grand Duke: "A witch who can't use magic? Can't fly a broom?"]
Only now did we grasp our mismatched views.
A novice witch, aware of her powers for barely a day. Unaware Mom was noble—to be fair, she never said.
[Grand Duke: "Academies are for learning and growth. Go study."]
"No, I can't enroll!!! I won't get in!!!"
I tore at my hair, screaming, but cruel reality stood firm.
Plop.
I collapsed on the street, pent-up emotions bursting in tears and wails.
"I hate you, Mom───!!!"
"Ugh, what's this in the street?"
[Grand Duke: "Yeah, total stranger."]
As crowds gathered amid the commotion, Grand Duke blended in, hiding his face with a wing in shame. Come on, you knew better than that!!