Ice Queen

Walking into the boy's dormitory after what felt like an eternity navigating the streets and shops, I was greeted by the sight of Selina, the wolf-woman dorm keeper, standing by the entrance. Her silver fur shone under the dim light, and her piercing eyes locked onto me as I entered. For a split second, I thought I was in trouble. You know that look your teacher gives when you're five minutes late to class? Yeah, like that—but worse.

"Cadet Raja," Selina said, her voice a blend of warmth and authority. "I told you to be back by six. It's almost sunset. You need to follow the academy rules." She folded her arms, and I could almost swear I saw her tail flick in mild irritation.

*Oh, great. Not even my first day and I'm already breaking curfew. Just my luck.*

I gave her an apologetic grin. "Sorry, sister! Won't happen again. I swear I'll be on time from now on."

*Look, I know what you're thinking. 'Did he really just call her sister?' Yes, I did. And let me tell you, in a world where people treat half-breeds like her with less respect than used gum, a little kindness can go a long way. And I used to call others as sister and bro.*

Selina blinked, clearly caught off-guard by the "sister" bit, but her expression softened. "Just be careful next time, Raja. You're new, and the academy has its rules. I don't want you getting into trouble."

*Wow. Who knew calling someone 'sister' could work this well?.*

As she spoke, her eyes drifted down to the cage in my hand, where the sickly black fox I'd just bought at the market was curled up. She tilted her head, studying both the fox and me with what I could only describe as… concern?

"Is that… a Shadow Fox?" she asked, crouching down to peer closer at the fox. Then, her gaze flicked back to me. "Why do you have it?" she wants to the reason because most people eat this fox. Harming creatures are not allowed here.

"Yeah, I, uh, thought I'd give it a home. I mean, look at him. Poor guy's not doing so well."

*I'm not gonna lie. I bought this fox because he reminded me of my old dog. You know, back when things were simple. Just me, my dog, and—ah, who am I kidding? It's a sad story, not worth getting into right now. Let's just say I'm a sucker for lost causes.*

Selina's eyes widened slightly. "These foxes… they don't bond with people. They're not like pets. Most would just eat them, thinking they're bad luck."

"Well," I shrugged, "I'll just have to take my chances. I kinda figured, if no one else would, maybe I should."

Selina gave me a long look, the kind that felt like she was sizing me up for a test. Then, without a word, she handed me a small, warm cloth. "Here. Keep it warm. They like warmth, and it'll help him feel safe."

I took the cloth, blinking in surprise. "Thanks, sis. I'll make sure he stays warm."

She watched me for a moment, her expression softening further. "You're a good kid, Raja. Most people wouldn't go out of their way for a fox like that. And… you calling me 'sister'... that's not something I hear from students. Especially not human ones."

I smiled. "Well, I guess I'm not most people."

*Of course I'm not like most people. You're talking to the Extra MC here. Extra Special treatment? That's kind of in the job description.*

Selina handed me a small, magical bottle filled with warm milk. "Use this. Heat it up before you feed him. And don't give him your meal. You need to eat too."

I opened my mouth to argue, but just then—*grrrr…*

My stomach growled. Loudly.

*Yep. That just happened. Stomach growls at the worst possible moments, am I right?*

Selina raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "I take it you didn't eat anything?"

"I… uh…" I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. "I might have skipped lunch."

She shook her head, chuckling softly. "Sit tight. I'll get you some bread and more milk. You need it."

Moments later, Selina returned with a small tray of bread and a larger jug of milk. She placed it in front of me, the scent of freshly baked bread making my stomach growl even louder.

"You can eat while warming the milk for your fox," she said, handing me a small package. "Your uniforms, by the way. Don't forget them."

I nodded, gratefully accepting both the food and the package. "Thanks, sis. Really. You're the best."

Selina's face softened further, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Just don't make a habit of coming back late, alright? Now, go take care of that little one."

I left the common area with my tray of food and my fox, feeling a warmth I hadn't felt in a long time. As I walked towards my room, I couldn't help but think back on Selina's kindness.

*You ever have one of those moments where you realize someone's looking out for you? Like, even in the smallest ways? Yeah, this was one of those. And for someone like me, who's used to fending for myself, it felt… nice.*

And who knows? Maybe this shadowy little guy and I would bond after all.

Once back in my room, I placed the small cage with the sick fox in the corner, somewhere safe and out of the way. My eyes drifted over the tiny creature—its body frail and shivering. *Shadow fox or not, the little guy doesn't deserve this.*

I opened my space ring, searching through the items I had stocked earlier. My fingers brushed against a single C-rank healing potion. It was worth a decent amount, but the fox needed it more than I did. I pulled out the potion and uncorked it, the faint scent of herbs and magic wafting into the air.

Carefully, I lifted the fox out of its cage. For a moment, I hesitated, surprised by how small it was. *It fits in my palm perfectly. Tiny guy, but tough—just like me. Well, like how I *want* to be.*

I gently tilted its head and let a few drops of the potion slide into its mouth. The fox's fur twitched as it swallowed, its chest rising and falling ever so slightly. As I watched over him, I couldn't help but talk.

"I get it, buddy. You're probably scared, separated from your parents… It's rough, isn't it?" My voice softened as I stroked the little guy's head. "I wouldn't know what good parents are like. I'm a middle child, you know? Not the oldest, not the youngest. Just kinda… there. Guess that's why I talk so much. To remind myself I exist." I chuckled, though there was a tinge of sadness to it.

*You guys know what I'm talking about, right? Middle child syndrome, the glorious curse of being the forgotten one. It's either 'you're too young for this' or 'you should know better by now.' No in-between.*

I sighed, glancing down at the fox again. "But still… I was grateful to them. My parents, I mean. They weren't perfect, but they gave me enough. I respect that. Just wish I could've proven myself to them."

The fox let out a tiny whimper in its sleep, almost as if it understood.

"Hey, don't give up on me, okay? Don't give up on yourself. Everyone might call you trash, but screw them. Prove them wrong." I tightened my grip, but gently, not to hurt the fox. "I couldn't prove it to my parents, but you can. I'll support you all the way."

For a second, I swore the fox's eyelids fluttered. Slowly, it opened one eye halfway, staring at me with weak but curious eyes.

I smiled, feeling a strange sense of relief wash over me. "There you are… I'm calling you Jai. It means victory. You're gonna live up to that, little buddy."

Jai let out a soft noise before closing his eyes again, falling into a peaceful sleep. I placed him back into the cage, wrapping the warm cloth around him. He looked a little more at peace now, though still far from healthy.

"Rest up, Jai," I whispered, standing up. Then he turned his head towards readers "You've got a whole life ahead of you. And hey, to everyone out there, if you've got a second, maybe shoot a prayer or something Jai's way, yeah? Let's get some good vibes going so *our dear author* makes sure Jai pulls through. We all know the author's pulling the strings here, but a little prayer won't hurt. The more love we send, the better his odds."

With a sigh, I moved to the center of the room and sat cross-legged. The floor beneath me was cold, but I had other things on my mind—like the fact that my mana circuits were practically useless.

"Alright," I muttered to myself. "Let's get down to business."

*Now, here's the thing, folks. The previous Raja, bless his soul, was a bit of an airhead. Dumb as rocks when it came to the basics. Lucky for me, I've read enough fantasy novels to know my way around mana, ki, chi, yin-yang, chakra—you name it. If it's got energy, I'll figure it out.*

I closed my eyes, focusing inward. My mana circuit was a mess, all tangled and weak, but I wasn't going to let that stop me. Slowly, I began channeling energy through my body, trying different methods I'd read about—Eastern techniques, Western theories, heck, even some sci-fi ideas.

"Let's see if anything sticks…" I mumbled. "Time for some *experimenting*, baby!"

For the next few hours, I sat there in the center of my room, trying out every mana training method I could think of. Some made my circuits throb painfully, others just made me feel silly. But I wasn't giving up. I couldn't. I had too much to prove, both to myself and to everyone else here.

*So, uh, yeah. This is the part where we cut away and skip the long training montage. I'll spare you the details. Just know, it was intense, it was painful, and I'm probably going to regret not stretching before starting.*

As the hours ticked by, I finally collapsed onto the floor, drained but satisfied. My circuits felt a little clearer not fully, my mana a bit more responsive. It wasn't much, but it was progress.

"Not bad for a first day," I muttered to myself, glancing over at Jai, who was still sleeping soundly.

"Let's both get stronger together, alright?"

But Frist let's eat the food. Then he stood up and took the food.

Raja sat down cross-legged, the small slice of bread still in his hand, and sighed. "Alright, I will start round two after dinner. But More raw bread, more pain. I swear, this 'eat-bread-and-train' routine is turning into a sadistic cooking show in future. I should say goodbye to all favourite foods of my past life, how sad?. Anyway , Welcome to *Mana Madness*! Your host? Me. Your contestant? Also me. And your prize? Survival… hopefully."

I took a deep breath, finishing the bread in one quick bite. Few minutes after.

I took out two D-rank mana recovery potions, popped them open, and chugged them both down like I was drinking energy drinks before an all-nighter.

"Tastes like expired soda, but hey, it gets the job done," I said, setting the empty vials aside.

As he sat there, his body feeling sluggish and sore, he glanced over at the slumbering fox. "At least one of us is getting a good night's sleep, huh? Look at Jai, cozy as ever. Maybe I'll get lucky and evolve into a magical bread golem before this is all over."

Raja rolled his shoulders, feeling the mana coursing through him again. "Alright, let's activate *Mana McCircuit Fix-It 2000*! I'm making up these names on the spot, but hey, if it works, it works. Basically, it's like trying to unclog a drain. The potions are the plunger, and my body? Well, that's the drain. Lovely, right?"

(He is talking nonsense because he is going to face pain again)

He focused on the mana circuit, pushing it through his body, grimacing as the familiar sting returned. Every pulse felt like fire crawling beneath his skin. The potions he drank earlier were still kicking in, amplifying the rush. "Who said this was gonna be easy? Oh, right, *nobody*. Probably should've named this technique *The Masochist's Cooking*."

Minutes turned to hours as Raja battled through the pain, sweat beading on his forehead. "C'mon, c'mon... Clear it out! Who knew my mana circuit was this much of a mess? At least now I know why Old Raja was a scrub. Can't do anything when your inner wiring's worse than a woke star wars Project."

After what felt like an eternity, he felt a change—a painful one, but a change nonetheless. The mana began to settle, becoming more refined, more controlled. His body, though burning with exhaustion, felt stronger. "Oh-ho, ladies and gents, I think we've leveled up. Time to *power nap for victory*!"

When Raja opened his eyes, dawn light was streaming through the window. His mana circuit had advanced to D-rank, though he felt like his body had been through a blender. "Wait, what time is it?"

He was not very proud about it but felt happy because Upgrading to D is simple matter but after rank d is note worthy.

He glanced at the still-sleeping fox, Jai, now breathing peacefully. "At least one of us is relaxed... Wish me luck, little buddy." He then looked out the window. "Oh, crap! The ceremony!"

Jumping up, Raja rushed to the bathroom, freshening up in record time. As he pulled on his academy uniform, he admired the details of the outfit in the mirror. "Okay, this is kinda cool. Midnight blue with silver accents? Yeah, I can work with that. And the brooch? Gotta say, it's a nice touch. Fashionable *and* practical."

As he slipped on his boots and made sure everything was in place, he glanced over at Jai once more. "Stay strong, buddy. Don't let anyone tell you you're trash. We're both underdogs here, and we've got a lot to prove. If the author lets you survive, we'll be unstoppable." He gave a wink to the imaginary fourth wall. "Cross your fingers, readers. Jai's in for a glow-up, but only if you believe."

With that, Raja sprinted out of his dorm room, rushing towards the big hall where the ceremony was about to begin. "Ten minutes! I've done worse in less time."

He saw more than 50000 kids here.

As he slid into the back row, managing to avoid being noticed, he muttered to himself, "Made it. No one saw a thing... Stealth level 100, right? Nah, let's not push my luck."

He sat down quietly and breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, now let's just pretend I totally had this planned all along."

Then he saw his side kids to find out they are wolf race kids.

Everyone are chatting with others. Raja know he can not identify main characters or og main lead.

Then he heard a chilling voice which made him Stop thinking.

"Silence"

Those words contains cold mana which traveled whole hall.

'it feels like someone speak so loud from my back'

Then he saw some one on stage.

*this person who speaking in regular tone but somehow it resonating so loud that I can hear from back sit. So this is speech technique or what?*

Lady Seraphina Frostveil, the feared **Ice Queen**, stood tall before the assembly of wide-eyed first-year students. Her silver hair cascaded over her regal robes, and her icy-blue eyes pierced through the crowd, making even the most arrogant noble students uneasy. The grand hall of Avalon Academy was filled with over 50,000 students from all races—humans, elves, dwarves, and more—both noble and commoner alike. As she stepped forward, the air itself seemed to grow colder, as though her presence alone commanded discipline.

"Welcome to Avalon Academy," her voice rang out, cold and sharp, like the crack of ice. "Where discipline is not a request—it is a requirement. I don't care what family name you carry, what titles your parents boast of, or what fortune or fame you've known. In this academy, **only merit matters**. You will either rise through your efforts, or you will fall, forgotten."

Her eyes swept across the room, landing briefly on the clusters of noble students who tried to stand taller than the rest, their postures stiff and proud. She smirked coldly.

"I'm sure most of you noble brats have heard of me. I'm the one who **bitch-slapped the heads of multiple noble families** for crossing me. Yes, I **beat them senseless**, just as I will any of you who think you are above the rules here."

The hall grew silent, a wave of fear and awe rippling through the crowd. Seraphina's reputation preceded her; stories of how she humbled nobles with the back of her hand were legendary.

"There will be no preferential treatment. Break the rules, and you will face **me**. Believe me, you will wish you hadn't. Everyone knows what this academy is about—**survival**. This place is designed to turn you into warriors capable of defending your lands from the **demons and the Djinn**, those twisted souls who have turned against us. This is your only chance to become more than fodder for the coming war."

Her tone was cold, but it held an unmistakable truth. She did not soften her words. She had no intention of comforting them.

"Now, let me make something perfectly clear. You have **one week** to prepare for the first test. By the weekend, you will face your trial. Only **1,000** of you will remain. Out of 50,000 students, only 1,000 will have earned the **100 merit points** required to stay in this academy. The rest? They will have no choice but to join the army of their kingdom. Those of you who win will be trained further, given access to power and knowledge that could change your destiny. For the rest, **the frontlines await**."

She paused, allowing the weight of her words to sink in.

"For those of you who have never wielded a weapon, or have no experience with magic, the academy has provided **libraries and private training rooms** for each student which will be added today. Use them. Your training starts **now**. If you fail to utilize the resources available to you, it's on you when you fall short."

Her gaze became even sharper, her words cutting through any illusion of safety.

"The test is simple: **Survive and earn merit**. You will be **teamed up with second-year students**, but know this—**they won't help you**. They are forbidden from sharing information about the trial. The only way to pass is to **cooperate** with your peers. If you cheat, attack your fellow students, or try to sabotage others, **I will personally ensure you face the most dangerous punishment possible**. As the saying goes, '**In this world, those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum**.' And I assure you, betraying your teammates in this academy is a death sentence."

The hall was silent, tension filling the room as Seraphina's cold presence overwhelmed them.

"This academy was built to ensure the survival of all races. **Demons and Djinn** are tearing apart our world, and the attacks have only increased. If you can't work together here, if you can't prove your worth, you're not only failing yourself but **everyone you care about**. If you can't become one, you have no chance of defeating the demons. The test will measure not just your individual strength but your **ability to cooperate**. If you can't do that, you have no place here."

She waved her hand, and a soft glow filled the hall as a device materialized on each student's wrist—**a cadet watch**.

"These watches will track your performance and deliver information about the test. Use them wisely. From now on, your merit points will determine your fate. Gain as many as you can, or be prepared to march into battle as soldiers defending our borders."

Her voice turned cold once more as she concluded, "There is **no room for weakness** in this academy. You either improve, or you're out. Work hard, or be forgotten."

With that, she turned her back to the stunned crowd, her icy demeanor unshaken. There was no applause, no cheers—only the cold reality she had just delivered, sinking into the hearts of every student present.

Seraphina walked away, leaving the weight of her words behind. The first-years, both noble and commoner alike, now understood that their future was not guaranteed. **Only the strong and disciplined would survive**..