Karina, daughter of Ignis, the mightiest dragon lord and Headmaster of the illustrious Academy, and Lyra, the revered Platinum Scale Healer. She was a genius. Born into a lineage that practically defined power and grace, she embodied both with effortless perfection. Did anyone doubt she was destined for greatness? Could anyone ever challenge her position at the apex of the academy? It seemed not.
Practical combat exams? A delightful showcase of her innate strength and honed technique, leaving opponents breathless or flat on their backs. Written theory exams? A mere formality, her mind absorbing and processing complex magical matrices and historical texts with the speed and precision of a perfectly calibrated clockwork. She was, quite simply, the best. And wasn’t it exhausting for everyone else, chasing a standard they could never hope to reach? Definitely.
A month ago, a ripple disturbed the perfectly still waters of Karina’s academic world: a transfer student, Du. She hadn't given them much thought. Another face in the crowd, another student who would eventually learn their place – somewhere far, far below her. But today was different. Today, the air filled with anticipation as the final exam results were pinned to the grand bulletin board in the central courtyard. A hush fell over the milling students as Karina approached. She didn't walk; she glided, her tail swishing with regal confidence, her head held high. A few students muttered under their breath, others just sighed or rolled their eyes with slight resentfulness, but no one dared challenge her.
Reaching the board, she paused, letting the anticipation build for dramatic effect. A small, knowing smirk played on her lips. "Alright, alright," she announced, her voice carrying across the courtyard, sweet but laced with an undeniable arrogance. "I apologize in advance for inevitably claiming the top spots again. Try not to be too disheartened; someone has to set the benchmark, after all. Second place is the new first for everyone else." Was she the least bit sorry? Absolutely not.
Her eyes swept down the list for the Advanced Combat Practical. As expected. Top of the list. Karina Ignis, Rank 1. A satisfied hum vibrated low in her chest. Of course. Who else could it be? Satisfied, her gaze drifted to the adjacent list: Written Theory Exams. Her smile remained fixed, ready to transform into a more pronounced smirk upon seeing her name listed first across the board. She started scanning from the top, already anticipating the satisfaction.
Except… her name wasn't there. She scanned down the list frantically. Second place. Her name was second. Two points lower! It might as well have been two million miles. It wasn't first. It wasn't perfect. Two measly points below… her eyes snapped back to the top of the list. Who... who could possibly be Rank 1? Her gaze landed on the name above hers. Du's. Topping her? In the written exam? How in the seven hells did that happen? What arcane ritual had they performed? Had they bribed the ancient, incorruptible proctors? Did they cheat? They must have cheated.
Panic began to curdle the smug satisfaction in her gut. Rank 2. Her father would see Rank 2. Her mother, who praised her perfect scores like sacred texts, would see Rank 2. Would they disown her? Send her to live amongst the commoners? Force her to… work? The horror. Her eyes, wide and slightly manic, scanned the crowd, ignoring the sudden stunned silence, the shocked whispers now replacing the expectant ones. Where were they? Where was the culprit? Ah, there. Standing slightly apart, looking... were they trying to look innocent? Bastard.
Without a second thought for decorum, Karina strode, no, stormed across the courtyard like a miniature, enraged storm front. She bypassed astonished students, her tail lashing behind her. She reached Du in seconds, stopping directly in front of them. Her hands shot out, gripping their shoulders hard, her claws just barely sheathed. She shook them with a violent shake that could rattle teeth, and then even harder again. Their body swayed back and forth like a ragdoll. "How?! How did you! How did you score higher than me?! In the written exam?! Are you a goddamn genius?! Did you cheat?! Did you sell your soul?! Tell me! How?!"
"Two points! Two goddamn points! My parents are going to disown me! Do you have ANY idea what this means?!" Her voice cracked with outrage and burgeoning fear. "My parents! My father will see this! My mother! They'll disown me! They'll actually disown their perfect daughter! You... you did this! This is your fault!" She gave them another fierce shake. "You have to fix it! You have to take responsibility! RESPONSIBILITY! This is on you!"
