The world around me seemed to slow down.

  I blinked, trying to understand what had just happened, but the only thing I really noticed was how… cold I suddenly felt.

  I looked down.

  The uniform I’d so carefully put on that morning was gone.

  Not torn.

  Not damaged.

  Gone.

  Lavinia stood a few steps away, lips pressed into a thin, furious line, her gaze flicking between me and the crowd of suddenly very interested spectators gathering around us.

  For half a second, the hall went dead silent.

  Then all hell broke loose.

  Whistles.

  Laughter.

  Shouts.

  Heat rushed straight to my face as I realised just how popular I’d become in the span of about three seconds. Turns out, an accidental striptease in the middle of the main hall, right before morning classes, really does wonders for one’s social standing.

  Especially when the underwear is lace.

  Earth-made.

  Honestly, thank every possible deity I wasn’t completely naked - lace underwear survives dark magic remarkably well.

  Proper synthetic fabric!

  Polyester: 1. Destructive spellwork: 0.

  "Hey, raspberry!" someone yelled. "If you need help with spells, I’m happy to assist! We can even share reserves!"

  "Wow, is this some kind of ‘Best First-Year in Underwear’ competition? Because I think we’ve got a clear winner!"

  "Babe, you’re pretty! I’ll help you pass your exams — and have a very educational evening!" another voice called out.

  I clenched my fists.

  "Is this… is this what you were aiming for, Lavinia?" I snapped, even though I already knew the answer. "If you thought humiliating me would work… sorry to disappoint. I have a great figure, and I’m not ashamed of it."

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Her jaw tightened. Her eyes practically crackled with irritation.

  "Pity it didn’t work the way it should have." she hissed. "But don’t worry, newbie. Your luck won’t last forever."

  I straightened my shoulders, ignoring the whistles and sleazy stares.

  Hopefully Elvira wouldn’t be too upset about her outfit meeting a tragic end — I mean, technically it wasn’t my fault. Blame it on Lavinia the Malicious. Honestly, she’s the one who should be invoiced for spontaneous wardrobe combustion.

  Then suddenly someone broke through the crowd.

  Finn.

  Without hesitation, he shrugged off his cloak and draped it over my shoulders, shielding me from the male gaze parade.

  “Have you completely lost your mind, Lavinia?” he snapped, turning to the brunette. He was trying to sound calm, but the tension in his voice was poorly disguised

  Lavinia smirked and gave an exaggerated shrug.

  “What, Finn? Found yourself a cause now? Let her learn this already — the Academy isn’t a place for the weak.”

  Finn shook his head, his gaze dropping to what was left of my outfit.

  “Do you even realise what you just did? That spell could’ve— no, it was meant to strip her skin off.”

  He turned to me then and lowered his voice.

  “Honestly… that’s a brutal spell. I know it hurts, but consider yourself incredibly lucky. It should’ve worked properly. Somehow… it didn’t.”

  I froze, hugging myself and desperately clutching Finn’s cloak before it slid off my shoulders, my brain lagging behind the conversation.

  Wait.

  Did he just say I was supposed to be skinned alive?

  Because that feels like information you normally receive with a bit more warning.

  “What kind of school is this?” I blurted out at last, still completely shell-shocked. “Do people here seriously just… kill each other?”

  “Well,” Finn shrugged, scratching the back of his head like I’d just asked where the toilets were, “technically, yes. It happens. Usually during duels, in designated areas. You know. Health and safety.”

  He paused, then added, helpfully,

  “But the idea is that everyone here learns to defend themselves. Otherwise, what’s the point of teaching all this? If you run into undead, they don’t really care whether you’ve signed a consent form. They’ll just… give you a little test bite.”

  I stared at him, my brain still buffering.

  “Finn,” I said slowly, “I just got here. I don’t know anything. I haven’t even figured out the basics of necromancy. How exactly am I supposed to survive?”

  “Right,” he nodded sympathetically. “First-years don’t usually duel. But there are… exceptions.”

  He thought for a moment.

  “Basically, you either stick together in groups, or you get strong enough that no one feels like trying you.”

  I shook my head in disbelief.

  “And Lavinia?” I asked. “She tried to kill me. Does she just… get away with that?”

  Finn grinned, eyes glinting with unhelpful cheer.

  “Well, technically, she only tried to flay you alive. That’s grievous bodily harm... but not murder. If you’d died from shock or blood loss, that would’ve been… unfortunate. But technically on you.”

  I blinked.

  “And she wouldn’t even get expelled?”

  “Oh no,” he said easily. “No one gets expelled from here, Malinka. All dark mages are required to finish their education and learn to control their power.”

  He gave me a look that was almost kind.

  “You either survive this academy… or it kills you.”