Professor Spark leaned back against her desk, lightning humming faintly around her fingers like caged serpents.
"Before anyone gets too comfortable listen carefully."
Her voice was calm, almost sweet, but the room held its breath.
"If you want to challenge another student, you may. There is a formal system for duels. Professors will oversee them. Sometimes the match ends when one combatant falls unconscious."
She paused her eyes flicking toward Max and Victoria.
"And sometimes," she continued, smile widening, "death is permitted if both parties consent."
Cold murmurs rippled through the room.
She raised a hand, releasing a thin arc of electricity that crawled through the air like a living being.
"Consider your rivalries wisely."
Silence. Nobody moved.
Professor Spark stood, pacing slowly before the semicircle of desks.
"The strong, the diligent, the clever. Those who adapt will thrive. Others will crumble."
She gestured around the room.
"You are equals for now. First-years. Your battles will define your hierarchy."
Her hand slammed into the wall behind her.
BOOM.
Dust fell. Several students flinched.
"Points are everything," she said, voice sharp enough to cut. "Food, housing, access to spells, privilege earned or lost. You may gamble points in formal matches. You may challenge fellow students to raise your ranking."
Electricity surged from her fingers into a pencil resting on her desk burning it to ash.
"And if you feel a punishment is unfair," she added with a wicked tilt of her head, "you may challenge a professor."
No one spoke.
She let the tension linger then smiled like someone who truly enjoyed the fear she cultivated.
"That's enough for today."
She pointed toward the door.
"Class dismissed. And a warning do not wander after curfew."
Her smile sharpened.
"Girls in the girls' dorms. Boys in the boys' dorms. Anyone caught… exploring… will learn why this academy values discipline."
With that, she dismissed the class.
Max left the room still buzzing from residual electricity. On instinct, he scanned the crowd and spotted a familiar grin.
"Max! Still alive!" Alex thumped his shoulder. "Good sign."
Max laughed despite himself. "Barely."
"You and Victoria really stirred things up," Alex said, lowering his voice. "Half the class wants to get far away from you two. The other half wants front-row seats to a bloodbath."
"Great," Max muttered. "Day one and I already have an audience."
"At least you survived the test," Alex said proudly.
"How was the infirmary?" Max looked Alex up and down.
"Nurse was terrifyingly attractive. And efficient. All healed."
He leaned closer. "Oh and the Headmaster wants me later. No idea why."
Max raised a brow. "Special treatment already?"
Alex shrugged. "Probably for punching the forest."
They walked together toward the dorm buildings as night crept across campus.
A booming voice echoed suddenly overhead.
"ATTENTION STUDENTS!"
A short bald man with a clipboard stood on the steps of the boys' dorm.
"I am Henry, dorm supervisor."
His expression was bored. His tone was not.
"You will find that the building's interior is magically expanded. How large?"
He shrugged.
"Large enough that if you get lost, we will not waste resources rescuing you."
Several students swallowed nervously.
"First-years may choose any available room—for now. After one month, points will determine who keeps their rooms and who gets downgraded."
His gaze sharpened.
"Inside each room is a key card. Lose it and the room becomes permanently locked. Everything inside becomes school property."
A murmur of panic spread.
Henry raised a hand.
"One more thing."
His voice dropped. "After curfew, the rules change. First and second years are no longer separated. Some students assist faculty at night. They are strong. Experienced. And not patient."
Someone whispered. "Assist… how?"
Henry smirked. "You'll find out if you're unlucky."
Then without ceremony he swung open the doors.
Chaos erupted instantly.
Students sprinted inside shoving, grabbing, elbowing, shouting. New magic flared, someone screamed, and someone else got launched backward.
Max barely ducked as a fist swung past his head.
Alex didn't bother dodging he punched back, sending a student flying into a pile of others.
Henry watched from his office doorway feet propped up, amused.
Max didn't stay to watch the carnage. He slipped through the mess, dodging bodies and magical sparks, and sprinted deep into the hall.
No empty rooms.
He ran up the nearest staircase lungs burning, turning corner after corner.
Doors slammed shut around him, one after another.
Finally a room.
Room 253.
Max dove inside and slammed the door.
A soft metallic click sealed it shut.
He leaned against the wall, catching his breath.
The room was small:
A single bed.
One pillow.
A thin blanket.
A tiny bathroom.
Impersonal. Barely better than a cell.
He exhaled. Then noticed something glowing beside the bed.
A floating blue screen.
ROOM UPGRADES AVAILABLE.
Max stared.
A slow smile formed.
So this world really is built like a system…
And he intended to master it.