Kaiya slouched in her bench at the back of the classroom, the hard wooden seat creaking under her weight. The lecture hall was a bland affair with rows of desks scarred with years of doodles, fluorescent lights buzzing overhead, and a chalkboard up front smeared with half-erased notes on editing software.
The first bell had rung, signaling the end of the introductory lecture on advanced editing tools: layers, transitions, color grading—the works.
She let out a dramatic sigh, slumping forward until strings of her short blue hair draped over her face like a curtain.
"This is boring," she exclaimed under her breath, loud enough for a few nearby students to glance her way but not enough to draw the professor's ire.
'Who the hell wants to learn about editing tools and shit?'' she thought, her mind wandering back to the magical wonders she'd glimpsed on the drive here.
Floating skateboards, flame-grilled burgers from palms—real power, real excitement. Here she was, stuck in a room full of magic-less rejects like herself, droning on about pixels and timelines.
'If I'm gonna be a pornstar in this world, do I really need to know how to splice clips? Hey, System, will I be able to learn and use magic? Like, actually shoot fireballs or summon hot demons or something?'
The system's voice chimed in her head, as snarky and unhelpful as ever.
[If you complete the quests, you will be.]
Kaiya's pink cat-like eyes lit up like fireworks. She bolted upright, her large chest bouncing with the sudden movement, drawing a few more furtive glances from classmates.
'Quests? Like in games? Hell yeah! Give me one right now—something easy, like "Flash a smile and gain XP." This could be my ticket out of loser. Magic affinity zero? Pfft, not for long.'
Her heart raced with possibilities: imagining herself in a dungeon, weaving spells while looking drop-dead gorgeous, monsters falling at her feet from attacks.
But suddenly, her gaze locked onto a pair of green eyes staring back at her from the front bench. The boy had a happy, almost dreamy smile plastered on his face, clearly lost in whatever fantasy he'd been spinning while ogling her.
Now, caught in the act, his eyes widened in shock, the smile vanishing like smoke.
"I... I am sorry," he stammered, his voice cracking as he whipped around to face the front, his ears and neck turning as red as a tomato.
Kaiya smirked inwardly, a rush of satisfaction warming her from the inside.
'Haha... see how boys fall over for my body? This is perfect. Back as Toya, I'd be the one staring and stuttering. Now? I'm the star. Power shift, baby.' She rummaged through the syncing memories of her new body—ah, there it was.
His name was Lian. An average boy, really, black hair neatly combed, green eyes that sparkled with intelligence, slim build hidden under a plain university hoodie.
He was the class topper, always acing exams, the kind of guy who volunteered for group projects and actually did the work. 'Cute in a nerdy way. Wonder if he's ever even kissed a girl. Probably not—perfect target for some fun.'
As if answering her unspoken call, the system pinged again, a purple screen materializing in her vision like a holographic popup.
[Newbie Quest]
{ Objective: Make the boy, Lian, faint}
{Time: 24 hours}
{Rewards: 100 XP and New System Route Unlocked}
{Failure - System Disintegration}
Kaiya stared at the screen, stunned, her eyes twitching in disbelief. The classroom faded around her as she processed it.
'How the hell am I supposed to make him faint? Is this some kind of joke? What, am I gonna punch him? Or scare him with a ghost story? you twisted bastard—this is your idea of a starter quest!'
[Hey, Host, creativity is key. Figure it out. Or stay a zero-affinity scrub forever.]
She groaned internally, rubbing her temples. 'Great, just great. Faint him how? Overwhelm him with my charms? Flash him and watch him pass out from nosebleed? Wait, that could work... but in class? Risky. Think, Kaiya, think. You're a pornstar-to-be; seduction's your game now.'
Her mind raced with scenarios, each more explicit than the last: leaning over his desk, whispering something naughty, letting her dress slip just a bit.
A thought sent a shiver down her spine, mixing with the frustration. 'Why Lian? Is the system reading my thoughts? Perverted AI...'
While she waged her internal war with the system, the door swung open, and the next professor entered.
He was a fairly old man, his silver hair thinning at the temples, wrinkles mapping out a life of experience on his weathered face. He carried a worn leather briefcase and wore a tweed jacket.
Kaiya sifted through her memories—nope, no sign of this guy. He must be new, replacing the old directing instructor who'd retired or something.
The professor walked to the center of the room with a measured stride, setting his briefcase on the desk. "Good morning, class," he said, his voice faint and warm, like a grandfather telling bedtime stories.
"I'll be your new teacher for Directing this semester. My name is Professor Harlan Graves. I've spent over thirty years in the film industry. Started as a grip boy on indie sets, worked my way up to directing award-winning documentaries. Now, I'm here to pass on what I've learned."
He scanned the room, his eyes twinkling with genuine interest. "Before we dive into the syllabus, let's get to know each other. I'll call on you one by one. Introduce yourself, tell us a bit about why you're here, and share what you want to be after graduation. Filming is a passion field; let's hear your dreams."
The class shifted uncomfortably. Introductions always felt like a spotlight no one wanted. Professor Graves started from the front row, pointing to a mousy girl with glasses.
"Um, hi. I'm Sara Kline. I'm studying filming because I love storytelling through visuals. After graduation, I want to be a cinematographer, capturing those perfect shots that make movies unforgettable."
Graves nodded approvingly. "Excellent. Cinematography is the eye of the film. Next?"
A lanky guy with messy brown hair stood up. "Name's Marco Ruiz. I'm here 'cause editing in the first class blew my mind. Dream job? Video editor for big studios, maybe even Hollywood-level stuff, cutting action sequences that get hearts pumping."
"Good ambition," Graves said. "Editing is where the story truly comes alive."
A few more went by: a bubbly redhead named Lena who dreamed of becoming a script supervisor, ensuring continuity in blockbuster productions; a quiet kid named Theo aspiring to be a sound designer, crafting immersive audio landscapes for films.
Each answer aligned with the course—directors, producers, technicians, all chasing the glamour of the screen without the crutch of magic.
Kaiya's turn crept up, her heart pounding as Graves' gaze landed on her. She stood slowly, her black dress hugging her curves, drawing whispers from the class.
'Okay, What do I say? The old Kaiya probably wanted to be a boring assistant director or something safe. But me? Toya-inside-Kaiya? I don't feel what she felt.'
She lingered for a moment.
'If i say i wanna be a Pornstar... will they judge? Laugh? Kick me out? Screw it, I'm not hiding. This body, this life—it's for bold moves.'
"And you, miss?" Graves prompted gently.
Kaiya hesitated, her pink lips parting then closing. 'Come on, say it.' She straightened, tossing her blue hair back with a nonchalant flip.
"I'm Kaiya Wheeler. And I wanna work in the AV industry."
The room froze. Gasps rippled through the class like a wave. Sara's mouth dropped open; Marco choked on his water; Lena's eyes widened in scandalized delight. Even Lian turned fully, his green eyes bulging, face paling as if he'd seen a ghost—or something far more enticing.
Professor Graves blinked, his warm smile faltering for a split second before recovering. "AV... as in Adult Video? That's, uh, a specific niche. Care to elaborate on why?"
Kaiya shrugged, playing it cool even as her pulse thundered. "Yeah, adult films. Why not? It's filming at its rawest—emotions, bodies, stories without the fluff. I figure in a world obsessed with magic, there's room for some real, human passion on screen."
Whispers erupted.
"Did she really say that?" "AV? Like porn?" "Bold move..."
Graves cleared his throat, steering the class back. "Well, ambition comes in all forms. We must respect the diversity. Let's move on."
As Kaiya sat down, the system's voice chuckled in her head.
[Nice one, Host]
She smirked, leaning back. 'This is just the beginning. Watch me level up.'