Chapter 15: Study Group Disaster

The bulletin board in the main lobby of the Royal Magic Academy was packed with a crowd of students elbowing each other to see the list of basic magic practical study group assignments. 

I stood somewhat far from the crowd, arms crossed over my chest with a neat uniform and an ice-cold face, wearing a careless expression as if the group placement meant nothing to me. 

*As long as it's not a group with the prince, the heroine, or that delinquent Raven, my life will definitely be fine,* I prayed internally. *Please grant me a group full of ordinary background NPCs who will stay quiet when told to stay quiet!* 

Once the student crowd started shifting to make way, I stepped closer to the bulletin board and scanned the rows of names on the parchment. 

My eyes instantly locked onto group number three. 

Responsible Lead: **Lady Alicia Valerian**. 

Below my name, three group member names were listed: 

1. Elena Rosehart

2. Cedric Arven

3. Raven D'Ark

The world around me suddenly stopped spinning. 

*Wait... WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!* 

A hysterical scream exploded so loudly inside my head that I nearly passed out on the spot. 

*Why! Why are all the most headache-inducing main characters crammed into a single group?! The clinging heroine, the gossip-mongering blonde boy, and the lightning maniac with a midnight-duel hobby—they're all in my group?! Professor Orion, what deep grudge do you hold against me to hand down such a brutal social punishment?!* 

Cold sweat poured down my back, yet I maintained my arrogant pose with chin held high, trying to look composed before the other students who began looking at me with awe and envy. 

"Incredible! Lady Alicia is leading a group containing this year's top students!" someone whispered to my left. 

"A true elite group. It feels impossible for anyone to compete with them." 

I swallowed hard. *Elite, my foot! This isn't an elite group, this is a suicide bombing squad!* 

"Uhm... excuse me, Lady Alicia?" 

A soft voice shattered my despair-filled daze. 

I turned my head slowly with a sharp, cold gaze. Elena Rosehart stood beside me, carrying a stack of thick books with a sweet smile that made my heart feel guilty yet panicky. Behind Elena, Cedric waved cheerfully, while Raven stood with folded arms, wearing a subtle, challenging smirk. 

"It looks like we're in the same group," Elena said enthusiastically. "Looking forward to your guidance, Alicia!" 

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes for a second to accept my bitter fate, then opened them again with a forced, arrogant, subtle smile. 

"Naturally," my voice slipped out cold and authoritative. "Do not expect to slack off under my supervision." 

Inside, I was already preparing to wail out loud at the thought of next week's group training session chaos.