Reincarnated As A First Rate Villain: I Don't Know How To Play My Role

Chapter 27

Chapter 27 - 27The next three days following the royal carriage ride were a whirlwind of unexpected events for Lucien.

Valeria, with her radiant blonde hair cascading down her back like a golden waterfall and piercing blue eyes that sparkled like sapphires in the sunlight, had taken it upon herself to visit the Velebrandt estate's vacant mansion with an almost daily regularity.

Her smile, a masterful blend of warmth and nobility, seemed to light up the very atmosphere around her, making her presence both captivating and impossible to ignore. As she swept through the mansion's dusty halls, her footsteps echoed with a purpose, leaving Lucien to wonder what had prompted this sudden interest in a place that had stood empty for so long.

Though the estate was large, polished, and well-guarded, it was undeniably quiet, its grandeur tempered by a sense of stillness. Even with the discreet presence of housekeepers and the occasional patrol, the halls and rooms seemed to echo with the absence of life. But Valeria's visits were like a warm light breaking through thick clouds—lively, persistent, and impossible to ignore. Her presence infused the estate with a vibrant energy, her laughter and conversation weaving a spell of normalcy over the formal spaces.

Lucien, initially tense from their first awkward encounter, had slowly begun to relax around her—if only slightly—finding himself drawn into her orbit despite his initial wariness. Valeria, for her part, seemed wholly unbothered by the shadows of the past, her gaze fixed firmly on the present. Instead, she brought with her an infectious curiosity and an eagerness to talk, her questions and observations peppering their conversations like sparks.

As they walked through the estate's gardens or sat in its sunlit parlors, Lucien found himself responding to her warmth, his reserve slowly giving way to a tentative sense of ease. Valeria's presence was a gentle thaw, melting the frost of his solitude and bringing a sense of life to the estate's empty spaces.

Each visit was filled with snacks, short walks through the garden, or quiet moments on the veranda as the sun dipped low beyond the trees. But most of all, it was filled with her stories—stories from the Reinegard Empire Academy.

"You know," Valeria said on the second day, twirling her long golden hair between her fingers as she sipped a glass of chilled berry wine, "you'll be awakening soon. Which means you're probably thinking about Reinegard, aren't you?"

Lucien, seated beside her and poking at a fruit tart, looked up. "I've heard of it. But not in detail."

Valeria's eyes sparkled.

"It's the best academy in all of Aerithrall—maybe even the world," she said proudly, her voice light with enthusiasm. "Right in the middle of the continent. Every noble family, major guild, and empire sends their best there."

She leaned closer, her voice lowering in importance. "But it's not easy. Just turning fifteen isn't enough."

Lucien nodded slowly, eyes narrowing in focus. "What do you mean?"

"Well," she began, "to even be considered, you need to pass their entrance examination. It's different for every department—but the most prestigious ones... only take the best. Out of tens of thousands, only the top 1,000 students are accepted in each of the two main departments."

Lucien raised a brow. "Two main departments?"

"Yup," Valeria said with a smile. "The Aura Combat Department and the Magic Combat Department."

She lifted her index finger. "Aura users—like knights, swordsmen, bodyguards, and anyone who strengthens their physical body—are placed in the Aura Combat Department."

Then she raised her middle finger. "Elemental Spirit contractors, mana wielders, scholars, and even priests of the holy path go to the Magic Department."

Lucien rested his chin on his hand, listening intently. Valeria's tone was smooth but informative—like she'd explained this many times before.

"The other departments—potion crafting, magical engineering, even architecture of magic designing—don't have such fierce requirements. But they're also not where the powerful gather. Most students there are either weak mana users or awakened late but still want to contribute."

Lucien nodded. "So people with weak mana can still get in?"

Valeria smiled, crossing one leg over the other. "Exactly. Weak mana users can still infuse potions, create minor spell circuits, or help in surgeries that require mana precision. Even the new Health Department is starting to attract attention. Some think it'll revolutionize how we handle injuries."

Lucien blinked. ...Wait. This world has health studies?

Valeria laughed at Lucien's surprise face. "Not everyone relies on holy healers, you know. That's expensive. Reinegard's 12 High Governors been pushing practical applications for mana. Some think it'll change warfare entirely."

Lucien leaned back, genuinely intrigued. "That's... unexpected."

Valeria continued, "But it's not so forgiving for Aura users. If your aura awakening is weak—too bad. There's only one department. The Aura Department. If you're not strong, they won't even consider you."

She exhaled, her expression growing more serious.

"That's why it's so competitive. At least 20,000 to 30,000 aura awakeners apply every year. It's brutal. Some give up before even trying. If you're not confident in your strength, you're just throwing yourself to the wolves."

Lucien frowned. "What about the magic combat department? Isn't it also competitive?"

Valeria nodded. "It is, but it has more flexibility. Mana can be used in re

What would his path be, once his awakening came?