Aya's Academical Year - Part 1

September 3

Well… this is my first entry in this diary. It feels kinda weird writing in a blank book with—get this—a magic plume! It never runs out of ink, which is pretty awesome. Anyway, I guess I should introduce myself. I’m Aya, a siren from another world, now stuck at this Inasmont Magic Academy thanks to that demon, Serass.

Umako, I don’t know if you’ll ever read this, but… well, here goes. The moment Serass transported me here, I thought I was dreaming. This place looks like something straight out of Howards, except it’s an entire city! Imagine a giant tower built in concentric circles, with the academy standing tall at the center. It’s overwhelming… in a good way, I think?

People kept staring at me as Serass wheeled me through the halls. I guess they’ve never seen a wheelchair before—go figure. But the biggest shock? The principal is Serass’s daughter! Her name’s Freya, and oh my Freya, she’s imposing! Way taller than Serass, with white feathered dragon wings, a long dragon tail, and these intense crimson-red eyes. When we entered her office, she looked so serious that I thought I was in trouble. But then her expression softened, and she hugged Serass, calling her Mom. That threw me off. I mean, a demon mom and a dragon daughter? And they spoke in this strange language I couldn’t understand.

Then, with a few words of magic from Freya, everything changed—I could suddenly understand what they were saying! Real magic, Umako! I still can’t believe it. After a bit of chatting, Serass left me with Freya, who offered to show me around the academy.

Anyway, it’s super late now, and my hand’s getting tired (even if the plume isn’t). I’ll write more tomorrow—there’s so much to say!

—Aya

September 5

I wanted to write yesterday, but it's been two crazy days… I don't even know where to start!

So, they placed me in a class with other seafolk! And get this—the academy has an entire canal system running through parts of the school, like magical rivers flowing through the walls and floors. Seafolk can swim from one classroom to another, which is honestly pretty cool. They’ve even got glass tunnels where land-dwellers can watch us pass by. It feels a bit like being in an aquarium, but at least it means I can get around without too much trouble.

Since I’m a siren, they signed me up for all the water magic classes. Apparently, sirens have a natural affinity for hydrokinesis—controlling currents, shaping water, that kind of stuff. I thought that was awesome until I found out I’m also enrolled in black magic classes. Guess sirens have a bit of a reputation here… apparently, we're known for dark enchantments and luring people to their doom. It’s not fair! Just because I can use my voice to influence others doesn’t mean I’m some kind of villain.

Oh, and speaking of unfair—today, Freya called me to her office again. At first, I thought maybe she wanted to check how I was settling in, but nope. She handed me this collar and told me to put it on. It's made of some kind of glowing silver metal, smooth and warm to the touch, almost like liquid moonlight. I won’t lie—it’s pretty, but the reason behind it? Not so pretty. Apparently, it’s enchanted to zap me if I use my chant by accident. I told her I’m not some kind of animal, and she just looked at me with those cold crimson eyes and said, “You and a dog aren’t that different to me.” Can you believe that?! I wanted to scream! Are all lilims this arrogant, or is it just her and Serass? It’s like they think everyone else is beneath them.

At least not everything’s bad. I made some friends—finally! Two mermaids named Neri and Lyara. They're from a place called Coarador, which is apparently this huge underwater kingdom. The way they describe it sounds like something out of a fairytale—pearl-studded palaces, coral gardens that glow in the dark, and massive kelp forests where sea creatures of all kinds live together. They even mentioned something about a royal family and ancient magic that protects their realm. I can’t wait to learn more! Neri’s got this shimmering silver tail and hair like seafoam, while Lyara’s tail is a deep sapphire blue with bioluminescent spots that light up when she’s excited. They’re both super nice—Lyara’s the chatty one, always asking me about my world, while Neri’s quieter but really sweet. I feel like I might actually belong somewhere with them.

Anyway, I’m exhausted. Between classes, trying to figure out this world, and dealing with Freya’s collar-from-hell, I feel like I haven’t had a minute to breathe. Hopefully, tomorrow’s a little less intense.

—Aya

October 1

Finally, I have time to write again! Seriously, these classes are insane! I’ve barely had a moment to breathe, let alone scribble in my magic diary.

Okay, first things first—I did it. I actually did magic! Not just chanting or forcing people to obey (which, by the way, I still can’t control properly—yes, I got zapped again, and yes, my neck hurts). But this time, it was different. I managed to levitate a ball of water! Real magic! It felt surreal, like my whole body was humming with energy, as if the water itself was listening to me.

Of course, my victory was short-lived because of that damn collar. Freya’s stupid enchantment zaps me even in my sleep! I swear, if I ever get this thing off, I’m throwing it into the deepest trench in the ocean. Curse you, Freya!

Now, onto something actually interesting—I found out that this academy is old. And I don’t mean “a couple of centuries” old. I mean ancient. Apparently, it has existed long before Freya or even her mother, Serass. From what I’ve gathered, the academy has always been ruled by Freya’s father’s side of the family. That means the power structure here is deeply rooted in some serious history. I wonder what kind of rulers they were… and what happened to them?

Anyway, onto magic—because oh boy, this is where things get really wild.

Magic here isn’t just some random energy floating around—it’s a share of the primordial elements. Everything traces back to four major forces: Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind. Now, there are also Light and Darkness, but I’m not getting into that yet because… well, let’s just say it’s a big surprise.

Since I’m a siren, my affinity is ridiculously high with Hydross, the Water Archon. But it’s not just about controlling water—it also represents the depths and hidden secrets. That explains why I always feel like water is more than just an element; it’s like an entire presence. There’s something mysterious and ancient about it, and the more I learn, the more I feel like I’m barely scratching the surface.

And speaking of mysteries… yesterday, I had my first Dark Magic class. And guess who is the source of darkness? That’s right—our beloved lilim, Serass.

I’ll be honest—I was nervous going in. I mean, it’s dark magic. Every RPG, anime, and story I’ve ever seen paints it as evil, corrupting, dangerous. I was expecting ominous rituals, blood sacrifices, something terrifying. But… it wasn’t like that at all. Darkness wasn’t about destruction or evil—it was about understanding the unseen. It was about shadows, hidden truths, and the spaces between light. It wasn’t oppressive; it was comforting, like a warm night wrapping around you. I don’t know how to describe it, but I left that class with a completely different view of magic. Maybe I’ve had my own biases this whole time.

Anyway, it’s super late, and I need to get some sleep before my neck gets zapped again (seriously, screw you, Freya). I’ll try to write more tomorrow—I promise!

—Aya

October 20 

Phew… This academy is exigent. That’s the only word I can think of right now. They pile on so much homework that I barely have time to breathe, let alone write in this diary. My hand actually hurts from all the writing—and worse, one of the membranes between my fingers got inflamed from overuse. Thank Hydross for Neri’s light magic; she healed it in seconds like it was nothing. Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without her sometimes.

Okay—big news! We’re getting a whole week of vacation soon! I know, right? It feels crazy since it’s only been like two months of classes. But apparently, a lot of students come from really faraway places—like really far—so the academy gives us time off so they can visit their families.

Neri and Lyara are going back to Coarador! That’s the mermaid realm they always talk about. From what they’ve told me, it’s this vast underwater kingdom filled with glowing coral towers, open palaces, deep ocean canyons, and magical tideways that link different cities. It sounds beautiful and mysterious and… I don’t know. Otherworldly. They invited me to come along, and I think I’m going to accept.

I mean, why not? I’ve never seen a place like that, and honestly, I don’t think Serass will let me go anywhere else right now. Not until Freya gives her the official “she’s not a danger to society with her voice anymore” stamp of approval. Sigh.

I miss you, Umako. A lot.

No, I haven’t replaced you with some hot mermaid or centauress, I swear! You’re unique, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I even miss the way you used to roll your eyes at the drama in those cheesy dating shows we watched. There’s no TV here—not even the equivalent of a crystal ball news channel or magical broadcasts. Nothing. It’s weird how quiet things are sometimes. Everyone’s either studying, training, or involved in some magical duel. So yeah, my conversations are definitely a bit… boring lately.

I’ll try to write again before I leave for Coarador. If not, expect a full debrief of everything once I’m back—unless I get eaten by a deep-sea leviathan or something (kidding… mostly).

—Aya

November 14

I don’t even know where to start...

Coarador is incredible! It’s a full underwater city built entirely for merfolk—and it's even more amazing than I imagined. Everywhere you look, there are spiraling coral towers, shimmering gardens of seaweed and luminous flowers, and winding streets made of polished shells and pearl. The currents flow through the city like invisible roads, carrying people gently from place to place. It’s like a dream.

I stayed at Lyara’s home, and her family was so nice to me. They treated me like an honored guest, even though I was clearly an outsider. Their house is built into a giant reef wall, with windows that open directly to the open ocean. You could see huge manta rays and colorful schools of fish passing by like it was totally normal. I think I spent the first two days just staring out those windows, completely hypnotized.

Lyara’s parents are both powerful magic users—her mother is a healer, and her father is a tidecaller (basically someone who can command the ocean currents). They even offered to give me some tips on water magic while I was there! It was so different from the academy's strict lessons; everything felt more natural, more in tune with the flow of things. Here, magic wasn't something you forced—it was something you asked for, and the ocean answered if it wanted to.

Neri came by a lot too. She showed me the Pearl Plaza, where the merfolk gather to sing ancient songs and tell stories. I even got to join in! Singing underwater is... different. It feels like your voice becomes part of the ocean itself, stretching out for miles in every direction. I was terrified I might accidentally use my chant and cause a disaster, but Neri and Lyara were there to support me. And I didn’t mess up! (Well, not much.)

Honestly, being there made me feel... free in a way I hadn’t since I arrived at Inasmont. No Freya looming over me, no constant fear of getting zapped if I sang in my sleep. Just open water, music, and friends.

I wish you could have seen it, Umako. I think you would’ve loved it—especially the sea gardens! They even had a kelp maze where you could swim through tunnels and secret paths. I got completely lost once, but it was honestly one of the best afternoons I’ve had in ages.

I’ll write more soon. There’s still so much I want to tell you about—the Festival of Tides, the ocean markets, the weird sea witches... But it’s getting late, and my eyes are practically closing on their own.

More soon, promise!

—Aya

December 21

Guess who I ran into today?

Yeah… Matsuyo. That Matsuyo.

Back when we were both still human—when I had legs and lived a normal life—she made sure I knew exactly how little she thought of me. Always picking on me, sneering at anything I did, making sure I was the odd one out. I remember how she loved standing at the center of attention, acting like the queen of everything, while people like me were just background noise to her.

Matsuyo told me she’s here now to atone for what she did. She’s under the watch of Belladona—Serass’s infamous sister and the ruler of the Dark Realm whenever Serass isn’t there.

And believe me, Belladona isn't just some scary teacher. She’s a figure of legend. People say she doesn’t just punish—she remakes you. That under her cold, merciless gaze, you either change... or you break. Belladona isn’t part of the academy staff, but the rumors about her stretch even here, across the circles of Inasmont. They say she's thousands of times worse than Freya—and honestly, considering Freya’s idea of kindness involves slapping a shock collar on me, I believe it.

Seeing Matsuyo today—smaller, humbler, almost afraid—it shook me more than I expected. Part of me wanted to snap at her, throw all the pain back in her face. But another part of me... just felt tired.

Maybe she’s really trying to change. Maybe Belladona already started tearing down the old Matsuyo. I don't know. And honestly? I don’t owe her forgiveness.

—Aya