Note: "Doryokan" generally refers to nationality, or the people living in the empire. "True Doryokan" is an ethnicity and refers to the original inhabitants and founders of the empire. For context, almost all of the people in this scene and in this story are true Doryokan, most are Doryokans, and a select few are one and not the other.
More students filtered into the classroom and settled down when the bell tolled exactly eight o’clock. A young woman walked through the sliding door, wearing the university uniform. She set the roll book upon the podium and smiled upon them. She was beautiful, but from her darker complexion, ash blond hair, and hazel eyes, it was clear she was not true Doryokan.
“Good morning, everyone,” she said plainly. “My name is Rajani Chaudhary. Please feel free to just call me Rajani.” That wasn’t a name found anywhere in the empire. The confusion of Spider Lily and the rest of his classmates must have been written all over their faces because Rajani smiled and explained, “I’m from the peninsula of Cheekh, or in your Doryokan terms, Echo. I will be your homeroom teacher for this year. I am also a fourth-year student currently attending the university; this is my part-time job. My goal is to provide all of you with comfort and advice to assist you on your academic journeys. Before we begin the introduction to the school year, I’d like to take attendance. Capulet—”
“I’M HERE!” A boy with dark red hair and frantic blue eyes burning with dark circles slammed the door open. He looked around at the basically full classroom and then at Rajani’s stern expression. At that very moment, all the color drained from his face and Spider Lily knew he just surrendered himself to the cruel hands of death.
“Take your seat,” Rajani said calmly, though her demeanor was anything but.
“Y-Yes ma’am,” the boy gulped and slinked away.
“Now then. Capulet, Akari. Are you here?” A pause. “Capulet, Akari?”
A girl towards the front of the room raised her trembling hand slightly over her head. She could have been saying something—perhaps she was—but Spider Lily had no idea.
“Thank you.” Rajani nodded. “Chiaki, Clarte?” A pause. “Chiaki, Clarte? Are you here?”
“PRESENT!” came a voice from the front. Though it was clear the girl piped up to the best of her ability, her voice still seemed to drift away on the wind.
“Ah, there you are. Please speak up next time or simply raise your hand. Drubetskoy, Alexei?”
Alexei Drubetskoy? That name wasn’t true Doryokan either! But it did come from within the empire. What was it… Levian, maybe?
“Here,” came the meek reply of the boy who was tardy.
So he was the Levian? That should have been obvious at first glance given his eyes, hair, and large ears, but it still somehow slipped from Spider Lily’s eye. There weren’t too many of his kind here in Tengoku, let alone a place as noble-infested as the university. Interesting.
“Hinata, Conway?”
“Yes, present!”
“Hononen, Fuyuuki?”
“…Oh, here!”
“Please pay attention. Inazuma, Skyler?”
“Present.”
Wait, Inazuma? As in that Inazuma? Who was… Oh, seaweed-for-hair? He was an Inazuma? What a coincidence…
“Ishida, Akal?”
“Present!”
“Juryoku, Uchu?”
“Here!”
“Monroe, Mavis?”
“Praise be to Seijitsu almighty, whose grace and divinity has allowed me to arrive safely at this wonderful institution of learn𑁋”
“I only need a one-word response. Keep that in mind for next time. Sakamoto, Leona?”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Spider Lily?”
“Yep,” Spider Lily drawled, ending the word with a pop.
“Suzukaze, Angel-Marie?”
“Present…” She drew out the syllables as if her tongue were that of a snake’s. When Spider Lily followed her gaze, it was glaring from the left side of the classroom to his immediate right, where Leona Sakamoto sat. Huh.
“Perfect; everyone’s here, though not on time.” There was a quiver at the end of Rajani’s smile. Out of the corner of his eye, Spider Lily saw Alexei slide down his chair, as if trying to become one with it. “Let’s review your schedule. Within your desks, you will find slips of parchment explaining your daily activities. You start and end with me. I’ll take attendance and review any announcements the school might have. Most of your time will be spent with your other teachers. But don’t hesitate to ever come to me for support; that’s exactly what I’m here for! I’ve been in your very shoes before; once upon a time, I was also a first-year student at UFM. If you have any questions regarding your classes, please just come talk to me! I’ll be delighted to help. Now, right after homeroom, you’ll have natural philosophy with Professor Ferula Iori. Ah, look at the time. You all ought to change into your outdoor uniforms and go meet her in the dungeons. Do take care not to be late. Oh, and a bit of advice.” Rajani’s smile turned sly. “Try your best not to die.”
What in Seijitsu’s name was that supposed to mean!?