Chapter 4

The next day, twenty minutes before the Contract Ceremony, I arrived at the plaza.

The entrance was packed.

The stinky mud barrel was placed right in the most obvious spot, rotting plants floating in the murky water, with a cheap bag of dragon food next to it.

Several boys were holding their phones, live streaming.

"Beatrice still isn't here!"

"I told you she was only all talk on the forum."

Someone picked up a piece of dragon kibble and held it to the camera.

"Miss Swamp Dragon, if you don't hurry up, your food's getting cold!"

The crowd erupted in laughter.

Mia was so angry she wanted to punch them, but I pulled her back.

"Let's just go in."

"You're just going to let it go?"

"What's the rush?"

I glanced at the bag of dragon food.

"What if they run away later?"

Inside the magic circle, Lucia had just finished her contract.

A giant dragon glowing with purple light appeared in the sky. After a loud roar, the magic screen displayed Lucia's Knight Rank:

"A-rank Dragon Knight."

"Rarity: 90%."

Applause thundered.

Miles walked up and draped a knight's cape over her shoulders. They looked like a loving couple.

Lucia took the microphone and smiled brightly.

"Knight rank isn't everything."

"Some students might not have ideal appearances or high ranks, but we shouldn't mock them."

Her eyes blatantly swept over to where I was standing.

The crowd laughed even louder.

"Swamp Dragons are protected species too!"

"Goddess Lucia is so kind, even caring about bottom-tier bloodlines!"

Miles checked the time.

"She's not coming. Everyone can stop waiting."

The academy dean reminded him:

"There are still fifteen minutes until Beatrice's ceremony. Absence is considered a voluntary forfeit."

Miles sighed loudly.

"I warned her."

"She has too much pride and can't accept resonating with such a bad dragon. Let's just drop it."

He spoke so righteously, as if he wasn't the one who started the betting pool.

Just then, someone spotted me.

"Beatrice is here!"

The entire plaza turned around.

Dozens of phones immediately pointed at the entrance.

But the laughter slowly died down.

The mud that had clung to my body for the past few days was completely gone. Even the grey birthmark on my face had vanished.

I looked reborn.

It was still my face. But my features looked like a layer of dust had been wiped away—clear and pristine.

The boy at the door stared at me for a few seconds before hesitating:

"Are you... Beatrice?"

I looked at the dragon food in his hand.

His face froze, and he quickly hid it behind his back.

The guys who were live streaming around the mud barrel scrambled to take down the banner.

"It was just a joke."

"You're not actually mad, right?"

I used a levitation spell to pin the banner back up.

"Don't take it down."

"Didn't you prepare this for me?"

They awkwardly let go.

I strode straight into the center of the magic circle.

A flash of shock crossed Lucia's eyes, but she quickly put her smile back on.

"Beatrice, you really came."

"If your rank shows up too low, I can have them turn off the stream for you."

I ignored her.

Miles stepped in front of me.

"Why won't you listen?"

"How high can a Swamp Dragon's rank be? D-rank at best. Aren't you afraid of humiliating yourself?"

"Just leave before it starts!"

I walked past him and stood before the contract altar.

The dean glanced at the cropped appraisal certificate.

"Low-level dragon bloodline."

Laughter started up again in the crowd.

"So what if her face is normal now? She's still a Swamp Dragon."

"Hurry up and show your dragon form! The mud form is a classic!"

The dean frowned and knocked on the table.

"Silence."

"Beatrice, drop your blood into the contract array."

Lucia walked over, looking concerned.

"Low-level dragons usually can't handle the magic surge during the contract."

"If it hurts, don't force it."

Miles added grimly:

"No one will look down on you just because you're at the bottom."

Someone in the crowd couldn't hold it in and laughed out loud.

I looked at Miles.

"Are your 5,000 crystals ready?"

His face darkened.

"At a time like this, you're still thinking about the bet?"

I didn't answer him.

Instead, in front of everyone, I slammed the complete appraisal certificate onto the table.

Lucia's smile instantly froze.

Miles' pupils shrank, and he reached out to grab it.

"Beatrice!"

I was faster. I dropped my blood into the summoning circle.

The next second, the magic array across the entire plaza erupted into a pillar of blinding golden light—