Chapter 12: Secret Duel in the Back Field

Night had completely swallowed the Royal Magic Academy grounds. Full moonlight crept through the glass window cracks of the dormitory corridor, casting long, dim shadows. 

Inside your room, instead of sleeping soundly as planned, you were pacing back and forth restlessly near the vanity table. 

*Today's afternoon incident really spiked my blood pressure! How dare Vane pick a fight in a quiet corridor like that? If Raven had arrived even a second later, I would have panicked out of my mind and cast some sloppy spell!* 

That complaint kept spinning inside your head, making you let out a long sigh for the umpteenth time. 

Suddenly, the sound of glass window tapping echoed from outside—three distinct knocks. 

*Knock. Knock. Knock.* 

Your brow furrowed. Your room was on the third floor of the noble dormitory. No one could possibly knock on a window from the outside unless they used flight magic or intended to give you a heart attack. 

With soaring suspicion, you walked toward the window, pulled back the heavy velvet curtains, and pushed it wide open. 

Floating gracefully in the air with the aid of a small wind vortex stood a youth with raven-black hair and eagle-sharp eyes on the windowsill. 

Raven D'Ark. 

You instantly put on an ice-cold facial expression, glaring at him with your chin slightly raised. 

"What business do you have coming to my room in the middle of the night through the window, Raven?" you asked in a flat, cold, and authoritative tone. 

Inside my heart, I was screaming hysterically. 

*Why is this kid obsessed with wandering around at night?! Does he think my dorm room is a security guard post, dropping by through a third-floor window?!* 

Raven landed smoothly on the windowsill, then hopped into the room without a shred of guilt. He crossed his arms over his chest while staring straight at you. 

"I couldn't sleep," Raven answered flatly. "Something's been bothering me since this afternoon's incident in the east corridor." 

You narrowed your eyes slightly, trying to maintain your villainess mask. "What could possibly bother you enough to jump into my room at midnight?" 

Raven stepped closer, shrinking the distance between you two. "Vane isn't someone who acts rashly on his own unless he has a push from someone behind him. I heard his family just recently allied with an old noble faction that dislikes the changing power dynamics of the academy." 

Hearing those words, your brain spun rapidly. 

*Old noble faction? So Vane was just a pawn? Wow, this noble political drama is starting to look more like a throne-succession soap opera! And all I wanted was to retire as a farmer!* 

Outwardly, however, you merely let out a soft snort, wearing a dismissive, arrogant smirk. 

"Let them bark however they please," you spoke coldly. "A pawn remains a pawn. They will never be able to touch my position." 

Raven stared intently at you. A deep glimmer of admiration flickered beneath the youth's cold gaze. 

"You're always so calm no matter what happens, Alicia," Raven praised softly. "But precisely because of that... I want to see the true limits of your strength. Let's fight." 

Your eyes widened slightly behind your cold mask. 

*Huh?! A fight? At midnight he wants a magic sparing match?! This kid is truly a battle maniac!* 

"Fight you at midnight rest hours? Don't be ridiculous, Raven," you refused firmly. 

Raven smirked faintly. "The backyard training field. Ten minutes from now. If you don't show up, I'll announce to the entire academy that Lady Alicia Valerian is afraid to face Raven D'Ark." 

Before you could voice your protest, Raven's body was enveloped in blue lightning sparks, and he shot away through the open night window. 

You stood frozen in place, clenching your fists with immense frustration. 

*Swear to god, tonight I'm going to teach him what happens when he dares make a villain pull a midnight overtime shift!*