As Ian and Arlen left the dueling grounds, the roar of the crowd still echoed faintly behind them. The sun had begun to dip lower, casting streaks of gold across the academy's wide courtyard, where students still murmured about what they'd just witnessed.

Arlen was practically bouncing beside Ian, his excitement impossible to contain. "That was insane!" he burst out, grinning from ear to ear. "The way she looked at you when you turned the tables...gods, it was priceless!"

Ian chuckled quietly, hands tucked into his robe pockets as they walked. "You make it sound like I just saved the kingdom."

"Well, around here," Arlen said, shaking his head, "that's what it feels like. You have no idea how many people have been waiting to see her lose. She's practically the initiate's fire class golden girl. Everyone thought you didn't stand a chance. And then...bam! You flipped it all in a few minutes."

Ian smirked a little, the corners of his lips lifting in quiet amusement. "You're giving me too much credit. She's strong...probably stronger than me in some ways. I just got lucky she underestimated me."

Arlen laughed, clapping his hands together. "Lucky? No, that wasn't luck. That was skill. You're a total badass! The way you handled her spells, the way you countered...it was like you'd been fighting for years. I swear, the look on everyone's faces when you walked up and helped her up... gods, that was bold."

Ian smiled faintly, glancing at him. "Bold? I call it manners."

"Manners?" Arlen barked a laugh. "Manners don't make you ask a girl you just defeated to dinner!"

Ian's grin widened slightly. "Maybe I like a challenge."

That shut Arlen up for a moment, though only briefly. He shot Ian a sideways glance, still smiling. "You actually think she'll come? Eve? The same Eve who hasn't spoken to a boy without mocking him first?"

Ian shrugged. "I think she will."

Arlen snorted. "No way. She's too proud. She'll never show up. She'd rather chew glass than admit you impressed her."

Ian turned his head, his calm blue eyes glinting with confidence. "Wanna bet?"

Arlen blinked, surprised. "You're serious?"

"Dead serious," Ian said, his tone smooth, his expression unreadable. "She'll come."

Arlen laughed again, shaking his head in disbelief. "Alright, my lord. If by some miracle she does, I'll buy you lunch for a week. But if she doesn't, you're buying me one. Deal?"

"Deal," Ian replied easily.

They walked in silence for a while after that, the chatter of the academy fading into the distance. Ian's mind wandered back to the duel, to the fire in Eve's eyes when she fought, and the way her expression softened..just slightly...when he helped her up.

Arlen, still brimming with energy, nudged him lightly. "You really think she'll show up, huh?"

Ian glanced ahead, the faintest smile tugging at his lips. "Let's just say," he murmured, "I have a feeling she doesn't like to lose."

Arlen laughed again, shaking his head as they continued down the cobblestone path. "You're unbelievable, completely unbelievable."

When evening came, the academy's food hall was lively with chatter and clinking utensils. The warm glow of crystal lamps reflected off polished wooden tables, filling the space with a calm, golden hue. Students of all ranks moved about, laughing, eating, and sharing stories of the day's classes. Somewhere in the middle of that cheerful chaos sat Ian and Arlen, occupying a quiet table near the arched window overlooking the courtyard.

Arlen was in high spirits, tapping his fingers on the table while eyeing the door every few seconds. "You know, " he began with a teasing grin, "it's been, what, fifteen minutes now? I'm starting to think maybe you overestimated her curiosity."

Ian leaned back in his chair, his expression calm, almost lazy. "Patience, Arlen," he replied softly, swirling the drink in his glass. "Some things are worth waiting for."

Arlen snorted, shaking his head. "Worth waiting for? She's not coming. You saw the way she stormed off after the duel. If looks could kill, you'd have been roasted alive on the spot."

Ian smiled faintly, unfazed. "We'll see."

The moments stretched on, and Arlen's grin grew wider with every passing second. "Admit it, my lord. You've lost this one. You can't charm everyone."

Ian arched a brow, but before he could answer, the murmurs in the hall suddenly changed tone. Heads began to turn toward the entrance. The air shifted.

Arlen followed everyone's gaze...and nearly choked on his drink.

There, standing at the entrance, was Eve.

She wore a fitted dark-blue dress that shimmered faintly under the lights, the fabric hugging her tall figure with effortless grace. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves, and though she had tried to look indifferent, her sharp eyes betrayed a spark of unease, as if she couldn't quite believe she had shown up.

The entire hall seemed to quiet for a heartbeat, whispers spreading quickly among the tables. Ian's lips curved into a slow, knowing smile.

He turned to Arlen, who sat there frozen, mouth slightly open in disbelief. "You were saying?" Ian asked smoothly, his tone dripping with satisfaction.

Arlen could only shake his head, a grin tugging at his face despite his defeat. "Unbelievable," he muttered under his breath. "You actually made her come. I swear, you must be cursed with luck or blessed by the gods."

Ian stood, straightened his coat, and gave him a triumphant look. "I believe you owe me a week's worth of lunch."

Arlen groaned. "You're impossible."

"Get used to it," Ian said quietly before stepping away from the table.

As he crossed the hall, conversations hushed again. Eve noticed the attention and drew a deep breath, trying to hide the faint blush on her cheeks. Ian stopped before her, offering a calm smile that carried neither arrogance nor mockery...just confidence.

"I was starting to think you wouldn't show up," he said, his voice low and even.

Eve crossed her arms, her chin tilted slightly upward. "I almost didn't," she admitted coolly. "But I figured you'd start bragging around the academy that I was too scared to face you again."

Ian chuckled softly. "Maybe I would have. Or maybe I just wanted to enjoy a good meal with the most competitive woman I've ever met."

Eve's eyes flickered with surprise, but she hid it quickly, pretending to inspect her surroundings. "You talk too much," she murmured.

"Only when I have something worth saying," Ian replied with a faint smile, gesturing toward the table. "Shall we?"

For a moment, she hesitated, but then she nodded and followed him.

From across the room, Arlen watched with a look of utter disbelief, shaking his head while muttering under his breath, "I'll never understand that man."

Ian, meanwhile, pulled out a chair for Eve as though they were old acquaintances, his composure calm. Eve sat down, glancing at him curiously, for the first time since the duel, the tension between them seemed to soften.

As Ian and Eve settled at the table, the murmur of voices around them grew louder. Even though everyone pretended to be minding their business, the occasional glance and whisper were anything but subtle. Ian leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes scanning the hall without turning his head much.

It didn't take long before he caught fragments of conversation drifting through the low buzz.

"Isn't that Eve from the fire division?" someone whispered.

"Yeah. And she's sitting with that new guy...what's his name again?"

"Ian, I think. The one who beat her in a duel earlier today."

"Wait, seriously? She's actually having dinner with him? Bold move."

"Does he not know about Senior Lucan?" another voice joined, low but distinct. "That guy's been after Eve for weeks. If he hears about this, that new boy's done for."

Ian's gaze flicked briefly toward the direction of the voices before he smirked lightly, his amusement hidden behind a sip of his drink. He set the cup down, leaning his elbow on the table, and looked at Eve with a teasing glint in his eyes.

"Seems like I've caused more of a stir than I thought," he said softly.

Eve arched a brow, clearly aware of the whispers too. "You mean your victory wasn't enough of a scandal? Now you've managed to get the entire dining hall talking."

He chuckled quietly. "Apparently, I've also made myself a rival. Some senior, I hear?"

Eve sighed, resting her chin on her palm. "Lucan," she muttered. "Third-year advanced adept mage. He's... popular. Strong, confident, and used to getting his way. He's been trying to court me for a while."

"Trying?" Ian repeated, his tone light, though there was curiosity behind his words.

"Yes, trying," she said firmly. "I didn't accept, and I don't plan to."

Ian tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into a faint grin. "And yet, here you are with me. I'm starting to think I'm special."

Eve gave him a sharp look, but her lips betrayed the faintest twitch of a smile. "You're reckless, that's what you are. You don't even know him, and yet you're already attracting trouble."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm used to trouble. It seems to follow me everywhere."

"You'll regret saying that when Lucan shows up," she warned him, her tone somewhere between sincere and teasing.

Ian leaned forward a little, his expression calm but deliberate. "Let him come. I didn't ask for a fight, but I won't run from one either."

Eve studied him quietly for a moment, her amusement replaced by mild intrigue. "You really don't know when to back down, do you?"

"Not when it matters," he replied simply.

Their gazes met, the tension between them shifting slightly from playful to something unspoken. Around them, the whispers continued, but neither of them paid much attention anymore.

Eve finally sighed, shaking her head as she reached for her glass. "You're insane," she said quietly, though there was a touch of admiration in her tone.

Ian smiled faintly, picking up his drink again. "Maybe. But it seems to keep things interesting, doesn't it?"

Her eyes lingered on him for a heartbeat longer before she looked away, pretending to focus on her food. The corners of her lips curved just slightly, as though she were fighting back a smile.

Meanwhile, a few tables away, a couple of older students had already left the hall, whispering to each other about the scene. One of them muttered, "When Lucan hears about this, he's going to lose it."

Ian noticed but said nothing. He only sat there, calm as ever, the faintest smirk resting on his lips.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.