He slammed the book shut in frustration, the noise echoing slightly in the quiet library. Lorian winced at the sound, glancing around to make sure he hadn't disturbed anyone. Before he could collect himself, a familiar presence approached. Violet eyes locked with his, and his heart skipped a beat.

Princess Selene.

Her silver hair shimmered in the library's soft glow, cascading down her shoulders as she stood by his table, a thick tome in her hands. Lorian straightened in his seat, trying to calm the frustration that had welled up inside him moments ago.

"You seem troubled, Lorian," Selene said, her voice smooth yet gentle, cutting through the silence like a breeze through the trees.

Lorian tried to muster a casual smile, despite the flurry of emotions twisting in his chest. "Troubled? Me? Nah, just, uh… doing some heavy reading," he replied, gesturing to the stack of books in front of him. "Nothing I can't handle."

Her lips curled slightly in a knowing smile, and she slid into the chair across from him, setting her own book aside. "Heavy reading, indeed. Slamming books shut is usually a sign of enjoyment, right?"

Lorian chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "You caught me. Guess it's been a long day."

Selene leaned forward, her hands folded lightly on the table as she studied him. "You're pushing yourself hard. That's admirable, but there's no shame in admitting frustration. This place challenges even the best of us." She paused, her eyes softening. "What's really on your mind?"

Lorian hesitated, feeling the weight of her gaze. He didn't want to sound like he was complaining, especially not to someone like Selene—someone who was already ahead of him in her studies and renowned for her brilliance. But something about her calm presence made him want to open up, even if just a little.

"It's just… things aren't clicking the way I need them to," he admitted, trying to sound casual but failing to hide the edge in his voice. "I've always had to work hard to keep up, especially with my sister, Elara. But here? It's like no matter how hard I push, it's not enough. Especially with my magic."

Selene nodded thoughtfully, her violet eyes never leaving his. "External mana control, right?"

Lorian blinked, surprised that she knew. "Yeah. How'd you guess?"

She offered a small smile. "I may have overheard a few things. Word travels fast here, especially when someone from a prominent family like yours struggles."

He groaned softly, running a hand over his face. "Great. That's exactly what I needed."

Selene laughed, a soft, melodic sound that made Lorian's heart skip again. "Don't worry, Lorian. Everyone struggles with something, even those of us in the second year. The key is not to let it define you."

He leaned back in his chair, feeling a little more at ease but still frustrated. "You make it sound so simple."

"Not simple," she corrected, "just… necessary. You're used to fighting to keep up, to match the expectations placed on you. But this is the academy. It's meant to challenge us all, even the ones who seem perfect."

Lorian raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at his lips. "You always this wise, or are you just trying to impress me?"

Selene's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Do I need to impress you, Lorian?"

Touché, Lorian thought, feeling his cheeks warm slightly. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "Well, you're already ahead of me by a whole year, so I guess I should be the one trying to impress you."

Selene laughed again, shaking her head. "You're not doing too badly. But if you really want to impress me, maybe you should focus less on impressing and more on improving."

"Fair point," Lorian admitted with a grin. "But who says I can't do both?"

Selene's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer, her expression soft but thoughtful. "You're quite determined, aren't you?"

"Determined? Maybe," Lorian said, leaning forward slightly, his grin widening. "But I like to think of it as perseverance."

"Perseverance," Selene repeated, her smile returning. "I can respect that."

They sat in a comfortable silence for a moment, the quiet of the library enveloping them. Lorian couldn't help but feel drawn to her—not just because of who she was, but because of the way she carried herself. There was something about Selene that made him want to push harder, to prove himself. But more than that, he realized, he simply enjoyed her company.

After a pause, Selene glanced at the stack of books on the table. "What are you studying?"

Lorian shrugged, looking down at the scattered titles. "Tactics, mostly. Trying to get back to what I'm good at after today's disaster of a class."

Selene's eyes gleamed with interest. "Tactics? That's one of my favorite subjects." She glanced at him with a playful glint. "Perhaps I could help."

Lorian raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You offering to teach me, Princess?"

"Only if you're willing to learn," she teased. "Besides, I'm curious to see how you think. They say that learning from someone else's perspective can be just as valuable as teaching."

Lorian grinned, leaning forward a little more. "So you're saying we could… tutor each other? I don't know, Selene. Feels like you're the one getting the better deal here."

Selene laughed, her eyes sparkling. "Let's just say it's mutually beneficial."

"Alright," Lorian said, his eyes glinting with mischief. "But if we're going to do this, we do it right. Let's put some strategy into practice. Mock battles. You, me, right here, right now."

Selene raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a half-smile. "You're challenging me, Lorian?"

"I mean, what better way to learn?" he said smoothly, his grin widening. "Besides, I need to know if you're as good as they say."

Selene's expression turned competitive, a spark lighting up in her violet eyes. "Alright, then. Let's see if your confidence holds up."

They moved to a larger table, laying out one of the detailed maps stored in the library's strategy section. Small figurines and markers were set up to represent troops, terrain, and fortifications. Selene glanced over the setup, her focus razor-sharp as she began placing her forces.

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"You sure you're ready for this?" she asked, her voice light but with an edge of challenge.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Lorian shot back, arranging his own forces with quick, deliberate movements.

The mock battle began, and almost immediately, Lorian realized Selene wasn't holding back. Her moves were precise and fluid, each maneuver calculated to pressure him into reacting. But Lorian wasn't about to let himself be outclassed so easily. He leaned into his own instincts, setting up defenses and counterattacks that kept her guessing.

"You're holding your ground," Selene commented as she made another swift move, flanking one of his positions. "But you're too rigid."

Lorian smirked, countering with a move of his own. "You'll find I can be full of surprises."

They sparred across the map, each testing the other's strategies. Selene was fast, but Lorian was adaptive, always trying to find new ways to outmaneuver her. Still, it became clear that she had the upper hand in several areas, her second-year experience showing in the way she out-thought him at key moments.

"You're not bad," Lorian muttered, scanning the map for an opening. "But I think I've got you right… here."

He moved one of his pieces into position, setting up what he thought was the perfect ambush.

Selene, however, saw it coming. She countered with a quick maneuver, breaking through his trap with ease. "Nice try, Lorian," she said with a small grin. "But you'll have to do better than that."

Lorian chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Alright, I admit it. You're better than I thought."

"Was that a compliment?" Selene asked, her eyebrow arching slightly.

"Maybe," Lorian said, grinning. "But don't get used to it. Next time, I'll win."

"I'll hold you to that," Selene replied, a playful glint in her eyes.

They continued their mock battles for a while longer, each round teaching Lorian more about Selene's approach—and his own. With each exchange, Lorian grew more comfortable with her presence, finding that he didn't need to impress her after all. Their banter flowed easily, and though Selene was a tough opponent, Lorian relished the challenge.

After their final mock battle, Selene sat back, her expression satisfied. "You've got potential, Lorian. You think quickly, and you adapt well."

"Thanks," Lorian said, feeling a sense of accomplishment even though he hadn't won. "You're not too bad yourself."

She chuckled softly. "I'll take that as a compliment."

As they gathered their things, Lorian couldn't help but feel a strange sense of connection with her. She had seen him at his most frustrated, and yet, she hadn't judged him for it. Instead, she had helped him channel that frustration into something productive.

"I don't usually get to see you around. We should do this more often," Lorian said, his voice casual but with a hint of something more.

Selene's eyes met his, and for a brief moment, her smile softened. "Maybe we should. I don't usually have time for casual strategy matches, but for you, Lorian… I think I could make an exception."

Lorian's heart thudded a little harder in his chest. He tried to play it cool, offering a smirk. "I'll hold you to that."

As they left the library, their footsteps echoing down the quiet halls, Lorian couldn't help but feel that something had shifted. He wasn’t just learning strategy—he was learning about himself, and maybe, just maybe, something more was developing between him and the princess. The conversations they shared felt... different, deeper. There was a connection there, one that both excited and unsettled him.

As they reached the parting point, Selene gave him a soft smile. "I'll be expecting you to practice more before we meet again. Don't disappoint me, Lorian."

Lorian grinned, though he could feel his heart race just being in her presence. "I wouldn't dream of it. You might even be impressed next time."

She raised an eyebrow. "We’ll see about that."

With a nod, Selene turned and gracefully made her way down the opposite corridor, her silvery hair catching the soft light of the torches as she disappeared from sight. Lorian stood there for a moment, watching her go, before shaking his head with a slight chuckle.

"Pull yourself together," he muttered to himself, then started walking toward the Bronze Hall.

The corridors of the academy were almost deserted now, the soft flicker of torchlight casting shadows across the stone walls. Most students were either in their rooms or studying quietly in corners, the bustle of the day long gone. Lorian felt a sense of calm wash over him as he walked, but it didn’t last long.

As he turned a corner, three figures stepped out of the shadows ahead of him, blocking his path. Lorian immediately recognized their dark green robes—second-year students. They all wore smug expressions, their postures aggressive, as if waiting for an excuse to lash out.

"Well, well, if it isn't Lorian Aeloria," one of them sneered, crossing his arms. He was tall, with a sharp jawline and piercing blue eyes that glittered with arrogance. "Got time to chat, Aeloria?"

Lorian's gaze shifted between the three, sensing the tension immediately. His hand instinctively drifted to the hilt of his sword, but he stopped himself. It wasn’t worth drawing a weapon, not yet.

"Depends," Lorian said coolly. "What’s this about?"

Another one of the second-years stepped forward, a shorter, stockier boy with a mocking grin plastered across his face. "We saw you with the princess, Lorian. Quite the lucky guy, aren't you? Too bad luck can run out real fast around here."

Lorian’s eyes narrowed. "Is that supposed to be a threat?"

The third student, another tall boy with a broad build, chuckled darkly. "You could say that. You’ve been here, what, a few days? And already, you’re trying to get close to Princess Selene? She’s way out of your league."

Lorian forced himself to remain calm, though he could feel the tension rising. "I don’t see how that’s any of your business."

The tall boy stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with jealousy. "Oh, but it is our business. We’re second-years. We’ve earned our place here, put in the work. You’re just some first-year nobody from Aelshire who lucked out with a Bronze Griffin Pin. And now you’re trying to get close to Selene?"

Lorian raised an eyebrow, a wry smile forming on his lips. "Trying to get close? You’re giving me way too much credit."

The shorter boy scowled. "Think you’re funny, huh? We’ve seen how she looks at you. The princess doesn't just hang around with any commoner, even if you are from a noble house."

Lorian’s hand tightened into a fist, but he kept his tone steady. "If you’ve got a problem with me, say it plainly."

The first boy with the sharp jawline smirked, his hand moving toward the hilt of his own sword. "Here’s the deal, Aeloria. Stay away from Selene, or you’ll regret it. We don’t take kindly to first-years stepping out of their place. That little pin on your chest doesn’t mean anything here."

Lorian felt his pulse quicken, the anger bubbling just beneath the surface. He had faced worse than this back in Aelshire, but the sheer arrogance of these students was infuriating. And yet, he forced himself to take a breath. Fighting them here wouldn’t solve anything.

"You done?" Lorian asked, his voice calm but firm.

The broad-built boy cracked his knuckles, his eyes narrowing with a mix of menace and amusement. "Not quite. Consider this your first and last warning, Aeloria. Stay in your lane, and we won’t have a problem. But if you keep thinking you're something special just because you’ve got that pin and the princess’ attention... well, you’ll see what happens."

Lorian took a step forward, standing tall and meeting the first boy’s gaze without flinching. "Here’s the thing—you can threaten me all you want, but I’m not backing down. Not from you, not from anyone."

The sharp-jawed boy’s smirk faltered slightly, but he held his ground. "Then I guess you’ll have to learn the hard way."

Lorian could feel the tension crackling between them, but before the situation could escalate further, a voice rang out from down the corridor.

"Is there a problem here?"

All four heads turned to see a figure approaching—a teacher, clad in the academy’s robes of authority. The second-year students quickly backed off, their expressions souring as they realized they had been caught.

"No problem, sir," the sharp-jawed boy muttered, stepping back. "We were just leaving."

The teacher’s stern gaze flicked over them, lingering for a moment before he gave a sharp nod. "Good. I suggest you head back to your rooms before curfew. Now."

Without another word, the second-years shot Lorian a final glare before turning and disappearing down the corridor, their footsteps echoing as they went.

Lorian let out a slow breath, the tension draining from his body as the teacher approached him. "Everything alright?" the man asked.

"Yeah," Lorian said, his voice steady but tired. "Thanks for stepping in."

The teacher gave a curt nod, his eyes briefly scanning Lorian before he turned to leave. "Watch yourself, Aeloria. Not everyone at this academy plays fair."

As the teacher walked away, Lorian stood there for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He knew this wasn’t the last he’d see of those second-years, but for now, he had avoided a pointless fight.

Shaking his head, Lorian continued his walk back to the Bronze Hall.