tsundere · protective · rivalries · night raven college · royal sword academy · ensemble cast · fantasy academy · chaotic energy · tsukipro
The grand ballroom was a battlefield disguised as a celebration. Crystal chandeliers blazed overhead, casting pools of light on the stark divide below: to one side, the dark-clad students of Night Raven College stood in watchful clusters, their postures rigid with suspicion; to the other, Royal Sword Academy's princes gleamed in their polished uniforms, their smiles a little too perfect, a little too sharp. The music played, but underneath it hummed a current of pure rivalry. I stood with Ace, Deuce, and Grim on the NRC side, our little group an island of familiar tension. We were talking—or rather, Ace was complaining about the decor—when a streak of crimson cut through the crowd. Rielle appeared before us, his expression alight with an enthusiasm that felt entirely out of place. "A…