Senior Wing Corridor – Sol-Regis Academy. Lunch Break.
The corridor was bustling with noble students strutting around, showing off their silk robes and gem-encrusted magic wands.
Amidst the crowd, Sir Roland was conducting an "Intelligence Operation."
He leaned against a locker, surrounded by three female students from the Literature Department.
Roland was holding a pocket mirror made in Rumina's factory.
"Look," Roland said with a soft, formal voice, directing the mirror at one of the girls' faces. "Ordinary market mirrors are blurry. But this Sudrath Glass mirror... it is honest. It reflects your beauty exactly as it is."
The girl blushed. "Ah, Sir Roland, you flatterer... How much is it?"
"For you, My Lady? Free," Roland winked. "As long as you're willing to share a little story... about the party Valerian Morvath is hosting this weekend."
"Oh, Valerian's party?" the girl whispered. "That's a closed party! Only the inner circle is invited..."
BINGO. Intel acquired.
Suddenly, a rough hand clapped onto Roland's shoulder.
Roland turned.
Standing before him were three large senior students. Their leader was Gareth, Valerian's right-hand man.
"Hey, Newbie," Gareth growled. "What are you doing getting close to my girl?"
The girls immediately scattered in fear. "Gareth! Don't be rude!"
Roland straightened his posture. He adjusted his blazer collar. His face remained calm and polite.
"Easy, friend. I was just offering a mirror. The lady approached me herself."
"Selling stuff?" Gareth laughed mockingly. "Filthy Northern pauper. Did you enter the Academy just to be a peddler?"
Gareth shoved Roland's chest roughly.
Roland took a step back.
"Listen, Northern Trash," Gareth leaned his face close. "There is a hierarchy here. Valerian is King. I am his guard. And you? You are just dirt on my shoe."
"Stay away from my girl, or I'll break those delicate hands of yours."
Roland smirked crookedly. A dismissive diplomat's smile.
"You know, Gareth? I pity you."
"What?"
"You're proud to be a 'guard'? That's just a polite word for 'watchdog'," Roland said sharply. "Valerian doesn't even consider you a friend, does he? Just hired muscle."
Gareth's face turned beet red. Roland had pressed the right button.
"DIE!"
Gareth threw a right punch coated in Reinforcement Magic.
Roland didn't dodge. He closed his eyes. I'm dead.
GRAB.
No pain.
Roland opened his eyes.
In front of him, a slender but strong hand had caught Gareth's fist.
Lady Rhea.
Rhea stood casually. She stared at Gareth with cold eyes.
"Hey, Gorilla," Rhea greeted flatly. "Pick on someone your own size. My brother is a Politics major, not a Boxing major."
Gareth tried to pull his hand back, but Rhea's grip was like an iron clamp.
"Let go! Who are you?!"
"His sister," Rhea answered briefly.
Rhea twisted Gareth's wrist.
CRACK.
The sound of a joint shifting.
"AARGH!" Gareth screamed, dropping to his knees.
"Listen closely," Rhea looked at Gareth and his two friends. "If you touch even a fingernail of my brother... I will make sure you graduate from here in wheelchairs."
Rhea released Gareth's hand. The large man clutched his swollen wrist, grimacing.
Rhea turned briefly to Roland, whispering softly.
"You okay, Lan?"
Roland nodded, whispering back:
"Safe, Teh. Perfect timing."
Suddenly, slow applause echoed from the end of the corridor.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
The crowd of students parted.
Valerian Morvath walked closer. His face was handsome, his silver hair shining.
"Interesting," Valerian said. "So this is the 'Crude Woman' who broke Prince Cedric's heart?"
Valerian stopped in front of Rhea.
"You have skills, Lady Sudrath," Valerian said. "A pity you are on the wrong side."
"I take no sides," Rhea replied formally. "I just dislike trash blocking my way."
Valerian chuckled.
"Gareth is indeed trash. Thank you for teaching him a lesson."
Valerian glanced at Roland.
"However, injuring a Student Council member is a serious offense. Unless..."
Valerian pulled out a golden badge.
"Unless we settle this according to Academy custom. Official Duel."
"Tomorrow noon. Main Arena."
"If you win, I forget this incident... and I grant you one request."
"If I win... You two become my servants until graduation."
Rhea looked at the badge. She turned to Roland. Roland nodded slowly.
Rhea grinned savagely.
"Fine. Prepare the best healer for yourself, Lord Morvath."
Valerian smiled, turning to leave.
"We shall see, Wildflower."
Student Dormitory – Rhea & Roland's Room (VIP Suite).
Afternoon.
"Are you crazy, Kak?!" Roland paced around the room. "Valerian is the Reigning Duel Champion for three years straight! He uses an A-Class Magic Sword!"
Rhea was cleaning her rapier.
"So? I was the West Java PON Champion, Lan. Gold Medalist."
"This isn't PON! This is Isekai! He can shoot fire from his sword!" Roland panicked.
The door opened. Sir Rianor and Elara entered.
"I heard the news," Rianor said calmly. "Tomorrow's duel is the headline of the school paper. The stakes are high."
"Are you sure you can win, Teh?" Rianor asked seriously.
"Pure technique? I win," Rhea analyzed. "But if he uses cheat magic... that's a problem."
Elara placed a small silver bracelet on the table.
"Wear this. Nullifier Bracelet. It disrupts mana circuits at close range. If Valerian tries to shoot fire when his sword is close to your body, the spell will fail."
"But listen to me carefully, Rhea," Elara cut in sharply, holding Rhea's hand as she reached for the bracelet. Elara's face was dead serious.
"This is a Failed Prototype. The mana circuit is unstable. It can only withstand ONE high-level magic attack. Once its capacity is full, this bracelet will overheat and cause a small explosion."
Elara looked into Rhea's eyes.
"So don't use it to block small flames. Use this ONLY for the final, truly lethal moment. If you use it early, the bracelet breaks, and you become Burnt Satay for the rest of the match."
Rhea put on the bracelet. "Cheating met with cheating. I like it."
"One more thing," Rianor added. "I placed a bet with the school bookie. I bet 1,000 Gold on Rhea's victory."
"Damn, you're using me for gambling?" Rhea glared.
"The money is for buying Telegraph spare parts, Teh," Rianor grinned. "So losing is forbidden. The family's economic burden is on your shoulders tomorrow."
Rhea sighed deeply.
"Okay. Just watch tomorrow. I'll teach that rich kid some manners."