Chapter 130: The Challenge?

Ana

"I heard another student from Class E challenged a Royal to a duel!"

"What?! Two duels in one school year?! That's unheard of before!"

"Who was dumb enough to challenge a Royal to duel?"

The whispers cut through the air as Ana walked across the courtyard, the hushed conversations creating an invisible net of speculation that seemed to entangle her every step.

Ana instinctively dropped her head low as she walked across the courtyard back to the dorm. She didn't know how but somehow word about her attempting to challenge a Royal had spread across the academy. 

Ana's steps were accompanied by the subtle crunch of gravel beneath her shoes, a stark reminder of the weight she now carried. The eyes of her peers followed her movements, some filled with curiosity, others with judgment.