I have no idea what just happened

The rest of the day settled into what might have been considered normal if it weren't for the persistent weight of wary glances thrown my way.

After my duel with Sir Kael, it seemed every student had their eyes on me. Some looked impressed, others cautious, but I wasn't here to impress anyone well, anyone else aside from myself and maybe Elira.

And okay, maybe Xyra. If she ever acknowledged me as more than a bug under her heel, my inner fangirl might combust on the spot.

Nyla, however, found the whole thing endlessly entertaining. She walked beside me, her steps light and almost bouncing, her crimson eyes sparkling with amusement.

"You know, you're kind of a big deal now," she teased, poking me in the arm. "I've been here for a while, and no one's ever made Sir Kael look like that. He usually has this 'I'm too perfect' aura. You knocked him right off his high horse."

I shrugged, keeping my voice nonchalant. "He challenged me. What was I supposed to do, let him win?"

"No, no, I love it!" Nyla laughed, spinning dramatically. "This school needed some shaking up." Her smile faltered slightly as she looked ahead, a hint of something softer flashing across her expression. "Honestly, it's refreshing. People here can be so... predictable."

I tilted my head, curious. "Predictable?"

Nyla slowed her steps, her usual cheer dimming. "Yeah. You've seen them, right? Most of the students come from noble families, all prim and proper, walking on eggshells to impress the teachers or their classmates. My family's... not like that."

She hesitated, then added, "My dad's human, and my mom's a full-blooded vampire. Not exactly the power couple most people here expect."

I blinked, surprised. "That doesn't seem so unusual."

Nyla gave me a wry smile.

"To you, maybe. But to them? It's like I've got 'half-breed' stamped on my forehead. People either think I'm too weak to be here or too unpredictable to trust. You'd think being part vampire would earn me some cool points, but nope."

I frowned, her words stirring a flicker of anger on her behalf. "That's stupid. You're here because you belong here, just like anyone else."

She brightened at my words, her grin returning. "See? That's why I like you, Ren. You get it."

The day finally wound down, and as the sun began to set, students filtered out of the school in groups or alone. I was eager to escape the crowd and the attention, so I hurried toward the gates with Nyla at my side.

But just as we passed the central courtyard, the temperature dropped sharply. My breath fogged in the air, and the ground beneath our feet shimmered with a sudden layer of frost.

I froze no pun intended and turned slowly, already knowing who was behind this. Sure enough, Xyra Eldarion stood a few feet away, her platinum blond hair catching the dying light like a halo.

Her icy blue eyes were narrowed, and her arms were crossed as if she were about to deliver judgment. Behind her, a few of her lackeys hovered uncertainly, clearly unsure whether they wanted to be involved in whatever chaos was about to unfold.

"Ren Khasar," Xyra said, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. "You think you're something special, don't you?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but Nyla beat me to it. "Oh, here we go," she muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Drama queen incoming."

I bit back a laugh, my amusement quickly squashed as Xyra's glare shifted to Nyla. The frost beneath us thickened, creeping outward like a living thing.

"Stay out of this, leech," Xyra snapped. "This doesn't concern you."

"Oh, she did not just—" Nyla started, but I grabbed her arm before she could escalate things.

"Let's just go," I said, trying to steer her away. But before we could take more than a step, the ice beneath us shifted. My foot slid out from under me, and I barely managed to catch myself. Nyla, less fortunate, yelped as she landed unceremoniously on her backside.

"Really?" I said, turning back to Xyra. "You're freezing the ground now? What's next, conjuring a blizzard?"

Xyra's smirk widened. "If that's what it takes to put you in your place."

She took a step forward, her posture all haughty arrogance, and I couldn't help but admire how utterly unbothered she seemed.

It was one of the things I loved about her in the game her unshakable confidence, even when she was being completely unreasonable.

But then, as if the universe wanted to humble her for me, her heel caught on the ice. Her confident stride turned into a wobble, and her arms flailed as she tried to regain her balance.

The world seemed to slow. I watched, horrified and amazed, as the mighty Xyra Eldarion toppled backward. Instinct kicked in before my brain could catch up, and I darted forward, catching her just before she hit the ground.

The moment froze again,as I held her. Her back pressed against my arm, her hair cascading like liquid silver over my elbow. Her icy blue eyes widened in shock, staring up at me.

Time resumed, and I realized two things simultaneously. One, I had just saved Xyra Eldarion from what would have undoubtedly been the most humiliating moment of her life. Two, I was holding her.

Xyra Eldarion. The princess. The villainess. My favorite character. My brain short-circuited.

"Are you okay?" I blurted, my voice a pitch higher than usual.

Her cheeks flushed, a faint pink blooming against her pale skin. "I—yes," she stammered, her usual composure shattered.

For a split second, I considered hugging her, just pulling her close and reveling in the fact that I was touching the legendary Xyra.

But then reality slammed back into me, and I realized how bad of an idea that would be.

I cleared my throat awkwardly and helped her stand, my hands lingering a moment longer than necessary before I forced myself to let go.

Xyra brushed herself off, her movements stiff and mechanical. "You didn't have to do that," she said, her tone defensive.

"Well, you were about to crack your head open, so…" I trailed off, unsure how to finish that sentence without sounding either smug or apologetic.

Her lackeys finally decided to step in, hovering around her like worried bees. Xyra waved them off, her cheeks still faintly pink.

"Let's go," she snapped at them, her usual arrogance slipping back into place like a mask. She didn't look at me as she turned on her heel—more carefully this time—and stalked away.

As the ice began to melt around us, Nyla got to her feet, brushing off her skirt. "What just happened?" she asked, staring after Xyra.

"I have no idea," I said honestly, my heart still racing.

One thing was clear, though. No matter how much I tried to keep my distance, Xyra had a way of making every moment with her feel like a whirlwind. And as much as I hated to admit it, a part of me wouldn't have it any other way.