No More Pain For This Villain.

Raven tapped her finger on the tabletop as she looked at the professor who was teaching, but her mind was somewhere else.

Since she sat quite far back in the classroom, it was not easy for anyone to notice, but yeah, she looked quite distracted.

'Will he be able to answer all the questions?' She thought to herself.

Last night she took quite some time teaching Ren, and now, just a few minutes ago, she gave him her lucky quill set that her grandfather gave her to bring him good luck.

The lecture went on for a long while, but she neglected it, not that it was an easy subject; it's just that her heart wasn't in place right now.

She thinks about her new friend again and again, wondering if he thinks of her too, like this.

"Mrs. Vexa, can you tell me how the advancements are molded because of the basic element?" The old frail-looking professor asked.

Raven's eyes settled on the platinum-haired beauty sitting in the front row; Cecelia wasn't with her today as she sat alone.

Vexa got up, and...

"Huh?" Raven raised her eyebrows.

As she saw Vexa form a sphere of water in her hand and...

She turned her palm upside down as the sphere remained the same and then shifted it sideways.

And bringing her second palm parallel to it, she...

*Splash*

She clasped both palms onto each other as the water splattered everywhere... only to freeze midway?

The water turned into a uniformed spike ice shape, more like a disc.

"Like this." Her voice was quiet, only to be heard by the professor.

".... I didn't mean like that; you could've just told me the theory." The professor eyed the structure.

Vexa again said nothing, till the professor sighed and made her sit back.

She's always like this, doesn't speak much or to anyone else at all.

Not something Raven can complain about as she herself is not too social, but in Vexa's case, it seems like she doesn't want to speak.

As if she is tired to even utter a word for anyone who's not worth her time or energy.

With this, the class kept on going.

***

[Ren Hilton's POV]

"Hmm, how long will it take?" I questioned Blaze.

"Dude, we just arrived," he said.

I stood in front of Raven's classroom, observing the professor discussing magic theories while some students dozed off. Raven was nowhere to be seen, indicating she was likely sitting far back. The only person I could see was quite.

"Do you think that Vexa girl is weird?" Smokeball asked.

"You don't?" I leaned back against the wall as a female professor passed by, eyeing me from top to bottom.

"Well... my perception of weird and normal has been quite twisted lately, wonder why?" He gave me a side-eye.

"Well, I don't know her, but can't say that I am not interested... but I will prefer to keep distance from her as long as it's not necessary." I yawned.

After waiting for a few minutes, the class ended, and the professor picked up his books, walking towards the threshold. I stepped forward and looked inside the classroom.

Not to mention the attention that I attracted alongside the leaving professor.

"!!!" Raven's eyes met mine and widened in surprise.

I gave her a casual wave, and she hastily packed her things and exited the classroom. Students around her whispered, pointing in my direction, probably discussing my unexpected appearance.

...well, this is one of the main stages of the storyline itself, so it won't be surprising if they start hating me.

As I've noticed, the more the person is related to the storyline, the more they hate me—or are easy to start hating me due to the effect of the curse.

Which, of course, is wrong in my mind too because that rules out Raven for some unknown reason. She's a main heroine but doesn't seem to hate me.

Same goes for Cecelia... as for others, I've seen that I should try not to trigger their hate because once I make a mistake, there's no forgiving from them but only hate. This happened with Professor Harris.

"Ren, what are you doing here?" Raven approached, a mix of curiosity and confusion in her eyes.

"Just thought I'd check in on my favorite tutor after the test," I said with a smirk.

She rolled her eyes, "how was the test?"

"Oh, it was good," I said, leaning against the doorframe. "By the way, thanks for the lucky quill. I hope it brings me good fortune in future exams."

She raised an eyebrow, "You actually used it?"

"Of course, I did. I'm not one to turn down a good luck charm from a friend," I said sincerely.

Raven looked momentarily surprised but then smiled. "You're welcome, then."

"Can I keep it?" I waved the quill.

"No, you can't." Only for it to be snatched out of my hand, "It was a one-time thing; you'd have to come to me if you need it again." She huffed a bit.

"Okay," I said, supressing my chuckle.

We both walked out of the classroom.

I yawned a bit as I stretched myself.

"You didn't get any sleep?" She asked.

"Well, obviously," I cracked my neck sideways.

"You should, it's not great for your health." She looked concerned.

"True," I agree, not sleeping is not good at all... I'll get dark circles.

"You going to attend the next potion-making class in the afternoon?" She questioned.

"You will?" I returned the question.

"Yeah, I guess." There was a subtle pause before she answered.

"Maybe I won't attend," I said nonchalantly, looking down the crowded hallway.

"Heh!? Why!?" She looked a bit baffled.

"I accidentally burned some of my books for potion making; I gotta buy new ones before I attend the lecture." I said, and Raven looked as if she was relieved.

"That's sad," she looked at me with an upwards direction, "Still, why'd you use magic near the books?" She sighed.

"Well, things happen," Now that I notice, we have quite a height gap, like about twenty centimeters.

"Anyways, I'll get going now." I noticed that we were already near the Runecrafting Class; I have a lecture.

"Huh?" She looked lost for a second.

"I have a class now; we can meet in the canteen later." I waved and left for the direction of the class.

I left the busy hallway and headed to the Runecrafting Class. The student chatter faded as I walked through the corridors of the academy.

Approaching the classroom, I noticed the detailed runes on the door. Professor Elgara was waiting inside. The classroom had a tense feel, different from the first day.

"Quite late, aren't we, Hilton?" She raised a brow. I just apologized and entered the class, taking my seat.

The professor started the lecture, explaining runic formations and their use in magic. At the end of the lecture, she said, "We'll be having a combined class for the students who have Runecrafting and Enchantments as a common subject... two days later." Her eyes settled on me. "Anyone who is late won't be allowed inside."

After the lecture, I packed up and prepared to navigate the academy's corridors again, leaving the runecrafting classroom. I went towards the canteen, only to find...

"She isn't here?" I looked around.

***

[Third Person View]

[A hour ago.]

Raven stood there, left to grapple with a sense of mild disorientation as I departed, leaving her to navigate her thoughts.

What had she anticipated? A scenario where classes were skipped for a more extended conversation?

Despite her uncertainty about what the next steps might entail, she found herself scanning the bustling hallway, her eyes moving awkwardly with the flow of students.

"Haa, my mind is in disarray," she muttered, the palm of her hand meeting her forehead in a self-deprecating gesture.

"Mrs. Larkspur, if I may have a moment of your time?" The voice called out from behind.

Turning around, Raven encountered a black-haired girl adorned in a black robe, the golden threading intricately hinting at her role.

Isolde Holloway, the President of the Student Council at the Imperial Academy, stood before her.

"What's this about?" Genuine confusion etched across Raven's features.

"Merely a brief conversation," Isolde responded with a smile, though the gaze from her eyes betrayed a more serious intent.

[A/N:Hmm.....Hmmmmmm....Hmmmmmm,What do ya want to talk to that girl huh!]