The courtyard's distant chatter faded into a muffled hum as Rena followed Serafina through the maze of quiet walkways. The
afternoon sun spilled gold across the stone path, and every step they took seemed to draw them further from the curious eyes of the academy.
They didn't speak at first. Serafina's heels clicked in a lazy, unhurried rhythm — a sound that carried authority and boredom in equal measure. She moved like she owned the path, her long, sleek hair shifting with each step,
glinting faintly in the sunlight. The faint scent of her perfume drifted back toward Rena, rich and icy, like roses that had been frozen under glass.
Behind her, Rena's pace was steady, silent — almost predatory. Her long white hair, tipped
with streaks of crimson at the ends, caught the light like spun silk dipped in blood. The faint breeze played with it, carrying its strands
across her shoulders. Her crimson eyes gleamed beneath the shadow of her lashes, her lips painted a deep, dangerous red. The hem of her skirt brushed her thighs with each step, revealing just enough to draw lingering glances from the few students they passed.
Those students didn't recognize her — not yet. They only saw a striking stranger, someone too perfect to be ordinary, too dangerous to approach. They whispered in hushed tones,
their eyes flicking between her and Serafina, wondering what business the two beauties had with each other.
Rena ignored them. Her attention was fixed ahead, on the slow, deliberate sway of Serafina's walk.
Finally, Serafina turned down a narrower path, the canopy of trees closing over them until the academy's bustle was swallowed by silence. The sunlight broke through in fragments here, dappling the ground with gold and shadow.
They reached a small open space — a courtyard hidden behind thick ivy walls. Serafina stopped and turned, her expression unreadable at first.
Her lips curled into a smile. "Well, Rina," she began, her voice smooth and amused, "you're taking the test alone, aren't you?"
Rena's answering smile was slow, deliberate. "That's right." Her tone dripped with a confidence that was almost taunting.
Serafina's eyes narrowed in mock approval. "Good. I'll be taking it alone too. Which…
makes things so much more interesting, don't you think?" She tilted her head, letting the sunlight catch the icy shimmer of her hair. "So… how about a little wager between us?"
Rena's brows lifted, but she didn't speak, letting the pause stretch — forcing Serafina to fill the silence.
"I'm not here to compete with you for first place," Serafina continued, her smile sharpening. "That would be too easy. No, my dear… I'm thinking smaller, but sweeter. Let's see who ranks higher — not just in our class, but across the entire school. If you rank above
me, you win. If I rank above you… well—" she gave a soft, wicked laugh "—I win. Simple, isn't it?"
Rena's smile widened, flashing a glint of teeth.
"And what exactly does the winner get, Frost?" Her voice wrapped around Serafina's surname like it was both a joke and an insult.
"Oh, I'm sure we can come up with something humiliating for the loser," Serafina said lightly, her gaze dragging slowly over Rena from head to toe. "Maybe you could kneel and kiss my hand in front of everyone. Or better yet…" She let her eyes linger on Rena 's shoes, then smirked. "You could lick my boots clean after the test. I think that would suit you."
Rena laughed — a low, sultry sound that carried more threat than amusement. "You've got it backward, sweetheart. I'm the one who's going to make you kneel. And you won't be kissing my hand… you'll be licking the dirt off my heels."
Serafina's smirk deepened. "My, my… someone's grown bold. Is this because you've become Mrs. Rotschy now? Tell me, Rena … where is your dear husband, hm? Will he be joining the test?"
Rena's eyes gleamed like a blade catching light. "Why? Thinking of testing him too?"
Serafina chuckled. "Oh, maybe. Who knows? Perhaps I might even kiss him. I hear he's quite… charming. Maybe he's already bored of you. Men like him usually are."
The corner of Rena's lips twitched upward, but her voice was venom-sweet. "You couldn't handle him. You'd melt the moment he looked at you — assuming he bothered to look at all." She stepped closer, her heels silent against the stone. "And let's be honest, Serafina… next to me, you'd look like a cheap knockoff."
Serafina's smile turned sharper, the air between them charged. "You think you're untouchable, don't you?"
"I don't think," Rena said, her gaze locking with hers, unwavering. "I know."
The silence that followed was taut, electric. The wind stirred their hair, carrying the faint scent of perfume and danger.
Serafina's tone dropped, silk over steel. "You've got quite the mouth on you. But let's see if your performance matches your arrogance."
Rina tilted her head, her crimson eyes burning. "Oh, darling… I'll do more than match it. I'll bury you so deep in defeat you'll taste dirt for weeks."
Serafina's laugh was low, predatory. "We'll see."
They stood there for a long moment, eyes locked — neither willing to break the stare.
.......
Heat: Your opinion on verbal altercations and how each one provokes the other in a subtly way