It was almost midnight when Verena sent the letter, entrusting it to a guard with a sense of urgency.
There was something she had realized: if she truly wanted to survive, her magic wasn't going to be enough.
It wasn't combat-based. It was reality-based, a power capable of shaping outcomes rather than fighting them.
To truly change the course of her fate, she needed something more.
She needed to understand this world's mechanics.
The House Training Grounds, the Arena of Ardentis, was where all the students practiced, but it wasn't just a place for combat.
It was a battleground for strategy, strength, and alliances.
Some might call it a glorified playground for the rich and powerful, but it was where Verena would begin to piece together the puzzle of her survival.
And so, she came to Raphael.
The moment she stepped into the courtyard, his voice echoed, smooth and condescending.
"Well, well, have you invited me here to beg for my forgiveness?"
Raphael.
