Chapter 12: The Winter Valkyrie and the Wingman

The smell of ozone and melted steel still hung heavy in the arena, but Draven had already turned his back on it.

He didn’t care about the stunned silence of the nobles or Instructor Graves’ dropped jaw. He walked over to Estella, gently placed a hand on her shoulder, and steered them toward the exit.

Fifteen minutes later, the adrenaline of the entrance exam had faded into the bustling noise of the Academy’s grand cafeteria.

The dining hall was a massive, glass-domed pavilion filled with long oak tables and holographic menu boards. Even though it was massive, Draven and Estella sat in a relatively isolated corner.

The other students were keeping a healthy, terrified distance from the "slum rat" who had just atomized a two-ton enchanted golem with a casual tap.

Estella was happily picking at a slice of strawberry shortcake, her earlier anxieties completely forgotten.

"I still can’t believe we’re actually here," Estella mumbled around a mouthful of cake, her violet eyes shining.

"What do we do after this? I mean, after we graduate? I’ve never thought past surviving the basement."

Draven took a sip of his black coffee, leaning back in his chair.

"Whatever you want. We could travel to the other Bastions. See the ocean. I read somewhere that Sector Two has actual natural hot springs. We’ll just buy a house somewhere quiet."

Estella’s face flushed a soft pink. We. He said we.

"I’d like that," she whispered, looking down at her cake with a goofy, lovestruck smile.

Suddenly, the ambient temperature in the cafeteria plummeted.

A collective hush fell over the surrounding tables. Draven watched as a thin layer of frost began to creep across the edges of the glass windows.

Walking straight toward their table was a girl who commanded the room without even trying. She had a wild, tomboyish energy, with silver-blue hair tied back into a messy, practical ponytail.

She wore a customized Academy uniform with the sleeves rolled up, revealing toned arms wrapped in light leather bandages. Slung casually over her back was a massive, double-sided battle axe that radiated a biting, magical chill.

Draven’s eyes narrowed slightly. He activated his Tactical Appraisal.

[Target Identified: Reina Frost]

[Class: Cryo-Berserker]

[Level: 19]

[Favourability: 5/100 (Curious)]

Draven’s internal monologue instantly kicked into high gear.

’Reina Frost. The Winter Valkyrie. Her mother is Seraphina Vance, the Guildmaster of Silver Aegis... the same woman who healed Estella in the hospital.’

But Draven knew more than just her lineage. He remembered the web novel.

Reina had a free-spirited, tomboyish personality, but she harbored a massive, secret crush on the Golden Boy, Neville Hennesy.

Neville knew it, too. He kept her around, enjoying the attention and the firepower her frost axe provided, but he never committed.

’In the original plot, Neville spares a Pyromancer villain because of his stupid "second chance" ideology,’ Draven thought, his jaw tightening. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

’That same Pyromancer ambushes Reina three Chapters later. Neville arrives too late, cries over her body for the cameras, and uses her death for his own character development.’

Draven looked at her as she approached. ’She’s too good of a character to die just so that idiot can have a dramatic crying scene. I’m going to steer her off that cliff.’

Beside him, Estella suddenly gripped her fork like a weapon.

She had noticed Draven staring at Reina. But what Estella noticed was that Reina was... incredibly well-endowed.

The customized uniform hugged a very generous, curvy figure that Estella’s current, malnourished frame couldn’t even begin to compete with.

’He’s staring,’ Estella thought, a sharp, bitter pang of jealousy hitting her chest. She looked down at her own modest chest and pouted.

’Of course he’s staring. Every man likes them bigger. I need to eat more meat and drink milk. Lots of milk.’

She glared at the approaching girl, her protective instincts flaring.

Reina stopped at their table. She didn’t ask for permission; she just pulled out a chair, spun it around, and straddled it, resting her arms on the backrest.

She slammed a sleek, silver metallic card onto Draven’s lunch tray.

"You hit hard, Mordis," Reina said. Her voice was confident, slightly husky, and straight to the point.

"But your attitude sucks. Humiliating the Golden Boy in front of the press? Barbaric. However... my mother runs the Silver Aegis Guild. She told me to keep an eye out for real talent. That card is a direct line to our recruitment officer."

Draven didn’t even look at the card. He took another sip of his coffee.

"I appreciate the offer, Frost," Draven said calmly, setting his mug down.

"But I’m not looking to put a Guild collar around my neck on day one."

Reina raised an eyebrow.

"It’s not a collar, it’s a career. Do you have any idea how many people would kill for that card?"

"Probably a lot," Draven shrugged.

"But I prefer working on my own terms. Besides, I imagine your Guild is already saving its top Vanguard spot for someone else. Someone with... blonder hair and a holier-than-thou attitude?"

Reina froze. The casual, tomboyish swagger faltered for a fraction of a second. A faint, dusty pink color rose to her cheeks.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," she deflected quickly, looking away.

"I’m talking about Neville," Draven said, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table.

"You’ve been staring at him since the physical exams started. But here’s the thing... Neville is a politician. He smiles at everyone because he loves being loved."

Reina frowned, her tone instantly shifting defensive.

"You don’t know him. He has a genuinely kind heart! He sees the good in people, even when it’s hard. He carries the weight of everyone’s expectations."

"Sure he does," Draven said, keeping his tone light and non-judgmental. He knew attacking Neville directly would just make her defend him more. He needed a different angle.

"But a guy who smiles at everyone doesn’t know how to focus on one person. He’s dense. If you just stand around waiting for him to notice you, you’re going to be waiting until graduation."

Reina bit her lip, her grip tightening on the back of the chair.

"And what do you suggest, genius? You literally just met me."

"I suggest you take some advice," Draven smirked, playing his cards perfectly.

"Back where I come from, I was the designated wingman for my squad. I’ve helped a lot of my friends navigate this kind of garbage. If you want to actually get his attention, you need to stop acting like his loyal soldier and start making him chase you."

Reina blinked, completely caught off guard. She had come over here to recruit a violent, arrogant commoner, and somehow he was offering to be her love guru?

"You... you would help me?" she asked, her voice dropping a register, clearly intrigued. "Why?"

"Because your mother did a massive favor for my partner here," Draven said, gesturing smoothly to Estella (who was still glaring daggers at Reina’s chest).

"Consider it returning the favor. If you ever need advice on how to crack the Golden Boy’s thick skull, you know where to find me."

Reina looked at Draven for a long moment, re-evaluating the boy sitting across from her. He wasn’t just a brute who punched golems. There was a weird, calculating depth to him.

[Favourability: 20/100 (Intrigued / Friendly)]

Reina stood up, grabbing her silver card off the tray and tucking it into her pocket.

"You’re a weird guy, Mordis. But... alright. I might take you up on that. See you at the trials tomorrow."

"Don’t freeze to death, Valkyrie," Draven called out.

Reina smirked over her shoulder and walked away, the frost on the windows slowly melting as she left.

As soon as she was out of earshot, Estella viciously stabbed her shortcake with her fork.

"You certainly enjoyed looking at her."

Draven looked back at Estella, completely confused by her dark aura.

"What? No, I was just reading her personality. She’s a useful asset."

"Asset. Right. I’ll remember that," Estella huffed, crossing her arms.

Draven sighed, deciding it was best to retreat from whatever minefield he had just stepped into.

"Come on. Let’s go find our room."

Because they had scored S and A ranks, they bypassed the crowded, military-style standard barracks entirely.

The Academy rewarded its top seedlings generously to ensure their loyalty. When Draven and Estella swiped their keycards at the Vanguard Elite sector, they were greeted by a stunning, two-story mini-bungalow nestled in a private, heavily warded courtyard.

It had a sleek modern living room, a full kitchen, and a winding staircase leading to two massive personal bedrooms on the second floor.

Estella gasped, dropping her bags as she spun around the luxurious living room. "Draven, look at this! There’s an actual couch! And the windows aren’t barred!"

Draven chuckled, the tension of the day finally melting away. He watched her run her hands over the soft fabrics, her smile brighter than he had ever seen it.

"Hey," Draven said softly, pulling something from his System Inventory. "Come here."

Estella walked over, looking up at him curiously.

Draven opened his hand. A beautiful, delicate silver ring appeared in his palm. A small, perfectly cut crystal sat in the center, glowing with a faint, swirling light that shined like a trapped star.

"You got your A-Rank without blowing up the arena," Draven said. "I owe you a gift."

Estella gasped, bringing her hands up to her mouth. "Draven... it’s beautiful."

"It’s the Ring of the Astral Empress," he explained.

"It boosts your Star Magic output, and it has a five-hundred-pound spatial inventory built in. You’ll never have to carry your own gear again."

He didn’t wait for her to ask. He gently took her left hand, cradling her pale fingers, and slid the silver band onto her ring finger. It fit perfectly.

Draven raised her hand slightly, bowed his head, and pressed a soft, lingering kiss against the silver ring and her knuckles.

"I promise to always be your shield, Estella," he whispered.

Estella’s entire face burned a brilliant, vivid red. Her heart hammered wildly against her ribs. The jealousy from the cafeteria completely evaporated, replaced by a warm, overwhelming affection. "D-Draven..."

Before she could lean in, a harsh, blaring sound echoed in Draven’s mind.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

The romantic atmosphere shattered instantly. Draven’s eyes widened as his vision was overlaid with a massive, flashing crimson screen.

[ALERT: FATAL ANOMALY DETECTED IN TIMELINE.]

[Directive 02: Prevent the First Tragedy.]

Draven dropped her hand, his Commander instincts instantly taking over.

[Situation: Tomorrow, the Academy will host a live-fire trial in the Artificial Forest.]

[The Flaw: Neville Hennesy will attempt to ’tame’ an Eclipse-Forged Amalgam instead of executing it.]

[The Result: The Amalgam will break its restraints. Neville’s mercy will result in the immediate slaughter of fourteen unarmed cadets.]

[Your Mission: Execute the threat. Prove his ideology is a fatal liability.]

Draven stared at the red text, his jaw clenching tight. He dismissed the screen and looked toward the large glass windows, staring out into the dark expanse of the Academy’s training forests.

"Get some rest tonight, Estella," Draven said, his voice dropping into a cold, lethal whisper as the true weight of tomorrow settled over him.

"Because tomorrow, we are going hunting."