CHAPTER 71: THE NEXT SEMESTER*

"Careful, princess," Aegis whispered between thrusts, grinning. Her hands gripped Talia’s hips as her cock slid in and out of that royal ass at lightning speed. "They might hear you."

Talia bit down on her own hand, trying to muffle the moans escaping her throat. Her other hand braced against the stone wall beneath the stairwell, knuckles white from the pressure.

"I hate you," Talia gasped.

Aegis’s hand crashed down on Talia’s right cheek, spanking it hard. She sunk in fully, until her cock was completely sheathed, and paused.

"Your pussy says otherwise."

"Shut up and—ngh!"

Footsteps echoed from above. Students heading to their morning classes, completely unaware that their ice-cold princess was getting railed beneath their feet.

"Someone’s coming," Talia hissed.

"Yeah. You, in about thirty seconds."

"That’s not what I—fuck!"

Aegis picked up the pace, each thrust making Talia’s whole body jerk forward. The princess’s face was bright red, tears of frustration and pleasure gathering at the corners of her yellow eyes.

"We’re going to get caught," Talia whimpered.

"Then you better cum quick."

The footsteps got closer. Voices now, two girls discussing Advanced Magical Theory homework.

Talia’s entire body tensed. Her pussy clenched around Aegis’s cock like a vice.

"That’s it," Aegis murmured. "Good girl."

Talia came with a strangled whimper, her whole body shaking. Aegis followed right after, flooding the princess’s womb with cum.

They stayed frozen for a moment as the students passed overhead, their conversation fading into the distance.

"I really do hate you," Talia panted.

"Sure you do." Aegis pulled out slowly, watching cum drip down Talia’s thighs. "Same time tomorrow?"

"Absolutely not."

"So... yes?"

Talia yanked her panties up and smoothed down her skirt with as much dignity as she could muster.

"This changes nothing. Liora and I are dating. You’re just..."

"Your favorite toy?"

"I was going to say stress relief."

"Romantic."

Talia stormed off without another word, though Aegis caught her slight limp.

[Second semester’s off to a great start.]

---

The training grounds buzzed with second-semester energy.

New equipment lined the walls. Fresh sand covered the sparring circles. And Commander Korvo looked even more scarred than last semester, if that was possible.

"Alright, maggots!" he barked. "Welcome back. Hope you enjoyed your week off, because I’m about to make you regret being born."

"Charming as always," Scarlett muttered beside Aegis.

"Today we’re doing assessment matches. I need to see if any of you actually improved over break or if you spent the whole time getting fat and lazy."

Several students shifted uncomfortably.

"Lionheart! You’re up first."

"Finally." Scarlett cracked her knuckles. "Who’s my victim?"

"Greaves."

A ripple went through the crowd. Kanna Greaves stepped forward.

Six feet of pure muscle, short grey hair, and yellow eyes that could pierce steel. She wore the standard training uniform, but somehow made it look like armor.

Scarlett’s confident grin faltered for just a second.

"Right. Her."

"You okay there?" Aegis asked.

"What? Yeah. Fine. Whatever."

[She’s absolutely not fine.]

The two titans faced each other in the circle. Kanna held her sword with perfect form, completely still. Scarlett bounced on her feet, but her usual aggressive energy seemed... off.

"Begin!"

They clashed in the center. The sound of steel on steel rang out across the grounds. Other matches stopped to watch.

Scarlett came in hot, aggressive as always. Her blade whistled through the air in wide, powerful arcs. Any normal opponent would’ve been overwhelmed immediately.

But Kanna wasn’t normal.

She moved like water, redirecting Scarlett’s force rather than meeting it head-on. Every block flowed into a counter. Every step had purpose.

"Holy shit," someone whispered.

Scarlett’s face was flushed. She pressed harder, faster, but her movements were slightly sloppy. Not her usual controlled chaos.

Kanna’s expression never changed. Calm. Focused. Methodical.

Then, in one fluid motion, she redirected Scarlett’s blade, stepped inside her guard, and swept her legs.

Scarlett hit the sand hard.

Kanna’s sword point hovered at her throat.

"Yield?"

"...Fuck."

"I’ll take that as a yes." Kanna offered her hand.

Scarlett stared at it for a moment before taking it. When their hands touched, she yanked herself up too quickly and stumbled. Kanna steadied her with a hand on her arm.

"Good match," Kanna said simply, then walked away.

Scarlett stood there for a moment, staring after her.

"You good?" Aegis asked when Scarlett finally trudged back.

"Fine."

"You sure? Because you look—"

"I said I’m fine."

"She kicked your ass pretty good there."

"She got lucky."

"Uh-huh."

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." Aegis grinned. "Just that you were staring at her ass when she walked away."

"I was NOT—" Scarlett’s face went red. "I was analyzing her stance!"

"Her walking stance?"

"Shut up."

"Her very shapely walking stance?"

"I don’t—she’s not—" Scarlett grabbed Aegis in a headlock. "Not another word."

"She’s really hot though," Aegis wheezed.

"That’s not—I don’t think—shut UP!"

Scarlett released her, face burning.

"She’s just another rival. That’s all."

"Right. A rival."

"Exactly."

"A tall, muscular, stoic rival."

"Stop."

"With arms that could probably bench press you."

"I hate you."

They watched the other matches in silence. Well, mostly silence. Scarlett kept glancing toward where Kanna was methodically destroying another opponent.

"You should talk to her," Aegis suggested.

"About what? Fighting?"

"Sure. Fighting."

"Because that’s all I care about. Fighting."

"Of course."

"I don’t think she’s attractive or anything."

"I didn’t say you did."

"Good. Because I don’t."

"Okay."

"I mean, objectively, sure, she’s... built. But so am I. It’s not special."

"True."

"Stop agreeing with me!"

"People keep telling me that. Would you prefer I disagree?"

"No! Just—" Scarlett ran a hand through her hair. "Forget it."

Commander Korvo’s voice cut through their bickering.

"Starcaller! You’re up!"

[Finally.]

Aegis stepped into the circle. Her opponent was some noble she vaguely recognized from Political Intrigue class. Thomas something. He held his sword like it might bite him.

"Begin!"

Aegis had him disarmed in three moves.

"Next!"

The pattern continued for the next hour. Aegis worked through opponent after opponent, her improved stats making quick work of most students, now. The combination of Bondmark bonuses, actual training, and her Charisma-scaling daggers had transformed her from dead weight to genuinely competent.

Stats:

POWER: 42

INTELLIGENCE: 58

GRACE: 31

INSIGHT: 22

CHARISMA: 100

[Still not Kanna-level, or Scarlett-level, but getting there.]

"Alright, that’s enough!" Korvo called. "Hit the showers. And Lionheart—"

"Sir?"

"Work on your defense. Greaves read you like a book."

Scarlett’s jaw clenched.

"Yes, sir."

As they headed toward the changing rooms, Scarlett muttered:

"I don’t need to work on anything. My defense is fine."

"She did sweep your legs pretty easily—"

"That was a fluke!"

"Right. A fluke."

"It was!"

Before Aegis could respond, Dean Whitmore’s voice suddenly echoed across the academy grounds, magically amplified.

"Attention all students. Please gather in the main courtyard for an important announcement."

"The fuck?" Scarlett frowned, seemingly grateful for the distraction. "It’s not even noon."

Students flooded into the courtyard from every direction. Aegis spotted Lune with paint in her hair, Liora with sheet music tucked under her arm, and Talia trying very hard not to make eye contact with anyone.

Dean Whitmore stood at the podium, flanked by the academy’s senior staff.

"Students of Rosevale," he began, his voice carrying easily across the crowd. "As you know, our academy prides itself on excellence. To maintain our standards, we regularly accept transfer students who have proven themselves exceptional."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"This semester, we will be welcoming three new students to our ranks. They will arrive next week and be integrated into your classes and dormitories."

[Right,] Aegis recalled. [New characters.]

In the game, second semester always brought transfer students. Some became allies. Some became rivals. And one...

[One becomes a major antagonist.]

"Details will be posted on the notice boards," Whitmore continued. "I expect you all to make them feel welcome."

The crowd began to disperse, chattering excitedly about the news.

"Transfer students," Scarlett mused. "Wonder if any of them can fight."

"Probably."

"Good. I need new challenges." Her eyes drifted to where Kanna was walking away, those powerful shoulders rolling with each step. "I mean, additional challenges. Different challenges. Not that the current ones aren’t... challenging enough."

"You’re doing great."

"Shut up."

"Very smooth."

"I will throw you into the sun."

Talia suddenly appeared beside them, Liora in tow.

"Starcaller."

"Princess."

They stared at each other.

"You have something on your neck," Talia said stiffly.

Aegis touched the hickey Talia had left on her this morning.

"Weird. Wonder how that got there."

Talia’s face went red.

"We’re leaving," she announced, dragging Liora away.

"Bye, Aegis!" Liora called cheerfully. "See you at dinner!"

Once they were gone, Scarlett turned to Aegis.

"Aegis, are you really fucking both of them?"

"It’s complicated."

"It always is with you." Scarlett paused. "Wait, is that why you were late to training? Were you—"

"Under the stairs, yes."

"Holy shit."

"Yeah."

"That’s..." Scarlett shook her head. "Actually, respect. That takes skill."

"Thanks?"

"I mean, I could do that too. If I wanted. Which I don’t."

"Nobody said you couldn’t."

"Good. Because I could. Easily. If there was someone I wanted to... you know."

"Like Kanna?"

"NOT KANNA."

"Okay."

"She’s just—she’s not my type!"

"What is your type?"

"Not... that!"

"Tall? Muscular? Could break you in half?"

"I—that’s—" Scarlett’s face was approaching Talia-levels of red. "Fuck off!"

[She has no idea she’s into that type yet. This is amazing.]

Before Aegis could tease further, a notification popped up in her vision.

New Event: Hearts and Minds

Objective: Successfully romance or befriend all transfer students

Reward: ???

Failure: One transfer student becomes a major antagonist

Time Limit: Before Winter Tournament

[Well, fuck.]