Diva Conquest

"You surprised me today," Eve admitted finally. "No one in our class has beaten me in a duel. Not even the advanced initiates."

Ian smiled faintly. "Then maybe you needed someone to remind you you're not invincible."

Her lips parted slightly, as if to retort, but no words came. Instead, she shook her head with a small laugh. "You're ridiculous."

"And yet," Ian said, "you're still sitting here."

Eve sighed and glanced away again, trying not to smile. "For now."

He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table. "That's all I need."

The corner of her mouth twitched upward despite herself, and she quickly looked down at her plate to hide it. Around them, the hum of the hall had returned to normal, though now, more than a few students were pretending not to watch as they whispered and exchanged curious glances.

Arlen, sitting a few tables away, caught Ian's eye and gave him a grin and a thumbs-up before pretending to be completely engrossed in his drink. Ian almost laughed.

Eve noticed the exchange and asked, "Your friend seems to think this is going well."

"He's an optimist," Ian said lightly.

She rolled her eyes. "You're both idiots."

"Yes we are," Ian said again, his tone easy and unbothered. "But you don't look bored."

This time, Eve didn't argue. She just looked at him for a long moment, her eyes studying him...the quiet calm, the faint smirk, the strange, steady confidence that seemed to come from nowhere.

Finally, she looked away, shaking her head with a small smile that she didn't bother to hide anymore.

"Dinner's not over yet," she said. "Try not to start another fight before it's over."

Ian chuckled softly, his eyes glinting. "No promises."

Eve had never been the kind of girl to be easily impressed. She had seen too many boys try to win her over with bravado and flattery, and she had shut them down every single time. Strength didn't move her; power didn't move her; even charm, in all its polished forms, never did much. Yet somehow, Ian was different...not because he tried harder, but because he didn't seem to be trying at all.

As she sat across from him, she found herself studying him again...the relaxed posture, the calm eyes that seemed to hide something much deeper, the faint smile that always appeared when she tried to provoke him. He wasn't nervous or desperate to impress her. He wasn't even playing any kind of game. He just was.

She hated that it intrigued her.

"You're quiet all of a sudden," Ian said softly, tilting his head slightly, breaking her thoughts.

Eve blinked and looked away, pretending to adjust her glass. "Just thinking," she said, keeping her tone casual.

"About?" he asked.

"About how you managed to make a complete scene on your second day and still sit here acting like nothing happened."

He chuckled quietly. "Guess I'm good at recovering from chaos."

Eve frowned, though a hint of amusement tugged at the corner of her lips. "You're insufferable, you know that?"

"So I've been told," Ian replied, still wearing that mild, unbothered expression that somehow disarmed her more than any compliment could.

She wanted to roll her eyes again, maybe tease him, but instead she found herself watching him in silence. There was something about the way he spoke...the calm in his voice, the way he met her gaze without hesitation...that made her chest feel oddly tight.

For a moment, she tried to convince herself it was just curiosity. That's all it was. He was different, unpredictable, and for someone like her, who was used to control, that was simply… intriguing. But deep down, she knew it was more than that.

When the waiter returned to clear their plates, she caught her reflection faintly in the glass beside her...the faint blush in her cheeks, the softness in her expression she didn't recognize. She quickly straightened her posture, forcing her usual composure back into place.

Ian leaned back in his chair, watching her without pressing further. "You look like someone fighting a battle in her own head," he said quietly.

She turned to him sharply. "And what makes you think you're worth thinking about?"

"I didn't say I was," he replied smoothly. "You just confirmed it."

Her mouth opened slightly in disbelief, and for a second, she didn't know whether to laugh or slap him. "You really are impossible," she said at last, shaking her head.

Ian smiled faintly. "And yet, you're still here."

That same line again. It shouldn't have meant anything. But this time, the words landed differently. She looked away, staring out toward the courtyard lights beyond the glass wall, her heart betraying her with a quiet, steady flutter.

No one had ever gotten under her skin this fast.

She told herself it was temporary...that she'd regain control of her emotions soon, that he was just another cocky newcomer who would fade into the background in a few days. But as Ian spoke again, his calm, confident voice cutting through the low hum of the dining hall, she realized something she didn't want to admit.

He was already finding his way past her defenses...and she wasn't sure she wanted to stop him.

When the evening began to wind down, the soft glow of the lanterns around the academy's courtyard bathed everything in a warm amber hue. The crowd inside the dining hall had thinned, leaving a quieter atmosphere between Ian and Eve. She had relaxed more now, no longer guarded, though her pride still lingered in the sharp tone of her words. Ian could tell she wasn't used to lowering her walls...but tonight, she had, even if just a little.

Ian glanced toward the door. "It's getting late," he said casually, resting his forearm on the table. "I should walk you back to your dorm."

Eve arched an eyebrow, swirling what was left of her drink. "You're offering to walk me back now? That's awfully traditional of you," she said with a teasing lilt, though the title came out half playful, half sincere.

He smiled faintly. "Call it old-fashioned courtesy. Besides, if that senior, Lucan, decides to lurk around, it'd be rude to let you deal with him alone."

Eve gave a small, amused scoff but nodded. "Fine. Just don't expect me to hold your arm like those fancy love stories."

"I'll survive the disappointment," Ian said, rising from his chair.

As they made their way toward the door, he caught Arlen's eye from across the room. The boy was already grinning, clearly reading the situation. Ian gave him a subtle signal...a quick wave and a nod that said I'll fill you in later. Arlen, of course, returned it with a ridiculous thumbs-up and an exaggerated wink that made Ian sigh inwardly.

Outside, the air was cooler, touched with the scent of night flowers that bloomed around the academy paths. The sky above shimmered faintly with stars, the twin moons casting pale light over the marble walkways. They walked side by side in silence for a while, their footsteps echoing softly on the path.

Eve glanced at him once or twice, pretending not to. "You're surprisingly quiet for someone who loves to make bold statements," she said finally, breaking the stillness.

Ian looked at her, hands tucked in his pockets. "I only talk when there's something worth saying."

She smirked. "So now I'm boring you?"

"Not at all," he said simply. "I'm just enjoying the quiet. It suits you."

Eve gave him a sideways look...the kind that could cut or conceal a smile, depending on how one read it. "You're not like the others here," she said after a pause. "You don't act like someone desperate to prove anything."

"That's because I've got nothing to prove," he replied calmly. "At least, not to anyone here."

They reached the girls dorm building, its tall spire stretching upward into the dim night. Students passed them in pairs, laughter and chatter echoing faintly from nearby windows. Eve turned to face him at the entrance, her hair catching the soft glow of the lantern above.

"Well," she said, folding her arms, "this is where we part ways."

Ian nodded, stepping back slightly. "I'll take your word that you can handle yourself from here."

"You're learning fast," she said with a smirk.

He returned the look, his tone half teasing but sincere underneath. "Goodnight, Eve. Try not to think about losing to me again."

Her lips parted in mock irritation, but she couldn't stop the laugh that escaped. "You really don't know when to stop, do you?"

"Never claimed I did," Ian said, smiling faintly before turning to leave.

Eve watched him walk away for a few seconds longer than she intended, her expression softening as the sound of his footsteps faded into the night. Then she exhaled slowly, shaking her head at herself before heading inside, her mind far too full for comfort.