GO IPNAR

Under a stone bridge near the river, several students huddled around an improvised campfire. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and the nervous laughter of those trying to endure their first night as rookies.

Albert arrived at the scene, his hair still damp and his mood worse than ever. Without looking at anyone, he dropped his bag on the ground and sat down with his arms crossed, exhausted from the day.

"Why are you following me?" he snapped at Coralina, who had timidly arrived behind him.

"What…?"

"Stop following me!" Albert shouted.

Some murmured among themselves, calling him "jerk" or "rude."

He turned away from the group and wandered into the streets of Vienna, shoulders slumped.

After walking for a while, Coralina found a small restaurant. She entered and headed to the bar, sitting on a wooden stool.

The bartender placed a green glass in front of her. "On the house."

She took the glass and sipped. Instantly, the heart symbol in her eyes vanished, and a warm sensation spread through her body.

Reality hit her. Literally. Coralina let her forehead fall onto the wooden counter with a loud thud, covering her face with her hands.

"That idiot… kissed me!"

The bartender cleaned a glass with a rag. "I heard about the potion incident this morning. I'm good at reading people."

"Did you also read that someone hit me with an electric spell and threw me into a potion stand? I've got glass shards in my clothes!"

The bartender laughed louder, then pointed at the menu. "Want something stronger to relax? Or would you prefer hot chocolate?"

"Hot chocolate," Coralina mumbled, dropping her head again. "I don't need more problems tonight."

A few minutes later, the bartender placed a steaming cup in front of her. Coralina sipped and sighed deeply. But her calm was shattered when someone sat beside her.

"Was that your first kiss?"

She jumped, turning to see Wilhelmina grinning mischievously.

"What are you doing here?!" Coralina exclaimed, clutching her chest.

Wilhelmina twirled the dorm room keys in her fingers like a trophy. "Just wandering around. And I spotted a very lost girl come in here."

"Give me those keys!" Coralina demanded, reaching out.

"How adorable," Wilhelmina replied, ignoring her. "Want to play chess? Though I prefer alcoholic drinks to unwind after a day like this."

"I could use a distraction too."

Later that night, Coralina returned to the bridge, swaying slightly as she held a small vial in her hand. Her cheeks were flushed, and a faint smell of alcohol surrounded her.

"I got them," she said, her tone cheerful and slurred.

Albert frowned, concerned. "Are you drunk?"

She stumbled toward him and, without warning, leaned her weight onto his shoulder. "I'm not drunk," she replied, though the strong scent suggested otherwise.

"Sure you're not," Albert muttered as he tried to push her away.

The students around the fire chuckled as Coralina gazed dreamily up at Albert.

"You know, Albert," Coralina began, her words dragging. "You have… really pretty eyes. I didn't notice before. Oh, right. Look at the keys. I got them back from Wilhelmina. So stop complaining, and let's head to the dorm."

"What do you mean you have them?! I've spent all day chasing that lunatic, and you…"

Before he could finish, Coralina gave him a quick smack on the head with her free hand.

"Ow!" Albert protested, clutching the spot she had hit.

"That's for earlier," Coralina said. "For yelling at me in front of everyone and acting like a jerk all day."

Albert opened his mouth to argue but stopped when he noticed the other students' gazes around the campfire.

"Fine, I'm sorry, okay? Now let's go."

"Did you drink alcohol?"

"A little," Coralina admitted with an innocent smile. "But it's not my fault. Wilhelmina dared me while we played chess."

"And you still managed to get the keys from her?"

"Yep," Coralina replied, her tone full of pride. "I'm smarter than you think."

Coralina took out the keys and opened the door to the shared dormitory. It was a simple yet cozy space, with bunk beds lined up against the walls and windows that let the moonlight in.

"Well," Coralina said, dropping her bag next to one of the beds. "Finally, a place to sleep."

Albert crossed his arms, staring at her intently. "I can't believe you made me go through all that just for you to end up getting the keys yourself."

Her hair was messy, falling over the pillow. "Did you like the kiss?"

Albert froze, a faint blush rising to his cheeks.

"Uh… umm… ahem. It wasn't bad."

She laughed softly, turning toward him as she curled up on the mattress. Without breaking eye contact, she lightly bit her lower lip. Then, as if unafraid of anything, she motioned for him to come closer.

"Come here."

He plopped down beside her, his movements awkward and cautious.

"Would you kiss me again?"

Albert felt his heart skip a beat. His mind wrestled between common sense and her magnetic pull.

He swallowed hard before answering. "When you're sober."

Her expression quickly shifted from shy to annoyed. She sat up, straddling him with her knees on either side of his hips.

"I don't want to wait," she said, grabbing his arms.

Albert tensed under her weight but didn't try to push her away immediately.

"Coralina, stop."

"I don't want to stop," she said in a broken voice. Her grip loosened, but she didn't move from her position. She lowered her gaze, her tone changing, becoming vulnerable. "I don't know what's happening to me, Albert. Every time I see you, my heart shrinks."

Her slight weight on his hips anchored him to the bed, and her proximity was intoxicating. Her hair fell in messy waves, some strands brushing his face, and every time she moved her head, a sweet aroma wafted over him.

His throat was dry, and the shirt he wore felt far too tight. He swallowed hard, but his mind kept spiraling, unable to stop.

God… she's beautiful, he thought.

Her legs, firm on either side of him, radiated warmth that climbed rapidly through his body. Something else stirred against his pants.

He tried to look away but couldn't. His eyes instinctively dropped to the neckline her shirt revealed. It wasn't much, but enough for his imagination to fill in the rest.

Damn it, calm down… This isn't the time for this, he told himself.

He looked back at her, and the effect was even worse. Coralina was entirely lost in her emotions, and he could see it in every part of her expression. The curve of her neck, the way her breathing made her chest rise and fall… It was too much.

"Coralina…" he struggled to find the right words. "I'm not going to say I don't like you. I'm very attracted to you, but…"

Before he could finish, he felt her slowly lower her head. Albert closed his eyes. The warmth she radiated made every fiber of his body tense, and when he opened his eyes again, she was mere inches from his lips.

I want to kiss her, he admitted.

The faint taste of alcohol still fresh on her lips was intoxicating. His mind screamed at him to stop, but his body couldn't help but respond. His hands moved to Coralina's waist, and before he realized it, they had slipped lower, tracing the curves of her ass.

"This is wrong!"

He sat up quickly, slipping out from under her and putting distance between them. He moved to the bed beside hers, letting his body fall onto it with a weight that was both physical and emotional.

Coralina, still sitting on the bed, watched him in silence as he turned his back to her, avoiding her gaze.

"Good night, Albert."

He didn't respond immediately.

"Good night."

Back to the Present

"It was him, that mage named Albert, who helped me cast my first spell. He was unbearable, irritating, and… (my first love)."

"Albert… that name sounds familiar," said one officer.

Another, younger commander spoke up. "It's because we've seen it in the reports. Albert Von Eisenwald is the name of one of the Confederate generals. He commands some of the most powerful magical forces on their side."

Without saying another word, she stood and walked away from the circle, ignoring the questions and curious looks from the officers. She wandered into a clearing in the nearby forest, far from the camp's noise. There, under the faint moonlight, she touched her lips gently, recalling that kiss and the confusing emotions it had awakened.

More than 100 kilometers away, deep in Confederate territory, Albert Von Eisenwald sat in his command tent, reviewing reports from his officers.

"Victory at Shenandoah," allowing a satisfied smile to cross his face.

But something else caught his attention: an additional report mentioning the presence of a woman, an enemy known for her dark magic or anti-magic abilities.

"Coralina Álvarez," he said softly.

For a moment, Albert remained still. Then, he raised a hand to his lips. That memory, so distant and buried, resurfaced.

Albert's camp was a hive of activity. The Confederate army under his command numbered 40,000 soldiers and mages.

The Confederate banner fluttered high as airborne units flew above the army.

Albert mounted his black horse, his cloak billowing behind him as he inspected his troops.

"Move out!" he commanded.