Reincarnated As The Villainess's Best Friend

I ran into the night, making my way through the academy under the cover of darkness.

The night guards had already begun their patrol, their dim lamps gleaming in the distance like fireflies. But my only concern at the moment was getting to my destination .

Rather than draw unnecessary attention, I avoided the public roads and cut through the orchard.

The rustle below announced my footsteps as I darted through the fallen leaves. Following the dim lighting of the lampposts, I made my way through, cutting out at the classroom area.

I arrived at my dorm, my cheeks crisp and burned by the cold air as I ran through the final lap. Almost out of breath, I climbed the last of the stairs that led to my dorm, panting like a dog.

"I need to get back in shape."

In that moment, I missed my ability to teleport anywhere I wanted. It was an S-Tier spell, and if I tried to use it now, I could probably end up in the middle of a volcano.

My door finally came into view. I pulled out my keys, fumbling with them for a moment as I unlocked it. With a loud bang, the door fell open, slamming on the wall behind it.

Without hesitation, I ran to my desk, hoping to find the book I had left on it; the royal archive on House Solaris.

It was gone.

I searched through the entire room, pulling out drawers and tossing clothes. Somehow, the book I had just been reading yesterday had developed wings and flown away.

Or, most probably... someone took it.

I ran out of the room, darting across the corridor. I almost tumbled down the stairs as I made my way to the corner of the large dormitory where Kyro's room was situated. Seconds later, I was in front of his door.

It was locked.

"Wind Spear."

The sharp gust struck the door, forcing it open with another bang. One quick look inside confirmed my already rising suspicions.

Kyro was nowhere in sight.

"Cheeky bastard..."

My stomach churned heavily as I feared for the worst. But just to confirm what I thought, I decided to make a trip to the one place in the academy I dreaded the most.

The Noble Girls' dorm.

*****

I trudged toward my destination, clenching my teeth as the cold air bit through my bones. Winter was coming soon, and although it didn't snow in Viridale, the night winds fell to temperatures too cold for what should be a temperate region.

I pulled my dark cloak tighter around my chest, but it barely made a difference. My bones rattled with every movement, and it took all I had in me to keep myself from shivering.

The large building came into view, with a facade just like the male nobles' hostel. The only difference was, it was surrounded at the base by a few tiny lamps that moved and flickered in the wind.

Beneath each lamp, were night guards, armed with tall spears that reflected the light of the lamp above them.

"How do I get past?" I muttered to myself.

I could easily take on each one of them, or all of them if the need arose. But if the guards or any witnesses recognised me, I would face the tribunal again and risk being expelled.

Rather than face all of them, I simply walked over to one of the large trees that stood beside the road. The leaves were a combination of green and brown, dried by cold autumn winds..

"Rising Inferno," I whispered.

A large pillar of fire erupted from the ground, consuming the large tree. The branches quickly caught up the flame, fueling the already massive blaze.

"Fire! There's a fire!!"

Dazed by the sudden blaze, the guards yelled at the top of their voices, signaling each other towards the giant pillar of fire. The cold winds blew on the flames, making the tongues reach for more trees, adding to the panic of the guards.

They scattered from their posts, dropping their spears and picking up buckets. They darted across to a nearby well to pull out water, which they carried haphazardly toward the flaming tree.

In the ensuing mayhem, I slipped by the guards, concealing myself in the shadows of the trees across the road. When the entrance was clear, I made a run for the dorm.

As soon as I was past the gate, I snapped my fingers, and the roaring flames outside vanished, just as quickly as they had appeared.

In my mind, I tried to imagine the confused looks of the guards as the fire dissipated.

"You... Stop!" A voice bellowed behind me.

Apparently, not all of the guards patrolling the girls' dorm had run toward the distraction I had created.

The guard crept up to me, placing the tip of his spear at the base of my neck.

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice echoing, "Come to sneak a peek at the little ladies huh?"

Didn't surprise me that he would think that, though my dark cloak should have given him the impression that I was a robber.

"If I were you," I muttered, "I would walk away."

The guard pushed his spear even deeper, pricking my skin.

"Turn around, you creep!" he ordered.

I didn't have the time for this.

"Quick Sand."

The earth beneath the guard rumbled, then turned to mush, swallowing the guard whole.

"Don't worry," I whispered, without turning back. "You'll be out of there soon."

Like a bounty hunter in pursuit, I ran through the doors, treading lightly through the courtyard in order not to attract more attention to myself. It was almost midnight, but I was certain a few students would still be awake.

Swiftly, I marched up the stairs, but not long after, I felt a sharp pang in my abdomen.

"I really need to get back in shape," I sighed.

I braced myself, gasping slowly until I reached the topmost floor, where Lucy's room was. Then, I knocked three times, placing my ear to the door.

Silence.

Perhaps she was asleep. But I had to make sure, so I reached for the handle.

To my surprise, the door was unlocked.

I pushed it open with a gentle nudge and made a glance around the room.

No one was in it.

Lucy was gone.