The victory in the dungeon raid had earned Rynhara and her team both accolades and scars. But as the adrenaline of the fight faded, Rynhara found herself back in the mundane world of school life. And with their return to the academy, whispers about the infamous "villainess" and her miraculous dungeon victory had already spread like wildfire.
The morning after their return, Rynhara and Kaelira strolled through the academy's main hall. Students whispered and pointed as they passed, their faces a mix of awe and suspicion.
"Did you hear? She decapitated a seven-headed hydra in one strike!"
"Yeah, but didn't her team barely survive? Probably her fault they struggled so much."
"Still, an EX skill? That's no joke."
Kaelira smirked, leaning closer to Rynhara. "Looks like you've gone from 'evil incarnate' to 'monster slayer.' Quite the upgrade."
Rynhara rolled her mismatched eyes. "They're acting like I did it for them. If I had my way, I wouldn't have teamed up with those royal brats in the first place."
"They weren't all terrible, were they?" Kaelira teased.
Rynhara gave her a deadpan look. "You weren't there. You didn't have to listen to Alaric's 'motivational speeches.'" She mimicked his voice, "'A true prince always leads with courage!'"
Kaelira snorted. "That's tragic."
When Rynhara entered the classroom, the chatter instantly stopped. Every pair of eyes turned to her, some filled with admiration, others with distrust. Even the teacher, Professor Aldwyn, seemed hesitant to address her directly.
"Ah... Rynhara, I hear congratulations are in order for your success in the dungeon," Aldwyn said, clearing his throat.
Rynhara gave a small nod and took her seat.
Veloria, sitting two rows behind her, couldn't resist a jab. "Don't let it go to your head, 'Darkness Princess.' One victory doesn't make you a hero."
Rynhara smirked but didn't turn around. "Better one victory than none, archer-who-missed-three-shots."
Veloria's face visibly reddened, but before she could retort, Aldwyn clapped his hands. "Enough. Today, we're focusing on magical theory."
At lunch, Rynhara and Kaelira sat at their usual table, away from the main clusters of students. As they ate, Rynhara couldn't help but notice a few of her dungeon teammates staring from across the room.
Alaric was deep in conversation with Leron and Caelum, occasionally glancing her way.
"They're still mad at me, aren't they?" Rynhara muttered, stabbing her steak with more force than necessary.
"Mad? Hardly," Kaelira said, sipping her tea. "They're probably just embarrassed you outshone them."
Veloria walked past their table, muttering just loud enough for Rynhara to hear, "Her victory was pure luck."
Rynhara smirked and leaned back in her chair. "If decapitating a hydra is luck, then I must be the luckiest princess alive."
Kaelira burst out laughing, nearly choking on her tea.
By the end of the day, Rynhara was more exhausted from the attention than she had been fighting the hydra. As soon as the final bell rang, she and Kaelira headed home, eager for some peace and quiet.
Tiamora was waiting for them in her study, lounging on a golden throne-like chair as she sipped wine.
"Ah, my little hydra slayer returns!" she exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with pride. "How was your day at school? Showered with praise, I assume?"
"More like stared at like I'm a freak," Rynhara grumbled, flopping onto a nearby couch. "Everyone either hates me, fears me, or both."
Kaelira snickered. "Veloria hasn't stopped sulking since the dungeon raid."
"Oh, Veloria," Tiamora said with mock sympathy. "That girl's always had an inflated sense of self-worth. She probably thought she'd be the star of your team."
Rynhara sat up, glaring at her mother. "This is your fault, you know."
Tiamora raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Do enlighten me."
"You're the one who's spent centuries building a reputation as the most terrifying being in existence! Everyone looks at me and sees you!"
Tiamora burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the room.
"It's not funny!" Rynhara snapped. "They all think I'm some scheming, evil villainess because of you!"
"Well, you do have the title 'Villainess,'" Tiamora said, wiping a tear of laughter from her eye.
"I didn't ask for that!"
Kaelira, standing nearby, couldn't help but chuckle. "You've got to admit, Ryn, you do have a bit of a… dramatic flair."
Rynhara groaned, burying her face in a pillow. "Why is everyone against me?"
Tiamora leaned forward, patting her daughter's head. "Oh, sweetie, it's not everyone. Just most people."
Rynhara groaned louder.
As the evening wore on, Rynhara resolved to keep pushing forward.
"Fine," she muttered. "If they want to think I'm a villainess, I'll just keep proving them wrong or maybe not . Let them underestimate me."
"That's the spirit," Tiamora said with a grin. "But don't forget to embrace your dark side every now and then. It's good for the soul."
Kaelira smirked. "And good for scaring your classmates."
Despite her irritation, Rynhara couldn't help but smile. With her mother's unwavering confidence and Kaelira's sharp humor, she felt ready to face whatever came next.
Even if it meant dealing with more royal brats, dungeon horrors, and her own growing legend.