The atmosphere at Lunaris Academy had become increasingly tense—not because of looming exams or impending battles, but because of the ongoing rivalry between Sara and Raven. Their subtle and not-so-subtle attempts to win Sam's attention had turned into an all-out competition, much to Sam's dismay.
It all started innocently enough. During a lunch break, Sam was sitting under a large oak tree in the courtyard, trying to enjoy a quiet moment. But, of course, peace was never an option.
Raven approached first, carrying a neatly packed bento box. "Hey, Sam! I made lunch today. Thought you might like to try it." She smiled brightly, holding out the box.
Sam blinked, surprised. "Oh, thanks, Raven. That's really nice of—"
Before he could finish, Sara appeared out of nowhere, holding a large, steaming bowl of noodles. "Sam! I know how much you like spicy food, so I made this special ramen just for you!" She shot Raven a competitive glare.
Raven wasn't one to back down. "Oh, that's nice, Sara. But I made sure to include all of Sam's favorite snacks in this bento. You know how much he loves variety."
Sara smiled sweetly, though her eyes were anything but. "Variety is great, Raven. But nothing beats a warm, hearty meal, right Sam?"
Caught between the two, Sam could only laugh nervously. "Uh… they both look amazing. Maybe I could just—"
"No!" Both girls shouted in unison, startling him.
Sara quickly recovered and held out her ramen. "You should try mine first. It's best when it's hot."
Raven stepped closer, opening the bento box to reveal an assortment of colorful dishes. "But mine is already ready to eat. And you can save the ramen for later when you're actually hungry."
Sam sighed, realizing there was no way out of this. "How about this—I'll eat half of each, so no one's feelings get hurt?"
Both girls reluctantly agreed, though the tension between them was palpable. As Sam awkwardly tried to balance eating from both dishes, the scene drew the attention of several passing students. Whispers and giggles filled the courtyard as word spread of the latest "episode" in the Sara vs. Raven saga.
The next day, things escalated further. In the middle of class, the teacher announced a surprise practice duel. Each student would be paired with a partner, and much to everyone's amusement, Sara and Raven were chosen to face off against each other.
As they stood in the training arena, the air crackled with anticipation. This wasn't just a friendly sparring match—it was a showdown, and everyone knew it.
"Don't hold back," Sara said, her tone serious as she summoned her water magic, the air around her cooling as droplets formed in midair.
Raven smirked, her eyes gleaming as dark flames ignited in her hands. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Sam watched from the sidelines, his heart sinking. This wasn't what he wanted at all. He had hoped they could get along, but it seemed his presence had only fueled their rivalry.
The duel began with a flurry of magic. Sara's water streams clashed with Raven's dark flames, creating bursts of steam that filled the arena. The students watching cheered and gasped as the two girls demonstrated their impressive skills, neither willing to give an inch.
Sara launched a wave of ice shards, forcing Raven to dodge and counter with a fiery explosion. "You're good," Raven admitted, her voice slightly breathless. "But I'm better."
"We'll see about that," Sara shot back, her eyes narrowing as she summoned a swirling vortex of water around her.
For a moment, it seemed like the duel could go on forever, but then Sara had an idea. With a swift motion, she directed the vortex towards Raven, forcing her to take a step back. In that brief moment, Sara sent a jet of water straight at Raven's feet, knocking her off balance.
Raven yelped in surprise as she fell, her flames flickering out as she hit the ground. The crowd erupted in applause, cheering for Sara's clever move.
But before anyone could declare a winner, Sam jumped into the arena, waving his arms. "Enough! This isn't about winning or losing! You're both amazing, okay?"
Sara and Raven looked up at him, their expressions softening. They both knew he was right, but neither was ready to admit it.
Raven stood up, brushing herself off with a sigh. "Fine, you win this round, Sara. But don't think I'm giving up."
Sara smiled, her competitive edge fading. "Neither am I. But maybe next time, we could do something other than fight?"
Raven smirked. "Maybe."
As the tension eased, the three of them left the arena together, the students around them chattering excitedly about the duel. But Sam's mind was elsewhere. He knew that this rivalry, while entertaining, couldn't go on forever. He needed to find a way to bring peace between Sara and Raven, before things got out of hand.
And so, the chapter ended with Sam, once again, caught in the middle of a situation he never asked for, but couldn't avoid. As he glanced at Sara and Raven, both still throwing competitive glances at each other, he couldn't help but think that his life had become a lot more complicated—and maybe a little bit funnier—since he became famous.