Lady Luck Is A Tsundere

Professor Gravitas' lecture was both brilliant and brutal. The latter demonstrated how the very concept of weight, metaphysical, emotional, and physical, underpinned most magical theory. He showed us a brief introduction on how to visualize the weight of our intentions, to feel the gravity of our magical will pulling reality into new configurations.

By the time he finished, my head felt twice its normal size, stuffed with concepts that seemed to orbit each other like tiny planets. Looking around, I could see similar expressions of overwhelmed concentration on my classmates' faces. Even Elias, who sat in the front row with his usual perfect posture, was rubbing his temples.

"Did anyone else feel like their brain was being physically compressed?" Finn asked, massaging his forehead.

"That was the point," Gavril replied, though he looked equally drained. "He was demonstrating cognitive weight, making concepts tangible by giving them physical presence in our minds."

I was still stuck on the revelation about Liora. "The Personification of Luck will be a student here," I mumbled, half to myself.

Finn caught it. "Interesting timing, considering..." He gestured vaguely at me.

"Considering I'm a walking disaster zone?" I finished for him.

"I was going to say 'considering your unique relationship with probability,' but sure, let's go with disaster zone."

We filed out of the spherical Hall, joining the flow of students heading toward the open fields for our short break before the next class. The Academy grounds opened before us in a sprawling display of impossibility; floating gardens, paths that twisted into möbius strips before straightening again, fountains whose water flowed upward.

"Combat Fundamentals is next," Gavril informed us, consulting a schedule that occasionally rearranged itself. "With Professor... hmm, it's blank. Apparently, our instructor prefers to remain anonymous until class begins."

"Great," I muttered. "Another dramatic entrance to look forward to."

We found a spot near a fountain that played different musical notes depending on where the water struck its basin. The tune was oddly calming, helping to untangle some of the mental knots Professor Gravitas had tied in our brains.

"So," Finn said, sprawling on the grass, "the Personification of Luck. Think she's responsible for your curse?"

I shrugged. "I don't know, but it would be nice to finally have someone to blame, I guess."

"Or someone who could fix it," Gavril suggested.

The thought hadn't occurred to me. Could this Liora help control my chaotic luck? The possibility was so tantalizing I almost missed the approach of trouble.

Almost.

My instincts for impending disaster had been finely honed by years of bad luck, so I sensed her before I saw her, a prickling sensation at the back of my neck, like static electricity before a lightning strike.

"You're the one who turned my hair blue," came a voice that managed to be both melodic and razor-sharp.

I turned to find myself facing a girl with striking amberlike eyes and hair that, despite obvious magical attempts to restore it, still carried a distinct azure sheen at the tips. Her uniform was impeccably tailored, with subtle modifications that somehow transformed the standard design into something that looked custom-made by master craftsmen.

"Valentina Morgenstern," Gavril whispered to me urgently. "Daughter of Archduke Morgenstern, third in line to the Imperial Throne of Azuria."

Wow. Another noble. Who could have guessed.

"I'm sorry about that," I said, rising to my feet and trying for a diplomatic tone. "It was an accident. I have this... condition."

"Incompetence is not a condition," she replied icily. "It's a choice."

"Actually," Finn interjected, "his magical luck disruption is well-documented. The Academy clearly found it interesting enough to admit him."

Valentina's gaze flicked to Finn with the casual dismissal of someone who had been ignoring servants her entire life.

She completely ignored Finn and continued, "Do you know how long it took to partially reverse the transmutation? Three hours. Three hours of magical procedures that left my scalp tingling like I'd been struck by divine punishment."

I opened my mouth to apologize again, but my infamous luck chose that moment to make an appearance. The fountain behind us hit a particularly resonant note, causing the water to vibrate with increased amplitude. A single droplet, just one out of thousands, arced gracefully through the air and landed with perfect precision... right on Valentina's nose.

The droplet slid down slowly, leaving a faint blue streak in its wake.

Silence fell, broken only by Finn's quickly stifled snort.

Valentina's eyes widened, first in shock, then in rage.

"You did that on purpose," she hissed.

"Would you believe me if I said I didn't?" I asked, taking a step back.

"It was clearly the fountain's resonance pattern," Gavril began, slipping into an academic explanation that was instantly cut short.

"I challenge you," she declared, magic already crackling her fingertips. "Right here, right now."

Students around us backed away, forming an impromptu arena. I noticed Elias watching from the periphery, that same curious expression on his face.

"This is ridiculous," I said, "I'm not fighting you over a water droplet."

"Then you'll be humiliated without a fight," she replied, raising her hand.

Before she could cast, a voice cut through the tension like a steel blade through silk.

"Excellent! Motivation, passion, the eagerness to test one's mettle!"

A figure leaped, literally leaped, from the top of a nearby column, somersaulting through the air to land perfectly between Valentina and me. The woman was tall and lithe, dressed in battle-worn leather armor over a uniform that bore the Academy's insignia and numerous badges of honor. Her hair was a wild mass of auburn curls that seemed to defy gravity just as much as her entrance had.

"I am Professor Talia Blackthorn," she announced, grinning wildly. "Master of Combat Arts, Tactical Applications, and Making Things Go Boom."

She looked between Valentina and me, her grin widening.

"A duel on the first day? Marvelous initiative! But not here, not now, and certainly not without proper supervision." She clapped her hands together. "Formal dueling protocols will be our first lesson today. Miss Morgenstern, Mr. Ardent, you've just volunteered to be our demonstration pair."

My heart sank as Professor Blackthorn slung an arm around my shoulders.

"Report to the Dueling Grounds in ten minutes. The rest of you…" she addressed the gathered students ", don't be late unless you want to be my next involuntary volunteers!"

The crowd dispersed quickly, leaving me standing there with my friends.

"I'm going to die," I muttered.

"Probably not," Finn said, patting my shoulder. "Probably just maimed a little."

"Valentina Morgenstern is a prodigy with elemental transmutation," Gavril informed me, not helping at all. "Her family has produced battle mages for six generations."

"And I've produced disasters for my entire life," I sighed, watching Valentina storm away, blue streak still prominent on her otherwise perfect face.

As we headed toward the Dueling Grounds, I caught sight of Elias again. He raised an eyebrow in what might have been encouragement or simple amusement at my predicament.

Great. I'd been at the Academy for exactly one day, turned twenty-two students' hair blue, offended an imperial duchess, and now was headed for a formal magical duel that would undoubtedly end with me embarrassing myself spectacularly.

The Dueling Grounds loomed ahead, while Professor Blackthorn waited at the entrance, twirling a nasty-looking dagger between her fingers with casual expertise.

"Ardent!" she called cheerfully. "Ready to make history? No one's ever lost a limb during the first duel of the year... at least not in the last decade or so!"

I trudged forward, mentally preparing my will and testament.

My second duel with a noble in less than a week.

At this rate, I'd have fought the entire aristocracy by the end of the month…. assuming I survived the next hour.