As the sun set, Night Raven College bathe in a warm, amber glow. Elongated shadows stretched across the cobblestone courtyards and climbed up the dorm walls. Jamil had planned a quiet evening for the two of you, far from the Scarbia and on the outskirts of a forest. The moonlight shimmered on the surface of a nearby lake, casting a silvery dance of light across the water. The crisp night air lifted the weight of academic stress, allowing you to breathe deeply and focus on what mattered most.

You and Jamil sat under a canopy of jasmine flowers, their sweet scent mingling with the aroma of the food he had prepared for you. The two of you shared recent stories and events at NRC and RSA. While you told a hilarious occurrence and laughed, Jamil’s charcoal grey eyes softened, and a rare, genuine smile tugged on his lips. That smile was only reserved for you, and it made your heart flutter each time without fail.

Meanwhile, in Scarabia, chaos was brewing. Jaq, a fellow student from RSA, had misinterpreted your visit to NRC. Convinced that you had been kidnapped and held hostage, he rallied a small group of misguided students to stage a supposed rescue. Despite Kalim’s cheerful greetings and efforts to de-escalate the situation, your classmates started to attack him. The commotion drew the attention of the other students in Scarabia, and what began as a misunderstanding quickly turned into a full-blown battle. Pillows, books, spells, the Magic Carpet, and even treasure flew back and forth between the students of the opposing schools.

All the while, you and your boyfriend remained blissfully unaware of the chaos. As you savored each bite of Jamil’s cooking, he reached across the table, and his fingers intertwined with yours. His tender gaze reflected the soft glow of the lanterns around you.

“Are you happy?” He softly asked.

“Very,” you replied, giving his hand a squeeze.

Before the two of you could continue your romantic conversation, Kalim led Jaq toward the canopy, hoping to clear the misunderstanding once and for all. As they approached, the softness in Jamil’s eyes was replaced with his usual irritated gaze. Following his gaze, you saw Kalim sheepishly waving at you with Jaq in tow.

“Jaq? What is going on?” You asked, confused by the sudden appearance of your classmate.

“I…thought the villains at NRC…kidnapped you,” Jaq replied, clearly uncomfortable at seeing you and Jamil on a date.

“Kidnapped? Why would you…oh, never mind. I am on a date,” you sighed heavily. A part of you wanted to laugh at your classmate’s foolishness, but the interruption irritated you.

Jamil was unamused but managed to keep his cool. “Perhaps next time, you should ask before assuming the worst.”

Patting Jaq on the back, Kalim gave a grin and chimed in. “No harm done! Now, why don’t we all enjoy some food together?”

Before you or your boyfriend could protest, Jaq and Kalim plopped on the cushions on either side of Jamil and helped themselves to the feast. The intimate, romantic ambiance you had cherished moments ago dissipated like the steam rising from the dishes. However, it wasn’t often that an RSA student had a peaceful dinner with NRC students, so you shrugged off the interruption and chuckled to yourself. Maybe next time, you and Jamil will go to a secluded location through the Magic Mirror, where no one can interrupt your private time.