Novel Bin
Chapter 3: The Dragon Girl Challenged Me to a Duel (Because I Fixed Her Nest?!?)
It was supposed to be another peaceful afternoon.
Zephyr was on the academy’s eastern rooftop, tightening loose shingles and patching up cracked stone tiles with quick alchemy.
He adjusted his gloves and whistled softly.
The sun shone. The wind was nice. His matcha latte was still warm. It was—by all accounts—a good day.
That is, until the roof exploded.
30 Seconds Earlier…
Drakynia Flameheart, a red-haired transfer student from the volcanic continent of Igniss, had one rule:
“Touch my stuff and I’ll roast you like a sausage.”
Unfortunately, her “stuff” included a handmade nest she kept hidden on the rooftop.
And unfortunately, Zephyr had “fixed” it earlier, thinking it was a pile of weird bird debris.
The moment Drakynia landed in her humanoid form—glowing red eyes, twin horns, burning aura—and saw the newly reinforced, symmetrical, and comfy nest with stitched cushions and reinforced thermal insulation…
“WHO TOUCHED MY HOARD?!”
Then she saw him.
Calmly drinking tea in the center of it.
“…Hi,” Zephyr said.
A Few Minutes and One Fireblast Later…
A crowd formed around the Duel Grounds.
“He’s going to fight the Dragon Heiress?!”
“He’s just a janitor!!”
“No, you don’t get it. That janitor tamed a princess yesterday!”
Drakynia stood across from him, fire mana spiraling around her like a wildfire in human form.
“You trespassed on sacred territory. You die now.”
Zephyr dusted soot off his sleeve. “I cleaned your sacred territory. You're welcome.”
Her eye twitched.
“You challenge me with sarcasm?! Very well!”
“I didn’t challenge you at all, actually—”
“—I, Drakynia Flameheart, daughter of the Crimson Tyrant, challenge you to a duel!”
Zephyr sighed, looked at the referee, and handed him a banana peel.
“…What’s this?” the ref blinked.
“My weapon,” Zephyr said.
The arena fell silent.
The Duel Began.
Drakynia’s magic surged—pillars of flame erupting from the ground.
Zephyr… dodged by calmly walking out of the way. Every. Single. Time.
No effort. No spells.
Just smooth, lazy sidesteps that looked more like someone avoiding puddles on a rainy sidewalk.
The final blow came when she launched her full power:
“DRAGON’S FURY—!!”
And Zephyr tossed the banana peel.
She slipped.
Slammed into a wall.
Buried herself in the ground.
…And passed out.
Later That Evening…
Drakynia sat up in the infirmary, surrounded by melted furniture, looking at the ceiling.
“…He dodged my final move. With fruit.”
A soft breath.
“He’s strong. Smells like mint. And… fixed my nest better than I ever could.”
She blushed.
“…T-This must be fate. Mate-worthy.”
The nurse blinked. “Wait, what?”
“I must court him. As is draconic tradition."
Meanwhile, Zephyr was back to sweeping the courtyard.
He didn’t notice the hearts floating above the heads of two dangerous girls watching him from a distance.
He just muttered, “Why does everyone here act like I did something cool? I just want to clean the ceiling fans…”
End of Chapter 3.
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