Scarlet Vision | Twisted Wonderland

The group finally reached the grounds where the duel would take place. The air felt heavier here, charged with anticipation. The field was wide and open, with students scattered around the edges, buzzing with curiosity and excitement.

As soon as Deuce spotted Riddle standing calmly at the end of the grounds, his nerves came rushing back like a tidal wave. "Never mind," he grumbled under his breath, his face growing slightly pale. "My nerves are back."

"Shut it. We need to do it like we planned," Ace whispered harshly, his tone sharp but his eyes betraying his own nervousness. He elbowed Deuce lightly, as if to snap him out of it.

[Name] stood slightly behind them, watching as the crowd grew. Whispers drifted through the air, some hushed, others louder, carrying a mix of shock and excitement.

"Hey, did you hear?" a Heartslabyul student said, their voice rising with disbelief. "Apparently someone challenged dorm leader Riddle to a duel!"

"You mean Riddle Rosehearts?" a blond-haired boy replied, his tone dripping with skepticism. "Seriously? Whoever it is has to be out of their mind. Riddle will have their head off in five seconds flat."

"Yeah, but this is the first challenge since Riddle became Housewarden!" another student chimed in, his voice brimming with excitement. "I'm kinda pumped for this. Let's go watch!" He grinned wickedly, his enthusiasm almost bloodthirsty as he hurried toward the gathering crowd.

[Name] couldn't help but glance at Ace and Deuce. They weren't oblivious to the pressure building around them—whispers spreading like wildfire, all eyes focused on the duo who dared to stand up to the infamous Riddle Rosehearts. Even Grim, perched on [Name]'s shoulder, seemed to tense up, his tail swishing nervously.

"Now everyone's going to be watching us!" Deuce whispered, his voice tight with nerves. His eyes darted around, clearly overwhelmed by the growing crowd. He looked like he was about two seconds away from psyching himself out completely.

[Name] glanced at him briefly but didn't respond. Their attention was drawn elsewhere—to the corner of the grounds where Trey and Cater stood, talking quietly. The two seniors were away from the main group, their body language unusually tense. [Name] narrowed their eyes, curiosity flaring. What are they talking about?

As Ace, Deuce, and Grim continued their chatter nearby—Grim alternating between words of encouragement and backhanded compliments that made both boys glare at him—[Name] decided to make their move. They glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention to them, then casually stepped closer to Trey and Cater, their footsteps soft against the grass.

What can I say? they thought, their lips twitching into a faint smirk. If they drop something that might help Ace and Deuce gain an edge over Riddle, I'm not above bending the rules of sportsmanship. They crouched behind a low shrub, close enough to catch snippets of the conversation without being noticed.

Trey's calm voice reached their ears first, though it carried an edge of seriousness. "You're saying Ace and Deuce are challenging Riddle for the Housewarden's position?" Cater's voice followed, rising slightly in shock and horror. "Please tell me you're kidding!"

[Name] tilted their head, watching as Cater's usual cheerful demeanor cracked. His wide eyes and tense posture gave away his concern. Is he worried about Riddle? Or is he more worried about Ace and Deuce? they wondered. Maybe he's planning to talk them out of it. Wouldn't surprise me.

Trey sighed, his expression serious as he crossed his arms. "I tried to stop them."

[Name] almost snorted aloud, quickly clapping a hand over their mouth. Tried to stop them? Yeah, right. They planned this whole thing in front of him, and he didn't lift a finger. What's his angle? Why lie about it?