The Final Boss

And finally, the last class of the day. Just one more hurdle, and I'd be free to retreat to the dorms. I could already feel the exhaustion weighing on me, like a heavy cloak I was desperate to shrug off. All I wanted was to collapse onto my bed and savor the peace and quiet—if such a thing was even possible in this madhouse of an academy.

Though, a nagging thought tugged at the edges of my mind. Who would my roommate be?

It wasn't something I had considered until now. Was it going to be someone ordinary, someone who'd leave me alone and let me live my peaceful life? Or would it be another heroine, here to complicate my already chaotic existence? Knowing my luck, it was probably the latter.

Shaking the thought away, I focused on the final class of the day. The professor for this one was none other than Elysia Liora.

Elysia Liora. The name alone conjured an image of elegance and mystique. She was known as one of the academy's most respected professors, a master of light magic, and someone with an aura so serene it was almost otherworldly. In the novel, she had been described as a guiding beacon, offering wisdom and calm to those who sought it. However, she was also someone who could see through lies with unnerving ease—a trait I really didn't want to test.

As I entered the classroom, I immediately noticed her. Elysia stood at the front of the room, her presence commanding yet gentle. Her vibrant blue hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, and her serene expression radiated a sense of calm that contrasted sharply with the storm brewing in my mind. She wore a pristine white gown adorned with lace and pearls, the attire giving her an almost ethereal appearance under the soft light streaming through the windows.

"Welcome," she said, her voice soft yet clear, like the ringing of a distant bell. "Please take your seats. Today, we'll be exploring the foundational principles of light magic."

I slipped into a seat near the back, hoping to stay out of sight and out of mind. The less attention I drew to myself, the better.

Elysia began her lecture, her tone measured and captivating. She spoke with such clarity and grace that even the most complex concepts seemed simple under her guidance. The students around me were hanging on to her every word, completely enraptured by her.

As much as I hated to admit it, I could see why. Elysia had an aura that demanded respect, not through fear or authority, but through sheer presence. She was the kind of person who made you want to listen, to understand, to strive for better.

But I couldn't let myself get too comfortable. This was still a world where every step I took could potentially trigger some catastrophic event. No matter how soothing her voice was or how mesmerizing her magic looked as she demonstrated a basic light spell, I had to stay on guard.

"Miss Vandren," Elysia suddenly said, her gaze sweeping across the room until it landed squarely on me.

I froze, my heart skipping a beat. Of course, she'd notice me. Why wouldn't she?

"Yes, teacher?" I managed to reply, keeping my voice steady.

"What are your thoughts on the symbolic relationship between light and truth?" she asked, her calm eyes studying me with a curiosity that felt far too probing for comfort.

Truth. Oh, the irony.

I swallowed hard, scrambling for an answer that wouldn't draw too much attention or make me look suspicious. "I suppose… light often reveals what's hidden. It brings clarity and understanding, but it can also be harsh, exposing things we might not want to see."

Elysia tilted her head slightly, a small smile playing on her lips. "An insightful answer. Light does have the power to reveal, but remember—it also has the power to guide."

Her words lingered in the air, wrapping around me like a subtle yet inescapable force. For a fleeting moment, I couldn't shake the feeling that Professor Liora's statement wasn't just about magic—it felt heavier, layered, as though she had peeked into a part of me I'd rather keep hidden.

And just as I was starting to process it, a voice—smooth and rich like velvet—broke through the quiet.

"Not bad, princess," someone drawled, the words laced with an edge of amusement.

I blinked and turned toward the source of the voice, my stomach sinking as I locked eyes with yet another heroine.

There she was.

Tessa Vale.

The final heroine.

She leaned casually against the desk behind me, her arms crossed and her red eyes gleaming with intrigue. Her long, wavy black hair seemed to move with a life of its own, catching the light in a way that only heightened her striking beauty. Her pale complexion and sharp features gave her an almost otherworldly air, one that made her impossible to ignore—even if I desperately wanted to.

Tessa wasn't like the others. Where Camille was poised, Diana playful, and Claire impulsive, Tessa was enigmatic, a storm hidden behind a veil of elegance. In the novel, she was always the wildcard, unpredictable and unapologetically bold.

And now, she was staring right at me, her lips curving into a faint smirk that made my heart sink further.

"What do you want?" I asked warily, trying to keep my voice neutral.

Tessa raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by my defensive tone. "Relax, princess. I just wanted to see for myself what all the fuss was about. You've got quite the reputation, you know."

I frowned. "Reputation? What reputation?"

She chuckled, a low and melodic sound that sent a shiver down my spine. "Oh, you know… the one about the infamous Sera Vandren. The girl who supposedly tried to curse her way to power but now sits here answering questions about light and truth. Quite the transformation, don't you think?"

I clenched my fists under the desk. "People love to talk. Doesn't mean any of it's true."

Tessa's smirk deepened, and she leaned closer, her red eyes narrowing as though she were trying to unravel a puzzle. "Maybe. But I have a feeling there's more to you than meets the eye. You're not as simple as you pretend to be, are you, Sera?"

"Maybe you should mind your own business," I shot back, my patience fraying.

Her laughter was soft but unmistakably amused. "Feisty. I like that."

Before I could respond, Professor Liora's voice rang out, calm but firm. "Miss Vale, I trust you find your conversation stimulating, but I suggest you refocus your attention on the lesson."

Tessa straightened, her smirk never wavering. "Of course, Professor." She gave me one last glance before returning to her seat, her presence lingering like the faint scent of a storm.

I exhaled, realizing only then that I'd been holding my breath. As much as I wanted to stay under the radar, the universe—or maybe fate—seemed hell-bent on dragging me into the spotlight.

Great. Just great. ಠ_ಥ

Tessa Vale, I take back what I've said before. Out of all the heroines, Tessa might be the most troublesome out of all of them.

There was no way to ever tell what Tessa was thinking. Her mind was a labyrinth that no one— not even Diana, with all her cunning and intuition—could navigate. She was an enigma wrapped in elegance and shrouded in unpredictability.

And what made it worse? She wasn't just mysterious; she was a genius in every conceivable way. The ultimate all-rounder.

Tessa Vale was smart, absurdly so. She could dismantle complex magical theories in one breath and then outmaneuver the most skilled duelists in the next. She was strong, not just physically but mentally, emotionally—every way that mattered. Her ability to adapt to any situation was terrifying. If you threw her into a raging inferno, she'd probably emerge with the flames under her control, smirking all the while.

The author of Revenge of the Fallen Villainess had clearly decided to go all out when creating her. They hadn't just written Tessa as a character—they had forged her as a weapon. A final boss in human form.

Which, in a cruel twist of irony, was exactly what she became in the original novel.

Tessa was the one who ultimately took down Sera Vandren, delivering the decisive blow that ended her reign of terror.

And now, here she was, sitting right behind me, her red eyes burning a hole in the back of my head.

I suddenly felt very, very uncomfortable.

Every instinct in my body screamed at me to stay perfectly still, to not even breathe too loudly, lest I draw her attention again. But it didn't matter. Tessa wasn't the type to forget or ignore. She had already marked me as a curiosity, and knowing her, she wouldn't let it go until she unraveled every layer of my existence.

How was I supposed to survive this?

I stared blankly at the front of the class, pretending to listen to Professor Liora's lecture, but my mind was racing. Maybe I could request a seat change. No, that would look suspicious. Or maybe I could fake a medical condition? But that might just give Tessa another excuse to hover around me.

I was doomed.