It was a cool, breezy night in the town center of Ravenwood.
The streets were bathed in the soft glow of lanterns hanging from posts, casting warm yellow pools of light onto the cobblestone roads.
The sounds of the town filled the air: distant chatter, clinking glasses, and the occasional bark of laughter.
In the corner of the square was an outdoor drinking area, a charming mix of garden and bar.
Potted plants lined the space, their leaves rustling gently in the wind.
Fairy lights were strung between the trees, giving the place a whimsical, relaxed feel.
Wooden tables and chairs were scattered around, some occupied by groups of students and townsfolk enjoying their drinks.
Under one of the larger trees, five second-year students sat around a table, sipping cocktails.
The outdoor bar beside them was lively, with patrons leaning on the counter, ordering their favorite drinks.
The bartender moved with the efficiency of someone used to dealing with rowdy students and tired locals alike.
The second-years were deep in conversation, talking about the event of the night: the first-years' after-party.
One of the second-years, a tall guy with messy brown hair and a laid-back grin, leaned back in his chair and chuckled.
"So, the first-years are throwing an after-party, huh? After those exams?
Can't say I blame them.
They've been through some serious shit."
A girl with short red hair took a sip of her cocktail and nodded.
"Yeah, they deserve it. I heard some of the physical tests this year were insane.
Fighting dummies that mimic your every move?
I would've lost my mind if I had to do that in my first year."
The guy sitting across from her, wearing a leather jacket and a smug expression, smirked.
"I heard some of them even tried using other magic spells from their primary ones for the first time just to win a fight against their dummy.
Pretty ballsy move for first-years."
Another second-year, a girl with curly hair and glasses, laughed softly.
"Well, they're first-years. They don't know any better yet.
But yeah, after what they went through, an after-party seems reasonable.
Let them enjoy themselves while they can.
They've had a rough start, especially with those crazy exams."
The guy with the messy hair leaned forward, his grin fading slightly as he spoke with more seriousness.
"It's good they're having fun, though.
For once, they're actually smiling. It won't last—Ravenwood never gives us too much time to relax—but for now, I think they deserve it.
I mean, between the crazy tests, the stress, and just surviving their first semester here, they've earned a night off."
The others murmured in agreement, raising their glasses in a silent toast.
They sipped their drinks, watching the night unfold around them, their thoughts briefly with the first-years who were, for the moment, carefree.
At another table, a group of students had started a drinking competition.
They were chugging down cocktails as quickly as they could, betting money on who could finish their drinks the fastest.
The rules were simple: first one to finish wins, and everyone else has to pay up.
"Alright, round three!" one of the students called out, slamming his glass down on the table.
"Let's see who's got the guts to go again!"
Several students tapped their watches, transferring Raven coins to each others watches, the stakes rising with each round.
"Come on, who's gonna win this one?"
Someone shouted, the excitement growing as more students gathered to watch.
The participants each grabbed their glasses, ready to chug.
"On three," one of them said.
"One...two...three!"
They all raised their glasses, gulping down the cocktails as fast as they could.
The crowd cheered them on, laughing and jeering as some of the competitors choked or spilled their drinks
One guy slammed his glass down first, raising his arms in victory as the others groaned.
"Pay up!" he grinned, holding out his hand as the losers transferred their coins to him.
"Looks like I'm buying drinks next round!"
The competition went on for several rounds, the stakes getting higher each time.
Some students had already lost a significant amount of Raven coins, but the excitement of gambling kept them coming back for more.
In another corner of the room, a different group had started a magical game.
It was a mix of skill and luck, where students used their mana to manipulate objects in front of them.
The goal was to use mana to keep a glowing orb in the air for as long as possible.
If the orb touched the ground, you lost.
Two students were locked in a heated match, their hands glowing with mana as they sent the orb flying back and forth between them.
The crowd around them cheered, placing bets on who would win.
"Come on, don't drop it!" someone yelled.
One of the players, struggling to keep the orb afloat, accidentally summoned too much mana and sent the orb soaring into the ceiling.
It hit one of the chandeliers, causing a loud crash as the chandelier wobbled dangerously.
The crowd erupted into laughter as the player blushed furiously.
"Alright, alright," the other player said, still laughing.
"You win this one. But next time, try not to destroy the room, yeah?"
The night raged on, with students drinking, laughing, and playing games.
For the first-years, it was a night of celebration and relief
There were no worries about tomorrow, no stress about the exams—they were finally free, if only for a little while.
And as the drinks flowed and the laughter echoed through the halls, Ravenwood felt a little less intimidating, if just for one night.