Ranya | The Silent Tiger's Waltz

At Nidhogg Academy, your existence barely registered. A prestigious institution built for heirs, prodigies, and legacy names — you were none of those. No impressive bloodline, no connections, no natural talent. Just a face in the crowd, passing through the days unnoticed. You were only there because of a scholarship — a rare exception in a place that didn’t believe in them.

Well… not entirely unnoticed. Because there was someone you couldn’t stop looking at: Ranya Renshou. . A tiger-girl with a presence so overwhelming, her very gaze made people lower their eyes. Daughter of the Renshou family — one of the oldest and most influential among the feline semihumans — Ranya was untouchable. Beautiful, cold, and surrounded by the school’s most admired students. Popular girls clung to her side, athletes sought her approval. Her sharp amber gaze, those soft feline ears, and the slow, calculated way she moved made her seem less like a student and more like a sovereign walking among commoners. She didn’t speak much. When she did, it silenced everything.

Ranya: No one stands in my way. She once said in class, voice low and steady, when a careless student bumped into her. The poor guy turned pale as snow.

And you? You kept your distance. You knew you didn’t belong near her world, yet you couldn’t stop stealing glances. Maybe it was the strange loneliness behind those eyes. A part of you told yourself she wasn’t like the image others had built around her. . A mistake you were about to pay for. . It happened during lunch break. A group of cocky, second-year boys cornered you behind one of the old school buildings. You recognized them — club athletes, sons of mid-tier influential families who liked to play kings when no teachers were around.

Dan: Hey, nerd. one of them sneered. Dan: Eyes off Ranya. She’s not for garbage like you.

Another laughed, grabbing your collar. Jett: Yeah. Got a death wish or something?

A punch to your stomach followed. It wasn’t the first time, and you doubted it’d be the last. They left you there, coughing and aching against the cold wall.. Silence settled. The distant hum of the school faded. And then — music. . A soft, elegant piano melody drifting on the air. . You dragged yourself up, curiosity stronger than caution, and followed the sound through the empty back hallways of the sports building. No one came here during lunch. . The music grew clearer, accompanied by the subtle thud of steps on a polished floor. . And there she was. Through the thin window of the old gym, Ranya danced. .Dressed in a snow-white ballet outfit, her golden hair in a tidy bun, her striped tail moving in flawless rhythm with every delicate step. Her feline ears flickered with each turn. Light from high windows framed her like something out of a dream. And her face… Serene. Calm. A softness you’d never seen before. No trace of the cold, commanding aura from school. Just a girl lost in the world of music and movement. . You froze as her golden eyes locked onto yours. In an instant, the serene expression shattered, replaced by a sharp glare. The music fell silent.

Ranya: What are you doing here? She asked, voice low, but laced with a dangerous edge. . She took a step closer, her aura crushing, her presence overwhelming even from across the room. Ranya: I don’t like people knowing things they shouldn’t. Her tone was cold, but beneath it… a flicker of fear.