Chapter 39: Arcane Conquest II
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows over Elysium Academy as the students remained in the courtyard for the next round of Arcane Conquest. The energy in the air was buzzing as anticipation built for the clash between the Commoner Dorm and the Holy Dorm. Thalor, standing confidently at the front of the Commoner Dorm team, grinned as though his victory was already assured.
"Today, the Commoners will show the academy their strength," Thalor muttered to himself, gripping his command crystal tightly. The others around him buzzed with nervous excitement, but Thalor was already imagining his victory. "They'll see I'm the one destined for greatness," he added, full of delusion.
On the other side of the field, the Holy Dorm was just as composed, if not more. Aya Hoshizora, the playful fox youkai leading the Holy Dorm as King, stood with an innocent smile on her face. Despite her outwardly naive and carefree demeanor, her sharp eyes hinted at a keen mind for strategy. She waved playfully at her teammates, her ears twitching slightly, and let out a giggle that earned Thalor's disdainful glance.
He scoffed, already dismissing her as weak.
To his left stood Silara Duskwalker, the dark elf and 7th seat of the academy, her dark eyes cool and calculating as she surveyed the battlefield. Though she remained calm, Thalor barely acknowledged her. To his right, a young dwarf with messy hair and a rough edge muttered to himself, preparing to command the Queen piece for the Commoners.
"You'd better not screw this up," the dwarf grumbled to Thalor, his tone laced with annoyance. "We ain't got time for yer nonsense, Thalor."
The dwarf was only 12 like the rest of them, but his no-nonsense attitude made him seem older. Still, he was practical, though more interested in metalwork than war games.
Across the battlefield, the Holy Dorm's ethereal pieces shimmered into view. Aya's Queen piece, a blonde-haired saintess with a regal air, moved elegantly. Argus, watching from the sidelines, caught sight of her. His gaze lingered just long enough to spark curiosity, though he remained focused on the game.
Valerie, standing beside him with her arms crossed, leaned closer. "Look at Thalor. He's glaring over here like he's got something to prove."
Argus followed her gaze, meeting Thalor's sharp stare. The contempt in Thalor's eyes was clear, but Argus shrugged it off with a smirk. "Let him stare. Doesn't really matter."
Valerie chuckled. "Maybe. Still, he seems way too intense for a first day."
Elara, standing quietly beside them, added, "People like him always do. His kind of intensity usually leads to recklessness."
As they talked, Yara Thornwind stepped forward to address the students. Her violet eyes swept over the crowd. "Today's match will determine who advances to the finals against the Noble Dorm," she announced. "The overall winner will receive a special prize, though what that is will only be revealed once we have our victor."
A murmur spread through the students. The mention of a mystery prize heightened the stakes even more. The Commoners exchanged glances, but Thalor's focus never wavered from his opponents. His mind was set not just on winning but proving that he belonged at the top, above everyone else. His eyes occasionally drifted back to Argus, the 1st seat, and his grip tightened around the command crystal.
Valerie's eyes gleamed with excitement. "A prize, huh? I'm suddenly more interested."
Argus grinned, his tone playful. "Guess we'll just have to win and find out what it is."
Yara raised her hand, signaling the beginning of the match. "Remember, this is a test of strategy, not strength. Use your pieces wisely."
With that, the game began, and both teams launched their first moves. Aya, ever playful, guided her team with surprising precision, her King piece moving cautiously as her Queen piece, led by the blonde saintess, advanced with grace and focus.
On the Commoner side, Thalor wasted no time in making bold, reckless moves. His King piece surged forward aggressively, immediately putting pressure on the board, but at the cost of leaving his flanks exposed.
"Why ye rushin' in like that?" the dwarf growled, his tone frustrated. "Ye're exposin' us!"
Silara remained calm, though she too was concerned. "Thalor, pull back. You're leaving us vulnerable," she warned, but her words seemed to go unheard.
"I know what I'm doing!" Thalor barked back. "Just follow my lead."
Across the board, Aya had already started exploiting the gaps in Thalor's reckless advance. Her Queen piece moved with fluid precision, flanking the Commoner Dorm forces effortlessly. Every move was calculated, and her teammates mirrored her strategic play. Thalor, in contrast, was too caught up in his aggressive tactics to notice how fragile his position had become.
Valerie chuckled from the sidelines, clearly amused. "Look at him go. He's rushing in without a plan."
Argus smiled, equally amused. "He's trying to win it all at once. That's not how this game works."
Elara nodded, her tone thoughtful. "He's overcommitting. If they press the flanks, his center will collapse."
On the field, Aya's Queen continued to cut through the Commoner Dorm's defenses, taking advantage of every flaw in Thalor's plan.
"We're losin' ground fast!" the dwarf shouted, guiding the Queen piece in a desperate attempt to hold the line. His efforts kept them from collapse, but Thalor's arrogance was putting the entire team at risk.
Thalor, though, refused to admit his mistake. "We'll recover," he muttered, though the tension in his voice was clear.
Aya's Queen piece closed in for the kill, her playful giggle echoing through the courtyard as she prepared to deal the final blow. But at the last second, the dwarf's Queen piece intercepted the attack, buying the Commoners precious time.
Seeing an opportunity, Thalor made a final, reckless push, sending his King piece directly into the fray.
"Thalor, what are you doing?" Silara called out, her calm tone now laced with urgency.
But Thalor was too focused on proving himself to listen. His King piece pushed deeper into enemy territory, and though the Commoner Dorm's forces were on the verge of collapse, Thalor saw only the chance for victory.
Aya's Queen piece moved to strike, ready to end the game. But in the ensuing chaos, Thalor, in a desperate maneuver, managed to eliminate Aya's King piece, securing a narrow, chaotic win for the Commoners.
For a moment, the courtyard fell silent. Thalor stood there, breathing heavily, staring at the battlefield. But his face showed no triumph, only frustration. This wasn't the victory he wanted. It wasn't the overwhelming display of power he had imagined.
As the reality of the sloppy win sank in, Valerie nudged Argus again. "Look at him. He's not even happy about winning. What's his deal?"
Argus glanced at Thalor, then back to Valerie. "He's frustrated. He's trying to prove something, but this wasn't it."
Valerie raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Prove what? That he's better than you?"
Argus shrugged, unfazed. "Who knows? But it's not worth worrying about."
Valerie laughed, shaking her head. "Nothing ever is with you."
Yara stepped forward, her voice cutting through the murmurs of the crowd. "The Commoner Dorm has won this round of Arcane Conquest," she announced. "Prepare for the final match—Commoners versus Nobles. The stakes are higher now, and the real challenge is about to begin."
As the students began to disperse, the Commoners celebrating their win, Thalor stood off to the side, his face still twisted in frustration. He'd won, but the victory felt hollow. His eyes wandered to Argus again, the fire of ambition burning hotter now.
Argus, on the other hand, was completely at ease. He knew the Noble Dorm was favored to win the next match, but for him, the fun was in the game, not just the outcome.
Beside him, Elara approached, her silver hair shimmering softly in the late afternoon light. "The next match will be interesting," she said quietly, her voice as calm as ever.
Argus nodded. "It will be. But we'll win."
As the Noble Dorm students chatted about the upcoming final match, Lysandra sidled up to Argus with a playful grin. "So, what's the plan? Crush them or make it look easy?"
Argus smirked, his tone light and teasing. "Let's just enjoy it. We're here to have fun, right?"
Lysandra chuckled. "Fun, huh? Alright, I'm all for that."
With the final match on the horizon, the atmosphere shifted slightly. The Noble Dorm students were confident, but there was no arrogance in Argus's stance—just a quiet assurance. The outcome felt inevitable, but for Argus, it was just another game to enjoy along the way.