Chapter 40: Arcane Conquest III
The sun had dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over the courtyard of Elysium Academy. The tension was palpable as the students from the Noble Dorm and the Commoner Dorm stood on opposite ends of the Arcane Conquest field, preparing for the final match. This was the showdown everyone had been waiting for, and although it seemed inevitable that the Nobles would dominate, the Commoners—particularly Thalor—still held onto a stubborn sense of hope.
Thalor, standing at the front of the Commoner Dorm, clenched his fists around the command crystal. His heart raced as he glanced across the battlefield to where Argus stood, exuding effortless confidence. Thalor's chest tightened. This was his moment, his chance to prove to everyone that he was stronger than they thought. Stronger than Argus, even. He couldn't afford to lose.
Though the game had been clearly explained as a competition of strategy, in Thalor's mind, it was a battle of power—his strength against Argus's. He couldn't afford to lose, not when he believed that brute force and sheer will were the true tests of a warrior's worth.
Behind him, Silara Duskwalker, the dark elf with quiet intensity, stood still, her eyes calmly scanning the board. The tension between her and Thalor was unspoken, but it was clear she didn't trust his reckless leadership. To Thalor's right, the dwarf who commanded their Queen piece muttered to himself under his breath, grumbling about the mess they were in after the previous match. Despite the victory, they were all aware of the sloppy, last-minute nature of the win.
Across the battlefield, the Noble Dorm gathered with an air of ease, though not all shared the same calm demeanor as Argus. While he stood at the head, calm and composed, his teammates were less restrained. Some of the other students wore smirks of overconfidence, their cocky attitudes reflecting both their noble upbringing and the overwhelming victory Argus had led them to in the previous round against the Knight Dorm. With Argus's strategy sweeping their opponents away effortlessly, the Nobles now believed they were untouchable, their victory inevitable.
Those smug grins irked Thalor to no end. But what he hated even more was Argus. The way he stood there, calm, nonchalant, as though this was nothing but a casual exercise for him—it made Thalor's blood boil. He burned with the desire to shatter that poise, to show Argus he wasn't invincible.
Valerie, fiery as ever, bounced slightly on her heels, eager for action. "Alright, let's get this started. I'm dying for some fun." She glanced over at Argus. "What's the plan?"
Argus smiled faintly, glancing at each member of his team. His gaze landed on Nerissa Drakthorn, the dragonkin, but unlike the others, she wasn't focused on the game at hand. With her arms crossed, her golden, slitted dragon eyes were locked solely on him, gleaming with anticipation—not for the match against the Commoner Dorm, but for the challenge he'd accepted for tonight. Her intense focus made it clear that the only battle she cared about was their own.
Argus couldn't help but feel both wry and amused by her dragoness nature. While the others were preparing for the strategy game, Nerissa was mentally gearing up for something far more personal. She was impatient, eager for the real fight to come.
He chuckled inwardly, hoping she wasn't getting her hopes up too much. As an Adept, his strength was on a completely different level from the other students, and he knew the gap would be overwhelming. Still, a part of him admired her relentless spirit.
"Nerissa, you'll handle the frontlines," Argus said calmly. "Valerie, you'll cover the left flank. Elara, you and Luther can control the center and right, play it steady."
Luther Varian, ever the strategist, nodded in quiet approval. He was the cool head of the group, his precision always on point. Lysandra, the vampiric noble, stood nearby, her eyes glinting with mischief. "And I'll be where I'm needed, I assume?" she purred, her tone playful.
Argus chuckled. "Exactly. Stay flexible."
From the sidelines, Yara Thornwind watched both teams closely. Her violet eyes narrowed slightly, as though reading into each student's mindset. "This is it," she announced, her voice sharp and commanding. "The final match. The winning dorm will be awarded a special prize, but you'll have to earn it. Now, begin!"
At her signal, the pieces on the field shimmered into existence—the life-sized, ethereal projections of knights, mages, archers, and beasts. Each team had their own set, and while the Commoners moved with a sense of urgency, the Nobles, led by Argus's calm calculation, approached the match with confidence.
Thalor, gripping his command crystal, wasted no time. His King piece surged forward aggressively, just as it had in the previous match. He pushed the offense immediately, eager to seize control and force the Nobles to react.
"Thalor, pull back!" Silara snapped, her voice low but sharp. "You're exposing us again!"
Thalor waved her off dismissively. "I've got this," he muttered, his eyes fixed on Argus's calm form. He wanted to overwhelm them, show them that he wasn't someone to be underestimated. The flames of his frustration from the previous round still burned in his chest. This wasn't just a game anymore; it was personal.
On the other side of the field, Argus watched Thalor's bold, reckless advance with mild interest. "He's overextending again," he commented, glancing at Elara, who stood beside him.
Elara nodded, her silver hair catching the last rays of the sun. "He doesn't learn. We can break their lines easily if he keeps this up."
Valerie, stationed on the left flank, chuckled. "He's so desperate to win. It's like watching a puppy try to bark down a storm."
Argus smiled faintly but said nothing. He issued a quick command to his pieces, sending Nerissa's warrior piece charging forward. Her eyes gleamed with anticipation as the powerful, armored figure clashed with the Commoner's front line.
"Nerissa, keep them pressured, but don't go too deep," Argus instructed.
Nerissa grinned, baring her fangs slightly. "Got it," she replied, her voice low and eager.
The Noble Dorm played with precision, each move deliberate and thought-out. While Nerissa pushed the attack, Luther held the right flank steady, using defensive tactics to keep the Commoners from making any significant breakthroughs. Valerie moved her archers into position on the left, steadily picking off weaker pieces as the Commoner forces struggled to adjust.
Across the battlefield, Thalor was growing more frustrated. His pieces were advancing, but it wasn't enough. Every move he made was countered by Argus's team, and despite his aggressive tactics, they were maintaining control of the board. His King piece was pushing too far ahead, and his teammates were struggling to keep up with the pace he'd set.
The dwarf grumbled under his breath, guiding the Queen piece carefully. "This lad's gonna get us all wrecked," he muttered, trying to adjust for Thalor's reckless positioning.
Silara, with her sharp eyes, was already seeing the cracks in their strategy. "Thalor, stop pushing so hard! We're not going to last if you keep overextending," she called out, but her words once again fell on deaf ears.
Thalor clenched his teeth. He wasn't about to pull back. Not now. Not when he was so close to proving his worth. His frustration boiled over as he issued yet another command to surge forward.
Meanwhile, on the Noble Dorm side, Luther quietly observed the field, his calculating gaze sweeping over the positions. "Their center's starting to collapse," he commented to Argus.
"Then let's finish it," Argus replied calmly.
At his signal, Elara's Queen piece advanced, cutting through the weakened center of the Commoner forces with graceful precision. Her piece moved fluidly, exploiting every gap in the defense. At the same time, Lysandra shifted to the right, coordinating with Luther to pressure Thalor's weakened forces.
Thalor's breathing grew heavier as he realized the severity of the situation. His King piece was exposed, and the Nobles were closing in from all sides. He issued another desperate command to push forward, trying to force an opening, but it was clear to everyone watching that the Commoner Dorm had lost control.
"They're going to break us," Silara muttered, her voice tinged with frustration as she tried to compensate for Thalor's mistakes.
The dwarf, fighting to hold the line with the Queen piece, let out a low growl. "We're barely hangin' on here!"
Thalor clenched his fists around the command crystal, his mind racing. How could this have gone so wrong? He had power—he had awakened at the age of 9, something so extraordinary it had rarely been seen in history. With lightning, one of the strongest abilities in the academy, he was certain he was destined for greatness. He was the chosen one. How could he be losing so badly?
But he quickly pushed the doubt aside. This was just a strategy game—a test of tactics, not real power. In a real fight, he would have dominated them all. He was the chosen one, meant for greatness, and this game was nothing compared to the battles he was destined to win.
With one final push, Nerissa's warrior piece smashed through the remaining defenses, cutting a direct path to Thalor's King piece. Argus gave a small nod to Elara, and with a swift, graceful strike, her Queen piece delivered the final blow.
The battlefield fell silent. The Commoner Dorm had been decisively defeated.
Yara stepped forward, her voice ringing out across the courtyard. "The Noble Dorm has won the final match of Arcane Conquest."
The Noble Dorm students exchanged smug glances, their overconfidence clearly showing. For them, the victory had been expected from the start. Valerie stretched her arms above her head, a grin spreading across her face. "Well, that was fun," she said, though her tone carried more amusement than surprise. It wasn't really a challenge, but they had enjoyed themselves nonetheless.
Nerissa stepped forward, rolling her shoulders. "It could've been more of a challenge."
Luther remained quiet, though his expression showed satisfaction with the outcome. Lysandra, ever playful, sidled up to Argus with a teasing grin. "I must say, Argus, you certainly know how to keep things interesting," she purred. He had let her play with the weaker Commoner Dorm pieces, allowing her to toy with them before delivering the final blow. It hadn't been necessary, but it had kept her entertained.
Argus smirked, glancing at her. "You do enjoy playing with your food, don't you?" he remarked, his tone amused but with a hint of teasing.
On the other side of the battlefield, Thalor stood still, staring at the ground, his fists clenched tightly. Frustration burned in his chest, but not shame—never shame. This was just a strategy game, not a real test of strength. If it had been a real battle, things would have been different. The gap between him and the Nobles wasn't as wide as they thought. He was still the chosen one, and he would prove it soon enough. Without a word, he stormed off, his mind already turning over bitter thoughts of how he'd claim his rightful place next time.
Yara's voice cut through the murmurs of the crowd. "As promised, the winning dorm will receive a special prize," she announced, her tone sharp with amusement. "And that prize is... bragging rights."
A brief silence followed her words, broken only by a few students exchanging confused glances. One of the Noble Dorm students dared to speak up, a hint of frustration in their voice. "That's it?"
Yara smiled wickedly, as though she'd been waiting for the pushback. "Ah, you're right. How thoughtless of me," she said with mock graciousness. "In addition to your well-deserved bragging rights, you'll also receive... this." She flicked her wrist, and in a flash of light, a small, gaudy trophy appeared, floating lazily in midair. The trophy was an over-the-top figure of a knight, ridiculously adorned with sparkling gems that didn't seem to serve any purpose.
The Noble Dorm members stared at it for a moment, expressions ranging from bemusement to disbelief.
Valerie broke the silence, laughing out loud. "You've got to be kidding me."
Yara smirked, clearly enjoying herself. "Feel free to display it proudly. I'm sure it will make a wonderful addition to your dorm."
The trophy hovered over to Argus, landing softly in his hand. He stared at it, raising an eyebrow. "Well, it's... something," he said, his voice calm but laced with amusement.
Lysandra sidled up beside him, eyes glinting with mischief. "It suits us perfectly," she said with a grin. "A bit flashy for my taste, though."
As the students began to disperse, the Noble Dorm members gathered with quiet satisfaction. The trophy was useless, and the bragging rights were hollow, but they had still won. The real prize, Argus knew, would come in time, with greater challenges ahead.
Standing at the head of the group, Argus felt the weight of something bigger on the horizon. The academy had only just begun, and while this victory was amusing, he knew the real tests were still to come. For now, though, he allowed himself to enjoy the moment.
The real games were just beginning.