Chapter 22: Leadership Through Bluff
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The attackers spread out cautiously, their eyes darting between the uneven ground and the ruins surrounding them. Every step they took was deliberate, their movements slow and wary. The spear wielder took point, his focus sharp as he scanned for any signs of danger.
I kept my posture relaxed, leaning slightly against the remains of a wall with a confident smirk plastered across my face. "You look nervous," I taunted, crossing my arms. "Afraid of a little debris?"
The sword-wielder snarled, his grip tightening on his weapon. "Shut up. We'll see how cocky you are when you're bleeding on the ground."
"Big talk," I replied with a casual shrug, "but you're not moving any faster. What's the matter? Scared I might be telling the truth?"
The third attacker, a wiry figure with a pair of daggers, shifted uneasily. "What if he's not bluffing?" he muttered under his breath, just loud enough for me to catch.
The spear wielder shot him a glare. "He's bluffing. Keep your head straight."
But his voice lacked the conviction it had earlier.
Behind the column, Lyria peeked out briefly before ducking back down. I caught the movement and gave her a sharp glare, hoping she'd understand to stay hidden. We couldn't afford for them to realize she was still here—it would ruin everything.
The meek girl, standing slightly behind me, added to the illusion with a quiet chuckle. "They really believe it," she whispered, her voice laced with just enough amusement to sound natural.
"Of course they do," I murmured back, loud enough for the attackers to hear. "Why wouldn't they? After all, no one's stupid enough to risk their lives over nothing."
The spear wielder scowled, clearly debating his next move. His team hesitated, waiting for his command.
"Enough of this," he growled, raising his spear. "If he's bluffing, we'll find out the hard way."
He lunged forward, his spear aimed directly at me.
I sidestepped with ease, the weapon missing me by a hair's breadth. "Careful," I warned, letting my voice drop to a dangerous tone. "One wrong step and you'll bring this whole place down on top of us."
He froze mid-step, his confidence wavering again.
The sword-wielder, clearly fed up with the tension, swung his blade in a wide arc, aiming for my side. This time, I ducked, the weapon slicing harmlessly through the air above me.
"You're not listening," I said, straightening up. "Maybe I should show you what happens when someone gets too reckless."
I gestured subtly to the meek girl, who nodded and took a deliberate step back, her foot scraping against a loose piece of rubble. The sound echoed ominously in the clearing, drawing all eyes to her.
"Oops," she said with an exaggerated wince, bending down as if to steady herself.
The attackers stiffened, their gazes darting between her and the surrounding ruins.
The spear wielder cursed under his breath, stepping back cautiously. "Damn it. This isn't worth it."
"Smart man," I said with a grin, straightening up. "Now, how about you turn around and walk away before things get messy?"
He hesitated, glancing at his team. The sword-wielder looked furious, but even he seemed reluctant to make the next move. The wiry dagger-wielder, meanwhile, was visibly shaken, his eyes darting nervously.
"You heard him," the meek girl added, her voice steady despite the tension. "Leave now, and you won't regret it."
For a moment, no one moved. The air was thick with anticipation, every second stretching into eternity.
Then, with a frustrated growl, the spear wielder lowered his weapon. "Let's go," he snapped, glaring at his team. "We'll deal with them later."
The sword-wielder opened his mouth to protest but quickly thought better of it. He sheathed his weapon with a muttered curse, shooting me a venomous look before following the spear wielder.
The wiry boy hesitated, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he turned and disappeared after the others.
As soon as they were out of sight, I let out a long breath, the tension in my body finally releasing.
"That was close," the meek girl muttered, her hands trembling slightly as she straightened up.
I nodded, glancing toward the column where Lyria was hiding. "It worked. That's what matters."
Lyria peeked out cautiously, her eyes wide with relief. "You scared them off…"
"For now," I said, my tone serious. "But they'll be back. We need to keep moving before they regroup."
The meek girl nodded in agreement, her expression resolute. "We bought some time, but we can't stay here."
I looked back toward the path we'd taken, my mind racing. The bluff had worked, which might earn me some credit for leadership, but it wasn't enough. I'd need to step up my game for the next encounter of this exam.
But before I could dwell on it further, a familiat sensation ran down my spine. My muscles tensed involuntarily as I felt it—a faint, Ether. My head snapped up, and I instantly recognized the source.
This wasn't just anyone. It was him.
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