Ash stared at the words on the page, but his mind wasn't absorbing them anymore.
'A formal challenge… the loser forfeits whatever was wagered.'
His stomach twisted.
Thikana had already sent a Black Leaf to the queen. That meant Aria was locked into a challenge—a fight she had no chance of winning.
Thikana is built like a warrior. Aria…
He clenched his fists. He had spent enough time with Aria to know she wasn't weak, but she wasn't a fighter. She had no training, no structured combat skills. And if the stakes were high—if Thikana was planning to take something from her—then this wasn't just some petty squabble.
This was serious.
The more he thought about it, the more the situation sank in like a cold weight in his chest.
"You're overthinking."
Ash blinked, pulled from his spiraling thoughts. He turned to see Ivana staring at him, her head tilted slightly.
"You've been staring at the same page for way too long," she noted. "What's up?"
Ash hesitated. He glanced around, making sure no one was too close, then turned his attention back to her.
"How true is what I just read about the Black Leaf?" he asked.
Ivana raised an eyebrow. "What part?"
"That the queen is responsible for accepting or declining requests."
She nodded. "That's right. She decides whether a fight is necessary or not. If she thinks the challenge is unfair or unjustified, she can deny it."
Ash frowned. "Has she ever declined a request before?"
"Of course." Ivana leaned back slightly, tapping a finger on the table. "I remember one case—a poor but strong-willed elf challenged a noble. The queen refused."
Ash narrowed his eyes. "Why?"
Ivana scoffed. "Because it was obviously one-sided. That noble could have snapped the challenger in half."
Ash stared at her, his mind clicking things into place.
It wasn't about fairness.
'If the queen truly cared about fairness, she would have let the fight happen. The strong should always have a chance, no matter their wealth. But she didn't.'
'Why?'
'Bribery.'
'That noble must have paid for immunity.'
Ash didn't say it aloud, but the realization settled uncomfortably in his gut. The system wasn't fair—it was just another game of power.
Which meant… Aria was in even deeper trouble than he thought.
He exhaled slowly, keeping his expression neutral. "Have you ever seen one of these fights before?"
Ivana nodded. "Yeah. They always happen in the village square. The turnout is insane—bigger than the procreation ceremonies."
That surprised him. "Really?"
She smirked. "Of course. Procreation is important, but fighting? That's entertainment. People love watching a real battle."
Ash ran a hand through his hair. That made things worse.
This wasn't some private duel—this would be a spectacle.
Thousands of eyes watching. The pressure of the crowd. The humiliation of losing publicly.
Aria wasn't just in danger of getting beaten—she was in danger of being completely destroyed.
Ivana studied him for a moment before asking, "Why are you suddenly so interested in the Black Leaf?"
Ash hesitated. Then, seeing no point in hiding it, he sighed. "Thikana sent one to challenge Aria."
Ivana stiffened.
Her playful smirk vanished.
"Wait. Thikana, the big elf?"
Ash nodded.
Ivana exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "Aria's screwed."
Ash's jaw tightened. "She doesn't have a chance, does she?"
"None." Ivana didn't sugarcoat it. "Thikana's dangerous. She's been fighting since she was a kid. Her entire existence revolves around physical combat."
Ash leaned forward. "Is there any way to stop the fight, maybe make Thikana cancel the challenge?"
Ivana hesitated, then nodded. "It happens sometimes."
That caught his attention. "How?"
She shrugged. "Different reasons. Sometimes people realize they're not actually ready. Sometimes they find a better target. Or sometimes, they're…" She paused, choosing her words carefully. "Convinced."
Ash's mind sharpened.
So, it was possible.
He just had to figure out how to make Thikana cancel her request.
The table fell into thoughtful silence.
Ivana watched him carefully. "You're planning something."
Ash didn't respond right away.
He was.
He just didn't know what yet.
Instead, he glanced down at his book, pretending to focus again. "Just thinking."
Ivana gave him a knowing look but didn't push.
For the next while, they fell into quiet reading. The weight of their conversation still lingered, but neither of them spoke further about it.
The more Ash read, though, the more his thoughts drifted. His eyes scanned the words, but his mind was already elsewhere—on strategies, possibilities, ways to turn the situation around.
Eventually, the pressure in his chest grew too much.
"I need some air," he muttered, pushing his chair back.
Ivana looked up. "You alright?"
"Yeah." Ash forced a small smile. "Just need to clear my head. I'll be back."
She studied him for a moment before nodding. "Alright. Don't get lost."
Ash smirked. "No promises."
Then, he turned and walked out of the library, his mind racing with possibilities.
Ash stepped out of the library, the crisp afternoon air brushing against his skin. The village was bustling in the distance, but here, in the quieter stretch near the library steps, he had space to think.
His mind spun through possibilities, each thought circling back to the same core problem—how to stop this fight.
He didn't want to see Aria hurt. Not physically, not emotionally.
Thikana was strong. That much was obvious. But everyone had a weakness—something they wanted, something that could make them reconsider their choices.
If only he could get close to her, or maybe inside her, he could persuade her.
A slow smirk tugged at his lips.
"She looks mad," he murmured to himself, "but with the right push, I bet she could be persuaded."
And he was ready to give her something she had never felt. A cock.
His plan wasn't fully formed, but a spark of confidence ignited in his chest.
He just needed to find her.
As he was lost in thought, he suddenly felt a hand drape across his shoulder.
A voice followed, casual yet curious—
"What are you doing out here?"
Ash's body tensed for just a moment before he turned his head—
And saw who it was.