The Phantom's Gambit-Chapter 50: Alliance

The incident with Thorne at the cafeteria still lingered in the minds of the students, casting a shadow over the Architect faction. The price of food had already been steep, but now it had increased, adding to their financial burdens. To make matters worse, whenever they visited the cafeteria, they found their usual seating area in disarray, as if intentionally vandalized.

One day, Erick decided to confront the issue head-on. He thought it best to take the lead, especially since Nadia, the faction’s leader, had been surprisingly lenient and hadn’t abused her power as expected.

"As leader—" Erick began, addressing the class.

"Assistant leader," Nadia corrected, her voice low and even, though her words carried a hint of subtle assertiveness. It was a rare moment of interaction from her, and Erick felt a flush rise to his cheeks as he struggled to maintain his composure.

Embarrassed and unsettled, Erick’s instincts urged him to retreat, but his pride refused to let him back down, especially not in front of a girl. He steeled himself and continued, determined to press on despite the awkward correction.

"I’ll make the necessary adjustments when you start acting like a leader," Erick said, his tone slightly condescending. Without waiting for Nadia’s response, he turned to the rest of the class and continued.

"I implore everyone to seek Thorne’s forgiveness. As someone who considers him a friend, I can arrange for him to join us at our table, which might help improve our relations with the other factions. But first, we must all apologize to him and, for the time being, keep our distance from Amy, given the serious accusations of murder levied against her."

"We’re not going to be doing that," Nadia said flatly, her words cutting through Erick’s proposal.

Erick’s expression darkened, frustration creeping into his tone. "Then how do you plan on helping us integrate into the Academy?" he countered. "You’ve been given a leadership position, but you’re not acting like a leader. Sometimes, compromise is necessary to fit in with the norms. But I suppose that’s a concept you wouldn’t understand, given your... humble upbringing."

Erick’s jab was subtle, but the drift was clear: he assumed Nadia’s simple attire and shaved head reflected her impoverished background.

Nadia’s gaze never wavered, but a hint of amusement danced in her eyes.

"I suppose your privileged background is the reason you’ve turned into a desperate attention-seeker," she said sweetly, as she slightly tilted her head.

[Ouff! That hit home!] Void whispered mentally to Octavius who simply watched the exchange quietly.

Erick ignored Nadia’s jab and turned to the others. "I have a rapport with the influential students here, and I understand the intricacies of their social dynamics. Trust me, this is the best approach."

Nadia rose from her seat, her voice assuming a tone of quiet authority. "I’ll tell you what the best approach is," she started.

"We liberate ourselves from the cafeteria’s extortionate prices. The excessive amounts we spend on a single plate could fund a veritable feast here. We can repurpose one of the rooms as a kitchen since the room will no longer be in constant use, leveraging the Academy’s weekly training sessions due to the recent happenings as an opportunity to bond and strengthen our own community. We can create our own entertainment, our own joy, without seeking validation from others. If they wish to join us, so be it. But we will not compromise our dignity, our autonomy, to fit into their rarefied world. We will not be bound by the shackles of their expectations."

Erick opened his mouth to speak, but Nadia’s strong, confident voice cut through his, commanding attention.

"As for other factions wishing to mingle with us, we will not reject them outright," Nadia declared. "However, we will exercise caution and refrain from sharing sensitive information, strategies, or secrets until we are certain they can be trusted."

Nadia’s gaze swept across the room, her eyes locking onto each student. "Now, if you prefer to support my assistant’s proposal, please indicate by raising your hand."

Three hands hesitantly rose, while Octavius wavered, contemplating whether to join them. He saw it as an opportunity to curry favor with Erick, potentially gaining his trust and coaxing him into opening up. However, Nadia’s proposal resonated with him more.

In the end, Octavius decided against raising his hand, choosing instead to observe the unfolding drama.

Erick’s face darkened as he realized he was about to lose the vote. Nadia, sensing the momentum, asked, "And who supports my proposal?"

As expected, the majority of students raised their hands, decisively swinging the vote in Nadia’s favor.

What Erick had failed to grasp due to his habit of dining with the elite, was the quiet struggle of his fellow students, which ultimately led to his proposal being met with resistance and garnering low votes.

The exorbitant prices at the cafeteria had become a crippling burden, forcing many to stay behind in the dorms most times, skipping meals when they were hungry.

While the few that did not support Nadia, liked the idea of displeasing themselves to feel relevant and gain acceptance from the influential crowd.

"Now that our decision has been made," Nadia said, as she made her way back to her seat. She rested her cheek on her palm, her gaze never leaving Erick’s face. "Be a good assistant and go call on Miss Wilmort. We have her class now."

Erick’s mouth opened to respond, but words failed him. He felt a stinging sense of diminishment, standing in the center of the classroom, receiving orders from a girl. His initial assumption that Nadia would be timid and reliant on him had been grossly inaccurate.

As she sat there, her eyes gleaming in the shadows of her hood, she exuded an aura of quiet superiority. Erick felt like prey under her piercing stare.

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Shaking off the trance-like state, Erick turned to obey Nadia’s command, only to find Miss Wilmort standing by the door.

"Where are you going, Erick? Please return to your seat. I have an important announcement to share," She instructed.

Erick hastily retreated to his seat, relieved at the interruption.

"As you are all aware, our community has been plagued by recent life-threatening events. In order to ensure that we do not harbor any malicious individuals who may be colluding with our enemies, we will be conducting a ’Purificación de Fuego’ - a cleansing ritual to weed out any potential threats among us."

"Well, shit," Void muttered under his breath.

"What— what’s wrong?" Octavius asked him mentally.

[The test is like that of the last, But unlike the previous test, which only inflicted pain if impure magic was detected, this one... this one allegedly uses a resonance frequency to amplify and expose any hidden darkness within. It’s definitely going to unravel our entire facade. I fear we’re running a high risk of getting caught.]

"I’m familiar with this particular rite, as my father created it. It’s a form of cleansing with water."

Void’s sarcastic whisper echoed in Octavius’ mind. [Well, thanks to your genius of a father, we’re going to get caught. At least give me permission to have your body when that happens. I’ve done quite a lot for you to deserve that now.]

Octavius ignored Void’s jibe, his thoughts consumed by the hypocrisy of the Council. They had condemned his father as a dark mage, yet they continued to utilize his creations. The irony was not lost on him.

Miss Wilmort’s voice cut through the air, snapping Octavius back to attention. "If there’s anyone among you harboring impure magic, now is the time to step forward and confess. Speak now, before it’s too late."

The room fell silent, with each student casting suspicious glances at their peers, wondering if their peers were indeed coinciding with the dark forces.

Octvaius attempted to look around his peers, but his eyes landed on Nadia who was keenly staring at him.

Her eyes bore into his, unblinking and intense, as if she could see right through him. The rest of the room melted away, leaving only the two of them, suspended in a sea of uncertainty.

Octavius’s mind reeled with questions: Why was she staring at him so intently as if she was daring him to stand up? Did she know his secrets?

Come to think of it, He never asked her why she was following him on the day they were set out to look for the Aetherstones, or about her hair.

The mystery surrounding her seemed to deepen, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that she saw right through his façade, leaving him unsettlingly exposed.