Part 14:
The room was steeped in silence, the air thick with the tension of an unspoken battle. Lucian and Arannis stood across from each other, their eyes locked in a cold, calculated stare. Each was aware that the other was testing, probing for weaknesses, but neither would flinch.
Arannis broke the silence first, her movements soft but deliberate. Her steps were slow, deliberate, the faint sound of her heels clicking against the stone floor the only thing breaking the quiet. Lucian, leaning against the desk, stood unbothered, his eyes fixed on her as she approached. Arannis stopped mere inches from him, her sky-blue eyes now level with his lips.
The tension in the room shifted, and Lucian felt her gaze soften for a fleeting second. She tilted her head down ever so slightly, her long elven ears tinged with red, as though embarrassed. She placed her hands gently on his chest, her touch almost imperceptible. "I...," her voice faltered, barely a whisper. She swallowed, trying again. "I... love you."
Lucian didn't respond immediately. His face, as always, was blank, his eyes studying her every movement with surgical precision. Finally, in his monotone, emotionless voice, he echoed her words. "I love you too."
A beat passed. Arannis clicked her tongue in irritation, her expression shifting. "Seems like you're not buying it," she muttered, her flustered demeanor evaporating as quickly as it had appeared. She took a step back, the embarrassment vanishing from her face, replaced by her usual coldness. It was as if she had switched masks, transforming back into the unfeeling manipulator she truly was.
"Is that all?" Lucian asked, already beginning to turn away, disinterested in continuing what had become a fruitless exchange.
"You're not interested in what's about to happen to you?" Arannis's words halted him in his tracks. She watched him carefully, the edge of a smirk tugging at her lips.
Lucian turned his head slightly. "What do you mean?"
"I saw you," Arannis continued, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "What you did at the garden corner." Lucian remained silent, his face unreadable. She took his silence as permission to continue. "I recreated the scene. Captured it in a recorded message, perfectly timed and preserved."
Lucian's eyes narrowed slightly, though he said nothing.
"You know what that means, don't you?" Her voice was almost playful now, a dangerous tone of amusement. "If you don't want to be expelled, you'll do exactly as I say." She paused for effect. "In other words, you will be my pawn. And you'll be my partner for the pre-test."
There was a long silence as Lucian processed her words. In truth, this was exactly what he had anticipated. It was all part of the elaborate game he was playing, a game where Arannis believed she was the puppet master, while in reality, she was merely a piece on Lucian's board.
The irony of her attempt to blackmail him was almost amusing. Her confidence, her certainty that she had the upper hand—it would all come crashing down, and she wouldn't even realize it until it was too late. Lucian had orchestrated everything with meticulous precision. Arannis had been the perfect choice, not because of her power, but because of her arrogance. She was a proud, self-assured individual, convinced that no one could ever outmaneuver her. That very trait made her the easiest to manipulate.
[Lucian's Plan Unfolds]
From the very beginning, Lucian had been laying the groundwork for this moment. A week ago, he had begun planting the seeds. He'd carefully crafted a scenario in which Arannis would feel she had the upper hand. His plan had been to lure her into believing that she could control him by fabricating a situation that seemed to expose his weakness. He knew she was looking for a partner, a pawn she could manipulate for the pre-test. Lucian was more than willing to play that role—on his terms.
It began with the perfect setup: the confrontation at the garden. Lucian had subtly manipulated one of Kyle's minions, causing an altercation that would catch the attention of someone like Arannis. He had deliberately used a mana signature, faint yet suspicious, mimicking the killing intent often used by elves. It was bait, and Arannis had fallen for it, just as he had anticipated.
Unbeknownst to Arannis, Lucian had set everything up so perfectly that it would appear natural. The elven mana signature, the escalating situation, the sense of danger—it was all designed to attract someone of her caliber. Her confidence in her stealth abilities, bolstered by her family's ancient spells, only made her more predictable. She believed herself untouchable, thinking no one would detect her presence as she observed the scene. She had thought herself clever, but it was all part of Lucian's plan.
Arannis now believed she had him cornered. The evidence she had gathered, the leverage she thought she held over him—it was all an illusion. She had fallen into the very trap he had laid, and now she believed she was in control.
"True power lies in making someone believe they are holding the reins, while all along you're guiding the horse. The one who controls their own steps is predictable, but the one who trusts in false control can be led anywhere."
– Lucian's silent reflection as he watched Arannis revel in her supposed victory.
Lucian made a slight shift in his posture, appearing more distressed, his irritation and fear now evident on his face—a carefully calculated act. The ring that Seraphina had given him worked perfectly to mask his true nature. The enchantment allowed him to simulate expressions, emotions, and even fear, though in reality, he felt none of these things. It was a useful tool for manipulating those around him.
Arannis's smirk deepened as she watched Lucian's supposed distress. "I'm glad we understand each other," she said, returning to her usual cheerful tone, as though the previous threats had been a mere formality. She extended her hand toward him. "By the way, I'm Arannis Elandor."
Lucian hesitated for a moment, just enough to maintain the illusion of reluctance, before taking her hand. "Lucian," he replied, his voice still emotionless.
She smiled, a cold, calculating smile that mirrored her inner thoughts. "I'm looking forward to working with you, Lucian." Her words dripped with false sincerity.
Lucian, however, knew better. This handshake marked the beginning of the next phase of his plan. Arannis believed she had him under her control, but in reality, she had unwittingly entered into his game, a game where she would play her part exactly as he needed her to.
As they parted ways, Lucian's mind was already working through the next steps. The pre-test was three days away, and he had ensured that he was perfectly positioned for what was to come. Arannis, despite her intelligence and power, was now a piece on his board, a pawn in a much larger game. She would be useful, not just for the pre-test, but for the challenges that lay ahead.
[The Pre-Test Looms]
The academy's pre-test was a notorious event. Though the entrance exam had only been two weeks ago, the pre-test was said to be far more brutal, designed to weed out the weak and unworthy. Rumors of expulsion circulated among the students, each whisper more terrifying than the last. Many believed that failing the pre-test would result in immediate expulsion, a belief that was reinforced by the academy's strict, unforgiving rules.
In the days leading up to the test, the academy was a hive of activity. Students scrambled to find suitable partners, forming alliances that would either bolster their chances of success or lead them to ruin. Lucian, however, had already secured his place in the test. With Arannis as his supposed "partner," he had no need to worry about the logistics of preparation. He simply observed, watching as others frantically tried to form their duos, many failing in their attempts.
Despite the chaos around him, Lucian remained calm. Everything was proceeding according to plan. His manipulation of Arannis had gone smoothly, and now all that was left was to execute the final phase of his plan during the pre-test. He had already calculated the potential outcomes and accounted for every variable. Arannis, for all her confidence, would unknowingly assist him in achieving his goals.
[Final Thoughts]
As Lucian returned to his room that evening, he reflected on the events of the day. Arannis was an impressive opponent in her own right, but like all others who had come before her, she had underestimated him. Her confidence, her arrogance—it was all predictable, and Lucian had used that to his advantage. She believed herself to be in control, but in truth, she was nothing more than a pawn, a tool for Lucian to use and discard when the time came.
In just three days, the pre-test would begin, and the true game would unfold. Lucian knew that whatever challenges awaited them, he was more than prepared. The academy, with all its secrets and dangers, was merely the next step in his journey.
The test would be brutal, unforgiving, and many would fall—but Lucian, as always, would rise above.