We had thirty minutes to prepare before the assessment began.
Thirty minutes to pretend ten strangers could think like one army.
The tent was alive with flickering lights from the mana crystals, the holographic map hovering in the air.
And at its center stood Her Royal Sunlight herself Aurora Ardenthal, princess of Suncoast.
"Alright," she said crisply, her voice carrying that royal precision that made everyone straighten instinctively. "We'll form a perimeter here. Ryn, Cael, Auren...frontline engagement. Serlene and Seris...defensive watch. Noah—support. Kael....long range. I'll anchor the core."
She looked proud, confident, every gesture measured and graceful.
And for a moment, it almost felt like she had it under control..
Until Yelena spoke.
"Oh, how adorable," the elf princess drawled from where she leaned against a pole, her silver hair practically glowing under the light. "A little human princess pretending to be a general."
Aurora's tone didn't waver. "You have a better plan, princess Yelena?
Yelena smirked. "Better instincts. And I wouldn't throw him on support duty." She flicked her gaze toward Noah — the only one not wearing noble colors.
The tension in the air snapped.
Noah straightened slowly, his jaw tightening. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"
"It means," Yelena said sweetly, "half-breeds shouldn't play soldier. You'll only get in the way. How did you have the dignity to even show up here in the academy, what exactly do you know you are worth. You are half breed trash and you dare stain eleven blood with that of humans and you show your face to me the eleven princess you are meant grovel at my feet and lick my shoes because you are filthy and I'm accommodating you .
Even Cael paused mid-smirk, glancing up. "Oof. Harsh."
Noah's aura flared slightly
faint, blue-white light tracing his veins. His voice stayed calm, but there was something sharp beneath it. "I'm not here for your approval, princess. I'm here to prove I belong."
"Then do it quietly," Yelena snapped.
"Make me," he said flatly.
The tent went dead silent.
Aurora sighed, massaging her temple. "Enough. Both of you. We don't have time for your..."
"Actually," Cael cut in, cracking his knuckles, "we've got thirty whole minutes. I say we let them fight it out. Might be fun."
"Cael," Aurora warned.
"What? I'm just saying." He grinned, sparks literally dancing between his fingers. "Conflict builds teamwork."
"Conflict builds corpses," Ryn muttered. His voice was deep, gravelly—like someone who'd seen too much battle for his age.
Aurora exhaled sharply. "We'll go with my plan. Everyone, prepare."
They started scattering, muttering under their breath.
I stayed quiet. Watching. Listening.
Aurora's plan wasn't bad. It was logical.
But logic doesn't win wars people do. And people aren't logical.
Cael would get bored holding a line.
Yelena would ignore direct orders if they bruised her pride.
Noah's drive made him reckless when challenged.
Serlene hesitated under pressure, Seris froze when shouted at.
And Kael—he didn't even pretend to care.
It was a mess.
A beautiful, fixable mess.
When Aurora finished adjusting the map, I finally spoke.
"Your strategy's good," I said, "for a team that listens."
Ten heads turned.
Aurora frowned slightly. "You have an alternative, Valecrest?"
I walked up to the table. "You're putting the wrong personalities in the wrong places."
I pointed at the map. "Ryn should lead the flanking division. He'll follow orders if they're tactical, not political. Cael goes frontline, but solo give him chaos to play with, and he'll thrive. Let Auren shadow him; his sun aura syncs perfectly with Cael's fire. It amplifies their output.
"Serlene and Seris pair them near the crystal. Serlene's aura stabilizes Seris' panic. Together, they'll form a reactive defense wall.
"Yelena, mid-field interception. You need independence to work well so you'll get it. Protect our flanks your way."
Yelena arched a brow but didn't argue.
"And Noah," I continued, glancing at him. "You're on forward recon with me. You move fast, and your aura reacts instinctively under pressure. We'll bait and misdirect."
Aurora folded her arms. "And my role?"
"You stay central," I said. "You're composed and tactical. We'll need your Sun Aura as the stabilizing field to coordinate all channels."
Cael grinned. "Damn. I like this one."
Auren chuckled lazily. "Smart and suicidal. My kind of man."
Yelena just gave me a sharp, evaluating look.
Aurora hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "...Alright. We'll do it your way."
I nodded once. "Then we'll win."
Outside, the warning horns echoed time's up.
Everyone moved out, each step heavy with tension and new energy.
Aurora and Serlene headed toward the core zone.
Ryn and Cael went ahead, their auras lighting up the forest.
Auren followed, hands tucked in his pockets, smiling like a cat with a secret.
Yelena disappeared into the shadows, her elven cloak melting into the trees.
Noah looked at me once before heading toward the ridgeline.
I stood back, watching the forest ripple alive.
The map on my wristband pulsed once — ten glowing dots, one heartbeat.
They didn't know it yet, but this wasn't just an exam.
It was a demonstration.
And I'd make sure everyone watching from the stadium would remember one thing:
Lucien Valecrest doesn't follow plans. He builds them.