Next Morning.
The War table: Her Trial of Mind
The stone hall was silent.
Not from respect-but from expectation.
Wooden torches crackled against the ancient grey walls. At a far end stood a raised platform, carved into a map of battlefield-real terrain, based on a war that had once nearly destroyed a kingdom. Every piece on the table was made of hand painted stone: cavalry, infantry,barricades, broken bridges, and scorched forests.
Lincolin, Bella, Jace, Ella, Harper, Layla, Matthew, Colson, Nathan, Riley, Gael, James and Lucas had stood at this war table before Ruslana. Now it's her turn.
She stepped forward as instructed. Her boots echoed against the old stone as she approached the center.
This was no longer a contest or a round but it was a live reenactment. The room was build to make the students feel like she was in command.
An old general sat behind the table, flanked by three military judges and commanders. He stared at her like he could read every thought before it formed.
Then he spoke, voice rough and deliberate:
"You are the chief advisor. Your army is trapped near the northern cliffs.
Enemy:Double your number.
Your general is wounded.
Supplies are nearly gone.
147 civilians are camped behind your final line. And the enemy will upon you before nighfall".
He leaned forward.
"Give your orders. You have five minutes".
She blink for a second and looked towards her friends and towards her brother-Darius.
Then she closed her eyes and took a long breathe.
Her eyes swept over the board-mountains on the left, forest to the right, the main road to the south, where the enemy was moving in formation.
She didn't speak for the first ten seconds. She was seeing more than just stone.
Then
"I want decoys", she said calmly. "Thirty injured soldiers dressed in full armor. Send them east with three carts-no weapons. Light armor, high noise. Let them think we are retreating towards the coast".
The general's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And if they're captured?"
"Then they die shouting that reinforcements are behind us. The enemy doesn't need truth. They need confusion".
She moved the pieces carefully.
"We keep the archers above the cliffs. Hidden. No arrows until i signal. They wait in silence".
She turned to the rear lines.
"Civilians must disappear. There's a ravine near the cliff wall-shelter them with fabric and smoke from the east, to look like campfires. They most not move. No crying babies, no cooking-absolute silence".
The youngest judge raised an eyebrow.
"What if they refuse?"
"Then they will die with the rest. But i will not lie to them. I will say exactly this: your silence is your sword. Your stillness, your shield".
Turning the enemy
She looked down at tge enemy formation:well-fed, well equipped, amd marching straight toward their doom.
"We have one advantage:they think we're tired. We let them believe it".
She began to move stones with precision.
"Remove the barricades from the southern slope. Let it look open. Wide. Tempting. That will be our trap. All the final moment-collapse the ridge. Burn the oil. Let the fire be the only answer they get".
She stepped back.
Her five minutes were not yet up. But her decision was final.
The old general stood slowly.
He didn't smile. He didn't praise. But he looked at the other judges and said:
"She didn't play for survival. She played for a draw that would make the enemy bleed".
And then he turned back to her.
"You're not just fit to advise a general. You're fit to command one".
She room remained quiet as she bowed, turned and walked out with precision-her back straight, her footsteps calm.
It wasn't a real war. But the fear had been real. The weight had been real. And so was her who carried it like a blade.
Darius hugged her as she approached towards him. Aria said "You are quite strategic and more powerful. And i am proud of you because making an strategy is not a simple thing as it look".
After some time, It is announced that the next round match will held between team Grafe and team Nova.
The arena ground was dry and cracked. A tall red flag stood behind a wall of barrels and crates on one side, fluttering defiantly in the wind. across the field, a blue flag did the same.
Each symbol-of pride, control, and victory
This war was not waged with steel, but with strategy, wooden swords and a single rule: If your sword touches the enemy-they're out.
Two teams.
Five minutes.
One flag to protect. One to steal.
Team Cirion
Leader:Cirion.
Teammates: Ana and Mary.
Team Ryder
Leader:Ryder
Teammates:Lydia and Ruby.
The opening seconds
The drum beat once. The trial had begun.
Cirion crouched behind their flag barricade, drawing a quick map in the dirt. "Mary-guard the rear with me. Ana-taje the side path and draw Ruby towards you. I'll move when they break formation".
Ana nodded. Mary tightened her grip on her sword.
Across the field, Ryder was already shouting.
"Lydia-left! Ruby, go meet Ana. If Cirion moves, I'll deal with him myself".
The first Clash
Ana darted through the side brush, low and fast. She saw Ruby emerge from cover, eyes locked on hers. The two meet near the hay wall.
Sword clashed against the sword. Thwack. Thrust. Dodge. Spin.
Ruby swung upward-Ana dropped, rolled, and sliced at her hip.
Clack.
The judge raised a flag.
"Ruby-out".
One down.
But Ana had no time to breathe-Lydia came flying from the side.
Near the read flag, Mary held her ground with Cirion beside her.
"Two coming in from the right" she whispered.
Ryder had flanked the far left, circling wide. His steps were light-predator-like.
Cirion signaled with two fingers, they moved out of cover.
Mary blocked Lydia's attack and responded with a slice that missed by inches. Lydia was fast-too fast to toy with.
"Mary-pull back!" Cirion called.
Trap formation. Now!".
Ana returned just in time, panting, her sword nicked and worn.
"Ryder's pushing towards the flank".
Cirion nodded. "Then let him in".
"What?"
"Let him take the bait. He wants to take me? I'll give him the chance".
Rider broke into the defense, sword raised, coming for Cirion. He clashed hard-their swords locking, tension crackling between them and the crowd.
"You always hide behind girls now?" Ryder sneered.
Cirion smirked. "No. I just lead them better than you ever could".
In that moment-Ana appeared behind Ryder. Silent. Swift.
Clack.
"Ryder-out".
Only Lydia remained.
Mary stepped infront of her, sword up. "I don't want to hurt you".
Lydia smirked. "That's sweet. I do".
They clashed-fast, wild, reckless. But Lydia's shoulder dipped just once.
Mary's sword struck.
Clack.
"Lydia-out".
Judge blew the whistle.
"Team Grafe-victory".
The three of them stood together-Cirion silent and composed, Ana laughing breathlessly, Mary wiping sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand.
Across the field, Ryder picked himself up, nodding once with a gruding grin. "Alright" he muttered. "This round…was yours".
Mary muttered on Cirion's ear. "Did he just complimented you? I couldn't believe on my ear. He never said that to you before".
"Then you need to do something fast for your ears before you will become deaf" Cirion teased her with a grin.
"I was complimenting you and you are making fun of me. You…you are so bad." she scold.
"Ok,ok sorry for that".
The next round held between Team Wesdon and Team Marble.
From team Weston: Amelia acted like a team leader while Caleb and Aubrey were her teammates.
From team Marble:Charlotte acted as a team leader while Delilan and Eston were her teammates.
Team Wiston won this match.
Next was between team Olive and team phonix.
From team Olive:Levi acted as a team leader while Isabella and Josephine were his teammates.
From team Phonix: Landon acted as a team leader while Peyton and Maiz were his teammates.
Team Olive won this match.
Next was between team Hola and team Maze.
From team Hola:Cooper acted as a team leader while Rona and Leon were his teammates.
From team Maze:Evan acted as a team leader while John and Amanda were his teammates.
Team Maze won this match.
Next match was hled between team Mount and team Ember.
From team Mount: Issac acted as a team leader while Eleanor and Ashton were his teammates.
From team Ember: Theo acted as a team team leader while Ryan and William were his teammates.
This match was won by team Ember.
Next match held between team Lion and team Eclipse.
From team Lion: Joseph acted as a team leader while Hazal and Grace were his teammates.
From team Eclipse:Lily acted as a team leader while Grayson and Leah were her teammates.
This match was won by team Eclipse.
And the last match was held between team Swan and team Falcon.
From team Swan: Kaiden acted like a team leader while Lincoln and Lucy were his teammates.
From team Falcon: Aurora acted as a team leader while Camero and Finn were her teammates.
And this match was win by team Swan.
The judges stands up from their seats and the announcement.
"The team who has the most badges and won the tittle of "Break-down court" is team Grafe with 18 bages".
"Team wiston is honored with 15 badges. Team Marble is honored with 16 bages. Team Maze is honored with 16 badges.
Mount is honored with 15 badges.
Team Lion is honored with 15 badges.
Team Olive is honored with 17 badges.
Team Halo is honored with 17 badges.
Team Ember is honored with 16 badges.
Team Nova is honored with 15 badges.
Team Phonix is honored with 17 badges.
Team Swan is honored with 16 badges.
Team Falcon is honored with 15 badges and team Eclipse is honored with 17 badges".
The crowd buzzed with claps and murmur.