CHAPTER 68: TEAM LEADER

The arena’s dust had barely settled from the earlier orientation test, yet the tension among the four was already so sharp that it was almost palpable.

They remained in their positions in utter silence that was starting to feel awkward.

The sky overhead was beginning to turn orange as the evening approached.

"It seems that we need to talk about leadership." Vera Green crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes as her lips pressed into a tight line.

Orion, leaning against one of the pillars with his arms folded, turned his head slowly. "We don’t."

Logan blinked, still sitting cross-legged nearby.

Liam hovered away from them, fidgeting nervously.

"Yes, we do," Vera said sharply.

"You saw what happened out there. Coordination would have been a mess without me."

"We can’t afford anything else going forward." She scoffed.

"And you think you’re the only answer to that?" Orion raised a brow.

"I know I am."

Logan tilted his head, intrigued, but didn’t speak.

"I have rune magic," Vera continued. "One of the few structured magics that innately thrives on strategy and support. I know how to organize, how to delegate, how to bring out the best in people. And let’s not forget, I’ve been a solo operative on more than a dozen missions for the Kingdom and academy alike."

"You’re competent," Orion said calmly.

"No one’s disputing that."

Logan, on the other hand, furrowed his eyebrows.

’Is she working for the Crown?’ The slight revelation made by Vera could have large implications for him.

"Then why are you resisting?" she snapped at Orion.

The latter stepped away from the pillar, with a slow but firm and confident stride.

"Because leadership isn’t just about being smart or experienced. It’s about trust. And when it comes to trust, there’s only one person here that I will instinctively follow." He stopped just short of her.

He turned his gaze toward Logan.

Vera followed his eyes and let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Him? Logan? He doesn’t even-"

"Don’t finish that sentence," Orion cut in, voice suddenly cold.

"You weren’t the one trapped inside the barrier with the possessed noble."

Logan flinched as visions flashed in his head while Liam’s eyes widened.

"I’m not trying to discredit him," Vera whispered this time but her voice was still firm.

"But that doesn’t automatically make him the best choice."

Silence followed.

Then Orion scoffed and brushed off his uniform.

"Let’s settle it the old way," he said.

Vera blinked. "What do you mean?"

"A spar. Three-way," Orion said, already nodding. "No lethal force. Just determination, adaptability, leadership."

Vera’s mouth twitched. "I accept."

They both looked at Liam.

He raised his hands, shaking his head. "I-I’ll sit this one out. My light magic’s more... healing and shielding. Not meant for combat."

"Understood," Logan said, but for some reason, he felt like he was the main reason that Liam didn’t want to fight.

"So where shall we do it?" Vera leaned back on her heel.

"We’ll do it in the ring," Logan spoke for the first time.

"It’s better that way."

Hours later, the three stood equidistant from each other in the center of the ring.

"Begin," Liam said reluctantly from the sideline.

Vera reacted first by slamming her palm to the ground and activating a wide rune beneath her feet.

It expanded outward, forming a five-pointed star etched in violet light. Her body flickered, and several rune constructs of herself stepped out from the center.

They were like illusions mixed with solidified energy.

Orion grinned as his palms sparked.

He was going to use his signature metal spikes, but this time they were charged with static. "Let’s dance, then."

He launched three spikes, two at Vera’s constructs and one at Logan. Logan sidestepped the spike effortlessly, eyes already shifting.

His body began to blur at the edges.

Darkness magic coated his body, and with a step, he vanished and appeared directly behind Vera’s real position.

She spun, releasing a blast of repelling rune energy, but Logan dropped to a crouch, swept his leg low, and knocked her off balance.

But she wasn’t down for long.

She threw a rune at his chest that detonated mid-air and sent Logan skidding back.

"Predictable," Vera muttered.

Orion’s spike pierced her shoulder.

She hissed and turned to him, tossing a rune into the air. It expanded into a translucent shield.

"Keep underestimating him," Orion warned, calling his spikes back. "He’s not the same boy from last year."

Logan was already moving. The shadows rippled around him, coiling like sentient beasts. He raised a hand and five dark shots fired out, piercing through Vera’s illusions.

Then he turned to Orion. "I’m not holding back."

"I’d be insulted if you did."

Their collision sent out a shockwave. Metal met shadows and darkness. Sparks danced across the field. Orion’s speed was calculated, his movement crisp and practiced. But Logan moved like something born from instinct and nightmare.

Vera took the opportunity to recharge her rune field. Symbols began appearing in the air, forming a map of possible counters.

Orion caught Logan off guard, landing a fist charged with kinetic metal energy into his ribs. Logan gasped, staggered back.

But he didn’t fall.

Instead, his eyes darkened and shadows burst out from his feet.

Like a gas, they coalesced to form the shape of a panther that growled as though alive.

Orion launched a charged spike straight through the shadow panther’s eye. The beast shattered into smoke.

Vera released her final rune. It exploded in a radius, forcing both boys back. She stood tall, panting. "Still think I don’t deserve the position?"

Logan stepped through the smoke.

He wasn’t running or charging in, he was just walking.

The shadows followed him, a slow swirl of darkness like a mantle.

"I never said you didn’t," he said quietly.

"But since he wants me to, I am to be the leader."

Vera tried to activate another rune but Logan was already in front of her.

He tapped her forehead lightly.

Shadows and darkness fused to form an impossible substance and lightly detonated.

She was thrown off her feet and landed hard on the ground, groaning.

Orion stepped beside her, also breathing hard. "He wins."

"Of course he does," she muttered.

Logan offered her a hand. She took it after a moment.

"You’re unpredictable, dangerous, and have something odd about you," she said, brushing herself off. "Fine. I’ll follow you."

Logan blinked. "...Thanks?"

Orion clapped both of them on the shoulder. "Team Dark Core, I guess."

Liam sighed in relief. "Thank the stars it’s over."

Logan looked up at the sky. It had turned deep orange.

And for once, he allowed himself to feel the weight of the moment.

This was the beginning of the second year. He wasn’t naive, but he hoped that if there were gods, they would look after him this year and ensure that nothing went wrong.

Little did he know how wrong he was.