The morning sunlight poured through the high windows of the classroom, glinting off polished steel training tables and shelves stacked with maps, tomes, and weapons that looked far too sharp for teens. I slipped into my seat, letting my fingers trace the edge of the oak desk. The room smelled like old parchment and metal polish—a scent that said, You are about to be made into a weapon. Or fail trying.
But that tour sure had been a long one. And my seat was not making any attempt to prove me wrong.
God... How much I loved sitting
A woman stood at the front of the class, arms folded behind her back like she owned the entire room. Her dark hair was streaked with silver, tied back in a tight braid, and her piercing green eyes scanned the students as if measuring their worth by heartbeat alone. She gave no greeting. Instead, she simply nodded once, and the room seemed to accept that the long-awaited semester was going to be a harsh one.
"Welcome to your first lesson in tactics and strategy," she said, voice calm, precise, and undeniably sharp. "This will not be a history class, and charm alone will not earn you anything. Here, you will learn foresight, adaptability, and—most importantly—how to anticipate both allies and enemies. Fail at any of these, and you will learn the consequences quickly."
Behind me, Luna made a soft "ooh" sound. I ignored her.
At the front, a boy with dark hair and glasses raised his hand, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. His name was Bestel, I believe. "And how are we supposed to simulate foresight if none of us has ever commanded troops?"
The teacher's eyes flicked to him, slow and deliberate. "Observation is not command. But understanding command begins here." She let her gaze linger long enough to make him sink into his seat, cheeks slightly pink. Perfect. That's how you earned respect here.
I let my eyes wander across the room, taking stock of my classmates. There was a petite girl with burnished copper hair, perched on the edge of her seat. Sharp eyes, a precise tilt of her chin. She was called Kyla Marris for the record. I accidentally bumped into her, and we shared names.
Beside her, a broad-shouldered boy lounged in his seat with a lazy expression that promised he'd make life difficult for anyone who crossed him. Luna especially told me to be careful about him. A troublemaker named Tobias. That name sure suits him, for that kind of character.
And at the far end, a girl with pristine posture and a gold necklace over her that it looked as if she'd been raised solely on etiquette manuals and perfumed tea.
That particular girl, in general, was practically unknown to me, as Luna hadn't made the effort to tell me more than she already did. I sighed, the time will come when I should know, anyway.
In addition to the people I have already mentioned, there are some others too. But they weren't all that eye-catching for me to really name or put any attention toward.
But the sharp conclusion I drew was simple; I was the only elite in this classroom.
For a moment, that made me glad that I didn't have to deal with any of the headaches that were called the Elites. But me being the only one was still such an eyesore that it caught attention.
The teacher gestured to a large map that dominated the far wall—lands divided into provinces, rivers, and fortresses drawn with meticulous care. "Scenario One: Two neighboring provinces are in conflict. Resources are scarce. Your task is to secure trade routes and fortify positions before your opponent can anticipate your moves. Form alliances. Break alliances if needed. Victory favors adaptability, not loyalty."
I squaled a bit at the pace she was talking, or rather, presenting. Not even my father spoke that fast. But to my surprise, I looked to be the only one behind.
Hands shot up across the room, some eager, some cautious. I stayed silent, feigning ignorance by studying the map. Maps were interesting, I thought to myself.
Trying my best not to be picked...
Wait, did I jinx myself?
"Lady Elisha," the teacher suddenly burst into my thoughts, her voice calm but carrying weight, "What is your suggestion?"
With an abrupt sting reverberating through my core, I looked to my left, seeing Luna smirking. That girl was probably enjoying this! That's why you can't have good things in life.
I rose to my feet, shoulders stiff but trying to look deliberate. Why was this so stressful, having all these people staring at you? Not even the written exam for the academy was this burdensome.
"Of course," I began, voice neutral. I stood there for a solid couple of seconds as I thought. Really thought. There had to be something I could use to answer this question.
"Do you have an answer yet, Lady Belmont?"
YES!
That was it, I had discussed this and thought about it for a short time with my father, in a scenario where you're being watched by an enemy, which is believed to be a friend.
You use this simple tactic.
"Here's the plan. We act like we're terrible. Like, spectacularly terrible. Trip over our own swords, misstep on every move, look completely clueless…"
A murmur ran through the class. Luna's grin widened; Tobias raised an eyebrow like he was trying not to laugh; even Bestel paused mid-note, quill hovering in the air.
I ignored them. "While everyone else is busy underestimating us, we control the chaos. We let them think they have the advantage, and then—" I waved my hand dramatically, because why not—"we hit them at the least suspected moment."
A few students blinked, and then something flickered in the teacher's gaze. Not amusement. Not skepticism. Thoughtfulness. I genuinely hoped that my answer was enough. Because any more, and I would start dancing and become a clown to explain the rest.
"Interesting," she said slowly, tapping her chin. "Feigning incompetence as a form of strategic advantage… Unorthodox, but I see the merit."
"Merit?" I echoed instinctively, instinctively at ease that it worked. "Yes, of course!" I pivoted my tone to really deliver the final punch. "It sounds like a circus trick. But it works if you make them think they're winning."
She nodded, voice calm but deliberate. "It could work. But it requires discipline. Control the chaos, do not let the act become a real failure. The difference between fools and tacticians can be… subtle."
I gave a small shrug, feeling slightly smug. "Subtlety is my specialty. And my fallback plan. Mostly fallback."
The teacher let out a slight chuckle, her eyes gleaming as she returned her gaze at me. "You are an amusing one, Lady Belmont. I accept your answer. Sit back down."
At the instructions of her words, I instantly returned to my favourite posture of sitting and sighed a breath of relief.
Luna elbowed me lightly. "Wow. Someone's already thinking five moves ahead."
I shot her a glare. "You're welcome."
The teacher clapped her hands once. "Groups will be assigned for the last remaining assignment for today's class. Time begins now. Only the adaptable survive. Only the cunning excel. Don't forget that!"
Group... assignment? Dear god.