The challenge from Prince Valerius was a political grenade disguised as a gilded invitation. It had been formally delivered and accepted, and within hours, the entire city was abuzz. The whispers spread like wildfire: a "talentless upstart" from the Windless Kingdom had dared to accept a challenge from the "Genius of Auroria." The odds were so overwhelmingly in Valerius's favor that betting houses refused to even take wagers on the outcome.
In the seclusion of his rented workshop, David lay on a soft cot, his body aching but his mind sharp. Elisa sat beside him, a small, silver-bound book of arcane runes in her lap. Her healing magic had stabilized him, but the internal trauma to his mana core required a different, more meticulous kind of remedy—time. The golden lines on his skin had faded to a faint shimmer, but the pain was a constant, low thrum beneath his skin.
He watched her, a woman who, just a few days ago, had been a source of pain and humiliation. Now she was his sole lifeline. He couldn't reconcile the two images.
"You're watching me again," she said, her eyes still fixed on the book. Her voice was calm, a far cry from the panicked tone she had used just a few hours ago.
"You are intruding on my private space," David countered, his voice a low growl. "I have every right to stare at you until you feel uncomfortable enough to leave."
Elisa finally looked up, a small, tired smile on her lips. "I could say the same about you. You've been intruding on my thoughts all week."
David scoffed. "I don't intrude. I was forced into a situation. There's a difference."
"And what a situation it is," she said, closing the book with a soft thud. "You are an enigma, David. Even with my advanced mana sense, I can't read you. You're like a sealed book, locked with a hundred different wards."
"It's called a trauma response," David replied, his voice flat. "It's what happens when you've had a lifetime of people trying to hurt you."
The humor left her eyes, replaced by a deep well of empathy. "I know. I'm sorry." She reached out and, with a gentle touch, placed her hand over his. "But now... I'm on your side."
He didn't pull away. He couldn't. Her hand was warm, and a faint, comforting mana flowed from her fingertips, a stark contrast to the burning pain in his body. He looked at her, his expression unreadable, and for the first time, he felt something other than cold rage. He felt… a flicker of trust.
"So," David said, his voice breaking the silence. "The plan. You said you had one."
Elisa's eyes lit up, the confident, strategic mind of a princess returning. "Yes. We cannot meet him head-on. Valerius is a Transformation Five Mage, a genius of his path. He is known as the 'Silver-Tongued Serpent' for a reason. He won't challenge you to a fair fight. This 'Demonstration' is a trap."
"I know," David said, his voice hard. "But my honor demands it."
"Your honor will get you killed," she retorted, her voice firm. "We need to turn his strength into his weakness. He is a genius of a single path. You are a genius of all paths. We won't play his game. We will change the rules."
She stood up and began to pace the small room, her mind racing. "The challenge is a 'Demonstration of the Arcane.' The word 'arcane' is broad. It doesn't specify combat, or a single path. Valerius is a Mage. He will expect you to show off your magical prowess. But we won't. We will show them all that magic is just one small part of your legend."
David watched her, intrigued. He had never considered having an ally, let alone a strategist. He was used to fighting alone.
"What's the plan, then, Princess?" he asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Elisa stopped pacing, a wicked, triumphant grin on her face. It was the same grin she had worn when she'd been an irritating child two years ago, but now it held the weight of a powerful noble. She truly was the Queen of Spades.
"We will have him make the first move. And then, we will play to your strengths. I have some contacts in the Fortress Hall who can arrange for us to have access to some... unique materials."
David's brow furrowed. "Materials? I'm not a crafter for show. I need them to cultivate."
"Not for cultivation," she said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "For a little… surprise. We will show the entire world that a single path is nothing compared to the power of a man who forged his own." She leaned in, her voice a low, excited whisper. "Valerius will showcase his magical might. You will counter his magic with a feat of Fortress Mastery. He will try to outwit you with spells. You will build a fortress that no spell can breach. He will be on the offensive, and you will be an unmovable wall. And when he's exhausted, you will... well, you will show them the true power of your path."
Her plan was audacious, brilliant, and completely insane. It was a gamble that relied on David's unprecedented ability to seamlessly switch between his four paths. It was a strategy only a madwoman or a genius would come up with. And David, who had been called both, felt a flicker of grudging admiration.
"And how are you going to get a Fortress Master and a Pill Master to help us with this?" he asked. "I've already alienated the Pill Guild."
"Don't worry," Elisa said with a sly wink. "I have a few favors I can call in. Some people owe my kingdom, and my mentor owes me a few lessons in patience. Now, get some rest, Master David. We have a lot of work to do."
As she turned to leave, David's hand shot out, his fingers wrapping around her wrist. It was an impulsive move, one he hadn't planned. She froze, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Why are you helping me?" he asked, his voice low and sincere. "I am nothing to you. A disgrace. A waste. Why are you risking your reputation for me?"
Elisa looked at his hand on her wrist, and then back up into his eyes. Her expression was filled with a vulnerability he hadn't seen before. "Because," she said softly, "the person who said you were nothing... was me. And I want to prove to you, and to myself, that I was wrong."
She gently pulled her hand free, leaving a lingering warmth on his skin. As she walked out the door, David lay back on his cot, the pain in his body forgotten. He was no longer fighting a lonely battle. He had an ally. And for the first time in his new life, he felt a sliver of hope that was more terrifying than any curse, and more intoxicating than any power.
He would not be fighting alone. He would be fighting with the Queen of Spades. And he would not lose.