Leomaris understood the weight of his predicament. He had the orb, but that was rather the problem. Run back to base, and he’d lead those two soldiers straight to where they wanted to be. Stay put and the Red Army would simply take it back.

’Tch... it’s obvious I can’t win this war in the desert. Even hiding in the darkness wouldn’t do me any good.’

He massaged his temples.

"The artifact must have been intended for me to have it as well... it didn’t stop me when it could have."

Leomaris had two advantages: the magic orb and knowledge of the Red Base’s location. Useful, in theory. Less so if he led the Red Army straight to his own base in the process.

’If the soldier stops running, I’ll lose the orb to those pursuing him. And with the Red Army’s ballistas and catapults, once they secure the desert front and locate my base, they can attack it without reinforcements.’

Leomaris’s eyes widened. The thought settled, and that was it. He had the advantage. He simply had to make sure his base was useless to them by the time they found it. He was going to attack the Red Base directly.

His focus returned with renewed energy, his orders becoming more precise. His soldiers weren’t to fight to win, only to keep the Red Army occupied.

The one carrying the orb, however, had but one order, and it was non-negotiable: never lose it, and never return to base.

Whilst the commotion raged, Leomaris and eight of his soldiers used it to slip onto the battlefield, fully armed.

He smiled.

"Oh? What’s this? Are you finally getting desperate?"

The artifact sent more soldiers to the battlefield and dispatched still more after the blue soldier carrying the magic orb. Leomaris could only smile. It was growing desperate... or at least, that’s what it wanted him to believe.

Leomaris felt the uneasiness but chose to remain optimistic.

"I now have the advantage in numbers, information, and position. I’d be a fool not to win from here."

Leomaris ordered his soldiers to reposition the catapults and ballistas for a long-range strike on the Red Base. The moment they were ready, they attacked without pause.

"I should send some soldiers to assist the one carrying the orb. It’s clearly tired of running."

The instant he did, Leomaris shifted to his base. Then back to the battlefield. He bit his lip in irritation.

"I thought it was out of options... no, I underestimated how quickly it adapts."

Somehow the Red Army had located his base and was already readying their weapons. He considered going for the weapons first, but they were far too massive to do any real damage. There was nothing for it. He had to accept it.

"I guess... we’ll have to do this the obvious way." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

With both bases exposed and siege weapons in range, it had come down to endurance. Whoever’s base collapsed first would lose, and both sides seemed to know it, firing with precision, closing the distance after each shot to sharpen their aim.

Leomaris bit his tongue against the anxiety, clinging to the hope that having struck first would carry him through. The only orders that mattered now were to those carrying the magic orb, everything else was beyond his control.

He’d known nerves before, but this was something else... sweating, shivering, his legs refusing to stay still. A ticket to a better future at the academy was on the line. He couldn’t afford to lose. And yet there was nothing for it but to watch.

Relief flickered through him all at once. The Red Army’s base crumbled before his eyes, just seconds away from his own collapsing with it.

For a moment, he wasn’t sure... had that counted as a failure? Then the mechanical tone spoke again.

"Congratulations! You’ve completed the Strategic Warfare and Tactics exam."

’Thank goodness...’

He exhaled deeply. Completing it was a mere formality. What actually mattered would be left to the professors to decide.

An instant. That was all it took. Everything reversed, the spherical system swallowed back into nothing. The staff member walked in and spoke:

"Your body will begin to experience heavy fatigue within thirty minutes. You are required to return to your room and obtain at least twelve hours of rest before your next exam tomorrow."

Leomaris nodded and followed. Out of the hall. Into the waiting room. Hazel met him at the threshold, his butler, punctual as always. But Leomaris had no intention of staying. He needed sleep. That much, at least, the staff member had gotten right.

Besides, the third exam was tricky. A realistic simulation. They’d have no choice but to face it head-on.

—

Somewhere else in the academy, Raine finished her Strategic Warfare and Tactics exam. Her head fell back. She stared at the ceiling, chest heaving, skin slick with sweat. As though she’d been in the war herself.

Where Leomaris fought with steel and grit, Raine’s battlefield was a different beast. Steampunk. Guns cracking, airships cutting through smoke, cargo ships burning, and bombs swallowing everything in fire. She could count the times she blinked on one hand.

She passed. That was the only consolation. The mental toll was something she hadn’t prepared for. Something she hadn’t even imagined.

When they finally escorted her out into the waiting room, Ren was there. Her maid. Raine met her eyes and hoped for one thing: that the third exam wouldn’t be like this.