The riverbase was peaceful for the first time in the past 3 days.

Everyone was still on guard, but morale was higher than ever before.

Elara moved through the camp.

The students shared smiles, laughter, and nods of satisfaction with her.

But there was still a slight tension that clung to the air. Victory had been claimed – that much everyone knew – but no one could shake off the feeling that there was impending conflict coming. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Elara’s presence was felt across the base, not through her forcing it, but through her growing steadiness in leadership.

Her words held more weight now, after she had led the class towards their latest victory.

She navigated command with increased confidence, though Ronan, ever watchful from his corner of the camp, saw the telltale signs of strain hidden beneath the surface of her confident leadership.

There was still unease and indecision in her movements, and while it didn’t show as clearly, it was still there.

"Sapphire, how’s the perimeter? Any signs of intruders?" Elara asked, cutting through the casual chatter. Sapphire’s attention turned from her intricate rune-work.

She smiled slightly at Elara. Ever since Elara had defended her from class A, she had grown fond of the leader. She even agreed to make a few runes for class A, which helped with the alliance drastically.

"Nothing" Sapphire assured, lifting her gaze momentarily from the delicate script engraved by her meticulous hand. "And if someone does get past, the wards should hold against most direct rank 1 attacks."

Ronan felt a quiet satisfaction watching the interactions unfold.

It was evidence that the pieces moved toward the future he envisioned. Class B was recovering strength, the alliance with Class A stitched threads of security along their borders – though Armani’s caution reminded him that the bond wasn’t exactly held by any kind of trust.

Meanwhile, Class C/D remained operational. Adam should have taken place as the new leader by now, and he would be doing a much better job than Locke would.

"Elara, why did Locke stay while the rest went free?" Sapphire’s cut through the air.

Before Elara could answer, Ronan stepped in and answered for her.

"Keeping Locke removes more than twenty prisoners burdening resources. It weakens the C/D alliance while keeping all of our profits."

Elara leaned against a tree. "And those are compelling. But that’s not the entire reason though, are they?"

Her voice wasn’t suspicious. No, it was simply contemplative.

"There was no reason beyond logic. Moment decided what it needed," Ronan shrugged casually, letting intention remain buried.

The sharp edges behind Elara’s gaze softened, not from resolution but from accepting and challenging in equal measure.

Trust was a slowly forged weapon.

Ronan seized the moment, gesturing vaguely toward the forest. "I’ll check the outer lines. Ensure no one’s left lurking."

Elara hesitated briefly, discontent sparking like flint against steel within her. "Going alone?"

"Best way to spot watchers is to pretend you aren’t watching," Ronan countered with a lopsided grin, daring her to disagree. "And I doubt anyone besides Mira can come with me without slowing me down, and she’s with the statue."

After a final consideration, Elara nodded, relinquishing control like reins to a trusted rider. "Fine. Be careful, though."

As Ronan moved away, his demeanor shifted..

He blended seamlessly with the trees, slipping through the area with his Stealth skill activated.

Near a tree split as though cleaved by a blade of lightning, Ronan stopped.

Here, in a secluded hollow, Ronan paused.

He saw a figure emerge. Black hair, and looking a lot healthier than he looked when Ronan last saw him.

"Adam," Ronan greeted. Adam wanted to say something, but Ronan beat him to it. "Don’t worry. Locke is alive. That’s what you were going to ask, wasn’t it?"

"So you knew," Adam replied, nodding slowly. "But I wasn’t too concerned. If Class B had intended humiliation or execution, this conversation wouldn’t be happening."

"You’re not going to question why I called you here? Or how I got a member of your class to send you the invitation from within?"

"Doesn’t matter." Adam’s voice carried the efficiency of someone who’d already calculated the possibilities. "You wanted to talk. I’m here. Get on with it—I need to be back before my class notices."

Ronan tilted his head slightly, studying the other leader with renewed interest. "Looks like we both didn’t come here alone."

Adam’s shoulders tensed, the first crack in his composure showing. His eyes narrowed, searching the shadows behind Ronan, but he gave nothing away verbally. No confirmation, nor any denial.

The bluff landed well.

Ronan filed the reaction away, knowing Adam would be more careful now. More cautious. That worked fine – caution meant Adam would listen instead of dismissing him outright.

"You’re calmer than Locke," Ronan observed, letting the statement hang between them.

"Locke’s anger is still useful." Adam’s expression remained neutral. "As long as someone else aims it."

"And that’s what you were doing? ’Aiming’ him? Though, it looks like your aim was off in our last encounter."

Adam frowned. "I couldn’t stop him, nor could I stop the classes from following him. He’s charismatic if nothing else."

"That’s true. And I’m sure you wouldn’t want to repeat another mistake like that, would you?"

"What do you mean, exactly?"

"Class C and D is about to make one of two mistakes."

Adam’s eyes sharpened. "Which would be?"

"Retaliating against Class B immediately. Or retreating to recover." Ronan kept his tone conversational, as though discussing weather patterns rather than strategic collapse. "Either way, you lose."

"Bold claim from someone whose class just lost its leader." Adam shot back, but there was no malice to his tone. "We’re wounded temporarily, not broken. And with me in charge—"

"You’ll what? Rebuild morale around Locke’s capture?" Ronan cut through the logic cleanly. "Your alliance merged because both classes were too weak to stand alone. Losing territory and a leader in the same afternoon doesn’t inspire confidence. Retaliation wastes resources chasing revenge, even if it allies your classes. Retreat signals weakness to every other class watching, but not only that, you also lose chances to actually capture a statue."

Adam’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t interrupt.

"I know how you think," Ronan continued, letting confidence color his words. "I know how your alliance thinks. Both options feel safe because they’re familiar."

Adam’s eyes narrowed further, suspicion threading through calculation. "And you’re offering a third option out of generosity?"

"Just pointing out the shape of the board." Ronan paused, letting the weight settle. "Like you just said, there’s always a third move."

"Which is?"

"Expansion," Ronan said with a smile. "Interested?"