"Don't expect I would keep protecting you just because you said this," Arthur said as he saw Jonah gather the rest of their team. "My top priority is myself."
"Never was my intention," Doli replied with a nod and the two walked over toward Jonah so that he could explain their plan.
After a few minutes of briefing, a bell rang to signify the beginning of the invasion. Jonah led the forces in a manner that made them confused. To the team's horror, they left the fortress for the eight nobles to protect as they went on patrolling.
***
Rae thought about using her scarf to cloak her presence and infiltrate on her own, but the conversation she had with the teacher earlier made it impossible to do so.
"This class is about teamwork; do you think I would allow you to go on by yourself?" Her teacher asked with a stunned expression. "It's not like I will stop you, but your merit points are going to be reduced."
Rae was upset with these restrictions. She planned on ignoring her teacher and going directly to the win. Wouldn't they get merit points as long as they won?
"Plus," Her teacher continued. "I thought you'd be more eager to take revenge on that boy."
These words made Rae blink twice as thoughts raced in her head. Why hasn't she thought of that? Has the alcohol made her forget all about her loss?
"Thanks, old hag." Rae grinned and skipped away joyfully. The teacher stood there rooted as she sighed.
Rae then started planning for her revenge. First of all, she headed to the highest-ranking scout and asked him 'nicely' to locate Alexie Linan for her.
Even saying his name made her mad. She has never been mad at anyone as they were all beneath her level, she looked on indifferently from higher ground. However, this Alexie Linan kept challenging her starting with questioning her morals.
'Hah, morals.' Rae laughed inwardly. 'What use would morals be when you're on death doors? Only strength is worthy of my attention.'
At first, she didn't dislike Alexie Linan at all. She thought he was interesting. A new specimen that was more interesting than the others. However, all it took was a certain look for her to despise him.
When she mentioned the slavery bet to him, he looked at her with disgust as he asked her to leave. No one has ever looked at her like that, she was used to either respect or fear, and she couldn't tell which one she enjoyed more.
Yet, despite being ranked 69th, he didn't fear her. He did try to avoid her, but his strength proved other than fear. She wanted to humiliate him for treating her like that. Yet, she has been anything but successful.
'Alexie Linan,' Rae looked toward the southern end of the fortress they had to invade. 'I'll make sure you pay this time.' Sadly, she wasn't the leader of her dorm's year. It was a hateful guy who looked as if he was sparkling.
"Gather up, everyone." The first ranker, Arlo Starli, stood in the middle with his chest puffed out like a peacock. "The plan is this, we'll divide our forces into two. No need to tackle them from all sides, we can strike from two directions with greater power."
Rae planned on taking the first spot from him as soon as today's classes were over, so she allowed him to enjoy his moments of glory.
"What if they flank us from behind?" Reinhold asked after a few moments of thought.
"We'll keep two of our strongest protect the paths they can strike us from. They can delay them as we snatch the flag. Those two will be Rae and Joseph."
"Huh?" Rae was momentarily stunned as she didn't hear right. "You want me to be a guard?" A laugh escaped her mouth. "Do you have a watermelon instead of a brain? Forget it, watermelons are big. You have an egg!"
"Miss Rae, please understand." Arlo implored. "This essential to the plan. We need you to hold that post until we secure our victory."
"You're wasting away my strength because you're scared of a 'what-if' scenario, have someone else do it." Rae crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"If that's the case," Arlo sighed. "I'll have you dismissed from the class." He said as he stood heroically with his sparkly blonde hair and dark eyes.
"You can't do that." Rae paused. "You're not a teacher."
"I can," Arlo looked at their teacher and she nodded, much to Rae's displeasure. She scowled at him as she took a step forward. "I would love to entertain you, but I have no plans on getting in trouble with the disciplinary committee."
Rae glared at him with gritted teeth as her eyes glowed scarlet. This brazen fool thought he could order her around? He got lucky to get the first rank but he was now using it to dismiss her?
"Fine." Rae calmed down and said with a cold face. "But prepare yourself for a duel after this. Don't run away at that time." The rest of the students were dumbstruck as they watched her leave.
The bell rang to signal their start and Rae got the location she needed to guard in a message from that hateful bastard. Luckily, she was close to the southern area so she might run into Alexie to relieve some stress.
As she went into the maze, it took her a while to figure find the area she was assigned to. It was a rough draft of the map done by the scout from earlier but it was admirable.
She leaned on the wall with boredom as she turned her white scarf into a fine thread that spread throughout the maze. Using it, she started sensing the student's movements from both dorms.
As soon as she did, Rae felt something was amiss. She saw the students from that protected the southern area move using the routes to the far end of the maze. One of them was Alexie Linan.
'Are they dumb? That Arlo will take the flag this way.' Rae frowned heavily. As much as she wanted to win, she didn't like the idea of Arlo winning easily.
'No, this is a trap.' She remembered who was in the southern area: Alexie Linan. The man who managed to steal the crystals and cheat her of points yesterday without anyone knowing how. 'He's up to something.'
Rae decided to leave her post and head toward the sneaky group that was trying to turn around the main force of Nightfall. Led by Arlo, the group kept marching without a care in the world.
Rae folded her scarf around her body and prepared to propel herself forward. Her scarf acted like a spring that pushed against the wall behind her to push her through the paths of the maze, straight to the group that sneaked behind.
She found them easily and they warily gathered together when they saw her. With a smirk, Rae strode with slow steps as she addressed the man who was standing behind the group.
"Alexie Linan, you didn't think I would be fooled twice, have you?" She said as Alexie, with his delightfully frowning face, came out of the crowd.
"Rae," Alexie sighed. "I didn't think you would fall for it this easily."
"Stop bluffing, I know you're up to something. You want me to believe that you've taken sixteen students just to lure me out?"
"No, I'm not that dumb." Arthur laughed. "However, it is indeed that I wanted to lure you here. Only that I didn't need sixteen, only your hate of me and two other people."
As soon as he did, thirteen of the students turned to stone statues before they crumbled to the ground. The only ones remaining were Arthur, a girl with ginger hair, and a thin guy with glasses holding a staff.
"Let me introduce you to my lovely teammates." Arthur took his time to explain. "This is Moli, she can manipulate earth. She kindly made thirteen for my other teammate, Beran, to use his illusion ability on. Thus, creating thirteen fake students for you to fall for."
"So, a bait to lure me and now you're explaining your plan?" Rae asked coldly. "I hope you don't think you can take me down with only you three."
"Not at all, I'm simply stalling for time." Arthur raised his hands in surrender. "I just want you away from that path, and I have achieved my goal."
"You mean…"
"Reinforcement from the eastern area has arrived."
"What about the fortress? You left only eight students?"
"A suitable bait to lure your team into attacking swiftly and in one force."
"Arlo won't fall for it."
"He won't, but he'll be confident in himself enough to think he can pull through it."
"You…." Rae didn't know what more to say. She didn't look at him with anger, but with slight dread. "How did you know I would come after you?"
She had screwed up. She allowed herself to get fooled, but she still wanted to know how he fooled her.
"Because out of every one of your team, you're the only one to acknowledge me and know what I can do." Arthur grinned. "What will you do? Will you rush to help your team or would you take revenge here?"
Rae looked at him quietly and sighed. She then turned to leave without hesitation only leaving a few words behind.
"I respect you, Alexie Linan. That's exactly why I'll make you mine."