3 Confrontation

The carriage rocked gently as it made its way through the winding path, the rhythmic clatter of hooves against the stone road filling the air. Vera sat with her arms crossed, glancing between Élio and Adele, who seemed entirely at ease.

"So... so all I did was for nothing?"

Vera asked, her whole body shaking.

Élio smirked.

"I wouldn't say for nothing. You'll get what you wanted... recognition."

Adele chuckled.

"Take this as a lesson darling."

Vera leaned against the window, watching as the towering fortress came into view. Its imposing walls stood tall against the sky, a silent testament to its history.

The carriage rumbled to a halt, the rhythmic clatter of hooves slowly fading as the gates of the fortress creaked open. Elio stood up, his posture relaxed as he stepped down, while Vera lingered, a mix of nerves and confusion bubbling under the surface.

"Well, I guess this is it,"

Vera muttered, her voice carrying a tinge of uncertainty. She glanced at Elio, then at Adele, her expression mixed.

Elio didn't meet her gaze at first, putting his hand on his head before speaking.

"Yeah, don't let the door hit you on the way out,"

He said with a half-smirk, his tone dry. He'd never been one to sugarcoat anything, least of all the situation with Vera.

Adele's eyes narrowed, but she stayed quiet, watching the exchange with a slight frown.

Vera's mouth opened as if she wanted to protest, but she didn't. She was too tired, too drained from everything. The last few moments had been exhausting, and now, she had to face the reality of stepping into something new—alone.

Elio glanced at her again, his expression still amused but a little distant.

"You'll figure it out. Just don't come crying to us when you realize the world's not as simple as you think,"

He added, turning on his heel.

"Anyway, good luck. We'll see you around... maybe."

Without waiting for a response, he strode toward the gates, Adele following close behind, her silence speaking volumes. Vera stood frozen, her breath catching in her throat, before she forced herself to turn and walk in the opposite direction, her future waiting at the end of that uncertain road.

The towering double doors opened into an expanse that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction. High above, the vaulted ceiling arched in intricate patterns, its edges adorned with gilded trim that caught the light from dozens of grand chandeliers hanging from the rafters. Each chandelier was a masterwork of crystal, their prisms refracting the light into a cascade of colors across the polished marble floors.

The walls were lined with towering columns of stone, their surfaces carved with scenes of long-forgotten battles and victories—heroes slaying beasts and armies marching triumphantly.

Glistening tapestries hung from the walls, their vibrant threads depicting scenes of explorers discovering new lands, legendary creatures prowling the wilderness, and scholars in great libraries, their fingers tracing the edges of ancient tomes. The richness of the imagery almost made the air feel thick, as though the very room was alive with the stories it had absorbed over centuries.

In the center of the hall, a vast, polished marble floor gleamed underfoot, its surface reflecting the light from above like a pool of liquid silver. It was almost unsettling, the floor so pristine that it seemed as though it had never known a single footprint, despite the ages it had endured.

Above them, the murals on the ceiling painted a sprawling story, one that stretched across the entire room. It was a grand fresco, depicting the rise and fall of civilizations: explorers braving the unknown, soldiers locked in fierce battle. A single crack in the far corner of the ceiling marred the otherwise flawless artwork, but even that imperfection seemed to add a certain ruggedness, as though the very room itself was aware of the passage of time.

Elio barely spared it a glance.

"They still haven't fixed that crack in the corner."

Adele hummed, looking up briefly.

"Adds character."

Elio and Adele made their way through the fortress, their footsteps echoing as they approached the familiar gathering spot where the rookies waited.

The door creaked open, and Elio stepped into the room, his eyes immediately locking on the sea of faces. Over two hundred pairs of eyes turned toward him, the silent scrutiny almost palpable. The air was thick with anticipation, every movement under the spotlight. Some faces were familiar, others strange, but the tension was universal, like the calm before a storm. Elio's smirk didn't waver, but inside, the weight of the attention was a subtle reminder that every action, every word here, would be remembered

Before things could get uglier, a girl spot them, her eyes lighting up when she saw Elio.

"Well, well, look who finally decided to show up."

She teased, her voice dripping with confidence. Her cherry-red hair shone in the light as she crossed her arms, giving Elio a playful but pointed look.

"Where's Vera?"

She asked, a teasing smile on her face.

"Did she run off already, or you already given up of your little stunt?"

Elio just gave a half-hearted shrug, his tone unbothered.

"Vera's off to chase a scholarship. Big deal."

Gemma raised an eyebrow.

"You sure you'll be okay without her around? You know, for your little jealousy stunt."

Elio's expression twisted into something sarcastic.

"I don't need her anymore. My plan's already in motion."

Lucious, who had been standing quietly in the corner, adjusted his glasses as he finally spoke.

"You know, that's kind of cold, even for you."

His voice was soft, but there was an edge of something else—almost like disappointment, though he kept his expression neutral.

Elio met his gaze for a moment, but the usual sharpness in his eyes softened.

"Whatever. It doesn't matter,"

he said dismissively.

"She's not here now. Let's focus on more important things."

Gemma chuckled, a wicked gleam in her jade-colored eyes.

"Like to see that you are focused on more important things now."

Odessa, who had been silently observing the exchange, finally spoke. Her tone was calm and matter-of-fact.

"She'll find her way, one way or another. Whether that means to suffer... or to backstabbing everyone. Her choice."

Elio grunted in acknowledgment but didn't seem particularly moved by the idea.

"Right... well, we've got our own things to deal with."

Gemma stretched, cracking her neck.

"Exactly. Enough about her. Let's move on to more fun topics, like what you you're thinking to do after the ceremony?"

Elio's lips twisted into a smirk.

"As always, I've got something lined up. But first…"

He looked around at the group, his usual air of superiority returning.

"Let's make sure we're all on the same page. This next phase isn't going to be a walk in the park."

As they talked, a voice from behind broke the tension in the air.

"Well, well, if it isn't Elio, the dip-shit."

Elio's expression immediately soured, his sharp eyes narrowing as he turned to face the newcomer. Standing in the doorway was a tall, lean figure with a cocky smile plastered across his face. His light auburn hair was swept back neatly, and his attire was as meticulously put together as always—everything about him screamed arrogance.

Elio face conturcy with disdain.

'Great! He's here."

Lucas strode into the room with a confident swagger, his eyes scanning over the group before settling back on Elio.

"Life has a funny way of throwing the people you least want right in front of you, doesn't it?"

His tone was mocking, the words designed to get under Elio's skin.

The tension between the two was palpable. It was clear they weren't just former allies or rivals—they were something far deeper, something personal.

Adele stepped to the side, watching the interaction with mild amusement, her arms crossed as she waited for the inevitable confrontation. Gemma shot a glance at Odessa, who remained silent but attentive, her gaze flicking between the two men.

Lucas smirked and continued, his voice laced with venom. "You've always thought you were special, Elio, haven't you? Always two steps ahead, always the especial one."

Elio's smirk faltered slightly, his jaw tightening.

"You really haven't changed, Lucas. Still bitter because you can't keep up?"

"Keep up?" Lucas laughed, stepping closer, his gaze never leaving Elio's.

"No, I've been watching you, Elio. You've been coasting, thinking you're all that. You think you're the only one who can rise above it all. But let's be real, it's not your cleverness that's gotten you here. It's luck. You've always relied on it."

Elio's lips curled into a smirk, his eyes cold as he stepped forward, matching Lucas' challenge.

"And what makes you think you've got it all figured out, huh? You think of yourself to high for someone who can't do anything without calling papa."

Lucas' smirk widened, his eyes glinting with malicious intent.

"Nice one, Elio. You've always had a comeback ready, but you're not as intelligent as you think. You've been lucky, but that luck is running out."

The room was thick with tension, each second hanging like an unspoken threat in the air. Lucas' smirk never wavered, his words calculated, like daggers thrown to wound.

"You think you're the only one who can rise above it all? You've been coasting, playing a game you don't even understand. It's not your cleverness that's gotten you here. It's luck. Always has been."

Elio's lips pressed into a thin line, his fingers curling into fists at his sides. The anger in him bubbled to the surface, but so did something else—a flicker of doubt, sharp and unwanted. He didn't need Lucas to be right. He couldn't let him be.

Lucas was still smiling, still provoking, his eyes glinting with the same arrogance that had always pushed Elio to prove him wrong.

Elio took a step forward, his voice low and dangerous, his control teetering on the edge.

"Keep talking. You think I need luck to beat you?"

He stepped closer, his voice steady, but his glare intense.

"You can't even keep up with your own nonsense."

Lucas stepped forward, smirking. "Nice comeback, Greenwood. Always a smart mouth on you, but it's not enough. You're going to find out that luck only takes you so far."

Elio's breath hitched. A bitter laugh bubbled up from somewhere deep inside, but it died in his throat as something darker took its place. Doubt.

He could feel the weight of Lucas' words pressing in, the truth in them gnawing at the edges of his pride. But he wouldn't admit it, not to Lucas, not to anyone.

"Yeah? Well, at least I'm not some spoiled brat who needs his daddy's money to get by."

The words felt like a release. A final lash of anger. But Lucas didn't flinch—he only leaned in closer, the smirk never fading, and his next words cut deeper than Elio expected.

"At least I have one... well a couple."

Elio froze. The room seemed to close in on him, the weight of Lucas' words like a slap to the face. His parents—gone for years—was a wound Elio never liked to revisit, but here Lucas was, twisting it like a knife.

For a moment, Elio couldn't breathe. His heart hammered in his chest, the anger now a roiling storm inside him. How dare he?

Elio's fists clenched. His eyes blazed with fury.

Lucas grinned, clearly enjoying the effect his words were having.

"I'm sure you've heard the news about her, haven't you?"

He said, leaning in even closer, as though savoring the moment.

"She asked me if I wanted to be the best man on her..."

Before he could finish, Elio's fist shot out, catching Lucas squarely in the jaw. The sound of the punch echoed through the room, followed by the sharp crack of Lucas' head snapping back. The force of it sent Lucas stumbling back a few paces, his eyes flashing with fury as blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.

"You really have no limits, do you?"

Elio growled, stepping forward, fists clenched.

"I don't need to hear your crap."

Lucas, his anger ignited by the sudden assault, wiped the blood from his lips, his eyes burning with a dangerous light.

"You're going to regret that, Greenwood."

Before the situation could escalate further, a voice rang out, cutting through the tension like a blade.

"Enough, both of you."