chapter 37: The Game of shadows

Chapter 37: The Game of Shadows

Morning at Hamilton Royal Academy was as chaotic as ever. The halls buzzed with students forming alliances, settling scores, and scheming their way up the rankings.

Rin walked into the main hall, still sore from the night before. The weight of what he had seen underground clung to him like a shadow.

Ray yawned beside him. "So, what's the plan? Expose the academy? Burn it down? Both?"

Selena shot him a look. "Idiot."

Charlotte adjusted her glasses. "If we move too soon, we'll be the next ones dragged underground."

Ezra leaned against a column, arms crossed. "We need influence first."

Before Rin could respond, a voice cut through the noise.

"Well, if it isn't Squad 7. Still alive, I see."

Edmund Crowley stood at the entrance, flanked by members of the Royal Class. Unlike before, there was no smug arrogance—just cold calculation.

He tossed something at Rin's feet.

A golden envelope, bearing the insignia of the Hamilton Royal Game.

Gasps echoed in the hall. Even Elsa, seated among the elites, raised an eyebrow.

Selena frowned. "That's…"

Charlotte's face turned pale. "A Duel of Influence."

Edmund smirked. "The Royals have taken an interest in you, Ryukai. Consider this your invitation to the real battlefield."

Rin picked up the envelope and opened it.

"A Duel of Influence has been declared. Decline, and Squad 7 will be labeled cowards. Accept, and face a game where power decides everything."

Rin chuckled. "You just lost to me, and now you want another beating?"

Edmund's smirk never faded. "This isn't a fight with swords, Ryukai. It's a battle of strategy. And the arena?" He gestured to the academy. "All of Hamilton is the game board."

That night, Squad 7 gathered in the dorm. The invitation burned in Rin's hands like a curse.

Ezra spoke first. "Duel of Influence. A game where squads compete in three trials: Wit, Combat, and Deception."

Charlotte pushed her glasses up. "We're fighting against a Royal Class team. They have resources, connections, and untouchable status."

Selena leaned back. "We can't afford to lose."

Ray cracked his knuckles. "So, when do we start?"

A soft knock interrupted them.

Rin opened the door to find Elsa Balotelli leaning against the frame, arms crossed.

She smirked. "You really don't know when to back down, do you?"

Rin leaned against the doorway. "And you care because?"

Elsa stepped inside, tossing a folder onto the table.

"Because you're going to lose."

Rin flipped it open. Inside were records—documents, maps, and strategies used in past Duels of Influence.

Elsa sat on the windowsill, gazing at the academy grounds. "The Royals don't play fair. The first trial is tomorrow. If you're not ready, you'll be crushed before the real game even begins."

Rin studied the folder. Elsa had no reason to help them. Which meant…

"What do you want?" he asked.

Elsa smiled. "Surprise me."

The academy's Central Courtyard had been transformed overnight. A towering structure of mirrors and shifting walls stood at the center.

Students crowded around, whispering excitedly.

Edmund stood at the base of the tower, his Royal Class teammates beside him.

The headmaster's voice echoed across the courtyard.

"The First Trial: The Tower of Lies."

"Both teams will enter the tower. Your goal? Reach the top before your opponent. But beware—every path is a deception, and the truth is buried in the lies."

A massive clock began counting down.

Ray smirked. "Easy enough."

Selena grabbed his collar. "Idiot. If it was easy, they wouldn't call it a trial."

The headmaster raised a hand.

"Begin."

The doors of the tower swung open, and the game had begun.

Rin and Squad 7 rushed into the tower, only to find themselves in a maze of shifting corridors.

Mirrors lined the walls, reflecting false images. Some showed paths that didn't exist. Others showed each of them standing alone, isolated from the team.

Charlotte frowned. "A psychological trial. It's testing our ability to tell truth from illusion."

Ray snorted. "So we punch our way through?"

Selena sighed. "No, dumbass. We find the real path."

Rin glanced at the reflections. Some of them seemed… off.

Then he saw it. A version of himself in one of the mirrors—standing still, smirking. But something was wrong. The reflection wasn't copying his movements.

He stepped toward it.

The reflection whispered, "You're already too late."

The moment Rin blinked, the mirror shattered—revealing a hidden doorway behind it.

Ezra smirked. "Clever."

They stepped through, finding themselves in a new section of the tower.

But they weren't alone.

A team of Masked Figures blocked their path, each one wearing the academy's emblem.

Selena's eyes narrowed. "They're not Royal Class. Who are they?"

The lead figure stepped forward.

"No names. No ranks. Just orders."

They attacked.

Rin ducked as a blade slashed past his head, countering with a sharp kick. Ray barreled into two opponents, sending them crashing into the mirrors.

Selena's daggers flashed, blocking a series of rapid strikes they were not worth her showing her strength she yearned to meet an oponent.

Charlotte focused, her eyes analyzing patterns in the attackers' movements. "They're trained. Not students."

Ezra disarmed one, twisting their wrist until they dropped their weapon. "Hired enforcers?"

Rin dodged another strike, eyes locking onto the masked leader.

"Who sent you?" he demanded.

The figure hesitated for just a second—then smirked beneath the mask.

"You'll find out soon enough."

They pressed something on their wrist—

A smoke explosion filled the room.

When the air cleared, the masked figures were gone.

Ray coughed. "Cowards."

Charlotte adjusted her glasses. "We need to move. Edmund is still ahead."

Rin clenched his fists. The Royals weren't their only enemies in this academy.

And someone else was watching.

Scene 6: The First Victor

At the top of the tower, Edmund Crowley stood before a golden podium, his hand outstretched.

Victory was his—

A dagger flew past his face, embedding itself into the podium.

Edmund turned sharply.

Rin stood there, smirking.

"Sorry I'm late. The game's not over yet."

The final showdown had begun.