Chapter 11: Night at the Alphas house

The common room of Alpha House was alive with activity that night, its grand chandeliers casting a warm golden glow over the students scattered around the room. The massive stone fireplace crackled, providing a soothing ambiance against the soft hum of conversation and the occasional burst of laughter.

At one of the wooden tables near the fireplace, a group of boys had gathered around a chessboard, their faces lined with intense concentration. Micko Lee leaned back in his chair, arms crossed as he studied the board. Across from him, Carl Perez smirked, fingers hovering over a knight piece.

"You sure about that move?" Justin Pritz murmured from the side, watching intently.

"I never make a move I'm not sure about," Carl shot back confidently, shifting his piece forward. Theodore Janssen, standing nearby with his hands in his pockets, chuckled.

"You're setting yourself up for a counterattack," Theodore commented, earning a sharp glance from Carl.

"Shut up and let me focus," Carl grumbled, making Micko and Justin laugh.

At another part of the room, the girls were gathered on the plush sofas, engaged in a mix of conversations and games. Mary Julieth Taylor sat with her legs tucked under her, absently shuffling a deck of cards as she listened to Cora Millie Clifton animatedly talk about a peculiar encounter she had in class earlier.

"I swear, Professor Vaughn was actually smiling today," Cora exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"No way," Leslie Tamayo scoffed, drawing her own set of cards. "That man doesn't smile. He smirks, maybe. But never smiles."

"I know what I saw," Cora insisted. "Maybe he was actually impressed with something."

Across from them, Kaesy Dane Seneca heard what Cora said about the professor with that she remembered professor Vaughn slight smile making her blush a little...while Rey Vien Windsor sat beside her..."President you're blushing..." He chuckled,"am I?" Kaesy asked while keep pushing the thoughts away from her head...she return to her calm demeanor continuing discussion about recent combat strategies. Rey Vien mimicked a quick maneuver with his hands, earning an approving nod from Kaesy.

Meanwhile, Rheem Rosie Clain and Rosette Miyumi were caught up in a lighthearted game of cards, their occasional giggles breaking the room's steady rhythm. Aella Reeze Wilson, perched on the armrest of the sofa, observed quietly while absentmindedly twirling a strand of her hair.

"Alright, who's up for a real challenge?" Jhenny Sailish suddenly called out, pulling out a fresh deck of cards and fanning them dramatically.

"I'll take you on," Charline Oneida responded, cracking her knuckles.

Near the large bay window, a smaller group had gathered, deep in their own conversations. Velia Lair Luther, Khierra Sky Smith, Ynah Blair, Ella Kim, and Riyami Yuuki sat together, watching the chess match while occasionally chiming in with commentary.

"That was a bad move," Khierra noted as Carl hesitated over his next piece.

"Don't jinx him," Ynah teased, nudging Ella, who laughed.

Across from them, Chrisha Van Dele, Winter Briaella Cross, Celsy Rielle De Obelia, and Keisha Mayie Van Hanss had started their own game of strategy with a set of enchanted cards that shifted images after each round.

"This is so unfair. The cards are against me," Keisha huffed as her set reshuffled itself in an unfavorable manner.

"Or maybe you're just bad at it," Winter teased, smirking.

"I say we switch games. Let's play something more chaotic," Chrisha suggested mischievously, earning approving nods from the group.

Just as the group was deciding on a new game, Celsy leaned toward Keisha, nudging her with a grin. "You know, Keisha, you're actually really good at this. If the cards weren't messing with you, I bet you'd win every round."

Keisha blinked at the compliment, a slow smile forming on her face. "You think so?"

"Definitely," Celsy affirmed. "You have a sharp mind for strategy. It's impressive."

Unbeknownst to them, Theodore Janssen, who had wandered over to observe their game, overheard the conversation. He found himself watching Keisha a moment longer than necessary, an unfamiliar feeling stirring in his chest. He wasn't sure why, but something about the way she smiled at Celsy's praise made him pause. Shaking his head, he pushed the thought aside and returned to the chess match, though he couldn't shake the lingering curiosity about her.

As the night went on, the warmth of the common room wrapped around them like a comforting embrace. Outside, the wind howled against the castle walls, but inside, the students of Alpha House relished in the rare moments of camaraderie, where battles, training, and the ever-present mysteries of Elitia Academy could be momentarily set aside.