272 First Stop-Tavern 3

The dinner table was set, adorned with simple yet hearty fare. Steaming bowls of a savory stew filled the air with a rich aroma, and freshly baked bread accompanied the main course. The dishes were a blend of local flavors, reflecting the rustic charm of Twilight Haven. Roasted vegetables, seasoned meats, and a medley of herbs created a meal that spoke of the town's culinary warmth.

Seated at the table, the atmosphere was thick with a palpable tension. Isolde and Adam sat side by side, their interaction limited to occasional glances. Vexa, absorbed in her chit, occupied a corner of the table, seemingly oblivious to the dynamics around her.....or she knows but still ignored it.

Aron, with a scowl etched on his face, sat across from me, while Erik found himself next to Adam, possibly overwhelmed by the proximity to the captain.

The dining hall, unusually quiet, echoed with the clinking of cutlery against plates. The low hum of conversations lingered, drowned out by the silence that enveloped our group. The tavern, mostly emptied, left us in a peculiar solitude. The departing guests had left the place with an air of mystery, contributing to the eerie stillness.

"Hope you all enjoyed the meal."A waiter, clad in a simple apron, approached the table as we finished our meal. Clearing the plates with swift efficiency, he disappeared into the kitchen, leaving behind a sense of completion.... I kept a piece of bread in my hand tho...

Professor Night, observing the group with a thoughtful gaze, finally broke the silence. "Now that we've had our meal, let's discuss our strategy for Mage's Gambit."

Oh, so here comes the discussion.

"What do y'all know about the Mage's Gambit?" She questioned.

Huh? Wasn't this going to be different?

The discussion is not the way I remember, as in the game, she straight up explained the format of this Mage's Gambit, which has been the same for the last few centuries.

"No one?" She raised a brow, looking much calmer now than a few minutes before. No one answered her question again.

"So let me help. The Mage's Gambit is divided into a fifteen-day-long competition, and the first hurdle we all have to clear is the Whispering Dragon's Den." She puts it out, but—

"Wasn't it the Chameleon's Maze?" said Adam, Isolde, Erik, and Aron at the same time as they fell for Professor Night's trick.

"Haa, tell me what's happening. I don't know what you all think about each other, but I need to know what is wrong with this team right now." She asked after a long sigh.

My eyes swept across the table as I had two pairs of eyes on me—one is obviously Aron, and the second is Adam. Maybe now the professor, too.

"Adam, as a captain, I expect more from you. Be honest for the sake of the academy and tell me what is happening between you kids." She questioned.

Adam, who was silent for the past one and a half hours, opened his mouth only to close it a bit again. Is he unsure to speak up?

"Professor Night, do you not know what that guy did to Helga? How can you expect us to cooperate with someone who almost handicapped and killed our friend..." Isolde spoke up and gave away as I saw Adam's eyes widen a bit, but then he managed to get back his composure.

"Oh, that... it was a competition, dear. It's not like Ren here wanted to do something like that." Professor immediately caught on to what was happening as she tried to explain.

"It was not necessary. There's no way that this guy doesn't have any ill will towards her or he wouldn't have gone as far as breaking her skull by smashing her onto the floor like that!" And she raised her voice too.

'Ouch... friends indeed,' Smokeball comments as I pass a piece of bread down the table for him.

I picked up a glass of water as I casually commented, "Vice president, I don't think it's respectful for you to raise your voice towards a professor like this... or do you have some kind of immunity because of the Headmaster?"

"You—" she was about to speak again but was stopped by Adam.

"Professor, I apologize for Isolde, but still, I don't think that this guy has any good reason to be on this team with his attitude." Adam added.

"I am the strongest of my school year, so I do actually have a good reason... senior." I didn't look up as I was busy passing bread to Smokeball.

"Oh, so this is what's been simmering beneath the surface," Professor Night remarked with a knowing expression. "I understand tensions are high, and grievances are valid, but we are a team now, and we need to find a way to work together. Ren, would you like to share your perspective?"

I set the glass of water down and looked up, meeting the eyes of those gathered around the table. "I might not have made the best choices during the selections, and I understand there are concerns. However, dwelling on the past won't help us in the Gambit. If we want to succeed, we need to figure out how to trust and complement each other's strengths."

Aron scoffed, "Trust? That's a luxury we can't afford." Oh been a second since the prince spoke...

"Well just gotta work on it the .....trust I mean." I responded calmly and I know I am lying no way that everything or anythings going to be smooth and sailing.... atleast with these guys around.

'... when'd you become this responsible?' Blaze said as I pulled the bread and placed it on the table for only to Isolde to scrunch her nose...her expression towards me have increased for some reason.

Professor Night interjected, "We can't change the past, but we can decide how we move forward. Let's focus on the upcoming challenges and find a way to collaborate. Mage's Gambit demands teamwork, and that's what we need to cultivate, even if it's challenging, right captain?"

"....yeah," Adam's response was delayed.