Algernon Black

(Chapter 91) Planning

"Now like the kings of old used to call their people to his cause, our four most prominent students have called upon all of you," the headmistress addressed her sea of charges, lined up in perfect rows by their respective captains who for the moment were stationed behind her on the gathering stage in front of King Levithan's statute. "Because they see the potential in each of you, as do we all." Lucy wondered if Luke saw the potential in her. After so many practices she could hardly say she perfected the propulsion technique or noticeably improved on any of her other forms of magic.

"We welcome the discord of Luke," Silvia loudly introduced, to which Luke bowed theatrically. "Orenza." The girl bowed in modest fashion, rolling her eyes at Luke for his. "Tenza." The most muscular girl of the entire school nodded sternly. "And Kenzington." The senior boy raised his fist in the air, looking the most like the portrait of a king with perfectly styled light blonde hair and a chiseled jaw. Silvia presented each captain with a bracelet that symbolized their commander. It was a simple leather band with a stone that glowed at the center in the respective colors of each team. Luke's was blue, Tenza's yellow, Kezington's red, and Orenza's black. Luke rolled his thumb over the stone, smirking to himself. Orenza was the only one to pick up on it and eyed him wearingly.

"By the time the sun sets," Silvia said, gesturing to the sky which was already in the latter part of the day, "The captain who has defended your commander and has the greatest number of your team still active, shall be proclaimed King or Queen of the winter's ball," the headmistress exclaimed, revving the excitement of every student in attendance. "And your name will go down in the history of Attwood's finest." A cocky smile broke across Luke's face that would have been a lot bigger if he wasn't holding \back. Orenza, again, eyed him wearingly. "Captains," Silvia proclaimed to the four most elite fifth years of Attwood. "Address your armies now."

Kenzington stepped forward first. "By amassing the greatest allies this school has to offer, I have ensured our ascent into history." The captain glanced down at his team. At the front was a very tired apathetic-looking boy with hazel hair covering his eyes. The dangling earring hanging from his left ear just barely showed as he yawned, causing Kenzington to forget the rest of his speech as he now stuttered over his closing statement. "U-united together we will be victorious." Kenzington's team applauded, all but the tired one.

Tenza stepped forward next, with unbreakable conviction in her voice and stance. "It is with military might, a clear mind's eye, and the blessing of the divine that I will lead us to victory in our fight." Her team cheered even louder. She was an extremely strong woman who believed strength was the key to everything. She chose her team accordingly, calling together the most muscular men and women of the school.

"You better prepare for the fight of your life," Luke whispered to Orenza as Tenza's speech continued.

"I could not see you as less of a threat if I tried," Orenza flatly returned, staring straight ahead.

"Ah, when you belittle me, it only turns me on more," Luke chirped back.

"You better not be thinking anything inappropriate when you're about to lead a team into battle," Orenza reprimanded Luke, which she often did for the way he never took anything as seriously as someone his age and position should.

"What I'm thinking of is a thousand times more inappropriate than what you could ever imagine," Luke replied to his long-time childhood friend and unrequited love.

Orenza held herself back from hitting him. Luke smiled. If he couldn't have her love he would settle for her annoyance, which he had to for the last nine years of her brushing off his affection. But as the last year together before graduation, Luke had to make his true feelings known, and this battle was his best chance at doing just that.

Orenza stepped forward as Tenza finished. "It is not in the unity of only the powerful that we will prevail, but in the unity of all our gifts." She looked upon the students she gathered, all dressed in dark royal black to signify their allegiance with her. Orenza especially stared at Algernon, standing tall like the perfect soldier. "And I will lead you all with the greatest of my abilities to our victory." The captain stepped back as her team clapped. Luke noticed how receptive they were to her curt words. All seemed very eager to serve under the most respected and talented of the four generals. A reputation Orenza completely deserved from years of hard work.

Finally, Luke stepped forward. Pecilia looked on from the stands where the students who weren't participating could enviously watch and hope that they too might be good enough to one day be used in someone else's agenda. She wondered how Luke was given his position. He didn't seem extraordinarily interested. Possessing an artifact did make him notable, but it didn't transfer to being a competent leader, which he seemed to know and overcompensate for by being excessively confident. She really hoped all that confidence wasn't fake, because everyone he had gathered to his team was already skeptical of his skills, except for one freshman girl who would probably suffer the most for her trust in him.

"There is no greater weapon than our minds," Luke said, looking out to his team. "Trust in my mind. Without questions, without hesitation."  Luke didn't have the volume in his voice that the other captains used, instead, he stated everything as a fact. Lucy thought it was even more impactful than the rest of the speeches, but suddenly her stomach twisted as he turned his attention to her with a sly smile overtaking his face. "And together we will win because the words of King Levithan still ring true."

With the attention still on him, Luke started to descend down the stage to his team, the commander's bracelet glowing in his hand. Everyone watched on confused, but Pecilia saw where he was looking and prayed he wasn't about to be as stupid as he looked.

Luke stopped in front of Lucy, handing her the commander's bracelet. Lucy took it wondering why he had walked down to give it to her. When she looked around everyone was giving her vicious stares of disapproval or extremely confused gaping eyes. Luke only smiled. Pecilia wanted to hit him. Algernon wanted to kill him. "For as you rise, so shall I," Luke stated, ending his speech and beginning his master plan.

As he walked back up the steps, he looked to Orenza's team until he found the black eyes of Algernon. Good, he thought, that was the exact look I was counting on.