"Between each moved piece, a world collapses."
The name Caelen Sareth had spread through the halls like a slap in the middle of a ceremony.
Just the day before, few mages even knew he existed. Today, everyone had seen the unthinkable: Arca's champion on his knees, defeated without even grazing his opponent's mental zone.
— He trapped him in silence, they whispered.
— He refused to show his zone. That's... suicidal.
— Or strategic.
— Or mad.
Caelen, for his part, remained silent. He didn't leave his room for two days. Not to avoid others. But to study.
Replay.
Relive.
Not the game against Haldric.
But the ones to come.
Next Match – Game 2: Elwin Telar (Keralith) vs. Serah Liane (Silhaen).
The arena already vibrated with anticipation. This time, Caelen watched from the stands, sitting apart, a shadow among shadows.
He observed their postures.
Their eyes.
Their hesitations.
Elwin Telar, called the lucid dreamer, had his eyes half closed as he entered the Plateau. Some laughed. Others worried.
He didn't say a word.
Serah Liane, on the other hand, held her wand against her temple as if about to tear apart an invisible truth. Brilliant student, relentless theorist. But too rigid.
Caelen could already see it.
She didn't like the unexpected.
— She'll activate the zone first, he murmured.
And he was right.
On the 14th move, Serah lost patience.
— Mental zone: Archives of Silhaen.
The Plateau became a massive library of ice. The pieces floated in the air, connected by translucent bridges. Every move required absolute logic.
But Elwin... was smiling in his sleep.
Barely two moves later, his own pieces began to dance.
— Mental zone: Forest of the Fragmented Dream.
The Plateau began to flicker.
Squares distorted. Rooks turned into trees, knights into vegetal creatures, pawns... into shadows of children. Every move came with a spectral laugh or a muffled cry.
Serah lost her balance.
— It's illogical! she shouted.
— Exactly, Elwin murmured.
Checkmate in 37 moves.
After the match, Caelen slowly walked down the stairs. He crossed paths with Elwin in the hallway.
The boy still had his eyes half closed.
— You're not really asleep, are you?
Elwin smiled.
— Can one say the dream keeps watch?
— Your zone... it's a nightmare for rigid minds.
— Yours... you hide it too well. It'll burn you from the inside if you wait too long.
Caelen looked at him, surprised.
But Elwin walked away without waiting for an answer.
Game 3: Elaris Varn (Silhaen) vs. Varlen Morth (Umbra).
Caelen expected nothing from this game.
Varlen, though experienced, lacked the strategic brilliance. Too nervous. Too reactive. Umbra now relied solely on Caelen.
Elaris, on the other hand, was methodical. A glacier in flesh.
She didn't speak, didn't move her eyes. She just played... perfectly.
Her zone was invoked on the 30th move.
— Mental zone: Chamber of Balance.
The Plateau became a giant balance suspended in the void. Every moved piece influenced the world's weight around them. Every decision threatened the whole system.
Varlen broke under the mental pressure.
And fell into symbolic emptiness.
Clean checkmate. Cold. Without cruelty... but without mercy.
In the Umbra tower
— Only one remains, said Venhal to Caelen.
— Me.
— The pressure's rising. Everyone wants to see your zone.
— They'll have to wait.
She stared at him.
— And if you fall before the final?
Caelen smiled.
— Then I didn't deserve to have it seen.
Venhal stepped closer, softer.
— You know... those with nothing to lose are often the most dangerous. But those with nothing left to hide are the truest.
He looked away.
And thought about what he was hiding.
Next Match – Game 4: Théon de Morholt (Arca) vs. Lexion Drein (Keralith).
A clash of titans.
Théon was Arca's second representative. A living legend among students. Intelligent. Precise. And cruel.
Lexion, on the other hand, was unpredictable. A mage of chaos. But not stable enough.
The game didn't last.
On the 17th move, Théon activated his zone:
— Mental zone: Hall of Perfect Judgment.
A vast courtroom appeared around the Plateau. Giant statues watched, judging each move with howls or sighs. The pressure was unbearable.
Lexion tried to invoke his own, but his hands trembled.
Mistake. Trap. Checkmate.
Caelen watched. Silent.
— This Théon... he's still hiding something.
Because Théon hadn't needed to show his full strength.
Provisional Ranking – Remaining players:
• Caelen (Umbra)
• Elwin (Keralith)
• Elaris (Silhaen)
• Théon (Arca)
The semi-finals are approaching.
All eyes are turning.
The question arises.
When will Caelen reveal his zone?
In his room, Caelen summoned a small illusionary chessboard. The black pieces smiled. The white ones bled from the eyes.
He placed the black king at the center.
— "Not yet," he thought.
But soon.