Breaking the Rules, Changing the Game

  Arvanya's POV:

  The arena pulsed with restless energy, a silent storm of anticipation pressing against my skin. My friends sat rigid beside me, their gazes locked ahead, unreadable masks in place. The air itself felt weighted, thick with the unspoken burden of the talisman's existence.

  Master Orin's voice sliced through the tension like a blade. "The competition begins this Saturday."

  A ripple of movement shuddered through the crowd—a shift of shoulders, a sharp intake of breath, the scrape of boots against stone. Two days.

  Dante rolled his shoulders, his jaw flexing as if he were already in the fight. Sofia's fingers drummed against her knee in a measured, staccato rhythm, but the faintest tremor betrayed her nerves. Nico, usually quick to crack a joke, sat unmoving, his fingers curled so tightly around the edge of his seat that his knuckles whitened.

  I curled my own hands into fists, pressing my nails into my palms. Two days.

  For what?

  The question gnawed at the edges of my thoughts as Master Orin dismissed us. The spell of silence shattered, and students surged from their seats, voices blending into a low, electric hum. Bodies brushed past as we drifted with the tide, but my mind lagged behind, stuck in the same loop. What kind of competition was this?

  Beside me, Sofia slowed, her gaze flicking to Zane. "Have you ever participated in this competition?" she asked, her tone light, but the sharp edge in her eyes revealed her unease. "Do you know the rules? What kind of game is it?"

  Zane parted his lips, but before he could utter a word, Ryker's smirk cut in. "Of course, we know." He stretched lazily, his confidence so thick it felt tangible. "How wouldn't we? We've been the winners for the last three years."

  A hush swallowed us whole.

  My foot halted mid-step. My pulse stumbled.

  Three years.

  They hadn't just played. They had ruled.

  The hallway stretched ahead, vast and echoing, but my mind was too tangled in the revelation to register the movement of my own legs. Lila broke through my haze, her voice urgent. "Ryker." She matched his stride, her narrowed gaze demanding more. "Tell us about the competition. What's it really about?"

  Ryker's smirk didn't falter. He tilted his head toward a distant door, the motion almost absentminded. "I'll tell you everything. Let's talk somewhere quieter."

  I nodded, but I wasn't focused on him. Not anymore. My eyes were drawn to the figure beside me.

  Lucian.

  At first, I didn't even notice him walking beside me. My focus was on the others, still caught in their conversation about the competition. Then his presence hit me before I even saw him—a force, a gravity that pulled at something deep inside me. My chest tightened, my pulse quickening with a rhythm I couldn't control.

  The scent of fresh rain wrapped around me, dark and electric, mingling with a sharp, pine-needled freshness that felt strangely familiar—like the raw, smoky essence of a distant fire, something that wasn’t supposed to feel like home, yet somehow did

  I turned to step away, every muscle in my body screaming for distance, but then—warm fingers closed around my wrist. A rush of heat shot through me, a sharp, undeniable pull, like my entire being recognized the touch before my mind could catch up.

  My breath faltered. I clenched my jaw, willing my face to remain neutral, but my heart betrayed me, hammering against my ribs like it wanted to reach for him.

  "Are you trying to avoid me?" His voice slid over my skin, rich and laced with something unreadable. Velvet and steel. The sound of it settled in my bones, made my stomach tighten, made me—ache.

  I tensed. If only he knew. If only he felt it, the way I did. The way my very soul whispered his name like a prayer I could never say aloud.

  "I'm not—" My voice caught, weak, unsteady. His eyes locked onto mine, sharp and unrelenting. He didn't know, and yet, the way he looked at me made me wonder if he could feel even a sliver of what burned inside me.

  I forced my feet to move, my mind screaming at me to break free, to run before the weight of this truth crushed me. I tugged at my wrist, enough to make him loosen his grip. "I don't have time for this."

  Lucian didn't let go. A slow smirk curved at the corner of his lips, completely unaware of the storm he was unraveling inside me. "Everyone has time for what's important."

  His words settled deep, twisting like a cruel irony. If only he knew how important he was. If only he understood that every breath I took near him felt stolen—precious, fleeting, dangerous.

  The air between us crackled, heavy with something neither of us spoke aloud, but only one of us truly understood. My fingers tingled where he had touched me, the warmth lingering like an echo of something I longed to hold onto but couldn't.

  With one final pull, I freed myself.

  But the loss of contact was a wound I had no name for.

  And even with distance between us, I still felt him.

  Too close. Always too close.

  Finally, we reached the door. My eyes narrowed when I saw it. The insignia on the wood was unmistakable. Lucian's room.

  The words slipped free before I could stop them, hushed but sharp. "Why are we going into this room?"

  The shift was instant. The air cooled, the weight of Lucian's presence behind me pressing in like a storm about to break.

  Zane, oblivious to the charged silence, stepped forward and pushed open the door. "Well, we're a lot of people, and this is the only room big enough for all of us to talk and sit properly." He shrugged, casual, unbothered.

  I wasn't.

  From the corner of my eye, I caught Lucian's expression—calm, controlled. Too controlled. But beneath that smooth exterior, something coiled, simmering.

  The others filtered in first, their movements natural, effortless. I hesitated at the threshold, but before I could step away, heat.

  Lucian's fingers curled around my wrist again, anchoring me. This time, when I moved to pull away, his voice sliced through the air, low and edged.

  "Do you have a problem being in my room?"

  Not a demand. A challenge.

  The words sat between us, heavy. He leaned in, the space shrinking, his gaze locked onto mine, waiting.

  I swallowed. "I just thought—" But the excuse tangled on my tongue, ridiculous before it even formed.

  The ghost of a smirk flickered across his lips, sharp as the edge of a blade.

  Heat crawled up my neck. I wrenched my wrist free and turned, heading straight for the large armchair by the window. Distance. I needed distance.

  Inside, the room exuded quiet power—dimly lit, its shadows pooling in corners, a presence of its own. The furniture was sleek and dark, the scent of leather and faint embers lingering in the air. The others had already settled in—Zane and Sofia close, heads tilted slightly toward each other in easy familiarity. Lila and Ryker weren't quite touching, but the space between them was almost nonexistent.

  Nico and Dante leaned against the wall, their postures relaxed but eyes watchful. Esme perched on the armrest of a chair, sharp gaze flicking between me and Lucian. Kai and Calen sat on the floor, murmuring about the upcoming competition.

  Lucian didn't sit.

  He stood by the window, just behind me, close enough that my pulse betrayed me. The air between us wasn't empty—it was charged, his presence a constant, pressing force. He didn't need to say anything. I felt him.

  Against my better judgment, I risked a glance.

  He wasn't looking at me. Not directly. His gaze lingered on the view outside, but the smirk remained, quiet, knowing.

  "You can't avoid me, you know," he murmured, just loud enough for me to hear. "Not with me this close."

  I sucked in a breath, fingers curling against the armrest. A sharp reply balanced on the tip of my tongue, but before I could throw it, Sofia's voice broke through the moment.

  "Zane, tell us about the competition. What's it really like?"

  I exhaled sharply, my focus snapping to Zane, grateful for the distraction. He leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped loosely in front of him, as though the question was routine.

  "Well," he said, voice even, "Each team consists of seven members. Any elemental can participate—there are no restrictions on that."

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  Ryker nodded, his jaw tight. "The objective is simple. The game? Not so much. There's an orb—an energy-infused ball. Your team has to carry it to the opposing base. Do that three times, and you win."

  My breath hitched as Ryker explained the game, my mind reeling with recognition. This... this was the same game we played as children.

  I turned sharply to Sofia, Dante, Kai, Lila, and Nico. Their eyes mirrored my own shock—wide, disbelieving, yet laced with excitement. They knew it too.

  That means... this game is going to be interesting.

  "Eight teams compete," Zane continued. His shoulders rolled back, but a hint of tension clung to his movements. "The matches are brutal. It's not just about strength—it's about speed, teamwork, and strategy. And, well..." He hesitated, exchanging a glance with Ryker.

  "Sometimes," Ryker finished, "teams push beyond the boundaries to win."

  That last part hung in the air, unspoken warnings woven into it.

  Sofia crossed her arms. "How beyond?"

  Zane exhaled. "Cheating. Ambushes. Elemental attacks that go too far. Officials barely step in—unless someone's about to die."

  A silence fell over us. I could feel the tension in the room thickening.

  Then, out of nowhere, Zane's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why are you all asking so many questions?" His gaze swept across the room before settling on me. "Are you actually thinking of participating?"

  The shift was almost imperceptible.

  Nico and Dante stilled. Kai straightened, fingers drumming against his knee before stopping. Esme and Calen exchanged unreadable looks. Lila and Sofia turned toward me, waiting.

  Even Lucian.

  His silent presence had been a shadow at my back, but now he was watching, sharp and unreadable.

  I already knew the answer.

  There was only one way to get the Obsidian Talisman. One way to free the trapped elementals. If we didn't enter, we'd be left chasing an impossible alternative—one that could take years, if it even existed.

  I stood up, meeting Zane's gaze head-on "Yeah. We're planning to participate."

  The moment the words left my mouth, Lucian's expression darkened. "No," he said, his voice sharp, final.

  I turned to him, frowning. "Excuse me?"

  "You can't," he repeated.

  My hands clenched at my sides. "And why exactly do you get to decide that? It's our choice if we want to or not."

  His gaze burned into mine, dark and unwavering. "Because this isn't some academy game where you win a trophy and go home."

  I refused to break eye contact. "What do you mean?"

  Zane shifted, rolling his shoulders like he was trying to shake off a weight. "He means some teams don't care about the rules. They'll do whatever it takes to win."

  Ryker's hand twitched at his side before he glanced at Lila. "I don't want you in this."

  Zane's gaze flicked toward Sofia. "Neither do I."

  Sofia arched a brow. "And since when do you get to make that call?"

  "Since," Ryker said, voice low and firm, "this game can get deadly."

  The silence that followed was thick enough to choke on.

  Then I exhaled, squaring my shoulders. "We're going to participate. No matter how tough it is."

  A moment passed.

  Then—

  "I'm in." Nico's smirk was gone, replaced with something steady and sure.

  "Same," Dante said, cracking his knuckles, his dragon's energy humming beneath his skin. "We didn't come here to sit on the sidelines."

  Calen leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a slow grin tugging at his lips. "Count me in too"

  Kai sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Looks like I don't have much of a choice, huh?"

  Lila, Esme, and Sofia exchanged a look before Sofia turned back to Zane.

  "We're doing this."

  Lucian exhaled sharply. "You shouldn't," His fingers curled into fists at his sides. His gaze, piercing as a blade, locked onto mine. "You don't understand what you're getting into."

  A flicker of irritation sparked in my chest. "I think we do."

  Ryker dragged a hand through his already-messy hair, a muscle in his jaw ticking. "This isn't some fun academy challenge, Aria."

  His voice was tight, edged with something dangerously close to concern. "It gets violent. Teams cheat. Injuries happen. Hell, people have nearly died playing this."

  Zane stood with his arms crossed, his stance rigid. "You think you can just waltz in and win?" His eyes swept over our group before landing on Sofia. His jaw tensed, but his voice softened just slightly. "You shouldn't do this."

  Sofia's eyes narrowed, her chin lifting. "And what, exactly, makes you think you get to decide that for me?"

  Zane's mask of indifference cracked for just a second—just enough for something raw to flicker behind his eyes. "Because I know what this game does to people," he shot back, voice quieter this time. "And I don't want you getting hurt."

  Lila let out a sharp breath, arms folding tightly across her chest. "Same goes for me, huh?" She arched a brow at Ryker. "You think I can't handle myself?"

  Ryker hesitated. Just for a moment. Just long enough for Lila's eyes to darken.

  "That's not—"

  "We've already made our decision." Her tone brooked no argument.

  The silence stretched, heavy and unyielding. I took a step forward, letting the weight of my words break through it. "We're not backing down." My gaze locked onto each of them, steady and sure. "Like it or not, we're in this—and we're going to win."

  Lucian's lips pressed into a hard line. He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair, frustration etched into every movement. He looked like he wanted to argue—like he was weighing the words on his tongue before swallowing them down.

  Finally, all he said was, "This is a mistake."

  "Then help us," I challenged.

  Lucian's gaze snapped back to mine, unreadable.

  "If you're so worried," I continued, voice steady, "teach us. Tell us what we need to know."

  Sofia stepped up beside me, arms crossed, eyes locked on Zane. "Exactly. If this game is as brutal as you say, then tell us how to win."

  A beat of hesitation. A glance exchanged between Zane and Ryker. A silent conversation passing between them before Zane exhaled, long and slow.

  "Fine."

  Ryker let out something between a sigh and a groan. "You're all reckless," he muttered, shaking his head. "But fine. We'll tell you."

  I met Lucian's eyes again, unflinching. "You've been winning this game for three years." I tilted my head slightly, challenging. "That makes you the champions, right?"

  His jaw clenched, but before he could speak, Zane cut in.

  "It's not just about strategy. You need experience. Training." His expression darkened.

  "And a good amount of luck not to get completely crushed," Ryker finished, leaning against the wall.

  I inhaled slowly, feeling the weight of their words settle in my chest. My fingers curled at my sides as something clicked in my mind.

  "You said each team must have seven players," I murmured, my brows knitting together. "Then where are your other teammates?"

  The room tensed.

  Ryker's smirk was slow, deliberate. He stepped forward, clapping Lucian's shoulder with an ease that sent an unsettling ripple through the air.

  "Here's our five teammates."

  A beat of silence.

  We blinked.

  A flicker of confusion passed between my friends. Kai was the first to break it. "What...?"

  His voice carried our collective disbelief. "What do you mean?"

  Zane shifted, crossing his arms, his stance confident. "Lucian is a five-element wielder." His gaze met mine, watching for my reaction. "If we participated with more players, the other teams would cry foul."

  My stomach twisted, my mind racing to process their logic. "You're saying... since Lucian controls five elements, you count him as five people?"

  "Exactly." Ryker's voice was thick with amusement.

  Silence crashed over the room, thick and electric. My friends exchanged glances—shock, intrigue, and begrudging admiration flickering in their eyes.

  Lila exhaled sharply, tilting her head. "So, not only have you three been participating," she said slowly, "but you've been winning this competition for three years?"

  Ryker's grin stretched wider. "Bingo."

  Nico let out a low whistle. "Damn. You guys are all pros."

  Esme folded her arms, giving them an appraising look. "Alright, now you have to teach us how to play."

  Lucian, still silent, glanced at me. His eyes held that unreadable intensity again.

  I inhaled deeply, my resolve tightening. It didn't matter how unbeatable they seemed. We had to win.

  Ryker's smirk turned wicked. "Oh, and did I mention? This isn't some ordinary ball we're talking about."

  I narrowed my eyes. "What are you trying to say?"

  Zane chuckled. "The orb shifts between elemental states, and trust me—it doesn't like being held for too long."

  Ryker started counting on his fingers. "Fire mode? Burns you. Water mode? Turns into a splash and slips away. Earth mode? Too heavy to lift. Air mode? Creates wild turbulence. Shadow mode? Teleports to a random spot in the arena." He paused, his smirk widening. "And if it enters Chaos mode—boom. It explodes and resets."

  Lila's brows shot up. "So... you can't just rely on one element to control it?"

  "Exactly," Zane said. "You have to work as a team. No single elemental can dominate the game."

  Ryker folded his arms. "And there's another catch. Hold the orb for more than ten seconds, and it shifts modes. If you're not ready, it'll turn against you."

  Lucian, silent until now, suddenly turned to me, his piercing gaze locking onto mine. "That's why I'm telling you not to participate in this game." His voice was firm, edged with something close to concern. "It's deadly."

  I didn't blink. "We will participate." My tone left no room for argument. "We've played a game like this before. We know how to handle it."

  Lucian's jaw clenched. "That must have been different," he countered. "Back then, your opponents weren't willing to hurt you just to win. The ball wasn't a weapon. This isn't a childish game, Aria."

  I took a deep breath, letting his words settle in. He was right. The game wasn't exactly the same as the one we used to play. But we had no other choice. We had to participate.

  Before I could say something Kai stepped forward, his expression calm. "Don't worry," he said. "We'll handle it."

  Lucian exhaled sharply, his frustration evident. "This is a mistake," he muttered, trying once more to reason with me.

  Ryker suddenly leaned forward. "If you're so set on this, then decide—there are eight of you. Who's sitting out?"

  A charged silence passed between us. No one stepped back. Every single one of us wanted in.

  Before I could speak, Lucian cut in. "Fine. If you're playing, at least choose wisely. The other teams will have fire, water, and earth elementals. Pick accordingly."

  I turned to him. "Don't other teams include air elementals too?"

  Ryker scoffed. "No. Everyone thinks air elementals are weak, that they'll drag their team down. So every team sticks to fire, water, and earth."

  Esme frowned. "So... air elementals never compete?"

  Zane's expression darkened. "Once. A team of air elementals tried years ago. They were brutally injured in their first match. No air elemental has dared since."

  The weight of his words settled in the air like a storm cloud.

  Then, Lucian, Ryker, and Zane all turned their gaze toward me, while Esme and Calen—the only air elementals in our group—remained silent.

  Their meaning was clear: This is too dangerous for you.

  I lifted my chin, letting a slow smirk spread across my lips.

  "Let them think we're weak." My voice was calm, unwavering. "We'll show them what air elementals are really capable of. And we will win."

  Esme squared her shoulders, her eyes flashing. "I'm not afraid. If they think we're weak, they're in for a surprise."

  Calen let out a low chuckle, rolling his shoulders. "Let them underestimate us. That'll make our victory even sweeter."

  Nico grinned, folding his arms. "We've been playing this game since we were kids. We know it better than anyone."

  Dante cracked his knuckles. "We're not just strong—we strategize. That's what will make the difference."

  Kai smirked. "Let them come at us with their so-called 'stronger' elements. We'll show them what real teamwork looks like."

  Ryker whistled. "Confident, huh? Just remember, if you make it to the finals, you'll have to face us."

  I arched a brow and turned to Lucian.

  His smirk mirrored mine.

  "We'll see who wins," I said.

  Sofia stepped forward, eyes gleaming. "Zane, Ryker—don't expect us to go easy on you."

  Lila flicked her hair over her shoulder, her competitive fire burning bright. "Get ready to lose, boys. We're not backing down."

  Zane chuckled darkly. "Oh, we love a challenge."

  Ryker flexed his fingers, grinning. "Then bring it on."

  Nico smirked. "We're coming for that championship."

  Dante's grin was razor-sharp. "Hope you're ready to fight for it."

  Kai leaned back, his expression unshaken, a quiet confidence emanating from him. "Because we're definitely taking that win."

  The room felt charged, as if the very air hummed with anticipation. Every heartbeat echoed louder now, each moment heavier than the last.

  The game wasn't just a game anymore.

  We weren't playing for glory or fame. We were playing for something much bigger. The stakes? They had escalated beyond comprehension.

  I could feel my pulse quicken, my thoughts sharpening with deadly clarity. This wasn't about winning for the thrill of it. No, this was about smashing down the walls that had kept us in the shadows. First, we'd tear down the false hierarchy, the belief that air elementals were weak. Let them see what we're truly capable of.

  And second... the talisman. It held the key. The key to freeing the elementals who'd been chained by their supposed inferiority. We weren't just fighting for ourselves. We were fighting for all of them.

  I stood tall, my fingers curling into fists at my sides.

  This was no longer just a competition.

  This was our revolution.

  And we were going to win.