Chapter 16: Episode 15: Chess and Checkers
Silas was still on his knees, his hands clamped around his own throat, as he was gasping and trying to free himself from the invisible force.
His face, covered with sweat, was looking very pale. It was starting to turn waxy grey. He was defenseless and can not perform any magic now.
The students in the lecture hall were all frozen with fear. Their faces were laced with terror as they watch Silas struggling. He was looking like someone who their spirit was about to leave their body.
Reynold’s lips twisted into a small, cold smirk. Good.
He was enjoying the show. And he now know why Nymeria Xylaria is the cademy’s star.. She was a badass and now she looked like a sovereign who had been offended and utterly indifferent to the pathetic suffering of the subject groveling before her.
To Reynold, the idiot Silas deserved worse. That slicing spell in the cafeteria was meant meant to seriously wound him. If not for Gwyn healing, the small cut would have been there on his cheek.
Reynold watched with satisfaction settling in his heart, as Silas’s pale face get worse.
A loud choked, rattling breath left Silas’ mouth. His eyes rolled back, the invisible force draining the life out from his body.
Then, Nymeria’s hand, which had been subtly raised, dropped.
The invisible force vanished.
Silas collapsed entirely, hitting the stone floor with a thud sound.
He didn’t move for a few seconds, only sucking in shuddering breaths of air, his chest heaving fast.
He pushed himself up slowly, his palms flat against the stone floor, holding himself steady.
He raised his head, his eyes that were burning with humiliation and rage was fixed on Nymeria.
"Bullshit," he spat, his voice was raspy and broken. He scrambled to his feet, swaying slightly, but kept his distance away from Nymeria. "This is a total fucking nonsense! I demand to know the criteria used in selecting the names! Because there is no way, no way we have a weakling representing Wyrmwood in the Quadrant Tournament!"
The hall which was silenced with fear, erupted into murmurs.
Silas’s words made sense among the other Magic users, specifically those who felt they were stronger than Gwyn.
From the back, a male voice sounded through the noise. "He’s right! I don’t agree with him trying to harm Gwyn, but he is right about the selection! Gwyn can’t even hurt a fly! How can she be on the list?"
Silas seized the chance, pointing an accusatory finger at Gwyn, who was standing on the stage with a shock expression.
"Special treatment! It is because her uncle is the Minister of Internal Magical Affairs, isn’t it? Of course, he’d pull strings to make his late brother’s daughter happy!"
Gwyn frown. She was not liking the direction this matter was heading to. She was shocked when her name was called, but the sudden harsh accusation from Silas turned the shock into a painful stab of doubt.
Was Silas right? Was she only here because of her influential uncle? The standard blue uniform she was wearing suddenly felt heavy like she was an undeserved privilege.
Nymeria took two steps forward.
Silas immediately recoiled, shifting backward clumsily, he raised his hands instinctively near his neck. He was like a cornered viper who had been struck, and was wary of the next lethal blow.
Nymeria paused, letting the noise reduce. Her eyes didn’t stay on Silas but swept across the rest of the hall.
"I did not make this list," her voice was low, yet perfectly clear, that it some how send shivers to some students.. "If you are not okay with the selection, take your complaints to Professor Telas. She compiled the names, not me."
Her eyes snapped back to Silas, holding his terrified gaze.
"However," she continued, a smile touching her lips, "after seeing the character and discipline displayed by some cadets today... I would argue that many of you do not deserve to be on any list of honor, regardless of your magical power."
Silas’s jaw clenched, his face turn into a frown and lace with shame. He wanted to fight Nymeria but he was no match for her, not with the memory of that suffocating, invisible grip still fresh in his mind.
Nymeria’s voice suddenly turned cold. "Now, get out of my sight."
Silas stumbled backward, turning with a a full speed. He scrambled off the stage area and headed back to his seat, moving fast. His face had the look of a bitter of humiliation.
Nymeria watched him return to his seat, a flash of something, maybe contempt? boredom? flash in her eyes, before she smoothly turned back to the parchment.
"We continue with the Representatives for the Dragon Riders," she announced.
The Mages already on the stage, Torian, Elara, Zion, Kaelen, and a still-shaken Gwyn, stood waiting.
Nymeria’s eyes scanned the list for a moment. Her finger traced the name. When she did not find the one she was looking for, her perfect expression wavered for a moment.
His name is not here? She go through the names again with a confused look.
What criteria did Professor Telas use?
Shifting the thought out of her mind, she cleared her throat, and began reading the next set of names.
"First Rider Representative: Briar Coldwater."
A tall boy with a weathered leather vest and a swagger stood up and began walking to the stage, with the sound of his boots echoing.
"Second: Rebecca Dawn."
"Third: Valen Bronze."
"Fourth: Silla Horn."
"And the fifth and final Rider Representative is... Jaxson Storm."
When the final name was called, a dramatic laugh boomed from the back of the lecture hall, drawing all eyes to the back.
It was Kael, the rich kid. The same familiar face from the selection trials that made Reynold to miss the first trial. He slapped his knee and laughed again.
"This is utterly ridiculous!" Kael called out, shaking his head as he stood. "I don’t actually like the Starweaver boy, but how is his name not on that list? This is the cadet who averaged eighty-nine points across the entire selection trial! Are we playing chess and checkers here or are we trying to win a tournament?"
Kael pointed directly at Reynold, who was still seated, his gaze still on Nymeria.
The attention of the entire hall snapped onto Reynold.
Reynold’s three strange roommates, turned their heads to stare at the boy they had ignored since moving into the dorm.
Their faces instantly crumpled into matching expressions of shock and disgust.
Dammit! Their roommate was the highest-scoring candidate, the one who had turned the entire academy into a gossip ground?
Reynold felt the heat of the hundreds of eyes on him. He had expected to be on the list. He wanted to be on the list. it was a necessary step for his goals. But if he wasn’t chosen, the professor must have a good reason. She knows best.
The class turn into an uproar, even the mages join the Riders in demanding to know the criteria.
The eighty-nine-point average was an unparalleled achievement in the first-year class. How come was he not chosen?
Even Nymeria wanted to know why Reynold was not chosen.
Nymeria stood at the stage, she bit her lower lips before she cleared her throat again, making the noise to gradually subsided as the students waited for an explanation.
"Well, the list is the list and lik I said earlier," Nymeria repeated, her eyes cold, "I have no say in the composition of this list. I am only reading the names chosen by Professor Telas. If you are not satisfied with the list, you are welcome to address your concerns to her."
She shifted her gaze, her eyes meeting Reynold eyes. He was still staring at her, his expression was unreadable.
Nymeria stared at him, then swallowed, a small, movement in her throat. Without another word or glance at the gathered representatives, she turned, and quickly left the lecture hall with the parchment.