Roxana and the other students who had been left puzzled now saw Jax and Astrid coming their way. But their confusion only doubled when they noticed so very unusual things about the scene in front of them.
Astrid was leading the way with the posture of a general returning from a successful negotiation. And behind her, trailing like a shadow that had lost its confidence, was Jax. His face carried the expression of a man who had been thoroughly and completely defeated.
Astrid was lecturing him about sothing and he was nodding along like a child who had been caught sneaking sweets and was now receiving the full wrath of his mother’s disappointnt.
Their brains simply refused to register what they were seeing. The only image they had of this man was his short temper and arrogance that didn’t even pardon the highest-ranking nobles in the world. He had threatened kings. Killed a pope. Told an entire room of world leaders to sit down like dogs.
And yet here he was. Acting like a dosticated pet while the leash was held by soone he had mocked relentlessly every single second she stood by his side.
But what they didn’t know was what had happened during those twenty minutes behind that locked door. Astrid had lectured Jax the entire walk back about his mistakes. He had been scolded continuously.
For making her cry. For making her worried. For ntioning her a maniac who would be the cause of a war due to her anger.
Jax simply kept his mouth shut through all of it. He knew this wasn’t the ti to poke a finger in anything. So he played the role that most n eventually learn to play with their won. Apologize. Even before the next accusation lands.
Astrid reached the group still radiating authority and even after stopping, that authority didn’t fade. She spoke.
"Jax— cough cough —Professor Jax and I have discussed a few things and have co to a conclusion. I am the only deserving and capable person here who can get him out of this ss. Therefore, I will be representing our squad for the finals."
Every pair of eyes in the group hovered from Astrid to Jax and back again in complete confusion. But before anyone could question it, Astrid spoke in a tone so cold that even the royal bloods present felt a chill crawl up their spines.
"Does anyone have a problem with it?"
Nobody spoke. Not because they agreed. Because survival instincts are a powerful thing.
Astrid’s expression shifted from cold authority to a satisfied grin. "Then it’s settled. By overwhelming majority."
Seris was the first to break the silence. "Don’t tell this was the mont you were waiting for. To get your revenge on him by losing deliberately. But this isn’t the ti to play around when his life is actually on the line. Even if he’s at the top of your bad side, you shouldn’t just—"
Astrid cut her off. "Who told you he’s on my bad side?"
Seris stared at her with suspicious eyes. Astrid caught herself a mont too late. Nervousness flickered across her face before she recovered.
"I’m just joking. Yes, you’re right. He is absolutely at the top. And that’s precisely why there is no one other than who has the right to play with him."
She folded her arms.
"Therefore there is no way I will lose out there and let that bitch take him away before I can finish having my revenge."
She stood there ntally congratulating herself on how brilliantly she had worded that. It wasn’t a lie. It didn’t raise suspicion. And Jax understood her resolve behind it. Triple win. She was basically a diplomatic genius well in her own eyes.
Seris took a mont to process everything and then said. "Don’t be stupid, Astrid. You know this match is going to be impossible for you to wi—"
She didn’t get to finish because Astrid’s hand landed on the top of her head. Patting her gently. With a motherly smile that had absolutely no business being on the face of a girl her own age.
"Impossible is a word found only in the dictionary of fools. And rember this, honey... your mama tore that page out a long, long ti ago."
Seris jumped back like she had been electrocuted. "What the heck?!"
She turned to Jax with a look of genuine distress. "Professor, look at what you’ve done to her! It’s all because of your constant trolling that she’s been letting it all out on since this morning!"
Seris assud Astrid calling herself her mother was just another form of teasing. Another layer of the mockery she had been enduring all day.
She had no idea that this goofball was already preparing for a future. For her wildest fantasy. The one involving morning blessings and denied hangout permissions that she couldn’t wait to make real.
Then a staff mber arrived and inford them that Headmistress Lysandra had requested Jax and his chosen student to appear on the stage of the main hall.
Jax nodded and looked at Astrid. She nodded back with a grin. Turned to the others.
"Don’t worry. I got this."
After so ti, both of them stood together on the stage. Across from them were Zharina and Karina. Lysandra handled the formalities. Introductions for the audience. Rules for the viewers at ho. The standard procedures for the tournant finals which was needed to be addressed.
Then she said. "First, let us begin with Team Thirteen. Whose ntor, Professor Jax, will now announce his chosen representative from his roster."
She looked at Jax. Who looked back at her with a gaze that scread ’are you serious right now? Can’t you see there is literally only one person standing beside ?’
But he sighed and swallowed his thoughts for the sake of formality.
"Student Astrid R. Aleris will represent our squad for the finals."
The crowd erupted in cheers that shook the walls of the hall. Then gradually went silent as Lysandra turned to the opposite side.
"And Team Seven. Professor Zharina, please announce your chosen representative."
Every person in that hall expected to hear one na. Karina. The ace. The strongest student in the academy. The guaranteed victory that would seal the tournant.
But Zharina’s response made the entire hall go silent. Even Jax’s eyes widened in genuine shock.
"I choose myself to represent for the finals."
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