Leo pushed open the door to the Bronze Leader’s hideout, a spacious room that stretched out like a blank canvas.
The room was bare—a luxury couch, some chairs and a small table. Leo stepped inside and looked over every corner.
"Not bad," he said casually. "It’ll do as a training space."
Mori followed him in, his mind clearly elsewhere. His face tightened as though he wanted to say something, but uncertainty held him back.
"Say it, Mori," Leo said. "Whatever it is you’re thinking, just say it."
Mori hesitated, his fists clenching as he tried to sort through his thoughts. Finally, he spoke, his voice filled with sincerity. "Leonhardt... your duel with Faelar, it was incredible. You’re... more than I ever imagined."
Leo smirked faintly, reclining further into the couch without looking up. "I know."
Mori for a moment staring at the floor, lost in his own thoughts, before finally mustering the courage to speak again.
This time, his tone was steadier. "Bronze... We’ve always been the weak ones. Prey for predators above us. That’s all anyone sees when they look at us."
"But today, I saw something else. Watching you stand up to them—the council, the section leaders, everyone who looks down on us—it made me feel something I haven’t felt before. Satisfaction."
His voice grew stronger as his gaze lifted, meeting Leo’s.
"I don’t want to be prey anymore. I want to be a predator. Not someone who hunts the weak, but someone who stands among the strong."
Leo’s eyes locking onto Mori’s. "So?" he asked.
Mori held his gaze. "I don’t expect your forgiveness. Not after everything I’ve done to you. I know you don’t care about apologies. But I want your help. Help me become stronger—help me become a predator. I want to stand beside you, Leonhardt. I want to be part of the story that this academy will never forget—the story of how Bronze shattered the hierarchy."
Suddenly, Leo laughed, a resonant sound that echoed through the room.
Rising from the couch, Leo walked toward Mori. He placed hand on Mori’s shoulder, leaning in slightly. "Mori, if you’d come here begging for forgiveness, I wouldn’t have wasted a second rejecting you. But this? Ambition? I respect that."
"So let’s make history."
Mori’s expression shifted, surprise and hope lighting up his face. "What’s the plan?" he asked quickly.
"You need five more participants for the tournament, right? But... there’s no one in Bronze who’s anywhere close to your level. And the election, who are you going to back?"
Leo’s chuckle came low. "We’ve got time to find the right people, and plenty of time to prepare."
His smirk grew as his eyes shifted toward the doorway. "As for the election, I think we already have someone here who’s ready to talk about it. Isn’t that right, Princess?"
Mori blinked, confused, before following Leo’s gaze toward the entrance. Standing there was Princess Thalia Vael Duskbane. Beside her stood Adrain and Selene.
Thalia stepped forward with deliberate grace, her sharp eyes locking onto Leo as a small, knowing smile curved her lips.
"You’re absolutely right," she said smoothly. "Leonhardt Caulem, or should I say, my dear cousin."
Thalia Vael Duskbane, Princess of the Empire and daughter of the Emperor’s second wife, Yvana, who was also Leonhardt’s aunt, stepped into the room. Though they were direct relatives, their relationship had always been distant.
Leo gestured casually toward the couch. "Go ahead. Take a seat."
Thalia moved inside, her posture poised and regal as she settled onto the couch. Behind her, Adrian and Selene stood silently, their watchful eyes scanning the room.
Leo leaned back into a chair opposite her. "I’d offer you some tea," he said, his tone dry with a hint of mockery, "but I don’t have any. So, Princess, let’s skip the formalities. What’s your business?"
Thalia’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "No need for tea, Leonhardt. After all, we are family, aren’t we?"
Leo chuckled, leaning forward slightly. "Family? We’ve barely exchanged two words before today. Let’s not pretend we’re close."
Thalia didn’t flinch. "Fair enough. But I’m sure you’ve come to understand how this election works by now."
Leo shrugged, his smirk lingering. "It’s clear enough."
"And?" Thalia pressed, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What’s your take on it?"
Leo’s smirk faded into something colder, his gaze turning sharper. "The leader holds the section’s vote. The participants bring the votes. Darius, as Gold’s leader, is Cassian’s pet. His vote is already tied to the prince. I’d bet Silver has already sided with them too."
Selene, standing behind Thalia, nodded slightly. "You’re right. That leaves Iron and Bronze as the only sections without clear loyalties."
Leo’s smirk returned, a dangerous edge in his expression. "Iron might secure a few votes at best, but Bronze? Until today, Bronze was a joke. We didn’t have the numbers, let alone the strength, to sway anything. This election is practically Cassian’s to win."
Adrian voiced his opinion. "That might’ve been true yesterday, Leonhardt. But after your performance in the council chamber, things have changed. Bronze has potential now. You’ve made people believe there’s hope."
Leo studied Adrian for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he leaned back in his chair, his tone flat but cutting. "Tell me something. What would you have done if nothing had changed? If Bronze stayed weak and useless, what was your plan then?"
Thalia didn’t hesitate. Her answer came without pause. "We would’ve used you."
Leo raised an eyebrow. "Used me? How?"
Thalia’s smile sharpened, though her tone stayed composed. "Your half-brother, Lucian. Second only to Erin in strength among the first-years. He would do anything for your approval. With your influence over him, he could challenge Darius for Gold’s leadership."
Leo’s smirk turned icy. "So, your plan was to manipulate me to control Lucian, then use him to overthrow Gold?"
Thalia didn’t deny it. "Exactly. Lucian has strength, but he has no desire. With the right push, he could’ve taken over Gold and shifted the election. But plans change, Leonhardt."
She leaned forward slightly now, her tone softening but her words cutting through the quiet air. "Support me, Leonhardt. You’ve seen how this game is played. You know the stakes. If I win this election, you know what it means."
Leo’s laugh was low and deliberate, breaking the tension. "You know how Cassian and I feel about each other," he said. "Anyone with a brain would assume I’m on your side, Princess."
Thalia’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. "And yet, you don’t seem convinced. What are you really saying?"
Leo straightened, his eyes meeting hers directly. His voice was steady but colder now. "I’ll back you, Thalia. But know this—I’ll stay on your side as long as your goals align with mine. The moment I sense you crossing me..." He let the threat hang.
Thalia’s expression didn’t falter. Her tone stayed calm, but a hint of steel underpinned her reply. "You have my word, Leonhardt. Betrayal isn’t in the plan."
Leo leaned back once more, his smirk returning. "Good. Then let’s treat this like the business deal it is."
Thalia inclined her head slightly, satisfaction flickering across her face. "As it should be."