Chapter 845: He Is Desperate
Chapter 845: He Is Desperate
Chris forced himself to look away from Isolde before anyone could notice the anger that had flashed too openly through him.He could not afford that. Not here. Not in front of the second-years, not with first-years watching from the higher seats, and certainly not with third-years present to judge the shape of the confrontation. Whatever Isolde had told him, whatever she had led him to believe about Sheila’s weakness, could be dealt with later.
Right now, he needed control. He needed the arena looking at him again as though he still held the stronger position, not as though Sheila had taken his blade and calmly set it aside in front of everyone.
His smile returned.
It was slightly tighter now.
"Well spoken, Princess," Chris said, giving a small nod as though he were acknowledging a point in good faith. "Truly. I am sure many here appreciate such an honest answer."
Sheila watched him quietly.
Chris turned slightly, allowing his gaze to move across the arena. "But speeches about identity and trust do not organize a hundred students inside Veyrhold."
The murmuring that had begun in Sheila’s favor softened again.
Chris took the opening and pushed. "You say you will not lead as Percy’s shadow. Fine. You say structure must make sense. Fine. Then explain the structure." His eyes returned to her, sharp beneath the smoothness. "What have you actually prepared for the Bastion Assessment?"
Sheila did not answer immediately.
Chris’s voice grew firmer. "What is your plan for defense? Scouting? Food and water? Medical care? Repairs? Communication? Discipline? Night watches? Emergency response when a wall fails, when a scout team does not return, when supplies run low, or when a student disobeys because fear has become stronger than trust?"
He let the questions land one after another, each one practical enough to pull the arena’s attention back to him. "Trust without structure is only a crowd hoping not to die."
The crowd reacted seriously.
This was a strong point, and everyone knew it. Sheila’s answer to the Percy attack had impressed many of them, but Chris had moved the debate back toward the assessment itself, and the Bastion Assessment did not care about emotional honesty alone. Students shifted in their seats. Some looked toward Sheila with renewed questions in their eyes.
A few second-years who had been leaning more clearly in her favor now waited carefully, wondering whether she had anything beyond principles. First-years listened closely, likely learning more from this exchange than from half their academy orientation speeches. The third-years watched with greater interest now, because this was the kind of question that separated a figurehead from a commander.
Beside Liam, Asher’s irritation returned in a low growl. "That one is not completely stupid."
"No," Liam said.
His eyes stayed on Chris. He could see the maneuver for what it was. Chris had realized the personal attack failed and was trying to recover momentum by returning to leadership practicality. That was the correct move, which only made it more irritating that Chris had made it.