Chapter 100: Bait play
The tension in the air was palpable as Nicholas and I sat across from each other. The Stones and Crowns board lay between us, pieces set in their starting positions. Around us, the gathered students and instructors whispered amongst themselves, anticipation thick in their voices.
Gale stood nearby, arms crossed, his smirk never wavering. "This should be entertaining."
I rolled my shoulders, cracking my neck. "Entertaining is one word for it. Let’s see if you can live up to the hype, Nicholas."
Nicholas gave a slow nod, his fingers hovering over his first move. Unlike Evelyn, who had been methodical and precise, Nicholas was a different beast altogether. He was a veteran at this game, known for his aggressive and unpredictable style.
The moment his fingers landed on a piece and slid it across the board, I knew this wouldn’t be easy.
He opened with an unconventional gambit, pushing his Stones forward aggressively. It was a high-risk move, meant to control the board early and suffocate my options.
I countered with a slower, defensive approach, keeping my Crowns shielded while probing his formation for weaknesses. Nicholas didn’t hesitate, pressing forward with calculated aggression. Within the first few moves, I could see his style—he played like a warlord, overwhelming opponents before they could react.
The audience was enraptured. Even Julien, who usually had something snarky to say, was watching in silence.
Nicholas pressed his advantage, and I found myself on the back foot, forced into reactive play. My Crown was perilously close to being trapped, my defenses crumbling. If I didn’t shift tactics soon, I’d lose within a dozen turns.
I exhaled slowly. Time to change the tempo.
Instead of resisting his push, I started leading him into traps of my own. I let him take what seemed like easy victories, sacrificing minor pieces in ways that looked careless. But each loss created an opening—small, almost imperceptible at first.