Chapter 18 A Debate With The Strategist
ARDEN
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Miss Loveson cleared her throat, abruptly robbing me of the chance to retort to what Elias had said. Instead, a deep sigh of frustration escaped my lips. Why were these Alphas making everything so unbearably annoying?
“Silver Quill is looking for twenty new members from the freshmen,” Miss Loveson announced with a smile, her enthusiasm radiating throughout the room.
“Yes,” she continued, her tone growing more earnest. “There are many eager candidates who wish to join our club, but not everyone will make the cut. Silver Quill is meant for the best and brightest minds among the Elite.”
“It’s a prestigious opportunity,” she added, her voice filled with pride. “We compete with numerous schools across the globe. rivaling some of the most esteemed institutions. I hope you comprehend the significance of this.”
I surveyed the room and noticed that most of my peers had a fiery determination ignited in their eyes. They weren’t nervous -they were ready for the challenge ahead. In fact, they even appeared excited.
My gaze drifted to Elias, who wore a lazy smirk that suggested he believed he belonged to an entirely different league compared to the rest of us.
If Tessa’s words held any truth, then perhaps he truly was. She’d told me that Elias Rue was one of the most formidable strategists in the East, with a reputation dating back to his youth, when he had devoured an entire library’s worth of books.
“Aside from our limited number of members, we also maintain certain standards that you must uphold,” Miss Loveson went on, her demeanor still inviting. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing too daunting. You simply need to maintain a grade of 88% in all of your classes and achieve an average of 90%.”
“I imagine that won’t be too challenging for an Elite student, will it?” she chuckled lightly.
“Now, let’s dive right in. This will be a swift process since we have another batch waiting. I’m going to present you with a scenario, and you all will convey how you would respond if placed in that situation.
“Given that we are werewolves, the focus will be on our survival and harmony. Always remember to act as a leader,” she concluded, the room falling into an attentive silence as the weight of her words settled in.
“Alright,” she
said, her smile returning, “Here’s the scenario: You and your pack are under attack. Twenty members of your group are cornered. Your mate is valiantly holding back the enemy, allowing those twenty members a chance to flee. You need to buy time; your mate is the only one who can stall the attackers
Then, with a serious expression, she added, “What will you do? Choose your swer carefully.”
Immediately, one student raised his hand, earning disappointed glances from those around him who were eager to answer
first
“I’ll let her stall them,” he declared without hesitation. “Your mate comes only once in a lifetime. But your pack–they are your responsibility. You owe it to them to ensure their safety.”
A few heads nodded in agreement. Miss Loveson offered no reaction, maintaining her neutrality.
Then, another werewolf stood up. I couldn’t help but frown as I recognized who it was. Sienna was here again. Well, the two of us were best friends for a reason, each drawn to similar interests, and she also ranked among the top students during our
chool years she stole a glance my way, clearly wanting to impress me.
“Tid save my mate,” she said supply, a proud smile plastered across her face. “Twenty pack members for a leader isn’t a bad Diade. In this case, it’s not about the quantity of lives but the quality of the people we choose to protect
I frowned, sensing the implications of her statement. It carried a distinctly classist undertone, suggesting that the life of an Alpha held more value than that of twenty others.
Vet, a few individuals nodded, seemingly in agreement with her perspective.
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As the conversation unfolded, most followed suit, delivering variations of sacrifice and stoicism, as if spouting lines from a tragic tale where heartbreak was the noble price of power. Words like responsibility, necessity, and duty were tossed around with alarming ease.
Then, Elias clicked his tongue sharply
The sound sliced through the murmur of conversation, prompting everyone to turn their focus toward him. I, too, found myself intrigued by what he would say.
“Everyone here is still thinking emotionally,” he said. “Let’s break this down properly.
“You’re outnumbered. You don’t have the advantage. Your mate can stall, yes, but not indefinitely. The priority is to protect the twenty; that’s your responsibility. And that means getting them out–fast and far. Where are they escaping to? Is there terrain you can use? Trees to mask their scent? A river to break pursuit?”
He took a slow, deliberate breath, collecting his thoughts.
“A leader is not someone who gets to have everything. A leader has to choose–and endure the consequences of those choices. The enemy is coming now. You can’t gamble with twenty lives to save one, even if that one means the world to you. The cost is simply too high.”
Then came the final blow. His voice dropped, turning colder.
“If you’re a real leader, you don’t have weaknesses.”
Silence enveloped the room.
For just a moment, I wanted to agree. Not because I truly believed him, but because he made it sound so… inarguable.
But my hand rose before I consciously decided to do so.
My heart thudded once, loudly. People turned to look: I sensed their attention weighing upon me. I didn’t speak right away. Miss Loveson arched a challenging brow.
I swallowed hard, gathering my thoughts.
“I disagree with that.”
Quiet gasps rippled across the room. I could feel their shock. Who would dare challenge someone as astute as Elias?
Yet, despite the apprehension, I felt it wasn’t the best choice to remain silent
“I understand the logic,” I began, choosing my words with care. “I understand the numbers. I recognize that in a battle, you measure risk and you prioritize the many.”
I stood now, making an effort to maintain my confidence in the face of overwhelming scrutiny.
“But I think this question isn’t as black–and–white as we are trying to make it. First–what are we fighting? Are we certain that single person is the only one capable of holding them off? If one person can stall thein, then why not twenty, including met What exactly are we running from that we have already decided we cannot face?”
I let the question hang in the air.
“If we keep running and leave someone behind, aren’t we just delaying the next attack? The threat is still alive. It’s still out there. It knows who we are. And next time, maybe it won’t even give us the chance to run at all.”
I turned to Elias, measuring my approach carefully.
“And one more thing. You said a leader shouldn’t have weaknesses. I must disagree once more.”
Now I could feel the heat crawling up my chest, but I didn’t let it drive me into a frenzy. I wanted to be heard clearly.
mate isn’t a weakness. The people we care about aren’t liabilities; they are the very reason we fight harder. A leader who,
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Chapter 18 A Debate With The Strategist
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sacrifices everything to be seen as untouchable… may win, sure. But, you won’t lead a pack that way. You’ll lead shadows.”
I straightened my shoulders, grounding myself in conviction. “I believe that a good leader doesn’t grow strong by excising their heart; they become truly strong because of it.”
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