Edsel studied Cecilia's reaction carefully.
Seeing her flustered and scared was amusing. She was usually so calm and friendly with everyone, the perfect image of a noble lady. But Edsel knew about the mask she wore, and watching it slip was entertaining.
"Or am I not worth talking to? Is that the problem here?"
Cecilia frowned at him, her usual gentle expression replaced by something sharper.
"Just tell me what you want from me. If you are looking for a way to make me hate Edwin, or turn me against him, then forget it."
She stood up from her seat, grabbed Edsel by the collar, and pulled him close. Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Do not try to persuade me. It will not work."
Edsel kept his smile fixed on his face. He reached up and placed his hand over hers, his grip light but firm.
"Do not worry. I am not petty enough to do something like that."
He slowly peeled her fingers away from his collar.
"Besides, I already told you that I am interested in war as well. Did I not say that? I love strategy games. I would love to hear your thoughts on a real battle."
Cecilia pulled her hand back and scoffed. "My thoughts on a real battle? Pff, you know that I do not know anything about such things. I am just a lady who reads books in the library."
"Oh, really? You know, Cecilia, sometimes these things come out naturally. You never know what you are capable of until you try." Edsel tilted his head. "Will you play a game with me? Just a small one."
Cecilia glared at him and quickly gathered her books into a stack.
"Forget about your games. I don't want to play anything with you."
Edsel watched her gather her things and spoke in a calm voice.
"I see. You are scared."
She stopped moving and turned slowly to face him.
"What did you just say to me?"
Edsel shrugged. "I said perhaps you are scared. That is all. No judgment."
She turned fully and walked back to the table. She sat down across from him and placed her hands flat on the surface. Her eyes were locked onto his.
"Fine. Let us start then. What kind of game are you proposing?"
Edsel grinned and leaned back in his chair. "A verbal strategy game. No pieces, no board. Just words and decisions."
"No pieces? No board?" Cecilia's voice rose with confusion. "What kind of game are you even describing right now?"
Edsel raised a finger and smiled. "Do not worry. There are no complicated rules. I will describe a situation, and you tell me what you would do in that position. The only rule is that you cannot say nothing."
Cecilia's eyes narrowed. "And what if I refuse to play your little game?"
"Then you prove that I was right about you being scared."
Her jaw tightened. "Ugh."
Edsel watched her reaction with amusement. She did not trust him, that much was obvious. But her pride was enormous, almost as big as Penelope's. No wonder they were best friends.
"So what do you say? Are you in, or are you going to walk away?"
"Deal," she said quickly.
"That was fast, Cecilia." Edsel leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table. "Then let us begin. Imagine that you are the commander of the Northern Army at the Battle of Soren. Your forces are fighting against barbarians who want to claim the land for themselves. The enemy has twice your numbers, and they control the high ground. What do you do?"
Cecilia stared at him blankly. "That is your game? A hypothetical battle from history?"
"A simple one to start." He covered his mouth with his hand to hide his grin. "Unless you cannot think of an answer, of course. Then we can stop here."
Her hand slammed against the table. "Do not mock me!"
The sound echoed through the library. Students turned their heads towards the noise, their faces filled with surprise. Cecilia caught herself immediately. Her shoulders relaxed, her hands folded in her lap, and a gentle smile returned to her face as if nothing had happened.
Edsel covered his face with both hands. His shoulders shook, and he could not stop the laughter that was trying to escape.
"Stop laughing," Cecilia whispered while her face turned red.
"I will stop, I will stop." He lowered his hands and wiped the smile from his face. "Let us continue the game. So, Cecilia, what will you do with your army?"
She composed herself and spoke carefully. "Well, it depends on whether the barbarians have mages or aura users among them. I doubt they do. Most barbarian tribes rely on physical strength alone."
Edsel shook his head. "No, no, no. You are wrong, Cecilia. You have already failed."
Her eyes widened. "What? How can I fail on the first question?"
"Barbarians are humans, yes. But they are humans with pure muscle and physical frames that almost match the size of orcs." Edsel leaned forward. "Do you truly believe that any barbarian that large and powerful would not have aura running through their veins? You cannot simply dismiss them as mindless brutes. That is how armies get destroyed."
Cecilia frowned while processing his words. Her fingers tapped against the table as she thought.
"With aura users among their ranks, they will attack with overwhelming force," Edsel continued. "They will break through your defensive lines before you can react. Your soldiers will be crushed from above, and anyone who tries to flee will be hunted down before they reach safety."
Cecilia stared at him in silence. Her mind was racing now, working through the problem that he had placed before her. He had insulted her strategy, challenged her intelligence, and now she was determined to prove him wrong.
She looked up with fire in her eyes. "Let us go again. I am ready this time."