Villainous Instructor at the Academy
Chapter 98: Checkmate

Chapter 98: Checkmate

The clearing had gone utterly silent. Students and instructors alike watched with rapt attention as Gale took a measured step forward, his polished boots crunching against the grass. His usual smirk remained, but there was an edge to it now—like a blade sharpened to its limit.

Gale’s smirk didn’t falter as he took his seat across from me, the board between us like a battlefield drawn in miniature. The crowd around us hushed, students and faculty alike waiting to see how this would play out.

"Best of three?" he asked, as if offering me a fair chance.

I met his gaze evenly. "One game. Winner takes all."

A flicker of amusement crossed his face. "Confident, are we?"

I shrugged. "Time is valuable. No need to waste it."

Gale chuckled, then reached forward and made the first move. The game had begun.

The opening moves were slow, measured. I mirrored his patience, placing each piece with careful deliberation. Stones and Crowns wasn’t just about strategy—it was about reading your opponent, anticipating their moves before they made them.

Gale played methodically, with a steady, almost mechanical approach. No wasted movements, no reckless gambits. It was the style of someone who had honed his craft over countless games, someone who believed in calculated victories.

But that was the problem.

He expected me to do the same.

I played aggressively, forcing the tempo. My pieces advanced faster, testing his defenses, trying to see how he’d respond. Gale narrowed his eyes slightly but didn’t panic. He adjusted, countered, played defensively to absorb my pressure.

The game shifted into a rhythm. I pushed; he resisted. I baited; he ignored. He was disciplined, I’d give him that. But discipline had its limits.

Then I made my move.

A seemingly reckless sacrifice—a crucial piece left vulnerable.

The crowd murmured. Even Julien, watching over my shoulder, muttered, "Professor, are you sure—"

"Watch."

Gale hesitated for only a moment before taking the bait. He removed my piece, reinforcing his position.

And just like that, he fell into my trap.

With a few swift moves, I encircled his Crown, leaving him no escape. A sudden shift, a moment of realization, and the tension in the air thickened.

Checkmate.

The silence that followed was deafening.

I leaned back, exhaling slowly. "Good game."

Gale stared at the board, his fingers hovering over his last trapped piece. His smirk had vanished, replaced with something far more telling—irritation.

Julien let out a low whistle. "Damn. That was fast."

Nicholas, who had been observing quietly from the side, chuckled. "Did you seriously just bait him like a first-year student?"

Gale inhaled deeply, masking his frustration as he leaned back in his chair. "Impressive." His tone was neutral, but I caught the edge beneath it. "I underestimated you."

I gave him a small, mocking smile. "Most do."

A ripple of laughter ran through the students. Julien was grinning outright, while Mira shook her head, clearly entertained. Evelyn, Gale’s chosen representative, looked between us with an unreadable expression before nodding slightly in acknowledgment of my win.

Gale straightened his coat and stood, his posture composed despite the clear loss. "A well-earned victory, Professor Drelmont."

The way he said my name carried weight. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

I met his gaze and tilted my head. "Likewise, Professor Gale."

The tension between us lingered as he turned and left, his departure quiet but deliberate. The students began talking amongst themselves, excitement buzzing in the air. A faculty member besting another in a public match was rare enough—winning against someone with Gale’s reputation made it a spectacle.

Julien nudged my arm. "You planned that from the start, didn’t you?"

I gave him a sidelong look. "What do you think?"

Mira smirked. "I think you just put a massive target on your back."

I exhaled through my nose, my gaze following Gale’s retreating figure. "He already had one."

---

Later that evening, I sat in my quarters, reviewing my notes. The events of the day played through my mind, but my focus remained elsewhere. Gale wasn’t an opponent I could afford to ignore.

He was ambitious, politically connected, and clearly not above playing mind games to achieve his goals. Besting him publicly had earned me a temporary advantage, but it also meant he’d be looking for an opportunity to return the favor.

A knock at my door pulled me from my thoughts.

"Come in."

Nicholas entered, arms crossed, his usual relaxed expression tinged with curiosity. "So... Gale’s pissed."

I smirked. "He’ll live."

"Yeah, but he won’t forget. You embarrassed him in front of half the Academy."

I leaned back in my chair. "That was the point. He tried to make a spectacle out of us. I just turned it back on him."

Nicholas whistled. "Bold move. Hope you’re ready for whatever comes next."

I sighed. "I always am."

He studied me for a moment, then chuckled. "You really have changed, haven’t you?"

I glanced at him. "What do you mean?"

"The old Lucian would’ve avoided this. Kept his head down, played it safe. Now you’re taking on people like Gale without hesitation."

I tapped my fingers against the desk, considering his words. He wasn’t wrong. The version of me who had first arrived at the Academy—who had woken up in Lucian Drelmont’s body—had been focused entirely on survival. Avoiding conflict, staying under the radar.

But things had changed. I had changed.

"Maybe," I admitted. "Or maybe I just got tired of being stepped on."

Nicholas smirked. "Well, whatever it is, it’s fun to watch. Just try not to get yourself killed."

"No promises."

With that, he shook his head, amused, and left me alone with my thoughts.

I leaned back, staring at the ceiling. Gale would come back stronger. That was certain. And if I wanted to stay ahead, I couldn’t afford to grow complacent.

My fingers brushed the worn edges of my Grimoire of Patterns. A reminder that knowledge was my greatest weapon.

If Gale wanted to play, I’d make sure he regretted it.

The game had only just begun.

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