Part 4 — Three Days Remaining
Three days.
That realization seemed to follow everyone across the Academy.
No one talked about it much.
They didn't have to.
Every calendar.
Every mission display.
Every hallway monitor quietly counted down toward deployment.
---
Morning training ended earlier than usual.
Commander Vance dismissed Gamma Squad with a single instruction.
"Recovery is part of preparation."
June blinked.
"...Did Commander Vance just officially order us to relax?"
Lucian nodded.
"She did."
"...I think I'm going to frame that sentence."
David laughed.
"I don't think that's what she meant."
"Too late."
June pointed toward the Academy commons.
"I'm interpreting orders exactly as they were given."
---
The Academy commons overlooked one of the central courtyards.
Large windows filled the room with warm afternoon sunlight.
Cadets relaxed between training sessions.
Some played strategy games.
Others quietly studied maps.
June looked around.
Then smiled.
"There."
He pointed toward a table near the windows.
Resting neatly in the center...
Was a polished wooden game board.
Mira noticed immediately.
"Sky Dominion."
June looked at her.
"You've played?"
She nodded.
"My grandfather taught me."
June grinned.
"...Perfect."
David raised an eyebrow.
"You know how to play?"
June smiled.
"I know enough to lose with confidence."
Lucian looked at him.
"I admire your honesty."
"It's one of my better qualities."
---
A few moments later...
The board was set.
Dark pieces.
Light pieces.
Each carved into miniature soldiers, guardians, and beasts.
June rubbed his hands together dramatically.
"Prepare yourself."
Mira calmly moved the first piece.
"...Your turn."
June stared at the board.
"...That wasn't very dramatic."
"It wasn't supposed to be."
---
The others gathered around the table.
Not to interfere.
Simply to watch.
June studied the board intensely.
"Hmm..."
He finally moved one piece forward.
"There."
Mira looked down.
Then quietly moved another.
"...Check."
June blinked.
"...Already?"
Lucian folded his arms.
"You exposed your commander."
"I had a commander?"
"You did."
"...He had a short career."
Nyra laughed.
---
Ten minutes later...
June frowned at the board.
"...I don't understand."
"What?"
"I had a plan."
Mira nodded.
"I know."
"You knew?"
"I've known for the last six moves."
June sighed dramatically.
"...Predictability is an unfair Gift."
Mira smiled.
"...It helps."
"It ruins board games."
David chuckled.
"I think it improves them."
June pointed toward David.
"I expected betrayal from her."
"Not from you."
"I'm merely observing."
"...You're observing me lose."
"...Accurately."
Everyone laughed.
---
June leaned closer to the board.
"Alright..."
"This move changes everything."
He confidently slid one piece across the board.
Mira looked at it.
Then looked at June.
"...Are you sure?"
He nodded confidently.
"Absolutely."
She quietly moved one piece.
"...Checkmate."
Silence.
June stared at the board.
Then at Mira.
Then back at the board.
"...I don't like this game."
David laughed.
"You said that after the first match."
"I meant it even more this time."
---
Mira began resetting the pieces.
"You want another game?"
June narrowed his eyes.
"...You're enjoying this."
"...A little."
"I knew it."
She finished arranging the board.
"This time..."
"...You choose who moves first."
June smiled.
"See?"
"Now we're negotiating."
"You still won't win."
"...Your confidence concerns me."
---
The second game lasted considerably longer.
June adapted.
He stopped making reckless moves.
Started thinking several turns ahead.
David noticed immediately.
"He's learning."
Lucian nodded.
"He always does."
June finally cornered one of Mira's key pieces.
He smiled triumphantly.
"...Got you."
Mira looked at the board.
"...Almost."
She moved another piece.
June's smile slowly disappeared.
"...You planned that."
"I did."
"You sacrificed that piece on purpose."
"...Yes."
June leaned back in his chair.
"...You're terrifying."
Nyra laughed.
"I've been saying that since training."
---
Eventually...
The second match ended much the same way.
Mira quietly captured June's final piece.
She smiled.
"...Good game."
June looked at the board.
Then at her.
"...You know..."
"...I think I actually got closer."
Mira nodded.
"You did."
"Really?"
"You made me think."
June blinked.
"...That's..."
"...Possibly the nicest compliment you've ever given me."
She smiled warmly.
"You earned it."
June folded his arms with exaggerated pride.
"You all heard that."
"I almost won."
David laughed.
"You lost."
"...Details."
Lucian shook his head.
"Remarkably consistent."
"I try."
---
As they left the commons...
Mira walked beside June.
Quietly.
"So..."
June looked over.
"So?"
"...Tomorrow?"
He smiled immediately.
"Rematch?"
She nodded.
"Rematch."
"You're on."
They shook hands.
David watched them from a few steps behind.
Nyra smiled beside him.
"They've become close."
David nodded.
"They really have."
Ahead of them...
June was already explaining how his "new unbeatable strategy" would definitely work tomorrow.
Mira simply listened.
Smiling to herself.
She'd probably already figured out exactly how the next game would end.
She just wasn't going to tell him.