Queen vs. The Game She Shouldn't Win

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Eydis had never given her dorm room much thought. It was simply a space, functional but unremarkable, roughly the size of her old bed in her realm—nothing more.

Not enough to warrant a second glance, let alone a detailed description.

But now, the room felt different. Sharing it with Astra had transformed it into something else entirely. Charged. Intimate. Suffocating.

Although, if Eydis were brutally honest with herself, 'suffocating' wasn't quite the word. Her mind bounced from one trivial observation to the next, desperately seeking an escape from the magnetic pull of Astra's gaze. The view of the car park from the window, the barely-used desks, the musty old wool rug that offended her royal sensibilities, the dim, golden light that barely illuminated the room.

But it was just the right amount of light to accentuate Astra's features. Dark, smouldering eyes like ruby embers, a high, elegant nose, and the soft curve of her… parted lips.

Eydis realised with a jolt that she was staring. Again. And it became abundantly clear when Astra's breath hitched, the subtle movement drawing Eydis's gaze back to her roommate's piercing eyes.

So much for distraction. Her impulsive words to Astra echoed in her mind, refusing to be silenced:

"Is that an offer, Astra?"

It had been intended as a lighthearted tease, but it sounded more like a confession, rolling off her tongue like a caress. How could she possibly undo the damage, pretend it was just another one of her cryptic games?

Astra stood frozen, her gaze fixed on Eydis, seemingly oblivious to the lock of moonlight-coloured hair that fell across her eyes. Eydis's fingers twitched with the urge to reach out, to brush the impossibility soft strands aside, to feel them slipping through her fingers like liquid silk.

The battle was lost before it began.

Blame it on her innate perfectionism, her aversion to anything out of place. Blame it on Astra's intoxicating scent, uniquely hers. Blame it on the unbearable proximity. Blame it on magical anomalies, on the lingering effects of her fever.

She could conjure a hundred excuses, a thousand justifications. Anything but…

As Eydis's fingertips grazed the fine strands, a jolt of electricity shot through her, flinging her hand back as if burned. A fragmented memory flashed before her eyes: a hand, her hand, tangled in hair as dark as midnight.

The sensation was distant, dreamlike, as if it belonged to another lifetime, another world.

Eydis’s head throbbed; none of this made sense. She could recall every arcane text devoured in her own realm, yet not this. Not Gidion, either, until last night.

Archmage Gidion Swan, her tutor, her mentor, her...friend? Eydis's eyes widened in realisation. Was that why she had forgotten?

A weakness to be excised?

Was she under the insidious influence of a particular Sin? But which one? And since when? Envy and Cerberus's memories were inextricably linked to hers, limited by what she consciously shared or allowed them access to. If a memory was lost to her, it was lost to them as well.

That was the very reason why, once their bond was severed, they reverted to their basest instincts, driven solely by the insatiable hunger of their respective sins.

But then, another logical possibility ignited in her mind. What if... she had chosen to forget? Considering her penchant for control, for burying anything that might compromise her power, it was strangely plausible.

“Eydis.”

The thought evaporated as Astra's voice cut through the fog, her crimson eyes searching Eydis's face for an answer, for an explanation for her sudden withdrawal. But as the silence stretched, Astra's composure began to crumble.

"Is that what you honestly think it is? Or is that—" She swallowed, "Or is it just another riddle you love to play? Another…game?" Her voice wavered on the last word.

A sudden wave of clarity washed over Eydis, the realisation that she was not in control, that some unknown force was manipulating her mind, a splash of ice water against her senses.

It was unsettling.

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But more than that, there was Astra; the tension on her face sent an unexpected guilt through Eydis.

She had to get away.

Eydis sidestepped, putting distance between herself and Astra. The warmth that had enveloped her moments before dissipated, replaced by a chill that mirrored the frostiness that had quickly returned to Astra's eyes. Once a smouldering crimson, they now held the glacial distance of a frozen wasteland.

"A little playful banter is a perfectly acceptable way to pass the time, don't you think?" Eydis countered with a forced lightness.

"Past the time?" Astra’s voice was distant, her face as cold as a marble sculpture. “A game to you, was it?”

She turned on her heel, returning to her bed and pointedly looking anywhere but at Eydis. A barely audible "of course" escaping her lips as she lifted a gown out of a shopping bag, her fingers tracing the delicate fabric as if seeking answers in its textures.

Eydis had to admit, that one landed squarely on her chin. Words momentarily failed her as she scrambled to diffuse the tension, her amber eyes darting to the scattered shopping bags. A reminder of her initial purpose—to gather information—before being inexplicably drawn into Astra's captivating orbit.

"Similar to how you use retail therapy to relieve stress," she quipped. "Tell me, Astra, are you planning a siege on my wardrobe as well?"

Astra's face remained impassive, but the tension on her shoulders eased slightly. "It's not what you think."

"I wouldn't mind a siege," Eydis said, gesturing towards Astra's overflowing closet. "But I might not return your clothes in quite the same condition."

"Really, now? Are you saying you desire to wear my clothes?” Astra’s head snapped up, a spark of something dangerous reignited in her eyes. "Not that I'm inclined to share."

‘But you did,’ Eydis thought. Was it a riddle? A challenge? The temptation to tease and provoke was strong, but logic prevailed.

Eydis had a mission to accomplish, she couldn’t afford to get sidetracked again. “Possessive, are we? So why buy more even with enough clothes to outfit a small army? Your closet is practically begging for parole."

“I am,” Astra admitted, the gleam in her eyes suggesting she wasn't talking about clothes. “And I just couldn’t decide.”

"Decide on what, exactly?" Eydis pressed, her suspicions growing that this was indeed preparation for the gala, confirming the Student Council's attendance. "I can offer my assistance. I do have rather exquisite taste, as you've no doubt noticed."

Astra's amusement bubbled to the surface once more. "Oh, I've noticed," she deadpanned, her gaze lingering on the bunny pyjamas peeking out from Eydis's laundry basket.

Eydis retorted with a sly smile. "Precisely. Even impeccable taste can't overcome the limitations of financial burdens. Especially when one's roommate is a budding loan shark."

"The term is 'dry cleaning.'" Astra rolled her eyes. "And the therapy bills for your midnight ramblings. But fine," she conceded, rummaging through a box and unveiling a dazzling array of evening dresses in every colour and cut imaginable. "Help me decide."

“Fancy dresses. What's the occasion, a royal wedding, perhaps?” Eydis's words were a careful calculation. “Or a student soiree I wasn't invited to?"

Astra shrugged nonchalantly. "A black-tie event. Just for context."

Eydis tapped a finger against her chin thoughtfully, her eyes scanning the collection. Her brow furrowed as she encountered several dresses that seemed to have a rather...strained relationship with the concept of fabric.

There was a daring red creation with a neckline that plunged down to depths Eydis hadn't even known existed, a gold lame dress with a back that was more of a suggestion than a reality. She grimaced, unaware of the amused smile tugging at Astra's lips.

Eydis was too preoccupied with the thought of Astra wearing any of these scandalous creations in the presence of the reptilian Blackwood. The mere idea was...unacceptable. Utterly. Unthinkable. Perhaps even a tad bit infuriating.

"Are you planning to change outfits every five minutes at this event, Astra?" She narrowed her eyes. "Or perhaps you intend to be the very definition of 'distraction' yourself?"

Astra's lips twitched. "A distraction, am I? Is that my role in your eyes?"

Obviously. Eydis chuckled softly. "There's the shameless compliment fishing I've come to expect.”

"It's an impulse, I guess," Astra admitted sheepishly. “I simply find them beautiful.”

Cute.

Eydis's expression softened, “A weakness for beautiful things? A most admirable trait, I'd say."

Astra’s voice lowered. "Is that so?" A pause, then a cryptic addition, "Perhaps... I do have that weakness."

Eydis, oblivious to the deeper implication, was already engrossed in finding the perfect, appropriate gown. Her face lit up as she discovered a pale lavender dress with asymmetrical hems and a charming off-the-shoulder neckline. She caressed the fabric, enjoying the silky texture against her fingertips.

She held it up against Astra. "This would absolutely sinful on you."

‘And not too revealing,’ she added silently.

"It would?" Astra asked, her eyes searching Eydis's face for signs of mockery but finding only sincerity.

"Perhaps you could pair it with a purple gem to complement the colour," Eydis suggested. "Ask your partner to wear a matching pocket square."

"Pocket square?" Astra arched an eyebrow. "I don't think she'd wear that."

Eydis's mouth curved into a knowing half-smile. "Attending a black-tie event with a girl, are we, Astra?"

Astra nodded, confirming Eydis's suspicions. "It's not a date.”

“Naturally, since you’re both…” Eydis trailed off, her attention already captivated by a pair of strappy silver heels. "Now, about these..." She plucked the shoes from the pile, oblivious to the way Astra's jaw tightened in irritation.

As they continued to sift through the purchases, the wheels in Eydis's mind began to turn. So Astra would accompany Athena, it seemed. Given their tactical planning session earlier, it was highly likely Theo would be in attendance as well.

Which meant... Theo would need a plus-one. And who better to fill that role than the Queen of Shadows herself? After all, who goes to a gala alone? Especially not in a realm where appearances were currency and alliances were forged over champagne and canapés.

A grin spread across Eydis's face. Good. Theo, with his predictable chivalry and soft spot for damsels in distress (or those pretending to be), was far easier to manipulate than the ever-calculating Athena. This was an opportunity too delicious to pass up.

With a well-timed flutter of her lashes and a generous application of her considerable charm, securing a ticket to this event would be child's play.

After all, what was a gala without a touch of chaos?