Chapter 126:

“And you’re the one who said ‘a draw means we are equals’ in our private chat?”

The shock in the air shattered, replaced by a sudden, intense familiarity.

Elias sat down heavily on the cushion. “I suspected a worthy opponent. I didn’t realize it was the only person who could keep up with me in the real world.”

“I thought you were a college student,” Aurora said, stepping into the room and closing the door.

She sat opposite him. The small table between them felt incredibly intimate.

Elias looked at her. The admiration he had felt for S collided with the obsession he felt for Aurora. The result was a feeling so strong it made his head spin.

“So,” Elias said softly. “The strategic genius I admire… is you.”

Aurora blushed. She actually blushed. “And the only opponent I can’t predict… is you.”

Elias poured the tea. His hands shook slightly.

“Does this make us rivals?” he asked, his eyes locking onto hers.

Aurora smiled. It was the smile of the Phoenix. Dangerous.

“Partners,” she said. “But first…”

She pointed to the Go boards sitting in the corner of the room.

“Prove it.”

Elias smirked. The coldness was gone. The awkwardness was gone.

“Prepare to lose, Phoenix,” he said.

“In your dreams, S,” she countered.

Time seemed to warp inside the tearoom.

The only sound was the sharp clack of stones hitting the wooden board.

Lᴀτєѕτ chⲁρτєrs ιn g𝓪l𝗇ovєls.𝑎𝓂

Elias moved with precision. Aurora moved with intuition. They weren’t just playing a game. They were having a conversation. Every move was a sentence.

I attack here. (I see you.)

I defend here. (I understand you.)

I trap you here. (I want you.)

Elias watched Aurora bite her lip as she contemplated a complex formation. He realized, with a jolt, that this was the most attractive thing he had ever seen. Not her dress, not her face, but her mind. The way she processed information, the way she ruthlessly dismantled his logic.

He was in trouble. Deep, deep trouble.

“You’re distracted,” Aurora murmured, placing a white stone that cut off his supply line.

“I am… evaluating,” Elias lied.

“You’re staring at my mouth,” she pointed out, not looking up from the board.

Elias choked on his tea. “I am analyzing your… microexpressions to predict your next move.”

Aurora looked up then. Her green eyes were sparkling with mirth.

“Is that what you call it?”

She leaned forward. “Your dragon has no eyes, Elias. It’s dead.”

Elias looked down at the board. He traced the lines. She was right. She had baited him into a corner while he was busy admiring her intellect. She had completely surrounded his territory.

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