EMRYSA

Chapter Two (IV)

Two guards stepped forward, avoiding Baltimore's intense stare. In a shaky voice, one of them explained, "We were patrolling in the evening as usual when something hit both of us and knocked us out. By the time we regained consciousness, they were all gone."

Baltimore took a deep breath, trying to control his anger. "Did you find anything unusual?" he asked, rubbing his temples.

"Yes, the floor was wet and covered in mud," the other guard quickly responded. "Seize them! Give them a hundred lashes and strip them of their posts," Baltimore commanded, his forehead creased with frustration. The guards pleaded for mercy as they were forcibly taken away.

Meanwhile, Ciara, Prudy, Morgana, and the Ickies arrived safely at the Hamptons' home. Hunith and Micky prepared dinner while the group settled down; they remade Micky’s prize-winning dish. Micky eagerly narrated his experience as they ate dinner, "I was nervous at first, but when I saw the available ingredients, this dish was the first that popped into my head."

"This is delicious." Mordecai praised. Micky responded with a hint of pride, "I know."

Noticing a sweet scent, Dicky curiously sniffed the air around Ciara and asked, "Why do you smell like cotton candy?"

"Oh, I almost forgot. I bought something for all of you," Ciara replied, revealing a large bag of cotton candy. "There's enough for each of you, including Hunith and Gaius," she added, sharing the treat with everyone. Ciara's magi-slate rang, indicating a call from her father. Excusing herself, she moved to a quiet corner to have a proper conversation.

"Yes, Dad. Yes, I made it to the second round… I sort of met the king… No, nothing bad happened… Oh, so you do goblingram now? No, the afacs thing wasn't my doing… Why would I even do that? Yes, the boys are here," she responded, updating her father. "Ickies, Dad wants to VisageLink," she called out, signaling the others to join the conversation.

"Michael? Patrick? Dickson? Is any of you there?" Garrett's voice resonated through the magi-slate. "Dad, we can see the inner depths of your nose. Ugh, too much nose hair," Ricky remarked. "Oh, sorry about that. How about now?" Garrett adjusted, ensuring a better view. "It's better," Micky confirmed.

Garrett then asked his sons about their experiences in Askia, and they took turns sharing their stories and adventures with their father. "That all sounded wonderful. Give your sister back her magi-slate," Garrett instructed, prompting Dicky to return the device to Ciara before rejoining the others. "Dad, did Mr. Rogers come to the house again? Okay, then. Oh before I forget, stay away from my room and my posters. Goodnight" Ciara ended the VisageLink.

"It's getting late. Come on now, children, off to bed," Hunith said to the Ickies. “Have you formed your team yet?” asked Morgana. “Yes,” said Ciara. “Let’s hear it.” said Mordecai. "Okay. The team will comprise me, Prudy... and I was kind of hoping Morgana and you," Ciara announced, laying out her plan. "Sure, why not? I could close the forge for some time," Mordecai agreed, willing to lend his skills to the team. "Only if it's life-threatening," Morgana smirked.

"That makes... one... two..." Dicky counted with his fingers. "...four. That makes four, but what about the remaining two?"

"Oh, so now you can count," Ciara mocked. "The remaining two are anonymous. You'll find out tomorrow."

"What does 'anomynous' mean?" Dicky whispered to Ricky. "'Anonymous'," Ricky corrected, "means nameless."

"Do you have weapons?" Ricky inquired. "Don't worry about that. Just tell me what you need, and they'll be ready before the second round commences," Mordecai assured them confidently. "I need a sword, and Prudy needs a hammer, as well as whatever weapons you and Morgana use," Ciara replied, outlining their requirements. "Consider it done," Mordecai confirmed.

That night, as Ciara found it hard to sleep, she went to her brothers' room. "What's the matter, Ciara?" Micky asked, sensing her restlessness. "Can't sleep?" Ricky chimed in with concern. Ciara nodded and sighed. "Just do what I always do. Think of how to count sheep. It's foolproof," Dicky suggested, trying to offer a solution. "Is it?" Ricky asked with a mocking tone. "Are you worried about tomorrow?" Micky asked. "Uh-huh," Ciara nodded once again.

"You are Ciara Camborne. You always find a way to succeed, and you will win this," Micky reassured her, his words carrying the weight of their unwavering belief in her. They all gathered around her, sharing a heartfelt hug. "Thanks. Did you guys practice that?" Ciara asked, amused by their synchronized support. "It was Ricky's idea," Dicky pointed out.

Ciara had one more surprise for them. She brought out her spare magi-slate. "I'm giving you this. It's my spare magi-slate, connected to my other one. That way, we can keep in touch in case I have to go far away," she explained, handing the device to Ricky. She kissed each of her brothers goodnight on their foreheads.

The next day arrived swiftly. "I'm going to be busy today. Baltimore insists on keeping me by his side," he informed the others. Hunith handed him a lunchbox. "Alright then, here's your lunch," she said, giving him a gentle kiss on the cheek before he departed for his duties.

The contest arena buzzed with anticipation as the spectators eagerly awaited the start of the second round. Being the first of its kind, the contest was a testament to Baltimore's desire to showcase Askia's hospitality. "Welcome to the second round of the contest," Baltimore addressed the crowd and contestants. "Today, my daughter will make a special entry. She will choose one of the seven teams, granting them an exception by allowing eight members."

Princess Sage stole a glance at Arc. She had overheard him discussing his participation in the contest with his father the night before. She hoped that by joining his team, she could get closer to him and perhaps ignite a spark of love by revealing her wild side. "The team leaders and their teams; please present yourselves," Gaius announced.

Ciara and the other contestants moved to the center of the arena. Sage glared at Ciara as she made her entrance, feeling a pang of jealousy upon noticing Arc's undivided attention on her.

"Contestant one hundred and fifty, why does your team have only four members?" Baltimore demanded. Ciara remained silent. Sage abruptly stood up. "Didn't you hear what my father said? Speak up!"

Warwick and Arc stepped forward to join Ciara's team. The crowd gasped and murmured in surprise. "Johnwick, are you aware of this?" Baltimore directed his question at Johnwick. "Yes, I am," Johnwick replied, affirming his knowledge of the situation. Sage loudly cleared her throat, capturing everyone's attention. "I have made my decision. Buttercup and I will join her team," she declared, pointing at Ciara. "Very well then, without further ado, let us proceed," Baltimore announced, motioning to Gaius to continue.

Gaius stepped forward and explained the details of the second round. "The second round involves a journey and weapons. The seven teams must hunt and return with the three heads of a chimera."

Gasps of fear rippled through the crowd at the mention of a chimera. Gaius continued, "This round has a time limit of five days. The first five teams to bring back the heads will advance to the next round. Regardless of whether they have the heads, all teams must return after the five-day limit. The hourglass will be turned in four hours, giving you that time to prepare and depart."

The contestants absorbed the challenge ahead, aware of the daunting task they were about to undertake. The stage was set for a thrilling and intense second round of the contest.