Elementia Tellurian

Chapter 3

The clinks and clanks of spoons, knives and forks reverberating around the dining hall. Everyone's so quiet. No one dares to speak. Only the thumping sound from the shoes of the assessors walking back and forth around the long table is the sound that breaks the silence. Everyone’s moves are restricted. The very first part of the competition is already starting. They are all wearing formal suits and the one and only Sera, stands out among them. The men are all wearing colored tunic that corresponds to their Regnums. Blue for Aqua, red for Ignis, white for Aeris, brown for Terra and lastly, gray for Meta. Their tunics are decorated with embroideries, gold lacing and other elements.  They all look like a prince.

 On the other hand, Sera’s wearing a long crimson halter dress with a see through long sleeves that looks like a lava flowing from its crater. It really complements her white skin. Her black, silky long hair was curled and tied it half-up. She looked very elegant.  She looked like she’s one of the princesses from the council that decided to join the breakfast with the competitors. The ways she ate her food looked like she’s very well-trained. Men sometimes took glances of her but for her they seem to be non-existent.

As they all finished eating, one from the council stole their attention by tapping her metal spoon on the wine glass. She’s the princess of Ignis. Idalia, One of Sera’s childhood playmate and one of her rival on the academe.  She also has the fiery sprit Sera has. They seem to be always the two sides of a coin for Idalia is a princess and Sera is not. “As you all know; this is already the start of the competition but none of you will be eliminated as of now. We’re going to test your intelligence and physical strength but still, this etiquette test will still have a bearing on your score.”

Everyone sighed with relief.  Everyone is still safe until the third test. “As of now, this is your rank.” Her little brother Prince Theo walk towards her sister with a big screen showing the ranking for the etiquette test. As expected, Sera got the first place. The princess Idalia smirked for seeing her rival got the first place. Well, I guess. Good for her. She thought to herself. Seeing the result some of the men got their pride hurt and that includes Leed, from Regnus Aqua, for he cannot accept that a girl put him on the second place.

Joash looked at Sera beside her and clapped a little that only she can hear. He leaned a little towards Sera and whispered into her ear the word, Congrats. Joash took the third place. He’s happy for his self but he is happier for Sera.

They are now exiting the dining hall. Some men congratulated Sera. She replied thank you for every congratulations or either a nod. Some are checking her out since her dress exposed her curvy figure. Joash followed behind her. He unbuttoned his top and put it on Sera’s back. She walked slowly to be on walking sync with Joash. She whispered. “Thank you. I’ve been controlling my temper since earlier. I want to dig their eyes out.” Sera said with gritted teeth. Joash patted her shoulder. “ I got your back. That’s why you need me here.” He said in a boastful tone. Sera just rolled her eyes. She’s thankful though. 

When they got to arrive at the staircase. A group of five men blocked their way. They are all wearing blue tunics. They came from Aqua. Sera looked up since the men are taller than her by 2 inches. They are all 5 feet and 9 inches, Joash too. Since she’s wearing an inch gladiator sandal so basically, she’s 5 feet and 5 inches tall. “Why are you blocking our way?” Sera asked kindly. She doesn’t want to be in trouble on her second day of the competition.

“Follow me.” Leed, which is a stranger to Sera, said. Leed looks at Joash.” And alone.”

Sera chuckled. Looked at the five men and agreed to follow them. “Don’t follow me, Joash. I can handle them alone.”   Joash was about to protest but they left before he can even speak.

They brought Sera in a distant garden. Isolating her from her companion and from other competitors.

The area is very quiet. It is surrounded with different colors of flowers. A fountain is also situated on the center of the garden with butterflies flying around.” Why brought me here?” she asked the men in front of her. Joash’s top still on her back. They faced Sera. The man that seems to be their leader, Leed, stepped forward. Sera chuckled. “Five against one, how manly.”

Leed seems to be pissed off. He walks towards Sera leaving only two inches of space. “Not because you ranked first you’ll now have the guts to boast. Remember this, we are only just starting. You might cry when the time comes.”

Sera grimaced and raised her eyebrows.” Mr. Aqua or whoever you are. We are here to compete. We all have the same goal here. I joined the competition to be a part of the throne. Please don’t assume that I didn’t came here prepared.  You’d expect me to cry? I guess that won’t happen so please don’t look forward to it. And you have the point, we are just starting but why are you already intimidated? And by the looks of it. “

Sera looked at them one by one, laughed. “I am not the crying baby.”

 All of the men laughed. Laughing at Sera’s brave statement. Leed nodded and grabbed Sera’s wrist. He leans forward leaving only an inch between her and him. “Let us see to it.”

Sera smirked. She allows her energy to flow to her wrist where Leed’s grabbing it. She let the heat around her wrist intensify; enough for Leed to let go of her.  “Let us see.” She replied.  He did let go of her wrist and stepped back for a couple of steps but he didn’t let his companion notice it. He didn’t expect it.

Sera fixed Joash’s top. “Is that it? See you then.” She turned her back against them.  Crybabies. She thought to herself.