Wherever it takes us.

Something's different...

I remember confessing to Aunt Lucy when I was five or thereabout one of my biggest fears was public speaking.

After witnessing one of my dad's many speeches, I had grown a perpetual fear of attempting something similar and becoming a laughing stock; the son of a king confessing to stage freight was quite ironic, but all it took for her to hush me up was only a line.

'What people deem as a failure is simply an unexplained mistake, my liege,'

'I don't think I've got an explanation, Aunt Lucy, but I'll find one. I promise.' I thought as I stared at the confused faces of the crowd.

'Why were they confused? Oh, right, my laughing caught them off guard; hold on; what made me start laughing in the first place?' I momentarily pondered as Mathew glared daggers into the back of my head. I could feel his stares threatening to pierce through my scalp.

"You mind sharing your joke, prince?" He spat, more of commanded, his nails trying their hardest to bore holes through my not-so-thick skin.

"Go on, everyone's curious, I assure you." He spat like prior, yet I felt no fear compared to previous encounters; it seemed tame and timid. Another thing I noticed was his hot, obnoxious breath behind his words. I mean, Good Lord. I hadn't smelt anything like that since--

"Are you playing deaf?" He pressed on, a noticeable vien forming on the side of his head, with him leaning ever so closely, trying his best to invoke an answer, with his best imitation of intimidation, I guess.

Out of nowhere, I buckled down with laughter: my giggles and light chuckles seemed to upset him once more. 'All of this is hilarious, pathetic in all honesty.'

"Yeah, I believe I've had enough." A sigh flew under my breath, 'Why do all good things have to come to an end.' I thought, snapping my right hand from his pathetic grip; 'Oh well.' Poor Mathew stood in shock, some could he say speechless.

Poor guy.

I glanced around to observe my surroundings: June stood next to the witch, her face holding a similar look to some of those in the crowd, while the latter had worn a proud smirk on her face. The man from earlier with his companions stood quietly as well, their body language conveying their emotions quite well with their mouths forming their 'O' shapes and whatnot.

'Why am I so calm? None of this makes any sense,' I froze for a second before realizing my head's been quiet... too quiet.

'Oii CX, you there?' I asked, simultaneously turning my body towards the crowd once more. There was a pause, unsettling silence before, 'Where else would I be?' He responded. I could almost taste the sarcasm.

'What's happening to me?' I asked him as I kept my eyes on the silent crowd.

'Does that honestly matter, my liege?' He responded, joy evident in his voice, 'Look at those eager faces, Jason; we might as well attend to them. We'll discuss it later.'

'Every action begins with a breath.' I recounted my uncle's advice as I took a stance, focusing solely on the crowd.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, BOYS AND GIRLS, CHILDREN OF ALL AGES!!!! WELCOME TO THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY!?!?" I roared out, an uncontrollable smirk forming quietly at the edge of my lips. Most spectators sat in their seats rooted while a few edged just a bit closer, 'Perfect.'

"APOLOGIES FOR THE DELAY. SEEMS OUR SPEAKER IS UNDERGOING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN." A snort came from the crowd before being hushed out of existence, but my plan was working, without a doubt. A glance to check my surroundings gave me much to admire. In a part of the auditorium, high up sat a group of people. I could barely make out an amount or facial structure due to how high up they were and block themselves from the glare of the sun and others with those obnoxious umbrellas.

'Higher ups maybe; I might as well put on my show and upset theirs...' The thought sprung in my head for half a second, making my smirk a bit wider, 'But, now that I think about it, would I be causing them a decrease or an increase in their entertainment value?'

"Ahem!!" I heard the sound from my right as there stood Mathew.

If looks could kill, they say.

"Now!!!" He roared to the crowd, spinning his heels to face the spectators, his arms spread out on both sides; "Let the games begin."

The roars had never been louder from the crowd till that moment.

"What in the Lord's name is wrong with you!!!" June's words bounced around my skull as she complained about my actions. According to Mathew's instructions, both groups were to split up and discuss with their guidance, as the games would be one versus duel in the open auditorium, and I was receiving my 'pep talk' apparently. "You don't seem to care about previous antics for some reason?" I popped the question to the witch who stood next to us, examining me like her specimen; I might as well be at this point.

"Nothing," She replied, her hand on her thin jawline before chuckling softly, "I'm just proud, kid, that's all. Takes a lot of guts."

June tilted her head in confusion while a soft smile graced my face once more; "I didn't do all that to hear your praise. I just got fed up."

"Regardless, you're lucky we were just let off with a warning," June replied, her frown reappearing as her sapphire orbs glared at me in frustration. "So," June started her frame, leaning closer to the group, "What's the plan?"

"To win, by any means necessary," The witch replied as she sighed. "The only way everyone can turn a blind eye to all this is through victory." She stated as she stepped back before sharing a glance with each of us. "You both are gifted, thus the reason you're under my care, so go on and feel free; cause havoc for your foes."

With that, she left towards the stand with her back towards us as she took strides to her seat.

"I don't know whether to feel proud or disgusted with that woman," I told June, with a chuckle following suit. "That about summarizes her character as a whole." She replied before sharing a glance with me, her blue eyes revealing our feelings.

"You know, we could die today." She started as the crowd roared once more with the departure of the opposite group guidance towards the stands. I paused to think of what I could tell her to ease her worries, even in the slightest.

"Dying isn't an option," I replied, hoping none of my nerves etched into that line with the somewhat reassurance on her face. I'm guessing that did the trick.

"Now, let's get right into the action!!!!" Mathew yelled, beckoning both groups to come towards the center. June and I walked in synch while I  silently prayed; this was all but a bad dream.

"Today's match would be simple as each person from a group shall face their counterpart in a one versus battle, but that's not all folks." His tone caused my stomach to shift slightly. I mean, what else could he possibly do to add this daunting task? Nothing could make this circumstance worse-

"THE MATCHES SHALL BE HELD SIMULTANEOUSLY!!!!!!!"

'Of course, he says that,' I thought as the crowd roared its approval.