ROYAL DARKNESS (MASKED)(18+)

CHAPTER FORTY NINE

"You know the rules," the announcer said, his voice carrying authority, while the blonde guy nodded, a  grin playing on his lips as he crossed his arms. A hesitant expression crossed the  announcer's features due to this little action of the man as his eyes traveled up and down the blonde man's frame before he reluctantly shifted his attention away, signaling that the round was about to start with excitement.

The audience, with their collective breath held, studied every detail of the drama happening before them, their expectations now low due to the failures they had witnessed from the previous candidates.

Leaning in conspiratorially, one of the gossipers behind Jamari couldn't resist but ask, "What's the name of the blonde one?"

A mischievous spark danced in the other gossiper's eyes as they whispered, "Rumor has it, he's known as Aric." Their attention, much like everyone else's in the arena, was now locked, eager to see what this mysterious Aric had in store.

"Aric," Jamari whispered under her breath "that is a rather peculiar name."

"Begin!" the announcer declared, setting the stage for the clash as soldiers in black attire stepped forward to face their opponents in white

Meanwhile, Reagan watched the show with concentration, his boredom growing stronger with each passing second due to the constant failures he has been witnessing so far . His eyes shifted to Jamari, who was sitting across the field, and a sense of unease crept over him. He couldn't allow her to die, especially after the effort he'd put into reuniting with her after so many years.

He knew that what he was doing served a greater purpose, but he couldn't help but think if it is truly worth it. He was currently pushing her to the brink to awaken something within her, yet doubt crept in. Was this truly the right decision? Should she undergo more training before he makes her do something like this? Questions swirled in his mind, and the only answer that seemed to echo was "time." Time was a precious commodity they lacked, and the longer she took to recover her memories, the greater the danger for everyone.

Amidst the confusion, the blonde guy, now known as Aric, remained unmoving with his arms crossed as the soldiers engaged in their fake battle.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd the moment he closed his eyes, still holding his arms over his shoulders. Confusion etched across the faces of the onlookers as Jamari couldn't help but wonder what he was scheming, why he stood still instead of making a move.