The Regnum: Maxime

Chapter Two

The first thing I noticed in the tent was the silence.

           

The second was the heat. Although it was cold and snowing outside, the inside was warm and slightly pleasant. It was almost comfortable enough to make me want to sleep.

            The inside of the tent was massive. There was a stage that was back dropped with a white cloth. In front of the stage were four rows of thirty chairs. I did some quick math in my head. 120 fifteen year olds would be gathering to compete. Most of the seats were filling up, so I hurried up to the front row and took my seat.

            I sat between two girls. The one on my left was fiddling with her hands. Her skirt was to her mid thighs, her legs bare.  I wanted to ask her why she didn’t wear something warmer, but I stayed silent. Talking would not be an honorable way of losing the competition.

            On the other side of me, there was a girl I recognized. Her name was Jenny Freeman, and she was sitting there with her hand folded in her lap. Her fire red hair was pulled back and tied with a blue bow. She wore all blue; a clear message that she intended to win this.

My blood boiled in my veins.

She turned and looked at me. Our eyes connected, and she sneered and looked away.

I wanted to punch her in the face.

She always thought that she was better than me, better than anyone. Instantly the Competition became less about pleasing my family, it became about my pride. I’d be damned if I got out before she did.

There was a bell. Its randomness caused everyone around me to jump, including Jenny. Well, I thought, maybe she is human.

After the bell sound, a voice boomed throughout the tent. “We will be live in two minutes. If you have yet to check in, please do so.”

I looked around. By now most of the seats were filled. I took a deep breath and leaned back in my chair.

A moment later, a lady appeared on the stage. She set out four chairs, a stand with a microphone, and placed the Regnum flag into its place. She scurried off the stage.

As soon as she walked off, four people walked on. There were two men and two women. One of the men was wearing the blue Regius uniform, only decorated with metals. He seemed to be in his late fifties. The other man wore a deep red uniform, and his age surprised me. He seemed to be the age of those of us competing.

The two ladies I recognized immediately. They were the same age, both forty. One was our Official for the Aqua Square. Her name was Official

Demetria. She had long brown hair that rested at her waist. Her large green eyes were visible even from my off to the side seat. She wore a floor length sea-green dress that swayed with every step she took.

The other lady was the sister to the Head Regius, or our king, of the Regnum. She was a year older than he was, but according to law, the males in the family are closer in line to the throne. Her name was Artemisia. She had jet black hair, and eyes that, according to rumors, changed colors. She wore a white dress that was also floor length, but not as swaying as the Official’s was.

I had seen each of these people before on the Television, except for the boy in the red uniform. They were the judges to the Competition.

They took their seats.

“We are live in ten seconds.” A voice boomed throughout the tent. “Ten. Nine. Eight…”

The Official stood and walked to the stand where the microphone was. She cleared her throat.