Tyler Harisson Chronicles: The Gryphon's Sacred Blood

Chapter 18: Magic Brawl (Part 1)

Note: I included some YouTube video links for added effect. Please don't play unless it says so.

Tyler's mouth went dry as soon as the woman announced that the Magic Brawl has officially started.

A girl wearing thin-framed glasses and an orange shirt entered the room. She was carrying a fishbowl with folded papers inside. She asked for everyone's attention and instructed them to pick one. She said that it would determine who would perform first and who would be the last.

"There's 20 of you guys here. You need to pick one, and that would be your number queue."

Everyone queued and picked papers one by one. Tyler and his friends followed the queue and asked about what kind of trick they'd do. Tyler realised how unprepared he was. He scanned his gaze around wondered how his friends have prepared for the Magic brawl or how many times they've entered. He wanted to look ready, but he couldn't. He remembered the times during the PE classes, where he would always pick the last number to perform.

"Hey! I have an idea." Raf called from behind raising his hand. "Pick and don't open yet! Let's open it all together!"

Hannah stared at him, and Tyler smiled.

"That's a brilliant idea!" Amber agreed.

It was Tyler's turn to pick. His heart throbbed. He didn't know how a fishbowl could make him feel like that, but it did. He inserted his hand and made a small circular motion inside the pool of small, folded parchment papers. He clipped his index and pointing fingers. He withdrew his hand and balled his fist. He pressed his eyes, and his eyebrows met. He prayed not to be number one.

Amber and Hannah were waiting for him and the others. They were smiling at him, and he could feel their excitement. They sat together quietly as they waited for Raf and Bryan.

Tyler examined the other demigods around. He stared at their costumes. Some were wearing fancy clothes, while the others weren't. He looked at his balled fist. His palm was already sweating with the number inside. What if I got number one? That means I'm dead. He thought. 

Raf and Bryan arrived. "I'm really nervous guys," Raf confessed. He eyed accidentally made an eye contact with Tyler, and they understood each other.

"Let's do this!" Bryan announced. "At the count of three, everyone opens their papers."

"Wait. On three or after three?" Amber asked.

"On three," Bryan answered. "Ready? One, two, three!"

Everyone opened their numbers. Hannah and Amber immediately squealed. Bryan frowned immediately after he saw what number he got. Raf turned pale and froze. Pretty much like Tyler's expression was the same. Everyone turned to him and Raf.

Amber stood and took a seat beside him. He put his arm on Tyler's shoulder and laughed as soon as he saw his number.

"Gods, Tyler. You got the number one?!" 

Tyler exhaled through his nose. "I wasn't ready for this. Gods."

Hannah jerked her head towards Raf's. She wanted to know what number he got because his expression was telling her it wasn't right.

"I g-got number f-four." His voice was shaking.

Bryan released a deep sigh and announced he got number 20. "I suppose I'd sit there for more than an hour and wait for my bloody turn. Flippin' heck."

Amber grabbed Tyler's hand and snatched his paper and put a different one in his hand and quickly closed it. Tyler stared at him, confused.

"W-w-what, I-I-I..."