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Chapter 33: Ethearia Crown Match

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Ethearia Crown Match

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I STARE down at my boots as I feel my heart thump faster and louder. Hindi ko alam kung bakit mas lalong dumoble ang kaba ko after hearing the instructions of the game master. The instinct that something terrible is afoot, isn't sitting well with me.

All of my anxiety kept kicking in at once.

Habang pilit kong ikinakalma ang aking pulso, the crowd continued to cheer louder — drowning out all that's left from my own senses.

"ETHEARIANS, LET US NOW GIVE GAME MASTER FUMIHIRO HORNBELL A LARGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE!" The kingdom crier suddenly spoke out loud in his familiar booming voice that snapped me out of my reverie and made me lift my head once more. "Thank you, Game Master Hornbell!!"

Bilang pagpugay ay yumuko naman ang game master bago unti-unting lumingon sa kaniyang likuran, as if he was giving a cue or signal. Agad kong sinundan ang kaniyang tingin at saka napansin ang isang babae na nasa likuran ng kingdom crier.

This young lady was quick to turn away from the game master's gaze before hesitantly stepping forward.

Parang nagdududa siya sa kaniyang dapat gawin and with a deep, shaky breath, stepped closer towards Queen Winthrop.

She was wearing the same attire of the Solis Maidens, but as soon as she slightly opened her mouth and let out a few unintelligible words, saka ko na-realize na hindi siya isang Solis Maiden. She was a Thalia Mage.

When the young lady had finished her enchantment, biglang umitim ang mga mata nito at saka nawala na parang abo ang tatlong korona na kanina lang ay nasa ulunan ng dalawang hari at nag-iisang reyna.

I felt my stomach churn as everyone gasped.

"Now, no need to get frightened." The game master said, noting the reaction of the crowd. "Thalia Maiden Adelia here has only rightfully transported each Ethearia Crown to its respective bases inside the match." He said, curving up a mischievous smile before nodding back towards the kingdom crier who seemed to now show both skepticism and worry for the crowns.

With a solemn clearing of his throat, the kingdom crier then once again put on his great facade of a mask, wearing his ever-so familiar smile that he had been using for the past ten years of his life as a forced kingdom crier for the region of Castell.

It was the kind of faux smile that one would wear in order to obscure his terror from oppressive tyranny.

Ako mismo ay pamilyar sa ngiting ganito. It was a familiar look amongst everyone back in Drift Town, where everyone had to conceal fear in order to not add more to the town's recession and misery.

I felt my stomach tie even more into a series of complex knots at the memory.

Ngayong suot-suot na niya muli ang kaniyang maskara ay malakas na nagsalita ulit ito. "With that, I think it's right that we start the match now, shall we?" He grinned before stretching both arms widely, dahilan para mas lalong lumakas pa ang hiyaw ng mga tao.

The entire population of Ethearia was hyped.

At that cue, the group of drummers that surrounded the courtyard started beating hard against their large, round bass drums using the thickest sticks. Para bang isinasabay nila ang pag-kumpas ng tambol sa mabilis na pagtibok ng aking puso.

Royal horns had then also begun blasting loudly as trumpeteers and trombone players started playing the official Ethearia Anthem. Simultaneously, both the drums and horns did absolutely nothing to better the sick feeling in my gut.