The Threat of the Zodiac

Chapter 4

"The contestants arrived."
  This butler had something for exaggerated bows. Maeve thanked him with a light bow, but Regan was to busy arranging her hair to start walking.
  "Your Highness we don't need to keep our guests waiting for to long. Why don't we move?"
   "Because my hair looks ridiculous. I need to make a good impression. They need to respect me!"
    "They will respect you so mo much more if they see you looking like you trained intensely rather than arranging your hair like a misfit. "
     "How dare you!"
      Maeve already started moving and Regan didn't want to remain behind so she followed. In the halls of the castle,whispers were heard from the maids, but Maeve didn't catch anything important because their voices were so annoying and the talking was to quicly,so she resumed her position near her princess.
     In the throne room there were four strangers. One of them was joking with the king,the other was charming the queen,one of them had a polite discussion with Savya, but her body language indicated that she was shy, and the las one was in a corner scanning the room.When Regan showed up everybody stopped. The king said:
       "Ah, welcome daughter. I assume your training went well?"
"Yes, father. I had a little bit of help" said Regan winking discreet at Maeve.
        "Oh well. Now i should introduce our guests, the contestants that will fight for your throne! This funny jokester and full of spirit warrior is Aarush, the contestant who represents the fire district, a true Aries!"
         "Nice to meet ya!I can't wait to show you a true gifted!" said Aarush, a brownish skinned boy, with red spiked hair, full of confidence.
         "And the charming and mischievous fellow is Anvindr is the contestant of the air district, a proud Gemini!" said the queen showing us another teenager, a boy with long blonde hair and white washed face.He was so white you could say it's sick, but at the same time he was very good looking.
        " Well which one of you is the princess? You both look so dashing!"
"She is! "said Maeve quickly to escape from a conversation with this guy.
        Before the king had the chance to present the  other contestant, Savya took the liberty to present the third contestant:
        "She is Coral, the warrior from the Water District!" she whispered in her sister's ear:"She is even shyer than me!". Regan chuckled in surprise and amusement.Coral was truly breath-taking and Maeve couldn't understand why was she so shy. She barely could say hello without looking like she will trow up. Her hair was black and kinky, full of potential personality. "Coral is a Pisces warrior."She shyly waved a hand at us staring immediately at her toes.The only contestant who wasn't introduced looked directly at the king unbothered.
" And well, the last contestant, from the earth district, Acantha! She is a Capricorn warrior!Very... mature!" said the king awkwardly.
  Maeve looked at the girl almost apologetically smiling at her like "Endure it for just a little bit". Acantha didn't smile back but her eyes seemed a little less cold.Her brown hair was in a beautiful made ponytail her skin was tan from so much work in the fields.
   Immediately after the introductions were done with, the king escorted us to the dining room.The scent of roasted animals was filling the room. They were so many that you almost couldn't guess what meat we would have this evening. Maeve already felt that something wasn't right.She knew that today the king will show his power somehow.She at least hoped that he will not poison anyone at this dinner:it will make an absolute waste of good food and most probably win the hate of his entire empire. But that is another thing entirely. The king was seated in a beautiful ornamented throne with symbols of the God Leo and that  carnelian on the top of every throne in this dammed castle.The queen seated herself in the other end of the table and, Regan next to the king, and Maeve as her protector next to her, and Savya next to her mother. The others followed happily ready for a feast.Regan was more serious and elegant with a non friendly aura,that made the rest of them being more restrained.
"Why don't we all share a little bit of our origins, hm? That will be fun and we shall become closer!" said the queen with a happy tone.
     Maeve thought:"Most of them will be dead soon anyways. What is the point?"
"I would like to start."said Anvindr proud of himself." Some of you may know that i am a son of a mercenary. I know, scandalous am i right?Well we traveled a lot and i have seen lots of places.In one of the feuds of two powerful lords, one of the air and the other of the earth my father was hired by the earth lord.What a pain was to work with those earthly beings.They were so calculating that they didn't even take actions when was needed. And well in that war i discovered two very important things about myself:being a Gemini made my power to be none other but having an another self.I was fighting along with myself. What a strange sight. I still remeber how in sink we were, what i did he did it better somehow, but at the same time.He knew what i needed and he offered it at the exact time i needed.But somehow i was still captured. Just my luck was that the one who imprisoned me was a non gifted. And you know how are they:weakly minded! "at that everybody laughed, just Maeve and Savya stayed cautious." That was when i found out that my emotional power is to make others hanging on every word i am saying.I started telling him some stories i've heard on all my traveling and when he was the most distracted i stole the key and knocked him unconscious. It was the best feeling until my father died on the battle."At this everybody had a sad expression on their faces, feeling the vulnerability of this boy who lost his father.But that's normal for this bunch, isn't it? Not really." It was a dark day for me because all i knew were my father and the wars, and travels in the world. I had to stop when i found out about the tournament. I fought the best candidates for this chance of winning this role. I was curious to know of what i can change if i have the chance. "finished Anvindr seating himself in the comfortable chair.Just after he finished the subject everyone came back to normal, the story of the air district still lingering in their mind.
Maeve didn't have an opinion whatsoever, because even if she could feel the story repeating over and over in her mind she still couldn't feel the emotions she should have. Maeve thought:"What an idiot. If you use your power at least use it with maximum effect."
       "Could you show us your powers?" asked the queen.
   "I already did your highnesses.All of you were enchanted by my superior storytelling. But i can use another secret power of mine:juggling! I can play with these plates all day! Wanna see?"
"It sounds really stupid, but at the same time i am really curious. Show us!"
Anvindr exhaled deeply and took a relaxing stance. With a flick between his finges an easy breeze threw the plates into the air, and the boy jumped onto the table and connected the plates by the same breeze line, every plate arranged by the side of each other  sliping onto his shoulders.He trew one by one and started juggling them with no trouble.Almost everyone relaxed and laughed at this surprise.Regan smiled politely, but her annoyed glare could have been easily spotted if someone took time to analyze her. She wanted him to stop. Her dad was laughing like crazy and her mother was happy too. Her sister found it iresponsible after the judgy look she was throwing.
Then Maeve, almost instinctively crushed her fist and a sharp boulder raised from the floor kicking the table and the Gemini contestant lost his concentration and fell on his face, all the plates falling with him.The plates didn't broke because they were made with strong metals and gold.Regan chuckled full of amusement and Savya did the same but more softly. Everyone eventually joined in, and to steal the show completely, he rised and took a deep bow.
What a showoff!

*Author here. The next three backstories will be a bit shorter, but i will compensate with additional storylines for them. From now on the battle will begin and maybe we will find more about the rebellion that is taking place. *