Immortality?!
Gwyn nearly fell over.
"I'd say that puts a damper on all of our plans, wouldn't you, Darling?" The Queen of the Moon looked at Gwyn.
The council nodded in agreement.
Gwyn wanted to vomit.
"A terrifying adversary indeed," Archimedes finished. "Which is why she needs proper training and learning. Eyes will be on her around the clock, so there are no signs of traitor's blood within her."
Elise's heart ached for Gwyn. She could only imagine the terror she felt. Being observed by so many nobles and powerful beings, being accused and berated.
"Let's have her cast here," Jonesy, the twenty-first Chosen One, shouted. "See what she's capable of."
The crowd above muttered in agreement, a simple proposition to prove Gwyn's current ability.
"I don't know how to cast..."
Gwyn said quietly to herself.
Archimedes slammed a staff on the ground.
"Speak up, insolent child!"
"I don't know how to cast!"
Gwyn shouted, her voice quivering. She tried to hide her shaking body, so she clenched her fists by her side and breathed deeply.
"The twenty-fourth could cast on his second day," Archimedes had a twisted smile on his face. "Someone give her a catalyst."
"Here. She can have mine."
Jonesy stood beside Gwyn, arm around her shoulder and gingerly dangling brass knuckles in front of her face.
Mr. Keeper reached for his wand, but he was more powerless than Gwyn, and he was just as afraid.
Some of the crowd chucked.
With a shaky hand, Gwyn took the catalyst and slipped it on her fingers. It was far too large for her hand, leaving a noticeable gap in all the finger holes. The catalyst's material made her hands tingle.
"Go on, you can even cast it at me. Show me what that body can do." Jonesy, the rocky blue man, slapped his chest. "Hit me here. I know you're capable, hot stuff."
Gwyn would gag if she were capable of anything other than terror right now. She ran over everything everyone had told her so far. But her mind was a blank canvas. Fogged and distant from her.
"Lift the anti-casting barrier for the arena for Gwynevere Grim and the other Chosen Ones," the King commanded.
A moment later, a noticeable weight lifted from the arena. Some of the Chosen Ones cast lesser magic to see if they were still capable.
Gwyn pointed a shaky hand at Jonesy; she tried to recall what her teacher had specifically discussed. Flashes of plumbing and construction, kids being rambunctious and… fuck… a fucking wabbajack. She could picture the classroom, her sitting next to the blonde boy. But her mind was mush. The fear of failing in front of so many people nearly froze her in place. She tried to think of a single spell to cast.
It has to do with understanding, but understanding what? What am I supposed to know?
The crowd waited in eager anticipation, staring at the idle woman who seemed to be at war within herself.
She suddenly extended her hand.
"F-fireball!"
Nothing. Not even a slight change in sensation throughout Gwyn's entire body.
The auditorium was in deafening silence. A few people chuckled. A single person coughed.
"Holy shit!" Jonesy laughed. "She really has no fuckin' idea how to cast magic. Fuckin' children can cast spells!" Jonesy reeled over in laughter. All around the arena, attendees began to join him, and it was like a nightmare come to life. "Hey Archimedes, let's send this one back. I think it's broken."
Gwyn's face was already red, but it went a full shade deeper. She wanted to run. She looked around for support, but everyone was either laughing or looking away in solidarity.
"Shut up, you blue piece of shit!"
Like thunder on a cloudless day, Elise's voice quieted the laughter. Her siblings looked at her in total surprise, unaware that Elise was capable of standing up for anything.
"Huh?" Jonesy turned to face her and approached the arena's edge, wearing a scowl. "Who the fuck do you think you're talking to?" He ripped off his shirt, revealing his literal chiseled abs and stone-like body. "I'm a Chosen One. I'll fuckin' kick your ass, you—"
"Silence!" The King shouted. He cast a spell on the blue man. A chain bound his mouth and body. "Do not talk to my daughter like that!"
The Queen of the Moon stood from her throne, and the jewelry that adorned her body glowed. "Leave my champion out of this!"
The Head Whisperer hid the hamster he snuck in his robes.
"It's okay, little fella, just familial issues."
Nearly everyone unsheathed and readied their catalysts. It was suddenly very tense. A few moments later, the air grew heavy once more. Archimedes reestablished the anti-casting barriers once more.
"Everyone, we are not here to fight ourselves!" Archimedes shouted. "There is a villain on our borders, threatening to bring down the Wall and have the Red Death consume us all!"
The Chosen Ones started to put their catalysts away, Di 'Vinci being the last to sheathe his weapon. Jonesy snatched his catalyst from Gwyn's grip with little effort and returned to his place in the lineup.
"Now. We have to remain united in these troubling times," The King said. "We were attacked within the Capital, not the first instance of such an event, but the first time he has targeted a Chosen One."
"Is his power expanding beyond what we thought was capable? How is the protective barrier holding up for the major cities?" Panne asked.
"I don't know about the barriers, but as long as I'm in charge, he'll never break the front lines," General Strangulation said proudly.
"His power has been expanding since the day he arrived on Keceo," Talos Kosmairian said. "The twenty-fourth will surpass all here given enough time."
"Do we need to strengthen the anti-magic field in the city regarding the King of Terror?" The King asked.
"Possibly," Archimedes said. "We need to make sure this heathen does not overrun House DeMeteor. I say we send forces from House Kosmarian to support the DeMeteor farmland on the Western Front and your followers, Lady of the Moon."
"Of course, more of my people to protect yours," General Strangulation growled to the DeMeteor ruler.
The DeMeteor ruler kept quiet, knowing they needed all the support they could get.
"I will see what I can do," the Lady of the Moon swung her tail playfully.
Talos Kosmairian sighed.
"The Kosmarians will assist, but after we defeat the King of Terror, our lands shall be expanded to every corner of Keceo."
"Your wish shall be granted, Talos," Archimedes said.
Elise stared at the events before her. By the looks of it, Archimedes ruled the Capital, not her father. She recalled Archimedes being the most recent member of the Great Eight, yet he seemed to have the most power within the council. She looked to her left, and her siblings still looked at her as though she had grown a third head.
"What was that about, E-loser?" Dolan finally asked. "When did you grow a spine?"
Elise stared forward, ready to leap in if anyone tried to put a finger on Gwyn.
"Fuck off, Dolan."
Dolan nervously fidgeted with his fingers and turned to Dementra.
"What happened to her?"
Dementra shrugged in response.
DeMeteor's ruler tried to object to the proposal of the expansion of the Kosmairian territory, but Archimedes held a hand as if to silence her.
"We are in a fragile time. With movements from the North being slow, we fear the King of Terror is planning a massive assault," The King said.
General Strangulation nodded in agreement.
"Why split our resources? Why not do a full-blown assault on the North and kill the twenty-fourth?" Di 'Vinci added.
"Are you deaf or dumb, Di 'Vinci?" The Lady of the Moon said.
"The twenty-fourth is immortal. He cannot be killed," Archimedes stated. "We must discover ways to eliminate him. None of our known magic is capable of his demise."
At the reclarification of his immortality, Gwyn was now positive that five years would not be enough time to kill the King of Terror.
"Yeah, can't we vaporize him into a pile of ash?" Di 'Vinci added.
Gwyn took this opportunity and returned to her position beside the Chosen Ones. The tall man with black wings beside her took a few steps to stand in front of her, making it appear as if she had disappeared to the Great Eight.
"Nothing to our knowledge is capable of killing the King of Terror!" Archimedes shouted, tired of repeating himself. "If this council had listened to me two hundred years ago, we could have avoided this issue entirely."
"Hindsight always favors those who live, Archimedes," Panne DeMeteor said.
Archimedes gave her an annoyed look.
"I am tired of this fruitless discussion."
"As am I," Strangulation stood. "Who's ready to see some combat?!"
The suggestion revitalized the crowd
"Finally," Dolan said. "Getting to the good stuff."
The King leaned over and whispered to Archimedes.
"That one's always so eager for a fight."
"No one is here to listen to us debate," Archimedes replied with a yawn.
"Hell yeah!" Jonesy flexed his rocky body. "You in on this Di 'Vinci?"
The tiger nodded.
"Why do you think I came to this stupid meeting?" He turned to his dear friend. "What about you, Einstein?"
The octopus man looked quizzical for a moment.
"I suppose. I've been working on a new spell for the last century. I feel now is a good time to test it."
Lazlo Waterborne stood from his throne, and his spectacles glowed a bright white. A semi-transparent barrier crawled slowly from where the stands met the arena. One layer, two layers, three. After some time, nearly a hundred layers of barrier magic protected the audience.
"It'll take an army to get through that." Lazlo snickered proudly.
Archimedes rested his head against the back of his throne.
"So proud, young one."
"Yes, how do you think I got here? By being a weakling? My knowledge and understanding of magical protection are only rivaled by you, Archimedes."
"Yes, we will see about that."
Gwyn blinked. She was on the balcony opposite the Great Eight, along with Mr. Keeper and the tenth Chosen One. Only Einstein, Di 'Vinci, and Jonesy remained in the arena.
General Strangulation hyped up the crowd.
"Who is ready to see Keceo's most powerful warriors fight!"
Again, the crowd cheered. Elise looked over to where Gwyn had reappeared and aimed to follow her.
"Where are you going? The show is about to start?" Dolan was still trying to wrap his head around what Elise had done.
The Bloody Princess spoke without looking back.
"Somewhere I can be appreciated."
A silence surrounded the Sylvian siblings for a long time after her absence.
"Man, when did she become such an ass?" Dolan mumbled.
"It's like she's a different person," Dementra said.
The Head Whisperer slowly approached Archimedes. Ren tugged on his robe like a child disturbing their parent.
"C-c-c-can I do the announcement?"
Archimedes rolled his eyes.
"Do what you will."
The Head Whisperer appeared delighted and stood erect.
"We have a spectacular fight for all present here! Whisperer Strangu... Strangulat... Um... What's her name again? No, no, the um... the big one with the red hair. No, I will not lower my voice! General Sudoku and uh... three... three nobodies! No one cares about them! Hey! Let go of me! I'm doing the announceme—"
The Head Whisperer was dragged away by several knights in crystal armor, and Archimedes had his full palm to his face.
"I don't know what I expected, honestly."
Lazlo leaned in to whisper to Archimedes.
"What's wrong with the Head Whisperer?"
"I haven't the faintest idea."
The King stood, making a noble attempt to continue the excitement for the clearly confused crowd.
"Apologies to everyone present. We will now begin the battle. The Whisperer: General Strangulation versus the three strongest Chosen Ones!"