The tournament

1400: Harper

Five minutes turn thirty.

We stayed laid waiting in hiding to attack; at least that's what Cuthbert says. Some will call it cowardliness while some will see it as a strategy. For me, I see it as a waste of time.

From here, I can descry Harper seating on some dried medium-size tree branch with her hands tied to the tree. The cloth that was earlier covering her vision has been taken off and she looks scared to the max.

If I am of any use like the sorcerers, if I am strong to fight as Cuthbert, I wouldn't be spending time in a secretive angle watching three jerks eat from their backpacks and chuckle at Harper's slightest movement.

"We need to make a move now, it's been a while," I suggest after what seems like forever.

"A little more."

"We can't lie in wait forever. We are running out of air."

"Remember you ask for this, now you have to be patient."

I swallow and exhale before asking: "How much patience do you need?"

"They are eating, for now, they will demand rest. When they are done and then we will move in," Cuthbert answered.

I watched him through the glass between us before agreeing to his scheme with a soft nod.

I comfortably stretch my body flat on the dirty surface of the old forest.

"Do you believe the myths about the evil of the forest?" I whispered after other wasted minutes.

Cuthbert's eyes divert to me momentarily before they go back to inspecting the happy participants ahead of us.

"Magic has lived for thousands of years," Cuthbert replied equally in a low tone, his attention’s more focus on the participants ahead of us.

"But do you believe in it?" I insisted.

"You saw what Harper can do, you witness Rees summons the sea. Not to mention the vision you had in the forest."

"You still haven't answered me, do you believe in it?" Now I am growing impatient, I almost raise my voice.

"The very first tournament no participant made it, there wasn't a conqueror."

"No, chairman Stewart was the winner, he chooses to return to the bunker for his people instead of taking the luxury of the ultimate planet."

"Do you think walking back to Arhiefield is an option for the participants?"

"But chairman Stewart..."

Cuthbert is quick to interrupt me and begin: "He was never among the players, I know the court let the residents believe that but it's no truth. However I know the evil begun from there for since then sorcery became stronger in Archiefield, the bunker needed it for protection, the participants too."

"What does archiefield needed protection from?"

"Maybe there's something out here the court believes we needed saving from, or maybe the court needed magic for strength, I have no idea. Years ago earth used to be a place with wondrous experience, it used to be advancing in different fields, full of people with vibrant colors. It's the little I learned about while studying geography. Magic not so much, but it has always been around even when the civilization of the society was taking place, it's real, it's been here for years, it doesn't change or fade, its one of the field civilization couldn't affect, it wasn't modified because it travels through genes and lives on. It was performed on me, so I believe in it."

"Performed on you?" I retorted, confused.

"That's a story for another time, for now, let's go grab Harper." He motioned forward with his head.

My eyes blink once before I tilt my head to find the three boys reposing and sleeping on the ground.

"Let's go." He says when he stood up and brings out a small golden blade, holding it out for me. "Use it to loose Harper." He explains when he reads the sudden change of my complexion.

Yes, I thought he wanted me to kill someone and so I turned red due to the lack of breathing.

I nod when he made himself clear and collects the object from his hand, shoving my stone in my hazmat suit pocket.

"Release her hands first, so she can make use of them or else we all die."

"Okay."

I walk behind Cuthbert, he has his sharp shiny sword pointed out, while we take attentive footsteps forward, careful not to step on dry rustling leaves.

When we approach closer, Harpers lifted her head and her eyes were welcomed by us, at first she seems surprised, her mouth falls open before a smile takes over her lips.

She motioned with her head for us to take the other path that seems to have fewer dry leaves.

"I will watch, do it fast." He mumbled.

I nod and scooted over to where Harper is tied up and begin knifing the thick robe used around her wrist against the broken branch of the tree she's seated on.

"Daphne." She excitedly called me.

"Shush." I smile.

"You came back for me." Her voice was soft and emotional.

I briefly glance to Cuthbert, he is cautiously stepping around the sleeping boys, making sure of our safety while I untied Harper.

"Of course," I answered with a hearted smile.

Flustered, she mumbles: "But why?"

"I wouldn't let you in the hands of the enemies." I simply admitted and concentrate back on freeing her.

I am halfway slashing the robe when Cuthbert steps on probably a stick and it makes a crunching sound of breaking just very close to one of the boys.

Harper, Cuthbert, and I freeze in place and hopefully stare at the particular person close to Cuthbert, my heart was racing too fast I can hear it in my ear.

It happens it's not our lucky day and so that person stirs and their eyes flew open, they suddenly connected to Cuthbert standing above them.

They call upon themselves death.

I am quick to look away when Cuthbert's sword charges for that soul's chest, but instead my eyes fall on the other person who is witnessing Cuthbert kill their companion.

Oh s**t!