It is weird being frozen, you feel everything being the exact same from when you get frozen, the ground, the air, everything just has a sameness kind of like a bed when you are trying to fall asleep. So while I won't admit to it one way or another, I may have fallen asleep.
"Hey Selene…. Seleeeeeeeene…. If you don't wake up im gonna have to lick your face and make it all slobbery."
Jax said as he and Beatrice stared at me through a small crack in whatever I was in. I groaned and shifted my arms, feeling walls around me as I looked towards the crack where a dim, but still piercing light was coming in.
"J-Jax, what exactly am I in right now?"
"From the looks of it, a stone coffin, we moved the lid slightly, but its not something we can really lift without fingers."
I nodded as I pressed upwards, the once dark space now being filled with light as I easily tossed the stone lid to the side and stretched. After lifting myself from the coffin and walking with Jax and Beatrice towards a large door that lead into a graveyard, they explained the game, what the goals were and more. As we walked, a notification telling us that only 5 puzzles were left appeared, marking the ending point was coming soon.
Wow, can you believe we almost slept through the entire game? Talk about embarrassing.
A part of me thought, another part of me kept complaining that it was comfortable and who wouldn't fall asleep in a setup like that. As we made our way through the house we saw Aiden and Liora and Thalia who seemed to be talking as we walked over.
"We would have been here faster is someone didn't run face first into the door after forgetting she was in a puzzle room."
Thalia said while crossing her arms as beside her I noticed that Liora seemed to be holding a handkerchief to her nose, a bit of red marking she had a nose bleed.
"Well I was a tad but distracted by learning of what Ymer had been planning to think about that at the time. Ow, I hope it's not broken."
"Hey guys, how have things been going for yall?"
Jax called out as we went jogging over. Liora turned with a look of somewhat relief like she had been worried the round would end without everyone meeting up as she said.
"Ok, a lot has happened, but the biggest thing is that we learned about a drug that Ymer's group is planning to use on Selene. We don't know exactly what it does, but from what was left of the files it's bad, like either so scared they can't stop screaming or straight up kill friends bad."
As everyone turned to me I pointed a finger at myself and in a surprised gasp asked.
"M-Me, but why?"
Liora seemed to look awkward for a moment before she said.
"Uh, well Ymer is having the tiger beastkin do it, soooo."
My thoughts flashed back to the party, the stuffed animal, and everything that happened as I shook my head and asked.
"So because I rejected him, he is planning to drug me into killing you all or running away?"
"Thats kind of a grave simplification it seems, but generally."
Beatrice said, sitting down with Jax as we all found seats. As we did there was a moment of silence as everyone seemed to be locked in thought before Aiden turned and said.
"In a turn of good news, we have a sample of the drug in question, so I think I can make an antidote if needed. However I think I should stick with Selene after this match during the downtime before our next round, for all we know, the drug also incapacitates, so I think it would be better to have someone there who can apply the antidote."
I felt a warmth in my chest as once again, my mind was at war.
Its just logical, for all we know this drug will leave its target twitching on the ground, it makes sense.
Oh my GODS, is he asking to be alone with me, I know he probably doesn't mean anything by it, but we have gone shopping together, and he is still using and taking care of that spear, not to mention all of those little moments, is this feelings, what is this!!!
I kept my expression curiously neutral despite the clash internally as everyone continued to discuss strategies. As a group we had agreed that while the games were something we could aim to win, that was a secondary goal, right now we had to focus on Ymer and his group. They would be free of their "players" influence after the tournament, so we just had to hold on until then.
We ended up sitting and waiting for the round to end, the other teams running past us as they continued to fight for points while we strategized. As the round ended we got last, by a bit over 10 points, but we were only partially paying attention.
"Welcome back challengers, after a heated fight of intellect and strategy we have our leaderboard set. Stay tuned for the next few rounds to see the other teams in action. Your next event will be in 3 days, good luck."
The announcer blared as we were lowered from our columns. As we walked the others were in deep conversation as I was lost in my own thoughts. I was somewhat drawn away from them as Aiden put a hand on my shoulder.
"After we get back and take a chance to wash off, lets head to a shop to gather materials to work on this antidote."
I nodded, that heat in my chest pulsing again.
Makes sense, the sooner we start, the more we can perfect the antidote we make
This is totally a date, what do I wear, I have my dress from the ball, but that seems way to formal, do I wear makeup, wait no we don't know how to use makeup, can Liora teach us in 10 minutes, doubtfully.
My head was once again locked in a civil war over the implied intentions as I nodded. Making our way towards our hotel felt like a blur. It was only when Liora waved a hand in front of my face and said.
"Selene, Selene you in there?"
That I snapped out and back to the moment at hand. Looking around Beatrice, Thalia, and Liora were looking at me with a worried expression.
"Hey Selene, we get your worried about the Seed of betrayal and all, but Aiden should figure something out, he's good at those kinds of things."
Beatrice said, giving me a nervous smile as if she wasn't sure if that would be reassuring.
"A-Ah, no it's not that, I'm just trying to figure out what the next event may be."
Thalia seemed to give me a look that seemed to last a bit too long before we got a knock at the door.
"Is Aiden or Selene in there, the Hallowcreek children are downstairs with their parents to deliver your reward for the quest."
"O-Oh, Ill be right down."
I called turning from where I had been planning to head to the bathroom and went out the door. I took a moment to make sure I wasn't covered in cobwebs, or had any dust from the coffin still on me as I descended the stairs and saw Canna and Abel both sitting with a man and woman. The man in many ways looked like an older Aiden, with a similar set of glasses. He was wearing a nice deep green suit and was a bit wiry but had an air of intelligence around him. Sitting across from him in a frilly light blue dress was a woman with long blonde hair, and green eyes that I recognized from Aiden, probably where he got them from. She was sitting with a small fan as the four of them seemed to be talking.
I made my way down the stairs where Canna and Abel recognized me and stood up to walk over.
"Selene, this is my dad Damian, and my mom Particia, mom, dad, this is Selene, she's part of the adventuring group that brought us here."
The two stood as they made their way over. I noticed their eyes lingered on my arm for a moment before Damian held a hand out.
"It is wonderful to meet you, Canna and Abel can't seem to stop talking about your group, little Canna practically checked out every book in the local library about learning magic after the demonstrations that girl Liora gave."
He spoke with a chuckle as I shook his hand, behind him Canna seemed mortified to have this be known as she kicked her fathers shin in annoyance. Particia walked over and I shook her hand as she asked.
"My dear, what ever happened to your arm, if you would like we can see to it that a doctor takes a look at it."
It was in her tone that I heard a familiar lilt of genuine desire to help that was in Aiden, it made me chuckle as I said.
"Aiden is has the recipe for a cure, we are just trying to gather the tools needed to make it."
Damian seemed to smile in a jovial way as he laughed a heart laugh and said.
"In that case, once he comes down, let's discuss the recipe after we talk about your reward, a tip is understandable considering your service to us, so I think we can at least help you get a couple of the tools you need."
From upstairs I heard the sound of running feet as Aiden seemed to practically slide to a stop just before the railing as he stared down into the mostly empty room of tables. His face had a look that could only be described as a mix between anger, sadness, and a guttural hope as his eyes locked onto his parents.