Chapter 261: A Game Of Sticks, Part 2

The fourth pass around the field had everybody's undivided attention tethered to the ring. Suddenly, and very much inexplicably indeed, new advocates, one by one, began to spring up from the crowd giving their three cheers for the Elf with the bobble wobble head.

Horn trumpeted, and the horses neighed. Lance to lance, they crossed, they passed - a clank, a snap - and…

"And that's another five points to the Elf-Knight!" The announcer's voice was starting to crack now, he yells any louder and a second puberty was almost imminent. "Taking the lead just like that with a literal snap! I'm telling you folks, keep an eye on this one right here! She might just take the victory this year!"

Even on my sides, applauds could be heard both left and right, some begrudging, others with keen smiles. The hunter, in particular, had a thin narrow line showing now where his plump smirking lips once were.

"My, my," The witch eyed around. "I suppose a certain everybody owes a certain Elf an apology for misjudging. Who wants to go first?"

The wizard was first to confess, admitting his wrongs with a pleased smile. "Very well, I stand corrected.

"As do I, I suppose," shrugged the Vampire. "Still think Leon's got this though… but I'm not so sure anymore though..."

"Well, my eyes are forever on the Elf-lady now," replied the witch, edging closer to the edge of her seat, while also leaning forward as far as she could. "About time someone got Leon off of his high horse. Excuse the pun."

Meanwhile, the hunter's straight line below his nose turned crooked. "Ye of little faith guys. Don't forget, there are still four more passes."

When round five came and went, and when Leon's chest guard began to dent, suddenly that four more passes became: "Three more passes, don't you people lose hope yet."

But the crowd were no longer a collective praising only one side of the ring in tandem - they were a divided crowd, a rowdy sea of contention out of sync - by the beginning of the sixth round, half the audience had Ash's back, while the rest still stuck with Leon's valiant efforts.

I just kept cheering and applauding every chance I got, knowing those sharp ears of hers, I knew my voice would undoubtedly find its way to be heard even amidst the millions that sounded. Yeah, she was listening alright…

"Oh Woah, okay, what's this?!" 

The announcer's voice shouted astonished, the rowdy millions watching collectively gasped. I looked up, stared forward just as something fell from Leon's grasp, hitting the dirt with a dull thunk. 

"He… took off his helmet? What the - ?!" 

There wasn't any need for the speakerphone to be pressed so closely against his lips to hear the utter bafflement in his voice loud and clear. 

Helmet gone, Leon's bright blond hair was free to flow like a lion's mane, untamed. To my surprise, he had a wide smile on his face with teeth so pearly white they almost seemed to shine. 

With a surprising move like taking off his helmet, you expect him probably boiling over encased in all that silver, but no… the expression he had couldn't have been further from anger. 

Leon's enjoying himself tons… and I'm guessing he just wanted a proper view of the fun he was having, free from the obstruction by any metal plates. 

I had plenty of things to say about what just happened, and luckily enough I wasn't alone in having them, and even luckier, one of them has got a speakerphone in hand and a podium to stand out among the rest.

"Uh, I don't think - it's this allowed? I'm pretty sure this violates safety regulations taking off the helmet like that, can we still continue on?" 

The tone of the announcer's words spoke of things unprecedented. He sounded lost, he was lost, for all a sudden he was craning his neck everywhere. 

"Ahh, how about we let the judges settle the matter for us, eh? Um, judges - host people, somewhere - Ah! There you are! What do you guys have to say about this? All good?"

Don't know where he was looking, I haven't the faintest clue why he was staring so squarely, so helplessly at me. Does he think I'm a judge here? Hell no, this is the VIP seating, go look for your judges elsewhere! You're bringing a lot of unwanted stares down on me, and I do not appreciate -

"I'll allow it," spoke the Witch at my side, her voice as courteous as ever. "Keep the show going, I want to see where this is going." 

"Yeah, sure, go ahead," The vampire waved his hand, then started twirling his thin curls again. "He wants a stick to the eyes and ruin that handsome face of his, that's on him." 

The Wizard silently nodded, and the hunter shouted fervently in his seat, "He can joust naked for all I care! So long as you win, alright Leon?! You win this, dude! You got this!" 

Leon lifted a hand, a thumbs up raised high in the air. 

"And that's the all clear! You heard it all here from the hosts and hostess' themselves!" proclaimed the announcer over the whoopings and hollerings happening in the stands. "The tournament may continue with or without regulations! Let's all hope the Elf's aim is true, shall we? Wouldn't want to risk an incident, after all!"

Forget that shit! What the hell did I just hear? What the hell clicked and processed in my mind? What conclusion am I arriving at here?

"You guys are the judges?" I said in a hurried whisper, looking left and right, jingling and jangling the bells on my head like a Christmas carol. "The hosts?!"

"And hostess too," added the Witch with a flick of her wrist. "Don't forget me."

"Dude, you seriously didn't know?" The Hunter remarked, his eyebrows probably soaring from underneath the hood. "What did you think we were?"

"VIPs," I simply said. "No?

To that, the vampire stifled a chuckle, pointing his pointed finger to the far left of the stage. "VIPs seats are over there, actually…"

I leaned out of my seat so far and so fast, I nearly fell off… yeah, he wasn't bullshitting, all the way there was a row of seats filled with people carrying badges around their neck that looked an awful lot like mine. 

Shit, and here I thought these folks with me were just stashing away theirs because it detracted from their costumes or something. More and more, it's starting to feel like fate that day I so happen to choose the jester outfit for this occasion. 

Perhaps the universe was trying to tell me something here…

"So, wait, why didn't any of you guys say anything then?" I asked, still very much flabbergasted. "I'm clearly not supposed to be here, aren't I?"

"Says who? I didn't say that…" The Witch formed a slight frown, looking all around. "How about you guys? Did you guys say that?"

The shake of the head everywhere.

"Seat's free anyhow, don't think Amanda's coming anyway," muttered the Wizard, his brow a bit slanted. "Had the center seat too, and she didn't bother showing. What a hostess, right?"

She reached over, prodding him lightly on the head with her staff, "Now, now, you can hardly blame her, right? You should be happy for her! You're the one saying it's about time she found someone." 

"Not at the expense of her duties," He rebutted, furrowing his eyebrows even more. "Boyfriend or no boyfriend, date or no date, it's still really unprofessional to…"

I let 'em argue, I sat and stayed quiet. I think perhaps the vampire has mistaken my silence for confusion for he suddenly nudged at my shoulder, wearing a little mischievous smirk that showed his fangs.

"You probably don't know, but Amanda's seeing someone currently," He said quietly. 

Oh, but I do know, Mr. Vampire Man…. I know about it all too well for my own good, it seems. 

"She ditched the jousting panel to instead go hang out with him," He continued. "They're probably under a tree right now smooching or something… the way she talks about him, he sounds like the type who'd sweep her off her feet like that."

I smiled. "Does he also sound like the type to stand her up inadvertently to instead watch said jousting panel that she's supposed to be judging?"

He blinked. "What?"

"Sorry, that was a strange thing to ask."

All the commotion, all the back and forth between us four - no one even heard the snap of wood until it was over, the clangor of heavy metal falling heavy - no one, save for the hunter, his narrowed lips back into its hearty smile. 

"Yeah! Now that's what I'm talking about! That's my boy, Leon! You show her!" 

To the ring, to the dirt, I let my eyes scour… seeing at first, realization dawning only but a second after. Ash's horse plodded back, only without Ash… no, she was pushing herself up from the dirt, a stirring of dust swaying from where she fell, her lance inches from her fingers.

I could hardly believe what I was seeing. Maybe her horse tripped, maybe there was a hurricane for a split second that knocked her down… but unless that hurricane came with it splintered pieces of red wood… yeah, she actually fell.

And Leon was riding back to his position to the fanfare of his adoring fans, waving at them all, smiling his most charming smile yet… his golden locks fluttering gracefully in the air. 

"A dismount for the Elf! Ooh, that was a heavy blow! Impressive blow! But the Elf is back on her feet in no time, look at that! This girl's a wonder!" 

Ash received a well-deserved applause for her recovery, an applause that even Leon himself partook in, almost urging her to continue.

"The score's tied once more! This tournament is brimming with twists and turns, I can't even tell how this one will end… and make no mistake, two more runs we'll have to declare ourselves a winner! Only one will win this, who could it be?!" 

Ash held her head high walking back to the starting point, momentarily, I felt our gazes meet, and then that moment was gone right after… nothing was said, but I still heard everything.

[[I'm going to win this]]

And I've no doubt she will.