The Alderian Festival!

She balled her hands to a fist, fuming with rage as she stared at the grinning figure that confidently approached her.

"Insolent! Purely insolent!" She seethed.

Their eyes met, Rosalind's grin grew wider staring at the face of the reddened tomato before her.

"You won this round but I assure you, you will not win the next!" she said coldy, shooting daggers at Rosalind.

"I am not afraid of you!" Rosalind replied fiercely, not breaking eye contact. She stood firm while glaring at her new nemesis.

"You should be!" She said in a light whisper. Her eyes darkened and a sinister smile tugged the corner of her lips, exuding an eery aura.

Rosalind held in a breath, not showing a slight iota of fear. With a whip of her hair, Eleonora turned around and walked away.

Once her presence departed from her, she let out the breath.

"That was terrifying!" She said breathlessly, her heart pounded in her chest.

"That was amazing!" Guinevere's voice caught her attention.

She was immediately surrounded by her new found friends.

"I have never seen a flame look so gracious and beautiful all at once!" Seraphine said.

"You did good, Rosalind!" Adeline added.

"Thank you!" She said meekly. Hearing their words of praise, drove out any fear she had.

"Lady Adeline and. . ." Her opponent's name was drowned in the crowd.

"It seems like I am next!" Adeline said, smiling at them.

"Good luck!"

"You will do great!"

"Kick him off the stage!" Guinevere cheered.

>>>> "Oh no! He is pushing her off the stage!" Seraphine said frantically.

They all watched with bated breath, their hearts drummed in their chests.

Adeline struggled to maintain her balance. Her legs tried to stand firm as she struggled. Just one more attack and she would be sent flying off the stage.

A smirk etched his lips as he stared at his helpless opponent. Who would have thought that he had to fight such a beauty? Well, he needed the admission and nothing was going to stop him from getting it, even if it was the goddess before him.

He clapped his hands, the sound reverberated the air, echoing in the silent coliseum.

Slowly, he drew his hands apart. A spiral ball of water materialized between them. As the distance between his hands increased, so did the size of the ball.

Prior to launching the attack, she pointed to the heavens diverting his attention from his attack. He looked up, his eyes grew wide filled with shock. A few feet above him laid a spell about to be activated.

He gulped nervously, his feet felt glued to the ground as he stood unable to move. The wheels in his head spun like a working clock as he pondered on how she created such a spell during their fight. He could recall never giving her a fighting chance, he attacked her the moment the signal to start their fight went off. How did she do it? When did she do it?.

He didn't have time to ponder more on those head-scratching questions. Suddenly, an enormous light beam was shot out of it, raining down on him and blinding the entire coliseum.

He fell to the ground, overwhelmed by its great intense power.

As the light dematerialized, the crowd was in uproar for the only standing figure on the stage.

"Lady Adeline Ashbourne wins!" screamed the announcer, the excitement he had was apparent in his voice.

She did a light curtsey and walked down the stage graciously.

Rosalind gaped, staring at the smiling figure. She just witnessed the power of the female lead, her head was trying to grasp what transpired on the stage. She possessed a power that befitted her perfectly—light. Her hair glowed as the rays of the sun illuminated it, it flowed benignantly as she moved with light steps. Her aura was warm and alluring, possessing a charm that entices the soul.

She truly was the female lead.

* * * * *

The rays of the morning sun alighted the hallway, casting a warm glow over the marbled floor and the antiques situated neatly at every corner. I moved with light steps, basking in the warm glow of the morning sun. My stomach made a light growl, a reminder of how famished I was. I just couldn't wait for breakfast.

I walked past the two maids that were occupied with their morning chores, they whispered to each other and slightly giggled to the words of the other.

They abruptly stopped when they noticed my presence.

"Good morning My Lady!" greeted the maids.

I slowly nodded in acknowledgement and slowed my footsteps to listen a bit to their conversation, curious to know what made them tickle.

"I can't wait for this evening!" The maid at the right said.

"Me too! The Alderian Festival is always something I look forward to every year!" Her friend replied enthusiastically.

"Do you think, the head maid would allow us to participate this year?"

"She has to! She didn't let us last year but this year I feel like she would!".

I had listened enough, quickening my steps, I left the maids to their chatter. The Alderian Festival! What the hell was that?.

There was no memory of Rosalind ever attending one and I never heard anything about a festival in the novel. It must be really nice from the way they spoke about it.

"The Alderian Festival!" I said slowly, tapping my chin thoughtfully as I pondered on what it could be.

"There you are!" Edward's voice drew my attention.

I turned to my side and spotted him jogging towards my direction with a bright smile smoldered on his lips.

"I have been searching everywhere for you!" He said.

"Why?" I inquired.

"To invite you for breakfast!" He responded in a bored tone.

"Oh!"

"Is everything alright? You seem lost in thought!" said Edward in a concerned tone.

I let out a breath "Do you have any clue what the Alderian Festival is?"

"Oh! Well. . ." He paused, thinking of a better way to ease into it "It is an annual festival to celebrate the founding of the empire. Why do you suddenly ask about it?".

"I just heard two maids talk about it earlier and it piqued my interest that's all!" I replied.

"It is an amazing festival!" He added with a huge smile on his face "There are a lot of plays to watch, stands with tiny little Alderian snacks on display, some with trinkets and jewelries, masks and a tiny little circus display. . . Needless to say, it is an amazing festival!".

"Wow! It sounds amazing!" I said, intrigued by it.

"It really is!"

"Why can't I remember attending one?" I suddenly asked.

He was quiet for a while before replying "Well, a week to the festival, Father usually takes us to the countryside to visit the rest of the family, so we never got the chance to!".

"Oh!" I exclaimed, it all made sense why I had no memory of it. "Then why didn't we go to the countryside this year?".

"Because of your entrance examination to the Alderian Institute Of Magic it clashed with our annual visit, I guess that's the reason we didn't visit this year!" He replied in a 'duh' tone.

"That makes sense!".

"Right!".

We walked towards the dining room, conversing more about him, what he has been up to and my chances of getting into the Institute.

"How do you know about the festival since you have never attended one?" I asked whilst His hand rested on the door knob.

"I hear all about it from Alexander!" He replied casually, pushing the door open we strutted into the dining, a bit surprised to see Leo and Father already seated waiting patiently for our arrival.

>>>> The clacking of forks and knives against the silverware reverberated across the silent room. We said nothing to each other as we devoured and savored the tasty meal that was served.

"I recently received news about an execution of a slave trader!" Father said suddenly, whilst stabbing the steak on his plate with a fork.

We abruptly paused for a moment, shocked by his words. We exchanged looks each of us dreading what he would say next.

"Really Father?" I said slowly, trying to conceal my nervousness. I transferred all my attention to the steak before me, slicing it over and over again as fear engulfed my entire being.

"Yes, infact there was something peculiar about the news I received!" He spoke slowly. Each word that fell from his lips felt like a sharp edged sword pricking my chest.

"May I ask what was peculiar about it?" Edward inquired.

I shot him a look, stunned that he was encouraging him to continue. He gave me a confused shrug. I sighed, knowing that I was caught.

"There was a certain someone that was there the night the slave trader was arrested!" I gulped nervously, my hands trembled as I tightened my grip on the cutleries I held "According to the guards, her hair was as fiery as flames and her eyes were as calm as the sea with a certain shade of turquoise! Perhaps do we have any idea who that certain lady is?" I could feel his stare bore deeply at me.

"Well, Father. . . there is a perfectly good explanation why I was there that night!" I spoke slowly as my hands quivered.

"I do not wish to know what it was!" He replied sharply.

"Oh, but I . . ."

"This year, I wanted you all to attend the Alderian Festival." He said cutting me off, we stared at him with mixed emotions "but due to this certain incident I have decided that only two of my children would attend while the other stays home and reflect on her actions!" He said staring intently at me.

"Father please!" I pleaded.

"Sorry, Rosalind but it is about time you learned that you cannot get away with everything!" He said firmly.

"When have I ever gotten away with anything?" The moment I asked that question I immediately regretted it.

"When you were Eight years old!" Leo said suddenly. I looked at him confused by his statement. He sighed when he realized I wasn't catching on to what he meant "You snuck in our cousin's pony into your room and didn't want to let go of it."

"Father had to pay a hefty sum of money to Uncle for the pony!" Edward added.

I facepalmed, disappointment was beyond what I felt inside. Thank you so much Rosalind!.

"And Meirela cried for weeks because you took her pony!" Leo said.

"Okay, that was just one time. It doesn't still prove anything!" I said, forcing myself not to believe the words they said.

"I can remember a lot of times that you have gotten away with a lot of things!" Edward said in an amusing tone "last year, you tried to. . ."

"I think I have heard enough!' I interrupted him before he could continue any further. He pouted his lips at me, disappointed that I didn't let him go on.

I turned to Father with the cutest eyes I could make. He didn't even spare me a glance as he took a bite of his vegetables.

"Father please, I have been dreaming about going to the Festival my whole life!" I pleaded in the cutest and most sorrowful voice I could do.

"I just told you about it a few minutes ago!" Edward abruptly said.

I turned to him putting on a forceful smile "Edward, I am trying to make a point!" I said through gritted teeth.

"Oh!' He exclaimed.

"Father, I beg of you. I promise not to get away with anything ever again. Please let me go to the festival!"

"No!" He replied.

I sighed and turned to my dear brothers, in need of their aid. My eyes met with Edward, I nudged my head towards our Father, signalling him to do the needful. Letting out a breath, he understood what I needed him to do.

"Father, can you please have mercy just this once?" He pleaded.

"No!"

"I did my best!" He said, deserting me.

Well, he was useless. I turned to Leo, our eyes met. I slowly bat my lashes at him sorrowfully. He sighed and dropped his cutlery, turning to Father to try his luck.

"Father, perhaps you could reconsider. . ." He paused as Father glared at him, his eyes were fiery and dark, they shot daggers at him.

He quickly looked away, picking up his cutlery, he continued with his breakfast.

"You know what Rosalind? Father is right it is time you learned!" He said as he cut through his steak.

I let out a defeated sigh. It seems there was no changing of his mind. So much for hoping to enjoy the festival.

"Um. . . Rosalind about the trainee that was your escort that night" Edward suddenly said.

I felt a surge of anger course through my veins at his words, my grip tightened on my cutlery. It was one thing to be punished for my mistakes but I would not stand for it if Roderick would be punished too.

"What did you do to him?" I asked, my voice was filled with rage as I glared at him. My power flowed through me, emanating from every pore of my being as my anger spiked.

He gulped nervously as he stared at me "I just wanted to let you know that he would be serving a minor punishment nothing stressful!"

"Good!" I said after a few seconds.

"Could you tone down your anger a bit?" I stared at him puzzled by his question "You are melting your cutlery!" He pointed out.

I looked down and noticed how red-hot they were, they were bent out of shape and seemed to be liquefying by my flames. Abruptly I let go of them and they fell on the table. Slowly melting their way down.

I could feel the stares I got from them. They must have been stunned by the sudden spike of my power. I felt uneasy as I sat there lowering my head and avoiding their gaze. It felt like their stares were filled with scrutiny, scorn and worse of all, fear. I couldn't take the silence that was slowly eating me up. Abruptly, I got up and exited the room in need of a place of absolute solace.