The Quiz Bowl

I am glad that my assigned seat is far away from Prince Flynn, or else I will not be able to focus. I didn't know they also have a quiz bowl here, in the mortal world I am always a champion in our school, but my parents didn't allow me to participate during the inter-school competitions. No matter how my teachers beseech them for me to take part of some academic contest.

The auditorium of the Academy is so classy and spacious, the fixed seats are fully upholstered with armrests, the carpeted sloped floor, has enough space for each row of seating, it allows students to clearly see us on stage. I am getting nervous by the seconds. Professor Wilson, who looks so human and cool as ever, went to the stage and looked at us, before he speaks.

"Good day everyone! Welcome on the third day of the Annual Deity Festival, a tribute to the Goddess of Erthesia, for her wit and wisdom. Today we will determine who, among your fellow students here on stage, deserves to receive the token, from the Goddess herself. This is called the Golden Magical Pen, as a reward for being the champion. Not only that, whoever wins this competition today will be exempted from taking the upcoming examination." Professor Wilson said, then he raised the Golden Magical Pen.

I hope Freda told me about this contest, who could have thought, that I will be chosen as one of the participants, how I wish the Headmaster informed me in advance, well I guess it is against the rules of the academy. I am holding my white board and pen firmly, I can feel the sweats beginning to wet on my palms, I am so glad that I am wearing a comfortable dress today.

     "Each of the contestant is provided with a white board and a magic pen, this pen and board had been under a spell, so that no one can manipulate your answers. Your answers will be erased automatically after your score has been tallied. After I finish asking the whole question, that is the time you are allowed to write your answer, then you raise your board so that the judges and member of the quiz bowl committee can properly see your answers. Cheating is not allowed, someone who will be caught will be disqualified immediately, and will be deducted ten merits for the upcoming examination." Explained Professor Wilson.

"The moment, you answer incorrectly, you will be automatically out from the competition." Professor Wilson said.

Wow! If I only know what would be the topic, I guess there is a chance that I could win this event, but knowing that I am a newbie, plus all of my contenders belong to royal families, my assessment of myself for this competition is zero percent. I can't fathom, why Headmaster chose me to be one of the candidates, I wanted to back out, than to be humiliated in front of everyone. But I don't have a choice, I can't gamble to lose ten points each of my subject, I am not that stupid, I am competitive on my own ways.

I am so busy thinking about the Quiz Bowl, that I haven't realized Princess Avery and Princess Suzanne are looking at me in the same evil ways. I immediately felt tense, I know they are communicating with each other, on how to abash me in front of the crowd, I should be vigilant, and careful with my every move. On the other side, out of the corner of my eye, the Crown Prince of Erthesia is giving me melting stares, that make my heart jump with happiness, I can't really control my stupid traitor heart.

"Now ladies and gentlemen, contestants you have one minute to answer each question. Now, the first question for the easy round is, who is the grandfather of King Maverick Ischyros? You have one minute to answer." Asked Professor Wilson. I know that, this is the forte of Prince Declan, he is the historian among our classmates.

    I am so thankful that the first question is so easy, but before I can write my answer on my white board, it suddenly floated and moved away from me, due to my shock, I chased the board. It goes directly in front of the Headmaster, I am so thankful that he was able to stop the board from hitting his whole face, by using his magic. But I miscalculated my steps, and I fall on the stairs head first, I almost fainted, I lay on the ground trying to control the intense pain on my head. I can also feel the pain all over my body.

The whole crowd exploded with laughter. Prince Hale and Prince Nick immediately run to my side to help me stand up. My tears flowed on my cheeks uncontrollably, how could they afford to laugh, when I am in extreme pain. I can hear the laughter of Princess Suzanne and Princess Avery resonated the whole place. Professor Knight came to my aid immediately and healed the injuries all over my body. I feel so humiliated and useless. I could have used my magic, to prevent myself from falling.

    I saw the face of the Headmaster turned red, out of his anger.

    "Students, I just want to remind and warn all of you, whoever uses magic against her/his fellow students is punishable by expulsion, now I don't want to be called a heartless administrator, but I don't tolerate bullying, This is the last time, I condone this kind of behavior." Headmaster Amos said, he looks so angry, yet is voice is so calm.

     "I apologize to you Ms. Blaze, I know who cast that trick, so I don't care who your parents are, this is the academy. The place where you should nurture your power, skills, and magic. And at the same time, the place you should learn how to respect one another regardless of status, class, and beauty. This is a place protected by the Goddess who possessed all the good qualities of a fairy." He said, looking intently on the directions of my contenders. I know either Princess Avery or Princess Suzanne did it, so that I will be ashamed in front of everyone.

"Malia, you can write your answer now." The Headmaster said, and he assisted me on going back to the stage. I accidentally look at Flynn, I can see the anger in his face, I sit down immediately and right my answer, then raised the board.

    "Okay! Your time is up, the correct answer is King Mirrick Ischyros, it seems everyone got the correct answer." Professor Wilson said. I am so happy that I was able to answer correctly. The first round ended, no one answered incorrectly, so all of us continued in the second round. Professor Knight replaced Professor Wilson on the podium.

    "Good day to every one, we will now proceed to the next level, the Average round, you will be given ten points for each question, then you have one lifeline, meaning if you got one incorrect answer, you will not be eliminated right away, but if you will have two wrong answers then you will be out from the competition." Professor Knight said, looking serious than ever. I think my chest will break, because of the continued pounding of my heart.

     "First question, for you, what is the most important skill needed in combat or battle? You may start answering now." Said Professor night. I had a temporary mental blackout, I don't remember anything we discuss during my combat lectures, I can see that all the white boards are up, except mine, I can see Avery is having a good time watching me having a hard time.

     I tried my very best to squeeze my brain, so that I can remember anything from our discussion, what my professor had taught us, but my mind is still empty, but out of the blue, it seems I remember everything vividly, but I haven't remember what is the most important skill, I need to decide it on my own, I think it comes from the deepest of my mind. I only have seconds to spare before the time.

      "Alright, times up." Shouted Professor Knight, I was able to raise my answering board, just in time.

     "The correct answer would be Spatial Intelligence, it seems only three candidates got the correct answer, ten points for Prince Flynn, Princess Avery, and Ms. Malia Blaze, but all of you who got the wrong answer is still in the contest." Professor Knight continues asking the questions for the Average round.

     I got one wrong answer at the end of the round, Prince Declan is very good at history, but about combat theory he doesn't love it at all. At the end of the second round, Prince Hale, Prince Declan, and Princess Suzanne got eliminated.

Headmaster Amos, was the one who facilitated the last level of the Quiz Bowl, which is the Difficult round. He started asking questions, then on the fifth question Prince Nick was out of the competition. I hate to think that, my remaining contenders are my nemeses, worst they are the sweet couple of Erthesia.

    I lost focus, due to the hatred that I felt for them, I lost interest of the Quiz Bowl anymore, during the eight question I was out of the contest. Only Prince Flynn and Princess Avery remained, but the Princess got distracted because Prince Flynn is still looking at me, even if I already returned to my seat next to Prince Declan.

I don't know what is going on with him, he never looked at his fiancee anymore. Prince Flynn is the champion of the Quiz Bowl, garnering a perfect score of four hundred points. Headmaster Amos gave the Golden Magical Pen to Prince Flynn, the latter received also a golden medal with personalized logo of the Erthesia Academy. He will always be the golden boy of Erthesia. I am glad and thankful about my total performance, though I am still new into this world, I was able to make it in the Difficult Round.

"Congratulations Malia, I am so proud of you, if you only focus and did not let your feelings get in the way, you could have won the Golden Pen." Prince Declan said.

"What do you mean?" I asked, I am wondering how does he know about my turmoil, when I was left together with the engaged couple.

"I know you Malia, I can see you through." He smiled at me, showing me his perfect white teeth. I didn't respond to him, I don't want Prince Hale and Prince Nick to hear what we are talking about, we are falling in line, to get out of the auditorium.

    "Malia, I think you deserve a treat, we will bring you to Kentro, let us have some refreshments." Said Nicholas happily.

    "Yes, Malia! There is a place there that we want you to see." Prince Hale said.

      I am walking in between Prince Nick and Prince Declan, while Freda and Prince Hale are walking behind us.

     "Wow! That is great, I will just tell Princess Ameline, that I will be going with you guys. They are also planning to go to the capital." Prince Declan said, then he walked back to meet the group of Prince Flynn.

We are sitting on the bench near the academy main garden, waiting for Prince Declan.

"Malia, be careful with Avery, I think she is planning on something bigger this time." Prince Hale said seriously.

"Yes Princess, she is looking at you with too much hatred, I know she was the one who used magic during the quiz bowl, I am glad you didn't suffer head injury Malia." Prince Nicholas said.

"Princess Avery and Princess Suzanne, both needed a lesson, I hope next time I can still control myself, you have done nothing to them, they are so jealous of you, it is not your fault, if that stupid Crown Prince of Erthesia can't get his eyes from you." Added Nick, I can feel his anger.

"Don't worry, I can take care of them, besides nothing happen to me." I said to them.

"But you were hurt Malia, if you are not a fairy, you could have been killed, next time they will not hesitate to harm you again." Prince Hale said, I can feel his anger, but he is more in control with his emotions, compared to Prince Nick.

"It is better to be careful Malia, I think they are right, she seems so distracted lately, I even saw her one time, walking in the hallway alone in our dorm building. I was wondering, what is she doing there in the middle of the night, she doesn't have any commoner friend." Freda said, I can see the worries in her face.

"Okay, don't worry guys, I have been training lately, I can assure you, I can handle Princess Avery." I said confidently. The moment Prince Declan arrives, we immediately leave going to the Capital of Erthesia.