The Lycan King's Hideous Mage

There are only fifty remaining participants after the tool invention challenge, and the spectators cheer as usual. I glance around. Lycan King Gideon is still in his assigned seat. He is as handsome as ever-dark hair, onyx eyes, and tanned skin-all features that make me so infatuated with him. He looks older now. However, that only makes him more handsome. His shoulders look broader, and he looks more muscular than before. I snort. I wonder who he is physically abusing with those arms and fists? He sits beside Queen Marinella, who seems happy to see her son attend the competition. Just the bare minimum, and she is already this happy. She really spoiled him rotten. And then I look at the five women seated behind him. Caius said those are the Lycan King's current concubines whose only job is to bear him a child since the Luna seat is empty. Three of them are pregnant. He already made a couple of them pregnant, huh? 'Such a loving husband you are, Gideon.' Instead of wallowing in that thought, I look around. My gaze travels to the faces of other competitors, the eyes of the judges, and then the announcer. They are all watching the remaining contestants. I look at my hands. I am calm, unlike before. Four years ago, my heart was pounding in my chest, and it took my all to steady myself. "Welcome, competitors! We are going to have an all-out brawl!" the announcer interrupts my thoughts. "The competitors who will remain, after thirty minutes of battle, will proceed to the Final challenge, which will be held three days from now!" Three days. That's too long. I want this to be over as soon as possible. How about if I defeat all of them now, to the point that they won't be able to join the challenge three days from now? I am about to grin when I slap both my cheeks. To distract myself, I look for Caius in the audience area. Meeting his eyes, he nods at me. 'Do it,' I can almost hear him say. I take a deep breath. I am ready. I will win once again, and I will take vengeance on these people. I study the other competitors - boys and girls, muscular and thin, weak and strong, young and old - I can defeat all of them. Chaos erupts among the competitors when the gong resounds. They instantly begin to fight. I grin as I raise an impenetrable barrier around me. I watch the other contestants clash with weapons, fists, and magic. The clang of metals against each other, the smell of magic as it engulfs the arena, competitors falling on the ground. It is thrilling! And so, I close my eyes and take a couple of deep breaths. I just need one massive spell to defeat all of them. A spell that can make them fall asleep. But I need to make sure that no accidents will happen. No one should fall on the pointy end of their swords. No one should fall victim at the abrupt end of their ongoing spell. That's what they want from their Luna, someone too soft she can't hurt a fly, but someone they can push to massacre other people to end a war. Hypocrites! And I am worse! I open my eyes. It's time. In a split second, I place my hands together, dispel my own barrier, and deploy a mist of sleep spell. It is a potent spell that will make them sleep for at least a week. As all the other mages realize what I've done, they turn all their gazes on me. I am smaller and physically weaker than most, but my magic skills are second to none. They attempt to attack me while they are being overwhelmed by my sleep spell. I dodge and counter their blows with basic self-defense. They are falling under my spell, and it's not hard to repel them. Soon, everyone is falling to the ground, sound asleep. Thankfully, no one died from accidents. They fall asleep as peacefully as planned. Finally, only one opponent is left - a robust and experienced warrior and very, very muscular. Somehow, I want her to become the Luna. I'd like to watch how she wrestles with Gideon in bed. No, it's better if she kills him, chokes him, hits him hard - or probably bruise him enough that scars will appear on his perfect body! The remaining warrior moves toward me. "Tricky mage," she says. "Tough warrior," I retort. "That sounded like a praise," she smirks. "You don't know how to insult, huh?" "Why would I insult you? Somehow, I'd like to see you making love with the Lycan King. That would be hilarious." Slowly, her face darkens in anger. "That's it! You are dead!" She dashes towards me, but she is already woozy from my sleep spell. And so, with just a single sidestep and a kick on her side, she falls to the ground. I didn't waste any time. She is about to stand when I activate my wind magic. I thrust her from where she sits using a controlled but hard and powerful push. She hits the wall of the audience's area. It is so powerful that the wall cracks under both her weight and the potency of my magic. And then, I become aware that everyone is silent. I swallow hard, preparing myself to be jeered at again, just like before. And suddenly, one person claps. Then a few people follow, and then a few more until the arena erupts into cheers and claps. As I look around the audience, a wave of relief washes over me. I am halfway to becoming the Luna. The judge whispers something to the announcer and he returns to the arena's center. "Well, well," the announcer starts. "That's pretty unexpected!" I smile, the kind of smile that shows uncertainty. The announcer takes my hand and says, "Congratulations, Hera of Liddicoat!" Then he raises my arm. "We have our new Dunkerson Luna!" I try to bask in the glory of my triumph, but it's hard. It feels shallow, even if I won with my own ability. Maybe because I already expected this outcome. "Should I escort you to the stage, then?" he asks. "So you can properly present yourself to the Lycan King?" I glance at Caius. He nods at me again. Here comes the tricky part. Then, from the side of the arena, a couple of monks walk toward me. This time, I am a little bit anxious. I hope there is no one amongst them who is an expert on shedding glamour. "Why are the monks here?" I whisper to the announcer. He smiles. "No need to worry, dear. They are here to ensure that the winner is not using any glamour." "G-glamour?" I stutter. "Yes. Don't be nervous unless you are hiding something." I look at Gideon and his mother. They are unaffected. And so, before the monks completely shed my glamour, I withdraw from the announcer's hold and run towards the arena's exit. "Catch her," comes the voice of Gideon, deep, almost lazy. "Don't let her leave." I look at him. The first time I hear his voice again and it's filled with irritation. A barrier is activated, and warriors come toward me. One warrior, in particular, lifts and throws me onto the ground, on to the Lycan King's feet. I look up, and Gideon is looking down at me. He kneels before me and raises my chin. His fingers feel rough now, and yet, all I can think of is how much I want to pay him back for all the hurt I suffered from him! "You have a pretty face. Seeing your fear of the monks, I guess this is not your actual face?" Two warriors lift my arms and force me up. The audience is quiet now, as if this scene is something to enjoy in such silence. The monk stands beside Gideon. "Should I start, Lycan King Gideon?" Gideon looks at me, and I shake my head. "No... please... don't..." I beg. My voice is trembling in anger, and I am so glad for it. At least it will appear as if I am really afraid to have my glamour shed. However, same as before, he didn't look at me with pity. No love, either. Just like when I was his wife. The warriors tighten their hold on my arms, and I struggle against them. As expected, these warriors have their nullifying tools ready - the same magic tool I created for the Dunkerson, and now, they are all benefiting from it! I bow my head, forcing my tears to come. I think of all the things I suffered from them, the things I've done for them, and the realization that I've been utterly used and discarded right after. Tears flow down my cheeks, and I look at Gideon, so he will know that I am crying now. However, these are tears of hatred. I will make him suffer! I promise! And then, the monk blocks my view of him. I can feel my magic being siphoned. There is a lot, so it took a while. And when the monk thinks they have drained me of magic, they take a step back from me. "Release her," Gideon orders. I fall to the ground, and I lay my head low, my hands on my face. Tears fall on the ground and in between my fingers. I might be doing such an excellent job of pretending. No, I want to laugh at the absurdity of this all! The best warriors! The best monks! And all they've done is to shave off my first layer of glamour!?! Their mediocrity is hilarious! But then again, I am the one who created the nullifying tool, so I know how to get past it. I hide a smirk. The fools! The mediocres! I will be your death, your fucking downfall! "Get her up and show her to the people," Gideon orders. "And this Luna selection is null and void. I won't take a liar." The same unfeeling bastard is acting as if he is disgusted to touch another woman when I know that he will fuck just about anyone! Our nights have been always filled with him using my body for his pleasure, and I give and give until he got bored of me! When the two warriors touch my arm, I whisper, "I can't believe that you are still the same cold man, Gideon..." I say, my voice trembling. Even if I vomit with disgust, I will lie through my teeth. "Wait." The warriors take a step back, and Gideon kneels before me. I watch his hands tremble as he reaches for my chin and makes me look up again. "I heard you are searching for your previous Luna, so I returned." Taking in my face, that is, my previous face before it gets destroyed by acid magic - utter shock appears on his face, and in a soft voice, he whispers, "Serra... My Serra..."