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@jared-williams

Enydd will be eternally grateful to Abirami for grabbing her bag. XD (I actually had no idea why she loved the bag and rock so much when I wrote it though I understand it better now XD)

Maybe Enydd can stumble on a dining room or even better the dining room has a stage in it!

Have a good time at your convention!

@e-n-leonard

I’m not sure if I got Enydd right. She seems like the sort who has a lot more going on in her mind than she lets out of her mouth. Change whatever you like!

You were spot-on with Enydd’s response, and your description is pretty accurate.

ENYDD

The smiling girl introduced herself, “Hi, I’m Ophelia!”

“And I’m Jade,” the other girl said. “Have you seen Rosemary?”

Rosemary? Must be her sister or something like that. “No, I haven’t.”

“Oh. Well, she’s probably fine. Probably just wandered off for some quiet, and it’s safer to do that here than back home.” Jade replied though it seemed she was talking more to herself than to me. “Um, anyway, could you find a good open spot for the performance to be held?”

“Of course. How big do you need it to be?”

“Make sure it’s tall enough we can jump, and- and about fifteen paces wide, or more. It’ll also need room for spectators.”

“Paces?”

Jade frowned, fumbling for an answer. She studied me quickly before answering, “The stage should be about your height multiplied by six.”

That I could understand. “Got it.”

“Thanks for your help,” Ophelia said.

“Yes, thank you.” Jade smiled.

“It’s my pleasure.” I left the room, entering a tunnel in the back.

Immediately, the temperatures dropped. I hesitated. Maybe I should go get someone else to come with me. I looked behind me then to the door ahead. It wasn’t that far.

“You’re fine,” I murmured to myself.

I hurried down the tunnel. The door was made of metal. I put my hand to it, but before I could push, the door swung open as if someone had flung it open from the inside.

I jumped back. There was no one there, of course. I stuck my head through the door scanning the room. There was a long table in the center with dishes and utensils neatly placed at each seat. My stomach growled. There was no food though. I sighed. Ah well, I had survived this far. I could go on a little longer.

At the far end of the room was a stage. I frowned. This was almost too convenient. I eyed the stage suspiciously, half-expecting it to explode under my gaze. It didn’t.

The castle must have been having a moment of humanity.

A flashing sign appeared at the top of the stage.

“Agh,” I groaned as the searing lights blinded me. I squinted at the sign.

15 PACES LONG. YOU’RE WELCOME. 

I chuckled. “Good to know.”

I slipped out of the room, pleased at my success though I had really done nothing. I stepped into, not a tunnel, but a hall. A very decorated one. There was a red carpet along the length of it and signs picturing Ku, Jade, Ophelia, Abirami, and one man I didn’t recognize.

A Show of Grace and Strength! read one sign.

Last Minute Birthday Gifts Can’t Get Better Than This! read another.

Open to the Public

I grinned. The castle seemed to be enjoying this even more than the rest of us.

I entered the room that the others were still in. “Jade, Ophelia, I found a stage. It’s down that hall. It has a table in it that could seat all of us too.”

“Good,” Jade answered briskly. “We’ll go there after we figure out our dance.” She resumed instructing the others, one of whom was the unknown man from the posters, on the dance.

I turned to sit down when I saw it. My bag. My bag! I gasped out a shriek of joy and swooped it up. I hugged it close and then quickly released it, blushing. “It’s just…very special to me,” I explain with a slight laugh. “Who found it?”

“I found it outside. Outside of this room, I mean,” Abirami answered.

“Thank you so much! You have no idea-well, thank you!”

“Glad to be of service.”

I was giddier than my siblings on their birthday. I had my bag. I rummaged through it, double-checking everything was intact. There were my papers, medicine, shawl, hair ties, gloves, book, and my stone. I clutched it tightly in my hand, memories of Mom, Dad, Aziel, Adira, Lowen, and Nuriel swirling in my mind.

Content.

I placed the stone back in my bag. My hand brushed something smooth, something cold. I peered into my bag. It was a piece of glass. What was that doing in there? I picked it up and studied it closely. There was writing within it.

I will allow you to enjoy the dance and a meal, but be warned, the next set of challenges will make up for this temporary rest. To assist one who’s an enemy or friend is your fate. After this, you’ll show all these people your most regretted decision. Brace yourself for these things to come. I apologize insincerely if I have ruined your appetite.

“Um, hey Jade, Abriami, Ophelia you might want to look at this.”

I handed them curved glass. “What should we do?” I asked.

 

@emily-waldorf

I think that’s a good idea about them helping their enemies or friends.

@everyone

I thought it would be interesting if the decision that a character regretted the most was shown to all the other characters in the castle. What do you guys think?