Artero and Elise slowly danced, and by the moment they only seemed to get closer to each other, Elise's face now resting on his shoulder.
Her senses were overwhelmed by the familiar Kosmairian flower fields. She nuzzled closer to him. Artero rested his head on hers.
She smelled like vanilla and red berry, which she knew was his favorite scent. He speculated on why she smelled the way she did. Could it be because of him? That couldn't be the truth. There is no way.
His mind constantly wandered between her and their time together.
She could feel his racing heartbeat, and her face suddenly felt hot. His raven-black cloak and dark attire clashed perfectly with her white dress.
The song changed to another soft melody. Just as romantic as the first, Artero was possessed by a crazy thought. He wanted to kiss Elise.
He hadn't known why. They were supposed to be competing. He lifted his head from hers, and she did the same. Their eyes drifted to one another, and the world seemed to stop around them.
Elise wondered if she should use her mind manipulation on Artero, just to see if he felt what she was feeling. But what if he hadn't? What if she used her power and nothing came of it? Elise also knew he would never know if she used her power. But before she could even try, he was slowly leaning in. Her heart suddenly quadrupled in speed.
The music suddenly cut out, and a voice rang throughout the gardens.
"Hello, students of Kaldere Academy!"
It was the Dean, Aldwyn DeMeteor.
Elise and Artero suddenly shot away from one another, both flushed red.
Gwyn approached them, playing dumb.
"What did I miss?"
"Nothing!" They seemed to shout simultaneously.
Gwyn furrowed her brows before focusing on the Dean, who stood upon a stage at the edge of the dance floor.
"I am so happy so many students attended The Wintumnos Dance! Is everyone having fun?"
The crowd cheered.
"Good! Good…" He cleared his throat. "We are going to have a special band play for you now! They're the greatest band as far as I am concerned. Give it up for the Ultra Mega Sickness!"
A dweeby-looking kid walked up and projected his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
This is supposed to be the "special entertainment"?
"Thank you, everyone, for coming to see us play."
There is no way this guy can sing well.
Gwyn was feeling particularly negative. She had watched on in anticipation, hoping Elise and Artero would kiss. For that magical moment to be interrupted by this? It greatly disappointed the Chosen One.
"Ya know. Hey everyone, we are Ultra Mega Sickness. I remember when I first attended Kaldere Academy. I was just a young boy with big dreams of being a famous musician. I remember my mom disowning me for dropping out of the Academy, but I knew I had talent. I knew I had what it took to make it. I wanted to especially thank Aldwyn DeMeteor for letting us play tonight—super rad of you. I'd also like to thank Lazlo Waterborne. He is a great mentor and friend. Without his connections, I'd still be playing in my mom's basement. I'd also like to thank my dad, even though I've never met him. If it weren't for your seed, I wouldn't be here right now in front of all these beautiful people. I'd also like to thank my band, although I got the pipes of an absolute God, I wouldn't be anywhere without you guys."
Is this guy ever going to start?
"Anyway. Here's 'Wonderwall'."
WHAT?!
To Gwyn's utter bafflement. The Ultra Mega Sickness started, note for note, line by line, playing "Wonderwall" by Oasis.
Gwynevere Grim screamed with excitement, as did some others. This wasn't just any music; it was music from Earth.
How is that even possible?
Artero and Elise were bewildered by Gwyn's excitement.
"Do you know this song?" Elise asked.
"Yes! It's music from Earth, oh my God! I can't believe it."
Gwyn pulled both Artero and Elise into her arms and started dancing with them.
They then played a cover of "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers. "Welcome to the Black Parade" by My Chemical Romance, and they finished with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana.
Gwynevere Grim hadn't known how they had some of her favorite songs from Earth, but she couldn't have cared less. She never felt closer to home. What was almost the most surprising was that everyone seemed to know these songs already. Some elves, whom she's never met, were singing along.
Myria, out of all the people there, vibed with the music the most.
Gwyn sang every word to every song. She danced, drank, and had one of the best nights she's had since she arrived in Keceo.
The question of "How the hell did they learn those songs?" lingered in her mind, but it didn't matter. Tonight, she felt like she was closer to home than she's ever been.
She hugged and kissed the two people she cared for the most, and when the band finished playing, Gwyn personally greeted all the members. They told her that Lazlo Waterborne had given them the songs, along with many others.
Although Lazlo wasn't here, one day, Gwyn would have to confront him and ask how he knew some of her favorite songs from Earth.
Aldwyn DeMeteor stepped back on the stage and projected his voice.
"Everyone give it up for Ultra Mega Sickness!"
The crowd cheered, Gwyn being the loudest, her voice nearly gone, and her heart racing with excitement.
"Now I have the pleasure to announce the person in charge of the Wintumnos King and Queen voting. Anastasia Everroote!"
The crowd clapped politely, but Gwyn and her friends remained silent. The excitement the band left the crowd with had vanished.
Anastasia projected her voice so everyone could hear her.
"Hello, you all look so beautiful."
"That bitch," Elise whispered to Gwyn.
"What?" Gwyn asked.
"She's wearing the exact thing you are!"
Gwyn narrowed her eyes; her vision wasn't the greatest. It appeared Anastasia wore something shockingly close to what Gwyn was wearing.
The crowd was rumbling with excitement.
"Yes, yes. I know you are excited to see who wins. So, without further ado."
Anastasia held out her hand expectantly, and an elf girl ran up and handed her a scroll.
"Be on guard, Gwyn," Artero said firmly, grabbing her hand.
Gwyn looked towards the Prince.
"Huh? Why?"
The crowd clapped as Anastasia unfurled the paper and cleared her throat. She wore a smug expression. Everything had gone to plan for her; now all she had to do was—she turned the paper over, back and forth, as if something wasn't right. Her smugness quickly turned to confusion, then despair.
"What's going on here!" She shouted, stomping her foot.
The clapping slowly faded, and the crowd began to murmur among themselves.
"What's going on?" A student shouted.
"Yeah! Just read the names!" A second student followed.
"This is impossible!" Anastasia cried out, nearly tearing the paper in half.
The Dean stopped clapping, walked over to her, and tried to take the paper from her hands.
"Just read the names, Everroote."
Anastasia clung to the paper revealing the winners as if her life depended on it, but Aldwyn eventually took it away.
He glanced at the names, and even his face was a little perplexed.
"Our newest King and Queen of the Wintumnos Dance is… Theodore Freckle and Myriounous Bloom?"
"Woooooo!"
Teddy seemed to appear out of nowhere, cheering the loudest amongst the crowd.
"What?!" Myria shouted in disbelief.
Everyone's jaws were agape; Artero was by far the most surprised.
"We had a deal…" He muttered.
Teddy grabbed Myria's hand as she was stunned by the announcement of her crowning. People clapped not out of excitement, but out of polite confusion.
Astrin softly clapped.
"Did any of you vote for Teddy or Myria?"
Everyone shook their head.
"No! No!" Anastasia shouted. "This isn't right. Who counted the votes? You! How did that short freak win?"
The student on the side of the stage shrank.
"His name was on the majority of the ballots you gave us…"
"Get 'em, you short king!" Someone in the crowd shouted.
Teddy shot finger guns at the crowd as he stood on the stage.
"Shut up!" Anastasia shouted.
The crowd went silent. Most knew what Anastasia was capable of, and they feared she might lash out at them.
In the branches of the fire oak above the stage, two students talked among themselves, ready to carry out the plan for which they had been hired.
"Weren't we supposed to dump this whenever she yells?" Vicki asked Cassi.
"I don't know… she like… said something. I can't really hear her, but I can see Gwyn's red dress below… we can like dump it now."
"Yeah, like whatever… sounds good to me."
The two women hiding in the tree dumped the bucket directly over where Anastasia was standing, covering her in filth and wet garbage.
The slop covered Anastasia from head to toe. Everyone in the crowd gasped.
Anastasia had planned for a lot of things. She had planned for the possibility that someone would switch the ballots. She had planned the stage's positioning. She had planned for imbuing the filth she planned on dumping on Gwynevere Grim to be enchanted with magic so that it could not be cleaned through any medium.
But she had not planned for all of those plans to come crashing down and spill over her literally.
"I think she looks better," Teddy said, holding his nose.
Everyone in the crowd erupted into laughter. Anastasia screamed and ran, but an explosion sent everyone ducking in terror.
A projection approximately fifty feet tall was revealed in the center of the gardens in Kaldere Academy.
It was a suit of black armor with a menacing helmet. Antlers protruded from the top of the helmet and twisted like overgrown vines.
"Heed my words, pathetic Elven race."
The voice rang out for miles, its deep, ethereal tone sending a chill through all who heard it.
"Holy shit… Is that…" Elise stood in awe.
"The King of Terror," Gwyn said knowingly.
"Your existence is allowed to continue due to my generosity. Now I request something of you."
The pause left the air silent. Not a soul dared to breathe.
"I have a message for your most recent Chosen One, Gwynevere Grim."
Every head turned to face the name he mentioned.
"You have paid no heed to my warnings. You have ignored my generosity."
Every eye was on Gwynevere Grim, including the King of Terror's.
"Your father's life is in danger. If you continue supporting the elves, his death is assured."
"Gwyn? What's going on?" Artero asked nervously.
"The wheels of time do not stop, Gwynevere."
His apparition vanished, and the Wintumnos Dance was in chaos.