Song-- This Town// Kygo
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Carelessness.

Desperation.

Madness.

That's what becomes of you when someone bottles you up in a confined territory and you live the same monotonous day over and over again like a broken tape recorder. At first, you learn to repress it, try not to show. But how long can you keep a hand pressed to the mouth of an overflowing bottle? One day, the person will slowly teeter on the border of insanity. Just a bit of madness is enough to break the loop and can have two plausible results; either the madness was just right and you get a better life, or the insanity was too much and you snap, falling to your demise. It's a highly risky gamble. But how will you know what happens without rolling the dice?

The corridors echoed with the clacking of her heels as Ava made her way to the Council hall, dressed in an elegant royal blue evening gown that fit her snugly at the waist and flared downward. She awkwardly tugged at her sleeves, extremely disappointed at the fact that she had to dress up and make an effort on herself. Hardly even heeding to her cries and protests, she was ordered to dress formally for the Selection Ceremony.

She entered the hall and immediately scanned it for Bex. She caught his eye and he waved her over. Ava tried her best not to stumble and fall in front of all the guests. Heels were definitely not in her purview.

Bex gave her a side hug as he smiled and stated,

"Look at you! Someone might just mistake you for a Royal!"

She elbowed him in his side and tugged at her waist, smoothening out imaginary wrinkles.

"Ugh, I can't wait to get out of this scratchy piece of trash!"

Bexley chuckled under his breath and offered Ava a tall thin glass of a bubbly golden liquid.

"Champagne?"

Ava shook her head furiously. "Brings back unwanted memories..." She winced, recalling the red-hot pain of the hangover. Before Bex could come up with an acknowledgment, they were disrupted by the sound of trumpets, precariously close to where they stood. Almost everyone in the room shielded their ears from the unholy din that was the Royal trumpet.

Soon enough, the Mage entered. All conversations hushed. All movements ceased. All eyes were on the Mage as she made her way to the center stage.

"Fellow civilians of Cennet, I extend my deepest regards. I would also like to thank you all for being present here and accepting your responsibility dutifully. The Royal family highly appreciates your consent and co-operation. I will not beat around the bush for we all know the real purpose of my being present here.

"The royal family of Barquet hosts a Masquerade every few years to form marital ties with possible allies and elites. But it is much more than that. Behind the curtains, there are all sorts of deals being executed. Marriages, alliances, unification, and possible attacks. We never operate without confirmed motives.

"Now, the reason this year's Masquerade is of paramount importance is that the heir to the throne, the Prince of Barquet, has become of age. This Masquerade is for his suitresses."

A collective gasp convulsed through the audience. However, the Mage looked unmoved as she continued.

"That is not all. We have confirmed that Barquet has forged an alliance with our neighboring country of Verdie. Their troops have been moving towards South Cennet and they are armed."

Bexley leaned slightly towards Avyanna and whispered, "So much for respect thy neighbor, eh?" But Ava was listening to the Mage with rapt attention.

"However, they function only when instructed, and so it happens that the one's giving them orders are to attend the Masquerade. That's where we jump in. Our chosen assassins will be provided with further details, should they choose to accept this position and the responsibility that come with it.

"Now, I want every child between the ages of sixteen to twenty come up onto the stage, one at a time. Please refrain from creating chaos and move in an orderly fashion."

Ava and Bexley exchanged a glanced before shrugging and forming a queue. The first person to go up on stage was Sif, her brown hair bouncing. The Mage called her closer, then held a palm to her forehead, pushing it back suddenly, causing Sif to whimper most likely from nerves rather than pain. The Mage closed her eyes and Sif's forehead started to emit a mild golden-yellow glow. Everyone was on their toes, trying to get a good look at the proceedings.

The Mage hummed quietly and removed her hand almost as suddenly as put it there.

"You do not have the strength nor the determination to make an assassin." The Mage said in a shrewd tone.

Sif's eyes brimmed with tears as she looked dumbfoundedly at the Mage. In that instance, Ava felt sorry for the air-headed girl.

The Mage dismissed her with a flick of her hand. As a distressed Sif left the stage, another boy took her place. The Mage repeated the same procedure. About thirty kids were dismissed and two very smug kids deemed worthy of being the Royal Assassins, Ava walked up onto the stage.

Bex gave her a nervous smile as she made her way to the Mage, feeling dozens of pairs of eyeballs searing her back. Her breath hitched, her throat felt dry and her palms were sweating like crazy. The Mage held her shoulder firmly with one hand and put her palm to Ava's forehead.

Ava closed her eyes, bracing for pain, but all she felt was the warmth of the Mage's hand. The Mage hummed softly and removed her hand. Ava fluttered her eyelids open and saw the Mage looking at her.

'What if I don't make the cut? What happens if I'm dismissed?'

But her doubts vanished as she saw the Mage's face twitch up into the ghost of a smile.

"I sensed deep determination and will-power. I felt a very powerful tumult of emotions. Rebellion, longing, and... madness. But the right amount of it which makes you a perfect cut for this job."

Ava's eyes widened but her brain had still not comprehended the meaning of the situation. Her heart was throbbing crazily inside her ribs and her lungs had seemed to stop working.

The Mage gestured ahead and said, "Go join the others."

Avyanna's feet carried her to the other two 'Chosen Ones', her brain still numb to the fact that she found her way out of the city. Once she sat down, her brain reacted to the events that occurred a few moments prior.

She immediately looked over at Bexley. He had gone pale from the neck up and looked at Ava with a look of pure fear and concern. He knew her all to well to figure out she'd go look for Xavier and in the process, put her life on the lines.

To Bex, this was a death wish. His best friend was willingly walking to her own destruction. He knew there was no possible way she could come out of this unharmed.

To Ava, this was her opening to escape from this town. It was letting out the years of pent-up frustration. It was getting Xavier back. It was being mad but not insane.

It was getting revenge.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hiya there! I'm on a double hat trick streak!

Also, yes, the book Tia gave Ava will be mentioned in the next chapter.. Until then

Toodles Cinnamon rolls 😘😘