"So what do you got there?" the host asked as his gaze of doubt aligned on the strange material she was holding.

"I would like to join the competition with this thing I found recently," Cithara answered confidently, trying to sound like a young man.

One of the competitors stepped towards them after hearing her statement. It was her classmate Evreux who was one of the best dream maker from their tribe.

"Pardon me. May I remind you that this is an escape game? This tests our ability to test our skills in using gemstones and our ability to fight," Evreux spoke.

Being cognizant that women were not allowed to join the match, she had to act like a man in order for her to join.

Ever since she was just a little girl, she always dreamt of joining the match because of the longing for acceptance from the people around her. For all of those years, she felt different from the others. That was the reason why they disliked her.

Even though Alvier was the only one who knew about her father and half of the blood she have, the people were displeased by her way of thinking — the reason why the kingdom chose to be separated from the other lands of the Immortal Realm.

"I'm just here to inform you that you can not join without —" Evreux stated, interrupted by Cithara's voice.

"Without gems of my choice?" she spoke, deepening her voice.

"Yes," Evreux answered, "that's exactly what I was trying to say."

"Of course! I perfectly have only three as the game requires. Why would you think I'm here if I don't have any?" Cithara responded, "I am not a vedryl (fool) to come and ask the gamemaster if I could join if I'm not ready."

Evreux turned reticent, his cheeks turning pink in embarrassment.

"And the rules say that you can bring a weapon, right?" Cithara uttered. "Then this is mine!"

"Well, that's someone who read the rules thoroughly," one mysterious boy spoke.

Cithara's gaze dropped towards the boy. His hazel eyes were focused towards her.

"And what shall I call you, lad?" another gamemaster asked.

"My name is Ci-," Cithara answered, interrupted by her thought that her real identity might be uncovered. "Call me Zaire." The word appeared inside her mind as if it was connected with her, unaware about its real meaning.

"Zaire indeed," the stranger spoke. "What a beautiful name!"

"This way, lad," the host spoke, pointing towards the back of a huge cabin.

As she entered the room, she was greeted by the group of participants she knew practiced well for the competition. Each of the participants came from the three tribes of the Dream Weavers. Each were armed with the weapons they had chosen — swords, bows, and many more.

She was surrounded by experts, whereas she knew that she was just a callow.

Cithara tried to stay hidden at the corner of the room, trying to hide her real identity to the group of men around her. She hid amongst the shadows of the area, patiently waiting for the gamemaster to send his cues when it was time for them to come out and enter the maze at the center of the kingdom's land.

"I'm gonna win this game like I did three times before," boasted one of the boys joining them.

"Well, I bet you will lose this time, yllen (weakling). I have stronger muscles than you," bossed the other one.

A smile crept unto her face after hearing the jests of the men around her.

"Hi, there!" one of the men crooned as he leaned towards the wall beside her. "Good luck at fighting the nymphs."

Unaware that someone would approach her that time, Cithara's eyes widened. "Uh, yeah!" she uttered, still trying to sound like a boy. "Good luck to you as well."

"Bien Lunien, sefias er geiron (Good evening, ladies and gentlemen)," said the host, his voice echoing towards the wide Liberian garden near the city.

"Your years of waiting had come to an end as we celebrate another year for the coronation ceremony of our first ever king. Tonight, we had gathered a total of thirteen participants coming from the three tribes of Liberia," he added.

"And as you can see, we changed a little something on the game tonight like every other year. Each better than the last one!" the gamekeeper spoke.

"To celebrate our thirty years of monarchy, the future Hara will be joining us," stated the first host.

Aja stood up from her seat, heading straight towards the entrance of the garden where the hosts were waiting for her.

"As your future hara, I would like to thank the tribes' leaders for letting their best warriors join on this faithful night," Aja spoke, followed by the sound of the crowd cheering.

Shivers went down Cithara's spine as she heard her aunt's voice.

After speaking, the future Hara went back to her seat with the knights encircled around her for protection and security.

"Clevor, have you seen Cithara? I didn't see her since dinner," Aja asked her most trusted Head Knight.

Clevor, knowing that Cithara might be somewhere around the crowd, was unaware that the young hadea (princess) would join the game.

"I'll look for her, my lady," he spoke, taking five of his men to come and join him for the search.

"The game is just simple," stated the gamekeeper, "All of the participants must enter the labyrinth. Like every other year, the maze has surprises packed inside of it."

"I wonder if there's still nymphs inside that thing," the guy who came to Cithara a while ago questioned as the participants marched towards the gardens of Liberia.

"What is it with you and nymphs? Besides, nymphs can rarely be seen here in our city," Cithara sang out.

The boy's eyes widened as he heard Cithara's real voice. "You sound funny."

Realizing what she had done, Cithara knew she had to think fast. "Uh," she answered, deepening her voice again. "I - I sound like that when... whenever I'm nervous."

The boys who heard her statement let out a hard laugh.

"Each participants will encounter several changes all the way that I'd rather not tell for adding excitement and thrill to all of you," added the gamekeeper, "Whoever touches the Victory Gem located at the center of the maze will be our winner."

"And remember, there are NO rules at the time you enter the labyrinth, so watch out for everything and everyone around you!" reminded the gamekeeper.

At the time they entered the garden, the crowd cheered as loud as they could. Banners and flags were raised, showing up their support to their favorite players.

Out of the roaring crowd, Cithara sighted her aunt. She continued to look, but her so-called lio wasn't there.

"Participants, choose your side," the host spoke.

Everyone encircled around the broad garden. There were no crystal to light up their way. Only the moon of Celestria and the stars in the sky guided them. Luna was at its new moon state as every other year before winter came to cover the land with snow.

"Let the game," the host spoke, "begin!" The gamekeeper raised the green crystal gem, cuing the participants for their turn.

"This is it, Cithara," she whispered to herself, "There's no turning back!"

Glossary

⚔️ Vedryl
- Elven word: fool

⚔️ Yllen
- Elven word: weakling