Author's Note: This chapter is shorter than usual. Sorry! I barely got it done, it's 2.15 in the morning here, and I've just finished. I'm gonna have to take a break on updates I think. Sorry, but I need to gather thoughts and stuff to write this. My brain feels like putty whenever I try to write. A few scenes in this I got back to normal in, just enjoying writing the story, but I'm finding it really hard. I will try to update once a day still, but might miss a few. I'm really sorry, but finding it very hard.

I still feel this chapter is a little crap, but most people seem to not mind and enjoy it anyway. Which I'm really glad to here! If you do find it bad, I'm really sorry, I'm just finding it really hard to write at the moment.

TheFrogKiller's giving me a hand again, which I can't thank him enough for, so hopefully I'll be able to come up with something to keep this storyline from totally going down the crapper.

Oh, and Phabrizoe has an ironic line in here, considering how I behave and I wrote it. I wonder if anybody spots it…

CHAPTER 53

CONTEST

The robed figure held the flyer advertising the competition in his hand, and laughed.

"Now this is an interesting move." He announced to the mob that had brought it to him.

"It's a trap!" Somebody cried.

"No. No it is not." The figure stated simply. "Sampson wouldn't resort to this kind of trickery. Unless there is something we've overlooked. Maybe a spell to disguise a different fighter as Astra-" He paused. "No, it doesn't seem to be possible."

"What shall we do?" Somebody else asked.

"Enter, of course." The figure smiled. "A trap would be very bad publicity, we could turn it around just as easily as we'd manipulate her loss. She cannot win." He laughed. "And I'll be there for backup, of course."

"Do we all participate then?" Yet another of the mob asked.

"Unless you're scared of this one girl." The figure mocked. "We enter and we crush her. She's just making things easier for us." He grinned at the thought of his triumph.

Astra was stood outside of the Chateau, looking out into the darkness. The moon hung high in the sky, not quite full, and she was glad of it. She had no desire to be around Olose on a full moon. Phabrizoe finally found her, and wondered over to her. She turned away nervously, the competition was but a day away, and she was clearly afraid.

"I don't think I can do." She said softly, feeling Phabrizoe's presence magically. That made him shiver.

"Can't do it?" He asked incuriously. "Astra, these are one on one matches. Nobody could beat you. You're more powerful than I could ever be after only a few days of training."

"But they'll be skilled warriors. I've had no practice or experience." She spluttered.

"You could just wave your hand and blast them across the city!" Phabrizoe cried. "When I look at you, all I see is light."
"You mean you see hope in me?" She asked with a slight smile.

"No. I see a light. You physically give off a glow you've become so powerful. I can only see it now, I have to admit. When it's dark." He paused. "I'd be more worried about the other guys surviving."

"I don't want to kill anybody!" She said quickly.
"Then don't. You have the ability to cure wounds as well remember?" Phabrizoe pointed out. "Just your power. If they lose that footing, they won't have any ground to gain more supporters.heal anybody you injure. This competition is just to prove these accusers wrong. You just need to prove yourself, and believe me, you may do a lot more than that."

"It just doesn't feel right! Responding violently!" Astra explained. "There must still be other ways."

"If I learnt anything travelling with Olose, it's that a good deal of violence solves anything." Phabrizoe laughed.

"I wish Arcadia was here." Astra sighed. "She'd understand."

"I understand." Phabrizoe stated. "But I also know what's necessary."

"Sometimes I think they're right. I don't want to rule a kingdom. Maybe I'm not fit to be Queen." She sad to herself.

"They just want the throne for themselves, and have taken this opportunity. Never think badly of yourself, right? It's unproductive and annoys people." Phabrizoe told her, half smirking. Astra smiled slightly. "Now you should be sleeping. Tomorrow is going to be rough." He paused. "Urm, for everyone else that is."

Astra didn't sleep. She stayed awake, and she stayed tense. Until that following day. She was staring into the eyes of the first challenger. An elvaan monk who had trained with the galkas in Bastok to perfect his skills. He was well known for his awesome skill, one of the better challengers there, they said. And first she had to face. He wore a thick and heavy gi while Astra was clad in a simple white robe. She gulped. His dull eyes locked onto hers and she suddenly felt as if she was in a lot of trouble. The whistle blew and he ran at her at incredible speeds. She shut her eyes and quickly cast a fireball. He shot away from her at speeds even faster than when she had run, flying across the elvaan courtyard and slamming into the rock wall, causing it to crumble. He didn't move for a moment and the crowd fell silent.

"What power." Whispered a robed figure near the back in shock. "That's incredible. How did they-" He paused. "This must be investigated. If I could harvest-"

"Would the next challenger step into the ring, please?" Olose asked the crowd, enjoying his role as host, while Astra made sure the monk she had fought was still alive. There was a long silence. It seemed everybody had been shocked by her performance. A man in a long flowing blue trench coat stepped up.

"I'll take her." He stated.

"And you are?" Olose asked.

"I've studied the black arts for longer than this Princess has been on this planet. She's no match for me." He grinned.

"That's one helluva name folks!" Olose joked to the crowd.

"He's enjoying this far too much." Santia whispered to Dartian.

"Well, it does look fun." Dartian replied.

"My name will only be important when you carve it on the trophy." The black mage stated. "Until then, you know all you need to know."

"Clearly somebody thinks 'dark and mysterious' is still cool." Olose announced. "Very well. Princess Astra, you ready?" She nodded unconfidently. "Mr No Name, you ready?" Olose mocked.

"Of course." He replied with a smirk. Olose took a step back and blew the whistle.

The black mage quickly cast something.
"Ha! My shell spell is impenetrable." He taunted. "You'll never-" Lightning tore down from the sky cutting him off and ripped through his shell, leaving him limp on the floor. Astra sighed and opened her eyes again. The robed figure let out a sigh of his own.

"I can see where this is going." He said to himself. "I need not see any more of this. I have research to do." He turned and he left, before anybody could ponder why he was talking to himself.

He sat down, removing his hood, revealing the sharply cut grey hair and lifeless eyes of his face, a face that looked as if it was carved from stone. He had travelled to the San d'Orian library, and was looking into the mass of information stored within. He had found it. Records on Astra's past, arranged only recently to explain exactly what had happened to her. He had studied them well to be able to manipulate the masses against her, and was certain there was no mention of any magical abilities. He read it quickly. He found the part he was looking for. Details of the poison that had affected her. It stunted growth. Targeted her muscles and stopped them from developing or exhibiting any signs of strength. Like it had capped her ability to grow strong. But that would mean all the energy that would go to muscle growth would have to go somewhere. Into magic. Her magical growth. Stunted physical growth led to immense magical growth. He grinned to himself. That power was useless for himself, but an heir, a child easily manipulated into being loyal, given that power could become so powerful whole towns would fall to him!

He paused in his thoughts. No. Not magical power. Forget magic. Olose. Think of Olose. What if somebody like him had his power unleashed? What if-

He froze. Olose Sampson was stood over him.

"You know, that cloak of yours makes you stand out." The stranger leapt to his feet quickly. Olose laughed. "It was just a hunch, but I guess you're the one behind this."

"Silence fool." Snapped the stranger.

"Who are you?" Olose asked, circling him. The stranger seemed to twitch.

"You can just call me the Leader. I lead the people where no others dare. In Kazham, we fought for equality, here, we fight to throw out an outdated legal system." He smiled. "Perfectly innocent."

"Why me? Why are you so hell bent on killing me?" Olose growled.

"Because you are the one who stops evolution. You interfere. You aren't natural. So much should have happened but didn't because of your interference. You stop the natural development of things." The Leader told him.

"There's nothing natural about destroying a town!" Olose snapped.

"Oh, but there is." The Leader laughed. "These cities are nature. Just a different kind. They were developed by the elvaan, a natural creation of the goddess Altana. How we behave is natural. But that lycanthropic curse and you. You are not. You are a side effect of Promethia, the evil god. You are an unholy blight on this world that stands in nature's way!" He roared. Olose rolled his eyes.

"What a load of rubbish. You threaten lives. I stop you. End of story." Olose explained, already reaching for his sword.

"I just behave as nature has made me behave." The Leader explained. "The people around me, the cities, my own brain, it's all naturally evolved for me to behave this way. I can't help it. I'm part of nature's grand scheme of things."
"Shut up." Olose decided. "So, is this where we fight to the death?"

"Oh no. Not here, Olose Sampson." Laughed the Leader. "Not now. So much to do, you won't interfere." There was a sudden explosion from the direction of the competition. The Leader smirked for a moment, counting on such a distraction. Olose spun around, but the time he turned back, the Leader was gone. He cursed, but wasted no time.

He ran out in the direction of the competition, dodging the crowd who were trying to get there also. He ran up, and stopped, to see Astra standing, perfectly okay.

"What happened?" He cried, before seeing a burnt figure being dragged off on a stretcher.

"Oh." She said, feeling quite guilty. "I, urm, might of cast a spell too powerful."

"What? Why?" Olose asked.

"She hit me." Astra explained. "Luckily I healed myself, but it hurt. I overreacted."

"That's it." Dartian told them. "Looks like they're packing up and going home."

"Oh goddess!" Astra suddenly sobbed. "I nearly killed that girl! Just because she landed a single hit! I don't want this power! Make it go away! Make it go away!" Olose quickly hugged her.

"It's okay. You don't need it. Just relax. You can forget about it. Go back to how you were." He said simply.

"I can't! I can't!" She cried. "It's always there! Tempting me!" Santia put an arm around her.

"Come on Princess. Let's go inside." She said softly, clearly concerned about her well-being as well as wanting to get her out of the public eye.

Olose approached Dartian and Phabrizoe.

"I can't believe how powerful she's become." Phabrizoe said to Dartian.

"I know." Dartian whistled.

"I just had an interesting run in." Olose told them.

"You met our mysterious foe?" Dartian guessed.

"Yes. I didn't recognise him, and got a good look at his face. He seems to be somebody new. Gave me a loud of crap about how I'm an enemy of nature. I don't know if I quite believe that's his cause." He explained thoughtfully.

"And you let him get away?" Phabrizoe asked sceptically.

"Okay, mistakes were made." Olose admitted. "I got distracted. But at least we know who he is now. In a sense." Olose paused. "What happened here?"
"I doubt anybody will be implying Astra isn't strong anymore. I don't know what this guy's plan was, but he's not going to pull it off anymore. Not without severe trouble, anyway." Dartian answered.

"Be careful." Olose warned. "We may have just forced his hand. This might not be over yet."

"I had a feeling you were going to say that, Captain." Phabrizoe grumbled.

Author's Note: If you wanted to know what quote I meant, it's: "Never think badly of yourself, right? It's unproductive and annoys people." When I wrote that, I kind of laughed at how ironic it was. Felt I should point it out.