Silver almost on instinct sunk into his chair in a vain attempt to no be noticed even though every eye in the hall had now turned on him. He felt numb, clearly he heard wrong. There was no applause but there was a growing murmuring. Echo had gotten up from her seat and was whispering something into Locke's ear. Silver looked over to Coral and Razor both were staring blankly at him. Locke nodded to Echo and cleared his throat "Silver the Hedgehog! Silver, could you come up here please?". Coral gave Silver a light push "Go on". As Silver got up, he stumbled slightly. He set off up the gap between the Shinobi and Yagyu tables. It felt like an immensely long walk; the top table didn't seem to be getting any nearer at all, and he could feel hundreds and hundreds of eyes upon him, as though each were a searchlight. The buzzing grew louder and louder. After what seemed like an hour, he was right in front of Locke, feeling the stares of all the teachers upon him. Locke wasn't smiling "Well… through the door, Silver". Silver walked along the staff table, Big was at the end, he couldn't say anything he just stared at Silver with complete astonishment. Silver went through the door and found himself in a small room adorned with trophies and painting. The three Champions were waiting by a large fire. They looked strangely impressive silhouetted. Mina was the first to notice him "What is it? Do zey want us back in ze Hall?". She seemed to think Silver was there to deliver a message. He didn't say anything, there was nothing he could say. There was a sound of loud scurrying feet behind him. Barker appeared first and took Silver's arm leading forward to the other champions "Extraordinary. Absolutely extraordinary! Gentlemen and Lady, may I introduce to you, incredible though it may seem, the fourth Emerald Champion!". Reynard suddenly straightened up and surveyed Silver. Sonic was looking between Silver and Barker as if he must have misheard them.
Mina however laughed "Oh, vairy funny joke, Meester Barker" "Joke? No, no, not at all! Silver's name just came out of the Flame of Solaris!". Mina frowned "But evidently zair 'as been a mistake. E cannot compete. 'E is too young" "Well, the age restriction is not enforced by law. It was simply a measure placed on the Flame. I'm afraid there's no backing out of it, he managed to put his name in it. He's obliged" "What!?" Silver blurted out. The doors opened again Locke entered followed by Windemere, Benidict, Puff, Infinite and Echo. Silver could here the buzzing from the students in the hall before Echo closed the door. At once Mina strode over to her Headmistress "Lady Windermere, zey are saying zat zis little boy is to compete also". Under Silver's shock he felt a small surge of anger "Little boy?". Windermere was glaring at Locke "What is ze meaning of zis?". Benedict pushed passed Barker "I'd rather like to know that myself. Two Soleanna Champions? We were under the impression that your spell would keep out younger contestants, Locke. Otherwise, we would, of course, have brought along a wider selection of candidates from our own schools". Infinite stepped forward "It's no one's fault but the Hedgehog's, Benidict! Don't go blaming Locke for his determination to break rules. He has been crossing lines ever since he arrived here-" "Thank you, Infinite" Locke said firmly and Infinite immediately went quiet.
Locke then looked at Silver who gulped, Locke had no readable expression, Silver was worried for a second that he might shout but instead "Did you put your name in the Flame of Solaris, Silver?" Locke asked calmly. Silver shook his head "No, sir". Infinite made a noise that sounded like impatient disbelief. Locke ignored him "Did you ask one of the older students to do it for you?" "No, sir" "Ah, but of course 'e is lying. Locke, you must 'ave made a mistake wiz ze spell" Windermere said. Locke considered "It is possible" "Locke, you know perfectly well you did not make a mistake!" said Echo angrily. She gave Infinite a stern look "Really, what nonsense! Silver could not have crossed the line himself, and as Professor Locke believes that he did not persuade an older student to do it for him, I'm sure that should be good enough for everybody else!". Benedict decided to change his target "Mr Puff, Mr Barker, you are the objective judges. Surely you will see this is most irregular". Barker looked to Puff for guidance. Puff was half in shadow looking troubled but then he said "We must follow the rules, and the rules state clearly that those people whose names come out of the Flame of Solaris are bound to compete in the tournament". Barker casually shrugged as if the matter was settled "Puff knows the rule book better than me". Benedict and Windermere were outraged "I insist upon resubmitting the names of the rest of my students until we all have two Champions. It's only fair, Locke" "It doesn't work like that. The Flame has gone out. It won't be ignited again until the next Tournament" "In which Grimm will certainly not compete. After all our meetings and negotiations and compromises, I little expected something of this nature to occur! I have half a mind to leave now".
The door opened again, and the familiar growling voice of Striker could be heard "Empty threat, Benedict!". He marched over to them "You can't leave your champion now. He's got to compete. They've all got to compete. Binding magical contract, like Locke said. Convenient, eh?". Benedict narrowed his eyes "Convenient? I'm afraid I don't know what you mean, Striker" "It's very simple. Someone put SIlver's name in that goblet knowing he'd have to compete if it came out" "Evidently, someone 'oo wished to give Soleanna two bites at ze apple!" Windermere said. Benedict nodded "I quite agree, Lady Windermere. I will be filling a complaint to your Ministry and the International Confederation of Wizards" "If anyone's got a reason to complain it's Silver" Striker shouted. Mina stamped her foot indignantly "Why should 'e complain? E 'as ze chance to compete, 'asn't 'e? We 'ave all been 'oping to be chosen for weeks and weeks! Ze honour for our schools! A thousand Gold Ring in prize money. Zis is a chance many would die for!" "Maybe someone is hoping Silver will die for it!".
There was an extremely tense silence which was broken by Benidict "You haven't changed, Striker. You still consider the morning wasted if you haven't discovered six plots to murder you before lunchtime. Apparently, he is now teaching his students to fear assassination too. An odd quality in a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Locke, but no doubt you had your reasons". Striker scoffed "Imagining things, am I? It was a skilled witch or wizard who put the boy's name in that Flame. It would take an exceptionally powerful charm to add a fourth Champion. A charm well beyond the knowledge of a fourth year". Benedict laughed "You seem to have given this a lot of thought, Striker. And quite the theory of course, but I heard you recently got it into your head that one of your birthday presents contained a cunningly disguised Iblis egg and smashed it to pieces before realizing it was a carriage clock. So, you'll understand if we don't take you entirely seriously". Striker's face was now inches from Benidict's "There are those who'll turn innocent occasions to their advantage. It's my job to think the way Dark wizards do, Benidict, as you ought to remember" "Striker!" Locke said warningly. He looked around everyone in the room "How this situation arose we do not know. It seems to me, however, that we have no choice but to accept it. Both Sonic and Silver have been chosen to compete in the Tournament. This, therefore, they will do" "Aw, but Locke-" "My dear Lady Windermere, if you have an alternative, I would be delighted to hear it". She had nothing but she, Infinite and Benedict all looked furious. Barker however was smirking "Well, this should be interesting. Got to give our champions their instructions, haven't we? Puff, want to do the honours?".
Puff seemed to have been brought out of a daydream "Yes… Yes, of course". He stepped forward into the firelight. Silver realised that he looked very ill compared to his appearance at the Cup. Puff beckoned the four Champions forward "The first task is designed to test your daring. so we are not going to be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard. Very important. The first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth, in front of the other students and the panel of judges. The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed only with their Talisman. They will receive information about the second task when the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempted from end-of-year tests". He took a tired breath "I think that's all, isn't it, Locke" "I think so". Locke put a hand on his shoulder clearly concerned "Are you sure you're all right, Puff? You're welcome to stay here for the night. You look like you need some rest" "No, really, I'm fine. Thank you, Locke, but I have to get back to the Ministry" "Well, I insist you have a drink before you go. I didn't see you touch anything at the feast". Locke turned only to find that Windermere and Benedict had already left with their respective champions. He smiled at Silver and Sonic "I suggest you both go to your Common Room. I'm sure Shinobi and Yagyu are waiting to celebrate with you, and it would be a shame to deprive them of this excellent excuse to make a great deal of mess and noise". Sonic and Silver glanced at one another before leaving together. Silver was relieved that the Great Hall was empty as they went through it. Sonic let out a short laugh "So, I guess we're up against each other again" "I guess" was all Silver could say, his mind was in complete chaos. After a few moments of silence Sonic couldn't help himself "So… how did you do it?" "What?" "Get your name in".
Silver finally snapped to reality "I didn't. I was telling the truth, really" "Oh… okay". He clearly didn't believe him "Well... see you" the two split at the entrance hall to their respective Common Rooms. Now alone Silver felt like a thousand voices were shouting in his head. Was anyone except Razor and Coral going to believe him, or would they all think he'd put himself in for the tournament? Yet how could anyone think that, when he was facing competitors who'd had three years' more magical education than he had when he was now facing tasks that not only sounded very dangerous, but which were to be performed in front of hundreds of people? Yes, he'd thought about it. He'd fantasized about it, but it had been a joke, really, an idle sort of dream he'd never really, seriously considered entering. That raised the question, who did enter him and why? Did they think they were doing him a favour, trying to make a fool of him or was Striker right and someone was trying to kill him? Silver found himself already facing Earthia's portrait. However, she wasn't alone, a walrus woman who Silver recognised from one of the portraits in the Chamber was also there. They both stared down at Silver "Well, well. Violet's just told me. School Champion, eh" "Balderdash" Silver said not in the mood to talk. Violet looked insulted "It is not!" "No, Vi, it's the password" Earthia opened the door. The blast of noise nearly blew Silver backward. About a dozen hands grabbed him and wrenched him inside. He was now facing the whole of Shinobi house all cheering and applauding. Mighty and Ray looked both annoyed and deeply impressed "You should have told us" "How did you do it without getting a beard? Brilliant!".
Before Silver could say anything Perci appeared "Oh if it couldn't be me, at least it's a Shinobi" "You can get back at Sonic for Last year now, Silver!" Lara-Su yelled over a few people. "I didn't put my name in!" Silver tried to say over all the yelling, but nobody wanted to hear that he wasn't hungry; nobody wanted to hear that he hadn't put his name in the Flame; not one single person seemed to have noticed that he wasn't at all in the mood to celebrate. Manic had unearthed a Shinobi banner from somewhere, and he insisted on draping it around Silver like a cloak. Silver couldn't get away, whenever he tried to sidle over to the staircase up to the dormitories, the crowd around him closed ranks, forcing another drink on him, stuffing crisps, and peanuts into his hands. Everyone wanted to know how he had done it, how he had tricked Locke's Age Restriction and managed to get his name into the Flame "I didn't," he said, over and over again "I don't know how it happened". But for all the notice anyone took, he might just as well not have answered at all "I'm tired!" he bellowed finally, after nearly half an hour. He wanted more than anything to find Razor and Coral, to find a bit of sanity, but neither of them seemed to be in the common room. Insisting that he needed to sleep, and almost flattening the little Skye as they attempted to waylay him at the foot of the stairs, Silver managed to shake everyone off and climb up to the dormitory as fast as he could.
To his great relief, he found Razor was lying on his bed in the otherwise empty dormitory. He looked up when Silver slammed the door behind him "Oh, hello" he was smiling but something wasn't right. Silver was suddenly aware he was still wearing the Shinobi banner and wrenched it off. Razor stared at him with a strange expression "So… Congratulations" "What?" "Well, no one else got passed the glass. Not even Mighty and Ray. What did you use, the Chaos Emerald?". Silver could hear resentment in his voice "The Emerald wouldn't have gotten me through it" "Oh, right. I thought you might've told me if it was the cloak because it would've covered both of us, wouldn't it? But you found another way, did you?" "I didn't put my name in the Flame. Someone else did". Razor raised his eyebrows "Why would someone do that?" "I don't know… Kill me". Razor rolled his eyes "It's okay, you know, you can tell me the truth. If you don't want everyone else to know, fine, but I don't know why you're bothering to lie, you didn't get into trouble for it, did you? That friend of the Earthia's, that Violet, she's already told us all Locke's letting you enter. A thousand Ring prize money, eh? And you don't have to do end-of-year tests either". Silver was starting to get angry "I didn't want this to happen, Razor! You're being stupid" "Oh, yeah, that's me. Razor, Silver the Hedgehog's stupid friend. You want to get to bed. I expect you'll need to be up early tomorrow for a photo-call or something" Razor closed the blinds around his bed ending the conversation.