Chapter 11: Knowledge and Strategy Trial (Pt.2)

Jan announced the start of the second Wizard Trials to the waiting crowd. In his throne booth, Lyon's mouth twitched with a smile when he saw a close up view of Kairo's face: he couldn't help but admire the man's calm demeanor.

On the stage, Kairo was behind a podium stand at the center of the others: Genie was on his left, Lady Bluesteed on his right, Henka-guard and the countess were crunching their knuckles at a far end.

"Get started already," Leela impatiently demanded.

Jan outlined the rules: the trial would consist of three two-turn rounds. The rounds were Blank Words, Guess the Sound, and Question Me. The crowd's roar was berserk at hearing the game favorites were going to be played.

"The player who scores the most points across all rounds, wins." He glanced at Kairo over his shoulder, "You better hope you're the winner."

Kairo swallowed a nervous knot: reminded of the stakes for losing.

Jan moved to one side of the stage. Spotlights were cost over the players. He started the first round, explaining the rules. In Blank Words players filled in missing letters to guess a word. The player who guessed the correct word first scored a point. If they guessed correctly with the most blanks remaining, they received double points.

"I remind you to hit your button to answer. Any answer without it is invalid."

Kairo looked at the glowing green button on the lectern. "I'm about to play a round of a Hangman so I don't get hanged like strung beef for Shriekers."

He shook his head to focus on strategies. His language skills were limited to the basics the Demon Prince had transferred into him. "My best shot is to guess the word when most letters are revealed." But this meant to be fast at the right moment.

"Round one starts." Jan clicked his fingers to call up a display image of a fragmented word midair before them. "What is this word?"

D_ _K

Lady Bluesteed pressed the button first. "Oh, um..."

"O is incorrect." Jan confirmed.

"No, that wasn't going to be my choice." Lady Bluesteed fumbled. Jan opened the question for others to answer.

"Too late. Oh, and O is still O," Genie laughed, stirring a pout and ear twitching from the horse-girl.

Genie and Leela slammed their buttons at the same time.

"I was first," Leela haughtily declared.

"Dream on warrior countess. Your fist was too slow, like your brain." Genie's banter stirred laughter from the crowds.

Rage flushed the countess's cheeks. She shoved a pair of dull gray daggers in his face. "We'll fight it out here and now!"

Jan pulled out his wand and moved it with a flourish to stir a magical bind around the feisty girl. "Cool your head and play the game or leave the stage."

Leela pouted when her daggers were returned to their sheaths with Jan's magic, and she was freed. She returned to her podium.

"The chance goes to Genie."

Genie tapped a finger to his chin with a thought, "Hmm, I think..."

"I is correct."

Kairo watched the blank space after the 'D' became an 'I'.

"Fresh. I bet the next letter is a C with an offer to buy a drink at the bar," Henka-guard scoffed with some funny thought in his head.

"Hit the button if that's your answer." Jan reminded him.

"Why not." Henka-guard slammed the button so hard a tiny crack formed. "My guess is a 'C' for Dick."

"Correct. The word is Dick."

Surprised murmurs were heard from the crowds at the guard's win. A lot of bets were placed against Kairo's odds.

"The word was Dick? That is fresh." Kairo commented.

Jan nodded. "Actually, dicks aren't the best fresh. The aged porkle loin has to be laid out on a drying slab for days, then minced and blended with wine so it can be turned into a savory pâté. Excellent dish for court parties."

"You eat the dicks?!" Kairo's mind was trying to swap his meaning of the word with this world's.

"A highly delectable treat. Our Valide Sultan can't get enough of it. Unfortunately, for her, it's always in short supply." Genie offhandedly commented, which stirred a few laughs from the crowds and Lyon.

Jan went to the next word.

P_a_t

Lady Bluesteed hit the button. "I know this one. The letter after the P is O for Poalt!"

"Wrong. Next guess."

"Poalt?" Clearly that wasn't a word in Kairo's vocabulary.

Jan kept the turn going. Leela slammed her button and instantly said "L for Plait."

"Knew you'd say that letter, loser," Genie muttered under his breath, which only Kairo heard.

"L is correct, but the word is incorrect." Jan corrected her.

"I still get a point for guessing the letter."

"No."

"Why you!" She went to whip out her daggers again, but this time was controlled by Genie who materialized a paper bag over her head. She struggled, trying to take it off.

"A great improvement." He smirked as his magic discreetly made the bag's hold tighter.

She blew off stray tufts when she finally managed to yank it off. With a wave of one hand, her hair was in a perfect smooth ponytail and soft fringe again.

Kairo felt anxious. He had to make a move, so hit his button for the first time, and felt the crowd's burning gaze on his face as they watched attentively.

"Your guess?" Jan asked.

His head spun with words. It was the first time he appreciated all those microtransactions he had made on the Word Magic game app. "Plant!"

Jan stifled a smile when he nodded. "Correct. Turn goes to Kairo."

The word was revealed to all before it disappeared. Cries of outrage burst from all the crowd who lost their bets. A quick update of the scores were revealed on the midair display screen. Leela, Genie and Lady Bluesteed were on zero. Henka-guard and Kairo were tied with one point.

"I'm tied with you again!" Henka-guard roared, unimpressed to be sharing top-rank with the runt.

"We now come to Guess the Sound." Jan announced. He gave an overview of the game. A sound barrier was erected around the stage to prevent audience spoilers.

Kairo's mind entered an intense focus.

"What beast makes this sound?"

A blaring moo noise rebounded around the stage.

Lady Bluesteed did an excited jiggle as she pressed her button. "I know this one. It's Sheeckle!"

Genie flashed her a wry look. "Sheeckle? Don't they go laaaah."

"Lady Bluesteed is wrong. Next guess." Jan confirmed.

Kairo slammed down on his button and blurted. "Cow."

"Incorrect. Next guess."

"Isn't that the sound Earth bulls make?" Genie excitedly asked, feeling smug about his knowledge from the Chronicles of Sol.

"Actually, cows talk like that," Kairo corrected him.

"Really, then how do bulls talk?"

"They, um, go more bir. Although, it's a noise they make rather than talking."

"Bah! That's a Zepafish, stupid." Leela loftily butted into the conversation and yelped when she felt a tiny pin sting her forehead. Genie feigned innocence. She held back her reactions, with thoughts that she'd punish the smug specter later.

"Makes that noise when it's squealing for its life." Henka-guard crunched his knuckles for emphasis.

"You're a very disturbing man." Kairo shuffled closer toward Genie's podium.

"And you'll be paste when this is over."

"Hang on, I read bulls go moove." Genie drew Kairo back to his questions.

"Nah, that's a flavored milk brand. Bulls are angry and butch so more like burr."

Jan tapped his arm with an impatient finger as he saw the players going off in their tangents.

"If you're all finished with your chatter, back to the question."

Henka-guard slammed his button, forming another crack on the surface. "Limegoat."

"Correct. Limegoats go moo before they madly kick their victims into the air." Jan confirmed and moved on to the next question. Points were eventually awarded.

The totals were recapped at the end of the round. Lady Bluesteed clapped her hands excitedly when she saw a point against her name. However, Genie and Leela were grumpy about being tied on zeros. Henka-guard's burning desire to smash Kairo into a pulp increased when his score put him in first place.

The final round--Question Me started.

Kairo gulped. "Now I'm playing Jeopardy to save my life."

Leela pressed her button before Jan gave a question, which had the crowd laughing.

"Hit the button, after I give the answer. Remember, you have to ask me the question."

The word Banker was displayed before them. Kairo swiftly slammed his button, forgoing strategy. "Who do I scam for cash?"

Jan was surprised at Kairo's correct answer. "That is... correct."

The others were shocked as well: not many people knew of bankers as they only dealt with the wealthy. Genie frowned, feeling the pressure of being on a zero score. His pride wouldn't accept a crushing defeat like this. Especially, in a tie with that brawn-brain countess.

The word Binders appeared on the display screen.

Genie and Leela slammed their buttons simultaneously.

The guess went to Leela, who pretentiously flicked hair off her shoulder. "What do I use to tie up my Sheeckle?"

"Wrong."

"What do you mean it's wrong?" She madly blurted, but Jan ignored her as he carried on.

Lady Bluesteed looked worryingly at Genie, who was doing his best not to cast another spell on the countess.

"What do I use to train my sword?" Henka-guard blurted at the same time he banged the button.

"Wrong."

Lady Bluesteed and Kairo shared a pensive look when they hit their buttons simultaneously.

"You go Kairo. This is for your life." She politely offered, which had his heart racing with appreciation for her kindness.

"I will not forget this kindness nor will I leave it unpaid." He earnestly responded that it had girls in the crowd swooning and squealing adoration for him.

He coughed to clear his throat and gave his answer. "What do I use to make paint?"

Jan's jaw dropped, flabbergasted. "Correct, again."

The display changed to an update of the scores. The crowd erupted with a mixture of shock, exasperation and awe to see Kairo had won with a one point lead over Henka-guard.

"There's no way he could've got those right! He had to be cheating!" Leela shouted angrily, with jeering from Henka-guard.

"He answered them from his own mouth. Face the loss." Genie snapped impatiently at her.

"I refuse to believe some demon-specter wasn't feeding answers into his ears." She maliciously retorted with her accusations.

"You disrespectful fackle! I would never dare to dishonor Kairo's chances." Genie snapped at her, livid.

Kairo frowned, annoyed by her slander targeted at Genie. It was one thing to slander him because he was an alien, but to tarnish the reputation of an innocent person because she was a sore loser was unacceptable. He stepped boldly before Leela with his challenge.

The crowd's noise faded to silence.

"Unbelievable. You can't accept that you're a loser, so you blame others. Fine. I challenge you to a fair match. Should I win, you better bow down on all-fours to Genie with an apology."

"Ho?" She leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest, as she stared down at him. The alien dared to show spunk.

A heavy silence lingered between them with Genie in the middle, whose heart was racing wildly for Kairo's manly display.

Fierce whispers and murmurs broke out through the crowds again.

Lyon sighed and clicked his fingers to draw the screen to his view. The stadium went into an instant hush with all eyes on the screen.

"Court Visor Jan, what is your advice?" His calm voice resonated to everyone, keeping their focus on his face.

Jan clasped his hands behind his back and stood tall when he said, "Let them battle in the final trial. A battle between magic users. If Kairo wins, Countess Leela has to apologize to Genie on all-fours. If he loses, not only will he die, Genie's honor will be implicated."

"So be it." Lyon emotionlessly agreed and clicked his fingers to return his view screen to the image of the stage. The stadium was a din of whispers and feverish gossip again.

"Brother." Genie looked sadly up to his brother's throne booth.

"I'm sorry," Kairo apologized to the man.

Genie brushed off his feelings and shook his head. "Don't be. You did the right thing. I believe in you. It'd be great to see that witch bow down to me."

Leela smugly stood before the men with her hands on her hips. She pointed a finger at Kairo. "Prepare to die," then moved it to Genie. "Prepare to live a miserable life in a Purgatory Cell."

She boldly left the stage.

Henka-guard stood before the men with a far different expression and attitude. It made Kairo wonder if the guard he had experienced up until now was due to a competitive streak. If so, he couldn't find the man unlikeable.

"I'm... Sir, I'm sorry." He bowed with his apology to Genie, and added to Kairo when he rose. "I'll help you prepare. It's clear, you're useless with weapons. I doubt you'll know how to wield magic." He added confidently, "I'll bring out your best with my training."

Jan nodded when he came up to the men. "You can use pills."

"I'll help too." Lady Bluesteed chimed in.

Kairo's eyes relaxed as he felt warm from their support. Energy flowed through his body. He glanced at his pendant and saw it glowing with a yellow light.

"How fortunate!" Jan looked excitedly at it.

"Fortunate?"

"Your grimoire is about to activate. When that happens, magic will be freely available to use."

Kairo held up his pendant, feeling warmth from its glow. But the moment was brief, returning it to its dull state.

Jan explained that Wizards cast their magic from their Grimoire, which was usually in a form comfortable to them. Unlike Mages who had the ability to harness external energies with their bodies to form magic.

"So, to use magic, I'm relying on my pendant?"

"It would seem so. Bear in mind, my knowledge is based on historical documents. As there hasn't been a Wizard for a long time, it's unclear if this is a fact. So far, from what I've observed, it seems to be so."

Jan prompted everyone to move off the stage and into the preparation area.