The world itself seemed to hold its breath.
Maelys stopped her rampage, returning to her human form. She delicately picked a piece of wood from her coral hair and cast it aside.
Around her, it looked like a tornado had ripped the forest apart. Timber was flung in every direction and haphazardly piled.
Stepping lightly over the carnage, Maelys rejoined the other two ladies. Noble dipped her head as her competitor approached.
"That was some display," Child of Promise smiled warmly. "I have never seen anything quite like it."
Maelys looked behind Noble at the neat piles of chopped trunks and the extra pile of branches that could be used for firewood. Her smile became strained as she narrowed her gaze.
"Nor have I seen anything quite like you, Lady Bel."
The younger Saint spread her arms before the crowd.
"Good people, your champions!" Syrce clapped, inspiring the crowd to join her.
"Who won?" a voice in the crowd asked. Others echoed the question.
Syrce's confident expression faltered. "Oh! I need to examine the results before I can declare a victor."
The commander stepped down from the stump and strode to the first collection. She placed her hand on her chin.
"Neat, piled nicely, and ready to be tied together for rafts. An elegant and tidy display, dear Bel." Syrce complimented.
Noble felt filled with warmth by the words of affirmation. That was, until she looked over Syrce's shoulder at the elder sister.
Without any attention on her, Maelys's face was devoid of its usual demure smile. The face that looked back at Noble had empty, wide eyes...and was brimming with hatred.
Noble staggered from the sudden shock of emotion. It was nothing like when Nightmare Creatures aimed the anger toward her. It was directed and potent.
But as Syrce finished giving her assessment and turned her head, Maelys's strange expression vanished. It had been there for barely the blink of an eye.
The elder sister beamed down on the competition's judge. "Come and inspect what I did, Lady Syrce," Maelys curtsied. "I am sure you will find the results most impressive!"
'What the what was that?' Noble felt her head ache.
Had she imagined it? No, she was sure she hadn't. The hatred had been there, but only when no one was looking. The spike was similar to when Noble turned away from the Pink Ones after petting them for a while.
This reaction, however, was a hundred times stronger.
Noble pinched the bridge of her nose. 'And Flint thinks I am jealous...'
Lady Mae could not stand for someone else to be in the spotlight for even a moment!
Oblivious to Noble's silent accusation, Maelys eagerly took her sister's hand. She dragged Syrce to her side of the field. The younger sister looked around, nodding once or twice as she surveyed the scene.
"You certainly know how to take down trees, Lady Mae," Syrce said slowly. "I think in a few days, you will be able to rid us of the entire forest surrounding our new home. And your method of sorting is...unorthodox. And, well, I like how you..."
As the Saint floundered, Flint came up beside Noble. "Really stretching to find something nice to say," he muttered loudly.
"Quiet," Noble shushed him. "Let Syrce speak her piece."
Overhearing Flint's comment, Aether coughed lightly. "He isn't wrong. Your side of the field is superior. You did everything that was asked of you, while your opponent only loosely followed the rules of collection. There is really no contest. Lady Syrce is just being polite. I would know."
Child of Promise patted him on the shoulder with a small smile. Helie and Roan crowded around Noble. Their amusement at her impending victory was clear on their faces.
"Next time I am out camping, I know who I am calling to build a fire. Also, remind me to never get on your bad side. I wood-n't want to cross you." Helie received an eye roll for her pun.
"Your humor is sappy," Flint grunted.
"Yours is the root of your problems," Noble retorted jovially. "Don't worry, we know now that you are all bark and no bite."
"For crying out loud!" Flint turned to the cohort leader. "Roan!"
"Your complaint has been logged…" Roan winked as he tucked his scarf into his armor.
All eyes turned to the young man. It was his turn. Aware of their gazes, Aether shrugged.
"Don't look at me. I'm stumped."
'Was that…intentional?' Noble wasn't sure, so she gave the young man a chuckle and an affirmative gesture before focusing back on the pair of sisters.
The younger Saint was finally wrapping up her long-winded assessment.
"And I think your creative method for tree removal was not something any of us will soon forget…or be able to repeat. You really gave it your all, Lady Mae. I am proud of you!" Syrce nodded.
The elder sister leaned in, hanging on every word. "Thank you!"
Syrce walked back to the stump, which had become her makeshift stage.
The crowd's quiet mumurings settled into silence.
"I have seen the merits of Lady Bel and Lady Maelys," Syrce began. "And indeed they both deserve your praise and adoration. Thank you all for coming to observe them!"
She turned to step down, making Noble frown.
"No more stalling, My Lady! Announce the winner!" Some brave soul demanded from the back of the crowd.
Noble glanced but could not find the source of the noise. 'He must have bet some money on this to be so brash.'
Challenging Syrce was no small venture. But the Saint was too distracted to be angry at the instigator. She stopped in her tracks and turned around sheepishly.
"Can we not just agree that they have both done splendidly?"
Emboldened by the question, the crowd turned on their self-conscious Saint.
"Come on!"
"Don't keep us waiting, please!"
"We won't leave until a champion is crowned."
"Just say it is Lady Bel and get it over with!" The last comment was from Flint, causing Noble's ears to burn from embarrassment.
Syrce looked between the two women. What a thing to have to choose!
Maelys looked expectantly at her younger sister, hope gleaming in her grey eyes.
The Saint turned away.
"Lady Syrce?" Mae's voice drew the judge's attention once more.
"I...can't." Syrce pressed her lips together.
Mae turned her back on the crowd, seeming to inspect her handiwork. But Noble could see the tears welling up, ready to fall down her cheeks. Child of Promise's violet eyes became tinged with blue.
Syrce squared her shoulders. She touched the necklace around her neck, running her fingers along it with a tense expression.
At last, she sighed. The sooner Syrce spoke, the sooner she could get off the stage and the hundreds of eyes watching her.
"After careful consideration of both the amount of timber and its collection, the winner and champion is…"
Roan patted Noble on the back. "Well done, Bel!"
Noble stepped forward to receive her congratulations, but then her eyes met the Saint who called her friend.
Syrce cleared her throat and let her voice ring far and wide. "Yes, the winner and champion is Lady Mae!"