Chương 168: Chapter 157-Chosen Decision

You know when the worst time for you to be interrupted is? Maybe it's when you're about to head to the bathroom or perhaps when you're really hungry, and you're heading out to eat. Then there are the times when you're really late, and every carriage in the city decides to block your way. I'm partial to when you're racing against the clock to catch a demon. That would be the worst time to be interrupted. Wouldn't it? Professor Stargazer stands in my path with a quizzical look.

"Where exactly are you going?" she asks as she points a magical quill at me.

"Professor Stargazer, I was heading to the stage. The Student Council asked me to help out with some heavy lifting," I [Lie] as the clock tower rings five times.

"How kind of you," she says as the quill flips between her fingers. Damn it. I was supposed to meet up with Penelope and Hopper by now. Do I go to meet up with them and risk losing the Prideborn? Going alone is dangerous, but maybe I could… The quill continues to move as Professor Stargazer fidgets with it. Without much thought, I go to grab her wrist. She snaps away before I can grab her. An oddly unsettling smile crosses her face.

"Found me, ~" Prideborn says as she keeps her distance.

"What are you playing at? Wearing the faces of the people I care about. Running around like a kid. Why do all of this instead of just killing me in my sleep? You have the speed and certainly the power," I say as I rub my chest.

"What would be the fun in that? ~" she says as the quill subtly shifts into a silver dagger.

"Is that why you killed the Chosen Ones? They weren't fun?" Prideborn points the dagger at me.

"BINGO! What point is there in a fight if you're not having fun? I mean, I am the strongest, and they had no shot in beating me. So, why not even the playing ground a bit? ~""Because a fight without a shot of winning is boring?" I ask as a group of students passes between. The Prideborn shifts into Helia.

"You're starting to get it! I knew you would be fun. Not like Hofrin. He was a bore, but what would you expect from a High Elf? ~""Then this isn't a simple game of Tag, is it?" I ask as another student passes her as she subtly turns into Garus.

"Although Tag would be fun, I always like to add… extra challenges to my games. A little treat before the meal. Other than me, there are two other threats at this Festival. ~""The Purists! What do they plan to do?" I ask as I circle around her, only for me to lose sight of her. The Prideborn whispers into my ear, using Penelope's voice.

"My children have taken drastic measures to make sure this Festival will be… explosive. ~" she says with a grin.

"A fucking bomb?" I ask in shock.

"Bombs. They're set to go off in exactly 6 hours and 50 minutes, when the clock strikes midnight. ~""You're insane."

"Thank you. ~" How do I deal with bombs? I've never dealt with a bomb before. I'm going to need Penelope's help. I'm sure she knows how to do it with her eyes closed. With the help of Hopper, we can probably find them easily. Wait…

"You said two. Two other threats. What's the other one?" I ask, hiding my fear.

"I'm so glad you asked. You and Alex have been fighting for something or rather, someone. Let's just say that she's tied up. Somewhere in the city that is, ~" she says, lifting my chin with her dagger.

"Where is Carina, and what have you done to her?" I ask as I place my hand on Stabby.

"Oh, angry, more Wrathies thing, but I can work with that. She's fine… for now, but if you don't find her soon, Alex might, and we both know what he wants to do. Well, if you do stop him, your prize has an expiration. Can't exactly take the fun out of finding her. So, Chosen One, what will it be? Will you search for the bombs and stop the Purists' plot? Will you search for Carina and stop Alexander? Or will you search for me and win the game? You can't do them all.

~" Thinking back on what that Purist said, I shake my head.

"A decision. You're trying to force me into an impossible situation."

"Exactly! Save yourself, save these people, or save Carina. I'm far too interested to see what you'll pick, ~" she says, disappearing from sight. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Fuck! Fuckity fuck fuck! I look up at the clock tower to see the time tick away. Think, CJ, think! Finding the bombs should be my highest priority. If they go off, the number of casualties will be devastating. Wait, no! I need to think long term.

If I don't save Carina, then Alexander and the Purists will have free rein over the University. There's no telling what kind of damage they can do. Then there's Prideborn. She was sent here to kill me. If I don't win this game, I'll lose my shot at surviving. What do I do? What in the fuck do I do!? Penelope grabs my face and smooshes it.

"You didn't come to the clock tower," she says angrily. Hopper trails behind her.

"Thank the Gods. We thought something had happened to you."

"I ran into the Prideborn. We need to find her… no him… no the bombs. Damn it. Give me a second; I'll figure something out." Penelope turns my face to hers.

"Focus, Charlatan. What did she say?"

"... There are bombs hidden in the Festival, and Carina is hidden somewhere in the city. The game, the bombs, and Carina. They all have a timer on them. We need to pick between the three of them. She said we couldn't do them all," I explain as the coolness of Penelope's hands spreads through my face.

"Bombs? How would they have gotten them in? Our security is state of the art," Hopper asks. Penelope thinks for a second.

"Mana bombs. They're a relatively new import from the Dwarves. They're undetectable by normal means, but luckily they're expensive. Even for Purists. At most there are four of them."

"Okay, there are bombs. What about Carina? You said somewhere in the city. Where exactly?" Hopper asks. Thinking for a second, I catch my breath.

"Knowing the Prideborn? It has to be somewhere in plain sight. Hidden, but not. The last place I would look for her. The same place I would blame myself for because I didn't check. Carina's ruined bakery. She has to be there." Penelope nods.

"That leaves only one thing. Prideborn. How do we deal with her? You've seen how fast she is. There's no way we can tag her at those speeds, and that's assuming we can find her," she gestures to the crowd around us.

"We'll have to abandon that plan. Focus on the bombs and Carina," I say as I look up at the ticking clock.

"No. If we don't win, you die," Penelope says without a hint of hesitation.

"If we focus on her, a bunch of other people are going to die. We need to prioritize," I retort.

"I am prioritizing," Penelope says, holding my gaze.

"Guys, enough bickering! We have three problems, and there are three of us. Divide and conquer," Hopper says as he grabs our shoulders.

"Are you insane? You heard how she attacked him. He doesn't stand a chance," Penelope argues.

"You're right. Which is why CJ isn't going to be the one to face her," Hopper explains.

"Fine, I'll do it. I can use [Step] to-""You aren't going to fight her either. You're the only one who knows anything about these bombs. Penelope, you're our only shot of defusing them," Hopper explains. With a confused look, I tap my chest.

"Then I'll be saving Carina? Which leaves Prideborn to… you?"

"Yes. I'll take on Prideborn by myself," Hopper says without a hint of a joke.

"Charlatan, I think some of your idiocy has rubbed off on him. Hopper, you can't take on the Prideborn by yourself. She's killed three Chosen Ones. You stand no chance," Penelope explains.

"I can do it, and I'm the only one who can do it." Penelope goes to say something, but stops short as she notices something.

"Okay. I'm going to trust that you know what you're doing." Hopper looks over at me.

"Good luck. Try not to die," I joke. He covers the tattoo on his forearm.

"Don't worry. Hunting is my thing." As Hopper hops away, Penelope says, "If he dies, Luna's going to kill us."

"There's no doubt in my mind that she will. Okay, before I head out to search for Carina, do you need anything?" I ask. Penelope nods.

"I need a distraction. Something that will pull everyone into one place and out of my way."

"A distraction, huh? I think I can make a quick stop before I head out," I say with a devilish smile.

"Why do I not like the face you're making?" she asks.

"Just worry about the bombs, Penelope. Distractions are my speciality." Walking up to the Music Club, I spot William tuning his violin.

"Oi, I need you, Willster." William glares at me before placing his violin down.

"Yes, I know you told me not to call you that, but it's that serious," I say as I [Throw] his Magic Guitar at him. William walks up to me, guitar in hand. He then gestures at the stage.

"You're worried about the Student Council? Don't be. I've recruited some help to make sure they don't interfere," I say as I point over to Clara and Clint who are setting up a barrier around the stage. William pulls his leather jacket out from thin air and puts it on. He then materializes some shaded glasses that he promptly puts on.

"All you have to worry about is wowing the crowd."

"William, where are you going? We need to finish setting up for the orchestra," the Music Club president says as Willster begins to walk up to the stage.

"Sorry, but he's doing an impromptu show. Hope you don't mind," I say.

"Impromptu show? He can't just do that. William, get back-" The Music Club President slams face-first into a barrier that Clint and Clara just finished putting up. I would stay to watch, but I'm kind of on a time limit here. Hopefully that's enough of a distraction for Penelope. Now on to finding Carina before Alexander does. Rushing out of the University, I can feel the faint vibrations from Willster's guitar. Now that's what I call music.