Chatting with Alexzander and Adaline, helped release some stress off of Phillip. He still felt stressed about the whole situation. He found out new information that wasn’t mentioned in the book at all. 

Why would that not be mentioned in the book?

“Well the killer was never mentioned.” Juliet answered.

I know but it just seems like a big deal. The parents conspired with a witch the entire time about their son. 

“Wouldn’t the author want you to discover that on your own. You did get to know how he was killed.”

I mean it makes sense now. But still I feel like that shouldn’t have been left out. What else could I be missing now?

 “You’re missing out on these good skewers. Also we haven’t seen Silas, Ian or Val anywhere.” Juliet pointed out. 

Oh shoot, how could I forget about them?

“Yeah especially when you were drooling over Mr Eye Candy.”

“Shut it!” Phillip snapped

“You good?” Adaline asked. 

Phillip sighed, he spoke out loud again. There’s nothing wrong with it, especially seeing that Adaline and Alexzander know Juliet. 

“Yea just talking with Juliet.” Phillip answered. 

“Is she annoying you?” Alex asked, eating his last bit of meat. 

“Yeah she keeps asking me for more meat.” Phillip lied. 

“She can have mine,” Adaline offered. 

“No, she’s had enough.” Phillip glared down at Juliet. 

Adaline shrugged it off and finished up her last few pieces of meat. They started talking about the tests that the contestants had to do. Both Adaline and Alexzander complaining about some of the other contestants. Saying that some of them didn’t seem fit to be King, talking about how they couldn't even shoot an arrow or were cheating. 

Phillip remembered about a few of those contestants. A lot of them weren;t the best and a few of them did try their best to cheat their way to the top. Luckily the best of the best were able to slowly but surely wipe out the fakes. Now that things have switched, the contestants are starting to show themselves earlier. Things are going a little fast, faster than Phillip would like. Something wasn’t right, something was off. Just like how Juliet figured it out in the forest. Maybe that’s when the other witch showed up. 

When you said something’s off earlier. Do you think that’s when the other witch showed up?

“Possibly but that’s such a long time before we found them. I don't think things pause in this book and wait for you to return back to them.” Juliet answered. 

Well maybe it did pause on itself, everything’s going pretty fast here. 

“Why would it pause on itself?”

I don’t know, okay. Just trying to make sense of everything. 

“Try to make sense faster since Silas and Ian just showed up.” 

Phillip turned around to see a whole bunch of people gushing over Ian. They were more likely trying to get on his good side, praising him and such. Hoping that he will send in a good word to his parents. They must have forgotten that his parents won't even look at him. 

Not being tall enough to look over the crowd, Phillip couldn’t find Ian anywhere nor Silas. Phillip walked towards the crowd, throwing his hood over his head. He slipped past people, making his way to the center. When he got to the middle, Ian was being held by two people. Another contestant and Silas. The crowd wasn’t gushing over Ian at all, they were circling around ready for a fight to break out. 

Silas was holding Ian close to him by his upper arm while the other guy was holding onto Ian’s other wrist. They were shouting at each other, which Phillip could barely hear. The crowd around them was getting way too excited. Everyone was shouting. Looking around the crowd, Phillip tried to find Adaline or Alexzander or Juliet but he couldn't. 

Looking back to Ian, he was hiding himself as much as possible in Silas’s chest. While Silas had a protective arm wrapped around him. The other man had finally let go of Ian, and one of his buddies had joined him. 

Phillip didn’t understand what was happening, but this event was similar to the one in the book. Silas and Ian returned to the market together, and everyone saw. Except once they saw Ian, they started to gush over him. Now they were arguing and shouting profanities, some taunting and waiting for the fight to break out. 

Ian shifted his slightly, frantically looking around the crowd until his eyes landed on Phillip. His eyes threatened to cry and his face was pale, his makeup was smeared a little from Silas’s shirt and his hands were shaking. 

Ian mouthed ‘help me’ to Phillip. 

Phillip went straight over to the man who was shouting at Silas and shoved him hard, pushing him into his buddy and both fell over.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!!” Phillip screamed. 

He had grabbed everyone’s attention, they all turned to him. 

“What do you think you’re doing?! Don’t touch him!” Phillip ordered at Silas, ripping Ian out of his hands. 

Silas looked at him shocked and Ian was stammering, defending whispers to Phillip. Phillip knew that he couldn’t treat Silas like he was special, even if he’s one of the main characters. Everyone around would grow suspicious.

“You! You think you’re some big hot shot or some shit! What makes you think you can waltz in here and start fighting anyone you please!” Phillip had turned to the man who had grabbed Ian’s wrist. 

“What are you going to do about it, twat?” The man taunted.

Phillip stared at him, before sticking out his hand and conjuring up a sword. The crowd gasped, whispering that he was a witch. They stepped back a bit as Phillip stepped towards the man. Ian clenched his hands on Phillip’s cape, not moving too far away from him. 

“I could slice your head off right now.” Phillip answered.

“That’s against conduct.” The man’s buddy commented.

“And yet here we are. You two wanting to fight without the fight being organized. That’s also against the rules. Wouldn’t want the King and Queen to find out that you went against their words.” Phillip provoked.

“What are you gonna do about it, witch?” The man spat the word, like it’s a disease.

“Well I could go and tell them that two of the contestants are trying to brutally murdered other valuable contestants. I could tell them that you are threatening people.” 

“Why would they listen to you?” The buddy questioned. 

“I’m a witch, why wouldn’t they listen to me? Not to mention you threatened the Prince's life.” Phillip added.

“Prince?” The crowd shouted.

Phillip turned to Ian, he nodded his head. Ian took a deep breath.

“I am the Prince, Prince Ian.” He informed everyone. 

The crowd stood there in shock, they couldn’t believe that he had come out of the castle. Silas took the opportunity to be the first one to bow, having everyone else follow. While the man and his buddy didn’t.

“Well?” Ian asked, waiting. 

“This isn’t the prince. He’s been instructed to stay indoors and away from the people.” The man answered. 

“That’s what my parents want you to think.” Ian stated, growing confident.

“They want you to think that he has to stay indoors and away from everyone.” Phillip repeated. 

“It’s actually a lie that they made so that I am able to come out and report back to them about the contestants.” Ian lied. 

“I am here to protect him from low-lifes like you.” Phillip pointed out. 

The man and his buddy didn’t know how to respond. The lie made perfect sense. Ian secretly checks in on everyone, making sure no one is cheating or lying. Reporting back to the King and Queen about his findings and having people eliminated. Why it made sense that he walked into the marketplace with Silas. 

However the flyer did say that Ian was “sick” but no one seemed to remember that fact and didn’t question any further.

“So I suggest all of you go about your business and don’t do anything stupid, or I will have you not only thrown out of the contest but our land as well!” Ian threatened. 

The crowd murmured to each other, before taking his word and leaving. The two men didn’t leave right away but eyed Phillip suspiciously. They bowed to Ian before leaving. When the crowd was gone, Phillip dragged Ian over to Adaline and Alexzander’s tent. With Silas following behind them. 

“What happened?” Alex stood up when they entered the tent. 

“People were threatening Ian.” Phillip stated, guiding Ian into the tent. 

“I need a word with you.” Phillip told Silas. 

“Watch him.” Phillip ordered Adaline and Alexzander, before stepping out with Silas. 

They took a few steps away from the tent to make sure that no one was listening. 

“What were you thinking?”

“He wasn’t thinking.” Juliet joined in from somewhere. 

Not now.

“I was so caught up with Ian that I didn’t think about what everyone else was thinking.” Silas answered.

“These people don’t like our kind. You have to be careful, especially with Ian. He has been through enough already and doesn’t need any more crap.” Phillip informed. 

“I know, but they came out of nowhere and started accusing us and saying disgusting things. When I tried to get Ian out of there, the crowd of people just started forming. Trapping us in there. Ian kept looking around and asking for you. Then you showed up and you know the rest.” Silas explained. 

“Lucky, I was there. I don’t know what could’ve happened to him or you.” Phillip sighed. 

“Yea, thanks for coming... I didn’t know you could make things with your hands, like a witch.” Silas added. 

“Yeah, the maid outfit was just a disguise. In ‘secret’ of protecting Ian.”

“Protecting him from what?” Silas asked, concerned.

“Someone is threatening to kill Ian.” Phillip answered.

“Who?!”

“Relax lover boy, I’m not sure yet but I'm looking.”

“Let me know what you find, no ones hurting my Ian.” Silas demanded.

“I will. We won’t let anyone touch Your Ian.” Phillip teased.

“I-I mean Prince Ian.” Silas blushed. 

Phillip chuckled at his reaction. There was an awkwardness that fell upon the two. 

“Shouldn’t you ask Ian about the whole other witch thing?” Juliet reminded him. 

“Can you bring Ian out here, I need to talk to him?” Phillip asked, “Wait, take this too please.” Phillip handed the sword to Silas. 

“When were you able to conjure things?” Juliet asked.

I’m not sure, this is very new. I could only do like little things; such as a pencil or tissue. Stuff I would need. 

"Well I don't know when you would ever need a sword, but magic here is stronger so maybe all of your 'normal' magic uses have amplified."