Two hours had elapsed, and the Duke had located a total of four spheres out of the ten participants. Annoyance begins to crawl beneath his skin. It's not that he's struggling to find the participants; the forest practically oozes with mana tracks. Rather, his irritation stems from the absence of any tracks from the mana-less woman.

Terran proves to be an equally elusive target. His mastery over mana flow must be near perfection, for he too remains impossible to trace.

The Duke takes a deep breath, honing his focus on his surroundings with pinpoint accuracy. With his awareness razor-sharp, he detects a thin sliver of a thread in the air. This must be Terran's mana track, as elusive as it is invisible.

The Duke suspects the woman to be with Terran, given his evident fondness for her. He begins to follow this faint trace.

Terran and I have witnessed a total of four shots being fired into the sky over the past two hours. With each passing minute, an eerie sense of nervousness envelops us, stretching time into what feels like agonising lifetimes. The most recent shot rang out approximately 20 minutes ago. Terran conducted some scouting and discovered numerous participants fleeing from the right side of the forest. We suspect that the Duke may be searching in that direction.

Perched atop the trees, my senses remain keenly attuned to any movement below. Yet, to my surprise, I fail to detect Terran's stealthy approach from behind.

I nearly lose my balance on the branch as he startles me. Despite his efforts to cheer me up for the past 10 minutes, I remain too uneasy to find amusement in anything at the moment.

"Calm down; I'm sure he will find the other participants before he finds us," Terran tries to convince me.

"Yeah, well, you aren't the one possibly being hunted as a demon and facing the risk of losing your life! This is as real as it gets for me," I retort sharply.

"Come on, have some faith in us!" he insists.

I disregard his remarks and attempt to find solace in the silence of the forest.

Terran reclines on a tree branch, sporting a confident smile as if he has already secured victory in the tournament.

A few more minutes pass, and suddenly, Terran's eyes widen. He jerks upright from his previously relaxed position. I glance at him, noticing the confusion etched across his face.

"What?" I attempt to ask before a hand clamps over my mouth, silencing me.

He signals with his finger for silence.

The forest falls into an unsettling silence, causing a shiver to run down my spine. The once vibrant canopy now hangs motionless, as if time itself has been arrested. Not even the rustle of leaves or the chirping of birds disrupt the stillness. It feels as though the entire forest is holding its breath, waiting for something ominous to unfold. Terran's typically easygoing demeanour is replaced by an uncommon seriousness, his gaze sharp and unwavering as he remains intensely focused on his surroundings.

My gaze is drawn to a specific shadow amidst the trees, though I struggle to discern what captivates my attention. Determined, I honed in on that singular spot, attempting to penetrate its mystery. Suddenly, a pair of red, blazing eyes emerge from the darkness, locking onto mine. Before my mind can fully register the sight, my body reacts with primal instinct, sensing the danger that looms before me.

He is here.

"Alison, act now!" Terran's urgent shout pierces the tense silence.

My senses snap into high alert as adrenaline floods my veins. With a primal instinct driving me, I tense as Terran swiftly draws his bow, releasing an arrow aimed at a seemingly innocuous piece of paper affixed to a nearby tree. In the blink of an eye, the tranquillity of the forest is shattered by a deafening crack as the arrow punctures the paper, setting off a chain reaction.

Within moments, the once serene surroundings transform into chaos as smoke billows and spread with alarming speed, engulfing vast swathes of the forest floor in its opaque embrace.

Struggling to maintain coherence amidst the fragments of my frayed psyche, I hurl myself from the tree trunk, plummeting into the swirling miasma of smoke below. Each breath I draw is laden with the acrid tang of smoke, fueling the tremors coursing through my body. The knowledge that I am being pursued by a predator, a master of the hunt, sends shivers down my spine.

With every stride, I push myself forward, my feet pounding against the forest floor in a desperate bid for survival. My mind races as I navigate the labyrinth of trees and underbrush, every twist and turn a potential trap laid by my relentless pursuer.

Driven by a primal instinct for self-preservation, I hurtle towards the area where we had safeguarded the mimic incantation. Each heartbeat echoes like a drumbeat in my ears, urging me onwards as I race against time and the relentless pursuit of the Duke on my heels.

Terran had warned me that the Duke Prince might target weaker participants in the second round, putting me at a higher risk of being pursued than him. Consequently, he suggested employing the mimic incantation to throw off the Duke's pursuit. My task would involve 'accidentally' dropping the mimicked sphere and fleeing, feigning the forfeiture of my sphere. Distinguishing between a mimicked object and a genuine one proves exceedingly challenging. Once I apply the incantation to a different object, it will mimic the appearance of the sphere for a total of 5 minutes. Seizing this opportunity, I can create distance between myself and the Duke while retaining possession of the genuine sphere.

As I sprint onward, a small ball of fire streaks past me.

Already?

I sprinted towards a familiar tree, where we had concealed the incantation. Hastily, I lifted a nearby rock, revealing the purple piece of paper hidden beneath it. With practised precision, I affixed the paper to the same rock. Before my eyes, the rock shimmered and gleamed, transforming seamlessly into an identical sphere. The deception was so flawless, it was nearly impossible to discern the real from the mimic.

With the mimicked sphere cradled in my hands, I sprint onward, ensuring not to confuse it with the genuine one.

Within moments, the Duke Prince locates me and begins pursuit, his presence looming ominously behind me. Unarmed, he deliberately restricts his power to prevent unintentional destruction of the forest, but his lack of weaponry does little to diminish the threat he poses. His eyes bore into the back of my neck, searing like the mark of the grim reaper, intensifying the urgency of my flight.

My heart thunders against my ribcage, its frantic rhythm reverberating through my entire being as tears pool in the corners of my eyes. Each breath feels like a struggle, the weight of fear constricting my throat and stifling my lungs. Despite the numbing sensation creeping up my legs, I forge ahead, every step fueled by sheer determination. I refuse to yield, driven by the relentless pursuit of survival, for death's ominous presence lurks mere moments behind me, its chilling whispers echoing like a haunting melody.

I wish this was a mere contest for me.

Executing the plan flawlessly, my eyes catch sight of a protruding branch just ahead. With calculated precision, I deliberately entangle my foot, stumbling forward and releasing the mimicked sphere as I collapse to the forest floor. Prostrate and vulnerable, I steal a glance over my shoulder, only to be met by the imposing silhouette of the Duke, mere meters away. His gaze pierces through me with a blend of fiery intensity and icy detachment, rendering me frozen in place.

Time seemed to stand still as I lay there, gasping for air, my throat parched from exertion. The Duke halts his pursuit, transitioning from a sprint to a deliberate stride, closing in on the fallen sphere with deliberate grace. Seizing the opportunity, I summon every ounce of resolve, scrambling to my feet and propelling myself forward, the urgency of escape overriding the paralysis of fear.

After what seemed like an eternity of relentless flight, I finally sought respite beside a nearby tree. Collapsing against its sturdy trunk, I leaned my head back, my chest heaving as I struggled to draw in much-needed breath. The absence of the Duke's relentless pursuit registered in the stillness around me, signalling the success of our plan. Relief washed over me like a cooling breeze, soothing the feverish tension that had gripped my body throughout the harrowing chase.

"I think I lost him," I say, gasping for air.

"Did you?" a cold, shaky voice murmurs from mere inches behind me.

Looming dread once again envelops my body like a suffocating cloak. I recognise that detached and cold voice instantly; its chilling familiarity sends shivers down my spine.

But how!

The Duke's towering figure looms over me, casting a shadow that seems to swallow the surrounding forest. With a slow, deliberate movement, I turn to face him, meeting his cold gaze with a sense of fear.

I cannot breathe!

The Duke presses me firmly against the tree's trunk, his strength rendering me utterly immobile. Every muscle in my body feels paralysed as if shackled by invisible chains. The overwhelming fear gnaws relentlessly at my insides, leaving me helpless in its suffocating grip.

With a menacing flourish, the Duke thrusts the mimicked sphere before my eyes, holding it tauntingly close to my face.

"Did you truly believe a mere incantation could deceive my keen senses?" the Duke sneers, his voice dripping with disdain as he regards me with contempt. "I am a hunter of demons, after all," he adds, almost disgusted by my audacity to attempt such a foolish trick.

He rummages through my pockets with a swift, efficient motion, his fingers unerringly locating the actual sphere I had been clutching.

I lost.

"Well, you should thank Terran for this," the Duke remarks dryly, a hint of amusement lacing his tone. "He just saved you from getting disqualified."

"What?" I inquired, my voice tinged with confusion.

"This sphere is assigned to Terran, not you," the Duke clarifies. "Seems like he swapped spheres without you noticing. Congratulations."

The Duke releases his grip on me, and I stagger backwards, almost collapsing to the forest floor. I'm left in a state of disbelief, awestruck by the unexpected turn of events.

Did Terran sacrifice his chances of winning for me?

As the Duke launches the fifth and final pillar of fire into the air, a blaze of brilliance illuminates the forest. Before I have a chance to glance back at the Duke, he vanishes into thin air, leaving behind only a lingering sense of his presence. With nothing but exhaustion coursing through my veins, I find myself sprawled on the forest floor, surrounded by the dissipating remnants of smoke. The eerie silence is a stark contrast to the chaos that has just unfolded.

After what felt like an eternity, I finally reached the entrance of the castle, my mind still reeling from the events that transpired. As I approach, I notice the other participants gathered in small groups, their chatter a distant hum against the backdrop of my racing thoughts. Amidst them, I spot Terran, isolated and deep in thought, a stark contrast to his usual carefree demeanour. His troubled expression speaks volumes, betraying the weight of whatever burden he carries. It's a rare sight to see him so visibly concerned.

I walk towards him and ask, "Who is being all alone now?" I try to muse.

His gaze shifts up to meet mine, and his expression morphs into one of surprise.

"So... did he..."

"He found me, yes. Why did you swap our spheres?" I inquire, curiosity lacing my words.

"As you said, I am not the one whose life is at risk," he responds, his smile reassuring.

I stood there in shock. It was the first time someone had shown any care or consideration for my life. Once again, he had risked his chances of winning the contest for the mere possibility of saving a demon's life!

I engulf him in a tight hug, my voice trembling with emotion. "Terran, it was terrifying," I whisper, feeling tears welling up in my eyes from the intensity of our earlier encounter.

Terran smiles warmly and gently places his hand on my head. "It's okay, you're alive, and you made it," he reassures me with a comforting tone.

I release Terran from the embrace and wipe away the tear that had escaped down my cheek.

With a sense of relief washing over me, I realise that I no longer need to fret about winning the third round. When it begins, I'll simply forfeit. That way, I can avoid facing the Duke and ensure my survival once again.

"Thank you!" I exclaimed, my voice filled with joy and gratitude.

Terran smiles warmly before wrapping his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into a tight embrace once more.

The Duke strides to the centre of the courtyard, his presence commanding attention. "The following participants have succeeded and will proceed to the third round: Emily, Maxis, Albert, Cortel, and finally Alison. Congratulations," he declares with an air of cold detachment.

"To those who are disqualified, you are no longer permitted to participate in the contest. However, you are welcome to remain within the castle dorms and join the winners in their celebrations until the contest concludes," he announces. "Tomorrow, the final round will be held in the Kingdom Arena. It will be a spectacle for the entire Kingdom to witness as we crown the ultimate victor," he concludes his speech.

The ten participants file back into the castle once more, anticipation humming in the air as we prepare for the celebratory feast. Taking our seats in the same arrangement as yesterday, I can't shake off the unease settling in my stomach, knowing that the Duke Prince is seated right beside me.

However, as always, he appears completely unperturbed by the whole ordeal.

Stupid Duke!

Once again, the King extends his congratulations to the victors, and as the feast draws to a close, we make our way back to our respective rooms.

As I sink into the comfort of my bed for the second night, the thought fills me with relief. Tomorrow marks my return to normalcy, away from the Duke and the kingdom of Arcana.