Here's the second chapter! I had to struggle between chapter title consistency and my artistic inspiration, so I had both. Enjoy~

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“Ha ha, very funny.” Bradley said with a deadpan expression, then he turned his head to look at Grandpa Thur.

“Let me guess: you want me to sponsor this person?”

“Why not? You can see that his combat skills aren’t bad.” Grandpa Thur asked.

“That’s not the point! If I sponsor such a blatantly skinny and green twig like this, I’ll be the laughingstock of the city!” Bradley retorted.

“Let them laugh. You’ll be the one to have the last laugh when you rake in the profits.” Grandpa Thur said.

“I can’t say the idea isn’t appealing, but…” Bradley remained undecisive.

“Excuse me, what do you mean by ‘sponsor’?” Briar asked, curious.

“In order to prevent cheating, and to keep the amount of Students down to a reasonable amount, there are seven hundred adult sponsors in this city. If you are sponsored by one, then that means you can instantly obtain the right to participate in the Ten-Year Student Contest without having to go through the preliminaries.

This is really great for those who don’t want their special skills seen and countered before they can even get up on stage. Although it is called the Ten-year Student Contest, it’s more like two different competitions rolled into one. One part is the martial competition, and the other is the magic competition. That is why the stage where this happens is in a rather unique shape.”

Bradley traced a figure eight in the air.

“Of course, if you’re a Magi’s disciple, then no matter who you are, you’ll be allowed into the magic competition. But if you wish to enter the martial competition, then you need a sponsor. Each sponsor can recommend up to two people. If they try to sneak in more than that, their status as sponsor is revoked for good.”

Briar was absorbing the knowledge like a sponge. “Can you enter both contests at once?”

Before Grandpa Thur could answer, Bradley burst out “Why would you ever want to enter both contests!? Is one not challenging enough for you!? Sure, there’s no rule against it, but still. If you’re good at one, then surely you’ll not be that good at the other. Why set yourself up for failure?”

“Just asking. The idea of someone running back and forth between arenas seems amusing. Especially since the resting areas would be right next to each other.” Briar replied smoothly.

So there are no rules against doing both, hmm? I’d have to be careful about the timing, but it seems possible. Briar thought to herself. Perhaps she could get Laura to help her when she and Master Thales arrive. Madame Rothema was also coming…hmm?

Briar’s palms began to sweat as she realized that she had missed several months of homework. She would have to attack the mountain of books in her bag as soon as possible.

“Briar, did you hear me? Hellooo?” Bradley waved a hand in front of Briar’s face.

Briar blinked. “I’m sorry, come again?”

“Bradley has agreed to sponsor you.” Grandpa Thur said, a bemused expression on his face.

“Oh! Thank you, Mr. Pendrag!” Briar bowed stiffly, slightly embarrassed about her lack of attention.

Bradley tapped his head. “Nice moves, but a little spacey…I’m already regretting my decision.” He sighed. “But, oh well! A man can’t go back on his word once it’s been pledged.You’ll need to figure out some sort of disguise for the martial contest. Sometimes students can hold a grudge and try to hurt the winners by striking out at their close family.”

Briar blinked and considered what she should do…If disguises were allowed in the ring, then she could just go as is. Then she could remove the disguise when she crossed over to the magician’s contest…Okay! It’s decided!

“I’ll be fine the way I am.” Briar said with confidence.

“Are you sure? There can be some crazy students out there.” Bradley asked.

“The way I am is fine.” Briar confirmed. After the Ten-Year student contest, the boy known as ‘Briar’ would disappear. Therefore, even if Briar’s face were to be memorized, it would mean nothing.

“Well, if you’re willing to be stabbed in the back afterwards, who am I~ Ah, yes, for those who are sponsored, you will need to make an appearance on the stage in about two weeks, so make sure you’re not late. Those who arrive after noon will be disqualified.” Bradley warned.

“Now, if we’re quite finished, I have some damage control to initiate. Children, Grandpa, Briar: You are welcome in this residence at any time starting next week. I’ll make sure the guards know your faces.”

Bradley politely shooed them out of his manor. Briar watched as the large door swung shut behind them.

Grandpa smirked and leaned close to Briar’s ear and muttered.

“Planning on entering the magician’s contest too, I see?”

Briar stiffened. That’s right! He already knows that I’m good with Magic! I messed up!

“Don’t worry, I won’t say anything. But if you’re going to disguise yourself for the magician’s contest, then make sure that you tell me something so that I can know which one you are.”

Briar looked sideways at him. “Why?”

“I want to try winning in the betting pools for both contests.” Grandpa Thur chuckled. “It seems more interesting that way!”

“There are pools? Where!?” Rien asked, looking eagerly about her.

“Not that kind of pool!” Karu corrected her.

“Then, what kind of pool is it?” Rien asked.

“You know it’s…um…” Not really knowing what a betting pool was, Karu turned to Grandpa for help.

“Ah, you know what? All of a sudden I’m really hungry!” Grandpa said, skirting around the subject. “How about we go and see if those street vendors are still selling the tasty food we saw earlier, all right?”

“Yay! I want the Chiwa meat, the fruits parfait, the spun sugar candy, lemon ice, cinnamon bu-”

“What the heck! You’re going to eat Grandpa out of money! You’ll throw up everything that you eat-either that or you’ll turn straight into a big fat flying pig!” Karu exclaimed.

“Am not! Bleeeh!” Rien replied, sticking her tongue out at Karu.

Grandpa Thur and Briar burst out laughing, and the group made their way down the streets to the marketplace.

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As they were enjoying their ice topped with fruit syrup, Briar noticed a stone circle set up in the town square. Stargate SG-1. Flashed through her head for a brief moment, as it looked really similar, but the runes made it apparent that it was nothing more than an ancient transportation archway whose other end had already been given a fixed variable.

In other words, as opposed to the one that she had made with Grandpa Thur, which could change as easily as rewriting a few runes, this one had already been anchored at both ends, and was riddled with non-interference runes.

“Almost as thorough as lawyers.” Briar muttered.

“I see you’ve taken an interest in the Grand Council’s circle.” Grandpa Thur said. “Incorrigible bunch of Fenrils, all of them!” (AN: Please recall that Fenrils are completely blue peacocks)

“I can imagine that. They’re probably huge on ceremony too.” Briar replied.

All of a sudden from behind them, a voice cried out. “Briaaaar!”

Briar turned around just in time to catch Helen as she charged headfirst into Briar’s arms.

“Whoah! Helen!? Where did you come from? Is Laura here, too?” She asked, but when Helen lifted her head up, tears began to fill her eyes, and she began to cry.

“Thank goodness!...Teacher said that you…that you fell down a very deep crack in the ground…sniff…She said you’d be all right…but how can anyone be all right after falling down a cliff? …Sniff...uwaah!!”

Helen’s hands grabbed tightly onto Briar’s shirt as the young girl started to bawl for good. Briar looked around, trying to find somewhere to calm her down, when her eyes locked with Madam Rothema.

“Teacher!”

She nodded a greeting. “Briar.” Then, Madam Rothema turned her attention towards Grandpa Thur, who was still enjoying a flavored ice at Briar’s side.

“Hello Arthur.” She said smiling.

Suddenly, things began to click together in Briar’s head. Bradley Pendrag…Arthur…Arthur Pendrag- NO WAY. Arthur Pendragon!?!