Twenty-four hours had passed since the gathering of the players, and twenty-four more hours to go before the game commenced. No one among the players had a clue as to what the game would be, but news of various deaths among the players had been circulating almost everywhere. As Ueno had instructed, they were not allowed to leave the chamber alone and they had to keep each other's company for precautionary measures. Elois casted a protective spell around their room, so for the time being they are assured that no harm would come their way. However, this does not bode too well for the bard, as he kept pacing inside the spacious room and would peek at the window every now and then.

Hiraya does not pay them too much attention, for she seemed to be too preoccupied with her environment as she stuck by the window like glue and seemed to be admiring everything that catches her eye.

Estil was also preoccupied, doing stretching and light drills before turning on the switch for her full-swing blade practice. Her footwork, reflexes, movements, and the way she wields two swords were too fine and calculated. Her movements show the years of relentless practice she's had, and the results were superb.

It was Elois who couldn't ignore the pacing any longer. She shut the book she was reading and shot the bard a glare. "Will you quit it?"

The bard ignored her.

Elois counted to ten before speaking up again, "I said, will you quit it? You're distracting me from reading my book!"

The bard stopped for a moment and made a graceful curtsy, "Oh, I apologize, your highness."

"You do love mocking." Everyone stopped their personal tasks and stared at Hiraya who, for the last eight hours, had been as silent as a falling snow.

"Oh," gasped Diego, "She speaks!"

Estil sheathed her swords back into their scabbards as a small smile played on her lips. "Stop it, bard. You make it hard for everyone to like you."

Diego made a dramatic flaunt, "Oh no, I'm sure the mage kid loves me. I could feel a hole digging at the back of my head from her loving stares."

Elois, on the other hand, was making a disgusted expression on her face.

"What's that?" Hiraya spoke once more.

"She speaks again!" Diego sounded flabbergasted, and Estil clobbered his head with a loud thwack to serve as warning.

"Ow! Geez, I'm sorry." he cried.

Elois chuckled with glee.

"That?" she answered Hiraya in his stead, her gaze falling on the Lute baggage resting on the foot of the chair.

Hiraya nodded.

"That's a Lute. Have you seen one before?"
She shook her head.

"It's a musical instrument and it makes a beautiful sound when played."

"Where I came from, people used to play music using reeds and pipes. They said it was beautiful, they said it sounded wonderful. It makes me wonder what it's like."

Diego was still rubbing the back of his head as he gave the black-haired woman a questioning glance, "Used to?"

Hiraya nodded.

"Why?" It was Elois who asked the question, the book she was reading was finally put down to rest.

Hiraya stared at the window, her gaze was far and deep, as if seeing things that the rest of them could not see.

"Where I come from," she said, "Music is not allowed. Any form of celebration is prohibited. I do not remember what actual music sounded like, until I came here. Growing up, the music of nature is what I've only heard, and I thought that was beautiful. And I never thought it could get more beautiful til I heard a random band playing by the port when I came here."

Everyone fell silent. The noise of the people chattering and yelling outside is what filled the awkward silence but Hiraya seemed to pay no heed.

It was Elois who broke the silence by asking another question,"I've heard it once from the elders of our village. It was the Hunter's Guild, right?"

Hiraya did not respond.

Diego walked towards the child and flicked a finger on her forehead.

"Ouch! Whatever was that for?" she cried. He walked towards the chair where his Lute was resting, took the instrument out and propped himself on a stool nearby.

"Allow me to play you something, my lady," he said, and started plucking the strings of the Lute.

Hiraya's ears perked from the sound, and when the bard started singing, she sighed and closed her eyes.

The four of them spent their afternoon listening to the songs of the bard, and it was hauntingly beautiful. For a time, everything seemed to feel peaceful, as if they were in a dream. But the dream was too fleeting for they heard a familiar knock on the door, waking them all up.

Elois blinked her eyes from confusion before jumping out of her chair when she realized who it was, "It's Ueno!"

Estil walked towards the door and Diego stretched his arms. "Finally, a chance to get out of this wretched room!"

She opened the door, and Ueno's grim expression on his pretty face welcomed Estil.

"Whatever is the matter?" she asked.

"The schedule was moved ahead of time." He walked inside the room and removed the blue cloak he was wearing on top of his Imperial uniform. He looked gorgeous again today, as usual.

"Moved? What do you mean?" Diego asked, placing his Lute inside its bag.

"Six hours to go before the game commences."
"What?" Diego and Estil exclaimed in unison.
"Yes, and we are still short of two more players."

Estil let out a sigh. "You should have allowed me to go outside too, and I could've made my pick as was promised."

"I could not risk you," he replied.
"Dear Sir, you cannot protect us forever. So as the leader of the team, I'm asking for your permission to allow me to get outside and I'll be back with new team members. Your pickiness nor your stubbornness will not lead us anywhere!"

"I agree with the lady," Diego seconded. Ueno shot him a stare. "You always agree with the ladies."

Diego laughed, "Hey there, I mean it this time. Here's a proposition, why don't you allow the lady and I to go out and scout some players for the team? Or maybe you could come?"

Ueno grunted. "I can't, I'm too busy for the moment. Until the game commences, my presence is still obliged in the Palace."

"See?" Estil said matter-of-factly.

Ueno took a deep breath. "Alright, point taken. We go out at once, I'll be accompanying you."

Diego started to utter his protest, "But I thought--"

Ueno's stare shut him up, for his aquamarine blue eyes were about to split him into half.

"Alright! Dammit, I'll be stuck inside this room again babysitting a child and a mute? Oh, I'm sorry I forgot she speaks, " he mumbled, not too loud but not too quiet not to be heard.

"Pull yourself together," Elois chidded, "six hours and we'll be out of here."

Estil put on her cloak and armed herself with her short blades and swords, "I'm ready."

Ueno was watching her, his eyes surprisingly warm. Estil's smokey gray eyes met his liquid blue-green eyes and he smiled. "Yes. " He then glanced at the bard, "hey you. You watch the kids."

They heard Diego cursing out loud before the leaf of the door closed behind them both.