D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

Chapter 1203 1203 What The Other Teams Are Up To

A chapter for everyone but Kress and Blue that are listed below

The Competitors: Kress, Borgick, Midnight, Stan, Ellenell 

The Assistants: Blue, Marigold, Carl, Gareth, Burgandy

--- Borgick & Marigold ---

”Soooo… like, whatʼs the plan here?” asked Marigold, putting on an accent to make it seem a as if her intelligence had dropped several levels. Sheʼd dropped into a blank stare while chewing on some of her hair just to get the point across. 

”How the heck should I know you daft elf? Just because Iʼm a dwarf doesnʼt mean Iʼve got experience building stuff. Besides, sand is basically a waste product! I donʼt ask you if you know how to grow trees using sawdust!” insisted Borgick. 

Marigoldʼs gaze turned sharp as she glared at Borgick with some heat, ”I DO in fact know how to grow trees using sawdust. Itʼs not the best material for most of them, but for a few? It works wonders. Now, perhaps that was just a bad example, but donʼt you practically grow up surrounded by stone? Surely you know more than me?” insisted Marigold. 

”Look lass,” said Borgick with a sigh. ”I was never one for stonemason classes. I barely listened when they showed us how to mine and carve out the walls. I always had a knack for the blacksmithing side of things. How do you think I maintain my cannon? Certainly donʼt have anyone else for it. The fact I can keep it working without a forge and through a large amount of nonsense on adventures? Thatʼs a talent most donʼt have. So of course, now? I my talents donʼt lay in SAND!” 

”Look Borgick, Iʼm not trying to make you mad here, but youʼre the one in charge. Iʼm happy to help. I donʼt care about getting dirty, or doing embarrassing things. Heck, if you turn me into part of the sculpture Iʼll be having the time of my life. Especially if itʼs a heavy load Iʼm holding. That being said? I have negative artistic talent and Iʼve never built a sandcastle in my life. Well… that might be a lie, but Iʼve certainly not built any in the last decade,” said Marigold. 

”Then why on Earth did you volunteer lass?” asked Borgick with a sigh. 

”Oh thatʼs easy. Midnight is out on account of already being in the contest, Vanya wouldʼve tried to take over the project after you annoyed her, Burnice wouldʼve turned you down if youʼd asked her. Sheʼs nice enough but if sand gets in her burns…” Marigold winced, ”Yeah sheʼs not into pain like I am so… not her scene. As for Mauve? Honestly, she mightʼve been a decent choice, but I decided I wanted to help so I jumped the gun on her,” 

Borgick just groaned into his hands. He didnʼt know anything about sandcastle. He didnʼt know anything about fancy designs. He knew how to make cannons dammit!

Borgick paused. ”Huh… Marigold? I have an idea thatʼs just crazy enough to work…” 

--- Midnight & Carl ---

”So… got any ideas?” asked Midnight. 

”We could build a big sandcastle?” offered Carl. 

”Yeah but… CAN we build a big sandcastle?” returned Midnight. 

Carl pondered for a bit. ”Well itʼs not like weʼll know if we can or not if we donʼt try,” answered Carl. 

Midnight tapped his foot on the sand a few times as if the ground would suddenly open up and reveal its secrets. When no such secrets were revealed Midnight sighed. ”I canʼt help but feel I was perhaps, not the best choice for this round. Sure it was a mystery, so we didnʼt KNOW I was a bad choice… but Iʼm not exactly much of an artist, and my magic leans more towards darkness magic. Sometimes I think I have illusion affinity as well… but other times I just donʼt seem to get it. Still, that might just be my lack of artistic talent,” 

Carl shrugged and said, ”Look man, you canʼt know if youʼll be good at something till you try. If we fail… well thereʼs always the other games. Your team is doing pretty well today. Sure it was a bunch of second places… but thatʼs still pretty good. So if this fall through? I donʼt think theyʼll be upset,” 

Midnight rolled his eyes, ”I doubt anyone of them would complain. Burnice is here more for the experience then the prize. Marigold is here more for the experience as well, even if people would tell you sheʼs here to show off for the elves. Iʼm here because I want a magic teacher and… I donʼt really know what Mauveʼs deal is…” said Midnight with a sigh. 

Carl didnʼt ask about the fact Vanyaʼs name wasnʼt on the list. Her reasoning seemed pretty obvious and he felt it best not to bring it up. ”So… we try to build a castle then?” asked Carl. 

Midnight sighed, ”Yes, I suppose we do,” 

--- Stan & Gareth ---

”Would winning here be more likely to impress Kress or is he competitive? Should I just throw the round somehow? Not that I think Iʼm going to win if I try. This isnʼt really my area of expertise,” rambled Stan. 

Gareth just stared at Stan for a few seconds. ”Is… is that why you wanted me on your team?” 

”Yeah? Of course it is?” said Stan trying not to sound like he was talking to an idiot. ”Sure the earth magic you use is an amazing excuse, but Iʼve got barely any skin in this race. If I could trade a win or two for a date with Kress? Well... hook me up brother!” 

Gareth just rubbed his temples as he tried to work out what the best thing to do here was. Frankly? He had no idea how to deal with this. Itʼs not like heʼd talked to Kress about his best friendʼs love life recently. Gareth kept rubbing his temples, the headache he could feel building didnʼt seem to want to go away. Was he supposed to play wingman? Help Kress get together with someone that was clearly interested in him? Was he supposed to defend his friendʼs virtue? ”Dammit I shouldʼve talked to Kress about this nonsense,” mumbled Gareth under his breath. 

Stan pretended not to hear so he could ask again, ”So… what do you think I should be doing?” 

Gareth let out a long sigh and decided to err on the side of letting Stan do what he wanted. If Kress was mad about it later? To bad, his friend deserved a chance at love. Who was he to say Stan wasnʼt that guy? Gareth wasnʼt exactly optimistic, but he wasnʼt going to be roadblock. ”If youʼd asked me a few weeks ago, heck even just a few days ago… Iʼd be telling you to let Kress win somehow. That heʼd be happier to show off… now though?

”I think heʼd enjoy the competition. He seems to have picked up an affinity for sandcastles recently. Not that heʼd never gotten into the hobby before… itʼs something that comes and goes I think, but heʼs really developed a fondness for them this time around. I think trying properly and failing will be much more impactful then throwing completely. If you win? Then you can use that as an excuse to hone your technique together. Can probably still do that if you lose,” 

Stanʼs smile widened. ”Thanks Gareth. Iʼll take the advice… but how exactly does one build a sandcastle? Besides the obvious?” 

Garethʼs face dropped. Suddenly, this seemed like a much harder task then it had been just a few moments ago. 

--- Ellenell & Burgandy --- 

”How much of your magic do you think will be allowed in our structures?” asked Ellenell. 

Burgandy gave a shrug and said, ”How should I know? Itʼs probably something we shouldʼve clarified with Thyme. I mean… it could be anything from ʼit just needs to look like a sandcastleʼ to ʼif you strengthen the sand too far youʼre outʼ. Then again… Thyme ISNʼT a judge so perhaps even they donʼt know where the line would be drawn. Perhaps itʼd be ALLOWED but not necessarily… good for our final point total,” 

Ellenell nodded slowly in understanding. ”Right… I suppose I can understand that. Weʼll need to consider just what weʼre building and how much we want to lean on your stone. Iʼm think we might as well try. Itʼll give as a unique edge over the competition. If it fails? Then we have still tried,” 

”Hey, Garethʼs on Stanʼs team. I might not be totally unique…” offered Burgandy. 

Ellenell waved Burgandyʼs concerns away. ”Stanʼs greatest interest is getting into Kressʼ pants for some reason. Iʼm not sure how much we even need to worry about that team. I doubt theyʼll be making major use of Garethʼs powers, so much as Stan will be trying to wring out as much information as they can from Garethʼs brain,” 

”Right… so what were you thinking of making?” asked Burgandy. 

Ellenell sighed, ”Well… it might seem cliché but part of me really wants to make a large treehouse. Perhaps a few interconnected ones. Using your earth as a base, we can pack on wet sand to the sides and make it seem like a more impressive structure then it is. Iʼm not sure how large we should go… or if itʼs a good idea. If youʼre willing though?” 

Burgandy nodded slowly, ”I think itʼs a risk… but Iʼm willing to try. It is very cliché though. Are you trying to play into the elf stereotype for some reason?” agreed Burgandy. 

”Ah excellent, glad youʼre onboard,” said Ellenell with a smile. ”As for if Iʼm leaning into things? Not so much… but it IS a stereotype for a reason,”