Chapter Nine: Preparations for the Most Prudent Treaty Organization's Major Contest for the Purple Junket

It was that time of the year again, when everyone feels the cold wind blowing from the northeast, while the flowers called Yellowknife are in full bloom, emitting a distinct beautiful perfume into the air, and also where the Golden Peaches are ripe, and the garnish of Coconut Shavings dominate the tastebuds of those who wanted to make the most out of this special season.

But more than anything else, this period is also the start of the preparation for the Major Contest of the Purple Junket, colloquially referred to as the Prudence Wars, that arose mainly from the classic tradition of friendly matches between the Potioneers and the Dark Masters. There are many legends involved to justify the holding of the event, but nobody knows for certain why it must happen, and why the peoples of the Treaty had to bother, and tolerate this grandiose display of utter violence.

Thankfully, nobody has died while participating in the Contest since the infamous Slaughter of the Venerables, where the two Potioneers competing for the crown has been impaled by an "invisible impetus," a force that has not been conjured by anybody within the Battle Pit. History was replete with violent reactions regarding that fateful day, and it was not received lightly by the viewing public. The Most Prudent Treaty Organization was forced to close down the Ampitheater while investigators are conducting an inquiry, and the competition for the Purple Junket had to be postponed for two succeeding years, until a comprehensive report has been presented to appease the emotions of the angry public.

"It was nobody's fault," the Most Prudent Treaty Organization has said officially, while taking full responsibility for what had happened. "The Organization has decided for the organizing committee of this particular edition of the Prudence Wars to be suspended indefinitely, and to order a complete purge of the Ampitheater, to 'eliminate these unwanted forces, once and for all.'"

The release of official statements that followed after this main announcement has been received lukewarmly, especially by many of those who personally witnessed what happened during that deadly competition for the final place and the right to wear the Purple Junket. All of them were not satisfied with what the investigators have said in the official channels, but rather their subsequent testimonies thereafter were implying that there was a concerted effort to deliberately cover up the mystery surrounding the case.

This year's Prudence Wars is taking place with the same political turmoil (including the same conditions) that was present during the Slaughter of the Vulnerables, and the Dark Masters (as host) would want to avoid the same predicament that happened during that time, as it was perfectly narrated by the same witness of the written pages of history books.

It was as if there is a general consensus of concern (or slight fear) about what will happen in the holding of this Contest at this time, especially within the noted circumstances. But the organizers are firm in deciding to continue hosting the event notwithstanding, because the Prudence Wars have always been "a source of strength, provides a venue for upgraded skills, and grants an immortalized place in the list of the Hall of Honor." (These things have evolved to become the permanent justification for the holding of the Prudence Wars that were later on generally accepted by the population.)

To this end, they have started the exhaustive safety precautions by securing the energy conserved in the Crown Jewels of the Purple Junket, and then another round of careful purging of the Battle Pit of the Ampitheater, to get rid of any invisible threat, as well as the several environs within the vicinity.

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The Chapter is sponsored by Bow SelecTie.