"I'll do whatever you say," Ruby's tone was firm, not an ounce of doubt in her voice. This was the kind of risk she was willing to take.
As the tension grew, Zorya, sensing the potential for fun, turned to the other witches and shouted, "If this witch," she pointed at Ruby, "loses, she'll do anything we tell her. And if she wins, we'll give her two notes!"
Excited whispers spread through the crowd, eyes turning to Ruby with newfound interest. Zorya, already envisioning her victory, was practically buzzing with excitement.
"Deal?" Zorya asked, her grin wide.
"Deal," Ruby said, her voice steady. There was no turning back now.
"Dear witches, please take your seats. Once we start the countdown, you can begin racing. Follow the red flags along the way," the witch's voice echoed through the venue, drawing all attention to the starting line.
The crowd buzzed with excitement, their eyes darting from one witch to another, eager for the race to begin. Angeline was already on the edge of her seat, her heart pounding as she watched Ruby. She had witnessed Ruby's bold challenge to Astra and Zorya, and she could feel the shift in the crowd. People were talking, curious about the witch who had come out of nowhere and dared to throw down such a high-stakes bet.
"Don't you think she's daring?" a voice behind Angeline commented.
"Yeah, but I don't think she can win. I mean, we shouldn't judge anyone too soon, but I saw her. She was struggling to even get the car moving at first," another voice replied.
That was exactly what Angeline had been worrying about. She bit her lip, her eyes never leaving Ruby. True, Ruby had stumbled at the beginning, and the other witches were fast and experienced. But there was something different about her now, something in the way she held herself. Angeline could sense it.
Still, doubt lingered. The other witches had the advantage of experience.
As much as she wanted to believe Ruby could pull it off, Angeline couldn't shake the fear that Ruby might have bitten off more than she could chew.
The murmurs continued behind her, the crowd already casting their judgments before the race had even started. Angeline clenched her fists, hoping that Ruby's confidence wasn't misplaced.
On the other side, Ruby, after getting her wristband, settled into her seat, feeling the cold air from inside the car wash over her. It was refreshing, especially after the heat outside. She took a deep breath, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
She turned on the car, and as the engine roared to life, she closed her eyes for a brief moment, feeling the faint pulse of her spiritual power flowing through her body like an electric current, tingling under her skin.
"Three... two... one... zero!" The countdown echoed loudly, followed by the sharp blast of a gunshot in the sky, signaling the start of the race. Immediately, cars shot forward, roaring across the uneven terrain.
Land racing was a different challenge altogether. There was no smooth road, only rough, unpredictable terrain. Ruby started slow, carefully navigating the bumpy ground. She knew better than to speed up too early. The ground ahead was treacherous, filled with dips and ridges. One wrong move, and her car could easily slip or flip.
There were fifteen contestants in total, and already, one car had spun out of control. Ruby wasn't surprised; she had noticed earlier how shiny and new the tires of that car were. Too smooth, too untested for this kind of terrain. It was predictable that it wouldn't hold on such uneven ground.
As she drove steadily, she noticed she was catching up with many of the other witches. They were struggling to control their vehicles over the bumpy road, some slowing down to avoid slipping. Ruby kept her pace, focusing on the path ahead. The race took a turn toward a mountain canyon road, and there, flapping in the wind, was the first red flag marking the way.
Her eyes narrowed in focus. This was the kind of road she needed to be careful on. One wrong move, and it could all be over for her. But Ruby wasn't about to back down now. She adjusted her grip, feeling her spiritual energy pulse stronger as she prepared to take on the canyon road.
The road had become steeper and narrower, a dirt path winding up the side of the mountain. Clouds of dust rose as cars fought to climb, some struggling with the incline. Ruby's eyes sparkled with excitement. She could feel the challenge rising, but instead of fear, she felt an exhilarating rush. This was exactly what she needed.
Despite the narrow road and the danger of falling off, she maintained her spiritual control over the car with precision. Her hands tightened around the steering wheel, guiding the vehicle up the dirt path, each bump and shift in the ground sending vibrations through her body. But Ruby was steady, her confidence growing with each meter she gained.
Ahead of her, she saw eight cars, some of them losing momentum, their drivers clearly nervous about the risks. A few cars had already stopped, unwilling to push forward. She knew why—they were afraid. One wrong move, and it could mean injuries, maybe even being laid up for days. And for many of them, that meant risking their livelihood.
But Ruby had no such fear. She wasn't here to play it safe. She was here to win. While others hesitated, she sped up, weaving through the cars that had stopped or slowed down. The dirt road beneath her was tricky, but Ruby's sharp reflexes and careful handling kept her moving steadily, her spiritual energy coursing through her like an anchor, keeping her connected to the car.
In the transparent floating cube, the large screen was divided into several sections, each displaying different contestants in the race. The excitement in the air was palpable as the witches fought to maintain control of their cars on the steep and rugged terrain.
One section of the screen zoomed in on Ruby's car as she expertly maneuvered through the narrow mountain road with precision.
A ghost in a light gray robe, adorned with delicate flower embroidery, noticed how fixated his friend was on Ruby's image. His friend was staring intensely at the witch with the scarf, almost entranced by her.
"Stop staring at her like a creep," the ghost in the light gray robe muttered, nudging his friend with an elbow.
—To be continued...🪄