Chapter 3: SPECIAL

I went back to where I came from, I looked around but I did not see the old man. He probably went back to his stall. I feel so sorry for him but I also feel disheartened for the horse and the guy.

Gilda and I continued to take the path back to where the three of us separated. A few minutes, I reached the place where we parted. I saw Esco and Aeolous on their horses waiting for me.

"Hey! Did you catch the thief? Esco and I did not see him on the path we took. We thought that he probably went to the path you took. How was it?" They really wouldn't see him since I did. But I failed to catch him, I helped them instead. The exam hasn’t started yet but I'm already failing as a Queen.

"No, I did not see him too. Maybe they were far ahead" I feel so bad about lying but I don't want them to get caught. The man did not seem like he was really a bad guy. I feel like he's actually good. He's a good guy who's willing to do bad things just to keep his friend alive. The world is already too hard to them, I don't want to do them the same thing. I'll just pay the old man for the apples he stole when I see him again.

"Let's go back to the arena. We don't want to miss the open remarks. Let's go!" we then made our way back to the arena.

When we arrived, we saw the mages going inside the arena. The gate to the arena is already open. We quickly maneuvered our horses inside but we we're still at the back. We got off of our horses and looked at the huge mirror magic plastered at the top corner of the arena. A man can be seen on it. A mirror magic is used to mirror someone and make a huge image of it. That way everyone can see the Exam Master.

"Good evening ladies and gentleman. I hope you had your dinner. Ah! Eating gives you energy so don't forget to eat" I had a wonderful dinner but its all gone now. After all those chasing and a bit of arguing... it made me hungry. I should probably eat again.

"Today marks a great day. Among our 112 participants this year, remember, to those 111 you are all standing with your next leader right here in this very place. Now, now! Let's not fast forward. Today you will claim your chance to be the next ruler, today is your chance to show everyone everything you've got. What am I saying? I know you already knows this stuff so I'm not going to make this any longer. Tomorrow, everyone that's in here will start their training. This exam only happens every ten years so I know you've all been waiting for this. This 10-day training will either make you or break you. So do your best because after 10 days, you will be examined and only the fittest, the bravest and the strongest, survives. Good night everyone. Now head to the dorm, of course it’s not for free. There are average, middle class, the wealth class and of course the special class dorm. We will not be responsible for all your needs during your training. Remember, you must survive on your own"

The mirror magic wears off after the Exam Master left. That was it? The three of us was quick go getting out of the arena since we were at the back of the crowd. The dorm was a few meters away, beside the arena. We went inside the lobby and there were a few mages that were at our back. They are also inquiring for the dormitory. I mean, this is the only dormitory here in the city.

"Welcome to the Trainer's Dormitory. This building has seven floors. The first to third floor is for average class dorm room, the fourth and fifth floor was for middle class dorm room, sixth floor is for wealth class and the seventh floor is for special class. The first and third floor have 25 rooms on each floor. Expect that the room is small but rest assured that you have enough space for a bed and a closet. There will be a cafeteria ang public bathroom for average class on each floor. And you can only take the elevator with brown door. Next is the middle class. Fourth and fifth floor have 18 rooms for each floor, you'll have a relatively bigger rooms than the average of course but you'll still have a shared comfort rooms and cafeteria. For Middle Class, you can use the Grey Elevator. Now for the wealth class. There are 12 rooms on your floor. Your room includes your bed, closet and a bathroom. Cafeteria is shared and your elevator is the black one. Now for the special class, there are only 6 rooms up there. Your elevator is the white and gold combination. Your room includes a bathroom, a king size bed, a huge closet and your own mini kitchen" said the one in the desk right in front of the double doors. I looked around and saw a stair on the left-most and right-most side of this room. There are two doors on both side a meter from the counter. And at our back is the double-door entrance of this whole dormitory. There are two elevators, a brown and grey color, on the left side of the double-door and a black and white with golden linings on the right side of the double-door. The two doors beside the counter where the lady is at, must be the entrance to the average class dormitory room's area.

"There are six member of the royal families who registered this year. Who are those? Please come forward so we could settle everything already"

I was the first one to come forward. I want to put my bag down already. I took my bag from Aeolous before we entered. We can't let them in since they are huge. We dropped them off in the barn next to this dormitory.

"Young Lady Eleina. We are so pleased to have you here. I know you even before, we only need your name for you to register. Your father already made sure that you'll have a room in here. Here's the key to your room. Its room 706" I was delighted when I heard her. It’s not about the reserved room for me which would make things easier but the fact that father spare his time to worry about my abode during my training, my heart melted.

I was smiling as I take the keys from the women. I thanked her and stayed a bit far from the crowd since I'm already done. I waited for a few minutes for Aeolous to be done since he went after me, a few more minutes and Esco joined us. The elevator could fit at least 8 people inside, that's how spacious it was.

The three of us went to our own rooms and I quickly arranged the things I brought. I finished putting my things in place after half an hour since I did not bring a lot. I went to the bathroom and took a quick bath. I put on a pastel pink dress, a white flat shoes and a white cardigan. I also grabbed my purse before heading down. Its near midnight but the city is still busy.

I strolled on the street and saw different stores and stalls. Some sells magic potion, magic enhancement crafts and foods.

I saw a stall that sells jewelries, I think all of it was fake. I went near the stall and run my gaze to all the products displayed.

A royal blue diamond was separated from all the products. It was inside a glass case and it was lying on a soft looking cloth inside the small glass case.

"Excuse me!" I called for the old vendor's attention. The vendor looked really old. All his hair is white, even his mustache and beard are white. He has wrinkles all over his face. I felt pity towards the vendor. He's really old but he's still working he should be resting and enjoying life at this age.

"What can I do for you, Lady Eleina?" I was surprised that he knows my name. But I just shrugged it off.

"Why does that gem in a special container unlike all your other products?" I pointed at the gen that caught my eyes. It was really pretty.

"Ah! It’s because this one is special"

"What makes it special?" perhaps, a magic spell is stored inside the stone.

"Everything I sell is fake, my target market after all, are average class mages. But this one? This gem is real and off high quality" I chuckled when he mentioned it was fake. Well, I noticed it right away caused they do look fake.

"Are you selling that gem?"

"Are you going to buy this gem?"

"If you are selling it then I'm buying it" simple as that. If it was available in the market then I'm willing to spend a lot of money to buy it.

"Very well then. This gem costs twenty thousand mags" mags is our currency in this kingdom.

I took twenty-five, one-thousand bills of mags and gave it to the vendor. Twenty thousand for the gem and five thousand as a tip.

The old vendor took the money and gave me the gem, still inside the glass case.

I was so happy that I got the gem, I immediately returned to the dormitory. Completely forgetting my hunger.