Chapter XXIII

Prince Ayaan woke up early the next morning. The room had an eerie appearance as the sun hadn't risen fully. He sat up and looked round at what would be his room for days to come. Then he stood up and paced around trying to get use to the small room and simple furniture that sat in it.

Then he headed to take a bath. When he was done he pulled the wardrobe door open hoping to find some clothes as he hadn't come with any.

"No time to be choosy,"  He said and picked out the pair of trousers and shirt his eyes fell on.

He put them on and to his surprise, they fit perfectly. Then he headed to the sitting room.

"Oh good morning Prince Ayaan, you're up early," Emress said putting somethings in order.

"Ah, good morning Emress... Didn't want to be late on my first day of training." He returned.

"Punctuality, I like that!" She said with a smile.

"Come on let's eat breakfast, you need your strength." She said and lead the way to the dining table.

When they were done eating, they headed outside. Emress had set a course of obstacles he had to pass as he trained.

"How? When in the world did you do all these?" He asked his eyes widening.

"I'm always ready, you should be too," she said with a bashful smile.

"Right!" Ayaan said.

"Okay so you have to run fifty meters,  jump the rods, walk on the logs without falling, grab the ropes you see ahead and swing till you land away from the sand, then go three hundred steps from there into the forest and back..." Emress went on.

"Into the forest?" He asked, with gulp.

"Well yes," She returned.

"It doesn't seem too hard," Ayaan added in a trifled tone.

"Alright, goodluck!" Emress said.

Ayaan seemed to be doing fine till he got to the ropes. The looked like nothing he had seen before and had an odd ivory color. Something seemed different about the place.

He tried to grab one of the ropes and it turned as hot as fire blistering his hand. He tried to use his powers but it seemed to get hotter and his medallion turned as cold as ice.

"Ah!" He groaned.

As he kept trying, he heard some something. It sounded like a voice groaning in pain coming from the other side of the woods. He thought he was hallucinating. The sun was about to set and he still couldn't get pass so he returned to the house.

Emress was in her garden as usual picking some herbs when she saw him looking all tired and worn out.

"Prine Ayaan, you're back," she said.

"Yes," he returned tiredly.

"Well that's good, how'd it go?" She asked.

" I couldn't get pass the ropes," he said disappointedly.

"Not to worry, there's plenty of time." She said.

"Plenty of time?" He asked.

"Yes to keep trying till you get pass the ropes," she said.

"Ah, ouch!" He shouted on touching the door.

"Are you hurt?" She asked.

"No just blisters from the ropes, they were so hot," he said.

"I'm sorry about that, let's apply some ointment on it." Emress said and helped him inside.

"You must be hungry," she added.

"And tired too," Ayaan said.

When they got inside, he sat down while she went in to get the ointment. His wounds began to heal instantly as she applied it.

"What's this ointment made of?" He asked surprisedly.

"Leaves of the golden glow," she said.

"Where does it grow?" He asked.

"In the Ayara forest." She said.

"I'd really love to see it one day," Ayaan said.

"You will," she thought.

"There's some food on the  table. You should eat, I'll go to bed." Emress said.

"Thank you Emress," Ayaan said.

After having his dinner, he walked gently to his room as his legs were aching and couldn't wait to be on his bed. Finally he reached the door, entered the room and went to his bed.

As he laid on his bed he thought of the obstacles and how he was able to pass them except the ropes. Determined he slept with the intention of doing better the next day.