CHAPTER 20 - NOSY

"Don't you think it is too dark right there?" Mave pointed the way deep in the forest.

"Of course it will be dark there, Mave. Especially when the trees are really leafy and big," Roi told him.

"Oh, I see. So Tosh and Hoax," he called the two, "You are well-versed in dealing with darkness?"

"You may say so because it is really rare to see much sunlight inside the forest I lived in," Tosh answered.

"In my case, I don't think so. I only play there when I wanted to. So I still stayed outside more often than inside the forest," Hoax said.

"Why, Mave? Are you that worried?" Roi chuckled.

"I think so, I am not used to dark places."

"And also because they are used to camera flashes and limelights," David added.

"That's not true! Unlike Snow, I hate camera flashes. I don't like blinking lights," Mave pouted.

Ace comes and Roi stands up, "Hey, dude! Where are the two girls?"

"Ahm, they are on their way," Ace smiled.

"Those damsels in distress are giving me a headache, urgh!" Meta uttered.

They heard the chains fell into the ground.

"Are everybody here?" Sheldon asked while still removing the locks.

"We're here!" Friean waved her hand.

"Is there something we can do to help you, Sheldon?"

"Thank you, Ace. But I will be more comfortable if you all just wait until Lady Samson arrives," Sheldon smiled at him.

They ate all the foods Sheldon prepared for them. Burgers, fries, steaks, chickens, and vegetables.

"I wonder if you will still prepare our foods while we are in this forest, Sheldon? You just cook so well and I almost forgot about my diet," Mave laughed.

"I think it is really hard to be a celebrity, huh? Figures to keep and faces to be treasured, right? Mave and Snow?" Roi asked.

"Exactly!" Mave and Snow answered.

Sheldon faced them, "I am not sure if Lady Samson will still let me feed you after you enter this forest, Your Highnesses."

"Why is that so?" Meta asked.

"Because your ability to survive will be tested inside this forest," Lady Samson finally arrived.

All of them stand up to acknowledge her presence.

"So does that mean we will also be the ones to search and cook for our food?" Snow questioned.

"Exactly, My Dear."

"There is nothing to worry about foods inside a forest. This forest looks rich in biodiversity. We just have to be careful about picking what to eat," Tosh told them.

"Good point, Prince. Well, so much of these chitty chaties, grab your things, and be prepared to enter the forest," Lady Samson waved her hands and all of the locks disappeared.

"Are you kidding us? Why let Sheldon work there for hours and yet you can just do it like that?" Ace was angry.

"Calm down, Young Man. That is his job! And I have more important things to do so why make it longer to wait, right?" she heavily banged the gates. She faced all of them and found that they were all looking at what she was doing.

"What now?" Hoax asked impatiently.

Lady Samson rolled her eyes, "You guys aren't really scared of me, huh? Do you think you can all beat me? Wait until all my patience and understanding dries up, I'll water you all with my vengeance."

"Lady Samson, I think all is set, we can now let them enter the forest," Sheldon said.

"The forest will be your second training ground. Just like what I have said earlier, your ability to survive will be tested here. It is a matter of putting all the things you have learned inside your rooms into a reality. As a leader, after thinking of a certain strategy, you should put it into action. I will be watching over you to the best of my abilities. No cameras, as I have said. I will be closely monitoring you if you were really practicing your skills," Lady Samson instructed.

"So for how long are you planning to keep us in here, huh?" Hoax asked.

"That is quite rude, Your Highness. You will stay there for at least two weeks," Lady Samson sighed.

"At least two weeks? So it means that it can be longer than that, right?" Ace asked while raising his eyebrow.

"So cute! Not anyone can do that. A guy raising just a brow? So cool!" snow can't help but said those words.

Ace looked at her surprised while David looks so disgusted.

"I really like your intelligence, General Ace. About your concern, well, yes, your stay could take longer than two weeks. It will depend on your performance within two weeks. So, if I can see that you were very lax during those times, I will extend your stay and make every single thing in that forest worthy of your efforts."

"Does looking at us intently while training would mean that you will be there whenever you wanted or we need you?" David asked with hopeful eyes.

Snow was surprised by what David is up to. She even whispered "What the hell was that?" to Friean's ear and Friean just hugged her.

"It depends, David. It depends on the intensity of attention you needed while training because, what if, but I wish not to because it is a no-no, what if all of you will get into danger at once, so the neediest will be attended first," she explained.

"So in order to prevent that, we can stick to one another all of the time," Hoax suggested.

"That will be boring. Besides, I want a quiet time and I will not have that if I will stay with those girls," and she pointed at Snow and Friean.

"Then get lost!" Friean shouted.

"You don't have to say it, brat! Because I will," Meta smirked.

"Good thing!" Snow rolled her eyes.

"I do not advise you to stick with each other. It will be best to go on your separate ways to test your abilities. So now, you may enter the forest."

"Dwindle, dwindle, dwindle," Roi stopped, "I wonder what awaits us in there. Dwindle, Friean is right it is cute to read and say," he faced Lady Samson, "You want us to become less? Isn't Stephen enough for you? We will make sure to come out completely."

Lady Samson is fuming mad, "Being too nosy, Sir Roi? Just make sure to keep that promise, okay?"

They all stopped at the gate's entrance. They looked at how proud Lady Samson is standing in front of them. She waved her hand pushing all of them inside the gate and locked the gates immediately.

"Good luck, Your Highnesses," and she disappeared.