8mi Chapter 9: The Trial Begins
Chapter 9: The Trial Begins
Chapter 9: The Trial BeginsInside the super dark, endless space that was his own little world, Adam sat with his legs crossed, like he was meditating. His eyes were closed, and he was concentrating really hard.
Even though he was stuck inside Prince Eric's body like a prisoner, his mind could reach out.
He felt connected to Eric, like through an invisible string, and could see and hear everything Eric did, almost like being a ghost watching over his shoulder.
It was frustrating not being able to do anything himself, but it was his only way to see the outside world.
He felt the hard stone floor under Eric's boots as the prince walked down a long, echoing hallway. Every step sounded loud, bouncing off the tall stone walls.
Old pictures made of thread, called tapestries, hung on the walls showing old fights and kings from long ago.
The air felt a little cold and smelled like old dust. Finally, the hallway opened up into a gigantic training area outside.
Sunlight poured down, making the huge space bright after the dim hallway. The ground was made of big, shiny stone tiles that reflected the light, making the area feel even bigger than it was.
Huge stone walls went way up high all around, like a giant sports stadium. Looking up, Adam could see through Eric's eyes that thousands and thousands of people were sitting in rows of seats, packed in tightly, all looking down and waiting.
Eric paused right at the entrance, looking a bit overwhelmed by the huge place and all the people.
A line of soldiers in shiny armor stood near the giant gate. They immediately stood straighter when they saw him.
They knew who he was – even if people whispered about him, he was still a prince. They bowed their heads respectfully, all moving together perfectly. Without saying a word, they stepped aside, letting him pass into the arena.
Eric swallowed hard. It felt like there was a lump in his throat. He made himself walk forward, out of the shadows and into the bright sunlight where everyone could see him.
He tried to keep his face looking calm, like a prince should, but Adam could feel his hands shaking just a little bit, and his palms were getting sweaty.
Eric's heart was pounding like crazy inside his chest, like a drum beating super fast, even though he looked calm on the outside.
From his secret spot inside Eric, Adam watched everything. He felt Eric's nervousness and the heavy feeling of everyone watching him. Looking up through Eric's eyes, Adam scanned the huge crowd.
They were a mix of bright colors – fancy nobles in rich clothes, merchants in nice outfits, and regular people way up high in the cheap seats. A low buzz of talking filled the air, like thousands of bees humming all at once. You could feel the excitement and nervousness in the air.
Hundreds of nobles sat in the good seats down low. They wore expensive robes in deep reds, blues, and greens, with sparkly jewels and fancy designs.
They leaned close to each other, whispering behind their hands, their eyes flicking over to Eric as he walked to the center of the field. Adam's connection let him pick up bits of what they were saying, little waves of judgment and gossip washing over Eric.
"Isn't that Prince Erik?"
"Yeah, the third one. Today's his big trial, right?"
"I heard he has no talent at all, unlike his amazing brothers."
"It's kind of sad, really. Such a letdown for the King."
"Maybe he'll surprise us? Probably not, though."
"They're probably just doing this so they have an excuse to kick him out."
"Still, maybe we'll see someone amazing today! Like the First Prince was!"
The whispers felt like tiny pinpricks against Eric's skin. He clenched his jaw and tried hard to ignore them, not wanting them to mess him up.
He kept his eyes locked straight ahead, on the very center spot of the huge arena floor. That was the place where his whole future would be decided very soon. If he failed here, he'd lose everything.
From his hidden viewpoint, Adam took everything in – the crowd, the feeling in the air, the tension.
Because he was a spirit, he noticed tiny things, like the mean look a noble lady tried to hide, or the calculating way a merchant watched Eric.
But then his attention focused on one special section of the stadium seats. It was higher up than the others and looked extra fancy.
It was a special balcony, decorated with flowing gold flags showing the royal family's symbol – a lion and a snake twisted together. Shiny wooden railings gleamed, and comfy-looking chairs were set up there.
Standing guard were tough-looking soldiers in special silver armor. They were the Royal Knights, the best guards in the kingdom. This fancy box was only for the most important people: the royal family.
And they were all there. Sitting in the middle, on a chair that looked like a small throne, was the King himself, King Noor IV. Next to him sat his two older sons – the First Prince, Raven, looking cool and confident in a military-style outfit, with his hand resting on his sword; and the Second Prince, Leonard, wearing fancy magician robes, looking calm and maybe a little bored.
Next to the King sat the Queen, Eric's mom. She looked royal and beautiful, but Adam could see sadness in her eyes as she watched her youngest son walk into the arena. The King looked serious and powerful, even just sitting there.
He didn't move, and his face was hard to read, but you could feel his authority.
When Eric reached the center spot, he stopped and looked up at the royal balcony,
Back in his hidden world, the dark space inside Eric, Adam narrowed his eyes. He was focused completely on what was happening outside.
He felt Eric's burst of adrenaline, the tension filling the stadium, and the weight of all those people watching.
"Okay," Adam whispered in the darkness, his voice low and thoughtful. "Here we go. Let's see what this kid, Prince Eric, can actually do by himself..."