Chapter 22 - The First Trial

"Leader, what's our plan now?" Banki asked.

"Let's rest for now, and tomorrow let's find another human to take to the passage to read what's written there." Riyugi said. Banki agreed with him.

They headed to the capital and had a meal. After that, they went to a nearby stream to wash their wounds, which were still healing, and lay down under a tree to rest.

Meanwhile, the selection of strong young Aruha in the Palace of King Amon, the King of the Aruha, had begun. Many youths gathered there.

And the trials given by Princess Hasi began.

The Princess also invited the three noble siblings to help her in administering the trials to the participants.

Meanwhile, King Amon ordered a messenger to send a letter to the old man, Derum, containing visions.

The letter contained an invitation for the King to meet Derum. The message quickly reached the old man Derum, who hurried to the kingdom, where he spoke with King Amon.

"Have you seen the person destined in your visions?" the King asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty." said the old man Derum.

"Are you sure and not mistaken?" the King asked.

"I am sure, Your Majesty. My visions have never been wrong." the old man insisted.

"I want to see that person. Bring them here; they must stay in the palace, as the Ronoru must not know who is destined." the King said.

"Yes, Your Majesty, it shall be done." the old man replied, placing his right hand on his chest and bowing in respect to the King.

After that, he immediately went to the residence where Qrolo and Kenro were staying, where Yana was.

Meanwhile, Princess Hasi was frustrated because she hadn't found anyone strong among the thousand participants in her trial that day.

She used her magic on the Aruha, placing them in a very large box that was transparent so they could be seen inside. The box was wrapped in her magic, showcasing the power of Princess Hasi.

Her trial was to see who could escape from the box. If any Aruha could get out, they would pass and move on to the next trial.

But the day was almost over, and not even one Aruha had managed to emerge from the box enchanted by her magic.

She yawned from boredom as she sat in her chair, with two waiting-in-lady on either side fanning her.

"Useless, it's just the first trial and no one has passed yet." the Princess said sleepily.

Hilda asked, "What is all this for? I don't see any strong Aruha here."

"My father will choose strong Aruha to protect the Chosen One against the Ronoru." Princess Hasi replied.

"The Chosen One?" Estifon asked in surprise.

"Yes, that's right, a person chosen who does not belong to this world. I don't fully understand it either; my father didn't explain the details about the Chosen One to me."

Princess Hasi answered, confused.

"I think the visions of the old man who wanted to deliver the letter to the king are related." Rufino added.

"Didn't you read the letter, Estifon, when I asked you to deliver it to the king?" Hilda asked.

"I didn't open the letter, out of respect for the king. Only the king can read the letter, isn't that what you wanted too?" Estifon replied.

"Yes, that's right. I think the old man's vision is connected somehow, explaining why the king made this decision." Hilda concluded.

When Derum arrived, he immediately informed Yana of the King's order to see her.

"W-what? Me? Why does the King want to see me?" Yana asked in surprise to the old man Derum.

She felt afraid, worried that she might have done something wrong to be summoned like this.

"And you, Kenro and Qrolo, come with me and participate in the Princess's contest." Derum ordered with authority to Kenro and Qrolo. Fortunately, when Derum arrived, Kenro had returned from his family.

"Even though Yana was confused, she still accompanied Derum to the palace. Yana insisted that Lexa come along and join them.

When they arrived, a guard quickly opened the large door leading to the palace. Outside the palace, the princess was conducting the trials she had prepared.

The princess and the three noble siblings noticed them, and a guard approached the princess and whispered the reason for their arrival.

Derum immediately approached, followed by Qrolo. Meanwhile, they marveled at the sight of numerous Aruha inside the box enveloped in the princess's magic.

Hilda looked at the guests who had arrived and was taken aback when she noticed Qrolo among them. She remembered him.

She approached her siblings and whispered, "Isn't that the man we helped in the forest, the Aruha who lost consciousness?" Hilda said.

"Indeed, I remember that Aruha." Estifon said.

Estifon and Rufino turned to look at Qrolo.

When Derum, Qrolo, Kenro, Yana, and Lexa reached the princess, the siblings chose to remain silent for the moment and observed the guests carefully. They were filled with curiosity about the purpose of the guests' arrival at the palace.

"Good day, Princess Hasi." Derum said, bowing before her as a sign of respect, followed by Yana, Lexa, Qrolo, and Kenro who also showed their respect to the princess.

"I would like to include these two handsome young men accompanying me in the trials you are giving." Derum said to Princess Hasi.

The princess glanced at Qrolo and Kenro and raised an eyebrow, showing a hint of arrogance.

"That wasn't the reason I received for your visit here." the princess replied.

"The primary reason for our visit is for the King to see the Chosen One. But I also wish to include the two young Aruha with me." Derum explained.

"The Chosen One? Which of these two women?" the princess asked, looking at Yana and Lexa. Derum then pointed to Yana.

"Me? What Chosen One are you talking about?" Yana asked, surprised by Derum's words, as she had no idea what he meant.

"You?" Princess Hasi asked Yana, sounding skeptical.

"G-Good day, Princess." Yana nervously replied. She felt the princess scrutinizing her from head to toe, causing her to lower her gaze out of embarrassment.

"Please forgive her, Princess, but she doesn't yet know that she is the Chosen One." Derum explained again.

"Even I can't believe that someone like her is the Chosen One." the princess sarcastically remarked.

Lexa felt annoyed as she looked at the princess, sensing she was being insulted.

"If indeed you are the Chosen One, you must prove it to me. You cannot face the King until you pass my test." Princess Hasi said, surprising everyone present.

"Trial?" Qrolo asked in surprise.

"Yes, she needs to prove herself." Princess Hasi replied.

Even though Yana didn't understand anything about the Chosen One they were talking about, she felt insulted by the princess's words.

"I will place you with the other participants inside that box. If you manage to get out, then I will allow you to see the King." the princess said.

"But Princess, it was the King who invited us to see the Chosen One." Derum interjected.

"I don't care. I want to test if she really is the Chosen One." Princess Hasi insisted.

"But-" Derum began to protest, but Yana spoke up.

"I accept the trial you're giving me, Princess." Yana said seriously, even though she didn't understand why she had to do it. She was annoyed by the princess's arrogance.

"Yana. Qrolo called out her name with concern.

"I can do this." she whispered to Qrolo, who was beside her.

"Princess, please allow us to participate in your trials as well." Qrolo requested. He didn't want Yana to be alone inside that huge box enveloped in the princess's magic.

They could see the Aruhas inside the box, struggling to get out.

"Alright, I'll allow you to join the trial. If the three of you can get out, then you will have passed." the Princess said.

Noble Hilda furrowed her brow as she looked at Yana, unable to believe that she could be the Chosen One. To her, Yana appeared to be just an ordinary woman without any extraordinary powers.

Estifon and Rufino, on the other hand, marveled at Princess Hasi's displayed courage and authority. They found her personality truly admirable.

They remained attentive to the conversation between the Princess and the guests because the decision regarding the trials would solely come from the Princess, and they would only offer their opinions if asked.

The princess briefly removed the box and the magic wrapped around it, directing Yana, Qrolo, and Kenro there. Meanwhile, Lexa and Derum were left beside the princess, unable to do anything but watch.

"There is a new participant joining." the princess said to the Aruhas who were puzzled by the removal of the box and magic. After saying this, she returned the box and magic to the Aruhas, with Yana, Qrolo, and Kenro now inside.

"Actually, we've been here since this morning, but none of us has managed to get out yet." said one of the Aruhas to Qrolo.

Qrolo then held Yana's hand, which surprised her, causing her to look at him.

"I'll help you, I'll make sure the three of us get out of here." Qrolo said seriously. Yana nodded in agreement.