Chapter 4: NEW FACES AND NEW FRIENDS.

As time was passing, our four young future heroes slept for the extra four hours they had until they arrived at their destination. All of them except for Taski, who was too excited to sleep on this potential once-in-a-lifetime train ride. He looked outside at the passing landscapes, trees, lakes, and even the birds of the skies as well as the passing towns, villages, and small cities. He then began thanking the Lord above, saying, "Thank you, Lord, for this opportunity that I'm able to protect the citizens as well as the land. I hope to be the best that I imagine myself to come out as. I will perform the best that I can for the people, and you God, Amen." Mikado then rolled her head onto Taski's shoulder, slightly snoring away, he looked with a small portion of vexation at her cute face, drooling and snoring, but he didn't let it bother him. He simply let her have her moment of comfort with him. As three hours had passed and only one hour had remained until they had arrived, Darice then slowly awoke and quietly asked her brother, "Gosh... we're still traveling? I figured we would've made it there already. I see that you're awake, little bro, how long have you been up?" He replied, "I haven't slept since we got on the train, I really can't sleep sis, I think I'm too wide awake and excited to nap." Sharahletta then awoke and yawned, she noticed the land they were passing up, she then stated to the two, "I've flown in these skies before, and I can tell we aren't too far from the Training Grounds.

I would say that we would have about another fifty minutes left until we make it." Mikado wasn't too far from dream world and reality as she finally awoke from her slumber and yawned big. As the fifty minutes had finally come to an end, our four young heroes arrived at the Knight's Training Grounds. Taski, filled with overwhelming excitement and energy, was first off the train. They then were greeted by a security guard outside where the arrival station was and guided them and instructed them on where they were to head towards. The security guard then said to them, "Here you can fuel yourself with some refreshments to help you get yourself up, until all the other cadets arrive you'll have to wait here. Once they have shown up, I'll lead you all to where you are to report to." Taski had drank some water to fill himself up. Mikado chowed down some cereal to start her day, while Darcie and Sharaletta had their breakfast fillings. As the train arrived with the last bit of cadets, the building then slowly got packed as that train was the last train to stop by. Once everyone had fueled up and was ready, the security guards instructed everyone what their next command was. The lead Security guard announced to all, "Alright everyone, that's the last train to stop by, now that everyone is present here. It is ten o'clock, and you all are to be at the main gate that leads into the campgrounds at Exactly eleven o'clock, No Later than That. You all have a three-mile run to get to the main gate. Please stay consistent and don't waste your time or our time." As soon as all of them joined, they then started their three-mile run toward the main gate. Some security guards had suggested that cadets take full advantage of using their abilities only for speed-boosting purposes, as the road was a straight shot to the main gate.

Darcie used a portion of her speed to get through everyone quickly, some other cadets used their abilities, while some ran the course. Taski used only about two percent of his fire from his hands as a way to boost him slightly. Mikado caught up to him quickly with a rush of energy, "Hey I see you are off to a good start there sweetie, I can't wait to make it there. What about you?" She stated and asked him. Still filled with overwhelming excitement, he replied, "I'm certainly ready to become a Knight, I am already thinking about who will be my teammates. I know you are already a candidate for a spot on my team." Out of all the new cadets that showed up, there were many people of different cultures that joined. It was ten forty-five and all the cadets were almost at the main gate, Darice had made it there first due to her ability, Sharaletta, Taski, and Mikado were only five minutes away from the main gate. The three and all the other cadets picked up the pace and rushed toward their destination. Everyone made it to the main gate at ten fifty-three, and a tall and built man was standing at the entrance, waiting until it was eleven o'clock exactly.

Then, once the eleventh hour had arrived, the tall and built man shouted in a proud and energetic voice, "Welcome Everyone! It surely is a pleasure to have everyone here, My name is Tolem Shekhar, and it looks like everyone on the list showed up. I'm excited to be your training instructor for the month. If everyone will simply follow me, I'll give all of you the grand tour of the Knight's Training Grounds! Make sure you all don't lose me now, I will not be coming back to pick you up, so Don't Lose Me!" As the cadets then followed Tolem, they were all amazed at the structures all around them. Mikado and Taski stayed close along with Darcie and Sharaletta, they were directed to the café building, then were shown around the showering cabins, then they were directed to their cabins. The males had a cabin specifically only for them, as well as the female cadets. Then Tolem led them to the Official Warden over the entire facility. Quinn, He was very tall, masculine, and quiet as well. Quinn then walked over to the cadets and in a loud and serious voice, he shouted, "Everyone Front And Center." Then immediately all the cadets lined up fast and quickly, for they heard the seriousness and aggression in his voice. Quinn then walks around and observes everyone and studies their character.

He then walks back around towards the front of everyone and asks out loud," If Anyone has a Question as to How this is going down, please expose your question now." Being curious, Taski asked, "Well, Mr. Ward...." Instantly, Quinn then shouted savagely, "Don't Talk Out Of Turn! Do I Make Myself Clear?" The royal prince looked at him in fear as if he were a giant yelling straight down on him, and he was nothing but an ant compared to him. Then, as all the cadets were struck by fear after experiencing how the warden handled that conversation, Quinn, "Now that's done. Welcome everyone to the Knight's Training Grounds, here all of you weak, worthless people will be turned into something strong and worthy. As some of you may have some good eyes eavesdropping on my name badge, my name is Quinn and I am going to make sure you leave this place changed, transformed, and certainly not some weak individual. I will be whipping all you sorry excuses into real men and women. This month will be hell for all of you if you only decide to make it hard on yourselves. I don't overlook unchanged men and women, so I better see a change in everyone before you leave this place, Or Else! This month will turn All of you into Fighting Knights. Now, are there any further questions? I will not be repeating myself." After the warden made his long speech, Tolem led everyone back to their cabins to settle into their new temporary houses. The males unpacked their luggage and settled into the cabin, then a male that goes by the name of Drake Andervan asked, "Yo! How does it feel to be screamed at like that, huh?" Taski then replied to him, "It's something I want to avoid experiencing again that's for sure." Then over near one of the beds was a man who goes by the name Toronto and another male named Tesakai.

Toronto was from the African land similar to Sharaletta, he was mostly quiet throughout the tour and even when the warden gave his speech. Tesakai was from the Japanese land and was at a medium-height, who was also quiet throughout the tour and speech. Toronto quietly said to him, "Looks like we've found our first annoying roommate. This month will be long, I feel." Tesakai shakes his head in agreement with him. Over at the female cabin, they were all settling into their temporary houses.

Some females were talking about some of the males that they found attractive. Sharaletta had expressed her interest in Toronto. There was a woman tall and fit that went by the name of Sesakayla, and she made her feelings about Tesakai known. She knew that he and she met each other; however, she still had feelings for him. Then there was a woman who was named Akaio Silviah. She didn't exactly have any feelings for relationships, but was rather more focused on her goals and her future as a Knight. However, Mikado was bold enough to announce to all the females saying, "The only male here that's the cutest would have to be the prince himself, Taski Mandelen, also known as my future husband." The next day arrives, and it was five thirty and all the cadets were instructed to report to the trail roads out behind the training structure near the back of the whole facility. Tolem then was their training instructor, he then ordered everyone there to take one hour to communicate and discuss their abilities and to find a partner for their first training activity.

Everyone then did just that, The royal children were almost the center of most of the conversations being held. However, a little before Tolem instructed everyone, there was a female that usually socially distanced herself from everyone. She laid her back up against a tall tree away from the other cadets, as she was shy and didn't feel comfortable communicating with them. "(I have no clue how I'm supposed to approach the others. I'm too nervous.)" She thought to herself. She then looked up towards the big crowd of cadets, and she spotted the two royal children at the center of the crowd. Furthermore, she thought to herself, "(Those two royal children look like they are having fun already, meeting and socializing with everyone, they even look very friendly, especially the male, he's the prince.)" As she observed the two royal children more and more, she felt the urge to walk over and attempt to speak to one of them; she mostly had the intention of speaking to Taski. She sucked up her fear and walked over toward them. Drake glanced over and said to himself, "Woah, cute girl, and... she's walking over here?" As the woman walked closer to the crowd, she told herself, "Look, don't try to get too attached to them, remember what dad told you." As she approached him from behind, Gabrielle shouted, "Hey Taski! Look behind You!" As she wasn't expecting this to happen, the two both turned to each other and they both bumped. They blushed into each other's eyes. He thought to himself, "(Woah.... Who is this woman in front of me? She's... she's stunning.)" She was too scared to say anything and could only think to herself, "Oh No, W... What should I say to him? This is embarrassing, lots of the people are staring at us." The mysterious woman then quickly shoots her apology to him and says, "Oh My! I'm sorry about that, Mr. Prince. I didn't mean to surprise you there." He quickly forgave her and said, "Oh, don't worry Miss, it's all cool. It's a pleasure meeting you. What's your name, Miss?" Then she revealed herself to him, "My name is Ariah Marylinn, and it's an absolute pleasure to meet you here in person." She spoke to him.