Chapter 5: YOU CAN REACH FOR YOUR DESIRES.

"Such a lovely name you have there." Taski says to her. She felt wonderful after hearing this, she wasn't expecting such a sweet comment from him, but expected him to be entirely uninterested in her after the matter. Ariah was eighteen years of age and wasn't too far from Taski, she then asked him, "Well Mr. Taski, it would appear as though I do not have a partner to work with me on this assignment. Would you be okay if I could be your partner?" He then replies and says, "Well of course, I don't mind at all." She felt exhilarated to be able to tag up with him, she then started feeling that he was undoubtedly the kind of friend that she needed from the male group. In jealousy, Drake's jaw had fallen to the earth at the sight of Taski simply holding a conversation with a female. Gabrielle then nudged at Drake's shoulder, saying to him and the males around, "Dang, it looks like our boy has already attracted a female, and so quickly." Drake couldn't believe his eyes. Taski then displayed what ability he holds within. Ariah, being captivated by the flame that he held within his hand, thought to herself, "(Wow. Fire I see. That ability is extremely rare, usually it's held by mighty individuals. He's very lucky to even obtain this ability.)" After he showed his ability to her, she then decided to reveal what she holds for her ability. Ariah, feeling less important, stated, "That's remarkable, I'm happy you were chosen for such a powerful ability.

 It's miles better than what I'm able to do he-he... Well, at least that's how I view it." Taski, in disagreement with her statement, said attentively, "Huh? What? I would love to observe what your ability is." She felt more comfortable with his words as she suddenly noticed on his arm that there happened to be a small cut. It wasn't too damaged or severe; however, she felt the perfect opportunity to show what she can do. She then reached out and laid her hand on his arm which was bleeding gently, he then was confused about what she was doing to him. She then said to him, "Your arm has some blood dripping down, I'll get you patched up quickly." Taski then said, "Oh, that spot." He then felt the cut being zipped back together as if it were a zipper closing off the opening, "Woah! It's completely gone, so your healer. That's spectacular, and you think that's not cool." He said. Ariah had the cut transferred to her arm in exchange for healing the cut on his arm. Healers that healed injured warriors would also receive the injury as an effect. A received injury from someone who was healed would only last a few seconds to a few minutes, or even potentially hours, depending on the severity of it. Ariah then said, "This cut you have made it possible for me to reveal what I was born with, I can heal wounds and as a result of my healing I'm able to endure what you have felt. This is my purpose on the battlefield." As some females were talking to each other, Sharaletta then glanced over at the two and noticed them talking for a good few minutes, She shouted over towards him, "Hey Taski! You got a girlfriend now?"

 Taski in his nervousness froze and stated, "A Girlfriend? We're only talking." Drake then chimed in quietly and said, "He-he, that's a good way to screw with him." The time was flying by and all the cadets were preparing themselves for the coming event. Tolem then walked up to the cadets and announced loudly, "Alright Everyone! Listen Up. Today will be your first exam. This morning all of you will be running a Ten Kilometer Run. All of you have exactly two hours to complete your assignment, this is no race, however, if you decide to make it one just don't get yourselves in trouble now, let's keep it clean, quick, and simple. There will be obstacles in your path throughout this trail, so take full advantage of using your abilities and your partner's assistance along the way. Anyway, get positioned and get ready to roll." Everyone then stood at the beginning line as Tolem raised the gun toward the sky. Tolem then pulled the trigger, and everyone then shot off at their top speed, rushing to the finish line. Darice was off to an incredible head start as well as Sharaletta because their abilities were the best advantage over the others. Mikado and Drake paired up with each other, she wasn't too happy that she had to pair up with him, for she had heard of how much of a weirdo he was. 

Darcie sped through most of the obstacles flawlessly and wasn't too tripped over by the thickness of the forest, while Sharaletta was above, she spotted every huge incoming obstacles and would alert Darcie. Mikado could also fly because of her gravity ability, allowing her to float; however, she wanted a challenge and to learn to also use physical strength as well, and Drake winged it in hoping to make the best. Drake had no ability, but just sheer strength and acrobatic skill. The prince and his new friend were both on foot. He rushed through with his speed and using a small portion of his ability only for boost purposes, while Ariah didn't use her ability since she didn't have any use for it. He ran for long periods when suddenly, and Ariah ran short of breath and couldn't go any further. She panted hard and was slowing down quickly, when she then shouted to him, "Wa... Wait! Hold on, I need to catch my breath." She then came to a halt, he then turned around and rushed back to her. She said in an exhausted voice, "It's sad that I can't even run fast like I should, I know, It's a shame, isn't it? I'm sorry if I'm slowing you down. I just can't run for a long time, I get exhausted too fast." He didn't show disappointment towards her, he said to her, "It's okay, just take a short breather. We still have enough time to complete our objective." Ariah felt curious about Taski's current popularity and asked him, "I would like to ask you. How does it feel to be the prince over all the land? I bet it's very wonderful, you have to have many fans, oh, and you have to have a girlfriend, right? I can only imagine the luxury you're living in." 

He felt warm-hearted by her comment, but he stated to her, "Actually, I don't live a life like that, also, I don't even have a girlfriend yet." As she heard his very words, she then felt a burst of emotion in her heart, she started even to blush slightly. Her heart was filled with excitement and hope. Ariah has always read newspaper articles about the great acts of love, and sacrifice, and how big-hearted Diarmuid and Taski were, as well as Maisie and Darice were. They would sacrifice for other villages, cities, and even neighboring countries. She developed an interest in him at his heart, appearance, and spirit. She then said to him, "Wow. Are you serious? You don't have someone special in your life, and you even live like all the others, a normal life." She then began thinking to herself, "(If that's the case, then that means he's... single.)" As she was thinking and overwhelmed with her emotions, instantly, her identity was then exposed. Her bat wings emerged from her back due to her excitement, She then gasped and was embarrassed in front of him. Being frozen at what he had seen, he asked her, "What the...? What's going on?" After this happened, she was filled with sadness and chagrin. Ariah was then filled with tears as she stood there in front of him with her secret exposed fully.

 She then cried out and said, "Well *sniff,* I guess you see me now for whom I truly am, you can ditch if you desire. This is my curse, all I ask is that you don't tell anyone about this. This is the reason I don't socialize with anyone." Taski, being filled with deep sorrow for her, came closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist to comfort her. He had felt this feeling of pain, for he knew how this felt because of his younger years with events that had similarities with Ariah's situation. She then felt the feeling of love from a male individual, covering herself and him with her bat wings to warm them both. He then said to her, "It's okay, you don't have to feel embarrassed around me, I don't see any problem with you, and so what if you have bat wings? I think they're beautiful. You don't worry, whatever you and I discuss that is personal will stay between me, you, and God." She felt the warmness and healing sound of his voice, she dried her tears and glanced up at him, "Really? You mean this?" She asked as her eyes dried. He then said to her, "Of course." Then after her tears were gone, he grabbed her arm and took off running, Ariah was caught off guard when he did this, she tripped over her words and shouted, "W.... Wait, What? What are you doing?" In an excited and adventurous voice, he said, "When you're down, just take off and find new places to explore. Now let's Go, you and I have an adventure awaiting us." As she looked at him, she could only think of what her father would do when she was having bad days, her father would always take her by the hand and run around with her for hours. She felt empowered by his words and started to run through the thick forest with him. They both then jumped off a large hill, then rushed through deep tunnels, avoiding many pitfalls. She felt the exhilaration of running through a forest, not knowing where she would end up. As an hour and a half passed by, every cadet was nearing the end of the trail.

 Darcie and Sharaletta were the first to finish the assignment, as Darcie was waiting for the rest to arrive, she grew bored and noticed a large wheel near a sign, she then jumped into it out of curiosity and started running in it; however, she overdid it with her lightning speed, making the entire wheel collapse off the platform. Tolem started laughing and said to her, "I don't think wheels are designed to spin that fast now." Darcie could only sit there and see stars flying. As the others came closer to the finish line, Taski and Drake caught up to each other. Ariah said to Taski, "It looks like he is trying to challenge you to a race." The prince then felt competitive, leaned near Drake to catch him and attempt to knock him unbalanced, "I'm not letting you have this one, I can see my name written all over that line." He promised him. Drake replied, "Well... We'll just have to see about that now, you goody two shoes." The two sprinted past the finish line only then to collide with each other, tripping over the line, it was too uncertain as to who reached it there first. Mikado and Ariah passed over the line and rushed over toward them. The two boys were dizzy and kept saying to each other, "No, it was Me! No, It was Me!" Mikado, standing over them said, "I see my sweetheart being the winner here, in my eyes." Ariah helped him up, giggling over his big collision, and said, "Well... did you have fun winning?" Taski truly believed he won that race and said to both Ariah and Mikado, "Well, of course ladies, who was the fastest sprinter in cross-country, me of course!" Drake ignored them and gave himself some spotlight and said, "Yeah whatever, say what you want ouch mouse, I'm truly the winner of the race." Toronto and Tesakai glanced over and heard Drake, Toronto said to Tesakai, "Honestly, I saw Mr. princes' hair cross over the line first." "All that matters is that we all were able to make it here, but I do agree with you on that statement." Tesakai responds. As all the cadets finished, they were then instructed to make their way toward the field for their next objective. As the hours passed by, all the males and females went to clean themselves in the restrooms after a long day of work, all of them ate supper together, and were sent to their cabins to rest for the night. The next upcoming weeks will test them and their abilities to their full potential. They will become the knights they dreamed of one day.