After we finished dinner, I was about to return to my room with Brock by my side, lost in thought, replaying the events of the day in my mind. The shooting challenge had been a disaster, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of disappointment and frustration. But then I heard my name being called from behind, "Young master Gabriel, may I have a moment with you?"
I turned around to see her highness, the princess, standing behind me, her expression stern and disapproving. Her eyes seemed to bore into my soul, as if searching for something that she couldn't find. I showed my respect by bowing down gently, my heart racing with anticipation.
"Of course, your highness," I replied, my voice trembling slightly.
Then she came standing before me, her eyes piercing into mine, as Brock gave us some distance, discreetly stepping away. The room fell silent, with only the sound of the wind outside breaking the stillness.
"I'm really disappointed in you, kid," she said, her voice firm but laced with a hint of sadness. "Your performance from the shooting challenge was woeful. The Boss even suggested that you're no special compared to any other kid out there."
I felt a sting from her words, my face burning with shame. I had never seen the princess so disappointed in me before, and it hurt to know that I had let her down.
"I thought you were different, intelligent and smart," she continued, her voice dripping with disappointment. "But I'm really disappointed, and it looks like I would be withdrawing my support for you, because the potential I had thought I saw in you isn't there anymore."
I felt like I had been punched in the gut, my breath knocked out of me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The princess, who had been my biggest supporter, was now withdrawing her support? It couldn't be happening.
"Your highness, please," I begged, my voice shaking. "Don't give up on me yet. I'll do better, I promise. I'll work harder, I'll train more, I'll do whatever it takes to regain your trust."
But she just shook her head, her expression unyielding. "I've seen enough, Gabriel. You had your chance, and you blew it. I'm afraid I have no choice but to withdraw my support."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, feeling defeated and demoralized. Brock came back to my side, his expression sympathetic.
"Don't worry, young master," he said. "We'll get through this together. We'll work harder, and we'll prove them wrong."
But I just shook my head, feeling like I had let everyone down, including myself. I didn't know if I could ever regain the princess's trust, but I knew I had to try.
As I returned to my room, my mind was racing with thoughts and questions. One question in particular kept echoing in my mind, something I felt like I had to know about. So I turned to Brock, who was walking beside me, and asked, "So Brock, tell me, what if I lose and get eliminated, what would happen to me? What would become of me?"
Brock's expression turned stern, as if he had been expecting me to ask that question all along. He stopped walking and turned to face me, his eyes serious and piercing.
"You'll be taken back to the orphanage," he said, his voice firm but gentle, as if trying to soften the blow. "And you'll continue living your life the way you used to. No need to possess the memory of ever competing in this challenge. It would be best to forget it all, like it never happened."
I felt a shiver run down my spine as I listened to Brock's words. The thought of going back to the orphanage, of forgetting everything I had experienced and learned, was unbearable. I had grown so much, learned so much, and made friends who had become like family to me. The thought of leaving it all behind was too much to handle.
"But what about the skills I've learned?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly. "What about the friends I've made? What about the life I've built here?"
Brock's expression softened slightly, as if he understood my concerns. "You'll always carry those with you, Gabriel," he said. "The skills, the knowledge, the friendships - they're all yours to keep. But as for the challenge, it's best to forget it ever happened. It's not worth dwelling on what could have been."
I nodded, trying to process everything Brock had said. I knew he was right, but it was hard to accept. I had grown so attached to this new life, this new me.
"Let's not hope I lose, Brock," I said, trying to sound brave, trying to sound confident.
Brock smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You shouldn't be planning on it, Gabriel," he said. "We're going to win this thing, together. We're going to make it happen, no matter what it takes."
I smiled back, feeling a surge of determination. I was going to win, no matter what it took. I was going to make Brock proud, and I was going to make myself proud. I was going to prove to myself and everyone else that I was capable of greatness.
Though the thought of returning to the orphanage brought back fond memories and a sense of nostalgia, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I no longer belonged there. The orphanage had been my home for as long as I could remember, but now, after experiencing the world beyond its walls, I felt like a stranger in a familiar land.
The thought of going back was pleasing, but it was a fleeting sentiment, overshadowed by the knowledge of what awaited me. Mother Superior, the kind-hearted but firm woman who had raised me, had already made up her mind to transfer me to a monastery. The mere thought sent a shiver down my spine.
I remembered the conversation vividly, her words still echoing in my mind. "Gabriel, my child, you have been chosen for a greater purpose. You will be transferred to a monastery, where you will continue your education and training to become a monk."
I had tried to protest, to tell her that I didn't want to go, but she had just smiled and patted my hand, her expression unyielding. "It's for the best, Gabriel. You will be doing God's work, and you will be happy."
But I knew I wouldn't be happy. I didn't want to be a monk. I wanted to make my own decisions, to forge my own path. I wanted to experience life, to explore the world, to make mistakes and learn from them. The thought of being confined to a monastery, of following a strict routine, of dedicating my life to prayer and contemplation, was suffocating.
I felt trapped, like my future was being decided for me without my consent. I knew I had to make a choice, to take control of my own destiny. I couldn't let Mother Superior's decision dictate my life. I had to find a way to win this challenge, to make a new life for myself, one that was mine alone.