Early the next morning, I was already awake, lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought, when I heard a knock on the door. I had thought it was Brock, coming to wake me up for another day of training, but opening up, I was surprised to see the Boss standing there, a hint of a smile on his face, his eyes twinkling with a knowing glint.
"Wow, son, you're already up and awake," he said, his voice booming in the quiet morning, his tone filled with approval. "I like your dedication. You're going to need it today."
I just replied with a nod of my head, still trying to shake off the sleep, my mind foggy, my body feeling heavy. The Boss gestured for me to come with him, and I followed him out of the room, into the still-dark hallway, the only sound being the creaking of the old wooden floorboards beneath our feet.
As we got outside, the time was still half past four in the morning, the sky a deep shade of indigo, with only a hint of light on the horizon, a faint glow that seemed to grow stronger by the minute. The air was crisp and cool, and I could see my breath as I exhaled, the misty vapor disappearing into the chill of the morning. I shivered slightly, feeling the cold seep into my bones, but the Boss just chuckled and clapped me on the back.
"That's the spirit, son," he said, his voice full of enthusiasm. "Now, let's get moving. We've got a lot to cover today."
That's when I saw the princess coming our way, her hair tied back in a ponytail, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief, her face set in a determined expression. Behind her was still the quiet, sleepy Liam, who definitely wasn't used to waking up so early. He looked like he was still half asleep, his eyes bleary, his movements slow, his face pale.
"How was your night, boy?" the princess asked me, her voice sweet and concerned, her eyes searching mine for any sign of weakness or doubt. "Did you sleep well?"
"It was alright," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant, but I could tell she was looking for something more. She was willing to see some kind of reaction on my face, after cutting off her support for me in the competition. She wanted to know if I was still confident, still determined, or if I had given up.
The princess looked at me for a moment, her eyes searching, then nodded and turned to the Boss. "Let's get started, then," she said, her voice firm and commanding, her tone brooking no argument. "We've got a lot to cover today, and not a lot of time to waste."
The Boss nodded, and gestured for us to follow him. We walked in silence, the only sound being the crunch of gravel beneath our feet, and the distant chirping of birds, starting to wake up with the dawn. The sky was slowly lightening, the stars fading, and I could feel the weight of the day ahead, the challenges that lay in store for me.
We walked towards a helicopter situated around the mansion, the pilot waiting inside, his eyes fixed on us with a serious expression. The princess began to address us, her voice firm and commanding, her words echoing through the stillness of the morning.
"I think this is going to be the finale of this competition, and as well the toughest of all the challenges," she said, her eyes scanning both Liam and me, her gaze lingering on each of us as if searching for any sign of weakness. "This helicopter is going to carry each of you into different parts of the forest behind the mansion. The mission is to find your way back or find yourself a way out of the competition."
She paused, her expression unyielding, her jaw set in determination. "Either way, you're safe from danger, but returning here means that you're still in the competition. You'll have to navigate through the forest, using all the skills and knowledge you've acquired so far. But getting out from another route would be required to walk out of this competition in general, and never come back."
Her words sounded harsh, not considering that we were still twelve-year-old boys, risking our lives in this competition. I felt a surge of fear and uncertainty, my heart racing with anticipation. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Was she really willing to risk our lives like this?
That's when the Boss intervened, his voice softer and more reassuring, his tone gentle but firm. "Hey, hey, let's not forget that you're both still kids," he said, his eyes warm with concern, his expression softening the harshness of the princess's words. "We're not trying to put you in harm's way, but we do need to test your skills and determination."
He turned to the princess, his expression gentle but persuasive. "Maybe we can rephrase that, your highness. Instead of saying 'never come back', maybe we can say 'you'll be disqualified from the competition'?"
The princess nodded, her expression softening slightly, her eyes gleaming with a hint of understanding. "Very well. You're right, Boss. I apologize if my words came across as too harsh."
She turned back to us, her voice firmer but still gentle, her words measured and deliberate. "So, here's the deal. You'll both be dropped off in different parts of the forest. You need to find your way back to the mansion to stay in the competition. If you choose to leave the forest through another route, you'll be disqualified. But don't worry, you'll be safe either way. We'll have people tracking your progress, making sure you don't get hurt."
Liam and I looked at each other, our eyes wide with excitement and fear, our minds racing with the challenge ahead. We knew this was it, the final test. We had to be brave and clever if we wanted to win.