The Other Side

Chapter 5: The Prince

IT was days after the incident when I stayed with Eureka at an inn whose owner was one of the closest friends of my parents.

Eureka was hidden into an inner chamber so that he will not be seen by people and won’t be stolen by them.

Being supported by my parents’ friend, my hope came back to life on pursuing what was written on the newspaper. The newspaper indicated for a search of mighty warriors for the Crown Prince—the Prince that I only knew through rumors in our town when I was still young.

“Esmeralda, this is your tenth day of staying here. Tomorrow will be the day and the start of the battle for those who will be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s warriors. You better eat and train Eureka again so you could bring home the bacon. Your parents will be proud of you if only they were still alive.” Uncle Romualdo sighed and gave me the supper for that night.

It saddened me as well. I miss my parents so much and regretted that they left me too early. If only they were alive, as what Uncle has said.

However, I changed the mood and just said, “This tastes good, Uncle Romualdo! Thank you for the generous serving!” I exclaimed at him.

“Better that it suits your taste, Esmeralda. I will now go to give orders to the other customers.” Uncle Romualdo left the table and started cooking again at the kitchen.

I looked around to see the guests staying at the inn. They were festive and having lots of foods at their tables.

I cleaned up my table and we to Eureka to have training with him again.

THE next morning, I was excited to bring Eureka to the Crown Prince. I hurriedly came to the chamber to see how Eureka was doing.

Upon coming to the chamber, I was startled for what I saw.

His appearance was changed!

His fur had colors like a magma of a volcano, his eyes having the color of the bluish ocean still but he got bigger and started filling the entire chamber of Uncle Romualdo.

His tail covers his entire body as he sits and take his nap inside the inn.

“Eheem, Eureka… “ I went to him and intentionally awakened him.

He made that sound again.

“Shee… Sheee….” He wiggled his tail, stood up and went near to where I am.

“We will be having battles for today. We will go to the palace for the Crown Prince’s request so, you better do what we have trained for three years.” I winked at Eureka.

“Frrr… Frrrr…” He said to me as his answer.

“BYE, Uncle Romualdo!” After having the last training with Eureka, I bid my farewell to Uncle Romualdo.

“May you win and bring the name of your parents, Esmeralda!” Uncle Romualdo shouted, knowing that my parents were once warriors of the King and Queen as well.

But since the King and Queen abandoned the Crown Prince, my parents were ordered to banish the kingdom and spend their lives outside the castle.

That’s the time that they decided to tend and looked after a flock of sheep, and to hide themselves—the time that I was born as well.

“Surely, Uncle Romualdo! “ I smiled and started walking away with Eureka beside me.

KINGDOM of Pagos—One of the seven kingdoms making up our nation—the Kingdom of Ice.

I looked from the valley towards the Kingdom of Pagos and said, “I am coming, Crown Prince of Ice and I will be one of your mighty warriors!” Without a doubt, I smiled at winning the battle waiting for me in the palace.

I started walking down the valley towards the palace.

“THIS is the Kingdom of Ice?!” I was stunned.

From the floor to the walls to the woods to everything—they are all covered with ice!

The cold wind went to where I was standing sending shivers to my bones.

It is very cold…. I covered myself.

I looked around to the servants inside the castle. All of their hairs were white. Their eyes were blue. They all have the same armors—silver metals.

How were they able to survive this kind of coldness???

One of the servants approached me from outside the castle.

“THIS is the way towards the arena. If you will win the battle, you’ll meet the Crown Prince Zale to introduce yourself as one of his newest warriors.” The servant said to me.

“Ahh… Yes, thank you.” I said to him.

I headed to the arena and was amazed by the different powerful creatures waiting for the battle there. One that looked like an eagle yet had many heads and wings, covered with colorful feathers. One with the head of a shark but a body of a whale. One with the head of a hayena but with the body of an ox.

They all showed in their bodies what types of powers they have.

May it be ice, water or fire or even wind.

And I have Eureka with me, the one who owns the power of fire.

Arena was the only place that is not covered with ice.

The walls were covered with glowing metals indicating that a power was put on it to withstand the skills of the powerful creatures.

“The contest have five challenges. Since you came here and are counted of as 40 contenders, you will need to surpass each challenge, impressed by the powers of none other than Prince Zale. Each place will have different battles and those who withstand until the end will need to face each other.” The announcer said in a loud voice to all of us and he lead us to a room that is very dark.

Once the light turned on, I was stunned for the place that looked like a sky yet fiery winged creatures started raining feathers covered with flames towards the contenders. They are so fast and some of us weren’t able to move quickly, especially those who have creatures that are bulky and are made for close range battles.

I sat behind Eureka and we started going through the motions of flying creatures while they follow us all though the path towards the next challenge inside that place.

Some were killed while reaching through the end of the challenge but I saw some skillful warriors going fast towards the second challenge.

The second challenge is going through a windy venue and some contenders got hurt while going against the wind.

Eureka once again withstand the second challenge and were able to move up to the third challenge which is darkness.

Those who weren’t able to see were being stolen by powerful creatures and were eaten alive by them.

Yet, Eureka who used to travel at the middle of the night in Mt. Evlogia, outsmarted the contenders and became the first one to come across the challenge place.

The fourth one was full of ice. But everytime Eureka would ran in the ground made of ice, he'll slip through them making the challenge the hardest for him.

“Eureka, this is the last challenge place we need to surpass!” I said to him and tapped his back to strengthen him.

“Shee… Shee…” Eureka said and once he uttered those words, fire from his feet started blazing and he ran to the ice like it was not existing.

Eureka once again made it through the challenge.

The final battle will begin. And only five contenders will be included as the team of warriors for the crown prince.

Ten contenders made it through the last challenge and we will be facing each other in the battlefield.

The warrior in charge of the contest made the one who had a creature that is covered with flakes of a fish, and the eyes were glowing with wind to fight against me. The body is that of a cheetah and had the face of a lion.

Making me have doubts if we will win this battle or not.

“I still believe that we can make it!” I said to Eureka though I was still doubting myself.

The battle began and four of the contenders advanced the challenge creating the four warriors needed for the Crown Prince.

I need to be the last one to advance the battle!

"CHALLENGE, begin!” Said the Warrior.

Eureka and I ran towards the contender.

“Eureka, use pyrokinesis!” Eureka started casting out fire from his mouth towards the opponent.

“Tempest!” Said my opponent and his creature created a storm.

“Eureka, watch out!” Eureka jumped fast, far from the storm created by the enemy.

“Let’s go behind the opponent, either from above or from the side!” I commanded Eureka.

From there we looked for a way to blindspot the creature to be able to win.

Eureka started firing towards the opponent and even surrounding it with his power making the enemy confuse.

And from above, Eureka jumped and send more fire to the creature while I was at his back, still commanding him.

The covering of the body of the opponent that looked like flakes of fish fell down to the ground and its body burned in fire.

I and Eureka won the battle.

“We did it, Eureka!” I embraced Eureka and smiled for our victory.

“Shee… Shee…” Eureka said.

“CONGRATULATIONS to all the winners!” The Warrior said. Us, the five contenders were smiling to what we have attained.

“We are now going to Prince Zale to let show him the mighty warriors who advanced all of the challenges.” The servant said.

We headed to a big door consisting of ice and there in the middle of it stood a man whose white hair reaches to the ground.

He faced us all.

And his eyes sparkle and glowing like a bluish ocean.

Like that of Eureka.