'Til Kingdom Comes - The Banished Prince Vol 3: The Prophecy

Ballots

"The rest of those who had not been issued with any task, please go on home and check with the registrar here on the available tasks at hand."

"Do not be disheartened just because your friends and relatives had gotten their tasks. Yours would come in readily in the next few days or even tomorrow...!"

"Rest up and prepare yourself mentally on the adventures that would be waiting for you then. Please be dismissed and come back periodically to check over here."

Gwen spoke up on a loud booming voice because her voice really reverberated in the hall as it was due to a high ceiling of over 12 feet high.

Some of the adventurers looked a bit disheartened because their names were not picked in the ballots but were elated to hear that there would be other tasks at hand waiting for them.

They can't wait to hear of such tasks and would participate as much as they could since success means silver coins per person in the party.

Before the adventurers had the chance to step out of the guild, several teachers (whom had discussed with me much earlier and was approved of their suggestions) came forward and informed to the rest of the adventurers.

"There would be classes set by us teachers in school. This would not be for basic education or whatever, but it would certainly aid you in getting more prepared for the tasks at hand."

"There would be classes in cartography, where one study to make maps. You would learn the basics and from there you would help to plot lands, cities, towns, villages and settlements as well as virgin forests, natural mines, unexplored caves and other resources for us."

"The reward for completion and passing the basic requirements for the course would be 2 silvers."

When the teachers spoke of the courses and the rewards they could attain after passing their basic test and requirements, the adventurers returned back to their seats and begins to listen intently. They were excited already by the encouragement.

"How many days does the course run, sir?" asked one adventurer and was replied as "Between 5 to 7 days, depending on how quickly you could grasp both the theory and practical lessons."

"In each lesson, you would learn how to use the dividers. It is used to measure the distance between two points on a chart is made easier with dividers."

"A Technical Compass. A technical drawing instrument used for inscribing circles and arcs and to measure distances."

"Directional Compass, to mark out the bearings of our town against the findings that would be drawn out on the maps.

"A parallel ruler, as well as a protractor, would be provided for you. You would also learn how to care distances with just your thumb and your naked eyes. This lesson is invaluable and you would be glad to participate and do well in your exams at the end of the course."

When the adventurers heard this, they were ecstatic. They thought that the schools were only meant to learn how to read and write as well as spell everyday words. Little did they knew that they would have a chance to get some life skills through it.

Everyone wanted to participate as soon as they can so that the chances of getting to make maps would be enhanced as they knew that this would be the next few tasks at hand.

Another teacher held his arm up. (I didn't know it was one of the troubadours since the person who spoke up was a male and didn't wear any flashy clothes or carrying any kinds of musical instrument on him)

"There would be another few more classes that would be of great help to Our Majesty. It would be divided into three categories sn each category would be about 2 days each."

"In this class, you would learn about mythical creatures that often we hear in songs, or seen their drawings in some book. We would not be considering those mystical creatures like those folklore types."

"6 days course in total and by completion you would also earn 2 silvers if you pass the common knowledge test."

"Please register your names at our General office of the school later today at half past 3 in the afternoon. That's the time when the daycare children would be off and the classes would have been completed."

"The teachers would all then be on their break after teaching and we could all have your names and which class you might be interested in."

Hearing that there would be two such classes they would be held in conjunction, the adventurers were excited as well since they could earn r silvers if they attended the lessons and pass their exams.

The idea of rewarding them was me since I knew it would be a great motivational drive for these young Adventurers, to step into school and classrooms for the first time of their life.

While the earlier generation had already gotten their mandatory education and had completed theirs way ahead due to their intelligence and ability to grasp the lessons, these pioneer students would prove beneficial when it comes to plotting maps as well as distinguishing the mythical creatures.

There was a murmur of excitement among the adventurers since the majority of them knew how to read and write and would be beneficial when it comes to plotting the maps.

Besides, taking up these lessons would be one way for them to contribute back to the community as well as the Royal family as they took turns to exit the Adventurers Guild and wait around for the time to proceed to the General Office in the school to register for these two classes.

It seemed that the timing would be right since the adventurers that had moved out had 14 days to complete their tasks at hand.

Heather and I along with the twins went over to the Priest and Priestess area where we met with Priestess Penelope and Priest Earl.

"Just the two of the most anticipated people that we wished to meet eight now." I greeted both of them as they came out to greet us back. The rest of the Priest and a Priestess were there except for Priestess Isabela who, as usual, on duty, at the hospital to cure the invalids back to their original state.

"What can we do for you, Your Majesty? You looked awfully excited when you had arrived here alright after opening the Adventurers Guild." Priest Earl greeted us as he offered us seats as we addressed the issues at hand.

"This matter may or may not related to you right now in the present that might affect the future. Tell us, how much do you know about gnomes?"

Priestess Penelope looked at us in bewilderment because she had not expected to have these kinds of questions being directed to them before. Although they have been manipulating the earth as well as nature, they had never imagined they the person before them would ask such questions.

"How would our actions be affecting the future, Your Majesty? You mean to say that we might have angered the gnomes during our work and such?" Priestess Penelope replied to us while looking at Priest Earl.

"I had been digging holes and manipulating the earth in London and some other cities but I had no encounters with those kinds of mythical creatures before. Maybe because I work in the day and rest in the night while these creatures appear in the night only?"

Priest Earl stated his reasons while I shook my head upon hearing their explanation. Somehow, deep down inside me, I knew that something had gone wrong but I can't put my finger on it at all.

Maybe the influencer to this matter was not present at that time or might have appeared within their Guild in some years to come. Who knows, am I right?

Suddenly a head peeked in on where we were discussing and greeted us. "Good morrow, Your Majesty, if you may, could I share with you somethings, which might also add to your tasks that you could delegate to the Adventurers?"

The person was Priest Michael, whose buddy had just gotten married. "Alright, please proceed, at least some information is better than no information at all," I responded as Priest Michael took a stool and sat with his peers, facing us all.

"Your Majesty, its this matter which had been with me since I had acquired the ability to conjure up a one-carat diamond and gold pieces before when were doing some panning back with my deceased parents."

"As far as I recall, I had conjured up lots of gold ingots from Litchfield in Staffordshire and Ravenshead in Nottinghamshire which also lead to the greed of the prospectus foremen and cheated my parents before they succumb to the m******e of those darn bastards... "

Priest Michael was hissing with ager and gritted his teeth when he remembered the time when his parents were murdered before the womenfolk were r***d several times over.

When we heard the story the first time they were here, we felt helpless and sorry for the state they some of them were in.

Not only did they suffer hardship but they also suffered the denial of existence from the community they had visited since.

They were treated power than the tinkerers of the Irish Travellers or the Nomads themselves.

Fortunately, Lady Luck was able to guide them over here and they were equally surprised that the Royalty does not harbour any ill intents and welcome these people with special abilities with open arms.

Priest Michael then continued, "As I conjured up other minerals such as rubies, sapphires, emeralds, onyx, topaz and diamonds, I could hear lots of angry grunts or voices in my head, Your Majesty. Only when I stopped conjuring my special abilities to only getting the topaz did these angry grunts and voices died down."

Heather cleared her throat and she simply remarked, "Those were dwarves voices that you hear since they coveted these minerals very much, gnomes would hoard and protect minerals such as gold only."

All eyes were on Heather after she had finished saying her piece as though it was natural for her to do so while I was staring at her with a slightly gaping mouth in surprise.