I awoke abruptly, feeling a sense of urgency. It was time for me to have a discussion with Dr. Crawford regarding the possibility of becoming his apprentice healer. Pursuing the path of healing is one of my aspirations, in addition to owning a shop. I long to be of value instead of idling away my days, consumed by a sense of solitude. The prospect of finding a new family who would take pride in my accomplishments is also enticing. Although I am merely eight years old, I possess a firm understanding of my purpose. As I made my way to the clinic, I took the time to exchange pleasantries with those I encountered. Eventually, I arrived at Dr. Crawford's doorstep and knocked. "What is your purpose here?" he inquired. "Are you in need of medical assistance?" I shook my head in response. "Then kindly depart," he curtly replied. This endeavor was proving to be more challenging than initially anticipated. "I am not injured or afflicted in any way," I clarified. "Then why have you sought my audience?" he questioned. "Because I yearn to become your apprentice. Healing is one of my aspirations. Do you possess any knowledge of healing magic?" he inquired. "I possess a rudimentary understanding, although my skills are still at an amateur level. Furthermore, I yearn to be of service. While everyone here spends their days idly, I find it to be a particularly monotonous existence," he remarked. "Indeed, although for me, the monotony is far more burdensome than for others."

fine if you show up every day, I'll let you be my apprentice he said tiredly maybe it'll be an eye-opening for you, but being aware that I will not go easy on you, I not, of course, I wouldn't expect you to go easy on me at all I lived in the palace, so I'm guessing you think that I would be more like well a soft, cushy princess of deed you are a princess I might be a princess, but I'm not anymore. Of course, I knew what you did you gave up your life in the palace for what to live here in these quarantine zones I traded my life in the palace for my new family. Now they're trapped and I'm stuck here. I've been here a year now but I haven't done anything productive, I heard about what happened. It's very normal of you to give up your life for that but it's not what I was expecting. No one would expect that they would be tortured there but I should have, and they had to earn their freedom through the trials. and that would be hard yes difficult indeed but I know they can do it just like I can do this well, then young one like I said promptly show up here every day I'm not I will maybe you'll be as good as a healer as me, maybe even my partner.

that would be great but don't get ahead of yourself. I'm not of course I wouldn't expect it in any other way.

I came every day daily. I came and learned, eager to learn. I was better at healing that I wasn't being a princess and a queen. Even Dr. Crawford gave me some praise. You're better at this than I thought and it's even amazing that you were eight years old and you're able to do this I'm not, who said your magic isn't good enough I said high mage, my old tutor he said I was terrible. Well, you're good at healing not been good at being a princess or a strong mage in their army but you're a good healer.

thank you, sir, so when are these trials, he asked soon and I hope they have studied up their magic and leveled up to their ultimate level. Fat magic spells. I want them to win. Of course you do are freedom is counting on it not all of us will be free anyone close to him will be free close to who? Oh yes the prodigy, right family friends anyone close could be free if you're not then, you're stuck here that's awful to know well I hope I'm part of the group since you're my well since I'm your apprentice of course you would be part of the group I mean, that'll be set free, but I'm also worried that that the king will not let them get free and ring the trials against them. That could be a case he could ring it against them, and keep them from freedom.

that would be terrible. If it's rigged and we're trapped here still I know, but that's how my father was not my new father, but my other father, right the king yes, and the new prince is worse I know I've heard of how awful Prince soul is he is terrible isn't he odd I've seen what he can do. What do you mean I've seen him torture me when I was a princess still now he tortures his sister right new sister-in-law to be yes trapped inside that palace Luther to watch both of them. That's why it's urgent. It is if they can get their freedom it would be nice, but if it's against them that won't be any better the high is terrible. He'll probably try to rig it against them so that they won't win that could be the case. Are you prepared to see it happen? No, I said no no I am not prepared, but I have to go anyway, I need to support my family and hope for them to get out hope for our freedom that's the only kind of hope we have to help for it. It's hard to keep hope these days young girl, Riley he said by saying my name it's not completely hopeless little Missy I'm not I know.

wow, for lighter subjects. You're doing well like I said you're a great apprentice. Also, you have to light up my mood. It's nice to have someone to talk to in here or not. I'm glad you think so and I'm not just some princess. Oh no, you've proven that you are no softy, and you can get your hands dirty. Yes, I can do that. and you can hold your own Riley, so how do you like being the ambassador's daughter? It's a very interesting title. Indeed it's different than being called princess I have to obey certain rules and things that's the hard part. The freedoms I had are gone now it would be difficult being the daughter of the ambassador, I know how Luther felt for a little bit of the time he was here the ambassador's son, he and Scarlet both well maybe he'll get that title back soon maybe when's the trials I think tomorrow well I hope they've gotten their powers up me too. I hope they did too.

well, I guess I better get headed back to the house. Of course, you have a big day tomorrow tomorrow is your day off since it's the day of the trials thank you you deserve it for doing so well cause I probably have errands to run for Mom like what she'll probably want me to pick up some cupcakes that she has reserved. They have been sitting there a while, I think their order is not ready until tomorrow though, so I'll be picking them up and some chips. It's more like a good luck present for them and the last meal effort for them at this party I'm not looking forward to seeing them fight but at least I'll give them something to be comforted by, you're a comfort Riley I'm guessing anything you do or give them will be comforting mom think it would be a good effort for them. Well, Helena is always good at that kind of thing.

I know that she adopted Scarlet out of the goodness of her heart like she did with me. She's very charitable. I give her that kind of credit said Howard well go and rest and get ready for tomorrow. Tomorrow's a day off for you unless you want me to come in early you can if you'd like I probably won't have to go and pick up the cupcakes until noon and I won't have to be at the train set the train station until almost sunset so I might have time to do a half days work a half a day would be fine you can come in for a half a day tomorrow.

thank you no go rest and have a good time also see you in the morning and not as I left and went back to and went back to house Riley Mom did you have a good day at work today? I know it said yes and Dr. Crawford said he'll give me a day off tomorrow but I told him I'll come in for half a day good you need at least a little bit of days of work before we go and have that party and before you go pick up those cupcakes at noon anything else you need me to pick up for you the mom, of course, I don't know I think the cupcakes are efficient enough and not no rest, if you have a good day tomorrow, thank you, mom mother, oh, and by the way, your mother had passed away, my face fell knowing that my mother the queen was dead now how the Voran disease my face fell. How did you find out?

I heard it from. I'm not sure but someone told me that your mother had passed now you and Julius are the only family I have now I said sadly you and father and Ash and Lutheran and Scarlet. Once they get free that's the spirit think of the new family you will have also sad about the ones that I have lost. I was very close to my mother you know I know that dear look forward to what you're gonna see tomorrow I smile knowing that I'll be seeing my friends again tomorrow, even if they're gonna be marched in for the trials, I felt a little happier now though knowing that this was gonna happen and they'll get their freedom and we'll get our freedom but also saddened because I know that it might not happen either if his father might not let them go.

I went to bed after eating dinner. I woke up the next day and went to work like usual. We're half a day. it was only half a day. I need to be home to get ready for the party is my first time at the palace since I sneaked out I can't let Mom and Dad know that I snuck out and then flew over the wall. The guards were not surprised to see me as I flew across and saw everyone that I knew I waited for the guards below and they weighed back up at me Riley, Princess Riley. I waved back down at them even though I wanted to tell them that I wasn't the princess anymore these people in these particular guards were friendly to me. Some of them were my guards.

hey, I said waving at them as I landed, how are things Riley they asked I mean with your new family and everything I love it but I don't like the idea that my family has to be broken. Yeah, that sucks. Send one guard, but the king thinks they're useful, my brother is useful I said what would be of use to Scarlet to her brother which is sad I know are you hoping for their release maybe yes even though they'll be probably re-trapped here in these quarantine zones, so what is up with you I'm learning to be a healer dr. Crawford is teaching me that is great so you're an apprentice and not wow that's awesome but I had half a day because of the trials, of course, so what else are you doing today?

I'm running errands for my mom. I'm picking up some cake cupcakes and that's about it pretty much of course so you're picking up cupcakes for your mom that's nice I know I'm sorry about the queen I know yeah I am too. She was my actual mother and I am very sad about it, but I have a new, loving mother and father, and a new sibling to take care of, which makes you feel better. I know it makes me feel much better I said.

and learning to be a healer is also giving me a sense of purpose. It's better than just sitting around all day I bet, so do you like your new job? I love it Dr. Crawford can be a pain but he's nice to once you get to know him, he's a good guy. Oh yes, we love Crawford. He's so kind to us, even though we are evil to him.

I said goodbye to the guards and waved as I flew away to go get those cupcakes. I walked too because it was good for me. I walked to the train station and waited. Mother father and Ash were now here we had to wait for the train to be clean before we could get on.

did you get the cupcakes? I know it's good your brother and sister-in-law-to-be will be happy to see that you've gotten them. We also got your brother a gift a bag of barbecue chips he would be delighted to see them. I think he would be delighted to see those chips Mom I mean glad that you have gotten them for him. It'll be his first time seeing his sibling too. I forgot he hasn't seen as yet. Do you think he'll like Ash? I don't know yet we'll see.

we got on the train and we took off to the palace. I couldn't tell Mom and Dad that I was knocked out already here a few days ago when we arrived at the palace. We are now finally here.

And the party was in swing now it was more like a dinner party now that I was part of the new family. I was not allowed on the Vald Orion section I had to stay in the non-Voran section now I have never been on this side of the fence before, that was a different atmosphere here. There was a lot of good food to eat though and I ate hard they had to find a new way for the cupcakes to not melt because I didn't have a model one, but it was fine. I even walked around and met people, it was an experience to meet other types of naturals outside the quarantine zones, and outside the Volan Palace and the Vald Dorian walls.

I even walked to a table and sat down and asked is the seat taken oh no, it's not a voice, Riley you may have a seat I said it's a grand day, isn't it? These trials are so horrible. It is a grim grim day. I said these trials are always horrific. I can't believe how you can stand sitting through these when you were an actual Voran yourself I know it was pretty terrible for me to sit through these events on my own, but on the other side of it now seeing it from this side of it, well at least you don't have to worry about it right no, I can just watch the trials from the non-von Dorians side of it well at least you don't have to worry about being in the trials yourself but I have people to worry about to be in that my new brother and his sister-in-law to my sister-in-law to be are going to be in these trials. Oh, that's horrible and they might die before they get a chance to even be part of your family. I hope that's not the case. It's terrible that the the prodigy is locked in here inside the walls of Volder, it's sad. I said that the ambassador's son, the ambassador's son, and the prodigy are locked inside these walls I said, his friend I know yes.

A little girl came up to us. I was from the Vald Orion section. Who are you wait I know you you're Riley and you're adorable. Hi Riley, my name is Zoe you mean the lieutenant's daughter. She knows you know my dad. Of course, he was one of our best guards, you know Riley's mom says I shouldn't talk about him, and why not because she says it's against the rules to talk about him while he was gone? I mean it's been a year already but she says it's bad to think of someone or be close to someone once they're dead for that long.

I hate that rule, and why I asked her is because I'm named after him it's easy for others to forget because they're not named after him, but my name resembles him which could be devastating. I said, why can't mom just forget about the rule and let me read my father in my way you were wise at the age you are how old are you now Zoe five is a very good age to be I said you are eight I said you are a good age to Riley. You know I still miss my mother she just died recently, but I'll always remember her and be close to her even after several years, your mother and Your Way, Zoe or your father I mean, and think of him as he is or was I always still think of my mother I hugged the little girl. Remember what I said she thought for a moment OK Riley I'll take your advice. I've patted the child on the head that's good I'm glad you're thinking of my statement and what you heard me say.

and don't go out too fast Zoe life is too short to let life pass by you. She knows thank you Riley you make me feel better. I'm glad I could help you out and maybe you could tell your mother that you want to grieve your father and your way yes I will tell her that.

Zoe get back here right now. Oh, it's my mom. I gotta go well I ever see you again I don't know but if we do we can be friends of course I said smiling at the little girl. I know there is still hope for Valdora Orians it's little girls like Zoe growing up, but I feel bad for her too. I watched her leave the bouncing stuff what a sweet child I thought I felt bad that she had such an awful mother, though I said to the non-Dorians that were sitting next to me it's a shame isn't it that people are innocent like her has to be one of them I not I don't want her to turn out like me I thought, well we don't know how people will turn out especially when they're young but if she's influenced by her mother, she probably might not stay sweet and innocent forever that's true that's good advice to let me know about you're welcome now let us go and finish eating. We have a trial to watch.

stop being a chapter here next chapter will be about the trials. They'll be at least a couple of chapters on that or one big one where they were the focus changes from time to time. I hope you enjoy and I hope you enjoy this chapter. Also, I know that this was two chapters of Riley in a row but I hope you enjoy her. Take of what it was like for her. She was in the quarantine zones. I hope you enjoy it.