This chapter is dedicated to Dvddyd33 thank you for voting on my chapters and being a reader of my book from the start :)

[E D I T E D]

♕✿~♕✿~Chapter 12//: Lessons and spying♕✿~♕✿~

The next morning on Wednesday, all of the girls are standing in a small room resembling a classroom. When I had arrived to the room dressed in a knee-length brown dress, I had seen all the girls standing in little groups, conversing with each other.

I walk over to Rose, who's talking to another Chosen girl. Her name is Addaline Richards, and she's one of the Reds in this competition. Her bright brown eyes look animated as she talks with Rose, and her black hair is glossy. The pretty white dress she's wearing pops on her dark skin.

Looking at all the other Reds, I feel a bit childish in my mundane dress compared to their polished dresses that seem to fit them perfectly.

Rose smiles at me as she sees me, and I smile back. Addaline turns to look at me too, and I'm surprised at the warm smile she shoots me. I was worried everyone would be so into the competition that they wouldn't be nice to others or try to be friends, but Addaline looked ready to welcome anyone.

"Hey, Madison! This is Addaline Richards. She was a Five," Rose tells me. I put out my hand and Addaline takes it, shaking my hand.

"Its nice to formally meet you, Addaline," I tell her. She lets out a little laugh. "I'm just glad I can talk to you. I can't wait for you race with His Highness after Lessons!" Addaline says excitedly. Rose squeals.

"Yes! Madison, I hope you're prepared to kick some royal butt, because you better beat him in this race," Rose says threateningly. Addaline and I laugh at her way of speaking.

"Well, I haven't exactly ran for exercise in years," I admit, embarrassed.

"What?" Addaline and Rose exclaim. A few girls look our way with expressions of annoyance.

"I mean, if you count running to houses so that I'm not late in performing, then I've ran for my whole life," I joke. Rose groans and rolls her eyes, while Addaline laughs.

"Well, I guess that's worth something," Addaline says.

We continue to talk for a few more minutes until the teacher, someone from the Arven family, walks in the door. Something happens, because the air around me is suddenly more calm and less dangerous. I share a questioning look with Rose as the Silvers around me look more grumpy than usual. Then, I remember what people from House Arven can do: they are silencers, able to take away any Silver's ability. This person must have taken away the abilities of the Silver girls around me. I gape at the Arven woman as she walks to the front of the room.

"I need all of your attention. Reds, you will stay in here to learn the history and etiquette that is needed to.....be more lady-like." The woman chooses her words carefully. "And Silvers, go to the Training Hall to train. Remember, it's downstairs, located right next to the indoor gardens." After saying this information, the woman waves a hand at us and leaves the classroom. Excited chatters from the Silver competitors fill the room as they all leave. That just left 4 Red girls who were a bit confused.

There was me, Rose, Addaline, and the other Red competitor whose name is Belle. We all share a look with one another.

"So....do we wait for a teacher?" Rose asks in confusion. I open my mouth to answer her question but before I can, another voice interrupts.

"Yes. And your teacher is here." We all swivel our heads to look in the direction the voice had come from. A Silver, no doubt. She has dark, tanned skin and looked to be in her late 20's. Her long, midnight-dark hair is let down to her waist, and her dark and calculating eyes assess us. She's wearing a dark blue blouse and burgundy colored jeans, with black shoes. Based on the colors she wearing, she's most likely from House Iral. That meant she was a silk, one who had perfect balance and enhanced agility. As she walks over to us, I watch her movements in awe. She walks like a cat, gently putting one foot in front of the other, while moving confidently.

"Just looking at you all makes me cringe." Ok, never mind, I am not looking at her in awe anymore. I glare at her as she comes to each of us, straightening our backs.

"You all stand like a tree in a windstorm. Come on, get your postures correct," the lady says.

"Who are you?" I ask in annoyance as she comes to me, pushing my back straight with her fingers.

"I'm Caroline Iral. I am supposed to make you all.....suitable for this competition and not look like fools this Friday on the Report." Caroline backs away from us, looking at our posture. It must have met her needs because she nods with a smile, but it quickly disappears.

"We still have a lot of work to do."

~♚♡♚♡~

After an hour of learning how to curtsy, hold a tea cup ("with you pinkie up! Don't slouch!") , use titles accordingly, and how to converse in a lady-like tone, we are finally let go. 

As we step out of the door, we all sigh in exhaustion.

"My goodness. That was a lot for today," Belle mumbles. We all nod in agreement.

"Well, I need rest," I tell them, before waving and walking towards the stairs. But before I can go, Rose stops me.

"Wait! Are the other girls still at their lessons?" Rose asks. I shrug. "Maybe. I think their lessons last for an hour and a half." Rose looks at me with a slightly mischievous look, making me feel nervous.

"What are you planning on doing?" I ask her suspiciously as she smiles deviously.

"Aren't you guys a little bit curious as to why they went to their own lessons?" Rose asks. Addaline and Belle nod, and after a while, I nod as well. I am wondering why we were separated.

"Well let's go see! We can just go to the training room and see what they do." I shake my head before Rose even finishes her sentence.

"No! What if we break some rule?" I ask her.

"There is no rule technically that goes against what we want to do."

"What you want to do," I correct her. But Belle and Addaline look curious.

"Don't tell me you guys are going to actually do this," I say with dread in my voice.

Rose nods, and soon Belle and Addaline nod as well.

I groan. I didn't want them to get into any trouble, but I already knew it would be pointless to convince them otherwise. I couldn't let them go into this by themselves.

"Fine. I'm going with you," I mutter grudgingly. They all smile at me appreciatively.

"Alright! Lets go!" Rose exclaims before walking towards the stairs that lead to the first floor.

We all follow the directions that the Arven lady had first given to the Silvers. It's downstairs, located right next to the indoor gardens.

It's not that difficult to find. We just quietly open doors to see if any look like a training room.

One room opens up to a quiet room filled with dressing rooms and some training suites. There is another door in the room, and beyond it I can hear.....fighting?

"This must be it," Addaline whispers to us. We all nod in agreement before looking at each other.

"Who's going in first?" I ask the question we are all thinking. No one answers.

"Madison, you go in," Rose whispers. I stare at her in shock.

"Hell no! I am not going in first! Rose, why don't you go in?" I tell her.

She looks nervous as she looks around.

"Maybe Belle should go in."

"No! Addaline should go in!"

We continue to argue like this until I stop them, sighing loudly.

"Stop arguing guys! I'll go in first. Come in when I tell you to come in," I whisper to them. They all nod in agreement.

I tiptoe into the room, looking around to see if anyone is here. So far, I couldn't see anyone. I turn back towards the others and motion for them to follow me. They all creep into the room and we all look at the other door, where the sounds of fighting are clear. What were they training for?

Rose quietly walks over to the other door and gently opens the door. She turns to us, with her hand over her mouth.

Seeing her reaction, we all rush forward to see what Rose sees. I look with Belle and Addaline to the other side and I almost gasp as well.

All of the Silver girls are in training suits, and I even see Ahren there in a black training suit with a red stripe going down the sides. It seems that everyone is paired with another person and are fighting each other with their abilities. Emily is fighting Jasmine, a girl from House Blonos. On the other side, Alexis is standing over the writhing body in front of her triumphantly, which is Lilly from House Carros. Ahren is fighting his little sister. It's a battle between fire and fire. They look fearsome, both having looks of determination and concentration.

I look away from the scene. So this is what they did; the Silvers are trained to be soldiers, to kill without mercy. This was the other side of Ahren. I needed to keep this in mind; Ahren was capable of destruction, a soldier trained from birth, and a raging fire that is dangerous when let loose. This is why I need to be careful around him. He is dangerous, and the person who leaves my people to poverty.

We all wordlessly agree to leave, carefully closing the door and creeping out of the room into the main hallways of the palace. We silently walk back to our own rooms, not even saying good bye to each other. When I reach my room, I lay in my bed, feeling a bit confused and wary. I really shouldn't have tried out for the Choosing. It's becoming too much for me and no part of this elite world makes much sense to me. I don't understand any of this.

None of it.

♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! The next one will be pretty exciting. Also, thank you all SO MUCH for over 200 reads!!! I am so happy and thankful to all of you wonderful readers! Thank you for all your support! ❤️❤️❤️

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