Once A Princess, Now A Slave

48 (Part 1)

Kelsie's POV

I do not exactly know what she was thinking. All I have is a story narrated by Connor. If it's true that she doesn't believe what Connor have said, then maybe she already have an idea what's the real score between us two. I wonder what kind of prank she will pull this week. Based on how she's acting and the

way she glare at me, I couldn't stop thinking of her evil doings.

"Alright, everyone, listen up!" Veya called our attention again.

My brows furrowed. Wouldn't she give Kristine a deduction or even a warning? She's late!

I know she isn't as late as me before, but she's still late. I look up on the clock hanging on the wall to check the time. It's already 8:18 am. The grace period is only 15 minutes. So she's technically late for 3 minutes.

Okay, I think it's fair to let it slide. Maybe I am just bitter because I am the only one who got punished for being late, and worst, I ended up failing.

"Here in this bowl, you will be picking what disease you will cure. Afterward, you will be given an open time to look into the garden to pick some herbs. But since this is a test, we limited the herbs that you can pick in the garden. If your desired herbs isn't there, then you have to go to the forest, or anywhere that you think you can find the plant that you need. As long as you can accomplish the medicine today, you're good."

We all listened carefully. This is quiet exciting. I already anticipated this. The tests for the quarters are arranged from the least hard to hardest.

"Take note that the medicine or cure that you will be making can be something that is edible or just a b*****e to cover up the wound depending on what type of disease you picked, so it is important that you know what herbs and plants are edible and which are not."

I tilt my head. I am watching Veya from my seat and I could not stop but to think that she is really familiar to me. I am dying to know where meet her. Or maybe Big Claw pack isn't that big at all so I am confused whether I already had an interaction with her or she's just simply someone that I bumped into somewhere.

"We will be starting at exactly 8:30," Veya said.

I stand on my seat and choose a position to the long table. While waiting for the time, my eyes travel around. Everyone have a friend. They are giggling with ach other, talking about the strategies that they will do to successfully execute the test.

I felt a sudden hollow feeling on my stomach. The emptiness crawled from my abdomen up to my throat, forming a lump that made it hard for me to swallow.

I may avoid this thought whenever it crosses my mind, but I am aware that at the deepest part of my soul, this is something that still bothers me. Growing up, I always says that I can do things alone and that I do not need anyone. But in fact, the reason why that is how I think is because I have no choice but to be alone. The defense mechanism to not make me pity myself is to think that I do not need anyone.

I sensed someone staring at me from afar. When I traced the direction of the gaze, my eyes landed to my stepsister.

Kristine is glaring at me. Her friends are talking and giggling beside her, having their own world while her eyes are all on me. I wonder what is running in her mind.

My thoughts were halted when Veya once again caught our attention.

"We are going to start in 30 seconds!" she announces.

I shift on my place. The girls beside me also lined up.

"The first table will pick," she added.

The first table on the right where she pointed her hand is the table where my sister is currently standing.

There are five long tables in total and I am in the second one.

They all fall in line. One of my sister's friends need to tap her shoulder for her to follow them since her eyes are still on me. If looks could kill, I bet I am already lying on the floor and swimming on my own

blood.

They all pick a paper from the bowl and went back to their places. It's now our turn. We fall in line like

what the first batch did. When it's my turn, my eyes somehow dropped on Veya who is holding the bowl

of paper. I do not want to overthink but I did saw her roll her eyes on me inwardly.

l ignored her and just casually pick a paper and went back on my place. We just waited for everyone to

pick their paper before opening them.

I secretly smiled. I know this is the first day of the test so it is only reasonable that this will be the easiest

part of the test. Not to be boastful but this is way too easy.

'Cough and Colds.'

Note: No use of oregano of ginger. Use other herbal plants.

'Mild and open wound.'

Note: You can use any herbs you want.

This is basic. I bet I can do this for less than half an hour. I am not used on taking factory-made medicines and I do not like the taste of oregano and ginger so I always make my own herbal medicine whenever I'm sick.

Aso, whenever I get scratches on my personal trainings, I tend to treat them myself. I remember the first attempt to treat my wound. I used some random herbal plant because I thought any plants can be used to cover my wound. I just mimic what the Salutary wolves are doing whenever I have a scratches on my body. I immediately regret it because it was too painful and if burned my skin. The second time I tried to treated my wound, I chose the plants wisely and studied them.

There was a moment in my life that I got obsessed on herbal plants that my mom thought I will switch to Salutary (which my dad will fully support.) He wanted me to be part of Salutary instead of the Scouts because obviously, he doesn't want me to 'get hurt' whenever I'm out the pack's territory.

My mom made me memorized the whole book of herbs and I used them in practice to treat myself whenever I have minor wounds and scratches.

This is why I'm pretty confident on this test.

"You have all the free time to pick the herbs as long as you can make the herbal medicine within this day. Make sure you read the notes on the paper that you picked," Veya reminded. "You can start now," she added.

Her last sentence made the test takers panicked. I furrowed my brows. What for? We have different diseases to cure. I shake my head while watching most of then rush out the garden.

In a calm manner, I walk out the quarter. My jaw dropped and my eyes blinked uncontrollably when I notice that the garden filled with plants are now almonts wiped out. Some test takers are randomly getting their herbs, not thinking clearly of what should they take first.

'What the hell is this...'

My eyes landed on the herbal plant that I need for the cough and colds. I walk towards it but in the middle of my step, I halted.

A boy aggressively ran past me. He went straight to the small bunches of peppermint and wash them all out.

"What the..." the words slipped into my mouth like a whisper.

I roam my eyes around. The small once greenish garden is now empty and covered with nothing but messy ground and plants taht was unevenly cutted.

This is not what I am expecting. What am I going to use now?!

F*ck!

"The forest..." I whispered to myself. No wonder most of them rushed out. They know the small garden outside the quarter will be wiped out. Did all of them think ahead of me or I am just too dumb to not thought of it?

I rush out of the quarter. My feet jogged to find its way towards the forest. I am nearing the gates of the quarter. Almost all the members went there. Only a few stayed inside the quarters, checking the plants that they randomly picked.

I shake my head. 'Very irresponsible.'

My eyes are still looking at my back, checking those who were left. When I shift my gaze in the front, my eyes widened.

Someone from the opposite side is also running towards my direction. I notice his eyes widened. We both know it's too late to avoid each other.

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Unedited. English is not my first language. My apologies for the grammar, sentence construction, and wrong spelling.

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Once A Princess, Now A Slave

By: Joanne Cristel

©2023