CHAPTER EIGHT

Feeling happy with myself that I did not disappoint Cleon I paid attention to master Flynn's class. To brew a sleeping potion master Flynn started his teaching. You will have to stick to this recipe for even the smallest mistake can lead to a different result. You will need. 3 heaps ruby blossom 4 teaspoon rosemary 1 pinch pearl of basil 2 teaspoons saffron Cedric passes the ingredients around. You can start brewing and remember to make no mistakes master Flynn said. Looking towards our direction he said miss Eve since you are here listening to my teaching it only means you have magical abilities since this is your first time attending a class I will advise you to be careful so as to not make a mistake. I thanked him and gathered the ingredients looking at the instructions on the piece of paper that Cedric brought along with the ingredients and started brewing. Halfway through I noticed Cleon quietly watching me brew the potion I was about to ask him if he would prefer doing it himself when someone said. Cleon don't tell me you find brewing a sleeping potion difficult that you let your little help do all the work. Everyone started laughing I looked at Cleon only to find him smiling not knowing what to do I continued brewing the potion. Borak, it seems you've finished brewing yours since you have time to joke around Cleon said with the smile still on his face. I have finished mine and I have been observing you doing nothing for a while now the boy called Borak answered. Well then master Flynn how about a little competition Cleon asked. Master Flynn not wanting to offend Cleon after the dispute earlier said in a respectful manner. My prince, Borak is the best potion maker I've taught but if you want to compete with him I have no problem. My sleeping potion is ready I will allow you to make yours and we both will drink each other's potion whoever falls asleep is the loser and will have to give up his helper to the winner for a day. My servant said he has taken a fancy to your helper Borak said exchanging glances with his servant. Okay if that is your term I agree Cleon said. Turning to me Cleon said, you are doing a good job with the potion. Walking towards Borak with a jug of water Cleon stopped in front of him and pored the water into a cup giving the cup to Borak he said here is my sleeping potion give me yours. The room was quiet for a second before erupting into laughter. Even I was confused not knowing what sort of game Cleon was playing but for some reason, I trusted him. Since he told me I was doing a good job I continued brewing my potion leaving him to his little game. Your helper must be confident in your skill since she's still working despite being on the verge of becoming my servants pet for a day Borak said. Are you giving me your potion or not Cleon asked him. Giving his potion to Cleon Borak said sweet dreams. Cleon took Borak's potion and drank it in one go. Borak drank the water Cleon gave to him and immediately passed out. Looking at Borak's male servant Cleon said you are mine for the day go stand beside Red. Bowing his head with his body shaking the servant came to stand beside me. Still not wanting to get involved I continued with what I was doing. Everyone including the teacher rushed to Borak's side calling his name. Cleon came back to the table and sat down. All done I told him finishing the potion. All I need to do is to try it out this night I said feeling satisfied. Why try it tonight when you can do it now Cleon asked me. It is still daylight I can't possibly go to bed now and leave you alone I'm here to serve you but considering you interrupted my sleep if you want me to go to bed now I will gladly agree with you I told him. I'm not talking about you taking the potion he said looking beside me he pointed to Borak's servant and said you drink it. Bowing down to Cleon the servant took the potion and drank it, immediately falling to the ground. Wonderful exclaimed Cleon excitedly. It worked,I said you were doing a great job didn't I Cleon said clapping his hands. Looking at him I couldn't help but smile and said thank you. Everyone in the room was looking at us as if we've gone mad. Looking at the enraged faces around me I realized Borak fell unconscious after drinking water my master gave him and Borak's servant is lying next to me after drinking the sleeping potion I gave him. To an outsider, Cleon and I might appear evil but in reality, we were only defending ourselves I doubt the others would react this way if the case was reversed. Not feeling bothered at all I look down at the paper committing the ingredients and instructions to memory. Cleon, you have to undo what you've done I heard prince Casper telling Cleon. And tell your helper to wake up Borak's servant. Why brother the task today was to make a sleeping potion, not a waking potion Cleon said. Come Red today's lesson is over we have other things to do Cleon told me already walking through the door. Catching up with him I asked where are we going? I am going hunting and you will be the bait he replied. Having never gone hunting before I happily followed him not even bothered he just told me that I will be used as bait for some animal. Do you know how to ride a horse he asked me? I don't I replied. We will be riding together then he told me. One of the servants brought out a huge black horse. Caressing it Cleon helped me climbed on it and together we went into the forest. The ride from the castle to the forest was longer than I expected. On getting to the forest Cleon helped me down. He took me to the lake nearby and together we unpacked the lunch basket we came with and ate our fill. After eating we walked farther into the forest. The forest was huge with climbing plants hanging from a couple of trees. A variation of noises caused by the different animals in the forest fills the air. The forest was clear and flourishing filled with different plants and flowers. This place is beautiful I said out loud. It is Cleon said. Can I ask you a question I asked him? You can Red. Why did you call your wing the forbidden wing? When I was little I used to have terrible nightmares I usually woke up screaming and crying. My screams were terrible it was like the voice of a wounded beast and everyone living in the castle could hear me scream. One night my father cast a silencing spell on me it only works at night. He said I was scaring my brothers and sisters. Fearing for their lives and believing me a beast the servants nicknamed it the forbidden wing. I accidentally overheard the servants gossiping about me that was when I heard them refer to my wing as the forbidden wing. Liking the sound of it I asked the butler to change the wing's name to the forbidden wing. Wow, I said, do you still have nightmares? I do but I no longer scream like a wounded creature I destroyed my father's spell when I started controlling my powers. However last night was the only time I've slept for a very long time without even dreaming let alone having a nightmare he said while stopping. Looking at my surrounding I noticed we are at the entrance of a cave.

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