The lights of the royal palace in the jungle kingdom twinkled like soft stars among the shadows of the giant trees, the walls exuding the fragrance of nature, while servants moved with nimble grace. When Ryan and Kyle entered with Arina and Felisa, neither could believe they were in the very heart of the place they had come to steal treasures from. Arina's father, the jungle king, welcomed them and thanked them for their efforts.
After a long conversation with the king, Arina strode nimbly into the palace. Turning to one of the servants, she said in a quiet but commanding voice, "Offer our guests food and clothing, then show them to their rooms."
The servants bowed respectfully, and the small table before the two youngsters was soon laden with exotic delicacies. Luxurious, lightweight clothing, befitting jungle dwellers, was brought out. Kyle watched the place intently, taking in every passage and doorway, while Ryan devoured his food with astonishing gusto, prompting whispers of surprise and hushed laughter from the servants.
A short while later, a guard escorted them upstairs to the spacious rooms, filled with the scent of wood and flowers. "This is your room," Arena said with a gentle smile. "Rest after such a long day; you both deserve it."
But Ryan raised his head, fidgeting with his hair. "I don't think I can sit in a closed room. I feel suffocated by the restraints. Is there a place to train?"
Arena paused, then smiled. "Actually, I was just heading to the training hall. If you'd like, you can come with me."
"That's exactly what I need!" Ryan's face lit up. "That's what I need!" he exclaimed excitedly.
Meanwhile, Kyle spoke calmly to Felisa. "And I'd prefer a visit to the royal office, if that doesn't bother you."
Felisa raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What a coincidence... I was going there myself. Please come with me."
And so, the two parted ways.
In the training hall. It was a spacious hall, its ceiling adorned with columns of intertwined plants, and its floor smooth as if it had been meticulously polished every day. Arena pointed to a side room and said to Ryan, "You can change there."
Ryan entered the small room and closed the door behind him, unaware that Arena, driven by curiosity, stood nearby, glancing back at him.
When she glimpsed him through the tiny opening, her eyes widened in barely concealed surprise. His body was like a living stone, his muscles perfectly toned and taut, as if pulsating with pent-up energy.
"I didn't expect him to be so muscular," she whispered shyly to herself, stepping back slightly.
A few moments later, Ryan emerged, dressed in the training gear he had been given, and glanced at Arena, who was stretching her arms, preparing for her workout. He watched her with undisguised admiration as she moved nimbly, the small branches of the trees wrapping around her feet as if obeying her every step.
"How about we turn this training into a little sparring session?" said Ryan, smiling confidently. "I haven't had enough of the fight I had against the kidnappers."
Arina raised her head to meet his gaze, her eyes sparkling. "Why not?" she said with a defiant smile. "I've wanted to fight you too. But I can't promise you'll last long."
The fight began. Arina charged first with incredible speed, the branches of the earth chasing Ryan, but he was like a shadow, deftly dodging every attack.
"Is that all you've got?" Arina smiled sarcastically. "I expected better."
Only in the next moment did everything change. Ryan moved suddenly with astonishing speed. The distance between them vanished in a flash, and his hand, enveloped in a dark red aura, slammed into her stomach, sending her flying backward and slamming into one of the hall's walls.
She gasped, wrapping green branches around her stomach, which had deflected the blow at the last moment. Then she looked at him in genuine surprise, her voice coming out between ragged breaths: "I... underestimated you."
He approached her with steady steps and said with a slight smile, "Oh... I guess I overdid it a bit."
Before he could reach out to help her, she stood up abruptly and said resolutely, "No, we're not finished yet. Show me how far you can go, Ryan."
In the Jungle Kingdom's office. At that moment, Kyle was walking calmly beside Selena down the long office corridor. She looked at him intently, barely concealing her disdain, and muttered to herself, "I'll try to test this fellow a little, just for fun."
She sat behind the ornate desk and gestured for him to sit opposite her. Then she began testing him with a barrage of questions, her voice firm and her eyes gleaming:
— What is the system of government in the Kingdom of the Forest?
— How old is the Sacred Seed Tree?
— What kinds of stones are extracted from the soil of the Eastern Desert of the Kingdom of Sand?
Kyle answered her quickly and confidently, as if he had memorized every line. He said:
— The system of government is the strongest and only one controls it.
— No one knows the true age of the Sacred Seed Tree, but its approximate age is between 6,000 and 7,000 years.
— The Eastern Desert doesn't yield stones, but the Western Desert yields minerals and precious stones like those used in the crown of the King of Sand.
Felisa's expression gradually shifted from haughtiness to curiosity, then to silent admiration. "I didn't think someone like you possessed such knowledge," she said finally with a faint smile.
Kyle smiled calmly. "I'm just a traveler who likes to understand the world I'm passing through. But if you want a real test… let's make it more exciting."
She raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"A simple game," he said with a sly smile. "Whoever answers the most questions gets to ask the other to grant one wish."
Felissa smiled with interest. "A fun deal. I agree."
The challenge began. Each question, each round, was merely a way to buy time. Kyle was using the wind to create a map of the palace, sensing its path. While the princess chuckled softly after each round, Kyle's mind had already mapped the entire palace behind her polite smile.
That night, Ryan and Kyle were both fighting their own battles: "The first with power and aura… and the second with intellect and deception."