Heracles was led to the back of the castle with Gwen, Amelinda and others of his family. Their leader, Professor Oswald brought straight to the forest’s edge, stepped in a walkway leading in deep forest. They kept going in an hour then at last, came to a wide clearing. A large camp had been place there. Professor Oswald asked them to keep staying in lines outside the camp then he strode toward the camp and walked in. Other families quickly appeared after that. Their leaders brought them to there, asked them to stand in lines besides Heracles and others and then also made their way to the camp and got in. Few minutes Professor Finn and other from the camp walked out.
“The most expected time in year at last come.” said Professor Finn, standing at front of all first year giving them an odd looking. “I hope to see fair games in which I want to see your skills, your abilities, your braveries, your loftiness and proud not jealousy and bad behaviors. Of course, score is important but good qualities inside you are more important. I want you all to keep them inside you.”, “The more you get power, the more you have to be responsible for yourself and others.” he raised his voice then opened his arms widely as usual.
“He always does that opening his arms at the end of his saying.” whispered Gwen.
“It may be a form.” said Amelinda quickly.
“Not sure but it think he is an odd person.” said Heracles.
“Pay attention first year.” said Professor Genevieve who had walked ahead after Professor Finn turned to other professors. “As like usual I and the three leader will continue the referees. We will go with you to the chosen places, help you to build your tents and arrange something in one day. We will come back here, the central camp, keep staying and watching you all. The hunting game will start on the second day and last in two days. Ten animals will be freed in this place. The biggest is boar and the smallest is a cock. You will get different score if you catch different animals. Anyway, it is easy for you to get enough points to join in the flag robbing game.”
“After the hunting game, you all will turn back here get a relaxing day and participate in camp-fire at evening before started the four-day flag robbing game and when it finish, all you will be brought back to castle Methonia. Before the time came, you must stay in this area not to coming or finding the way to come back castle. It’s dangerous outside and you also can be lost. I warn you don’t do anything stupid. Keep staying here and enjoy your ten days of natural survival. It’s only game.” she added.
“Do you have any question?” she asked looked over them. No one spoke. “If you don’t have any question, please find your family leader, follow him or her to your places and started building your tents.” she added.
The people there quickly separated walking after their leaders getting out from the place. Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda hurriedly followed others, stepped after Professor Oswald in an aisle between trees then later, came to another clearing. It’s narrower than the place they just left and having some bushes inside.
“We have to build tents here.” said Professor Oswald, “For tents, one captain tent and three militant tents. Before the tents are erected, no spell is used. You have to do it yourselves and when the tents complete, I will do the last thing making it have enough space and furniture for you all to live in.”
It’s not easy for others to know how to camp except Amelinda. She seemed know everything to do. She divided them in groups, asked some of them to clean up grasses and bushes, others was requested to go and find some small branches, rocks and other stuff. When the branches were brought back, they received canvas and ropes from Professor Oswald and started making frames of the tents. The frame of captain tent was biggest and most solid at the middle of the clearing. The others were placed around it next to trees standing around the clearing and they were also made of branches and tied by rope but smaller than the captain tent’s frame. After all the frames were made, Amelinda asked them to covered canvas sheets over then pinned them on ground by wooden piles. When all things finished, Professor Oswald approached each tent, pointed his scepter on it and muttered something. The space inside the tent light up in seconds then turned off. He did it to the four tents then walked back, asked them to go in and have a look. They made their way to the captain tent first. When they got in it, they were overwhelmed there was a bright wide space inside.
“How does it look?” said Professor Oswald walking after them, “I try to make it look like our family room. A fireplace for you to stay around and warm in evening, chairs and tables for you to sit and benches used to lay yourselves if you want to rest. If you felt bored, you I also read some book but it think you will don’t need to them. You will quickly turn busy with games.”
Heracles looked around and it was a nice place with him. There had a fireplace with few wooden elbow chairs set around it. Next to them were wooden chairs which were set around round tables standing in rows. Standing on either side of the rows of the tables were benches which according to Professor Oswald that they were used for them to rest. Two large bookshelves with full of book were placed there right after the benches by the wall. There even had oil lamps and candles hanging around in order to light at evening. To make the place fresher, some bonsai pots also appeared standing around the place.
“I don’t think it’s so great inside.” Gwen at last spoke after few minutes.
“Yeah, it’s more convenience than I expected.” added Amelinda.
“Do you want to go and see other place?” Professor Oswald suggested.
Heracles watched over the place one more time then made his way to other tents with Gwen and Amelinda. They walked pass curtain, went in one of the militant tents. The place inside militant tent was much narrower than captain tent. It also had a fire place with some elbow chairs around it but there had only two round tables and chairs stood next to them and two benches standing by a long table at one side of the round table. A bonsai pot was placed next to the long table. People kept going to all of the tents then made their ways to get out standing at front of captain tent where Professor Oswald had been.
!!! The above post is a draft of my first book on Heracles, Heracles and the Nemean lion in Hippocoon land. Its content can be omitted, modified or replaced. If you want to read the full version, click here buy a ebook: Heracles and the Nemean lion or click here to a paper book: Heracles and the Nemean lion by Hung Nguyen !!!
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