The crown prince.

King Magnus gently got off his bed when the arrival of his sons was announced by the King's man.

His ailment wasn't getting better and he sent for his children who were entitled to the crown if he passes away.

The boys entered the room and prostrated to their father.

"Long live the King", they chorused.

"Am happy both of you are here", the King replied as he signaled that they rise.

"How are you feeling your highness? We came as soon as we got your message", Chike asked.

"It would be a lie if I said that I am getting better, I can feel my ancestors around and it might be time for me to take an eternal rest...", the King replied.

"God forbid evil, you will still rule over us my King", Nelson interrupted him.

"As the tradition has it, I need to appoint the crown prince and unlike before when the royals do vote, I have decided to send the two of you to retrieve my staff from the Maze forest and whoever returns first within seven days will become the crown prince", the king said.

The princes were disappointed, they have maintained a good relationship with all the Royal members just to earn their vote when the time comes.

King Magnus revealed his plan to the chiefs and they weren't happy with the plan.

"We can't change the tradition all of a sudden, my king", one of the chiefs expressed his displeasure about the king's decision.

"I want the best for the people and this is the only way to choose my heir", the King replied.

_Source

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Different preparation was made by the princes and on the agreed date, they left the palace with horses, weapons to protect themselves, and food.

They went their separate ways immediately after they got into the forest to search for the staff.

The first day passed and the princes found nothing despite combing some part of the forest.

"I should have been the heir if not for the King's change of plan, over 70% of the royals have pledged their support to me. This is annoying", Chike lamented as retired under an Iroko tree.

He went on grumbling as he gathered wood to build a fire.

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"Why the sudden change of plan? The King must have seen something to have come up with such a plan", Nelson kept pondering over the king's decision as he retired too.

He was reheating some dried meat for dinner with fire when he saw the figure of a man approaching him.

Nelson quickly grabbed his sword and waited patiently for the person to get closer.

"I mean no harm, I noticed the fire from afar and came to ask if I could get some food for dinner", the figure spoke from a distance and Nelson replied, "If you need food, let's share the little I have".

The figure came to light and it turned out to be an old man.

"What is an old man doing in this forest at this time of the day?", Nelson asked as they ate.

"I lost my way and have been going around for two days now trying to get out of the forest", he replied.

"Sorry about that, I can escort you to the forest entrance tomorrow so that you can return to your home", Nelson replied.

"What are you doing in the forest as well?", the old man asked.

"I came with my brother to find the staff so I can become the crown prince", Nelson replied.

"You are a prince, forgive my manners", the old man tried to bow but Nelson prevented him from doing so.

"Please don't do that, it is embarrassing", Nelson told the old man and they chatted till they slept.

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"Let me take you to the forest entrance before I continue my search for the staff", Nelson said to the old man at daybreak.

"No, what if your competitor beats you to the staff? I will find my way, just go on with your quest", he replied.

Nelson insisted and the old man didn't have a choice. He let the old man ride on the horse while he led the way.

They arrived at the forest entrance and the old man went his way. Nelson continued with his search and somehow met Chike again.

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"How is the search going brother?", Nelson asked.

"Fine, I hope to find the staff soon. I am tired of roaming this forest", Chike replied.

They chatted for a few minutes before going their separate ways.

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"Old woman, I don't have time to waste. I am here for a purpose bigger than helping you gather wood", Chile yelled and Nelson could hear his voice from a distance.

"What could be happening? I just left him not up to five minutes", Nelson asked himself and hurried back to where the voice was coming from.

He arrived there and saw a woman gathering woods but Chike had gone a bit further away from there.

"What's happening madam?", Nelson asked.

"I am ill and needed woods to cook herbs. I begged a man to help me but he was angry", she replied.

"Sorry ma, where is your home", he asked and the woman pointed into the forest.

"Don't you have family, it's not safe for a woman to be here all by herself", Nelson asked and she broke into tears.

He assisted her before returning for his quest later in the afternoon.

On the seventh day, the two princes were exhausted and didn't find the staff.

They left the forest disappointed and the villagers were more disappointed seeing them return empty-handed.

The news of the two princes returning empty-handed spread like wildfire and the chiefs quickly rushed to the palace to criticize the King for his failed idea.

"I heard the princes have arrived without the staff, my king", one of the chiefs said.

"Yes, that's true. They didn't get the staff but I have chosen the crown prince and just waiting for them to return to the palace after taking care of themselves before the announcement", the king replied.

Everyone was anxious but the king didn't reveal the chosen one.

On the day of the announcement, the villager gathered at the palace and the King's man called out the princes.

They were heading to the podium and Nelson was surprised to see the people he helped in the forest as he walked past the crowd.

"What are you doing here? Have you come to celebrate with us today?", Nelson asked.

"There is a lot you don't know and the King will reveal everything soon", the old man replied.

Nelson looked at the king but couldn't figure out anything.

The king eventually came out with a small crown and joined the princes.

"Today, I have chosen Nelson to be my heir", the King announced and everywhere went quiet for a second.

It came as a shock since Nelson was the younger brother and soon, the people began to murmur among themselves.

"Don't be surprised about my decision. I didn't put a staff in the forest, the whole thing was a test. The princes were tested accordingly and only Nelson passed all. It is my wish to leave you people in safe hands and that has been fixed", the king narrated the whole forest idea and the people agreed that Nelson truly deserve the crown.

While Chike felt bitter, Nelson was happy and went to meet the old man again.

"So the king planted you in the forest for the test?", He asked.

"Yes but that doesn't matter now. Always remember that life is a journey and not a race, everything we do while on the journey matters a lot", the man replied.

Nelson ascended the throne a few years after King Magnus joined his ancestors.