Levishia: The Prophesied Quest

Chapter 2: She Who Deceives

LEVISHIA QUINTESSENCE

I've officially spent the whole day locking myself up in my room with a tower of books I've gathered from the palace library. I have history books, strategy and tactic books, and advanced attacks and defenses. I also found one book about mythical abilities which includes shapeshifting.

I also told my trainer that I'll be canceling our training which is a first in my life. My ability has always been my number one priority, but now, it dropped down to my second priority. The first one now is how I can be the representative of Ralenti to find the ancient sword and defeat Rivolus.

Rivolus is a dormant monster—he was last seen almost a century ago and had been taken down by King Piraen, a King of one of the four kingdoms, Giraen. He had no specific characteristics; just that he was the personification of doom, or that he was extremely dangerous, as no man had returned alive after facing him. Of course, except for the heroic King Piraen.

King Piraen was merciful, and thus only let Rivolus sleep until eternity on a deep cliff which is the official border of Kingdom Giraen and its neighboring kingdom, Framiese.

King Piraen's weapon, a giant longsword, is said to be coated with Thallium, a toxic compound. I'm confused as to how the compound was made and used when the official discovery of Thallium was in the 19th century. The thallium in King Piraen's sword has an exception, though. Only the one who can wield the sword is someone who has the blood of its original owner, King Piraen. Which is someone from the royal family of Giraen.

I'm doubting if this wasn't used with any magic. It's purely impossible. How can a compound get familiarized with its owner's blood?

I dismissed the thought and kept reading. I'm amazed at how the details said in this book are so specific. It said Rivolus' strengths and weaknesses, his blind spots, and even the process of making King Piraen's sword. I searched for the author's name in the book but saw none.

I closed the book and tried opening the one where shape-shifting was mentioned.

A few hours later, I was done reading. I decided to break the news to my parents before it was too late. I'm also confident that I can fight Rivolus because of years of combat training with my trainers.

I heavily exhaled as I knocked on my father's office. He's signing papers today and doing his King duties. Of course, he can't just sit on his throne all day. We're in the 21st century and our people need a productive leader.

"Come in," said the voice from inside.

I smiled as I closed the door behind me. This is it. This will be my first exposure to my people. I can already imagine them preparing a parade for me as I wave at them and smile warmly while they cheer for me, for their warrior.

"Yes, Quin?" He asked, not lifting his gaze from the paperwork.

"Can you tell me what the messenger yesterday reported?" I bit my lip nervously.

He stopped signing a paper and leaned back on his chair.

"I heard you skipped your training today," he muttered seriously.

He's changing the topic.

"It's because I went to the library today. I heard about Rivolus," his brows furrowed, "and finding King Piraen's sword."

"Were you eavesdropping, Quintessence?" I think my heartbeat just quickened.

I gulped. "I accidentally did, I'm sorry for that. But that's not the point, Father. I want to be Ralenti's representative—"

"No, Quin," he cut me off.

"Why not?" I sighed, clearly frustrated.

"You are a princess, not a warrior!" He roared. I blinked continuously. I was stunned.

How could my father think of me like that?

He sighed, calming down a little. "Just find a husband, Quin. The prince of Giraen is open for a wife; marry him."

Is he commanding me right now?

"Can you please speak like a father, not like a King?" I asked in a little voice, my heart slowly breaking into pieces.

He shook his head dismissively. "This argument is wasting my time. Go to your room, Quin."

This is ridiculous. How could Father say that to me? I scoffed. "Do you think I was blessed with my ability just to be a babymaker and a Queen following her King?"

For the first time in my life, I raised my voice at my father and glared.

"Levishia Quintessence, do not raise your voice at me!" He stood up from his seat.

I stepped forward, my voice booming in his office, "Stop ordering me to do things against my own will!"

The door suddenly opened and revealed my mother, clearly disturbed by the arguing voices.

"What's happening? Why are the both of you fighting?" she asked.

"Larvina, talk to your stubborn daughter. She wants to be our representative, how ridiculous is that?" He retorted to my mother. She gasped and turned to me.

"Quin, dearest, you could die!"

I bit my lip and recalled what my father said yesterday.

"Then I will die a heroic death and be Ralenti's pride and honor," I repeated.

Silence reigned in the room for a few seconds.

"That is unacceptable," she heaved. "Who will bear the future Rouvenfelts then?"

This is going nowhere. If they won't agree with my decision, I'm going to have to find a way to replace the representative myself. I'm getting more and more challenged to prove myself.

I started walking to the door of his office, but before closing the door, I looked back at them and smirked.

"I will come back and give Ralenti honor, I will prove to this Kingdom that I need no King."

Currently strutting across the palace halls, I felt like everyone I'm passing has their eyes on my back. I'm not even wearing anything elegant, just a simple golden dress and golden heels. I didn't mind them and made my way to the guests' chambers.

It's been a few days since the argument with my parents, and I've just heard that the supposed representative of Ralenti has just arrived and is now resting in the guests' chambers. I already have a plan in mind.

It's particularly easy—I'm going to copy his form, his movements, and everything about him (except his soul and memories, of course). Tomorrow is the day of the farewell parade for him or me, thus it makes the perfect day to escape the palace.

I've also been preparing for this for the past few days. I have tricked our kingdom's blacksmiths to make me a few daggers and customized arrows in exchange for heavy pouches of gold and silver.

All I need is to study the representative to successfully copy him tomorrow.

I don't plan on being him for too long. Once I'm in the chariot, I can morph back into my original form. Easy as that, yes? What could possibly go wrong?

Once I reached the guests' chambers, I surveyed the room numbers and saw a familiar number. It's his. I knocked on the door and waited a few moments before someone answered.

The door opened and I was quickly greeted by a half-naked tall warrior whose lower body was only covered by a towel. Needless to say, I was flustered. His brows were furrowed but when he saw me and a small tiara sitting atop of my head, he immediately bowed.

"Princess? To what do I owe the pleasure...! I-I apologize for being dressed inappropriately," he quickly apologized.

My tone was cold and indifferent, as if completely unaffected by the tight muscles and the glistening sweat sliding across them. "Get dressed first, I shall wait."

I huffed and willed my cheeks to not turn red. The audacity of this man to make me, a Princess, lose her composure and make her wait!

He opened the door wider and quickly grabbed clothes from a drawer nearby and went inside the bathroom. I calmly sat on his bed and patiently waited for him to finish, and also patiently willed my heartbeat to calm down. It was my first time having such an uneasy encounter with the opposite gender.

Though, I wouldn't dare deny it. The representative was undeniably astonishing. His facial features and body build are those of a prince. But I've got no time right now to praise his parent's genes.

A few moments later, he showed up wearing comfortable garments which consisted of a skin-tight gray tunic and breeches.

"Do you want to eat dinner with me?" I straightforwardly asked, without a moment to think. My thoughts were focused only on my objective, and I ought to get on with it lest I get distracted by his dashing good looks.

He looked taken aback but still agreed. "It would be my honor, Princess."

He's too formal. I need him to be comfortable.

"Levishia is fine." I smiled.

"Sure, Levishia. I-I am Genereal Zoren Torrenzala, at your service." He flushed and avoided my eyes, shyly curtsying as he introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you, Zoren."

I offered my hand with a light chuckle. His eyes darted everywhere but mine. He couldn't look me in the eye yet he still shook my soft hand with his rough ones.

It'd be heartbreaking to see him at my farewell parade which was originally for him. But, oh well, things must be done.