CHAPTER 13
1896 Words
CHAPTER 13
Mission 13: Tour the Princess
NIGHT after night. Training after training. Grey tried to achieve once again his powers. And he is getting more tired each day and each night.
Amber was so strict that he cannot rest on her watch.
"Again! Do it again," Amber ordered him.
He was panting. His sweat are dripping on his chest from his head. His heart was pounding so loudly.
He stood and faced Amber.
"I'm tired," he mumbled.
"What did you say? " she asked, slightly changed her facial expression. "You only got two days from now. We need to see if your powers really works.
"I said I'm tired. " He is really tired. Just how strict this woman is?
"I need to get some air. I'll be back, " he said and stood up.
"Grey!" Amber shouted.
"I'm a human too. With powers or none, I'm still a human. Even creatures do get tired, " he said and walked out.
Amber might be saying something but he didn't turned his back again.
After getting away quite further, he closed his eyes and began reprimanding himself.
"Oh, Grey! Grey! Grey! Just what the hell are you thinking? " he uttered to himself, as if if he is talking to other person other th an him.
He needs to go back. That is if he is still sane. He shouldn't act this crazy especially if his life is at risk.
Upon turning his back, sudden movements caught his attention.
Someone in a glittering satin cape coat came down from the palace's fence. His curiousity lead him to looking into who might he or she is.
He hid himself on the large trunk of a tree nearby. Surrounding was dim that only lamps serve as light that night.
There he clearly saw the princess looking around as if making sure no one is looking.
Is she going out on her own? By herself? Without knowing by anyone?
"Hey! Who's there? ! " the guard called out for that strange person. "Stop right there!" they shouted.
The guards were quickly approaching but he was nearer.
"Yo!" he called out.
The princess slightly moved her head towards him.
"I was looking for you. Where have you been? " he even made his voice louder.
He puts his hands on her shoulder and dragged her away.
"Just keep on walking, your highness, " he whispered.
The guards did not follow, thankfully.
He dragged her towards the woods.
"What are you doing outside the palace, princess? " he asked as they walked more slowly than before.
"How do you know - - - me?" she asked as she looked up to see him.
He is much taller that is why.
"It is me princess if you already forgot," he introduced himself.
He was the one who turned around when the princess was healing him after his first war. He was the one who saw how sickly she is.
And she did not looked better than before. She was still pale and a little thinner than normal. But still, her face is still shouting for royalness. She is still pretty.
"I'm sorry for my rudeness a while ago, " he said and removed his hands on her. They stopped walking as he faced her. " Your highness," he address her and bowed his head. His hand on his chest.
"You were that man before," she recognized him.
He moved his head up and smiled at the princess.
"Yes, your highness. It is I, Grey," he introduced himself.
She nodded.
"So, what are you doing out here?" he asked.
"I - - I am just taking a walk, " she stattered.
"A walk?" he asked.
"Yes. For some fresh air," she assures yet obviously lying.
He squinted his eyes trying to look into her.
"Are you going to meet someone?"
"What?"
"A lover perhaps?"
"What? No!"
"Then why are you hiding?"
"I --, " she stopped, unsure of what to reason out.
She took a sigh before continuing. "It's been years since I took a step outside the palace. All I do is to heal soldiers that I didn't even know why this war has been years by now. I've always wanted to see how the kingdom is doing."
He blinked a few times. Is she for real? She never been out the palace for years? For how long?
He took a sigh. And cleared his throat.
"You wanna see the town?"
Her eyes glistens.
"But you have to change your clothes. "
"My clothes?"
"If you like, you can change in my house."
The princess just looked at him.
"Ahmm - - don't get the wrong idea, your highness. I mean, with this kind of clothes, guards and soldiers will easily recognize that you are from the palace. It is best if you dress as commoner like me. That way, you can see the kingdom freely. "
The princess did not doubt him and went with him at their house.
"Sorry for such mess, " he pointed at the bottles of booze scattered anywhere at the house.
She just smiled awkwardly.
"This is my room. You can come in," he presented. " You can trust me. "
"I do trust you," she answered and went inside.
He presented the box of his clothes.
"This is all I have, your highness. You can choose anything that would fit you. Though, it would obviously would not fit your taste. I will give a minute to change," he said e before shutting the door. " I' ll be just outside the door. Tell me if you are ready."
Stomps of feet approaching was heard. Is that Habeck?
He took a peek by the window and he confirmed that it was really his father.
He hurriedly knock on his room's door yet did not show nervousness.
"Your highness, are you done?"
"Yeah. I'm done, " she answered and opened the door.
She was wearing a slightly ragged buttoned cream long - sleeves. It was too big for her that he cannot even see her hands nor her fingertips. His shorts were garterized that fitted her as a pair of pants. Though it was a commoner's clothes, her face really shows royalty. She is too pretty to be be just a commoner.
But he got no time to praise her. He grabbed her hand and pulled her, picking Habeck 's cape coat by the door.
They've met his father by the door.
"Hey! I didn't know you were coming home, " he said.
"Hey! Bye!" he answered.
"You - - " he stopped for a second and looked at the girl behind him.
"We need to go . " He pulled the princess again and left without saying anymore words.
"Wait. That girl seems familiar. Where did I saw her? And why did that kid brought home a girl. That naughty son of mine, " Habeck murmured that they can not hear anymore from where they are.
As usual, the market was noisy and lively. Like the lights from the lamps, the princess' s eyes were sparkling of excitement.
Obviously, she never went out for years. She was like a child shopping anything she could see amazingly. She would buy stuffs that wasn't really necessary. Thankfully, she wasn't recognized. They really don't know the face of the princess.
But after just some stalls, she stopped walking. Even her giggles stopped.
He looked up at the building next to them. It was the burnt building a few days ago.
Some of the people were busy fixing every piece of wood that they could save.
She took a sigh. That made him looked at her eyes beginning to burst tears.
"I think we need some rest. Let's take a seat. Shall we? " he asked.
They found a seat just around the corner where they could not see the building.
"Wait here, y our highness, I'll just get us some drinks."
"Am I that useless? " she asked.
That made him stopped. He turned around to her once again.
"My only power is to heal. How would that even make a change? I wish I could have powers like my family who can manipulate elements. Maybe that would make a big change. "
Yes. He remembered. Only royals can have magical powers. And a few days ago, he did some magic he never expected.
Now is the perfect time to ask her.
"Can other people also have powers?"
"Only those with royal bloods can possess magics."
"What if some people can have it. What if I can have magic? Maybe you can help me develop one? " he asked. He make it as a joke so it won't be obvious.
The princess laughed sadly.
"I didn't know how too. I just think of saving my people every time I heal soldiers. It's just sad that I cannot do that much. "
"Healing the soldiers is a big help. Without you, lots of men would 've been died in the battle. Don't think you are not helping at all. You even sacrifice your health just for the sake of us."
She looked up to him, quite surprised.
"Your energy is draining because you are giving us some of it. Right?"
A laughter of a boy was heard from nearby but then comes a cry.
They turned around to see a kid alone, slumped on the bricked floor.
Grey went near him to help. Then an idea popped up on his mind.
"Oh no! A bruise. Do you wanna see a magic? We can make this disappear in an instant," he said.
"Really? "
He looked at the princess. The princess read what he wants to say.
"Hello. Can I touch your wound? After that, I'll promise it will be gone, " she assured with those smiling face.
The nodded.
Sparkles of light came out from her hands. After seconds she removed it.
"Wow! That was amazing!" the boy said.
"See? That was magic."
"Thank you , " the little boy said with glistening sparkles on his eyes. He turned his head towards him after that. "And mister?"
"Hmm?"
"Thank you too, " said he.
"Oh! It's nothing. I did not do anything that big."
He shook his head. "Thank you for the other day."
"The other day?"
"Yes! Your water magic was cool! Thank you for saving me back at the fire, mister."
The longer he was was staring at the little kid, the more he remembers him. The boy was much cleaning now. There is no stain of charcoal on his face.
"That's nothing. I just did what I have to."
"Kiper? Kiper! Thank goodness! I thought I lost you again. " A woman approached the little kid and hugged him tightly.
The woman also thanked them before leaving.
"What kind of magic was he talking about?" the princess asked him.
"Oh! That was - - "
He couldn't continue talking when the rain started to pour. He fixed her coat and pulled her towards the nearest place.
"Come! We need to take a shed." He brushed off the wetness from her. He removed his coat and gave it to her. " Here. Take my coat. You need to keep yourself healthy. Don't catch colds. "
"Thank you, Grey, " she said.
Wow! The princess just remembered his name.
- Writer
