The Castle Guard

The plan begins

That spark inside his chest had grown; it felt like a small ethereal flame burned in his chest except instead of hurting it gave Darien a feeling of power flowing through his entire body. He flipped through a large book while practicing hand signs while pronouncing runic words, Dracenstark had gifted to him a blank book ‘a present’ for ‘attempting’ spirit magic “a feat most mages failed to accomplish their entire lives.” Though he left that part out, he then took another book similar to the one he gave Darien and basically shoved it in his face finishing with the phrase “Start coping.” The second book Dracenstark’s grimoire had each page covered with spells few Darien recognized while others were completely new, “Make sure you know and can do everything in there” Dracenstark said pointing at his grimoire “in two weeks time there will be a test.”  Darien sat on a wooden chair behind a small table residing in his small quarters located underground five meters away in direct line of the dungeon doors, Erska smirked, watching him do his weird hand signs seemed silly to her as a battle hardened veteran she believed however powerful magic may be on the battle field it had no place, much less underground in such limited space from her observations it required chanting for some time while doing had signs, enough time for an enemy to cut your head off before anything magical had yet to happen. Not to mention every time Darien failed he’d make this weird scrunched up face that was absolutely hilarious. Darien overtime became used to her taking amusement at his efforts, she ridiculed him on the daily taking shots at his seemingly endless weird actions, when he failed it made her laugh so hard for some reason. It annoyed him but he decided to ignore it since trying to make stop made her laugh even more. “Umrahic-Fascinta!” Darien conjured a small round ball of water  that solidified  into ice then broke down into small crystal shaped icicles floating above his right hand “Ecta-insilt” he exclaimed twirling his right index finger below the ice crystals. Upon which the surface of the ice became coated with small strong wind blades finely shaped similar to the crystals. The spell’s name Frost cut was supposed to cut through the enemy’s defenses while the ice pierces and freezes their blood and organs to negate any kind of healing magic, their small size was so that damage spread easily all over the body with easy maneuverability. Darien sighed casting spells required much energy more so using spirit energy to combine  elemental energy drained him farther, he decided to take a break he dispelled Frost cut his hand thinly glowed with a tinge of  blue something Dracenstark explained as a person’s spirit aura. He felt exhausted both physically and mentally spells required intense focus to cast. Erska for the first time was eerily quiet Darien had completely forgotten about her presence finding an expression he had never thought to see on her respect with a far yet noticeable awe. It made him feel a bit better and also unnerved at the long stare which after her constant ridicule silence felt creepy. “That’s a neat trick.” She suddenly said gruffly then leaned back into her own thoughts. Dracenstark’s grimoire had it’s spells divided into three parts, the first part consisted of spells that conjured one element like water or earth spells, the second part conjured two elements in their effects and the third part used three elements and were more complicated than the previous parts. Frost-cut was the first of the second part spells; Darien sighed “Spells that combined two elements are draining but have more effects,” he stared at his dimming glowing hand. ‘spirit magic feels different, more powerful like invisible energy that glues the elements together.’ His hand turned back to its normal un-magical self , ‘I wonder if there’s more to it.’ He clenched his fist then opened but it didn’t feel different, closing his eyes he breathed in then out focusing on the area between his chest and the sternum. Whatever energy was flickering within him now felt stronger more powerful, it completely awoke the moment he discovered spirit magic; it felt kind of dangerous and empowering all the same “Maybe this is how mages are…” A loud sound interrupted his thoughts; he opened his eyes abruptly realizing he’d been dozing off. The sound kept banging again it came from one of the castle’s tower, being inside they heard it reverberating through the castle walls; he knew that sound very well but it didn’t matter what it meant is what shocked him. Erska stood upright her eyes trained on the stairs leading to the door to the upper part, she looked pale her face plastered with a stern expression, her hand placed on the hilt of the sword on her side. “Lady Erska… what’s...” she cut him short “Yes magic guard; we are at war.”

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PAST:

Ravensire restaurant was one of the finest establishments found in the middle ring, having hosted various clients of high calibers even the royal family at times, when the owner got news of Prince Walren’s date and that they will be coming to his restaurant he immediately flew into action. Reserving the best table for him, giving the royal chef total command of the kitchen as the royals always have their own chef regardless of where they went he followed; Eduarnt Ravensire was a middle aged man with a stocky build barely five foot six tall: a wide round belly, deep set dark brown eyes, fat mushy face that got red with even the slightest emotion, little to no hair on his mostly bald head. He wore  a white shirt tucked in black pants under a black forked tail coat that been re-sown several times so to not touch the ground when he walked. His monocle fell; he caught it before going too far his moustache twitched in annoyance “Damned prince!” he swore the prince coming here meant whatever business that was to go on would be halted. The restaurant would be closed for the night the customers’ who’d paid for a table would have their money returned. The only ray of light in his gloomy situation was the large bag of glittering gold coins the prince would pay; the thought of it turned his frown upside down, he jumped from the padded bar stool and got to work.

The coach arrived later that evening, Prince Walren got out first then held out his hand for Adriana who graciously took it making sure she acted as delicate as people saw her to be. Ravensire stood near the fringes of the middle rim where most of the rich lived, a large two story building with alabaster white walls and round red golden lit lights held using a very slim string so much so they seemed to float in midair, it was almost dark the sky’s white just disappearing with the sun’s distant yellow-golden hue sinking beyond the horizon it gave Ravensire a cozy gleaming look to it. Adriana gaped she knew some parts of Sentar were beautiful but nothing had prepared her for this; “You like it?” Walren he had noticed her expression he smiled most ladies he brought didn’t really care much for the place mostly because they’d seen it a hundred times, Adriana’s awed expression for some reason seemed cute. “its nice” she spoke suppressing her emotions with a casual normal smile, a noble gaping in the middle of the street was unsightly especially if such a building was something normal to the inhabitants entwining her arm in his, the restaurant’s double doors were held open Eduarnt Ravensire stood at the entrance wearing his best tail coat suit with a wide smile as the two approached ‘Damn! She’s stunning’ he thought his eyes wide open ‘the prince has brought quite a few ladies there but none of them held a torch to this one.’ Suddenly wished he was unmarried and younger. “Welcome your Highness and Lady…” 

“Adriana.”

“Lady Adriana!” he continued giving the couple a small bow due to his body’s restricting abdomen “A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.” He said holding her hand delicately giving it small kiss “Welcome to Ravensire one of the finest restaurants Sentar has to offer he moved to the side indicating for them to enter.

Adriana wasn’t ready for what lay inside; the evening air was a bit chilly so when the cold disappeared replaced by a sudden feeling of warmth it surprised her. She’d expected it to be at least less chilly but the inside was completely perfectly warm, that in itself was surprising except that fact was the least shocking, and the interior of Ravensire had brown-woody colored walls that stretched out for the entirety of its width of about 300m and length. To her right several padded circular booths arranged beneath above each booth there was a yellow lighted square lamps that lit up each booth perfectly,  to her left several square shaped tables with four brown black padded chairs each spread out a bit distanced from each other to reinforce privacy from each table. , in front of them was a bar with a various assortment of drinks, several long bar stools stood arranged in front of the counter. A bar tender stood behind the counter smiling staring at them, at the top a rectangular white lit glass with a width of about three feet was attached to the wall lighting up the bar, each table had a glass round globe-like lights that emitted golden light, red floating lights similar to the ones they’d seen at the entrance were arranged along the  walls. Adriana tried and failed to hide her amazement, “This way my lady” she snapped out of her daze realizing she had stopped moving  Prince Walren stood in front of her smiling “Its beautiful!” she said regaining her composure despite being a noble she’d never in her entire life seen such an amazing place “Your words flatter me my lady” Eduarnt bowed hiding a smirk “Ravensire is but a humble establishment in  Sentar and owes its beauty for miracles of magic crafting aided by toolmakers  only allowed through the crown’s generosity.” Due to their rarity the crown had monopoly over the ones in the kingdom any magical item made needed authorization from the king or queen herself  at a very hefty price of course thus only a few people had them and most of them were high ranking nobles and some rich merchants among them was Eduarnt. ‘Humble my foot!’ Adriana inwardly sneered ‘A place like this probably cost more than an entire village!’ she was almost right actually it cost more Eduarnt’s investment on the restaurant was only possible due to his other businesses that he inherited from his very wealthy family of merchants. Eduarnt led them further inside towards stairs slightly hidden beside the bar counter towards the upper floor that was reserved for special guests. Adriana noticed the place was too quiet even if there were no guests currently, their footsteps produced no sound as they walked Eduarnt leading the way in front of them, the floor boards seemed to be made of some type of material that muffled and cancelled any sound made on it ‘A miracle by the toolmakers no doubt’ she thought. The stairs ended in front of other double doors wide open with the red golden round lights hanged beside each door.  The room before her was as large as it was wide with a single round table with two chairs placed on opposite sides; above it hanged the most beautiful crystal chandelier almost similar to the one at the royal castle; its light source laid at its central part emitting golden yellow light that spread out to the other crystal parts of its wide construct upon which the light got refracted towards the rest of the space. The ambiance of it all was a mixture of cozy and elegance she had never experienced before, “Your table waits.” Eduarnt said bowing indicating to the table, as she sat the chair moved forward itself hiding her surprise Adriana sat quietly enjoying the comfort provided by the padding, Prince Walren sat opposite of her. Moments later a tall waiter brought and poured for them red wine, “So my lady what do you think of the place?” He began while sipping wine from his own glass already knowing her response, “Something out of a bard’s tale.” Adriana looked at him in the eyes “So do you bring all your dates here?” Prince Walren thanked the gods for the darkness hiding his bright red blushed cheeks trying to find the right answer that wouldn’t sound too self-conceded he failed “Yes!”

Back at the castle Count Desderius walking headed towards the queen’s room he’d told Adriana the plan would start a little bit later “sorry my darling but time is of the essence!”  Under his coat a long undulating sharp dagger lay hidden. The guard posted at her door announced his presence to the queen before opening the door for him, she sat on her large velvet comfortable couch “Count Desderius what do you need?” And as he saw her face seething rage welled up in his chest, his hand wandered over his coat were his poison coated dagger was located.