How To Train Royalty

Four

Alaric kept his eyes on the woman and his sword as he followed behind her. He had given her his weapon, which he had never done before as it was a sign of defeat. In this case, however, he did so as a sign of trust. Trust that the lady helping him wouldn’t use it against him, and trust that she would help him understand whatever it was that happened and wherever he was at that moment.

It should’ve already been a clue to him that he should be wary of her when he first met her being chased by two men twice her size, or when she threateningly pointed his own weapon at him before, but beggars can’t be choosers; and even if he was born to a family with the highest status in their land, here, he didn’t have a choice.

He closely observed her as they walked. She was of average height, she had long black hair tied under a cap, and she walked through the dangerous, dirty streets at night as if she could handle any trouble that might come her way. She reminded him of a warrior—quite feisty and self-assured. He was no stranger to strong women, but this seemed to be of a different brand from the ones he knew back home.

“Pardon me,” he spoke, breaking the silence that had been going on ever since she told him to follow. “I never did get your name.”

Without even turning towards him or breaking her pace, she answered, “Erin,” as simply as that.

“Erin of what?” he asked.

“Erin of nothing,” she replied.

“You do not have a title or a family?”

He could tell by the way she took in a deep breath that his question struck a nerve. “It's none of your business,” she told him as she stopped in front of a small building. She turned to him and lamely gestured towards it. “We're here.”

Alaric looked up at the curious-looking structure. The houses in Aurea were also made of brick and stone, and the case seemed to be the same in this place. Only the ones here had a different architecture—boxier, less ergonomic—and not well-maintained. Case in point, the metal stairs on the side of Erin's building were visibly rusty, and so were the metal railings on the first and second floors. Not to mention, there was something that looked like a tube sticking out by the side wall, which was leaking small amounts of water. It must’ve been doing so for quite a long time—at least long enough to grow moss on its trail. If this particular building had a counterpart in the land of Aurea, it would be where the horses lived. Actually, that’s being too generous. Even their horses lived in better maintained facilities.

But Alaric wasn’t about to say any of those observations out loud. Instead, he smiled and said, “It seems decent,” while trying his best to make it sound sincere.

Erin scoffed at that comment, knowing full well that it didn’t. “It’s a shithole,” she muttered as she began walking towards it. “Come on, follow me.” And so, Alaric did.

Erin had just taken one step on the creaky metal stairs when they heard someone say, “Oh, Erin!”

Alaric quickly turned towards the voice, suddenly alert and ready for combat, but Erin didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

“Hi, Joshua,” she said with a slightly peppy voice, which contrasted the tired expression on her face.

Seeing how she knew the thinly clothed tall man, Alaric put his guard down and straightened up.

“Who’s this new looker? A new friend?” Joshua asked, his eyes sparkling with interest as he quickly walked up to Alaric. “What an outfit, you have there!”

Erin impatiently tapped the handrail. “No, I don’t know him that well. Anyway, we better go—”

“Well if not, then I want to be friends with him,” the man smiled, grabbing Alaric’s hand to give it a firm shake. “Hi, I’m Joshua, Erin's neighbor and best friend. Do you work on 2nd Ave? Or the East End? Your armor looks very nice on you, and look at those eyes! Where did you get those lenses?” he ambushed him with questions while completely disregarding personal space, as he even went as far as holding Alaric's chin with a finger to get a better look at his face.

Alaric fought the urge to take a step back. He wasn’t sure if this was a normal greeting in this land, and hearing him say that he was Erin's best friend, Alaric thought it would be best to get into his good graces. So, he put on his charming smile instead and said, “Pleasant evening to you, Joshua. I think your garments look exceptional as well. I am Prince Alaric Si—"

“Okay enough introductions now,” Erin cut in, pulling Alaric by his arm. “Let's go. Bye, Joshua.”

“Did he just say he’s a prince?” Joshua asked, looking amused.

“I am—” Alaric was just about to affirm him when Erin pulled even harder that he had to take a step back.

“Let’s go,” she repeated with more emphasis, so he obliged and let her pull him up the stairs.

“Nice to meet you, Prince Alaric! Erin, I like him better than Lance!” Joshua called after them with a laugh.

Erin continued to pull Alaric until they reached the door on the end of the second floor, passing by another room that had some smoke seeping out of its windows. As much as Alaric wanted to ask what was up with that one, he found himself being dragged inside. Erin slammed the door shut behind them, removed her bag and slung it and the sheathed sword across the room, before turning towards Alaric with a finger pointed at him.

“You have got to stop doing that!” she scolded.

Alaric looked at her, confused as to what he did wrong. “Doing what, exactly?”

“Telling everyone you’re a prince or whatever,” Erin rolled her eyes, as if it was obvious. “Just drop the act, will you?”

“But I am not acting. I really am a Prince of Aurea.”

Erin sighed and dropped her hand. “I really did pick up a crazy person,” she muttered to herself, looking at him with dismay. “Do you have anyone I can call? Your parents or caregivers? A hospital, maybe?”

Alaric frowned, clearly offended. “I am not lying,” he indignantly said.

“Prove it, then.” She pulled out a small rectangular device that lot up and showed the world map. “Where is this Aurea, huh? Go on, point at it in the map,” she challenged.

Alaric squinted his eyes to see. “I… do not know this map.”

“Ha!” Erin exclaimed. “See? You can’t even prove it! So, what’s your deal, huh? Did you run away from home? Mommy and Daddy don’t approve of your… cosplay? Are you playing a long con? If so, then boy, did you come to the wrong person.”

“I am not—” Alaric closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself, then calmly proceeded. “I am not lying.”

Erin threw her hands in the air in resign. “Look, dude, I can’t help you get home if you don’t get straight with me.”

“I only need a place to rest to get my bearings,” Alaric said, “until I figure out how I came here in the first place.”

“So, you basically want free lodging? You want to squat in my studio apartment and leech off of me?” Erin asked, unamused.

Alaric barely understood a word she said, but he nodded anyway. “Yes, just for a while. A night or two. I promise you will get the reward as soon as I get back to my kingdom.”

Erin hopelessly looked at him, shaking her head in regret. She knew to herself that there was no way she was going to get that compensation she was promised. This guy was completely delusional, to the point that it was pitiful to witness. She was not the most generous person, but she also wasn’t that cruel to kick out a deranged man clearly in need of psychiatric help.

“Fine,” she reluctantly said. “But as soon as I find whatever institution you escaped from, I’m sending you back and I’m keeping the sword. For the mean time, we have to set some ground rules.”