Chapter 04 : An Unlikely Meet
1643 Words
While Princess Eva and the Warlock head towards Lowtown in the carriage, a strange type of feeling seemed to bother Eva alot, a sudden anxious and a scared feeling.
Her entire life, she had watched the townsfolk happily cherishing at the Inn but was never able to get close anywhere near them, but now that she does, she almost thinks of running back into the Castle. "Something awry princess?" asked Sir Vorkalth.
"No, not at all." said Princess Eva. "I see, from what I can tell, you seemed scared of me, don't you?" asked Sir Vorkalth. "Absolutely not, I've been through worse." said Princess Eva. "Then why do you feel like today's the worst you can face?" asked Sir Vorkalth.
"I... don't know, despite being trained to face the outside world.. I've never actually went on to face it, if you know what I mean." said Princess Eva.
"That's what being a princess mean, your majesty, you hold a special place of power to the kingdom of Neshadur, if something were to happen to you, it would affect the entire kingdom." said Sir Vorkalth.
"I.. (sighs) I know, little princess always got to stay inside, waiting for the charming prince to come save her." said Princess Eva to which Sir Vorkalth smiles. "From my base of experience, Prince these days, aren't charming at all." said Sir Vorkalth.
"Really? then what are they?" asked Princess Eva. "Powerful idiots.." said Sir Vorkalth to which Eva chuckles. "Tell that to one, and you'll be hanged before you know it." said Princess Eva. "Oh, I do not fear any man, your majesty, your mother trained me to be fiercest and ruthless, even towards his own kin." said Sir Vorkalth.
"Well.. I suppose my mother is the best when it comes to training." said Princess Eva. "Precisely, haven't you been ever trained by her?" asked Sir Vorkalth. "Not at the moment, but I am to start training from tomorrow." said Princess Eva.
"Ahh.. well, good luck then, first days are the worst, but eventually you'll get through it." said Sir Vorkalth. "You mean the dungeons I suppose?" asked Princess Eva.
"It's all part of the long written procedure, perhaps once you master it, you can find a better way to change it." said Sir Vorkalth.
"If I master it, you mean, I don't think I am capable of doing anything else other than walking slowly." said Princess Eva. "That is what they think at first, but then they fly." said Sir Vorkalth.
"Fly? me?" asked Princess Eva. "Ever heard of dragons, your majesty?" asked Sir Vorkalth. "Scary monsters who seek to conquer the world?" asked Princess Eva. "Vastly misunderstood beasts capable of great power actually." said Sir Vorkalth.
"Misunderstood? what do you think that?" asked Princess Eva.
"Dragons are the forefathers of all creatures, they are misunderstood because of their tendency towards their duties, people think of them same way as any other creature but, when each dragon were born, each of them were chosen to guard nature with a certain type of element, an element which they've could choose to have." said Sir Vorkalth.
"That's.. different from what I've heard." said Princess Eva. "Really? what did you hear then?" asked Sir Vorkalth.
"A lot of stories regarding burning villages and massacred towns." said Princess Eva. "Nature will only threaten life if provoked." said Sir Vorkalth. "Perhaps..." said Princess Eva.
Benedict sits by his bed at his house, feeling guilty and upset about what just occurred. Just when a small pain aches in his arm, he pulls up his sleeve to find the runes glowing and burning his skin.
"Oh, fuzzbucks, not again." said Benedict as he tries to wipe it and do other methods to calm it down but the pain increases slowly, making Benedict unbearable by the minute.
Having no other choice, instead of trying to stop it, he prepares himself to concentrate and focus on the pain and control it, and as soon as the runes calm away, Benedict doesn't stop and just as it starts to spread without his conscious, Arnaud comes running back into the door which shocks Benedict and the runes fade away.
"Divine's sake, what the hell Burt?" asked Benedict. "Sorry Benedict, the Warlock, he's coming here." said Arnaud. "The who?" asked Benedict.
"Warlock, that Sir Vorkalth, he can't see you, no matter what, do you understand?" asked Arnaud. "For once in your life, stop ordering me " said Benedict before getting interrupted by Arnaud.
"I'm being serious lad, stay inside, this is an order." said Arnaud as he shuts the door and locks it. "Huh... and he still thinks I'm a child." said Benedict to himself.
As the carriage comes to a stop near the Inn, the townsfolk gather around, unaware of what danger might come to them. They had heard rumors about the arrival of Princess Eva, but now that they see her beauty in person, they are shocked and stunned, unable to find words.
The driver immediately lays down a long mat from the carriage, and Sir Vorkalth steps aside to accompany the Princess within it. The townsfolk are prepared with pitchforks and torches, ready to defend themselves against any potential threat.
The Princess finds herself in a strange position, unsure whether or not to speak, considering how they look at her. She turns to Sir Vorkalth and asks, "Why are they looking at me like that?"
"This b****y town has never seen a sight of wonder except for you, your majesty," Sir Vorkalth replies. "Your beauty nearly shocked them to their deaths, I suppose."
The Princess wonders if there is a way to address the townsfolk without intimidating them. Sir Vorkalth suggests casting a small disillusion spell to calm them down. The spell works, and everyone returns to reality.
The Innkeeper, who had been watching the scene with concern, steps forward to ask, "Wow, what the hell just happened?"
The Princess takes this opportunity to address the crowd, "May I have your attention, please?" The crowd falls silent and listens to her.
"I am aware of the terrible incident that took place here," the Princess begins. "Rest assured, I am not here to punish you all in a way that could harm you. Punishing people for celebrating seems... a bit awkward."
The crowd is surprised to hear this, as they had expected the Princess to come and punish them severely. Ryia, the Innkeeper's daughter, steps forward to listen to her speak.
"This, however, isn't the way the king and queen wish. They want you all to be punished by execution for what you did," the Princess continues.
"Haven't we been punished enough?" Ryia asks.
"Ryia, shut up, now!" the Innkeeper whispers. "No, I won't," Ryia replies. "If the royals think we're kind of stupid idiots, I am damned to prove them we're not."
Sir Vorkalth warns her to be careful with her words. The Innkeeper apologizes for his daughter's behavior, but the Princess insists that Ryia should speak her mind.
"What is your name?" the Princess asks Ryia.
"Ryia," she replies.
"Well.. Ryia, do you wish convey me about what you would like to have for your town?" asked Princess Eva. "Say what?" asked the Innkeeper. "Princess, I do not think it is wise to bargain with these.." said Sir Vorkalth before being silenced by the Princess when she holds his hand.
"You told me I could fly, didn't you? allow me to walk." said Princess Eva to which Sir Vorkalth nods. "For starters, we would like to have the well repaired to supply clean and fresh water, we can't afford to buy even the basic requirements from other towns anymore." said Ryia.
"Understood, anything else?" asked Princess Eva.
"Yes, where to start? ah, the guards, they come into our town to bully us, as if we're some sort of animals kept in a barn house, I request.. no no, I demand, every citizen in this town to be given equal rights as citizens of this town." said Ryia.
"I will make arrangements, I can assure you, is that all?" asked Princess Eva. "I.. didn't actually prepare a list, but, we have a lot more that need done in this town." said Ryia.
"Very well then, Ryia, prepare a list on things you need for this town, I will do everything in my power to fullfill it, I know I may not seem like a person in power for now, but rest assured, I will once be, and when I do, I would like all citizens of this kingdom to thrive." said Princess Eva to which the townsfolk become shocked and astounded by her words of hope.
"Thank you.. Princess Eva, I didn't realize you were such a good person, forgive me for speaking such ruthlessly." said Ryia as she bows down. "There is no need for formalities Ryia, I am merely doing my duties, now if that is all, I would like a.." said Princess Eva right before getting interrupted when a loud voice from behind is heard.
"Wait!" shouted Benedict as he comes running towards the crowd after having escaped from his own room. "Oh no." whispered Ryia. "Wait... Wait everyone! wait!" yelled Benedict. "Princess Eva, please be on your way, you don't want to be here when he comes." said Ryia.
"Why? he seems.. harmless." said Princess Eva.
Just as Benedict comes close, the crowd paves a way for him, and just as Benedict and Princess Eva look upon each other, a chill air sparkles through Benedict, with his eyes fixated on the Princess's eyes as he walks towards her.
When he is stopped by Ryia from approaching her further and becomes quite jealous by the attention given to the Princess by Benedict.
"Hello? Earth to Benedict, you there?" asked Ryia bringing Benedict back to Lowtown.
"Uhm.. yeah, uh.. Princess, and Warlock?" asked Benedict.
- Writer
