In a certain hallway, lord Reigal IV and his wizard advisor were on an early night walk. A simple wave of the wizard's hand creates a transparent barrier that would soon fade its colour, until it was invisible to the eyes.
"Any news from those adventurers?" Reigal spoke once the wizard signals that the spell is complete.
"Quite small actually, but it might give us a hint… and best we should discuss it in other places, where eyes and ears don't reach."
"I understand. What about Endregar? Any reports?"
"Trivial… but I suspect lord Reynfred was having affairs with cults and exiled mages from Maginum."
"Do you think they might be the reason for that demon incursion?"
"I'm possibly sure, though I suspect there are some that are involved in that incident." The old wizard replied. "The adventurers did find some culprits, though they are still investigating that incursion. We should discuss this another time; someone is coming."
True enough, thirty meters from their distance, a brunette woman opens the door. Her rambling isn't very noble; instead, she walks like a soldier born on a battlefield. Her hair was that of a shag cut, clad in a mix of leather and plate armour compatible enough for her reflexes. Two swords secured on her waist, an ashen round shield she carries, both magnificent and filled with brimming power.
"I shall go first, my lord." The wizard spoke before leaving the king.
"Good evening, Lady Freia." The wizard slightly bows at the young lady.
"Ah, good evening." Freia nods.
Passing the old king's advisor, the lass walks towards the king, carrying a face of disappointment. At a distance of two meters, Freia stops.
"Father, I know it was you. You hired them, didn't you?" Freia spoke, her expression was flat and quite abhorred at the king.
"Please enlighten me." Lord Reigal spoke, his fingers fondling at his long beard.
"The adventurers that you've hired?"
"And what if I hired them? There's no difference from that?"
"It makes me look weak, Father. Do you know how others treat me as nothing more than a tag-along adventurer? It's infuriating!"
"You are my daughter, Freia." The king's voice now turns sharp and cold.
"I'm an adventurer." A stubborn reply came from his daughter. "I don't want to be some political bride to another kingdom!"
"And what's the difference between an adventurer and your status? Adventurers are to protect the people, even sacrificing their lives if they have to do so. So, what's the difference between you and an adventurer?"
"Freedom, father! Freedom." The lady gazes angrily at her father before she quickly walks past her father.
Once Freia passed through another corridor, a scene suddenly erupted in her mind. The scene is a coliseum, and in that coliseum, a tournament of knights, with the crowd's applause rupturing the air. There, Freia was on her knees, panting, giving a very disappointed and angry expression— there were no wounds on her flesh, only the battered armour and a broken shield. In front of her was a tall and beautiful blond woman whose sword pointed at her, waiting for her to surrender. Freia's opponent didn't even show weakness or exhaustion.
"Tch!" The princess delivers a punch to the wall. "Why did that past even flare up on my mind?"
Gathering her thoughts and trying to bury the past through calm meditation. Freia then goes to a certain room—the door opens—and there she sees a young boy sleeping, with a wooden sword and a shield beside his bed.
Silently placing her equipment, the lady goes to fix the boy's blanket. Once done, she sits on the bed calmly watching her brother, as her expression turns solemn. After a few minutes of rest, Freia silently exits the room and quickly cleans her equipment and herself.
Submerging herself in a steamy, lukewarm water, again her mind digs through the past. "Run, Freia!" A man's voice shouts at her.
"Damn it!" Freia exclaimed, punching the stone wall enough to cause her knuckles to bleed. "Sorry, brother, I'm too weak…" She mutters, before submerging herself in the waters, maybe trying to wash some of her watery eyes.
Closing her eyes, Freia again enters tranquillity, letting the past enter her thoughts. She didn't fight it; rather, she absorbed it.
Dawn arrives— through the adventurers' guild inn. Mishel gave three knocks on the door; patience didn't hold the mage after no response from inside, so she quickly barged through the door. Casting magic that unlocks the door, she finds Ashalain in deep slumber.
"Time to wake up." Mishel swiftly unveils the curtains.
Disturbed by the morning light, Ashalain used one of the pillows to bury her head, barricading any light that distressed her sleep.
"Wake up, you old lady, there's someone who wants to meet you!" The mage nag, using her staff to pry the paladin.
"Fine then! You leave me no choice." Mishel said, pointing her staff at the bed.
Pouring some of her magic, Mishel then roars her magic on the bed, sending the paladin flying out from her comfort.
"What's going on?" Ashalain groans, rubbing her back.
"What's going on is for you to get dressed; someone is waiting for you in front of the guild," Mishel said.
"Let me guess, is it my father?" The paladin said, rubbing her forehead while she sat on the bed.
"Not quite, but you should best settle your differences with your father. You haven't returned home for ten days, surely he's upset."
Changing her white gown to a more noble appearance, simple, sleek leather pants, and a clean linen tunic. She exits her room and finds Mishel gawking at her chest.
"Is there something the matter?" The paladin was quite difficult when her friend stared at her. "Do my clothes have something?"
"Nothing." Mishel turns around and goes downstairs.
Ashalain leaves the inside of the guild; the day was still morning, too early for people to exit their homes. Twenty meters—Ashalain saw two men wearing cloaks. Alarmed, she readies her defences and boldly walks towards the two.
"Who—"
The paladin's tongue froze upon the cloaked men as they unveiled their hoods.
"How are you doing, Lady Ashalain?" Prince Harith smiled upon giving a morning salutation.
"Prince Harith!" Ashalain gasped, quickly dropping to her knees.
"Please, Lady Ashalain. We are not in court, nor are we in a palace." The prince gestures.
"Um, might I ask, what brings you here, Prince Harith?" The paladin said, slowly she stood.
The prince looks through the sky, contemplating.
"The city is quite peaceful for today. Is it okay if I borrow some of your time? Even for a minute?" The prince calmly said.
Ashalain's eyes glance left and right, and seconds of thought and hesitation; the noble paladin finally gave her verdict at the prince's request.
"If this were a matter of court, your highness, I would request proper notice," she said carefully.
Prince Harith only smiled.
Ashalain exhaled quietly before lowering her head.
"But since you came here personally… I would be discourteous to refuse."
She straightened her posture.
"Very well, Prince Harith. I will accept your request." Ashalain continues.
Prince Harith nods and gestures at Sir Lacaren. A simple nod was all it took for the knight to receive his message.
"Understood, my prince." Sir Lacaren placed his hand on his chest before leaving the two to their affair.
"As for me, I think it's time to change my appearance." The prince said, revealing a magical ring.
Once the ring was placed on his fingers, the prince's appearance changed to a more commoner's look.
"Now then, shall we?" The prince offers his hand to the paladin.
Accepting the prince's hand, the two then saunter the quiet streets of Ravalind. Though some wagons are running the city streets, they couldn't care less, for they have more important things to deliver their goods.
"Lady Ashalain… there is something I wish to speak about." The prince spoke.
"I'm listening."
"Sir Salvaril."
The moment the prince spoke that name, it was enough to make Ashalain tense. She didn't respond; she just kept her mouth silent.
"He was my knight and my friend. Still, even to this day, every time you search for him… it reminds me that I sent him to that crusade."
Harith paused, waiting for Ashalain to speak her mind. The prince glanced and saw that her expression was weighed heavily. Conflicted, even the prince himself felt the emotional essence of the noble paladin.
"Forgive me for asking this, Ashalain, but it's best that you give him a good rest. It's been many years, and even with the best of my abilities, I haven't managed to gain his whereabouts."
The prince again waits for Ashalain to answer, and after taking twenty steps, she utters her conclusion.
"I… forgive me, your highness… because I will continue searching."
After her response, Prince Harith gave a despondent expression, but he quickly concealed it with a smile.
"I understand."
The two then resume their strolling, and for a few minutes, the prince stops his track. Looking at how the people begins to fill the streets, the growing noise they make—
"It's been nice walking with you, Lady Ashalain, but I must go now. I must attend some diplomacy with the king's daughter." The prince smiled at her.
"I wish you well, your highness." Ashalain bows.
"Thank you and farewell, Lady Ashalain."
The two depart, and before that, Sir Lacaren came with a carriage. After the carriage had slowly gone from her sight, she then returned to the guild for breakfast. Though from their meetings. Something lit up from Ashalain's heart, as if from her now serious expression.
Shortly, the prince was delivered to a certain place. The building was filled with a forest-like design, full of flowers and plants. Harmless animals roam the ground, as hundreds of butterflies fill the garden. And in the centre lies Princess Freia, busy sipping her morning tea.
"My lady…" The prince announces. "May I?" Harith continues signalling if he can have a seat.
"The chair is free for the taking," Freia said after a gentle sip of her tea.
"Thank you."
The princess, without giving a second courtesy, gave a heavy sigh. "Let's get on with this. I have many other things to attend to."
"Perhaps you mean assignments from the adventurers' guild."
"Naturally, my prince… then I presume you are already aware of the relationship between your father and my father. As to what the future holds for both of us?"
"Yes, though there's still time for such a decision. And tensions are just caused by rumours and tavern whispers."
"A short time to say, and rumours or not, small or large conflict is still a tension… You hungry?" Freia said, offering a slice of cake to the prince. "Don't worry, there's no poison."
"Very well, my lady." Said the prince, freely accepting the princess's offer.
"I take it that you still have resentment towards Endregar."
Placing her palms under her jaws, the princess didn't give a response. Nor did she give a time to look back at the prince of Aghraim.
"You didn't come here for small talk, didn't you?" Freia said.
Harith smiles.
"If our fathers wish to bind our kingdoms through matrimonial alliances, then they must first ensure that the alliance itself is stable. Wouldn't you agree?"
"And what do you intend to propose?" Freia said, still not giving an acknowledgement at the prince's sight.
"A period of cooperation, you could say, a joint military or political mission. Or perhaps a diplomatic exchange."
"So, you wish to postpone the wedding. Is that for your sake… or mine?"
"For both of us."
"Quite an ambitious plan you have in mind for a young prince of Aghraim. But you must know what happened in the past during that demon incursion?"
"I'm quite aware of that, my lady. But there are other things we can choose… perhaps passing on the duty of bells to a younger and greener sibling?"
Suddenly, Freia's hand turns into a fist as her gaze warns Harith.
"Forgive me for overstepping into your boundaries." The prince calmly implores.
"You have quite a tongue, Prince Harith."
"I apologise for my rudeness, Princess Freia; conflicts are everywhere, and the once neighbouring allies are now on a broken bridge. The kings are now old and ready to meet the afterlife. I'm just a prince who seeks to prevent any chaos. You and I have already seen enough of brothers, companions, as to our people who only live a short life."
The words from the prince gave a long pause between them; the only noise was that of nature. The wind that shifts the trees to groan, the animals squeaking left and right.
Princess Freia took another sip, and for once, the tea was near empty. However, followed by a troubled look.
"I'll consider your words."
"Thank you, my lady." Prince Harith nods.
After another second of silence—
"Haa… sucks to be in this kind of life…" Freia gave a weary groan before leaning on her chair. You know, I sometimes envy them— them simple people. Living their own life, the adventurers."
Prince Harith chuckles, "Frankly, even I wonder—"
Intrude, three bells were consecutively ringing three times. And quickly, the two royals look to where the noise came—
"You may come in," Freia said.
Permitted, an old butler carrying a letter placed on a golden plate enters.
"Forgive me, your highnesses, but a letter was sent to you, Prince Harith." The butler bows.
Prince Harith saw the crest of Aghraim and smiled.
"Forgive me, Lady Freia, but I must go now. I hope we can meet again like this." The prince stood and gave a bow before taking the letter.
Lady Freia raised her palm, gesturing a farewell.
"Likewise, your highness."
Leaving the forest garden, the prince enters his carriage, blending in with the busy streets of other noble carriages.