The soldiers surrounding Maya did not hide the fact that they were terrified of the flashlight in her hand.
"Oh no."Maya panicked. She turned back, to her surprise, the door was really shut. "Interesting."
"She's a witch, let's take her to the prince at once." A knight ordered.
"I'm sorry. A witch seems a little too much." Maya was still saying when two of them snatched the flashlight from her and dragged her out. "This is the end. Oh God, no."
Everywhere looked too real like a fantasy movie, with the building covered in old ruins and medieval architectures. She even had a funny thought that maybe some people with cameras would come out revealing she was on TV on some "You just got pranked" episode.
Finally, an announcement was made and the grand hall door opened to let them in. "Your highness," the knight rushed forward."We found this witch who just magically appeared. She tried to blind us with her captured sunlight." He revealed the flashlight to the young man on the throne.
Maya almost burst out of laughter after he called the flashlight captured sunlight, but her head might be chopped off.
The man on the throne was Alric Ravaryn, the crown prince of Eldoria kingdom, well fit in his royalty attire: a long black coat with structured shoulders and a thin dark crown on his head. One arm lazily resting on the throne as the young prince quietly observed everything going on.
Maya tilted her head, big brown eyes narrowed at him. Was this the part where he ordered her head be cut off?
"Fall on your knees!" Ordered one of the guards. "You're in the presence of crown prince Alric."
Maya swallowed."Uh, your majesty, my prince," she have a sarcastic bow, raising her head up every second to see if he would tell her to rise. He said nothing. Maya felt her neck straining. How could he watch her hold that position for long?
Finally, Alric cleared his throat. "You may rise." He said, barely raising his voice. "Why don't you cover the poor girl up, she's just in her under garment."
"Of course sir,"
Maya blinked. She realized she was wearing a short (but really short, knee length) blue Jean dress with a little cleavage out. And being slightly bursty, she realized why it might had made them feel uncomfortable.
"Your highness, you're too kind. But there's no need for that." She said, adding another one of her bow.
"You dare speak back to his highness? You witch." Roared a guard.
Alric sighed, scratching his head. "How do I put this, Bawlin?" He'd looked her up and down and doesn't believe she could be a witch. Her outfit was strange, the magic torch looked a lot mechanical to him. Alric secretly studied technology but it was forbidden knowledge in the kingdom, "close to magic", his father used to say.
He stretched his hand, "bring me the torch." Upon observing it, he noticed something important.
The door pushed open and two people walked in. The queen Marilyn and her son, Ronard. Marilyn was Alric step mother who despises him a little and doesn't hides it. She had passed on the same hatred to her son.
"I heard there is a witch in the palace," she said, then her gaze stopped on Maya.
"A witch half nude you might say," Ronard said, licking his lips.
"Good day to you too, Marilyn, Ronard." Alric said. They responded but quickly went on talking about Maya again.
Meanwhile, Alric had found a button on the flashlight. "The "magic light" has a button." He muttered, then pressed it.
The light turned off. He pressed it again and it turned it back on."Fascinating..." Alric thought to himself. "If this is witchcraft... it's the most convenient witchcraft I've ever seen."
That was when Alric knew he had to find a way to interrogate Maya without scaring her. She could be his key to unlocking his curiosity of technology.
"We have to kill her at once. I do not trust her presence," Marilyn said.
"Not quite yet, she's a pretty witch font you see, mother?" Ronard's eyes were lustfully resting on her breasts by now.
"She will kill you. She's dangerous."
Maya snorted. "If I really had that power, I would have turned you all into frogs by now."
"What did you just say?" Marilyn questioned, but before she could get a response, someone rushed in.
"It's the king. He's collapsed."
Alric jumped up. "You, stay here." He said to Maya and turned to one of the guards, "keep an eye on her. Ronard, let's go."
"She has to come with us!" Marilyn said all of a sudden. Everyone was shocked at her statement.
"What? Why?" Alric demanded.
"Because she's a witch. Let her come and cure my husband because I cannot lose him! I have a feeling her coming here has to do with it."
"We do not even understand yet what has happened to my father. Why would you--" Alric sighed. "I do not have time for this."
"Guards, drag her. She's coming with us!" Marilyn kept insisting.
Alric stood beside Maya, then leaned in to whisper in her ears. "I won't let any harm come to you. You just have to trust me."
Maya tensed as he spoke softly to her ears. Their eyes locked for a brief moment and she wondered why he had not yet ordered for her head. She nodded then was forced to join them.
The king was laying in his chambers and a man was there by the time they arrived. "Your majesties, I am afraid I do not know what is wrong with his majesty." The man said.
"Look at what you have done. Take a look at my husband. You just save him, witch!" Marilyn started to cry.
Admist the chaos, Maya realized something. The poor man's face was swollen and even as he was passed out, his breathing was haggard.
The physician was saying something to Alric, while Marilyn would not stop shouting.
"Wait!" Maya called out everyone's attention. Her hands felt her pocket and she sighed, feeling something there. "I-I can save the king."