The Uninvited Princess ✔

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

There was something off with the other wizards from what Pranee had noticed.

Everyone was packing away their stuff onto carts or was quickly getting rid of any evidence that people had camped there. Many of them used magic to fix it and when they were done, their staffs would disappear instantaneously.

They didn't carry their staffs with them everywhere and whenever they needed to them, the staffs would appear out of thin air after a short incantation. She looked over to Shashi that had their staff strapped to them at all times. Even Shashi's staff acted differently. It would fly whenever Shashi needed it and it also seemed not to need as many verbal commands.

She couldn't help but watch the scene for a short while before her eyes became unfocused as she thought about other things.

"What are you looking at?"

Shashi's sudden appearance made Pranee jump. She had a hand on her chest and she turned to Shashi. They gave a smile with a raised brow to indicate that they were waiting for her answer.

"I was just wondering why their staffs can disappear..." Her voice trailed off.

"And why mine doesn't?"

She quietly nodded.

"My staff is linked to me because it was specially made for me. That means no one else can use it if I somehow don't have it in my possession." They shrugged. "Those wizards, on the other hand, have mass-produced staffs that have more power but can be disarmed and used against them like any old knife or a sword. So, ups and downs to both of them depending on what you need as a magic user."

Pranee nodded mindlessly her eyes drifting away from them. "Hm? Interesting..."

Shashi cleared their throat. "Also, another difference is it allows me to send lightning bolts onto everyone and instantly kill anyone that hate. There's also an attachment that can shoot monkeys at anyone that looks at me wrong."

"Ah, I see." Pranee couldn't help but fiddle with the hem of her clothes.

"There's something else that's bugging you. You would've called out my lie by now." Shashi tapped their knee against hers which caused her to look up in alarm.

"Huh? What?"

"Also, your eyes light up whenever I talk about magic and you're silently waiting for me to say more. But here you're just... distracted."

"Ah, well..." She attempted to stop her fidgeting and smooth down her robe instead. "I was just thinking about what you said to P'Tanet."

"You don't want to come with me to Aslo?"

"I... don't know what I want to do."

"About what?"

"Well, my brother is actually going to Aslo too."

"He is?" A small wrinkle formed between Shashi's eyebrows. "I thought he was visiting other kingdoms."

"He actually needs to visit his lover for an important celebration before he can head back out."

"A lover? This is the first time I'm hearing it."

"Yeah, one of his wizards told me."

"His lover must be the emperor if he could get so many people to accompany him," Shashi said jokingly.

She stayed quiet and Shashi looked at her until the realization hit them.

"They're sleeping with the emperor?!"

"Shhhh, don't say it so loudly." She shook her hand at them.

If she thought their eyes weren't wide earlier, they were definitely wide enough that she swore that their eyes would fall out at any moment.

"How did that even happen?"

She laughed nervously. "I don't even know."

"Are you going to ask him?"

"Why would I ask about that? That's so invasive."

Shashi gave her a weird look before shaking their head to themself. "Right, I forgot."

"Forgot what?"

"Rich people aren't open with that stuff."

"What stuff?"

"It's nothing." Their eyes drifted away from hers. "You can call it culture shock."

"Ah... okay."

Pranee was confused by what surprised them but she didn't bother to question it further. It was probably better to ask about it later in private.

"Hey, I'm going to ask Kiet something. I'll be back, okay?"

"Mm, okay."

There was a strange sound that came from the jungle. It sounded like something heavy was being dragged across the foliage. She frowned in the direction of the noise and took a step towards it.

She found herself in the middle of the jungle again with no people in sight. Sweat began to coat the back of her neck as she was unsure of where exactly she was or how she even got there. The air was unusually cold and the hairs on her body stood up.

Green skin came into view accompanying yellow slitted eyes and Pranee felt her heart stop.

It was a naga.