Cayden Barbaten POV:
after waking up this morning Lumine has not once been able to look me in the eyes. During breakfast she sat away from me, when I tried to talk to her she said she had to use the bathroom, whenever i looked at the head maid she also acted strange smiling at me as if to congratulate me.
"Am I going crazy?"
"We've long gone past what's mentally considered sane, Cayde," Thorn spoke out as we made the final preparations on the carriage. "At best your just getting crazier."
"I'd prefer it if you said energetic or sarcastic at least." Thorn rolled over atop the carriage ignoring my words
My bed also smelt funny this morning. My eyes then wandered to Damian who was talking with his father. He's also coming as a representative of the Nallos duchy and the Searigan king for Alma's birthday which was surprising but since Alma invited him directly he couldn't deny it.
As I questioned if it was a prank from him Ronik and Lupra finally came out of the house with my sisters trying to stop them.
The elf knights didn't like the idea of more people to watch over but they had no say in the matter. Giving a final sigh I clambered into the carriage and sat in the corner trying to fall back to sleep.
Damian then came in whinging "why do I have to come? This is adult business I'm just a pre-teen!" Someone spoke behind him as he sat down "fine. I'll be respectful and that but I'm not making any promises about finding a marriage partner!"
Opening my left eye I saw Damian sitting in an angry huff opposing me as the two elves got on behind him. Alma quickly sat next to Damian and although my eye was squinting I could see Lumine shakily sit next to me as if she committed a grave sin.
Pretending to already be asleep I ignored her thinking she broke something and can't fess up to it. A clattering of claws was heard atop the carriage answering where my tames went and then a metallic fist hit the side of the carriage.
"Princess and her friends! We are leaving!" With a tug, the carriage pushed forward preparing us for our journey.
It was just a few days' journey thanks to the rare panther-like beast that would be pulling us along. If anything troublesome occurred on the way I left it to Thorn to decide what to happen.
I hope we don't get obstructed too much.
On the first day, a bandit party tried to kidnap us. Thorn ate them all before they could even get on the road.
On the second day, a tree had blocked our path. Ronik removed it while also damaging the knight's pride after their failed attempts to lift it
On the third day, nothing bad happened but as I slept I fell onto Lumine's lap from a bump in the road. She pushed me off her falling onto the carriage floor. Her expression looked embarrassed but I was too confused to figure out why she was so flustered.
On the fourth day, we arrived at Entrana where the guild was located. After getting out of the carriage it shrunk in size and the knights put it into their pocket. It was very interesting so I gave them a little clap as they put on cloaks to cover their armor.
"How familiar are you here, Cayde?" Lumine asked as we walked down a bustling street.
"Fairly. I had a hut here for two years but rarely ever slept there since I was always out on adventures."
Lumine had a sour expression but as I had difficulty understanding her the last few days I didn't press for answers as it may just worsen her condition.
arriving at the guild's doors I pushed them open remembering their heavyweight as I struggled against them with my pure body strength.
Finally opening the door fully a few eyes were surprised to see me giving silent nods and toast with their drinks glad to see me again. Looking behind me Damian looked unnerved with Lumine by the natural pressure coming from them all.
I didn't notice it at first but to ease them I released some of the mine calming them as they followed after me. These guys have been getting stronger since I left.
Before there were maybe 6 other gold ranks but now it looked as if there were 20. There is also a much stronger presence coming from Ulters office, a platinum rank probably returned to get a new commission.
"You guys stay here. I'll make sure Ulter has everything set." The group nodded but one of the knights grabbed my shoulder.
"I'm coming with you. I must make sure everything is secure."
It was annoying as it meant me and Ulter couldn't catch up comfortably with him nearby "sure. Just make sure to look pretty."
A few coughs and giggles came from the nearby adventurers. The knight looked about fiercely and it was back to being quiet. We headed to the staircase and the pressure increased with every step.
It was as if gravity was warning us wed die if we went in. Without mana enhancement, my body would have already collapsed along with the knight who was already staggering. As the knight froze trying to resist the pressure I casually walked up with his eyes gawking at my back.
Opening the door a knife came flying past me sticking into the wall. The man who threw it had his back turned to us looking down at the desk in front of him and bellowed out "get out!" Pulling out the knife I threw it back and hit the handle against the angry man's head.
the angry man turned around seeing the white mask covering my face closing the door behind me "so... the battle demon returns at long last." The man was covered in thick animal pelts wearing an iron helmet hiding his face.
He walked up to me and looked down at me like the towering mountain he was "What brings you crawling back after two years of retirement?"
"I don't have time for this."
white veins covered his body and without having to do anything he fell forwards as if it was an attempt to crush me and release himself but walked away unscathed. With a crash, his face broke through the floor.
My eyes then turned to Ulter who was breathing out in relief "thank you. He's the platinum rank "fierce bear." He has a rather forbearing personality." Ulter stood up and I undid the mask.
fierce bear was someone I'm acquainted with. We had a contest during a beast wave on who could capture more. I won due to my aspect. To think he didn't learn I mainly use it to restrict and not attack. "Let's get going. He's going to be angry once he breaks free."
Ulter opened the window letting some fresh air in "so no time for a quick duel?" My gaze stayed sharp and Ulter almost pouted "shame."
We walked out to see the knight had finally reached the top of the staircase panting heavily as we walked past quickly headed for the portal chamber. Ulter opened the door letting alma and her knights in first followed quickly by the rest closing the door behind us.
The knight meddled with the portals stone console shifting the colors of the rocks until a luminescent green filled the darkroom and the portal whirred to life in a vortex of pure energy.
Alma lifted off her hood happily "this will take us directly to the royal palace. Please be mindful of your manners, don't touch anything that looks expensive." The knights and my friend's eyes stared at me at Alma's final words "and please don't start any unnecessary arguments."
The knights and alma then entered the portal. Damien then entered. Lumine entered after giving me a final look. Then I was left alone in the darkroom with the swirling vortex in front of me.
Something inside me was telling me not to go as if something had manipulated the portal from far away. Sensing about I noticed a faint gaze watching me pulling on an invisible string connection to the portal. "The venerable protector. You've been watching long enough now."
Pulling out a violet sword I cut the string disappearing the faint gaze and the uneasy feeling I had disappeared.
[venerable protector says you will regret not coming to meet him]
[the ink of curses threatens the venerable protector to stay away from his partner!]
[venerable protector is amazed by the dark presence]
I wondered why incursik was showing me all these messages as their squabble continued. The more I saw the screens appear the more it reminded me of a novel I read with something similar.
It needed an ancient item known as a phone to read and was troubling to recharge but reading that story was well worth it. A man who was just a reader challenged every possible existence and surpassed them. He wasn't strong like I am but he knew the future and could bend the world to his whims with that knowledge.
How easy would my life be if this world was a book I read?
[the ink of curses states he is in a tough confrontation]
[the ink of curses tells you he will return covered in blood]
I chuckled at Incursiks declaration and felt slight energy leave me "okay. Just be back before the dance."
[the ink of curses promises while calling you a cheat code.]
With a smile at the end of my lips, I walked through the portal.
Reaching the other side of the portal I found myself falling just above the high trees in the elven royal palaces courtyard "...of course."
Venerable protector's tampering must have left a lasting effect after I cut the connection forcefully.
Lumine Elgrave POV:
after I came through the portal it suddenly turned off itself. Panic had overtaken me as I hyperventilated worrying for Cayde. No one who was inside a portal as it turned off has ever returned to tell the tale.
The knights were sandwiching Alma between them thinking there was a trap waiting for them and Damien was doing what he could to calm me.
"J-just, just slow your breathing Lumine. Maybe he didn't enter the portal." His voice was just as shocked as my breathing was heavy
The wind was escaping from my lungs rapidly I felt like I couldn't breathe as my eyes darted around to hopefully see him appear somewhere.
The trees around us all began to rustle loudly as if a heavy wind was passing through making us all turn away from the portal.
"Where are they?!"
"Were they expecting us!?"
As the knights shouted out footsteps were heard behind us and I was the first to see Cayde exiting the dead portal doorway as if nothing happened. "Cayde!"
I jumped and wrapped my arms around him eased now that it was certain he was okay. He didn't resist the hug and patted my back "you've been avoiding me all week. Did you finally forgive me for whatever I did?"
Remembering the night I slept with him I blushed and tried to separate from him but he didn't let go "why are you still holding me? Let go!" Cayde pouted as he released me and I punched him in the gut.
As my fist landed I felt the firmness of the muscle as he barely reacted only getting pushed back "I'm guessing you still angry then."
Turning away from him I saw Damien being dragged away by the knight following Alma with a confused expression and followed after them with Cayde not even bothering to try and catch me. That jerk doesn't even realize how scared I was!
Cayden Barbaten POV:
"I overplayed being dumb, didn't I?"
Thorn was the only one to respond "you have no finesse in handling the fragility of a woman's heart."
Girls are hard to understand. I'm glad Lupra isn't like Lumine with turbulent emotions and is easy to appease.
Picking up my feet I walked after the fleeing girl ignoring the presence hidden behind one of the trees.
after catching up with them Lumine kept her distance from me as much as possible and Damien was being dragged unconsciously for some reason by the knight. It was likely an aftereffect of the portal but passing out is extremely rare.
We arrived at the castle's back door and were greeted by several surprised servants as the doors opened to reveal a majestic white-walled interior with various decorations and a black marble floor.
"The princess has returned!"
"Quickly! Inform their majesty!"
The elven maids and butlers took the dirty cloaks from the knights and Alma, they were courteous to Lumine while giving Damien and me the bare minimum.
"Coats please." The elf that asked me had a cold look
"I'll keep mine."
The elf was almost happy not having to take anything from me as he quickly went over to fawn over the princess.
'Fucking simps.' Thorn said angrily
Struggling to hold my laughter I spat out for a moment but covered my mouth making it look like a cough as various bloodthirsty eyes locked on me.
alma read the tone of the room and spoke out "He is a friend of mine. He and the Searigan king's envoy are to be treated with the utmost respect!"
The servants bowed to her but didn't hide their hatred even as they cleaned up the unconscious Damien.
Maybe it would be better if I just sprouted horns. I know humans and elves hate each other but this is just too much.
Scratching my head to find a way out of this I asked Alma "it's fine if I wander alone right?"
The knights looked at alma who looked at Lumine who had an uneasy expression but nodded. "It is fine. Just make sure to avoid the north-east wing."
As I hastily walked away I didn't bother to pretend I noticed Lumine's bitter expression sensing my discontent with all of this.
She ran after me but as she turned a corner to follow I had already vanished.
***
The elf castle was big. I had found a map and sneakily taken a picture with an artifact but even with that, it was no different than a labyrinth.
"This place is boring." My voice echoed down the desolate corridor. Wherever I went the servant would quickly disappear to avoid taking any request from me making it difficult to find somewhere to sit comfortably.
As I continued down the hall I kept opening doors to look for a place to sit and quietly read my books without interference. Every room I opened was filled with miscellaneous items, barren or full of angry servants eyeing me to go away.
'At this rate, you might as well just leave.' Thorn popped out flying down the corridor to perch himself on an angelic gargoyle 'the party isn't for another few days, you technically don't have a suit and the only interesting thing is the kid following you.'
Turning around I spotted a tuft of hair poking around the corner of the corridor trying to hide. It was the same person who was hiding behind a tree when I first arrived. I felt no obligation to entertain them and I also knew who exactly it was so I'm not going to interact.
Continuing my walk the child behind us kept hiding behind desks, vases, and knight armors as I wandered hoping to eventually end up where I can relax.
At one point I arrived at a window looking out into the castle's courtyard and stopped to look through it. There was a rack full of training weapons and a stone arena like back at the mansion but it had a more ornate design to it with a few large trees planted around it.
Opening the window I climbed through to the other side walking on the grass. As I walked I felt various eyes trail me from the windows above me but whenever I glanced the people vanished.
"It honestly feels like they've been ordered to avoid you." Thorn was now atop a tree bearing his weight on it making it lean into an almost circular curve
"I doubt they'd do that if they knew what I was."
"Is that a demon or an irresponsible princess?"
My hand drifted atop the weapon rack feeling all the wooden training weapons. Picking one up a memory surfaced of when I'd train in the forest with Dendra. She'd watch me as I attempted to make weapons from each element and laughed whenever I'd fail to anger me.
A blade of ice then formed in my hand and I smiled "I almost miss it." Placing the sword back I put the ice made one next to it.
There was a bench here at least so I sat down and pulled out my white book on the world's hidden treasures to see if there was anything near the elven capital I could get with my limited time.
"Golden apple.. too complex."
"Frosted root... too far."
"Wardens antler... not enough time."
as I continued reading Thorn was hanging from the curved tree like a bat as he slept and the child that was following me finally revealed himself as he ran out to pick up the frozen sword.
so that's what you look like prince Chris.
He was young with blonde hair like his sisters wearing a royal uniform with royal trinkets attached to it. They all looked like glamorous medals but they were each an individual defense artifact that would take me at least a few days to breakthrough.
The young elf grabbed the cold handle of the sword and pulled it down on top of himself as he tried to lift it "urgh! Dammit!" The ice sword was pressing him against the ground slowly melting into his clothes as he tried to push it off himself.
Thorn stared down at him as if it was an amusing show for a little while then went back to sleep.
"Master should you not help him?" Ronik asked as my eyes shifted up to the little boy
Probably. But the twenty or so shadows surrounding us might get ideas if we don't approach him correctly.
Ronik had a little grumble but understood my meaning.
"Finally!"
A clanging sound rang out and I closed the book vanishing it to see the ice sword was split in half. There was no way he could have done it and I felt shallow traces of mana discharge to my left so one of the shadows must have cut it.
"Why didn't you help me?" My eyes came back down and the elven prince was now pointing a wooden sword at me "aren't you a friend of my sisters?"
"More like a friend of a friend who forced me along but we are acquaintances." I pulled out a regular book and began reading "if your looking for attention go away. No one wants to give me any so I'm not giving any either."
"That's petty."
"I'm also not a babysitter." The shadows hiding began to stir noticing my words were directed to them.
Chris had a confused and insulted look "who are you?"
"Just your average charming and irrelevant human."