As the main road of the town was getting crowded, many guards have been set to different locations of the town as soon as they've been informed about the missing princess.
"Where is she again this time, it's her time to be introduced to the townsfolk."
The king sat in distress as his adviser came close to him and whispered.
"Sir, your daughter got in a trouble again. Although you need not to worry for this as the guards already sent their troops all over the place and I've heard she saved a girl."
*sigh*
The king just gave out a sigh and let it slip once again. Although he is still worried, but the queen just burst out in laughter and gave him a small smile.
"My my, you're still getting worked up by these things hmmm?"
"Isn't it not normal for her to be this quite active. To be this vulgar in front of the public eye. Can't she just be like you?"
"My dear, I have those days when things were just simple. I would run a~"
*trumpet horns*
They both stopped and looked at the announcer in front of them.
"People of Aurinburg, bow down to the royalty of our country, King Joseph and the family of Wallenrein!!!"
The crowd was going wild with their cheers and shouts. As the couple was going down the carriage, they heard the shout of their daughter running towards them.
"Ma! Pa! My god that wa~"
"Princess Tina, goodness gracious where have you been this time, the king was really worried about you where have you~"
"Move along now Sebas, I need to speak with my father about this matter."
The princess looked the adviser in the eye with piercing gazes. He took a big gulp and replied kindly to the princess.
"Yes... Your highness, proceed to what you are about to do."
"Pa, there have been cases that I have heard of here in this town. Slave trading and force prostitution is still slipping away from the authorities. This is really an~"
"Tina, let's not talk about these things in public. The people are waiting for us to be up there and give them greetings. This topic will be on hold, don't worry Sebas will put this on the schedule of the court of trials as we come home to the palace."
"But pa this is~"
"My my, so persistent. Tina I really remember a lot of my days from you. For now let's go along with your father's agenda alright?"
"Yes ma..."
The three of them went up on stage and gave their own speeches. After the last greetings from the princess, the people of Aurinburg proceeds to the preparation of the grand feast that will be held out in the evening.
As the people scattered around, Tina asked permission from the queen to loom around the town as well, but this time she must be followed by her own guardian.
"Tina, I'll be assigning Thorein on your safety. Thorein don't let her slip once you're away from the royal guards"
"Yes, your highness."
She stood up after her orders were given to her and after a few minutes, Tina came close to her and whispered as the queen moves along the royal guards.
"Hey Thorein, let's go out and look for sweets. I wanna try out their candy clouds here. I've seen the kids running around with those fluffy thing on their hands. Let's go, let's go..."
"Tina, atleast act like you are respected right now. Jeez, now I'm gonna watch over you again, and the queen might left her shadows over the two of us. So act like you're not going to do something again."
"Alright, alright, you're always a worry-wart huh? Also... Don't tell this to anyone but, you've heard the songs of the one-horned balrog right?"
"The song that was used to scare both of us? Yes, I still remember it. Why would you bri~"
"Okay, I was roaming around the outskirts of the town right? I was in a pinch earlier but this ragged boy came in and saved me. Although this boy was no ordinary boy, he had this broken horn on his head and the other was a spiral one. You know, it mig~"
"Stop with this nonsense Tina. You've been reading a lot of books than usual. This is what you learned from those stories?"
"Come on, atleast trust me on this. I'm not lying! Hmmp, whatever. Let's just go and get some sweets."
Tina and Thorein have been together since birth. Thorein Gilda, one of the descendants protecting the Wallenrein for decades. The Gilda family is one of the best warrior clan set out to protect and serve the royal family and Thorein, the only daughter of the royal crusade captain was given this task as she learned how to live.
They both grew up together, some say they can't be separated from each other. But little do they know that Tina is much more mischievous than her own personal assistant.
--Darius's walk to get the sweet roll--
"Man, I really need to practice more with my speed and strength soon. Getting all bloody and all doesn't sound like a good assasin would do."
Darius walked along with the quiet road towards the town's bakery. He opened the door quietly and then...
"Welcome to the Honey Blue Tavern! What can I— nevermind it's just you. What do you need this time, also what the hell happened to those robes?! You look like you killed an army with~"
"Rondo, just give me four pieces of sweet roll. I just wanna get to the tub really quick. Also any news about magic seal readers roaming around the town?"
"Not that I've heard of. All I see is the magician of our town, the old hag they call the seer and the other lunatic who keeps mumbling something. No peculiar magician roaming around."
"Hmmm, I was hoping for someone to read this scriptures on my blade."
Darius took out a blooded dagger on his waist. It was a sharp, gloomy-violet colored blade with markings on its blade.
"You really are attached to that dagger huh?"
"This is the only thing that connects me to my past. It was given to me when I turned five. This dagger was surprisingly light when i held it. My grandad forged it with lava but I never thought blades like this would be light."
"Daggers are always light. Give it to me, I'll check it out"
Darius hand over his dagger to Rondo quietly with a grin on his face.
"See? Daggers are always~ woah!!! What the hell is this?! This is as heavy as an iron greatsword."
"You see, this dagger is always accustomed for me and only me. My grandad told me that the blade is alive and it knows when its with me or not. Hey try hacking that dagger on my shoulder. With its weight, it should give a big slice if it hits."
"Hey hey, kid that's not a good joke. What are on about this~"
"Try it. Don't be a little baby."
"Alright you said it yourself. Hyaaahh!"
*cling* *boing*
The blade was swung really hard by the baker but what happened infront of him was unbelievable. The blade turned into a dull and soft blade. It seemed like it melted the moment it was used againts its owner.
"Hmmm, you see Rondo. This dagger really is alive, this is why I need a reader for this weapon. Now toss it back."
"Here, man that dagger is getting heavier every single minute I'm holding it."
The dagger was returned to Darius, together with the bag of sweet roll. Rondo also gave Darius a sack of dough and bread along with the pouch of gold.
"Here's the payment for the last quest you've done for me. Although you're not from the guild, you really like to do quests and stuff for people huh?"
"Well, I've always been dreaming about becoming an adventurer myself. Although I know it might be tough but I think I can handle certain quests. I will be sending this application to the guild hall. Hopefully they take me in."
"You got recommended or somethin' by someone?"
"It's my Aunt Valieyn who gave her recommendation. Hopefully they respect her request."
"Who would decline that old war-maniac. Whoever knows her, gets their cold feet once she takes out her own sword."
"Yeah, a retired valkyrie would always be as scary as they'll ever be. Sometimes I am worried about Uncle Krone. Well that's all and done, I'm gonna go to the guild hall now."
"Alright kid, also those horns of yours once you transform, don't act like you're one of them. Demons, that is..."
"Don't mind me, mind your business especially people will be flooding in later in your tavern. Also, you need some help later?"
"I think I can do thi~"
The door opens widely and there stood two young girls infront of Darius. It was Tina and Thorein. They happened to be looking for some sweets around and they suddenly stumbled upon the area.
"Welcome young Ladi~"
"Woah a tavern!!! I've never seen one like this. Hey, hey Thorein, you've been into one of these?"
"It's also my first time mi'lady."
"Woah its so big!!! Wait, you are the one-horned balrog ealrier!!!"
Darius flinched as he heard that, even Rondo turned his back from his customers. After a few seconds, Darius continued walking towards the door but Tina blocked his way.
"Oy oy, tell me about your story balrog. Hehehe it would be nice to hear somethi~"
"What are you talking about, and also, who are you?"
Tina took a step back and clenched his fists.
"I am the respected princess of Alpine! Princess Tina Wallenrein II, don't you know that?!?!"
"Never heard of it."
"What?! Hey Thorein explain it to him."
"I can't do that mi'lady."
"Ehhhhh??? Come on now! Hmmp, whatever. Ignore him, I'll be coming for him later anyway. I will tell the guards to track him down anyway."
"Do as you please, princess of what-not."
"What did you say?!"
As soon as she turned around and look at Darius, he already left the tavern and went straight to the darkened alleys.
"Hmmp, he really is arrogant. I wished he just died earlier. Let's just buy the sweet cloud thing."
"Yes, mi'lady."
Both of them went to buy the sweets that they wanted to buy.
Darius went to stop by at the guard outpost headquarters and talked to Rain about the incident. He also took the tub orepared by the guards as Rain ordered them to do so.
"Hey Darius, you really went wild this time. Also thank you for protecting the princess. You've done a gr~"
"So that was the princess of this country huh? I thought she's 15 already. She's quite childish for her age."
"Atleast let me finish talking... Anyway, about the girl she saved, that girl was a priestess, a trainiee in fact. She was kidnapped as she ventured from the main church to this town. Good thing nothing happened to her during those time. The investigator took her in for body examination if she had any signs of abuse and... You know what I mean. "
"Yeah yeah, I get the point. So how's she doing now? She's sleeping in the bedroom set up by the vice captain. Hopefully she'll be waking up normally tomorrow. Also we found her belongings inside that abandoned tavern, she's lucky those bastards did not do anything about her stuff. I wonder why they did nothing to her."
"I heard them talking about selling her to a bourgeoisie before they died. She might be an important person. Just take of her while you're at it. Also don't do anything stupid old geezer, I've known you for two years."
"Hey hey, what the hell do you think I am. I might go to clubs and all but I won't do that to an innocent priestess. I'm an honorable captain."
As they talked about her, the priestess just looked up along the shady trees outside the window.
"Lord zues, thank you for saving me once again..."