- QUARIA, ROYAL PALACE -
The Princess's glowing blue eyes were still focused on Hielgan, and he could see that he had piqued her interest, but the question she had asked him lingered, and with a perplexed gaze he wondered in mind.
'What did she mean?'
Hielgan remained still as a rock trying not to agitate her attendants, but when the Princess reached her hand out towards Hielgan, Iben quickly went for his spear.
"Relax, he won't bite." The Princess immediately reassured him.
"Yes, your highness."
Iben returned to a relaxed posture as the Princess' palm rested on Hielgan's head. The Princess' hand brushed across Hielgan's crimson-colored hair and he could feel a wet trickling sensation, like warm water gently soaking the top of his head.
'It feels like water, but it's not. It's mana. Could it be the Princess? What is she trying to do?'
A flood of queries abashed Hielgan's mind, but he felt no threat from the Princess so he eased his mind and allowed her mana to flow freely, perhaps this would allow her to trust him more.
'So you are part of the ancient dragonkin.'
Hielgan felt the Princess' voice in his mind, there was no audible tone but he could tell it was her just from hearing her speak moments ago.
'How is this possible Princess? How can you speak in my mind?'
Even within his mind, Hielgan was left speechless. Awed by the presence of a Royal he could not help but express himself to the fullest, his instant admiration for the Princess was laid in plain sight.
'As long as my mana touches you, we can communicate without the need for speech.' The Princess explained to Hielgan telepathically.
'The Royals truly are incredible mortals.'
Hielgan's thoughts flowed out of control, but the Princess was able to read a few.
'Oh, flattery? No. Honest opinion… I see.'
The Princess' mental intrusion continued and she read through Hielgan's every thought like a book laid bare.
'So your grandfather was in the Royal Army and... You recently lost your father.'
Hielgan recalled memories of how his father had told him stories about the Royals and all the incredible abilities they possessed, which appeared to reflect the power of the divines.
'I am the only one left…'
The Princess felt a slight push back after Hielgan's last thought permeated through to her, and she began to feel the hold she had got on him begin to slip.
'It seems I overstayed my welcome.'
Hielgan immediately regained full control of his body the moment the Princess had taken her palm off of his head, surprised by Hielgan's formidable mental toughness the Princess smiled at him lightly.
'A mere touch from her was all it took for her to immobilize me? That is truly some incredible power.'
The Princess walked back to the entrance of the Royal Palace as her attendants followed close behind.
"Remain in the city. I shall summon for you soon."
The Princess quickly strolled through the large doors leaving Iben and his colleague back in their initial positions, guarding the way to the Royal Palace.
"It's rare for the Princess to come out, let alone speak to any outsiders," Iben remarked. "Seems she has taken a liking to you."
"Regardless, you can not stay here any longer."
The other guard pulled Hielgan to his feet and then nudged him in the direction facing Quaria.
"Go on."
- QUARIA -
Hielgan descended the colossal flight of stairs and headed back into the city, still shaken by the unexpected encounter with the Princess. Hielgan took the Princess' word and decided to find an Inn where he could afford to spend a few days as he waited for the Princess to summon him.
That evening, Hielgan settled himself in one of the local Inns, the place appeared rundown to the extent that the bed he had been given was rickety that it made creaking noises with the slightest movement.
"That's what I get for checking into a cheap Inn."
The night came quickly in Quaria, and Hielgan wondered if it was because he had gone farther south of Morland. The sunset in the hills outside Sigul took longer, and it was common to watch the sun slowly wink away as though it refused to set.
"The power to read minds."
The thought of winking reminded him of his sudden encounter with the Princess of Quaria, Hielgan still pondered on why her eyes appeared the way they had, a chromatic hue with a strange pattern on her iris.
'What other abilities could she possess?'
Hielgan sighed.
The city of Quaria was ruled by the descendants of Lazuriel, the younger brother of the great Emperor Gherial, whose descendants now rule over Moriandia the capital of Morland. The ancient texts state that Emperor Gherial and Lazuriel were blessed by Moria, and at the time of their passing that boon was multiplied among their children.
Hielgan wondered if power such as that could be attained by mere mortals, alas the Royals were far from ordinary and their power was limitless.
"Is that why they ruled over Morland? Certainly not, lest all mortals end up in chains.'
The possibility of an ordinary mortal misusing such power was boundless, Hielgan was content with what the Royals had accomplished with the power given to them by the divines, he marveled at how much control the Royals had on themselves and the mental strain it must have taken on them.
[Knock* knock* knock*]
Hielgan rose from his drowsiness abruptly, he had barely gone to sleep when someone came knocking on his door. Hielgan got up from his bed and walked to the door wondering who it could have been at this late hour.
"Who is it?"
Hielgan's hand rested on the door handle as he waited for a response from the other side of the door.
"It's the Innkeeper's assistant, I have a message for you."
The voice of a lady responded from the other side of the door, and after dousing Hielgan suspicions he decided to open the door. If this was a complaint from the Innkeeper, Hielgan had several complaints of his own.
"If it's the bed you are worried about-"
Hielgan suddenly froze in place at the sight of the figure standing before him, the same feeling he had all evening came pouring back into his body at the sight of those chromatic eyes.
"Hielgan."
"Princess!"
The Princess's words seemed to free him from the paralyzing grasp of shock, and without a second thought, Hielgan fell to his knees slamming them into the wooden floor.
"That sounded like it hurt, are you alright?"
"You humble me with your presence." Hielgan gazed straight into the Princess' eyes. "How can I be of assistance Princess?"
"Manners, Hielgan."
The chromatic glow in the Princess' eyes faded, realizing what had happened to him Hielgan pushed the door open and gestured for the Princess to come in.
"My sincerest apologies Princess, how careless of me."
Hielgan bowed as the Princess strolled in gracefully and watched her as she wandered around the room like she was looking for a place to sit, he kept the door ajar before the Princess turned to him.
"Are you waiting for someone?" The Princess asked with a perplexed expression.
Hielgan looked outside the door and seeing no one seemed to get confused further.
"What of your attendants?"
The Princess walked to the small window and peeked outside the window.
"I snuck out."
The Princess replied carefreely but seeing the nervous expression on Hielgan's face made the Princess sympathize with the young warrior aspiring to join the Royal Army. It would make for a treasonous tale if ever it was heard that the Princess once walked into his bed chamber.
The Princess smirked.
"Princess…"
"Worry not Hielgan, no one will know that I was ever here."
The Princess' gleeful expression faded as she finally sat on the same bed Hielgan had been resting on, he then noticed that the Princess had not changed the dress she had been wearing earlier as streaks of dirt plastered the bottom of the dress.
Despite his earlier outbursts outside the Royal Palace's gate, Hielgan found it difficult to speak to Princess freely anymore. Even though Hielgan's family had once been within the presence of the Royals, years of isolation had changed them drastically and they had become like ordinary mortals.
"What's that?"
The Princess noticed a peculiar handle sticking out from the bed covers, she pushed the leather wrap aside and unveiled two greatswords.
Hielgan watched quietly from a distance as the Princess unveiled his family sword Grimvyern.
"My grandfather's sword. It's all that's left of our family's legacy."
"You are part of that legacy too."
Hielgan felt a bulge in his throat, he could almost feel a gaping hole in his chest. He recalled how Grimvyern had dulled at the touch of his blood, this was when he made first contact with the sword.
"The sword sleeps, yes?"
"Indeed," Hielgan replied. "However, I wish to find it a worthy wielder."
"I see."
The Princess covered Grimvyern and proceeded to stand from the bed, her eyes remained fixated on the sword and for a moment her mind seemed to drift off.
"Princess- I mean your highness-"
"Princess. Is fine Hielgan."
"Yes, your high- Princess," Hielgan stammered. "What can I do for you?"