"I didn't know there were wildesvolk like that!" The princess stares excitedly at Freund, her mouth open in amazement.
"And they are vicious like no other! thankfully they prefer hunting the horsemen more than our heavily armored men and women at the border, so it's usually a very boring place" The large man answers, stroking his mustache with one hand.
The princess rushes forward and steps on the open garden, the light of the sun invading the ample space filled with benches, many well-cared for bushes, flowers, and vines growing on lone white pillars along with a few round small tables.
She takes a deep breath lets the smell of wet roses, the servants having taken care of them earlier that morning.
Lioth turns around, smiling joyfully at Freund who can't help but give her a lazy smile of his own.
"There sure are a bunch of stairs in this place, I'm surprised that with that dress you are not tired at all after dragging us running to here, princess" He takes out a small red napkin and cleans the sweat off his forehead "I know I'm old but even Nett is beaten, and he is training daily to become a knight!" He hits the young teen on his back.
"Y-You are impressive, my princess" Nett struggles to speak, compared to the other two, he is visibly exhausted and tries to cool his sweaty face with his hand blowing wind to it.
"I'm just used to running around" She says shily, her cheeks red and eyes wide looking at her white shoes.
"Well, we are here!" The loud words of Freund sound all over the garden as he stretches both arms forward and steps into the garden "This place sure is pretty, now, wanna hear about the time I first got my hammer?"
The princess eyes practically shine brighter than the sun as she furiously nods at the large man. He opens his mouth to speak but someone else's voice speaks first.
"I'm sorry the tale will have to wait, my princess. Captain Freund and I have to discuss matters of the crown" Edel said saluting the young girl with as much respect as possible, his squire, Adler, astounded at the sight of the princess, took a few seconds and many consecutive blinks before saluting herself.
"What?!" Lioth shouts with extreme displeasure, almost like a whine.
"Once again, I'm sorry, but tonight he will be joining you for the visit to the duke of Bogenfeil, you will be able to spend as much time as you want with him then, my princess" Edel says walking up to the garden, the nervous squire following him close behind.
Lioth looks incredulously at him before turning to see Freund.
"He is right, I too feel bad our chat will be cut short, but my duty is first, I will snatch you away tonight at that boring castle, alright?" Freund says whispering near her ear. Being so tall his back is forced into an almost seventy-degree angle.
"Alright!" She says, her cheeks inflated and pouting "But Nett stays with me!" She adds pointing at the young teen who almost jumps in place.
"I guess it's better that way, right?" Freund asks looking at Edel, who nods.
"If it wouldn't be a bother, I would like to leave my squire with you too, my princess" He says taking a step to the side and gently pushing the frozen girl ahead who looks at him frightened, then at the princess, and then back at him "I'm sure she could make a good company, despite her unrefined attitude"
"Sure!" Lioth then runs to Adler and grabs both of her hands in hers, the face of the blonde girl exploding in a bright red in an instant "I don't have many friends without a sausage anyways" She says giggling and pulling the nerve-wreck of a squire back to where Nett is standing.
"Hohoho, Princess Lioth! What tavern did they picked you up so I send you back?!" Freund says after a short gasp and playfully pulling her ear once she is close enough.
"S-Sorry, the guards speak too much sometimes" She says doing a quick curtsy at him before walking up to Nett and rushing deeper inside the garden with him and Adrel to her sides, her guards keeping a larger distance away from her now that they are inside the palace.
"Tell me in detail" Edel says walking up to Freund, whose smile drops and posture straighten as he turns to face the High General of the Red Kingdom "What did you found in Eversmile?"
Freund sticks his hand inside his pocket and pulls out an iron necklace, burnt marks still present on most of its surface. Hanging from it, the symbol the phantom had on his chain.
"So! How is the life of a squire, Nett?" The princess asks with her joyful grin facing down at her feet, she is jumping on the largest cobblestones she finds on the paths of the garden, the two squires imitating her from behind like a line of ducklings.
"W-Well, a lot of workouts, practicing with the sword, cleaning, reading-" Nett slips but manages to remain in balance before the groaning princess makes him stop what he was saying "My life as a squire is not too interesting"
His eyes widen as the scorching heat and the sickening stench of the burning flesh return to his mind. The screaming of the men he knew, the lifeless stares of the haunting corpses that almost ended his life. He loses his footing and slips, Adrel swiftly moving to the side instead of catching him, so he crashes on his back.
"Are you alright?" Lioth asks turning around and holding her hand at the young teen on the ground, who shakes his messy head and accepts the help "For a squire, you need better balance" The princess then laughs and helps him to his feet, then looks at Adrel "What about you? Also, if you call me princess I cut off your head" She says suddenly looking serious and pointing at her.
"Are you sure my-"Adrel stops and glances at a nearby white guard, its penetrating gaze sending a shiver down her spine, then she looks back at the princess "My future queen?"
"That's WORSE! Call me Lioth!" She demands folding her arms on her chest.
"Fine, L-Lioth" Adrel clenches with her hands the skirt of her dress and finds it difficult to hold the stare of the princess.
"Perfect! Now tell me! How is your life as a squire?" Adrel seems to change some of her embarrassment for genuine excitement as she leans closer to Lioth, making the young princess eager to listen to her.
"The King's tent is always so guarded and mysterious, but sometimes when you listen very carefully you can hear him talk with the other generals!!" Adrel exclaims euphoric at the unimpressed princess.
"I don't wanna hear about my father! Tell me something about the frontlines of the war! or the scaly men!"
"L-Lizardmen" Nett added cautiously, his voice too soft for any of the two loud girls to listen.
"Oh, I don't know" Adrel shrugs causing the princess to loudly sigh in defeat "That peasant I have for a knight only tells me to care for his swords, write for him, the stuff of servants, and scribes! I can't believe he was the only one willing to take me in as his squire! Truly the light shines dimmer on my path, hmph!" She complains fixing her dress, a little too big for her.
"But, shouldn't you be grateful he wanted you to be a squire? My knight, captain Freund, said to me once that a knight chooses a squire when they see in the child something of themselves" Nett tries to calm down the blonde girl, however, this only seems to enrage her further.
"Of course everything he says sounds amazing! Do you know what I hear from my KNIGHT?! SILENCE, GO TRAIN, SHARPEN MY SWORDS" She says the last few words trying her best to imitate the high general, causing the princess to laugh.
"He sounds like that! He is the most boring person I've ever had the displeasure to meet!" Lioth joins in receiving nods from Adrel "He is too strict! and I know he treats Das badly!"
"Who is Das?"Adrel asks leaning closer to the princess, her earlier caution seemingly gone.
"You don't know?! He is the archmage!"
"Arch-what? Never heard of it" Her reply causes the princess to gasp dramatically.
"He can shoot fireballs and rain hellfire down on his enemies at will!" Lioth tries to pretend to have a staff and acts out the actions described, Adrel staring at her with squinting eyes.
"That sounds more like I a demon"
"There are some books that link them to demons" Nett murmurs while the two girls fail to hear him.
"FORBIDDEN!" Lioth exclaims leaning so close to Adrel's face she has to lean back"You are forbidden from ever comparing Das to a demon!"
The livid princess points threateningly at Adrel who furiously nods, calming down the young princess who leans back and sulks.
"I wanted to hear uncle's great adventures~ Now that boring general will surely keep him busy all day until I have to visit that stupid DUKE!" Lioth kicks a rock that hits a nearby bush, rustling its tiny leaves "I don't even know anyone there" She mutters under her breath.
"I too will be going there tonight" Adrel says pointing at herself innocently, but noticing the princess only stares at her in confusion she clarifies "Aren't we friends now?"
"Yes! Yes, we are!" Lioth says with a beaming smile as she grabs Adrel's hands on her own, the young squire giving her a smile of her own.
"I-I too will be going" Nett whispers at the chuckling teens, this time they do hear him. Their faces grimacing after silently staring at him for a few seconds "W-What?" Embarrassed, he takes a step back as the two girls get uncomfortably close to him.
"With this hair?!" Lioth asks pointing at the unkempt mess on his head.
"And those clothes don't even fit you!" Adrel joins grabbing the collar of Nett and pulls him even closer to her, making the already blushing squire get even more red" You train? Your arms are squishy and thin!"
Both girls then step back and think to themselves, only to look at each other, an almost malevolent smile growing from ear to ear as if their minds had become one for a brief moment.
"Say, Lioth. Your bedroom happens to be close?" Adrel asks firmly grabbing one arm of the nervous squire.
"No, but we can borrow one of the guest rooms" Lioth replies grabbing Nett's other arm.
"L-Lioth?! Adrel?!" Nett tries to break free but it's useless as both girls drag him somewhere deeper inside the palace, their mischievous giggling filling the empty garden.
Edel carefully inspects the object in his hands, while Freund had told him and confirmed the story of Das.
"It's similar to the symbol of the one faith, but upside down. I and my men found it among some of the corpses"
"The bandits I suppose"
"Yes, and one villager" This catches Edel's attention, who stores the necklace in a tiny leather bag on his belt "Adult, seemed elderly, maybe male. That was as much as we could guess from the remains"
"I understand you found a survivor, the same the mage brought here"
"Yes but-" Freund flinches for a second "Sorry, no buts. We found her beneath the palace, she seemingly had been hidden there by the priests by force, since she wanted to stop the slaughter on her own, she is a priestess"
"I know that already" Edel eyes him suspiciously "Is there something else I should know?"
Freund recalled how calm and collected was the stranger when she was presented to him the day she was found. She had given her full name and didn't seem shaken or even mildly upset by what happened, although that could have also been due to the shock of everyone she knew being cut like pigs and burnt like trash.
It was her eyes.
The eyes of someone that carries a heavy burden, a stare longing for some type of rest. He thought that working as a priestess along with what had happened should be enough to break anyone's will. He understood what it felt like to fail at something you dedicated your entire life to.
So he let her go when she requested it, she seemed healthy and competent enough, but the way she acted when he saw her with Das, he brushed it off at that moment but now it was bothering him. He would have to seek answers from the young archmage soon.
"I didn't expect to see her here, the survivor I mean. With how fragile her mind seems to be, I doubt anything there will be of aid to us"
Edel held his stare for a few more seconds, but it was not something easy, as the eyes of Freund were as charged with authority as his and he almost blinked. Deciding it would be best to drop the matter before being defeated by him, he nods.
"Very well. I will have the priests in the city have a look at this amulet" Edel then takes out a pocket watch and checks the time "I have many tasks to complete before we travel to Bogenfeil, so I will leave as soon as my squire returns with the princess"
"About that" Freund says, looking at the three teens approaching through the garden, dragging Nett along like if he was a prisoner ready to be executed, and he struggled like one too "I guess that is now, then" The large man covers his mouth with one hand, trying hard to not burst out in laughter.
Edel looks to his right and sees the princess and his squire dragging Nett, dressed up in one of the many dresses of the princess, his hair neatly done and make-up. He looks like he is about to cry.
"He is ready to go, uncle!" Lioth pushes the squire at the large man and throws a loud and almost screeching laugher.
"She is so pretty! Wouldn't you want her as a mistress?!" Adrel asks at Edel who looks at her with absolute hostility and yet, she has a high-pitched and hysterical laugher while shaking the young teen from his shoulders.
"C-Captain" Nett murmurs looking up at his knight hoping for a rescue, ironically, just like a damsel in distress "S-She is the princess, I couldn't say no" His soft voice is barely perceptible, crushed beneath the loud laugher of the two girls next to him.
"Please, Lioth, spare my squire" Freund can barely manage to say those words out loud, bending his knees and not looking at the almost mentally destroyed squire of his.
"Fine! Fine! Come, we will get you some really good clothes, I swear" Lioth grabs one arm of Nett and pulls him to her again "Come, Adrel!"
"With pleasure!" The young replies, tears in her eyes and cheeks red, she grabs one arm and pulls too.
Soon the three are gone again, leaving the two men alone once again. Freund, on the verge of tears himself, while Edel only seems, extremely disappointed in his young squire.
"Ahh~ Being young" Freund says as he stands straight once again, a warm, long smile on his face as he watches the tree teens leave the garden.
"She has to grow up already" Edel says out loud and watches the tree friends make their exit.
"Oh come on, your squire won't be this young her whole life, let her enjoy the youth!"
"I was talking about the princess"
"Oh" Freund plays with his mustache, returning his eyes to Edel once the garden is once again empty "She has a great responsibility ahead of her, that much is undeniable, but, I hope she gets to enjoy this last carefree year of her life as much as she wants"
"Hm, either way, I will leave to fulfill my duties now. Would you tell my squire to train until I go see her?" Edel says as he begins walking pass Freund.
"Wait" He places a hand on his sholder once they are side to side "What do you say if we share a nice glass of wine in the garden? It's been a long time since we last did something like that"
"I just told you I'm busy, Freund"
"Come on, spoil your old knight, I wanna know what is the life of my once squire" Freund taps Edel's shoulder a few times, his welcoming and amicable smile so honest, that the high general can only sigh.
"Fine, I will call one of the servants" Edel turns around and looks for someone to bring the wine.
"Perfect" Freund says as he begins walking towards the garden, until he feels Drachen paainfully bite his chest, remembering that she had stuck with him all this time, and he was fully aware why would she do that "In fact!" He turns and faces Edel once more "Why don't YOU bring the wine and glasses? Like when you were my squire? for old time's sake"
"Because I'm no longer fifteen? In fact, my rank is higher than yours"
"Just this once, make me go back to my younger days, what do you say?"
Edel looks at Freund, his stern look slowly relaxing, an annoyed, but friendly smile grows on his face, small and simple, yet honest.
"Two bottles, right?"
His answer makes Freund smile even wider, cheerfully looking at his friend with enough warm to melt the icy exterior of the high general.
"I'm a big man, ain't I?" He then has a heartfelt laughter and slaps the back of Edel, with enough strenght to push him forward.
Edel simply shakes his head and begins walking away, his relaxed face soon returning to his usual, annoyed or mildly inconvinienced look he has.
Freund watches him go and for a moment, he can see the young teenager who struggled carrying his armor the very first days he accepted him as his squire.
But the visage is brief, and fleeting, as the small fairy crawls out of his doublet and sits on his shoulder, her ears down as well as her head.
"It's about Vater, right?" Freund asks, looking at Drachen, who slowly nods.
Freund looks up, the light entering thorugh the garden without roof, he can see the clouds in the sky and he almost hears the voice of his best friend, of the man he considers his brother.
"Let's go to the sea! Freund!" The childish voice of the previous archmage, the father of Das, back when they were both children, is still as clear as the sky above him.
His chest hurts.