A P H I A
"Please make one thousand bottles of potion, Lady Aphia," Erskine said before closing the door. He is in a hurry to meet his students. I sighed as I looked at the empty bottles of potion. Is there an easiest way to fill this bottle with a potion?
I fold the sleeves of my coat and start working my ass off. I open the cabinet to get herbs, but to my horror, I find it empty. I sighed as I grabbed the basket and dragged my feet out of the room. I need to go to the castle's backyard to gather some medicinal herbs.
As I walked along the corridor, I could see knights busy with their training and other mages busy with their training as well. This kingdom is honing its people's skills very well. "Oh, Lady Aphia." One of the farmers of medicinal herbs greeted me with a smile.
I look around the area, and my eyes widen in shock. "W-What happened?!" I shouted.
The farmer scratches his nape while smiling. "Great Sage Erskine's students picked all the available medicinal herbs."
"What the hell!? What am I supposed to use now?! Erskine asked me to make a thousand potions!" I stomp my foot multiple times like a whining kid.
The farmer chuckles at my action, and I pout my lips in annoyance. "We have another farm of medicinal herbs outside the castle." The farmer said, and I looked at him with twinkling eyes.
"Please tell me how to get there," I asked.
"Oh, no. You should not go there alone, priestess. One of us died while gathering medicinal herbs because of those monsters, so we had to stop going there." He explained.
"I would be fine. I can defeat those monsters. Besides, I really need the medicinal herbs for my potions. Please tell me how to get there." The farmer hesitated at first, but he still told me the details of how to get there.
I grabbed my hooded cloak first before heading out. "Where are you going?" I looked up and found Prince Kalmin standing on the branch of a tree.
"You look like a monkey over there." I teased him as I continued walking.
"People of my kingdom usually don't dare to ignore my question, Aphia." Prince Kalmin said as he followed me.
I roll my eyes at him. "I am not your people, your highness." I smiled mischievously at him. "I am your woman." He looked at me in shock, and I laughed at his reaction. "You are so easy to tease," I said.
He shakes his head while smiling. "You should be careful with your words, Aphia." I looked at him with a straight face. "Your words might come true." I looked at him in shock, and he smirked at me. "I don't mind you becoming my woman. My one and only woman." He winked at me.
"What the hell?" I uttered while looking at him. "Are you drunk?!" I shouted at him, but I felt my heart beating abnormally.
He laughs at me. "You started it." He said, and I realized it was revenge. "Your face is hilarious!" He added, and I hit him with my basket.
"Aren't you busy? Why are you following me?" I asked as we passed the gate of the castle. The guars bowed at Prince Kalmin.
"Answer my question first, Aphia. Where are you going?" He asked in a straight face.
I sigh while showing him the basket. "I will gather some medicinal herbs at the forest across the castle. Erskine asked me to make a thousand bottles of potion." I said, and he nodded.
"It is dangerous out there. Will you be fine?" He asked, and I looked at him in disbelief.
"You trained me to death, your highness. I can protect myself." I said proudly, and he smirked at me. I was about to cross the street when I heard someone call me.
"Aphia." I looked over my shoulder to see him, and I found Clovis walking towards us. "Your highness." He greeted Prince Kalmin before looking at me again. "Where are you going?" He asked as I noticed the girl behind him.
"I will gather medicinal herbs in the forest," I said while looking at the girl. She looked annoyed for some reason.
"Clovis, take me to the Capital City!" She shouted at him in annoyance.
"Tone down your voice, Serenity." Clovis scolded him. What a lovely name for someone with a pretty face.
"No! I want you to take me to the Capital City!" She whined like a kid. She is wearing a colorful gown with pink high heel shoes and a big pink ribbon on her hair. She likes bright colors.
"I'll go ahead," I whispered to Prince Kalmin, and he nodded while the two were still arguing.
"I will go with you." I stopped on my track when Clovis spoke.
"What?" I asked him in confusion. "Why?" The girl suddenly looked at me angrily.
"The forest is not a safe place for you to roam around freely. Let me protect you." He said, and I looked at him in shock.
"Clovis! Why?!" The girl shouted at him angrily, and I breathed out. "Go out with me!"
"C-Clovis, no need. I can protect myself." I said. "I think the girl with you needs you more than I do," I said as I chuckled awkwardly.
"I have a name! My name is Serenity!" She shouted before rolling her eyes at me.
"N-Nice to meet you, Serenity. I'm Aphia." I said while smiling at her.
"I apologize for her rude behavior, Aphia."
"It's fine, Clovis," I said while smiling at him.
"Please let me go with you, Aphia. I am not comfortable to see you go alone." Clovis said firmly before diverting his gaze to Serenity. "I will take you to the Capital City later, but I will accompany Aphia first." He said.
"I will go with you too!" She said as she clung her arm to Clovis. Clovis sighed in frustration. I don't think it is a good idea to tag them along. I think they will just argue while on our way to the farm inside the forest.
I started walking when someone snatched the basket from my grip. "What are you doing?" I asked Prince Kalmin.
"I am coming with you." He said that made me look at him in shock.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because I want to." He answered in a straight face. What is he up to? I told him that I could protect myself, so why is he tagging along as well?
Clovis and Serenity are following us while arguing. I wonder what their relationship is.
"Are they siblings?" I asked Prince Kalmin.
"Serenity is one of Clovis's childhood friends." He answered, and I nodded. "She likes Clovis so much to the point that she gets into a fight with other women in jealousy. You better look out for her sudden attack, Aphia." Prince Kalmin warned me, and I looked at him in disbelief.
"Why would she attack me? I have nothing to do with Clovis." I said, and he looked at me in disbelief before letting out a deep sigh. "What?" I asked.
"It doesn't matter since you are naïve and innocent." He answered.
"I am taking it as a compliment." Even though it feels not. "Why are you tagging along?"
"Because I wa—"
"Don't give me the same crap you said earlier, or else I'm gonna kick you," I warned him, and he gulped in fear.
"How dare you warn a crown prince?" He said.
"I don't give a crap about you being the crown prince." I countered, and he looked at me with a straight face.
"I don't know." He answered, and I looked at him in disbelief. "I know, but I don't want to say it." He said as he diverted his gaze away from me.
"Why? Is it embarrassing to say?" I asked, and I smiled at him.
He smirks at me. "You will feel awkward once you hear it."
"Me? I will feel awkward? Why?" I asked curiously.
"Will you stop asking? Look at where you are going, Aphia. You might trip over." He changed the topic, and I sighed in defeat.
"This forest looks different from what I've seen in our expedition." I looked around the area, and I felt strange about this place.
"So, you feel it too, huh." He said, and I looked at him in confusion. "This forest has magic."
"Really?! Wow!" I exclaimed.
"Some of the woods are alive. There are also magical creatures living here, so you better watch your steps, Aphia."
"What kind of magical creatures?"
"Dragon, unicorn, fairy, salamander, werewolf, and trolls." He said, and I looked at him in amusement.
"I haven't seen magical creatures yet, just monsters." Prince Kalmin told me more about the magical creatures while we were walking.
After half an hour, we finally reached the farm. "Wow!" I exclaimed as I looked at huge farmland filled with medicinal herbs.
Clovis and Prince Kalmin help me pick all the medicinal herbs available in the area. "Clovis, hurry up!" Serenity shouted while sitting on the stone. She is scratching her arms and legs because of insect bites. I think she is not used to this kind of environment.
"Are you alright?" I asked as I continued picking the medicinal herbs.
"I'm fine." He said before rolling her eyes at me.
I walk towards her and offer an herb. "Extract the juice from this herb and rub it on your arms and legs," I instructed, but she just stared at the herb. "Don't worry, it's not poisonous. It will help you get rid of the itchiness." I said while smiling.
"Take it, Serenity. She will never hurt you." Clovis said, and I was surprised to know that he trusted me. I smiled at him, and he smiled back. Serenity shot me with a death glare before grabbing the herb from my hand. She did what I told her to do, and I smiled at her.
I went back in picking the herbs when I felt someone poking my back. I turned around to see who it was, and I was startled to see a tiny creature smiling at me. "Aphia!" Prince Kalmin and Clovis hurriedly ran to my side.