The moon hung low in the night sky, casting a silver glow over the slumbering city as Azania snuck through the streets like a phantom in the night. Clad in a dark cloak, she navigated the alleys and deserted streets. She knew the risks of venturing beyond the city walls, but the call of the wild beckoned to her. As she rounded a corner, Azania nearly collided with a pair of guards. She pressed herself against the rough stone wall, holding her breath as they passed mere inches away from her hiding place.
"Did you hear something?" one of the Spunshi guards whispered. The Elven guard shook his head. "Probably just a stray cat," he replied dismissively. "Let's keep moving." As the guards continued on their patrol, the one who had whispered earlier couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. "You don't think it's the princess sneaking out again, do you?" he asked his companion in a hushed tone.
His partner let out a scoff. "Come on, not this again, Lars," he replied, rolling his eyes. "We've been over this. The princess wouldn't dare pull a stunt like that after what happened last time." Lars persisted, his curiosity piqued. "But you never know with her, Ogun," he insisted. "She's always been a bit rebellious, hasn't she?"
Ogun chuckled, shaking his head. "Rebellious is an understatement," he quipped. "But trust me, if Princess Azania was out here, we'd know about it. Besides, she's got better things to do than sneak out of the city in the middle of the night."
Lars grumbled something unintelligible under his breath but ultimately relented. "Yeah, yeah, you're probably right," he conceded. "Let's just keep an eye out for anything suspicious and get this patrol over with." Azania exhaled slowly, relieved that she had not been discovered.
"That was too close," she muttered to herself. "I can't afford to get caught sneaking out again, especially not after what happened last time."
Azania's thoughts drifted to the memory of her father's stern reprimand after her last escapade. The disappointment in his eyes had cut deep. "You are the future of our kingdom, Azania," he had said, his voice heavy with disappointment. "Your actions reflect not only upon yourself but upon our entire realm. You cannot continue to disregard your responsibilities in favor of reckless pursuits."
His words had struck a chord within her, reminding her of the burden of duty that she bore as a princess. Yet, despite his admonishment, a part of her had rebelled against the constraints of her royal status.
"I need this time alone, away from the suffocating confines of the palace walls." She reached the outskirts of the city, where the towering gates loomed ominously in the moonlight. With a quick glance over her shoulder to ensure she remained undetected, Azania slipped through a narrow gap in the gatehouse.
Beyond the city walls, the world opened up before her, a vast expanse of moonlit plains and forests stretching out to the horizon. The cool night air filled her lungs as she paused to catch her breath, her pulse racing with the exhilaration of her adventure. "I made it," she whispered to herself, a grin spreading across her face. "Now, to find that elusive prey."
Azania reached into her pouch and withdrew a crumpled piece of parchment, its edges worn from countless readings. Unfolding it carefully, she scanned the notes scribbled upon it, her brow furrowing in concentration. "Let's see... tracks indicate a small herd of deer passing through this area," she murmured to herself, tracing the map with her finger. "If I follow this trail into the forest, I should be able to intercept the Hellspawn Deer before dawn."
Satisfied with her plan, Azania refolded the parchment and stowed it back in her pouch. "Let's do this." With a determined nod, she set off towards the looming forest ahead. As she disappeared into the darkness of the woods, a figure perched atop the gatehouse observed her departure. The silhouette lingered for a moment, its gaze fixed upon Azania before disappearing into the night.
As Azania ventured deeper into the forest, her senses sharpened, attuned to the subtle sounds and movements of the nocturnal world around her. Each rustle of leaves, each whisper of the wind, spoke to her with the wisdom of years spent honing her skills under her father's tutelage. "Father always said that hunting is as much about patience and observation as it is about skill."
Her father, Kousaku Itsuhiko Amani, the Emperor of the Aurelius Empire, renowned throughout the kingdom as the "Echo of the Determination Soul Dragon," was a formidable fighter as well as a hunter in his own right. Under his guidance, Azania had learned the art of tracking and the importance of respecting the balance of nature.
"He used to say that the forest holds its own secrets," Azania recalled. "And it's our job to uncover them, to learn from them, and to ensure that the cycle of life continues." As Azania delved deeper into the forest, she approached a sturdy oak tree, its gnarled branches reaching towards the heavens. She pressed her palm against its rough bark, feeling the pulse of life thrumming beneath her fingertips.
"This should do," she murmured to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. With a flick of her left wrist, her bangle disappeared, summoning forth a one-handed shield called Day Break, one half of Aegis, her Tower Shield. With a swift strike, she marked the tree with a glowing sigil. "There," she said. "Now I won't lose my way." With a final glance at the marked tree, Azania turned her attention back to the task at hand as the trees rustled. "Maybe I should keep Day Break out; I never know what could jump out at me at any moment."
As Azania pressed on further into the depths of the forest, a faint sound reached her ears, drifting through the trees like a whisper on the wind. She paused, her senses on high alert as she strained to identify the source of the mysterious melody.
"What is that?" she murmured to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. The singing seemed to resonate with something deep within her. It was as if the forest itself was alive with music, beckoning her to uncover its secrets. The singing was unlike anything she had ever heard before, yet it felt so familiar – soft yet powerful, haunting yet beautiful.
For a moment, Azania allowed herself to simply listen, to lose herself in the beautiful melody that filled the night air. As it continued, Azania found herself instinctively beginning to sing along, her voice blending seamlessly with the melody as if the song itself was flowing through her. As she sang, she willed Day Break to return to its bangle form, the shield disappearing in a shimmer of light. Yet, her voice never wavered, the melody flowing effortlessly from her lips as she surrendered herself to the music of the forest.
As Azania lost herself in the melody, a sudden movement caught her off guard. With a swift, almost silent approach, a monstrous creature emerged from the shadows, poised to strike. Instinct kicked in, and Azania's heightened senses detected the impending danger just in time. With a sharp intake of breath, she snapped out of her trance, her focus sharpening as she reacted swiftly. In a split-second decision, she redeployed Day Break, summoning the shield to her left side, the direction of the incoming threat.
The creature lunged forward, its claws poised to tear through flesh. But Azania was ready, her shield intercepting the attack with a resounding clash. The force of the blow reverberated through her arm, but she stood her ground. "This singing… no doubt about it, It's a siren," she sighed before flicking her right wrist, the other bangle disappearing and it summoned forth another one-handed shield. This was her other shield called Night Stalker, the other half of Aegis.
As Azania fended off the creature's attacks with her shields, she stole a glance at her assailant. It was a Rime Hound, a twisted amalgamation of a wolf, ice scales, and curse magic, its eyes gleamed with a predatory hunger. Yet, despite its monstrous appearance, Azania couldn't help but wonder why it hadn't been entranced by the siren's song like she had.
"Strange..." she muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with confusion. "Why isn't it affected by the siren's melody?" The creature snarled as it launched another assault, its movements relentless and savage. Azania gritted her teeth as she focused on defending herself against the onslaught. With each strike, she analyzed her opponent's movements, searching for weaknesses to exploit.
"It doesn't matter," she thought. "I'll deal with the Rime Hound first, then I can worry about the siren." With a swift and decisive motion, she countered the creature's attack, driving it back with a forceful blow from Night Stalker. As the Rime Hound stumbled back from Azania's blow, she seized the moment to take action. She channeled some of her magic into both Night Stalker and DayBreak, causing them to magnetize together. The two shields merged seamlessly, forming Aegis, her Tower Shield.
With Aegis in hand, Azania advanced on the Rime Hound. She charged headfirst into the monster with all her might, the force of the blow sending the creature staggering further back. As the Rime Hound struggled to regain its footing, Azania pressed her advantage.
"Looks like you picked the wrong forest to hunt in," Azania quipped as she stood over the wounded Rime Hound. With a swift and decisive motion, she bashed the hound with Aegis again, ending the creature's suffering. As the Rime Hound lay motionless at her feet, Azania knelt beside the fallen creature, her expression softening slightly as she paid her respects to the fallen foe. "It wasn't personal," she murmured.
Azania carefully inspected the fallen Rime Hound, her keen eyes scanning its ice-covered fur and jagged claws. She noted several intact scales and sharp fangs that could potentially be salvaged for crafting or alchemical purposes. "Let's see what we have here," she mused aloud, reaching into her pack to retrieve a small dagger. With precise cuts, she carefully removed the creature's scales, pelt and extracted its fangs, mindful not to damage the valuable materials.
"These should fetch a decent price at the market," she remarked, examining the pelt she had taken from the hound. "Perhaps I can use the fangs and claws to craft some new equipment, but I may need Lysandra's help though."
Azania's gaze lingered on the Rime Hound's carcass, a pang of disappointment tugging at her heart. "It's a shame I can't salvage the meat," she muttered to herself, her voice tinged with regret. "But considering it wasn't affected by the siren's song, it's likely cursed."
She recalled her father's teachings about the dangers of cursed creatures lurking in the depths of the forest. Consuming their flesh could lead to dire consequences, from debilitating illness to even death. "Better to be safe than sorry," she reasoned, reluctantly accepting the necessity of leaving the meat behind.
With a resigned sigh, Azania focused her attention on the materials she had salvaged, carefully bundling them together and securing them in her pack. "I'll have to find another source of sustenance," she mused, her mind already turning to her next course of action. "But for now, I should focus on returning to the city before dawn breaks."
Her thoughts drifted back to the mysterious siren's song that had captivated her earlier. Despite her curiosity, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the depths of the forest. The siren's song, the Rime Hound encounter, screamed unsafe to her. Even with her experience hunting, this would be too much for just her. "It's too risky to stay out here any longer," she murmured to herself, her voice carrying a note of resignation. "I'll have to come back another time."
A voice, deep and resonant, cut through the stillness of the night. "Giving up already?" it inquired. Azania shook her head, "Not at all dad, I just thought that it wasn't a good idea to continue even…" Startled, Azania turned around to find her father standing right behind her, his form illuminated by the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the trees.
"Father!" Azania exclaimed, her mind raced as she struggled to come up with a plausible explanation. "Give up? I... I thought I heard something interesting out here and wanted to investigate. Yeah! That's it! I heard something out here, and I thought it was a good idea to investigate before the adventurers get to it."
Kousaku regarded her with a stern expression, his gaze penetrating yet unreadable. "Azania," he said, his voice tinged with disappointment. "How many times must I lecture you about the dangers of sneaking out of the city alone?"
Azania's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she lowered her gaze, unable to meet her father's eyes. "I... I'm sorry, Father," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble. I just wanted... I just wanted to..." Kousaku's expression softened slightly as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Azania, you must understand that your safety is my utmost priority," he said, his voice gentle yet firm. "I cannot allow you to put yourself at risk like this, especially without proper supervision. What the hell were you even hunting?"
Azania winced at her father's disappointment, but before she could respond, his gaze shifted past her. Following his line of sight, she turned to see the poached Rime Hound lying on the forest floor behind her. She felt a sinking feeling in her stomach as she realized she had been caught red-handed.
Kousaku raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "What's this, then?" he asked, gesturing towards the fallen creature. Azania's heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to come up with an explanation. "I... I was hunting a Hellspawn Deer," she admitted reluctantly, her voice tinged with guilt. "I know I shouldn't have come out here alone, but I thought I could handle it."
Kousaku regarded her with a mixture of amusement and concern. "Hunting, hmm?" he mused, his smirk widening slightly. "Well, you certainly seem to have made quite the odd catch. It's not the target you were looking for but taking down a Rime Hound by yourself is impressive. At your age, I was still struggling to do that myself." He smiles as he lightly pushes one of her necklaces. "I see that Invective is doing its job of protecting you."
Azania's fingers instinctively traced the pendant hanging from her neck, a gift from her father that she treasured dearly. "I never take it off, Father," she admitted. "I do hate how long it is, but ever since you gave it to me, it's... it's always felt like a part of me." Kousaku regarded her with a curious expression, his brow furrowing slightly in contemplation. "Hmm, that's interesting," he remarked, though he decided to set aside his thoughts for the moment. "We can discuss it later. For now, what do you want to do? Do you wish to continue the hunt, or shall we return home?"
Azania hesitated, torn between her desire to prove herself and her father's concern for her safety. After a moment of deliberation, she made her decision. "I want to go home," she said finally. "I've had enough excitement for the day. Besides, I could use some rest." Kousaku nodded in understanding, "Very well, my dear," he said. "Let's head home. We can always come back another time, together."
As they made their way back towards the city, Kousaku's form began to shift and contort, his features morphing into those of a majestic Lindwrym. He lowered himself to the ground, allowing Azania to climb onto his back. As they traversed the forest, Kousaku's massive form glided effortlessly through the dense foliage, his scales gleaming in the moonlight. Azania clung tightly to his back, feeling the steady rhythm of his movements beneath her.
"So, what did you manage to salvage from that Rime Hound?" Kousaku's deep voice rumbled through the night air. Azania shifted slightly, reaching into her pack to retrieve the items she had collected. "I managed to get some intact scales, fangs, and claws," she replied, holding them up for her father to see. "I thought they might be useful for crafting or alchemy." Kousaku nodded in approval. "A wise choice," he remarked. "You have a keen eye for valuable materials, my dear. Perhaps we can work on refining your skills in the future."
Azania glanced down at her father, "Father," she began hesitantly, "there's something I need to tell you." Kousaku regarded her with a curious expression. "What is it, Azania?" he asked, his voice tinged with apprehension. Azania took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to say. "I've been thinking a lot lately about my role as princess," she admitted. "And... and I've come to a decision." Kousaku's gaze softened as he listened intently.
"I... I've decided to abdicate the throne," Azania said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I believe that Lysandra would make a better ruler than I ever could. She's wise, compassionate, and truly cares about the well-being of our kingdom." Kousaku's eyes widened in shock as he processed Azania's revelation. "Abdicate?" he exclaimed as he stopped moving. "What do you mean, abdicate? You're the heir to the throne, Azania! It's your duty, your responsibility to rule the kingdom after I'm gone!"