Deciding to sneak out of the palace once more to visit my three babies, I followed my usual routine. Skillfully navigating through the overgrown maze in the palace's backyard, I made my way to the wall and climbed over it just as I had done before.
At our usual meeting spot, I found Maverick waiting for me. I couldn't help but notice that both Maverick and his Gilcha lizard looked healthier since the last time I saw them. I climbed onto the compartment on the back of the Gilcha lizard, and we set off towards the residential area where the villa was located.
*
We arrived at the villa, where I found the three of them waiting outside. Their attempts at bowing were the clumsiest I had ever seen, and I couldn't help but stifle a laugh as I walked past them to enter the villa. Maverick decided to wait outside.
Inside, I made myself comfortable in the living area and sat down on one of the chairs, draping my cloak over it. The men stood awkwardly before me.
"How have you been?" I asked, breaking the silence. Silence persisted.
"Nikolai, come here," I motioned to him, and he approached, kneeling at my feet. I felt a rush of power head straight to my head, which I tried to ignore but a girl can get used to this. I lifted his chin to examine his face, noticing the slight improvements from eating healthier food. Lost in my scrutiny, I realized I had been staring a bit too long when I saw his face flush red. I released him.
"I see you've all been well," I said, clearing my throat slightly.
"Anyway, I'm here to give you something to do." They looked at me uncertainly.
"Relax, it's nothing too difficult. Every Monday evening, you'll have noble etiquette lessons. At some point, I may ask one of you to accompany me somewhere, and it would be unfortunate if you were not familiar with proper behavior."
I got up and motioned for them to follow me. We headed outside and climbed onto the Gilcha lizard.
"Where we are going, Niko and Haroun, you will not mention who you actually are. You are commoners and have no relation to me, understood?" I stated firmly.
"Yes, Your Highness," they responded in unison.
As we rode, the awkward silence filled the air. I hoped that one day we would be able to ride together and the journey would be filled with lively conversation.
*
After four hours of travel, we arrived at our first destination. I asked the men to wait inside the Gilcha lizard while I prepared for our meeting. Draping my cloak around me, I headed out with Maverick following closely behind.
In a secluded corner shrouded in shadows, an older man in his fifties was waiting. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting," I said politely.
"No need for apologies, my lady," the man replied with a slight bow.
I motioned for Maverick to hand the man a small pouch, which he eagerly checked. A smile crept onto his face, one that he tried unsuccessfully to hide. "He can start any day. Don't worry, my lady. I have everything sorted out," he assured me with another bow.
I gestured for him to follow me back to the Gilcha lizard, where Haroun was waiting. "Haroun," I called, and he emerged from the compartment to stand next to me.
"This is Elder Calein, the vice dean of one of the best Knight's academies in the capital," I introduced the man to Haroun.
"Pleasure to meet you," Haroun said with a clumsy bow.
"No need for formalities, my boy," Elder Calein chuckled, patting Haroun on the back and handing him a token. "Use this when you get to the academy."
Haroun looked flustered and dazed as Elder Calein took his leave. We returned to the compartment, where Haroun's companions were looking at him curiously.
I closed my eyes, allowing myself a moment of rest as the Gilcha lizard continued its journey. The weight of responsibility was heavy on my shoulders, but seeing the possibilities unfold for these young men made it all worthwhile.
*
Two hours later, we arrived at our next destination, and I disembarked with Maverick following closely behind, playing the role of my protective shadow. I couldn't help but chuckle at the image of him as a bodyguard.
We found ourselves in a small, secluded forest, a surprising oasis within the bustling city of Lumine. Leaning against a tree, I waited patiently, not needing to search.
"You have item," a voice suddenly said from the other side of the tree.
"You first," I replied, motioning for Maverick to step forward.
I heard the sound of clothes rustling as Maverick approached, and he handed me a token. I inspected it briefly, satisfied with its authenticity. In return, I retrieved an ancient-looking book from within my cloak. It was one I had "borrowed" from the palace library, knowing its value. I handed it to Maverick, who in turn presented it to the unseen man.
There was a startled gasp and the careful flipping of pages as the man examined the book. "It's been a pleasure," he said before suddenly disappearing into thin air. Mages, I thought to myself.
I close my eyes once again as we head towards another destination.
Back in the compartment of the Gilcha lizard, I handed the token to Niko. As he received it, the token began to glow softly in his arms, and he gasped in awe.
"Is this...?" Niko started, clearly overwhelmed.
"Yes, it took quite an effort to acquire that. If you want to thank me, just don't make me regret my decision," I said with a smile.
What I had given Niko was a token for the Tower of Magic, a coveted item that granted access to the prestigious tower. Getting into the tower was no easy feat, and it rarely happened without insider connections. Mages were known to keep to themselves, secluded within the confines of their tower.
I watched as Niko stared at the glowing token in a mixture of wonder and disbelief. It was a rare opportunity, and I hoped he would make the most of it.