"Well if it isn't the Sacred Mage Herself."
Audrey looked at the woman, giving a kind smile.
"Hello Serene." Audrey smiled.
Kaine walked up to his wife and gave her a one armed hug, and a chaste kiss on the cheek.
"I see you're fairing well." Audrey noted. Glancing quickly at the slightly bloated belly Serene sported.
"Oh yes." Serene smiled. "I'm only a few months along. But Kaine's certain she's a girl."
"Call it... future fathers intuition." Kaine said, gently rubbing the belly.
"You've called in proper healing mages and doctors correct?" Audrey asked wearily. "I don't want a repeat instance of Ramones brat."
"Isn't that brat the first to pass your magic test?" Reind asked with a grin.
"Shut it you oaf." Audrey said. "You're lucky we're in a gala. Otherwise I'd have sent you flying for that."
"Yes," Reind laughed. "Lucky me."
"So~" Serene asked. "Have you found someone you're deeply in love with yet Audrey?"
"Of course I haven't." Audrey said. "That'd just get in the way of my studies. I can already tell how much of a headache your brats gonna be with him as the father."
"H-Hey?!" Kaine said. "I'll have you know"
"He's gonna be a great father." Serene said with a giggle.
"We can only hope." Reind joined in on the teasing.
"Excuse me?"
All four of them turned around and faced one of the royal Knight.
"Yes?" Reind asked.
"Ms. Audrey." The Knight said. "The king has requested your presence in his study."
As the four of them went to walk the Knight elaborated.
"Alone." He said.
"Of course." Kaine said playfully, rolling his eyes. "Go get your special awards or whatever."
Audrey nodded silently and followed The Knight.
______
"Well it seems the party is going to begin quite soon." The hooded figure said.
"Just give me the word." Chimera said, sitting on a tree branch bored.
"Not quite yet Chimera." The hooded figure watched from below. "We have to wait for the King's grand speech."
______
"Ramone." Audrey said as she entered his study.
"Ah Audrey." Ramone smiled. "How are you today?"
"I'm annoyed at you." Audrey said. "Why am I here? You never invite me to these?"
"Please." The king said gesturing to a seat. "Sit down Audrey. We have much to discuss... Before it's to late."
"...?" Audrey nodded and sat down opposite of the king. "What's got your hair in a twist Ramone?"
"... I'm going to be killed today." Ramone answered.
Audrey paused.
"...Is it a set event?" She asked. She forced her hand to not shake.
"No..." Ramone said.
Audrey let out a breath of relief.
"But it's unfortunately the best of what twenty outcomes I could see."
Audrey froze.
"Someone is after your daughter." Audrey said.
"Yes." Ramone said. "He has access to levels of magic... that could rival your own if left unchecked."
"I... see." Audrey said. "What do you need me to do Ramone?"
"Firstly... have a drink with me." He said. He pulled out a bottle of whiskey. "I may be king... But even I fear my own death. Let's put a little liquid courage in the mix."
"You know that won't do anything for me right?" Audrey asked. Suppressing a small hiccup.
Ramone smiled, sliding a glass over. "Then do it for my pride yeah?"
"...Sure." Audrey said. Picking up the glass and downing it as quickly as she could.
She coughed a couple of times as the heat trickled down her throat.
She looked up.
And stopped.
Ramone was smiling at her.
God she hated that smile.
"It makes me feel a sense of pride, looking at you now." Ramone said. "I always knew I'd be able to rely on you Audrey."
"...Yeah... I guess." Audrey mumbled.
"Look at you." He said. "From a six year old with to much magic... To someone who holds the title as the strongest mage in the land. I feel like I'm the father of Two mages."
Audrey bit her lip.
"Don't say stupid shit like that." She mumbled. "Not when you're gonna die."
"I suppose it is a bit late to admit to that." Ramone said with a sigh. "I honestly wish I could have seen you grow up just a little bit more."
"..." Audrey looked at her hands. "What do I need to do to save the Princess?"
"I need you to take her out of the country." The king said, turning serious. "Make her as strong as you possibly can. She'll need to support the country as it's queen when she's old enough."
"...So back to being an outlaw?" Audrey asked.
"I suppose you will." The King said.
"And the others?" Audrey asked.
"They must not know about this." The king said. "Not now. Not until whoever is pulling the strings reveals themself."
"...You're daughter will hate me." Audrey said. "She'll know I would have been able to save you... I can't hide that from her."
"Just give it time." Ramone said. "She'll look up to you like a bigger sister I know it."
"You're magic tell you that?" Audrey asked, feeling a slight bit of amusement in the sober moment.
"Call it... Father's Intuition." Ramone said. "Now... I've already had a rucksack prepared for you and Ralline. And be ready for a fight." He gestured to two packs off to the side of the room. One large and the other a bit smaller.
"Understood sir." Audrey said.
Standing up she Snapped her fingers and the rucksacks floated into the air.
"Audrey." The king said as she opened the door to leave.
"Yes...?" She asked.
"This is my last order to you as your King." He said seriously. "Survive."
"I will Sir." Audrey said, the door closing behind her.
"I sincerely hope you do." Ramone Mars said. Standing up and pulling on his Royal cloak. "Otherwise... The future I foresaw will come to pass."
He looked out of his study's window and watched the sun nearly fully set.
"And this kingdom will fall in the name of the Devils."
______
"It's time." The hooded figure said.
"Perfect." Chimera said leaping off of the tree and grabbing into the stone of the castles wall. Quickly climbing up the side, leaving gouges as he went.
"It's time for a new age." The hooded figure said.
______
Audrey walked through the hallways, Locking on to the magical energy that seemed to waft through the air.
She walked towards a door and opened it.
"Ralline." She said.
"H-Huh?" The red haired girl looked at her puzzled. "YOU!"
"Yep." Audrey said. "I'm taking you now."
"W-What?!" Ralline said. "I'm supposed to go to the Gala?"
"The Gala's been canceled." Audrey said. "Someone's out to kill you. Your father asked me to start your training early."
"Where's Father?" Ralline asked.
"He's going to be confronting them." Audrey said. "Dress for a hike."
"You can't just..."
"I can." Audrey said. "Dress for a hike. I'll fill you in on everything else later."
"...Okay?" Ralline said.
Walking over to her Wardrobe, she pulled out some more comfortable clothing. "I was wondering why Father bought these for me..." She muttered.
Audrey ignored the squeeze her heart felt at the sentence.
Ralline changed surprisingly quickly.
"Alright let's go." Audrey said.
"Um... okay..." Ralline said as Audrey led her out of the room.
Taking her hand, Audrey led Ralline towards an open balcony.
Opening the door, Audrey paused as she felt something odd about the magic in the air.
"Stand back." Audrey ordered.
Ralline looked at her confused as Audrey pulled her staff off of her back.
"Show yourself." Audrey commanded.
The balcony was suddenly occupied by a man.
"An Anima?" Ralline asked confused.
"Be careful." Audrey said. "And just watch from behind me." She twirled her staff, mana nearly exploding from her body. "I'm going show you what I'm going to mold you into."
"Like hell!" The Anima said. He raced forward, only to be met by a barrier. He raised his hand and tiger like claws formed, slashing down Audrey felt magic power in his claws as it slashed through the barrier.
Ralline watched amazed as Audrey tapped her staff on the ground. The ground started to bubble and morph and turn into mud.
The Anima's foot was trapped as she turned the ground solid once more.
"Nice try." The Anima said. As his foot seemed to dislocate itself and he pulled it out of the ground.
"You're no normal Anima are you?" Audrey said. "You're quite skilled."
"Thanks for the compliment," The anima said. "But I still need to kill that brat behind you."
"You'll get no chance to do so." Audrey said, as her staff spun. "Craft weaving..."
The mana weaved around Audrey's body and shot towards the Anima who had no route of escape. Sparks echoed through the magic as it ignited and seared into the Anima, causing him to scream as he tried to break out of the Tangible magic.
"Die." Audrey said. As a spear of pure white flames formed above her and stabbed deeply into the Anima's chest.
The Anima gave one final scream as his life faded.
Audrey threw the body and turned towards Ralline. "We need to go. The Knights would have heard that."
"Y-You just killed him..." Ralline said, eyes widened.
"Ralline." Audrey said, gently grabbing the shoulders of the youth. "You need to listen to me. We are in danger if we stay here. We need to go."
"...A-Alright." Ralline said as Audrey led her to the balcony. "H-How do we get down?"
"We jump." Audrey said.
"...What?"
Picking her up, Audrey dived off the balcony.
The Knights arrived just in time to see them fall.