Beams of light shined down onto the dirt road. Dust kicked up from the herd that carried the researchers and expeditionists. Thick and dark fog could be seen over the horizon, the smoke wafting and radiating a heat. Eoviet had to rub his forehead, the bright lights and heat were not something he was used to. His head felt heavy and his mouth felt dry, even after several sips of his water. Water that he had noticed was far leas fresher or cooler than the enchanted water in his kingdom. There were a lot that these people have that his kingdom could only dream of having but the things they do have, makes him miss his home.
Such as the fresh water from the abyss lake, he never realised just how fresh and cool that water was until he didn't have it. Now he was stuck with still and bland water. "It's still water" Eoviet thought, taking another sip and wishing for a cooler drink. "Just not as good" he commented, giving a quick pet to Autumn as he walked. One thing he noticed differently between Autumn and the other horse he rode yesterday, was that Autumn doesn't need steering. "It may just be because his owner is in the carriage" Eoviet guessed, focusing on his balance as the horse followed the group.
All the others had their hands on the rains, steering and in constant control over their mounts. Eoviet thought it was too much of a hassle, so long as the horse knew where to go, he saw no need to keep steering. Autumn huffed and swished his tail, his snout huffing at the ground as he licked his lips. "Thirsty?" Eoviet guessed. When he spoke the horse lifted his head, his ears strianed to listen to him.
"I wouldn't be surprised" one of the guards spoke beside him, "the sun is harsh today".
Eoviet nodded in an agreement as the guard slashed some of his water over his forehead. "So what's your deal?" The guard asked, causing the small Prince to raise an eyebrow.
"Sorry?" Eoviet asked, a slight confusion forming. The guard chuckled in an amusement but then elaborated.
"I mean, we all heard a few rumours of you" he shrugged, "the first being that the Princess found you during a hunting trip. Another being that you were some victim from a monster and another being you came to Vallendrconis to seek out Toney".
"Oh" Eoviet chuckled back softly, "well, in a way they are all true" he explained. "You know about the flying monster that can breath fire? Well that thing took out my whole village" he lied but after using it over and over, it become more and more natural for him.
"It did? Sorry to hear, did you have a girl back home?" The guard asked with a softer tone, his eyes showing a pity. Eoviet cleared his throat, remembering Helga. The noble he was ment to partner with.
"In a way" Eoviet shrugged awkwardly. He didn't feel much to her but she was still someone he grew up with. With the thought of not being able to see her or his kingdom again stung. "Everyone just expected us to be" he sighed, his tone showing his grief.
"I see" the guard nodded, not pushing for more answers.
"When the monster burned everything," he continued, might as well give some kind of full story. "I was left to travel, finding the Princess along the way. She was the one who suggested to see Toney only to then find out that I have some kind of magical influence on me".
That got the guards attention, his eye widened as he took that in. "Life's been hard on you? Huh" the guard gave another pitied look. "You have no idea" Eoviet thought. "I'm Gero by the way" Gero put on a braver smile, holding a hand out. Eoviet nodded and shook his head.
"Eoviet" he greeted back, returning his smile.
"You're an interesting one, Eoviet" Gero stated. "Showing up out of nowhere and rumour has it you can translate the old language from the volcano ruins. Not just anyone can do that, you know" Gero chuckled, more amused about Eoviet.
"Yeah, my grandparents knew it and it was just passed down I guess" Eoviet shrugged. "Other than the language, I was never told much of my ancestors" he added after Gero gave him a very interesting expression.
"Ah, more mystery" Gero joked, stretching his back before keeping look out again. Eoviet looked over the armour he ware. It was simple, fine crafted plates with little to no detail. Something that Eoviet missed from his kingdom. Everything here is so plain and flat, back at home everything had engravings or patterns. Nothing was left to be an empty wall or flat colour.
Here, Eoviet felt so bored. Back at him he would look over the old carvings and patterns when bored. Here, he gets a wall, maybe a painting if he was lucky. With a small sigh, Eoviet spoke curious of Gero. "You are one of Princesses Shir's guards right?" He asked, "I haven't heard much but I had heard that she trianed you". With a chuckle, Gero answered back.
"It's more like we trian together" he corrected Eoviet's statement, "we trianed in the same arena. And I dare say, I doubt you would find another Princess or Lady who would be able to take on five full Knights and win."
"Even way back when we were just little teens, she was so naturally talented. Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve my Knighting ceremony" Gero admitted. A dount within his eyes, "Shir had been able to keep up with every Knight she challenged and now she can excell. But yet the King hadn't formally given her the title of Knight".
"She's that good?" Eoviet asked. His tone was of both surprise but mainly impressed.
Eoviet was supposed to a Prince, something his father had told him should be the best Knight in the Kingdom. But even he struggles to keep up in his own swords work and trianing. Preferring his magic schooling with his father, he was better at spells than with a sword. Gero nodded at his question. "Definitely" Gero put on a proud grin on his face, "you can watch her trian in evenings. No volcano would get in the way of her and her blades".
"I will keep that in mind" Eoviet nodded, now curious to see how she would do. "From Gero's description, Shir sounds to be well schooled. She must feel passionate of her training to keep up the work and not be named a Knight yet" Eoviet analysed. Looking back to when he first met the Princess he felt his heart flutter. It was a stressful experience with her fiancé acting so aggressive and defensive but she looked past the what ifs Rknom saw. Willing to hear him out when Prince Rknom had a blade to his throat. Her getting him out of that is something the hidden Prince would always be grateful for.
Eoviet also remembered his first time on a horse, this horse. "You moved so in sink with the Princess" Eoviet thought as he petted Autumn. The stallion giving a pleased whine in return. Eoviet also remember how he had to keep his balance, being behind the Princess, he had hold onto her waist. The plated armour she wore was slippery to grip onto, so he had hug onto her tightly. He felt a little embarrassed at the time and now, thinking back he felt a little flustered.
"What am I doing?" Eoviet thought to himself. Having to grab the rains again when Autumn began to move away from the carriage. "I can't be thinking that, she is engaged" he sighed slightly. Hearing all the horse whine out and hesitantly walk forward. The small Prince furrowed his brows, seeing Autumn's ears pin back as he huffed. Confusion dwelled within Eoviet, trying to figure out what has gotten all the horse so alert. "Come on" Eoviet tried to sooth the stallion, of which Autumn huffed more angrily.
Eoviet narrowed his eyes, everyone having a difficulty with their horses. More confusion now mixed with concern spiralled within the Prince. That was until Eoviet felt a sudden stab in his mind. He felt his draconic morf enrage, something he had never experienced before. His arms itched for his form to brake out, he felt the urge to flap his wings and fly away. A deep instinctual and primal urge to flee took over his thoughts. "I can't!" Eoviet argued with his own mind. Trying to distract himself by trying to sooth Autumn. The stallion looked ready to bolt but his eyes were focused on the carriage.
"You won't leave the Princess?" Eoviet thought, focusing on anything to not shift. Not infornt of everyone. "Get!" The carriage driver tried to get the four shires moving. The giants of the horses refused to take another step further. One bucking at the carriage, his mighty hooves leaving a dent.
"Easy now" one of the guards tried turning his horse in a circle. His mount fighting his commands.
"What's gotten all the horses spooked?" A worker called out.
"Autumn" Eoviet tried calling the horses name, the stallion reared. Causing Eoviet to have to hold onto the saddle tightly. Grunting when the horse landed, bucking on his spot but he still refused to dash. Eoviet couldn't be mad, he to felt the urge to flee even if the danger is nowhere near in sight to. Scanning the surroundings he couldn't see any other creature. They were alone on this dirt road, the river flowed smoothly to their left. It was hilly but the only thing around them was the soft blades of grass. Even tuffs of weeds grew by the river bank.
"Calm down, boy" Eoviet tried to sooth the horse again, "nothing is here". He tried to reinsurer the horse, Autumn huffing and grunting as he swayed his head. "Easy now-" Eoviet was about to coo to the horse again when something lunged at the carriage. A deep hiss came from the mess of weeds and sea grass. Eoviet had to blink several times. A mix of the plantation forming into scaley spikes and Autumn rearing, made it hard for Eoviet to make out what had attacked.
His own heart pounded and it took every fiber of his free will to not shift and fly away. Large tallions swiped at the carriage, splintering the wood and causing a large dent by the front exit. Autumn whined and with one powerful kick, Eoviet found himself bracing as he fell to the ground. Covering his head as his shoulder smacked against the soft dirt. Looking up his hazel eyes met with bloodshot, deep green ones. A flat head hissed at him, large and thin fangs dripped with venom as it arched its neck.
With a squeal, Eoviet rolled under the carriage as fast as he could. The flat, snake head with forever open eyes snapped at the ground. Taking a bite of the soft dirt, hissing in fury. After having a good look, Eoviet recognised the head to be that of a rattle snake. Only this one was at least twenty times larger and connected to some kind of body. Feeling frozen, Eoviet couldn't get his body to move. He was stuck in a fear as this thing roared out in a high pitch. Slamming it's body against the carriage to knock it over.
The four shires could be seen fleeing in a fright. "Princess!" One of the guards called in a horror. Eoviet felt his heart sink as this thing stared him down. Its neck was slender, a dull green that looked grey. Its scales grew spikier as it went closer to its body, where the plant like spikes sat. Its talons sat on its hined legs, arching its neck to strike at the boy again. He couldn't move. His body laid stiff as a mixture of an instinctual fear and a horror of seeing such a thing had him bolted down. Tears welled in his eyes as this things jaw opened wide. It striked its head to snap at Eoviet, only to he knocked back by a long sword.
Gero stood between him and the beast, "get up!" He ordered. "Run!" Gero yelled, slashing his blade at the beast neck. Eoviet obeyed and dashed up only to freeze as the splintering sound of the blade shattering. Hazel eyes stared in a horror as he watched the blade chip and shatter, Gero stumbling back. Eoviet knew the guard was more worried about the Princesses life than his own. A fury built within his heart, seeing the brave Knight willing to sacrifice himself in hopes to save the Princess.
Thinking deep, Eoviet focused on the words his father had taught him. Mumbling his chant as sparks began to form at his finger tips. "More!" Eoviet thought in a hurry, "just add more! It's a simple spell but built up it can hurt this thing!". Eoviet desperately began to chant the same spell, over and over, refusing to cast it yet. His eyes stung when they went wide, seeing the beast arch its neck again. Eoviet aimed for the head.
Cracks echoed through the air, before exploding at the beasts eye. It hissed and screeched in agony. The smell of burning flesh wafted around as the beast limped painfully back to the river. Once in, it kicked its powerful tail and swam down stream quickly. Breathing deeply, Eoviet's arm felt ready to burst after realising such a spell. He cradled his right arm as he looked over at a socked Gero. The Knights eyes widened in a surprise, "you-" Gero choked. "You're a mage!?" He looked in disbelief.
"Kinda" Eoviet panted. He had never casted such a powerful spell and his muscles hurt because of it. A sudden kick to the carriages door snapped him out of his shock. The Princess jumped out, her plated armour slapped on sloppily and her blade drawn in a furry.
"What happened!?" Shir demanded. Gero stared at the Princess whilst catching his breath. The Knights eyes showed how fearful he truly was. Eoviet looked over at the Princess and now the mage who struggled to climb out. He had no idea what that thing was but he does know it had targeted him and his draconic form feared it.