Ragon and Thera were now in the inner chambers, where the pool was bright under the soft glow of light. Thera couldn't quite understand why Ragon had brought her here.
"I need to tell you something," Ragon said as he sat by the edge of the pool, dipping his feet into the cool water. He turned to her with a calm gaze.
Thera, shy by nature, misinterpreted his intentions. She assumed Ragon wanted some form of intimacy.
"Your Majesty, I will try my best to fulfill your heart's desire," Thera said softly, pulling down her gown to reveal her inner garment.
As she reached for the strings of her white garment to loosen them, Ragon immediately stood and grabbed her hands.
"No! Never!" he said firmly,
"I would never take advantage of you. You're misunderstanding me. I only wanted to talk with you by the poolside. Please, never try to please me this way. You're not my puppet, and you'll never be one."
Ragon gazed into her beautiful eyes as he spoke, his voice softening as he leaned slightly closer.
"What I wanted to tell you is that I'll be away for some time," he began. "We discovered a new map from the orc leader. It points to a site that could bring great benefits to the kingdom. I plan to explore it myself. While I'm gone, I want to leave Elenadrom in your hands." He smiled gently as he said this.
Thera was stunned. She never imagined Ragon would entrust her with such responsibility, especially since she had never demonstrated any administrative abilities.
"Your Majesty, I think you should reconsider," Thera said, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. She thought he must have made a mistake.
"I've told you before, don't call me 'Your Majesty.' I'm not a king to you. Just call me Ragon," he insisted. "And you're the most trustworthy person here. There's no one better suited for this role than you. Besides, you have your father to guide you. He was the former patriarch, so he'll help you with whatever you need."
Thera hesitated. "You should have offered the position to my grandfather instead of me," she said, feeling unworthy.
"That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about," Ragon replied, turning to face the pool again.
"What do you mean?" Thera asked, confused.
"I'll get straight to the point," Ragon said, turning back to her. "Have you ever thought about not being a pushover like the other women here?"
"A pushover?" Thera repeated, startled. She lowered her gaze. "I've always wanted to learn how to fight, but my father insists it's a man's role. He says it's outlawed for women to hold a sword. The only acceptable ability for a woman is to become a healer mage."
"Who says you can't fight?" Ragon's voice grew firmer. "Those are outdated rules. In my kingdom, women are trained alongside men. They're taught how to defend themselves against any danger. I'm the king now—I make the rules."
Ragon's frustration was evident as he spoke. In Olympia, his homeland, his mother had been a celebrated warrior, and the idea of restricting women's roles was unthinkable. Even the gods they worshipped included war goddesses.
Hearing Ragon defend women so passionately, Thera found him unexpectedly charming.
"So, do you want to learn how to defend yourself?" Ragon asked, holding her hands gently. "If you say yes, you'll become my first disciple."
"Yes, I'd love to learn to fight," Thera finally said, her voice trembling with excitement. It had always been her dream, and now it seemed within reach.
"Then there's no time to waste," Ragon said.
He raised his hand, and the pool began to transform. A vortex formed in the center, swirling rapidly as water began to rise. Moments later, a crystal-clear sphere emerged, solidifying in Ragon's hand.
"You're a mage?" Thera asked, astonished. "I thought you were a warrior."
"Actually, I'm both," Ragon replied casually, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
"Seriously? I thought a person could only follow one path. I've never heard of anyone being both a mage and a warrior," Thera said, her surprise evident.
"Well, I just happen to be one," Ragon said sheepishly, scratching his head with his free hand. Holding out the crystal sphere, he continued, "Here, let me show you…"
"You should place your hands on the crystal ball—I don't think it'll hold its form for much longer," Ragon said, with a calm tone.
Thera was stunned. Not only was Ragon a mage, but he could also perform the sacred rituals traditionally reserved for priests or Commander ranked mages. In their village, they lacked even a priest to guide people through discovering their paths as warriors or mages. Aside from Ragon's late father, no other mages were present.
Thera eagerly placed her hands on the crystal ball as she was extremely excited.
In an instant, Ragon's eyes glowed a brilliant gold, and golden energy began to radiate from his body. The crystal ball responded, swirling with elements that surrounded it, signifying Thera's magical potential.
Had she been destined to become a warrior, the ball would have displayed symbols like a sword or a bow. But this time, the elements clearly indicated that Thera was a mage.
"Congratulations on unlocking your path as a mage," Ragon said, his eyes returning to normal. The crystal ball dissolved back into liquid, splashing harmlessly into the pool.
"Wow! I wasn't expecting this," Thera exclaimed, covering her mouth in astonishment. She knew the odds—only one in ten people were ever revealed to be mages.
"I'll personally train you for the next week," Ragon said with a reassuring smile. "Before I leave, you'll be more than just a novice—you'll rise to at least a one-star mage."