Ragon wandered through the castle for over an hour, searching for Thera, but she was nowhere to be found. In the past, he knew exactly where to find her—usually in the kitchen, preparing meals, or handling other tasks. She had always been the one to personally attend to his needs, from cooking his food to ensuring his clothes were in perfect condition. But for the past week, she had seem to vanish
"Thera!" Ragon called out as he spotted a girl with bright pink hair from behind. He reached out, gently tapping her shoulder.
When the girl turned around, Ragon froze, taken aback. It wasn't Thera, but someone entirely different.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Ragon said, stepping back awkwardly. His face flushed slightly with embarrassment.
This wasn't the first time. He had mistaken three other pink-haired women for Thera, only to be proven wrong each time.
"Where could she be?" he muttered to himself, growing more perplexed. "I should've just let Snow call her for me," he admitted, smacking his forehead as he recalled how he had refused Snow's offer to fetch his granddaughter earlier.
Out of ideas, Ragon decided to head to the riverbank. The tranquil scenery there might help him clear his mind and figure out his next move.
*************
Ragon approached the riverbank, while he saw a young girl, she stood a few feet away, her pink hair flowing in the breeze as she swung a dull sword at a wooden dummy. The strikes were clumsy, lacking the precision of a fighter.
Ragon paused, observing her from a distance.
"Thera," he called out gently, stepping closer.
She froze for a moment, then resumed her strikes, ignoring him completely.
Ragon frowned but didn't let her silence deter him. "Why are you practicing with a sword? You're a mage, not a warrior."
Still, she didn't answer. Her strikes became harder, the dull sword clanging against the dummy with increasing force.
Ragon sighed, picking up a similar dumb sword from the ground. "If you're trying to vent your anger, why waste it on a wooden dummy? Try it on a real human instead."
Thera finally turned to face him, her eyes narrowing. "Your Majesty," she said curtly, "I wouldn't dare"
Ragon smirked. "Oh, but you will. Consider it a lesson."
Ragon smiled faintly, raising his sword in a mock salute. "Come on, then. Let's see what you've got."
Thera didn't hesitate. She charged at him, her sword raised high. Ragon stepped to the side gracefully. With a flick of his wrist, he disarmed her, sending her sword flying to the ground.
"You're too stiff," he said softly, stepping closer. His voice was calm, almost teasing. "Relax your shoulders. I'm not the enemy don't out in too much efforts."
Thera scowled, retrieving her sword and trying again. This time, she aimed for his side. Ragon parried her strike effortlessly, their blades locking for a brief moment.
"Better," he murmured, leaning in slightly. Their faces were mere inches apart, and for a fleeting moment, their eyes met.
Thera let out a frustrated growl, attacking again and again. Ragon ducked under the strike, stepping behind her and gently tapping her back with the flat of his blade.
"Hey! You didn't cover here," he whispered.
Thera turned sharply, her movements more aggressive now. She struck at him repeatedly, Ragon countered each strike with ease.
On her fourth attempt, Ragon sidestepped her entirely, hooking his foot behind hers and causing her to stumble. He caught her by the waist before she hit the ground, their faces once again uncomfortably close.
"Why do I feel I'm fighting a different you?" he asked softly, his voice steady.
Thera pushed away from him, her grip tightening on the sword. She tried again, but Ragon disarmed her a final time, sending the sword skittering across the ground.
Breathing heavily, she stepped back, "Thank you your Majesty I really admire your great teaches, Your Majesty?" she said in a sharp and formal.
Ragon blinked, surprised by her words. "Oh! Thank you?"
Ragon was completely clueless that he couldn't see she was pissed off because of him.
Thera didn't reply. She turned on her heel and began walking away, but Ragon reached out and gently grabbed her wrist.
"Wait," he said softly.
She stopped but didn't turn to face him.
Ragon hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "I came here because I need your help."
Thera's shoulders stiffened, but she still didn't turn around.
"I'm looking for trustworthy individuals to appoint to key positions in the kingdom," Ragon continued. "Your grandfather suggested you'd be the best person to help me find them."
Thera let out a soft, humorless laugh. "Of course," she said under her breath.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ragon asked, his brows furrowing.
Thera finally turned to face him, her expression unreadable. She gave him a deep bow, her movements precise but cold. "I'll find the people you need, Your Majesty," she said.
Before Ragon could respond, she straightened and walked away, leaving him standing alone by the riverbank.
Ragon watched her retreating figure, his chest tightening with a feeling he couldn't quite place. He was completely confused if he said something wrong.
"Did I do something wrong?" he murmured to himself.
Ragon was completely clueless when it came to girls, so he didn't realize that her reaction was more than just a normal bad day for her.