Aaron leapt to his feet without hesitation and hurried toward the princess. With a gallant gesture, he knelt before her, taking her hand in his rough fingers. With a charming sparkle in his eyes, he declared, "Aaron Salvathor is my name. It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Your Highness." Without a moment's pause, he brought her hand toward his lips, ready to kiss it.
Ivory froze for a moment, overwhelmed by the sudden attention, unable to grasp the situation immediately. But before she could respond, Silen stepped forward, a shadow filling the space with his presence. With a swift motion, he pushed Aaron firmly to the ground. "Has no one taught you how to behave in the presence of royalty?" His voice was calm, but the irritated crease on his brow spoke volumes.
Ivory, regaining control of the scene, felt her cheeks flush a deep red. Yet her voice remained gentle as she gestured for Silen to step aside with a forgiving glance. "Leave him, Silen. You're always so hasty. He meant no harm." She turned back to Aaron, her eyes radiating a warm, soothing light. "But it's true, I don't particularly like being touched without permission. I'd appreciate it if you refrained from doing so in the future." Her words were accompanied by a soft smile, one that could melt even the coldest of hearts.
Zaphara stepped forward briskly, grabbing Aaron by the arm and pulling him back. Her cool gaze rested on the princess before she spoke in a calm voice, "I apologize for my—" she hesitated briefly, "my companion." Her tone was as smooth as frozen water, but when she glanced at Aaron, her icy blue eyes delivered a clear message: Pull yourself together and remember the mission.
She turned back to Ivory, her posture impeccably upright, as if she belonged to a royal court herself. "My name is Zaphara Whisper. I hail from Niveria, the ice lands of the far north. It is an honor to meet you, Lady Fendril." As she spoke, she inclined slightly forward in a graceful, precise gesture of courtly decorum—one devoid of genuine politeness. Every step she took was calculated, every move purposeful. Her words were nothing more than a tool to bring her closer to the goal.
Ivory quickly waved her hands, as though trying to dispel Zaphara's formality. "Please, not so formal! When you call me that, I feel like an old woman. And definitely not 'Lady Fendril!' I hear that title all day at home." Her gaze flicked irritably to Silen, who always used such terms at every opportunity. She sighed softly, then smiled at the group. "Just call me Ivory, okay?"
Before the mood could fully relax, a more pressing thought struck her. "But tell me—what happened? And why are you here?"
Aaron saw this as his chance to take the lead—naturally, without thinking. "Well, I was in the mountains when, out of nowhere, a bolt of lightning or something hit me! I have no idea how, but the next thing I know, I'm falling from the sky. Can you imagine that? And then—as if that wasn't bad enough—just before I could smash into the ground with my handsome face, I end up in some kind of black void! And there's this weird faceless guy standing there, who still somehow looks human. Completely bizarre. And you know what he says? We're dead unless we take on a mission: to bring you into our group and take you on a journey. The wildest five minutes of my life!"
Aaron gestured animatedly as he spoke, while the other four stared at him with open mouths. Their expressions were an open book: What an idiot.
To their surprise, Ivory laughed brightly. "That's hilarious! You should write stories, Aaron. Or better yet—I'll introduce you to my father. Maybe you can become a court bard!" She grinned but then adopted a more serious tone. "But seriously, what really happened?"
The group realized this was their chance to present a more believable account. Talon stepped out of the shadows and took over. His calm, measured voice eased the tension in the air. "To be honest? We don't know much ourselves. We were suddenly teleported here without the faintest clue why. We barely know each other, let alone why this happened to us." He glanced at the others and added, "One thing is certain: we didn't choose this. Teleportation magic is illegal for a reason. Disasters like this prove it."
Ivory furrowed her brow thoughtfully, crossing her arms as she weighed his words. After a moment, she nodded slightly. "You don't seem like the kind of people who would willingly do something so reckless." Her stance softened, and a friendly smile returned to her face. "But first, let's make sure you're all alright." She invited the group to sit and began preparing her healing magic.
Lunara was the first to trust Ivory's touch. Her golden eyes glowed with curiosity as she asked, "You can use healing magic? That's incredible! I've never met anyone who could do that. Are you a prodigy?"
Ivory blushed faintly, a hint of embarrassment on her face. "Not at all. Without my teacher, I never would have discovered I could do this." Her expression darkened briefly, a fleeting sadness crossing her face before she regained composure. With renewed energy, she added, "But it seems you're all in good health. Did you really fall from the sky? It's a miracle you're unscathed."
The quiet was broken by Seraphion, who finally raised his monotone voice. "May I ask a favor of you, Ivory?" he asked plainly.
Ivory nodded without hesitation. "Of course. I'll help you however I can."
The angel rose, his imposing figure towering over the young princess. "We don't know where we are, let alone how to reach a city. Can you help us?"
Before Ivory could reply, Silen stepped forward, his expression as mistrustful as ever. "The princess has an appointment in the north. We can give you a map, but you'll have to manage on your own." His words carried the weight of a man whose duty was to see every stranger as a potential threat.
Before Ivory could speak, she delivered a swift kick to Silen's shin. "Ouch!" he cried, staring at her in confusion, only to meet her stern gaze. "Do you really think we should leave them on their own? In a foreign land, without supplies?" Her voice was firm. "And I'm not interested in meeting that old man to discuss some marriage arrangement! If I meet someone, it will be on my terms. Period."
Her gaze brooked no argument. Silen sighed and relented. "As you wish, Your Highness. But the meeting cannot be canceled. It would dishonor your father."
Ivory pouted but nodded reluctantly. "Fine… but until then, we'll help them."
The group collectively exhaled in relief, though Zaphara's icy blue eyes glimmered with cunning as she thought to herself: Ivory is too kind. I can use this to my advantage.
Zaphara immediately seized the opportunity as the tension between Ivory and Silen hung in the air. With a calculated smile, she stepped forward. "We truly must thank you, Ivory, for your generosity in helping us. Once we arrive in the city and you've taken care of your business, we'd love to invite you for a drink at the tavern."
Her voice was warm, but her intentions were crystal clear. This invitation wasn't mere politeness—it was a chance to draw Ivory closer for her own purposes.
Ivory's eyes lit up. "That sounds wonderful! I'd love to come." Silen, however, appeared far less enthusiastic. His brow furrowed deeper, and his narrowed eyes scrutinized the group with growing suspicion. "I have to be in the capital tomorrow," he said coldly. "I can't just leave her in Kean. It's far too dangerous."
Ivory crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at him. "Silen, I'm not a little child anymore. I don't need you hovering over me all the time. How am I supposed to make new friends if you're always watching my every move?" Her voice was firm but not loud—precisely the tone that brooked no argument.
Silen opened his mouth to protest but closed it again as Ivory continued. "Just this once, Silen. I can handle myself. You can trust me." Her words were gentle, but her gaze left no doubt that she intended to have her way.
Zaphara, observing the charged exchange, smirked inwardly. It was almost too easy to pull Ivory to her side. "Then we should get moving before we lose more time," she said with a faint hint of urgency in her voice. She knew every second Silen spent thinking increased the risk of him denying the opportunity.
Ivory nodded in agreement. "Agreed. We should hurry."
Silen gritted his teeth but finally relented. "Very well, Your Highness."
As the group packed their things and prepared to set off, a faint sense of relief spread among the five companions. Yet it was quickly replaced by the realization of the monumental task ahead. The challenge of escorting Ivory, a princess, out of the country loomed before them like a towering mountain.
With one final glance at the vast landscape stretching out before them, the group set off—unaware that this was the first step on a journey that would change their lives forever.