The First of Many

I was lost.

Somewhere in Bridd Palace, at least. I looked up, letting the midday sun shining through the open ceiling of the courtyard warm my skin. Vines, tastefully adorned along the sides, rustled in the wind, making little shaka-shaka noises all around me.

Look, it’s nice here, yeah. Not what I was looking for, though, I thought before turning heel to leave the way I came. He said he’d be back in the early afternoon. What time is it?

On this fine spring day, after getting chewed out by my royal retainers the night before, I was looking for Finley’s room. Marie and I had decided, jointly, that maybe we’d take a day off from the festival. The pandemonium from the Scourge had left both of us rattled. When the twins came to fetch us in the morning, Marie explained that we might need the day off. Finley and Diana still went to the festival without us, of course, as they had a duty to attend, but only for a little while. “We ought to be there to help people feel safe,” Finley explained.

I wandered through another hall. Nothing here looked too princely either, though.

Would it kill them to put a map up somewhere?

A door opened, making me jump. A palace worker, carrying a bundle of sheets, walked out and also jumped when he saw me.

“Oh, Your Highness Princess Lumineuse! Forgive me,” he said with a bow, his head disappearing behind a pile of linens.

I nonchalantly told the worker how I was searching for Finley with a quick lie about a meeting we had scheduled, and he happily agreed to take me to his room. I followed him up stone staircases and through skylit courtyards as we wove our way through the palace. Finally, we arrived at a wing of the building not unlike the guest wing — open, airy, earthy, and vibrant. Two grand doors stood opposite one another, as the hall led out to a massive outside terrace.

“Here you are then. I shall let Master Finley know of your arrival.” He knocked on the left door. “Master Finley! It’s Callum, I’ve fresh sheets. Princess Lumineuse is also here for your meeting.”

Wait, that was an on-the-spot lie. I didn’t arrange for anything with him!

The door clicked open, and Finley peered out. “A meeting? I don’t-“ he began, looking over at me and seeing my panicking face. “...Ah, yes, that’s right. With the Princess.”

He covered for me without even knowing? …Damn. He really gets me.

“Then please, Callum, if you would. Princess, shall we speak outside?” He waved to the end of the hall, towards the terrace.

“Yes, please.” I curtsied. I do like how cute it makes me feel to do that.

We went out to the terrace, to a set of chairs facing the open sky and the city below.

“Well, Elisabeth? What brings you to seek an audience with me?” He winked.

First name now?

“I’m sorry for surprising you. I…” I stopped myself. Strolling to the banister and leaning on it, letting the early afternoon breeze wash over me, I engaged in some small talk first. “How was the festival today?” The grounds were even more visible from the twins’ terrace.

Finley joined me, gazing out into the distance. “Right back to normal. We Andrastians are tough.” He turned to me. “They wanted to see you, you know.”

“What!? Me? Why on earth?”

Finley laughed. “Why else? You’re the captivating princess who single-handedly saved a girl in danger and thought up the idea to bring the dubhiast down!”

Oh yay, I have a fan club now.

Brushing my hair behind my ear (why did I feel an instinct to do that?), I began, “Actually, that’s what I wanted to speak with you about. The magic.”

“Oh?” Finley raised an eyebrow.

“I was hoping that perhaps you might be able to,” I paused, searching for the right words. I was aware that what I was suggesting was kind of a big deal — the daughter of a kingdom where magic was banned asking a neighboring nation’s prince to teach her magic? If word got out, I’d be toast.

“To what, Elisabeth?” Finley’s intent stare made me even more nervous.

“Teach… me… Teach me magic. Like what you use. I want to learn. So I don’t have to just watch from the crowd if something happens.”

Finley’s mouth widened into a giant grin. “You want to learn magic? You’re being honest?”

I nodded.

I could practically see the thoughts flying around in Finley’s head, his mind racing at the excitement of my proposal. After a moment, though, his smile faded, his face falling. “Elisabeth, I’m not sure I should do that. With the way-”

“My father thinks about magic, yes, it’d be dangerous. I’ve already considered that. I am prepared to bear full responsibility.” I put on my proudest, royal-est look.

He thought for a moment, then his smile returned. “Well, if you’re sure, I would absolutely love to teach you the joys of magic. I shall also bear responsibility if it becomes known.” He looked around. “Good. She hasn’t snuck up on us.” Must be a pain to be a twin.

He leaned close to me. My heart beat a little faster, for some reason. “Well, princess, if you’d like, we could get started right now.”

“What? Right now?” I stepped back.

“Shall we?” He held out his hand.

Well, I’ve got nothing else going on today… and I do really want to learn.

I took his hand.

~~~~~~

Finley swiftly led me to a small rooftop courtyard, hidden from the rest of the palace. “But Elisabeth!” you ask, “how did you know it was hidden?” Well, you see, to get there, after we climbed an ungodly number of stairs and got to a certain spot in an open-air hall, Finley summoned another massive stone pillar beneath us, lifting us high up to the roof. There were no stairs leading to the courtyard whatsoever. Finley’s magic was the only way up. Ergo, secret courtyard.

We must’ve been at the highest point in the palace- scratch that, the whole city. A sandstone parapet encircled us, and wooden trellises with hanging plants and a few blooming flowers provided ample shade.

I gasped when I first set foot down. “It’s… enchanting!”

“I come here when I need time alone. Total privacy. Diana can’t bother me when she can’t get to me.” He laughed. “Which means it’s the perfect spot to secretly teach another kingdom's princess some heretical magic.”

I bounced up and down. “I’m ready, Master Finley!”

Finley put his hands together. “Alright. This could be difficult, Elisabeth. Are you prepared?”

“Yes.”

He gently guided me to the parapet. The view of the whole palace and city beneath us made me a little dizzy. I reached out to grab him for stability.

“Easy, Elisabeth. You’re safe with me.” He put a hand on my back. Oh. That’s nice. I blushed.

Tentatively, I asked, “So where do I start?”

“Excited, hm? First, take a look out at the land before us. Really study it. Notice all the little things, from each tree growing to the laundry rustling in the wind.”

I don’t really see how this is magic, but sure. I did as he told, trying to soak in all the details.

“What we call magic is, well, a complex natural phenomenon, an energy that flows through every object in the world. This essence is usually called mana,” Finley began.

Okay, pretty standard fantasy explanation, sure. When do I see what magic affinity I have?

He continued, pointing at the horizon to guide my sight as he explained, “Because of this, magic is largely formless. It’s simply a raw force of nature that we have adapted to, existing everywhere at once.”

I was getting confused. “So, how do I learn how to use it?”

“Patience, princess. First, we need to awaken your senses to it in the first place.” He held out his hand, and wisps of blue began to curl off his palm. “Focus on this mana, and try to imagine it coalescing from the air, from my body, from the floor beneath us, all swirling into this small manifestation.”

That wasn’t very helpful. “But what does mana actually look like? That’s just your manipulation of it! How can I imagine it if I don’t know what it looks like?”

“Nobody knows. That’s the wonderful thing about it, Elisabeth. Magic is whatever you make it to be.”

I tried focusing on his hand again. Magic is whatever I want it to be, huh? I imagined small particles of energy, like little specks of dust, flowing from Finley’s hand into the air.

I didn’t feel any different.

I pouted. “It’s not feeling very clear.”

Finley reassured me, “That’s alright, Elisabeth. It’s a complex thing to learn, and magical energy is, by nature, unclear. Like I said, formless. Try again.”

We spent the rest of the day up there together, Finley making visible the magical energy that permeated every inch of the world while I focused on sensing it with my mind’s eye. It was hard work.

As night fell, we headed back. Finley congratulated me on my efforts, then dropped me off at the guest room. While my mind swirled with thoughts of mana and energy, my body was still occupied by one thing: the spot on my lower back where Finley had gently placed his hand earlier felt hot. Really hot. As I fell asleep that night, my imagination turned to Finley, picturing him caressing my lower back and pulling me tightly to him, secure and safe.

Hey. Stop that.