Chapter 31: I Should Probably Kill That Guy

“We’re lucky he came for us Princess..” Eric says while watching the old man fly away.

“We are, but Father already wanted to meet him. He’ll be driven mad being unable to meet his daughter’s savior again...” Princess Sylvie replies with a sigh and a hand on her cheek.

The two walk along the outside of the eastern wall until they come to Sante's eastern gate.

“PRINCESS!” a guard yells after spotting their approach.

“My apologies for worrying everyone. Could you arrange for a carriage to the royal castle? I need to speak with my Father,” the Princess requests of the eager guard.

“Right away! Please follow me.”

Princess Sylvie and Eric are brought to the royal castle, and the knights’ eyes are all drawn to their Kingdom’s Princess in a blood-stained dress.

Knights escort the two inside, where Eric is given a space to bathe and change clothing, while Princess Sylvie is led to her father’s office.

Knock knock

“Your Majesty! The Princess has returned!” her escort yells.

“WHAT! COME IN!” the King screams at his door.

Princess Sylvie enters his office, and the King turns white as a ghost.

“Sylvie! What happened to you? Is that your blood? Knight – bring a healer at once!” the King shouts.

“Father, that’s unnecessary. None of the blood on my dress is my own. I apologize for looking so unsightly, but I wanted to report to you immediately upon my return,” Princess Sylvie explains.

“Right..” His Majesty’s face gains a touch of color, hearing his daughter’s calm voice, “My dear, please tell me what happened.”

“Alarian soldiers snuck into the Kingdom and ambushed our carriage on the way to Marquis Duren’s territory. They were advanced magic users, I’m not sure we have many in the Kingdom who could compare..” she explains, “We were led through the eastern forests and mountains in the north for nearly two weeks, when we were again rescued by the old man who calls that area home..”

“He intervened on your behalf again.. how did he know you were taken?” the King asks.

“I’m not positive he knew we were taken father, the soldiers who took us were leading us past a range of mountains when he fell from the sky and cut them down in mere seconds. The old man said he sensed bandits and picked up our trail when he went out to find them,” Princess Sylvie says.

“He fell from the sky?” the King asks with a bewildered expression.

“Yes, Father, he’s able to use magic to fly in the air. That’s how he returned us so quickly when we were nearly two weeks away on foot,” the Princess answers.

“Previous reports stated he seemed able to use wind magic, perhaps it’s an advanced application of that..” the King responds quietly while pondering a human flying through the air.

“I suspect that’s the case. I made numerous attempts to invite him to the capital and to meet with you, but I was flatly refused. The man seems to view the mountains as his home after spending most of his life travelling, he even insists we need not thank him since he’s unable to stop all the bandits that use that area due to his injuries,” Princess Sylvie explains.

“Is he truly capable of so much in a diminished state?” asks the King, curiosity brewing inside him.

“I’ve never seen combat so impressive. When he was younger, he must’ve been equivalent to an army of men,” the Princess states as a heroic past spins in her imagination. But the King grimaces.

“Do you know if he has any loyalty to the Sante Kingdom?" he asks, "Alaria has attempted your kidnapping twice, this time slaying multiple of our knights. Conflict between our countries is inevitable now."

“I don’t believe he does, Father, but if fighting were close enough to the forest, and his injuries were doing well, he may view the aggressors as his responsibility,” Princess Sylvie answers.

“If that’s the case, we should send a group into the forest with our best healers. If we can curry his favor before war breaks out, we’ll have a powerful ally,” the King says with a determined face.

“I offered the same already, the man said he’s seen healers from every country, but it’s not a wound that can be fixed..” the Princess responds solemnly.

“Apologies for my excitement Sylvie, you’re an excellent Princess for steadying your nerves in a dangerous environment and working for the sake of the Kingdom. You have my thanks. If there’s nothing else to discuss, I won’t keep you,” the King says, correcting his impoliteness.

“I’m sorry to have worried you and not secured his favor. He seems like a man resigned to die from his injuries; there is little that can tempt him,” Princess Sylvie says.

“I understand. Once you’re refreshed, please visit your Mother, she’s been sick with worry. Oh, I’ll need to cancel Alfred’s search party as well..” the King says, catching Princess Sylvie's full attention.

“Alfred? Is he searching the forests for us?” the Princess responds excitedly.

“I requested that when he returns from his travels, he guide a group of knights, given his familiarity with the region," the King answers calmly, "I’m glad it won’t be necessary.”

“Travels? Was Alfred not in Count Pruss’s territory?” the Princess asks, having heard from Alfred that he was going home for the break.

“Indeed, Count Pruss sent a letter saying Alfred wouldn’t return to the southern region until this week. His father suspects he was in a far-off forest he isn’t able to explore while taking classes,” the King says with a chuckle.

“I see..” the Princess mumbles.

For a moment, the Princess had a suspicion. Alfred would’ve received the news of her disappearance in the last day or two. A mysterious man saved her at the same time, a mysterious man who lives in the forests that Alfred treats like a second home.

***
Clear of Eric and the Princess, I hide myself and sneak into my academy dorm.

Carrying two people in the air for a whole day is a lot harder than I expected. I’ll need to break up some stones and carry them around while flying to train. I’m beat.

I take out some leftover pizza from my travels and heat a few slices to enjoy in the bathtub.

I wonder if they’ll keep trying to kidnap the Princess?

Maybe Sante will attack them, considering this is the second attempt?

Hmm, I should probably go and throw that Prince Elliot off his balcony, it’d settle things down a bit.

I’d miss out on some excitement if I nip this in the bud, but if we go to war, it could interrupt my baking with Jen..

I’ll sleep on it, but I should probably kill that guy.