Of course it was helpful in general. It described possible objects that might be able to help conjure different things – shells for water magic, for example. So that was… supposed to help her.
And it somehow did, too. When the dragon-knight was around and told her how to concentrate, it worked. They had also taken to my approach.
Concentrating on themselves. The portal-theory was… strange.
So it was better to forget it right away. No problem.
Wielding my own power certainly had a much different feeling to it.
And when I concentrated a little harder, I could even feel the fire.
It was just a matter of never concentrating on it before. It was too… natural.
A little bit like tying my shoelaces, I assume. If I try to do that with more concentration, it didn’t work, but IF I did I understood how it held together… and I could make better knots in general.
So… magic is like tying ropes.
…
… my own book about understanding magic probably still had some ways to go.
But so had the princess.
She was still a sceptic at heart.
From not believing in magic to not believing in her own magic the full array was present. And It changed from day to day. Sir Israfil put a hand on my shoulder and told me I should have patience, her whole world was built with the knowledge that magic didn’t exist. A fundamental taken away is not pleasant.
I knew that.
It was simply frustrating.
She was a true sceptic.
After WEEKS of turning pages and once again conjuring up water with the blue dragons help – she was there most of the time now, apparently it beat sitting around outside – she once again flipped everything up. And declared it nonsense.
I mean… suspicion was all fine and good, denial is something everyone indulges in from time to time… but… she doubted my fire.
It…
I couldn’t even explain it. I was offended, really.
On a deeper level that I can’t even describe. Calling my fire ‘fake’ just… rubbed me entirely the wrong way. And I retreated to my room that day.
When I cm back the next day, her room was under water. And she said she maybe actually had some magic in her.
The knight took care of the waterlogged mess while we breakfasted.
So that’s how our days went… getting up, having breakfast – the knight or dragon sometimes disappeared to gather more supplies -, meditating on magic, consulting the books and gathering more skill.
And not getting any significant lesson, since the princess MIGHT be able o do SOME things by then, but it… didn’t come all that natural.
I could only hope there would be any progress sooner or later.
The princess was a very, very easily excitable person.
Or agitatable.
I would probably go with the latter.
There was the chance of a lifetime presented to us – magic lessons – this did not happen every day!
And from a dragon, no less. And someone who could… restrain a dragon. Apparently.
I would have my own private thought about this before I accused anyone of anything, of course… if a dragon did not want to be seen as one, they probably had a reason for it. And even if they didn’t… the ill-tempered one was only restrained by the ‘knight’. If he wanted to be a ‘knight’… who was I to accuse him otherwise.
… bloody dragon.
Anyway. They were… working on magic.
I had passed the test by… igniting a flame.
The dragon had turned into a human… and was a dragon…
And the third student… well… from what I could see, the princess had not a clue that she had even a drop of magic blood inside of her.
The knight sighed: “… look. I know you are a magical being. It’s a simple fact. Visible to everyone who knew what to look for”
That obviously meant I did not know what to look for.
I did need those lessons.
“Magic doesn’t even exist”, she said. With a dragon sitting next to her. In human form.
Sir Israfil tilted his head and said: “Your kind is very good with mind-spells. I suppose it is fitting that you have a strong belief, no matter the proof against it. It is a good platform to start from. A strong mind is the basis of any magic”
Princess Gabrielle didn’t seem too convinced: “... did you even listen to me?!”
“I did”, and he has discarded her words as nonsensical and moved on. Not very nice. But that was apparently what had happened.
“Magic doesn’t exist”, the denial was strong with that one.
“Mh. If you wish to say so… I may even agree. ‘Magic’ is a phenomenon that can not be sufficiently explained. Everything your people consider ‘magic’ can be sufficiently explained. You open a portal to the dimension your ancestors connect you to and use this connection to conjure the effect you wish to achieve. Other portals can be opened with other connecting items”, he shrugged.
It… sounded a little bit strange, to be honest. And… I had not opened a portal in my life before. So… it seemed a little… out there?
The princess’ expression conveyed about the same.
“For example… you are connected to the realm of water. The connection is therefore already there, the only thing you need to do now… is open the portal. And if I use your connection, I can do…”, he turned his hand palm-up and a ball of water formed slowly, drops forming and separating, floating up to form a ball of water, constantly turning, “… this, for example”
The first thing the princess did was stick her finger in. And move it around in the ball. Mixing it.
She took her finger away and it… followed her: “EEK”
When she moved away faster, the ball let her go and slowly returned to the knight’s hand. She stared at it as if it had offended her. It probably had.
When I tried the same – I had come closer t take a better look at it – it did nothing of the sort. Stayed where it was.
“As you can see, since you have the stronger connection, parts of your own realm are drawn to you”, he concluded.
And then moved his hand over the ball, making it disappear again.
The girl looked more no more convinced than before this little trick.
“Well, it is my way of doing it, do you have any input, Sir Azarung?”, said the knight and looked at me.
I frowned slightly. And took a moment. Then I said: “Well… it’s… more like feeling the magic and… grabbing it”, I frowned and looked at my hands. I didn’t have to think about this, usually.
“You have it in your blood. And take it from there”
I closed my eyes and snapped my fingers, a flame dancing on my fingertips.
“It’s… coming from inside of you?”, I shook my hand to ensure I didn’t burn myself. It happened sometimes.
When I looked at her now, her expression was a lot more open than before, “… from inside of me?”
I nodded: “Yes, that’s how we are doing it, at least”
“And you all say I am magic?”, she frowned in the round.
The dragons nodded.
She crossed her arms.
“… nonse-“
“MAYbe… we find something in the library? There are a lot of books. That tell you about magic. And the theory”, not that I understood a lot of it, they somehow started from a different level, “We could study together?”
Dragons were not known as the most patient of beings. Better try this before they gave up on it entirely.
There had been... disappearing vines around my body. And this person asks me what I can do with magic. There have been disappearing vines around the dragon. And for some reason this knight was still all calm and did not think the dragon would just murder him, but he still didn't make any move to murder the dragon, so... so...
“Why aren't you doing something about this one?!,” because it definitely was a valid question!
And the knight... sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Then he sighed and shrugged: “I am sworn to ensure the dragon's and the dragon's asset's safety. There is nothing I can do ab-”
“YOU are a knight, you kill dragons and-,” he looked at me with an even expression. Like he did not at all take me serious.
His brow furrowed slightly as I didn't speak on, and I heard a different voice coming from the side: “You... are of course right, princess... knights should... limit the dangers of dragon, but... it is almost impossible to beat a dragon. Attacking one without a plan would rid you of every one of your allies,” I looked at Azar. He looked uncomfortable about his own words.
… he even looked handsome with an unwanted blush on his face... and looking from the dragon to the knight to me. Just glances. Made his tattoos loo-
NO.
“I think you should just attack her an-”
The growl that same from the other side came from a being bigger than the one sitting there. The whole room shook a little bit. It was ridiculous!
This kind of thing didn't happen! Magic is stupid and not real! I... I!
“Looking smaller does not mean I am any less myself. You didn't make them run up to me when I looked like my other size,” she snorted. And I threw a pillow. This didn't even make sense!
The pillow never reached her, this strange tail... put the soft thing against the wall. Pierced.
Would have liked to say I wasn't intimidated by this display of dumb strength. But I was. I really was.
So I finally answered Sir Israfils original question while staring at the overly wide grinning dragon: “I think I can't change sizes. Or put up vines. I also think all magic is bullshit,” then I rubbed my forehead and continued in a whisper: “... about as bullshit as being kidnapped and imprisoned by a dragon...”
I... felt almost good about the stupid knight reacting to this... being exactly as he reacted to me: With... blankness. And a simple answer, after thinking briefly: “Yes”
It – she? - flicked her tail and stood up tall: “This... is a stupid answer”, and admittedly, I was on her side there.
He sighed and looked up: “No. It is possible for you to sit in. I won't teach you, you are a dragon”
Which... which was...
“YOU KIDNAPPED ME?!”
The being turned with a single motion, the tail still whipping about, hitting the wall, too!
And then it looked at me and was... very blue-eyed. And grinning. And... the hair at the back of my neck was standing.
“YOU BLOODY STUPID LIZARD! LET ME GO!,” as if some stupid shaking would stop me! HOW DARE THAT CREATURE!
The grin got wider. It looked too wide. This creature was too much on so many levels. Taller, with horns – and many of them! - and tail and silverish-blue hair that was slightly curled, but looked sharp and... the contrast was too much – darkish skin and white, sharp teeth and so much movement, even when she's standing still, the flames all over the place.
I stood and stared and hated the bloody creature!
Meanwhile, she stalked up to me: “Oh, little princess, do you really think I'll let you go?,” she squinted her – very, very blue – eyes and tilted her head. With her... it looked terrifying: “You are the reason all the knights come here, bring all their little fortunes to this place. And your kingdom? They will come to their senses. They will pay for you. And that's how it should be. How it always should have been”
And the stupid lizard – stupid human lizard – looked so bastardly selfsatisfied: “WHAT?! You DO KNOW these knights will KILL you, they will FIND A WAY! And WHAT THE HELL, you are INSANE! You just KIDNAPPED ME”
“HAH!,” - she stood straight and looked down at me. I was so close to kicking this stupid person in the shin! - “As IF they would EVER be able to-AH”
There were vines. Vines that wrapped around her waist and pulled her down onto a pillow. And disappeared.
I would have paid more attention... if the same hadn't happened to me in the exact same moment.
It.... it simply happened. The vines were there and pulled me down – I could do nothing about it - and then just disappeared.
Apparently, she couldn't do anything about it either. Because she sat there just as well, now staring at the stupid knight, growling – actually growling – at him.
“How dare yo-”
“I think we now start the lesson about magic. Your highness... what do you think about the possibility of magic... and what do you think you are able to do?,” he huffed and simply pressed on.
“... there were plants pulling me down,” because someone had to say it.
“Yes, that would be one thing magic can be used for... do you think you could do that?”
At least the castle could be called 'inhabitable'.
The walls were intact, the hallways could be walked without freezing to death, the food was spicy and well done. There was a bed and a toilet.
One could live here momentarily.
And if Azarang told me about the different historical texts he found in the books he read, I could almost forget that I missed home with every fibre of my being.
Sleeping had been hard in the beginning. But since I trained and took hot baths my body shut down almost on it's own at night. Almost not time to think of home.
It was maybe three weeks that passed.
The castle really was... repaired then. And every room could be passed through – one by one, the doors opened and I could run through them. One by one, the knight cleared out and then cleaned.
… and then the black lines came to fix the marble.
In every room.
I'd asked Azar to make some dry meat. After he looked at me a little funny I told him it's food for travelling and he made...
… something fancy. I have no idea what it is, but it's definitely not pemmican, cause it tastes good. Or our cooks didn't know how to make travel rations. It might have more spices than meat, but if you throw it in a pot it was heaven.
Otherwise... the amount of scribbled-on paper started to migrate in different rooms. There were maps hung on some of them.
One side effect of the hallways being less cold was a decline in the amount of clothes Azar was wearing. I... did not complain about that, at least. In the slightest.
We both needed to flee somehow. And... hey... with the castle actually not broken, there were more ways we could take. And maybe he would find the layout of it in the library, too. That's what should be there, anyway, he hadn't found it yet.
But well, after these three weeks of continued uselessness, the knight was in front of me, dressed in a simple tunic, holding a scroll and leaning against a wall: “Greetings, your highness,” I stopped my run and stared at him. Whenever he came, he had something to say. Maybe this time it was 'lets go home'.
“... hello Sir Israfil,” I didn't exactly have patience for him, though.
“I think I can help your efforts to get home. If you learn everything I have to teach you, you would be able to return home. Would you be willing to listen?,” he... his head did the canty-thing again. Urgh. I always wanted to say n-
“I do want to go home!,” but I also really wanted to go home.
“I see,” he blinked, “Azarang joins you for the lessons, if that makes it... better,” he was somewhat pertubed. Hadn't expected that? I DID want to go home!
“Mh,” it was a noncommitical noise, but... it did make it a little better.
“Well, follow me then, please,” he smiled at me and nodded in the direction of the library. It somehow agitated me that he had gotten the exact time where had wanted to stop running. I would have liked to let him wait, but... alright.
It turned out we used a room next to the library. Pretty big, but also pretty, apart from a heap of pillows. And Azar, who sat on one of them and waved us both hello.
After the greetings, I quickly took another pillow and seated myself next to him.
Sir Israfil sat down with his back to the door: “Thank you both for joining me. I think I can broaden your horizon in a few aspects of the world and give you a better understanding of-”
“I want to go home,” I felt necessary to point out. Because I didn't want understanding, I wanted home.
“That is something we will work on,” he smiled.
“Now?!,” because I wanted now.
“Ah... yes. We're taking necessary steps for understandi-”
“Understanding what?,” I really had no patience for him.
“Ah, your magic, of course. You need to learn how to awaken and control it,” next to me, Azar nodded.
What.
This wasn't even real.
…
The knight was just... really good at renovating. And things.
…
Said knight, meanwhile, pulled a blanket out of the heap of pillows and stood up, shaking it open while he sighed: “Yes. Your magic. I believe you are currently not even aware of it. Azar is, though, he grew up with the knowledge,” and sure enough, Azar nod-shrugged.
What.
“This is nonsense,” because... it is! Magic isn't real!
“Ah... well... we'll prove it in a moment, there is just a mome-”
And then the door crashed. The door crashed and the knight spread the blanket over to the space behind the door and then... there was a very angry person – wrapped in a blanket – pointing at his chest. Her eyes squinted, her tail – tail – flicking from side to side, there were horns on her head that formed a crown, and there were blue flames dancing on her skin. On it. Moving tattoos!
So I was stuck with food-duty once again. And her stories of her homeland were interesting – it definitely increased my interest in her kingdom's library – and she wanted to know how flowy, stuffy clothing could possibly be good against heat. Also our hierarchy and how everything is actually governed. She has a sharp mind for a sixteen year old.
But well... the longer I thought about the things that had happened here... the more I suspected he was a little bit more than a simple magically inclined knight. I mean... I was okay with the teleportation. And maybe also with the greenhouse. But the whole plant-growing... and the clean collapsed hallway and the mushrooms on the walls and the well-fitting clothing and the... not-eating, actually? Something was... wrong. And I would talk to him the next time he... was around. Whenever that was.
In the meantime? I sometimes tried to look at the dragon. From higher floors. It always noticed and growled at me.
Once there even was a tongue that almost touched me. I was glad for my reflexes, there. And then it just growled and stared at me for a few seconds before it returned to it's resting-position. At one point, it raised it's head and jumped up and flew away.
I stared after it. It landed a little place away, reached down with it's head, fire flared... and then flew to another place further up on the mountain... and then flew back, laying back down in the middle of the courtyard, looking self-satisfied.
… I... didn't want to know what just happened.
The fact that I had an idea what happened was... not reassuring.
It growled at me for good measure and I remembered that making bread would be a good idea. This dragon was really not on the diplomatic side. Alright. Alright.
Just not thinking about it. Not thinking.
Huuuh... I got a few moments to look at the dragon, sketching it. It was a magnificent creature. Just not very... communicative. Beautiful. And apparently a fire dragon. A blue one. Whenever it growled, I... retreated to continue cooking.
… I mean... I liked the greenhouse and definitely the bath... and the kitchen smelled like home. But the dragon and a lying knight? Ah... well.
Otherwise I was not... too bad off. My basic needs were met. And I had nice places. Just nothing... to do. The castle was full of dead ends.
But, sure enough... after three days, the knight showed up again, this time? He showed up... at some terribly early hour. I didn't exactly know, but it was dark. And he shook my shoulder.
“Mnnnngh?,” I did not want to be awake.
“Good morning, Azarang. Would you come with me?,” he touched my shoulder again.
“Mnnnnggggh,” I rolled to the side and slooowly moved one leg to the edge of the bed.
“Would you?,” he touched it again. He did like touching me. Lightly. Carefully.
“What time is it?,” I moved my leg over the edge of the bed. Slowly. Why would he...
He touched my shoulder again - he had soft hands - and he said: “Two hours before sunrise. But would you come with me?”
I grumbled: “Ugh... too... early... but... ugh... sure. Sure”
And then Sir Israfil took grabbed me and started carrying me bridal style.
What the hell.
And he did it with ease.
And I was just there and being carried. Through the whole castle. Up the stairs.
Until we reached a door. Then he put me down. On my naked feet. And... I expected the floor to be cold, but it... wasn't. In the first floor. It confused my brain for a second.
“This is for you. Found it finally!,” he smiled. Brightly.
And I was still silent. Had been the whole way upstairs, too.
It is rather unsettling to be carried bridal style when you are a full-grown man.
And now I was in front of a door. I stared at it and then at his smiling self... I should talk to him about... the... the thing. But... I pressed the door handle down.
And inside were... books.
I stared more, suddenly a lot more awake.
“They are somewhat dusty... and some might not be in your language, but... that's the library. It survived. And you might like it,” he nodded.
I stared a little more. I stared in both directions of the giant room. There are dozens of shelves. In both directions. I hugged him. There was not much reciprocation, but... I didn't care. I disappeared in the library.
After I'd watched Sir Israfil go back and forth towards and back away from the princess' room. When I looked out the kitchen - and after him - I saw that he... carried a lot of clothing. Towards her room.
So he took care of that. That's good!
... but apparently we didn't get more company in the castle. It was a little bit lonely. Ah well.
I... hadn't seen the princess in a while, either. Must be somewhere in the castle, exploring or training again. Sometimes she forgot the time, after all. Not too bad, lunch could be reheated for dinner, but still...
and the fact that he was back after three days and didn't even see fit to greet me was... something else, too. The only reason I noticed was because his footsteps echoed though the halls. They were entirely different from the princess – measured and somewhat careful.
It was strange what you notice when there wasn't much else to do but sit in a garden, cook and sleep. For example the way the cracks in the marble slowly closed itself. With black lines on the stone.
It wasn't even subtle. One day my room had a giant crack on the ceiling and the next it was just... gone. I climbed on the table and ran my hands over it and it was smooth. There wasn't even an edge. It was perfectly smooth and without a sign of crack. It was like the marble was just kind of... veiny now. Scratching didn't do anything either?
Weird things, seriously.
There were also noises below my feet. I didn't even want to know.
Sure I knew now that there was a vulcano and maybe the lava spoke to me, but still... weird.
Ah well, I continued to grind the wheat into flour (yes, he even brought wheat, it was a little excessive, but the 'Greenhouse' was too... I decided not to ask why it had been so close to being ripe, either, some things weren't supposed to be questioned)
“AH!,” I turned around and saw a knight slowly pulling his hand back. The grinding was apparently loud enough to not hear his footsteps this time around.
“I am sorry, I tried calling out, you didn't seem to notice,” he canted his head. Like he... does. Careful, still. And apparently held out another pile of clothes.
I... took it, when he didn't take it pack back after half a minute. He didn't apologise.
“Would you follow me?,” he said while he blinked at me. It looked like he guessed both was equally likely and that he would deal with both and didn't even assume. He just looked blankly at me.
I shrugged it off: “Ah... sure. Why?”
The knight smiled at me and held the door: “This way. And... I thought you would like to facilitate my work as well”
As I walked through, I frowned slightly: “I... don't like surprises, actually. The last two weren't that bad, but... I do like things a little bit planned out... and I tend to wish to be informed”
“Oh. I see. How unusual. It is a pleasant surprise, how I indicated... does that alleviate the uneasiness?,” he now took the lead again, leading me down to where he had gone beforehand. Made sense.
“Err... no, actually, it's still a surprise,” was that such a hard concept.
“I see. Well. Then: It's a bath. I found a cavern with marbled pools that are fueled by geothermally warmed water, a mountain spring that leads down there - so cold and warm water - and bioluminiscent, non-toxic mushrooms. It's a very good bathing area,” he nodded.
And I stopped in my tracks: “What.”
“It's a bathing area,” he stopped as well... and then started to look concerned when I frowned at him,
“Is there something wrong?”
“Well... it certainly isn't right,” because what?!
“I... uh... don't know what you mean,” and he looked the part.
“I... you just... found this?”
“Ah, there was some work involved, of course. I was gone for three days. But yes, the area itself was preserved rather well. The accessories had to be gotten, but... otherwise, it was almost fine,” he nodded again. As he... does.
“... accessories.”
“Well, yes, brushes and towels and soap and... things like that,” he waved his hand, “And the path had to be cleared. It had collapsed”
It was a bit strange to hear, but well, we had self-repairing marble. And the draft in the halls had become less as well, so maybe even self-reconstructing marble. I... didn't really want to ask right now, so I said: “So... there is a bath”
“Yes,” that seemed to have put him back on track. He looked all composed. Didn't seem to take much. Mh.
“Well... I'll look at it, then,” I looked at the pile in my hand and realised that it most likely were... towels. Huh.
Now he smiled again and I followed him to a door on the end of the hallway. One that was dangerously close to another door that lead... to a dragon that had been very suspicious and growly of door-opening activities of mine. I avoided it from then on.
This door? Apparently free of any growls.
Just a hallway, illuminated by torches. Nice and proper and actually clean. Didn't he say it had been collapsed before? He... was quick with a broom, apparently.
And then he opened the second door and... there was water. Everywhere.
There were waternoises that echoed. All around and it was in the air. There was water in the air! The one pool was steaming enough to make it almost a fog in one side of the cavern.
And there was... buckets and a mirror and there were... uh...
“... did you get me clothes?,” I frowned. I had clothes. And... what?
“Yes,” he said. As he does.
I looked at him a little longer.
He was content to look back and say absolutely nothing.
“Don't you want to... explain yourself? Why you brought them, why you thought it was necessary... anything?”
He thought for a moment: “... no”
I looked a little longer.
It didn't help.
So I sighed and shrugged. Why not. So I had more items of clothing. It wasn't a bad thing.
When I looked back at the pools, he started talking again: “Please, clean yourself with the cold water and soap first and then you can soak in the hot water... but not too long. Turn this hourglass,” he pointed, “When you get in and get out when it's run through. It's bad for you if you stay in too long. You might drown, so... pay attention, yes?”
I nodded and he... did the same and left with: “Have a nice time”
Errr... alright.
So I got out of and folded my clothes.
The cold water was really cold, but it was clean and constantly ran. From... somewhere on the ceiling. And disappeared to... somewhere on the floor. I couldn't even really tell.
But I filled a bucked and poured it over my head and used the soaps laying around. Smelled of some kind of flower. It... seemed to actually work... and I felt clean afterwards, scrubbing myself with the stuff. It had been some time.
And then... the pool. I turned the hourglass and then went into warmth. A big pool of warm, steaming water. It... was a bit heavenly. And – for some reason – smelled like home. I relaxed in the water when I found the perfect spot to lean back on an incline and just have my head over the water.
Then I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, exhaling slowly.
Maybe... maybe this castle was weird, but it certainly was also... nice.
Haaaaaaaah~
“WHAT?! What is happe-,” I flailed my arms and looked around and...
I finally focused and saw... a knight in front of me. Who looked slightly disappointed.
He... held me up.
Half-up. He had even turned me. Uh... he had pulled me... half out of the water. Water. Right. I... might have slept... in? I looked at the hourglass. It... had run through.
“... err...,” at least I was half in the water, still?
“You forgot to look after the time,” he said. Matter of factly.
“I slept in,” it was a defence.
“That... is even worse,” he canted his head again, frowning slightly.
Admittedly, a bad one: “Well... you... saved me, so now you can let me... down”
He sighed, handed me a towel and did lower me again: “Please, now leave the bath, thank you,” and he left again. Alright, then.
Huh.
I took his advice, though. Leaving the bath was a good idea. I was slightly woozy.
And then... I found the brushes.
There were hair-brushes. Lots of them.
I frowned at them all. There seemed to be a trend of being a little bit excessive.
Ah well. I brought order to the soaked mess and dried myself with one of the many towels.
And then... went to the clothing-pile.
There was... mostly simple things, but proper quality in the fabrics. Durable, but comfortable. I could approve of this. There were some royal clothes and coats, too.
In red and blue.
Excessive.
But alright.
Something was a little weird with Sir Israfil.
Ah well, I grabbed a pair of pants and put them on. Comfortable enough. I looked rather well in them, too.
While I looked into the mirror, the knight opened the door again. He looked into the bath one more time, saying: “Right, I'll be gone for a little again. I guess two to three days. Alright?”
I, in my half-naked state, answered: “Alright. Until then,” and he nodded and left again.
Seriously, he could stay away for all eternity for all I cared...
But after three days, I asked Azarang about the missing knight. After all, we were only three people. It was hard not to notice him missing. He'd been in my room at least once a day, the creeper.
So, when I asked him, he'd told me that the knight made a herb garden. And that he'd told him he'd be back in three days, so any time now, supposedly.
Azarang was cute enough to actually worry about the guy. It was almost adorable. Even pouty was a good look for him. Mmmh.
When I later checked the 'herb garden', I guessed he wasn't a knight... he was a gardener. Walking into the... 'greenhouse', it felt like walking onto a summer field in a land that is distinctly less cold and richer in flora. Because no, these plants did not live here. At all. But somehow, they did. Even bloomed. There were bees!
… I petted one.
Anyway, the perpetrator was not there. At least I felt better. Health-wise and also about my condition. My legs had stopped hurting yesterday, too. Turned out it's not wise to immediately start with ten jogs up and down a fivehundred steps tower. I could walk again. And Azarang had offered me another one of his coats. Which smelled just as nice as the last one. And was softer. I rolled up in it for a while. I thought I deserved some niceness within all this bullshit.
It was ridiculous how often I had to keep myself from reaching out and touching his face. He was almost black. I... this was not appropriate behaviour, but just seeing my hand and his skin at once was somewhat surreal. He didn't have that problem. But well... I won't do it and that's that. Except if he allows me to. Well...
… I thought I would have some time to at least daydream a little, but... there he was. The missing gardening knight.
“... couldn't you have stayed away longer?,” he just reminded me that he did absolutely nothing to get me away from here.
“Of course I could, but I have recovered another resource in the castle and I believe it will be of interest to your highness,” it was another matter-of-fact statement. He made a lot of those. I wanted to throw a pillow at him, but... I still was a princess.
“... does it involve leaving the castle and going home?,” at least I needed to make a point.
“No, it does not, it is a resource in the castle, your highness,” he didn't even have the decency to feel chastised.
I stared at him.
He looked back evenly and said after maybe two minutes: “I believe you will be pleased by it anyway”
“It's not leaving the castle,” why should I be pleased!
“It is not,” and apparently, 'why should he care'.
Jerk.
I stared at him some more until I realised he would probably stand there and let the cold in (even though it has gotten better... somehow... it feels less cold when I walk through the halls, I think the cracks get less, too. WEIRD place, like I said) all day if I didn't move, so I pulled Azarangs coat tighter around myself and got up: “FINE! Go, show me whatever strange thing you want to show me!”
“Of course, your highness,” and he started walking down the hall like he had all the time in the world.
… I would have liked to ssay, but he walked pretty much in a comfortable, fast pace and I disliked that even more. Anyway, we came to the door I had looked into the first tame I came down the tower and... the hallway behind... wasn't broken down anymore. I blinked.
“This... is open,” I pointed at it from under the layers of fabric and frowned.
“I said, I recovered another resource. It's now available,” he nodded and held the door for me.
I walked through with a deep frown. It was actually clean and – while looking somewhat battered – it was... stable.
“I almost thought this went nowhere when the marble stopped, but it seems even the builders of this castle had enough of marble at one point. It returns later for a short moment, it showed me that I was still on the right track,” whatever he meant with that. After all, he couldn't have hacked into stone! We had walked downwards, deep down into the mountain – at least it felt like it. And yes, it looked a little more cavernous than I would have liked. Less like a castle...
Hrm. Ten minutes later, he announced: “We're here,” and had his hand on a handle, opening a door and holding it for me. Maybe he had learned some manners. Just ignored them most of the time.
When I looked into the room, I was floored.
There were some torches that lit the room up, but when there weren't, there was a strange green-like shimmer. And there was... there was water. It was slightly steaming. And there were mirrors and a wardrobe with clothes and there were towels and an actual bath with... uh... with marble.
And water was trickling in somewhere and... and...
What the hell?!
After I walked in, he followed and gestured at the different items: “The strange light comes from luminiscent mushrooms. They are non-toxic and just provide and extra-light, you can ignore them. The sand glass is your limit for how long you should stay in the hot bath. After that, please cool off for a bit. You can clean yourself in the hot bath, though. It refills naturally – and takes most dirt with it. If you wish to clean yourself before, you can use the soaps over there and use the little stream to water the sponge. As for the clothes over there, they are all your size, so please, choose what you would like, the rest I will bring to your room when you are done. And... that should be it,” he shrugged.
“You... unearthed a bath... in the last three days,” I frowned at him. Even if it was a bit difficult not to stare. This was a bath. This was an actual, proper, big bath! Almost a thermae! And I'd only seen those in pictures.
… I suspected an answer, and it promptly came: “Yes”
Well, no use arguing: “... what... is that smell?,” because that was the only thing that was slightly bugging me.
“Ah, the volcanic nature of the heat for the water is... noticable, yes. It's not dangerous. The soaps should cover it,” he nodded.
“... volcanic... nature?,” would there be MORE fire than just from the bloody dragon?!
“Yes. It's inactive, but there is enough activity under earth. Again, it is not dangerous,” he smiled.
“... you have an answer for everything, don't you?,” I said it just out of spite.
“No, your highness, but for some phenomena I can provide commentary,” I squinted at him when he said that. It had been flippant. I was almost sure.
But he inclined his head towards the bath: “I will leave now, I hope you enjoy,” he bowed slightly and... disappeared.
And I was alone in a pretty big bath under ground. That was warm.
I shed my clothes and went to first clean myself. I would feel dirty if I was soaking in water with all my sweat and... yes, dirt that clung to me.
So I sponged myself with cold water that flew down in a kind of practical little waterfall. I could fill a bucket and empty it over me. I shivered after, but I felt clean for the first time in... in weeks!
And then... I went to soak.
… as a reward for actually unearthing this – however, right now I cared little – I turned the hour glass before I went in... and then seated myself, like it was planned, relaxing almost entirely submerged.
It was warm. And water. And... even the smell was kind of reassuring now. Cleaning. A little burnt.
I made bubbles under water.
Maybe today wasn't that bad. I felt almost relaxed.
