Chapter 45: Prelims Day 2 (Part 7)

[...] - Everyone

[Ahem. I came here today to express my beloved countries deepest apologies for this recent incident as well as your treatment afterwards. Given your positions our response was unacceptable and we hope it does not sour your view of our capabilities.] - Prince Julias

[And the culprit? When do I get to rip his balls off?] - Karen

[Kare Kare! Let me do it instead.] - Rose

[As long as you leave me his manhood I'm fine, I've read of some interesting techniques with skinning those parts while the victim is still alive. It's supposed to be... quite painful.] - Malaise

[Don't leave me out of the fun!] - Veronica

[...] - Shade

[R-Right... I-I'm sorry to say that we are unable to turn him over at this time but rest assured that his involvement in this matter will be punished according to his crimes and his close aides that assisted him will be included in said punishment according to Section 7-5 of the treaty between our countries as outlined in the Council's Agreement. You must understand that I can't release a citizen of my own country to face punishment by noble's of another of course.] - Prince Julias

[What I understand is that bastard attacked my friends and I don't trust you to do anymore than give him a slap on the wrist!] - Rose

[R-Rose! I understand how you feel but he IS a prince, calm down!] - Malaise

I was angry. More angry than I'd been in my entire life that I could remember. Even the "Social" incident hadn't made my blood boil this much and while I had every right to be my anger seemed a bit excessive even in my mental state. Breaking myself out of the runaway feedback loop that was my emotions as soon as Malaise spoke I consulted with Logic internally and he confirmed that my energy was unstable once more.

Cursing internally at the irritation condition I was in I took a few deep breaths before speaking again, much less angry now than a moment ago although I could feel the rage eating at my concentration in the background, distracting me with it's whispers. Pushing it down I focused on my barely remembered lessons on how to converse with foreign royalty before starting.

[Fuuuuuu.... Fuuuu.... I... Apologize for my outburst Prince Julias, of course I understand as a fellow noble family the duty to protect one's citizen's from excessive foreign involvement in the judicial process. I do request to be present when the trial begins as per that same treaty as part of the effected party.] - Rose

[I am... overjoyed at your understanding and poise in such a difficult position and of course accept your condition. The other's are welcome as well as they were more directly inconvenienced in this event.] - Prince Julias

[Thank you. I must request our leave however as we are quite tired and famished from this experience and I have only just returned from a quite arduous trip.] - Rose

[You are welcome of course, if it is acceptable I would like to contact you and your friends at a later date for dinner. Have a wonderful evening.] - Prince Julias

Bowing slightly in a way that showed just how much practice he had gone through the Prince stood aside to allow us to leave, each of us curtsying as we did so, my own being far more awkward than his for lack of any real practice.

[So what took you so long?] - Principal Night

[I don't answer to you, shapeshifter. I took as long as she needed to grow safely.] - Gil

[Actually... you do answer to me now. As of 5 month's ago I spoke with the Adventurer's Guild and in lieu of punishing you I negotiated with them to instead hire you as a teacher. You work for me now.] - Principal Night

[Heh... Are you sure you should do that? Hiring a teacher that hate's you could be dangerous.] - Gil

The two powerhouses glared at each other for a full minute before the shapeshifter broke eye contact first. Pouring the both of them tea she offered a cup to her rival who at first glared at the offending item before reluctantly taking it from her.

[Hah.... You know, I find myself in a difficult position at the moment. I'm dealing with immense political pressure's, both from within and out. I have found that I need.... trustworthy allies in these difficult and chaotic times.] - Principal Night

[And what makes you think I'd be willing to be such an ally? Oh good tea!] - Gil

[I'm glad you like the tea, I actually received it as a gift from a certain succubi family up north... As for your question... You want to protect Rose. And more than that you want to make sure that her grandfather doesn't completely wipe life off the face of our continent.] - Principal Night

[What?!? How did you know about that?!?] - Gil

Taking a sip of her own tea between sentences the older shapeshifter revealed her knowledge of their imminent mutual foe's arrival, much to the surprise of the immortal old man.

[Oh that? Let's just say that several of my contacts got ahold of me in a panic and informed me of the news before going into hiding. Don't worry about said knowledge spreading though... I doubt too many people outside of her family are even aware of it and those that are aren't interested in revealing that fact. In fact I'd imagine that most of them are currently on their way off this continent, safer to leave than to risk it afterall.] - Principal Night

[And you? Why haven't you left yet?] - Gil

[Because I assume that you know why he's coming... something to do with Rose I presume?] - Principal Night

[Fine... I'll work with you.] - Gil

[And the reason?] - Principal Night

[None of your business. But if you're putting me in charge of a class make it Magic Theory. Your school's curriculum is absolute garbage.] - Gil

Smiling and nodding silently the shapeshifter continued to sip on her tea as she watched the person she knew as Manic Blade, as well as several other's names he had gone by in the past to the point that even the Guild didn't know his true name, leave, only stopping him right before he left.

[Oh and one more thing! Are you going to continue going by your Adventurer's Title or will you finally let me know your true name?] - Principal Night

[Call me whatever you want. It makes no difference to me.] - Gil

With that the old man slammed the door behind him, leaving Night with her thoughts.

[I'm sorry ma'am it seems that our travel will be delayed a while longer. I've just been informed that a rockslide has blocked the tracks going south and they don't expect it to be cleared until tomorrow evening.] - Strict-Looking Lamia Warrior

[Oh? And the actual reason?] - Queen Laura

[Not known at this juncture, our agents are investigating several leads and it is expected that one of them will pan out before the morning. Well within the anticipated timeline ma'am!] - Strict-Looking Lamia Warrior

[I see, well in that case why don't you join me for some tea and a meal Miriam? It's been so long since we were able to just relax.] - Queen Laura

[M-Ma'am!?! I-It would be improper for someone of my...] - Miriam

[Nonsense. I'm your Queen and I say that I want my guardswoman to have tea and lunch with me. And call me Laura while we're relaxing. Hmph!] - Queen Laura

[I-If you say so ma'a... L-Laura. Driver, take us to the Plaza Tea Shop and make sure to reserve the entire building for our arrival!] - Miriam

Miriam, or Captain of the Queensguard Miriam de la Certus, liked to think of herself as a studious person. Voluntarily joining the military at the age of 7 as soon as she was considered an adult she served with multiple honor's dealing with Kobold attacks along the Northern border at a small unmarked fort north of the City of Miliaris, jokingly called Dead End Fort or Sand Sea Pitfall for the lack of advancement opportunities at such a small military outpost. There had been rumors before her transfer there that her Commander at the time was doing so because of her jealousy but regardless she had made the most of it and succeeded in not only halting a tribe of Kobold in their tracks but in so doing she had even gotten the respect of their rival tribe's Chieftain and said tribe was now benefiting as our ally in the Southern Waste's of the Dracas Sand Sea. That event had gotten the notice of several prominent political figures at the time and she had soon been approached to undergo the trial for acceptance into the newly appointed Queensguard for the heir-apparent Laura de la Anguis.

The next few years had been filled with intense training, mental conditioning and even torture resistance exercises. All while her, and her fellow future Queensguard interacted with the young miss in an attempt to form a lasting relationship with her. At first she had been distant with her future boss, not really hostile but refusing to truly open up to someone she only saw as a spoiled rich girl with too much time on her hands. That had all changed when both her and the future Queen had been kidnapped by a group of brigands while she had been indulging one of her lady's dalliances.

They'd been out gathering alchemical reagents for some new potion the young royal had wanted to make for some Dragon-kin male that had been advising her mother when they'd been ambushed while separated from the rest of the Queensguard. Miriam, wanting to allow at least her charge to escape, had planned to fight the ambusher's to the death only to be stopped by the resolute Queen-to-be as she personally faced down said attackers, berating them to their faces as a distraction while the rest of their protective duty snuck up behind them to finish the hapless bandit's off. The smile she had given her afterwards as she expressed her relief that they were both safe had stuck with her to this day. It had been at that moment that she realized that the impulsive brat that she'd thought she was babysitting was that way for a reason, sure she wanted to have fun but she also knew how to fill the massive shadow left by her mother when needed.

It had been nearly 20 years since then and the no-longer young Queensguard had seen countless instances of both the serious and the informal Queen, although the latter still made her uncomfortable to this day.

Smiling to herself slightly as she recalled her past she decided to play along with the Queen's request, knowing that it was only meant to be a distraction from their mission in the moment and that as soon as was needed the powerful pillar of a Queen she knew and loved would emerge to deal with the coming difficulties.