Chapter Thirteen: Considerable Knowledge

  As soon as he left the room, the female voice rang in his head, speaking in a clear monotone voice, and Elijah started as he heard it, surprise etched on his face.

  Analyzing…

  Mission: Attend Hearing With Queen completed. Mana added to Princess Amanda Gold.

  No new level reached.

  A sparking, glittery sound ran through his mind right after, a celebratory note that Elijah himself felt.

  “Well, my first job is done,” he proclaimed, smoothing his dress and keeping a smug smile on his face. “That was easy. What’s next?”

  As long as you do your own duty, then you can do whatever you want.

  “So I can’t do whatever I want?”

  That’s right. You may be a Princess, and thus have freedom, but a good Princess knows not to abuse her own freedom.

  “Hm,” Elijah thought, walking through the corridors for no particular reason. “You said I had to convince that one group. Right?”

  Yes, the Karthans. You shall need to convince them to travel to the country of the Bharghejn, so that we may ally with them. Once you research the political state of our country, you will realize that the Bharghejn finally brokered peace with the rest of the world after a century of combat, but that does not mean any country has forgiven them. Your mother, the Queen, wishes to take the first step into not only creating peace, but friendship.

  “So why don’t we just go ourselves? Why send these…Karthans?”

  Because, as you will soon see, these Karthans are human, or they once were. Other countries know they serve as our ambassadors. Also, if we sent any humans to the Bharghejn, we are unsure if they would be so peaceful. They have powers no one understands, and we must strive to make peace before another country decides the opposite.

  “Wait, the Bharghejn aren’t human?”

  Guide Amanda laughed in his head. Aren’t human, oh what a silly phrase. Of course not. You think humans are the only intelligent species?

  “Well, at first yes, before I met Einar,” Elijah admitted. “Where I come from, the only intelligent race was humans.”

  Ah, then methinks you did not explore enough of that world, yes? Well, the Bharghejn are far from human, and you may meet some of them eventually, if they refuse our offer of alliance, or if you fail to send the Karthans.

  “Why would the Karthans refuse?” Elijah asked, cocking his head as he walked forwards. He was now at the end of the castle, the exit doors standing closed in front of him, and, straining, he opened them, revealing two guards who moved not a muscle even as he passed.

  Because although they were once, and to some degree still are, human, they still classify themselves as an independent race, and Queen Evangeline has allowed that, so the group makes their own decisions. The Karthans you shall talk to here in Advantia are allowed to make decisions that they wish—the Karthan Emperor has allowed them to—and so, only if they decide it is best and in their interests will they take the mission. So, you shall strive to show them why allying with the Bharghejn is the right choice.

  “Ah, I see.”

  No, you don’t.

  “Nope,” Elijah smiled, “but I’m sure I’ll understand when I get there. I assume I must take a bodyguard, perhaps Einar?”

  Quite right. He should be guarding the castle grounds, as is his duty.

  In fact, Einar had already seen him from a distance, and was hurrying to catch up to them, his sword sheathed and his spear held forwards in neutrality. His armor shone brightly on his gray fur, and his ears pulled up in happiness along with his mouth. His smile looked a lot like baring his fangs, but Elijah guessed he couldn’t help it: it was just how an Ulfúr’s mouth worked, and he had to remind himself he wasn’t in a dream with talking wolves and strange, annoying Guide who pestered him every moment of the day.

  Hey!

  And there you go, pestering me again, Elijah grinned. You think the magic users in this land can rid me of you?

  Don’t you dare!

  We’ll see about that.

  The Ulfíir stopped in front of the princess to bow, his spear held on the ground with one hand wrapped around it while he curved himself with a flourish of his other hand.

  “A good morning, your majesty,” he said, straightening himself. “It is good to see you up and about. I feared for your health yesterday.”

  “I am glad to hear that,” Elijah blushed. “I mean, I am grateful for what you did yesterday. It was foolhardy of me to conjure the Nightmare yesterday, and I vow never to repeat it.”

  “Please don’t,” Einar told him. “I wouldn’t want to lose a friend.” His ears flattened in nervousness and sadness, and his eyes drooped as he spoke. Clearly, these Ulfúr had a hard time concealing their emotion.

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  “Don’t worry, Einar,” the princess assured him. “I shall not die anytime soon. There is much for me to do. Speaking of things I must do, will you walk with me? I have much to take care of, and shall need your help.”

  “Protection?”

  “Aye,” Elijah smiled. “I journey now to the Karthans, but on the way there, I must detail you with another mission of mine, but one I hope you to endeavour, if you shall accept.”

  “Of course,” Einar replied. “Shall you be taking your horse?”

  “I think not,” Amanda Gold responded, walking forwards past the grounds to where the first district awaited. “I wish to walk today, if you don’t mind.”

  “It’s a long walk to the Karthans, your majesty. I would hate to see you tired so.”

  “Oh, come off the impropriety,” Elijah groaned. “Just call me Amanda. No one here is listening to our conversation.”

  “You never know, but aye, I shall, Amanda,” Einar sighed in relief. “What is this mission then that you need me to accomplish?”

  “It is a curiosity of mine,” the princess admitted, shifting his gaze to Einar, who listened rapt already, hanging on his every word. “You see, I have heard theories from my mother’s library about other worlds, other dimensions, if you will.”

  When’d you get so good at this? Guide Amanda asked. Sometimes it feels you know nothing of how to belong in Advantia. Others…

  I don’t know, Elijah responded. I noticed the same. I think I’m starting to remember how to act like you did.

  Well, at least that way maybe you can learn how to be a proper princess, after all.

  I always was a proper princess, at heart, Elijah teased.

  “Well, if you are so curious about it, what need is there for me?” Einar asked.

  “I have not the time to ask around the city,” he said. “I’ve been wanting to find someone, crazy or not, who confidently states that he is from another world. I am sure those people exist, and they may be mad or liars, but I wish to speak to them. I wish you to find those people when you are not busy with your guard duties.”

  “I strive to obey,” Einar replied. “It sounds like a fun job anyways. What has caused this sudden interest in you, your majesty?”

  They crossed the first district, murmurs of the princess running through any and every citizen as they stared at her.

  Is it not normal for me to be out of the castle? Elijah asked his guide. Out loud, he answered the Ulfúr. “I just have an affection for the unknown,” he said. “Imagine we were the ones to find new land, new peoples. Wouldn’t that be absolutely incredible?”

  Well, you get out of the castle a lot, yes, but most citizens never see you, and even those who do, do so rarely.

  “That sounds incredible,” Einar admitted. “I myself would love to discover that which has never been discovered. But I very much doubt there is something out there that has not been found. If we can’t find the realm of the Gods, then any other universe is locked to us.”

  Well, maybe I should make myself known to those in the city more, to be a beacon of…hope, I think. Imagine if all the citizens could know the princess, Elijah thought, the dual conversation already confusing his mind. “The realm of the Gods?”

  I wouldn’t do that, the guide told him. There are citizens that would kill you if you got close. Not many, it must be stated, but enough.

  “Well, yes,” Einar told her. “I thought you’d heard of this, but I expect those in the castle didn’t bother about this much. It was a while back anyway. There have been many searches to find the world where all the Gods live, and I wish to be there when they do, but I doubt they will. After all, Advantia, and humanity as a whole, is losing its own Gods, and, if they are real, and so is their realm, what is done with the Gods? They don't have followers anymore. Does that affect them?”

  Advantia has Gods? What the hell is all this? I need to know more. “But the people need me.”

  Eh? The Guide asked him.

  “What do you mean?” Einar asked, cocking his head in confusion as they passed the third district. “I don’t see what the citizens have to do with our discussion, your majesty.”

  “Sorry,” Elijah blushed. “Just have a lot on my mind, and I was responding to a conversation in my head.”

  “So you weren’t paying attention to me then?” The Ulfúr chuckled.

  “What?” Elijah exclaimed, flushing and looking down in embarrassment. “Of course I did. How dare you…” Einar began to laugh louder and the princess realized he’d been joking and he gave him a light shove. “Next time don’t be so cruel to your monarch or she’ll be forced to punish you.”

  “Yes, because you’re capable of such cruelty.”

  “It isn’t cruelty if it’s well deserved,” He crossed his arms. “Teasing the princess is a crime.”

  “Is it?” The Ulfúr looked nervous now, his ears flattening down on his head in an adorable show of emotion that Elijah barely contained a squeal from.

  Ugh, must be the girly emotions in me.

  Or that’s just who you are, the Guide scoffed. Your sexism is showing.

  “No, it’s not a crime,” Elijah laughed. “Ulfúr’s aren’t the only people who can tease others.”

  “The princess shouldn’t be allowed to tease others, it’s even more cruel.”

  “Mmm, you can take it up with the Queen anytime you want, but I’m sure she’d just make fun of you.”

  “See?” Einar huffed. “That’s exactly my point.” The two chuckled, and more than one citizen looked at them in surprise, as if a legendary figure wasn’t allowed to show emotion publicly.

  “Well, I would love to hear more about the Gods, if you wouldn’t mind teaching me,” Elijah told the furred man, winking at him, and Einar blushed severely even through his gray fur, his eyes widening.

  “But, your majesty,” He stammered, avoiding her gaze, his ears twitching, tail moving furiously and beads of sweat pouring from his head. “I’m sure you know more of the Gods than I do, especially of those from every other nation.”

  “But, Einar,” Elijah continued, changing to a more neutral tone so he didn’t turn on and embarrass the man any further. “I would love to hear what an average citizen and guard can tell me. What I learn in the castle is regulated, made sure to not stir controversy. I must know the rumors, not just what I have learned in the castle.”

  “I might actually take you up on that offer, your highness,” Einar admitted. “If you also agree to tell me what you know. The Gods are fascinating, and the more I know, the more intrigued I get. Oh, look, we have arrived. Let us talk later.”

  Princess Amanda Gold—formerly Elijah—stared at the Karthans district and his jaw dropped.

  Welcome to the magical district, Princess.