Chapter 5: His Royal Highness In Full Glory And Magnificence Displayed Now Kneel!
Riné and Holless stood over the Notus leader who was sprawled out on the ground in an extremely damaged state as Riné brought down his saber only to be caught by Holless's crossbow.
"This is mine."
Riné's ire was hardly being contained at this point as for the last three rounds of Notus and
"Leader's orders to capture it alive for the quest logistics took. Don't take it too harshly after all I believe we've gotten off on the wrong foot."
Holless's emotionless expression contrasted Riné's glare as he retorted bluntly.
"Wrong foot how?"
"Hm. I don't wish to say too much but I consider you as a rival after all we're in the same field."
As the two eyes met Riné quickly understood their meaning Holless held an undiscerning gaze that seemed to gaze past everything else and the world itself. An unfazed visage. The myth that those who have taken a life could discern others seemed true in this moment.
"Please don't talk to me. I don't-.. like you."
Oddly enough these few words caused Holless's expression to break toward concern as his eyebrows raised. Riné felt disgust at being near their presence and moved back in apprehension.
"Alright then friends?"
Holless began to brutally incapacitate the leader Notus in front of Riné to Riné's dismay as he turned his head to the side coldly.
"No."
Holding a Notus clock hand from the leader they held it close to their face as Holless began to plead almost seeming similar to a puppy.
"Please?"
'I can't pinpoint this guy at all. Every move he makes is an attempt to probe more about me as he observes any small detail with those eyes of his. Disgusting.'
"As I said we'll talk later."
Holless silence grew to a standstill as his expression returned to curiosity, taking one more glance at Riné's disgust before nodding taking the commander with him. Riné sighed as he felt a headache brewing. He wasn't just feeling physical exhaustion but mental exhaustion as well.
"Need a drink?"
Kairi approached Riné as the walls crumbled down toward the next section. Lifting a leather canteen the sound of water moving inside made Riné's mouth feel parched, and he wanted to refuse at first but licking his lips made him oblige.
''Because of the fact more groups joined up from each section the need for logistics to only solve puzzles was unnecessary. This has led to Kairi being a support unit for Riné and the other vanguard.'
"Is this water from your water magic? It doesn't taste any different from regular water."
Kairi tensed up from being questioned as he felt nervous. Riné was a big shot while he was a country bumpkin. Taking a big gulp and slightly flustered he managed to respond sincerely.
"It's actually my specialty to have a malleable water. I can use it to wash things, cook, and collect to have good effects!"
Nodding up and down, wanting to seem helpful, made Kairi pause for a second to consider what he was doing. Bragging about being able to make cooking water to a guy capable of using lightning magic to an advanced degree in combat for his age made him feel pale in comparison as he closed his mouth looking toward Riné. On the contrary, Riné seemed to view Kairi in a good light.
'These guys. Well the ones on my team, they're all decent people. Water huh. I wonder if it's good for hair as well…'
"How'd you like to be by my side at the academy?"
His expression was completely serious with only a simple gaze toward Kairi's. A step. Riné moved closer, although Kairi was slightly taller than Riné he couldn't help but feel pressured as he blushed profusely. It was very flattering but Kairi had seen Riné's daft wording as he understood their true meaning. Riné's azure eyes full of seriousness in this question made Kairi feel perplexed. He had to put him down gently
"I'm sorry but I'll have to politely refuse- I'll just focus on my studies for now!"
Kairi sincerely shot down the deal as he closed his eyes and bowed to apologize, his forehead slammed downward landing straight on Riné's head. Riné's gaze flew downward toward the ground as their heads made contact to Riné's surprise, with the refusal and sudden friendly fire.
"Oh my! I'm so sorry- I didn't mean to- If you want I'll accept-"
"No. It's fine. I'm sorry just focus on your studies."
Rubbing the area of collision gently, Riné simply shook his head as his battle-hardened form became softer as he muttered from a sudden impact.
"Ah, don't worry we can be friends though."
Kairi's shame and apologetic attitude showed as he comforted the dejected Riné gently petting their head ruffling Riné's hair. It was something Kairi did whenever one of his siblings would get hurt in order to soothe them but in instinct he cared for Riné. The petting only lasted for a couple of seconds as Kairi warmly smiled at Riné before fading as the realization of what exactly he was doing hit.
"Heh?!"
Riné became beet red as he dashed backwards away from Kairi's caressing, his hair frazzled and face in disorder he stood on guard.
"Wh-what are you doing?!"
For the first time in years, Riné had raised his voice. Riné had only let his master pet his head and play with his hair so when a random stranger began to caress him, he could only overreact from the overstimulating touch as he was overwhelmed with shame, embarrassment, and disarray.
Kairi on the other hand went pale in anguish. He had first head-butted Riné and now he had basically embarrassed a peer. Kairi was about to slam his forehead on the ground in forgiveness when a horn sounded. The walls had fully come down as the allied examinee group made their entrance.
The ground shook as a great number of troops marched, the sounds of ticks filled the air, and one figure could be seen above the rest riding a brute's back on four legs. Golden locs similar in texture to that of silk bundles ran down their ears as they hung over a black headband with two horns projecting out half a foot aiming toward the sky. Their dark olive skin glistened in the light of the sun as they rested their face on their palm in boredom. Any citizen of the Daelk Empire could recognize this man as the second candidate for the throne, Prince Niccoló.
Kairi stopped in stunned breath not even reacting to Riné much more than rapid sorrys as he blurted out.
"Prince Niccoló!"
Riné snapped out of his stupor as he observed the Prince recognizing his status beyond his history. An examinee of this status had a large impact on Riné as he recognized their majesty in an aura similar to the sun and its light.
'Arch-Demon.'
The demon race was indistinguishable from humans in appearance with the only indicators being horn-like appendages that vary in shape and color among heritages however one universal demon type stood supreme. Arch-demons. Kairi was a demon but his horns were hidden by his hair but Arch-demons manifest horns that are several times larger than those of normal demons. They also have several redeeming strengths that make them natural leaders when they are born or manifested within demons who lead a group.
"I've heard only a little of the crown situation but he must be the crown prince, correct?"
Kairi upon hearing this question shook his head before explaining.
"It hasn't been decided but his rival the son of the former Outside Daemon is in the lead currently in support."
Riné was internally surprised however he showed only a slight amount of it.
"Being an Arch-demon not being enough to ensure leadership must mean his rival is powerful."
After the Outside Daemon was killed in the Glass War the strength of the throne was increased exponentially, inversely proportional to the nobles as the competition for the throne was essentially a lengthy process among branch royal families to determine the best candidate. This was far different from Riné's homeland the Kapsuet Dominion where a single direct bloodline ruled the nation.
'I would have done more research on the landscape of the nation but with the limited resources I had to, and the time before this mission was assigned was too short.'
"I see. Thank you for the explanation.."
Riné took small steps away from Kairi still upset from the headpats as he nodded his eyes averted shunning Kairi coldly.
"I'm sorry but you don't have to back off that far!"
Kairi took a step toward Riné as Riné took a step back. This repeated back and forth before the two armies met.
…..
"Greetings friends! Seeing as the numbers we're reaching are almost in the four digits that must mean we're approaching the end."
"Of course. If not for the fact that this test is being pushed to its limits I'd say this was an easy royal outing."
Mime and Niccoló sat on the brute's back together lifting sips from a cup. On the back of the brute, a tent was formed as the two were served refreshments, fanned, and playing a game of checkers while the Notus army stood in the distance. To anyone without prior context it would seem bizarre and to the cambers this was even more bizarre.
"This is good! What is it?"
Mime took a large mouthful of the tea as it seemed to explode with flavors reminiscent of honey jasmine tea. Perfect temperature between lukewarm and hot as he praised it with a grin. Niccoló laughed as he raised his hand a student walked out wearing meager clothing and a chef's hat. The student cleared their throat
"Lionbee Tea infused with steviafruit from my brewing magic."
The brewer bowed their head proud of their work as Mime felt an improvement in mana flow. The Prince waved them off before laughingly joking
"Enough of the semantics what do you say? Surrender your control over your army and become a vassal."
The Prince moved the cup of tea in his possession toward Mime. If he drank it that meant he submitted his authority.
Mime grabbed the teacup as he raised it toward his mouth stopping for a second before asking.
"What's your plan?"
Taken aback by Mimes' hesitation the Prince simply snapped his fingers as an older examinee stepped onto the tent.
"Say hello to my royal knight. His strength is superb and with him I've managed to easily clear a path toward absolute victory!"
The older examinee looked to be in his mid twenties as he stood out compared to the younger examinees who ranged from the lowest fifteen to the highest nineteen. The man was slightly bulky under his white dress shirt, a size small for him, black leggings, and a grey unbuttoned overshirt. His hair is his most defining feature as it was a mix of bright turquoise near the roots and pink from the sides and edges creating a vibrant appearance. His eye coal like as he looked toward the others with a nervous expression not speaking a single word.
"He's impressive however I have my own vanguard."
Whistling a high tune Riné and Holless stepped onto the brute's back. A magnificent duo that had effortlessly taken down the Notus who dared to step in their path with a begrudging dynamic of slash and clean up. The Prince shifted from his chair as he laid eyes on the two. Riné's battle-hardened aura seemed to leak a dominating aura and mana that seemed to charge the air around it he wasn't someone to scoff at. Holless on the other hand was someone the Prince recognized in the clan.
'A member of the Truesight clan? Aren't they reclusive only appearing in front of his majesty's orders?'
The Prince nodded as he opened his mouth. Riné and Holless quickly understood the situation placed in front of Mime as they awaited his offer. To them, their success wasn't determined here but for the others, it was difficult to determine.
"Now will you reject or accept my offer?"
"I accept!"
'Huh, that quick..?'
"Of course with certain tiny little conditions that I'm sure your highness couldn't reject~"
Mime lifted the bottle of tea downing it in a moment as he wiped his mouth with his hand with a plotting grin.