MM - Chapter 169 - A PRINCESS’S PERIL

Selena Celendine led Raine to a nearby restaurant. Lyale hovered nearby, not-so-subtly interposing himself between them while squinting and scowling at Raine’s every move. The observations went both ways. For such a vital quest, every detail of his potential allies' strengths and weaknesses was important. If they suddenly found themselves surrounded, Raine would need to instantly judge how much either Lyale or Selena could handle as he dealt with his own enemies. That was only one of the hundreds of worst-case scenarios that played through his thoughts as he trailed along behind the royals.

No more teleporting? An item and not a skill, then. Makes sense, a princess would never be allowed to level as a caster; too many vulnerabilities. Those robes make it hard to pin down her build. I’ll have to test her later. He’s clearly a fencer; likely an all-rounder.

The bulky, dark robes and deep hoods weren’t doing the duo any favors. In a few short minutes, they drew more looks than Raine had received since entering the city. Thankfully, nobody harassed them. The restaurant Selena chose was fairly popular due to its novelty fruits and sweets. 

Upon entering, a simple snap of her fingers had the staff hustling the few patrons out the door. Reasonably annoyed at the interruption, several grumbled and argued. One woman even shouted about the deplorable treatment, attempting to resist. She was promptly sent sailing by a swift kick in the ass from the establishment's bouncer. She landed hard on the cobbled street, the door slamming shut in her gaping face.

The staff are used to this. Not our princess’s first time here. No wonder Lyale’s so testy. She must be impossible to keep safe. This… isn’t going to be easy.

Lyale silently bore with the proceedings. His sour expression betrayed the seething discomfort beneath the surface. The moment the door was shut, the four staff members bowed in half and didn’t rise until after Selena left the main room. She led Raine down a short hallway and up a set of stairs. The second floor had softer lighting that complemented its personable decor, designed to make one feel at home.

Selena sat at one of the empty tables, beckoning Raine to join her. Lyale positioned himself between her and an open veranda door. He removed the bulky robes, revealing fine, light armor. After scanning the room for the third time, he cracked his neck, eyes swiveling to Raine, where they stayed. The gaze was heavy, but nothing compared to a Hierarch.

Raine took his seat calmly, gaze constantly dancing around the room and out the door. The princess still hadn’t chosen to speak. As decorum demanded, Raine remained silent. Minutes passed before a round of fruity-looking beverages was delivered. Selena passed a wrist over hers, and a bracelet that appeared simple to the naked eye released a golden glow. Taking a sip, she sighed contentedly. Neither Raine nor Lyale made a move to try their own.

The door clicked shut behind the servant, and Selena pulled back her hood far enough to reveal a cherubic face, dark green eyes, and petite, smirking lips. Selena’s demeanor flipped in an instant to that of a playful teen, fitting her coy smile almost too well. She was pretty in the classical Vaaterran style, no surprise considering her genetics. 

Raine wasn’t interested in the least, remaining unfazed by her appearance. Nobles, politics, and conniving, manipulative women were all at the top of his never-to-touch-again list.

Selena took another sip, watching Raine just as intently. “It seems you’ve already guessed what this is about.”

“Partially,” Raine shrugged. “There has to be more to it than simply protecting you. I’m too low-level. So, that means you’re going somewhere your regular guards can’t follow. Still, it doesn't make any sense to pull in an outsider. I’ll admit, I’m curious.”

Lyale’s brows hiked higher as though not expecting to hear the exact arguments he’d already used coming from Raine’s mouth. Selena chuckled, sneaking a glance at her guardsman. “Why, you’ve struck the archer's eye, Master Alaric. Are you familiar with The Girding?”

Raine had to search deep into his memories for the word. It rang a distant bell, though he couldn’t be sure he had the right of it. “I’ve heard the word, though can’t recall the meaning.”

“Unsurprising. You Travelers are new here, unfamiliar with our ways.” Selena set down her drink, gaze turning distant and tinged with pain. “The Girding is a ceremony each of my… current siblings has survived. It is my turn.”

No wonder I couldn’t remember. The Celendine dynasty was wiped out, and their deadly little coming-of-age ceremony died with them. Wait a damn second!

It was a well-known fact that each of the Celendine royals owned a divine artifact of tremendous power. It was their family legacy. Supposedly, an ancient god had blessed their line, allowing each with even a trace of Celendine blood to create their own personal artifact. In the past, Raine had witnessed Prince Qavid’s artifact wipe out an army by turning the ground in an entire zone to lava.

Not revealing his excitement, Raine twirled a finger, prompting Selena to continue. Her lips twisted in displeasure at the lack of reaction. Her voice became tight, strained with the stress of one about to embark on a dangerous adventure. “The time, place, and specific stipulations of each Girding are unique, granted to us individually at our twelfth coming of age. My vision came with twin warnings. The first was that I found only a single companion to venture into the Girding with, and they must not be of this realm. For years, I struggled to understand how I could trust a demon, or worse, with my life. Only recently has that mystery been solved.”

Raine was caught in a moment of realization and spoke his thoughts aloud. “It’s a traveling Mystic Realm, isn’t it?” Lyale’s fingers inched toward the hilt of his blade, glare sharpening. Raine snorted at his suspicion. “Why else would you need someone at my level? It all makes sense now. All right, I’m in. How long do we have?”

Selena wore an expression of pleasant surprise, which she quickly covered by taking a sip of her beverage. “You are remarkably well informed, Master Alaric. I did not expect an outsider to know of traveling Mystic Realms, nor their requirements.”

Deciding to put their concerns at ease, Raine gave them the most believable explanation. “The one I cleared and found my class in was stable. Got me curious about what other kinds might be out there.”

“Oh?! You’ve completed a Mystic Realm before? That is fantastic!” Selena clapped cheerily, smile returning full-force. Even Lyale’s steadfast frown cracked for a brief moment, revealing as close to relief as the man could come. “That is certainly a mark in favor of your credentials. Few survive them, let alone complete one. For obvious reasons, I cannot go into further detail about where we are going or what we will face. As for when: the portal shall open in two days. If not for the speed you displayed previously, I would insist we depart immediately.

No wonder Lyale was so pushy before. They were already running out of time to find someone.

[Unique Quest: A Princess’s Peril offered]

[Venture into an unknown Mystic Realm, supporting Princess Selena Celendine on her mission to claim a relic chosen for her alone by the deities of old. (2 days remaining)]

[Rewards: Celendine Dynasty Reputation. Additional potential rewards based on performance]

[Accept: Y/N]

[Warning: Failure to complete this quest on time will have unforeseen and dire consequences. Quest may not be abandoned]

There it is. The deities of old. I freaking knew it! Their ‘coming of age ceremony’ is creating a personal divine artifact. Even one more weapon like Qavid's would have made all the difference last time. This isn’t just some random forerunner quest; keeping this carefree-ass princess alive is going to decide the fate of the entire kingdom…

I better make some preparations.

Raine focused on accepting the quest, and a little timer appeared in his HUD. Standing, he bowed, “Since time is short, I’ll take my leave. Which gate are we leaving from?”

“Are you familiar with the Teleportation Hall in the Noble's District?”

Raine nodded, “Across from the Administrative Offices.”

“Good. We will be waiting for you there. Please, be swift, Master Alaric.”

Raine held his arms wide, a smile on his lips, “Swift is what I do best.”

The moment he stepped from the room and shut the door, Raine triggered Grace of Nirvana. Quests like this were always a dance along a razor's edge. If he took even five seconds too long to prepare and meet Selena, the consequences could be disastrous. Worse, he had no way to know when that cut-off was.

Raine shot through an open window at the end of the hallway, not bothering with the stairs. He flew free from the building, landing in a sprint that took him down a back alley toward the Auction House. As a noble, he wouldn't be tossed in a cell for using skills and sprinting through the district, but the guards would definitely stop him for questioning if he was caught.

He slowed to a walk at each intersection, then raced ahead after confirming the coast was clear. His actions elicited shouts of alarm from citizens and Travelers alike, especially when he dashed along the side of a building to clear a large group clogging the street. He jogged across the Auction House yard and through the front door, then angled a direct course to the stairs. Several times, people unwittingly got in his way. He weaved and sidestepped around them, never slowing.

The guards posted at the foot of the stairs lowered their weapons. “Halt!”

Raine raised both hands, palms out. “Apologies. I must speak with Mrs. Stonewhall. It is urgent. Please inform her that Alaric is here to see her.”

The guard who spoke before snarled. “I don't give two pisses who you think—”

“Enough. He's on the list.” The other guard smacked his companion on the arm. “Besides, didn't you notice?” He pointed to Raine as though that explained what he was talking about.

“That's the Queen's?! I-my apologies, Favored One.” The rude guard bowed low, but Raine didn't have time for any of that.

“It really is an urgent matter. If she's not here, then I'll buy a Message Stone if the manager is willing to connect me.”

“That won't be necessary, Favored One.” A light, feminine voice called from up the stairs. Mrs. Stonewhall was exactly as Raine remembered, though wearing much finer garb this time. She was thin, middle aged, and wore her regal charm with pure grace, unlike a certain playful princess. However, just like Selena, Mrs. Stonewhall’s personality was clearly fleshed out in ways that most of the current Vaaterrans lacked.

She held out an arm with an inviting smile, “Shall we take a walk, my dear?”

“Yes!” Raine both responded and cheered at his luck. Though even if she weren't there, it simply would have cost a little extra to reach her. He bounded up the stairs, and she laughed with a gloved hand covering her mouth. Looping her arm through his, she led Raine deeper into the second floor.

Despite his current urgency, the stairs to the third floor didn't go unnoticed. Raine could only hope that fortune and wealth would favor him soon, so he could finally see what awaited him there. That damn one-time ticket had been burning a hole in his inventory for too long.

When they were out of earshot of the other employees, Mrs. Stonewhall paused, facing Raine with a questioning expression devoid of concern.

He spoke without preamble. “I accepted a quest to accompany Princess Selena on her Girding. No matter what, she has to survive. I was hoping the Auction House could lend me a Platinum Card.” 

Raine’s request had the unflappable woman's brows rising high. She blinked at him twice before finding her voice, “We'll set aside how you know about those cards and their effects… for now, and only because of who you're hoping to protect with it. As for granting one, that's beyond my station.” 

Despite her refusal, there was a glimmer in her eyes that had Raine hoping there was still a chance.

“Wait here. I shall relay your request to the Master. I must warn you, even if he agrees, the price will be high, and I'm not speaking in a fiscal sense. You understand?”

Raine's expression was stern, his nod brimming with conviction.

“Good. One moment, if you please.” Mrs. Stonewhall ducked into a nearby office space. The brief glance Raine got of the interior revealed expensive furniture topped with relics, antiques, and artifacts that he could only guess the value of.

He sighed deeply, forcing his muscles to relax. Asking for the Platinum Card was a long shot to begin with. They were priceless items, loaded with protective enhancements like resurrection, de-curse, illusion shatter, array break, full-heal, full-restore, to name only a few. They were one-time use, and for a Vaaterran, the ultimate form of protection designed to keep the holder alive long enough for the built-in teleportation to bring them home. So much Elemental and Divine energy packed into a single item was normally impossible. Circumventing that restriction required numerous sacrifices to the right gods, sacrifices that were not paid without spilled blood.

Yet no matter the cost, if it were possible to get his hands on one, Raine would pay it. For him, a death would mean the catastrophic loss of Bhima, a tragedy to be sure, but manageable. For Princess Selena, death was a permanent end, and the potential end of the entire Silvergate Kingdom.