This Magical Girl Isn't A Hero

3. This Princess? So Unreasonable!

1

"So... how do we..."

"I already have."

We were standing before a large desk, even larger than the rows of wooden pews on either side. A symbol loomed over us.

The knights kept their swords drawn. I couldn't blame them. From what they had seen, I was dangerous, unpredictable, prone to bouts of...

... what did my mentor call it? Impulsive behavior? Violence? Oh. Yeah. Not thinking in the heat of battle! That's it! More or less.

"But... it's been an hour."

"Two. Two hours."

I sighed, legs trembling. "Why is it taking so long?!"

Martin stared straight ahead, unblinking. His face no longer looked like a river of lava. Whatever veins had been visible no longer were. It was like a mask.

"The princess hasn't left her room in months, remember?"

I could hear the clanking and clunking. Armor hitting armor.

The knights were shaking in their helmets. A few bumped into each other, accidentally stomped on each other's feet.

"I mean, yeah, but—"

Wait.

Wait a gosh darned minute.

Huh?

"D-d-d-d-d-d-d-di-di-di-di-di-di-di-di-di-di-di-di-di—"

"Enunciate, Juby. Use your big girl words."

"Did you just say, 'months'?"

Martin glanced, and I could see his eyebrows.

They were both cocked. They resembled fluffy caterpillars with hook-shaped heads, which ended in fine points. It would have been pretty funny.

If not for the smoke billowing from his nostrils.

"Are you really that stupid?"

I shook my head, and turned away from him. I could've sworn his pupils had been different, somehow. A little more reptilian.

My mind raced. Questions were flashing, as bright as advertising signs. Did dragons exist? In this world? How did they reproduce? With who? With his ancestors?

The courtroom was quiet. It lacked windows, so the only light came from the torches lining the stone walls. Cobwebs filled every corner. It hadn't been used in months.

Cracks crisscrossed. The floor was dented inwards. Something must have stomped its feet, maybe after a disappointing sentencing.

But the dents were strange. They looked almost like hoof prints.

Hoof prints.

Hoof prints?

What kind of animal— no, what kind of fantasy creature left hoof prints in the floor?

Minotaurs?

Satyrs?

D-d-d-d-d-d-d-de-de-de-de-de-de-de—

"–de-de-de-de-de-de—"

"Destroyed? Yes, Juby, you've definitely destroyed the lobby. Absolutely wrecked it! I doubt they'll be able to even rebuild the dang thing. The Royal Mages are apparently having issues with using their magic."

—

Magical girl wands are infamous for discharging large amounts of... well, not radiation, but something like that.