Terraria | MAGE CLASS

Chapter 16 Partner

Third Person's POV

Amber was brought to the audience hall, where the revelation of the Dryad's warning had taken place. Paying her respect to the royalty in front of her, she knelt without a second thought. Head bowed down, her eyes sees nothing but the shiny tiles of the floor.

Soldiers are in every corner of the room, which makes the atmosphere a bit tense for her. She'd already accepted her fate a while ago; she was ready for what was about to come, but what the king said next was something she had never taken into account.

"Amber Kenley, I hereby appoint you as a battle companion of my daughter. From now on, you'll be fighting alongside her in times of disaster or unexpected events and it's your duty as her partner to protect her when things get out of control." The man sitting on the throne stated.

"Huh?" The confusion on Amber's face is apparent, as is the princess's, who's standing right beside the throne where Edmund Cromwell is seated. The Queen, on the other hand, is nowhere to be seen. "I'm sorry your majesty if I'm being disrespectful right now but this is so sudden...

... I mean, I'll gladly do as you say but I don't know if I'm good enough for something like this. I do not belong to the one of the strongest mage in terraria so I can't... I can't guarantee her safety." She blurted out.

For a moment, Amber regretted what came out of her mouth as what followed her words was utter silence. No one has ever really expressed their doubt about the majesty's command before. Although the soldiers stationed on watch feel the same way as Amber, they never really expected her to outright say it in front of the king.

Breaking the silence, Edmund Cromwell finally speaks his thoughts, "My men told me of what happened in the battlefield. The story of my daughter being with a stranger she likely had never spoken to before, and apparently working together, is something I never expected to hear. My daughter, Gelosia, has always been vocal about her discomfort when working or fighting with other people, especially when she's in her wolf form. So, I see no other person fit to be her partner other than you."

"...But ...I don't have the skills for it..." she persisted.

The thought of being banished and chased out of the kingdom earlier is completely out of her mind now. What was once nervousness has now turned into a feeling of pressure.

The pressure of failing to protect something so important to the Sven Kingdom, and the pressure of not living up to her own and other expectations weigh heavily on her. "What if I mess up?"  Is what she asked herself inside.

Edmund Cromwell looked at the girl whose eyes are fixed on the floor. The king was already aware of the fact that this mage is lacking in so many aspects to be entrusted to the kingdom's future queen. If you ask other ordinary people, they will most likely say it's not worth the risk. They just met and he knows nothing of the girl in front of him but his decision is already set.

It's understandable that she doesn't feel confident in her abilities, not just her, but the soldiers standing quietly also share the same worry. Afterall, there's only one person who knows what will become of this girl in the near future.

"I'm gonna ask you one question, Amber Kenley, will you do it for me?"

The mage, on her knees, found the question almost amusing. After all, everyone knew she couldn't refuse or rather, she mustn't refuse. The king demands only one answer, and it's to do as she is told. For someone like her,  someone of a lower rank, there was no room for defiance.

"I.. I will do it..." Amber finally gave up, feeling a mix of emotions for having no power about the predicament.

"You don't have to worry about your current strength right now. With my help and power, you will grow stronger and stronger until you no longer doubt yourself."

She didn't find solace in his words at all, but she didn't press the matter any further. At this point, all she wants is to be dismissed and get the rest she deserved. It felt as if so much had happened in just a span of one week for Amber.

"What's your thoughts on this Gelosia?" Edmund Cromwell asked his beloved daughter next to him.

"It'll be good for the two of us." The princess answered, her blue eyes on the mage.

Hearing a short and straight-forward answer from his daughter put a smile on the majesty's face. Feeling satisfied, Edmund Cromwell finally dismissed the mage along with the princess.

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"So Amber Kenley huh? Pretty name! I assume you already know my name." Bounding forward, the princess was so graceful on her steps.

The mage just stared at the happy-go-lucky girl, her expression serious and exhausted. She saw her as innocent and a bit oblivious, but thinking back to the moment when she was riding on her wolf form, she couldn't deny that there was more to her. She's kind of understand now why the majesty allowed her daughter, this little girl is composed and smart unlike herself.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Gelosia asked innocently.

"Nothing..."

"Sure"

Silence.

"...I thought the reason I was called is because of the insult I said to the your father." She sighed.

"Oh? Is that why you looked so worried when you entered the royal hall? That makes sense now. I was wondering why you're stiff." The princess let out a chuckle. "Should I tell it to my father next time?"

"What?"

"Kidding." She laughed so innocently that Amber just stared in disbelief.

"I won't do it again, I promise." The mage sighed, eliciting no word but a wink as a reply.