Classy, Controlled Chaos - The STEAM Team Adventures

🐦‍🔥 Reincarnation [7/10] 🐦‍🔥

Tia's POV:

Arthur was really worried about my overall wellbeing for the past month or so, so he put me on mandatory rest.

It was a royal order, and I couldn't override it no matter how much I argued with him.

However, I got extra cuddle time, so I'm not complaining that much.

We were out in the training courtyard, chilling with the rest of the royal guard over some coffee.

Summer had faded into fall, which meant more heavy snowfall and nighttime blizzards.

The entire ground was covered in a thick layer of soft snow up to our knees.

Unfortunately, I always wear short shorts, so nothing was protecting me from the sheer cold.

Close to the sliding glass doors of the entrance to the courtyard, there was this round marble table where we were all seated at, huddled up beside one another like a flock of baby penguins.

I was sitting right beside Arthur, curling my orca tail around my bare calves.

The rest of the knights were chatting about some crazy adventures or near-death experiences, and I wanted to join in with them.

Sometimes I wished I was just as friendly as Blanco; he seemed to be getting along well with everyone else.

Unlike me.

"Then I yanked 'em offa my leg an' sent 'em into Oblivion's Edge!" The hefty knight chuckled, earning some awed expressions from his audience of fellow men. "Welp, enough of my storytellin'. Who's next?"

They seemed to be doing a storytime circle.

Fun, but not exciting.

I'm not really into gossip and stuff like that.

"They're not gossiping, Tia." Arthur mumbled, keeping his voice low. "And yes, before you ask, you said that out loud."

"I don't wanna join them anyways." I replied, taking a sip of my chocolate-flavored coffee. "Too boring."

He frowned at me, picking up his mug. "Boring? That's nowhere near how to describe a valiant knight's story. None of them have been boring."

"Talk about Snowstorm's adventure through the woods and getting scared by a wild hare." I snorted, setting my cup down on the glass table. "I should be out training, getting myself stronger to fight fiercely in battle. But then again, you put me on mandatory rest, so..."

"So that means you get more time to contemplate new battle strategies. There, happy?" My mentor joked, playfully nudging my shoulder. "Aw come on, at least chuckle."

"Haha, very funny." I groaned, crossing my arms. "I'm more than capable of breaking a dragon's ankles, okay? You don't have to be so protective over me. In like, a few months, I'll be seventeen! Seventeen and much, much stronger."

"I know, Tia." He chuckled, slowly rising from his chair. "But right now, you need some rest. Physically, since your tiny body can only handle so much."

"I won't be tiny for long!" I retorted, my voice coming out as more of an indignant squeak.

"Mhm. Says the one who's been five feet tall and three inches for the past six years." The king laughed, finishing his coffee. "Go chat with the others, I'll go get our easels ready. Hope you like sunsets."

Before I could protest, he promptly left me out in the open, closing the glass sliding door behind him.

That left me alone with seven armored, intimidating, significantly larger knights.