I am an Archivist, not a Magician

Book 1 - Chapter 2: Ill-Suited to the Task

Vil: "First Cloudcalling Festival, now Sunset Warriors. What is this, a vocabulary lesson?"

Leona: "It's ancient stuff we're talkin' here, and I am just as bored by it as you, so no complaining. The Sunset Warriors are guardians that protect king and country."

Lilia: "Huh, so they're what? Body guards for the king?"

Leona: "Basically. But since we're in peacetime, those duties have gone by the wayside. Nowaday's it's just a fancy title given to the winners of the tournament."

Lilia: "Well, isn't that nice? It's like the title is a symbol of peace."

Leona: "Bit of a stretch, but sure. Still, even if it doesn't have any purpose now, the title still conveys a great honor. Which is why you get hardy folks from all over the land comin' every year."

Jack: "I get you now... You want to be a sunset Warrior, right, Leona? So you're gonna enter the Bead Brawl tournament!"

Leona: "Nuh-uh, not me. Couldn't even if I wanted to. I'm not allowed."

Vil: "Whyever not?"

Leona: "It's customary for the younger brother of the heir to the throne to be the Sunset Warrior's leader. So as the second born prince, that duty falls to me."

Lilia: "I see how it is. You're already a Sunset Warrior. And your birth guaranteed you'll remain their leader. Makes sense you can't join the tournament."

Leona: "I also have the majorly boring job of giving new members "Guardian Lessons." Rules and best practices for guarding king and country. Even etiquette."

Vil: "Rules?"

Lilia: "Best practices?"

Jack: "Etiquette?"

Grim: "...Leona?"

Group: *snort* "Hahahaha!"

Grim: "Myahaha! You're the last person I'd ask to teach that stuff."

Jack: "Hahaha... Oh! Uh, sorry, Leona.

Leona: "Hmph. Yeah. As you geniuses managed to work out, I'm ill-suited to the task. Which is why I'd love to just politely decline. Oh, if only. I blew it off last year. And I was planning to say I forgot again this year. But this morning a royal pain in the rear called to make sure I remembered. If I still refuse, there's no telling what they'd do. No more easy excuses for me..."

Lilia: "You really don't want to give those lessons, do you?"

Lilia smirks as Vil looks defeated.

Vil: "Scandalous. Do your job, you cretin!"

Leona: "Do you have any idea how long and boring the lessons are? Makes me wnt a nap just thinking about it. But this is where you all come in."

Jack: "You mean..."

Leona: "That' right. You're going to win the Bead Brawl tournament for me. If students from far-flung Night Raven College win... ...we can pretend I did the lessons and no one will be the wiser, as long as we get our stories straight."

Everyone - Y/n: "You sneak!!"

Y/n: "That's a great idea!"

Leona: "Thank you for the compliment."

Jack: "Hold on. Can folks like us who aren't from Sunset Savanna even register?"

Leona: "Of course. Foreigners are welcome to join. The idea is that anyone can be a guardian if they're worthy. One of the few bits of sense in that place. Plenty of foreign tourists have competed in past tournaments so you've got nothing to worry about. Besides, the spectators will be overjoyed to have a team from the famous Night Raven College."

Jack: "Huh, okay."

Leona: "Jack, when it comes to tests of physical strength, you're the best we've got... But the challengers who come to compete in the Bead Brawl aren't messing around either. Sounds like fun, right?"

Jack: "So I can see how I measured up, yeah? That does sound like a lot of fun. Can't say I followed all that Sunset Warriors stuff, but I love a tournament. If everyone is as strong as you say, I wanna see how far I can go!"

Leona: "Good. Because I'm counting on you. As for you, you grungy old phantom. Nobody moves like you do. Gives me the creeps, if I'm being honest. I'd rather leave you behind, but I can't deny your talent."

Lilia: "Khee hee hee. Oh, Leona, you say the nicest things. I'm blushing! But if that's what you're after, I think Malleus would be a good pick as well. You okay not bringing him along? He'd be over the moon, I bet. Should I go and get him? Yeah?"

Leona: "NOO!!! I am not askin' that guy for help. No way. It's obvious there's a reason I asked you, not him."

Lilia: "Fair enough. But this Bead Brawl sounds like fun! I'm sure we'll make nice memories. Count me in."

Leona: "Glad we're on the same page. And be sure to brag about it to Malleus later. Make him nice and jealous."