The Maid and Her Princess [On Hiatus]

The Great Path (The Great Level Up! 1/5)

An Adventurous Year, Act 18
The Great Level Up!

I.

Madoka stirred. Someone, or something was tugging on her arm. She could get used to sleeping soundly without any odd dreams, but the pulling could stop.

"Madoka, Madoka, Madoka," a voice pried itself into her reluctant ears.

Speak to her.
Open your eyes.
Wake up.
Face the day.

Madoka sprang awake, feeling the bed creak beneath her palms. Her grip made the soft cloth wet from sweat. Something talked to her, but something else thumped on the ground with a grunt.

"Ugh, note to self, Audrey, don't stand above a moving truck."

She caught a hand grab the edge of her bedside, followed by a tuft of blonde hair. Madoka felt her own hair, feeling the mix of sweat and dread smear on her brow. What just spoke to me?

"Madoka?" Audrey's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Madoka."

"I'm awake!" Madoka shrieked. "Stop saying my— Hmph!"

Audrey's eyes were a beautiful sight to behold, but she gave Madoka too much sunlight during this time of the morning.

"Okay!"

"You're awfully cheerful this morning," Madoka scrutinized the Princess's look. Those wide pools of blue held ripples of ambition and playful schemes inside them, which could be— Madoka sighed. She would never get the answer out of Her Highness through speculation. "Why?"

"Why, I was thinking last night," Audrey guessed. Madoka recalled nothing of last night besides her conversation with Eraziror. "We're totally washed."

"Washed?" Madoka wondered. "Did you ever find a bath barrel in the portal?"

"Weak," Audrey eyed her. "We're totally weak! If a mere King Wolf could stop us in our tracks, then what's the point of adventuring?"

"I don't think many could stop that wolf," Madoka grumbled.

"Well giddy up, pard, we're heading out!"

Before Madoka could question her, a few of her traveler attire slapped into her face. All she could do as her servant was get ready, but she could also sigh while doing so. Audrey did not notice, cheering and inspecting herself in the mirror she brought. It was still early, most of the adventurers were asleep downstairs. She snuck outside with Audrey, who remained nimble. The morning wind brushed her skin leaving mist upon it, but she felt awake now. The cold would never bother her anyways— Her Highness's hands were warm enough. Eh? When did I grab her hand? Madoka wondered. She preferred it anyways.

"So, where are we headed?"

The bone jaws of the gates were getting closer. Madoka could tell they were headed out, but she recalled no sign of getting a commission. What was Audrey planning?

"Out!"

"D-Don't we need a commission?"

Madoka felt the Princess let go of her hand before she beheld her pretty face, silhouetted by the sunrise. Even then, she could see Audrey's mischievous smile. Instead of being engulfed in her beauty, dread filled her. Above her in the horizon, the floating debris from that mysterious Leyline hovered above her endlessly towards the sky. She knew the princess's propensity for causing trouble and that strange place seemed to be a great source of it.

"I ain't going to grind commissions all day, Madoka, where's the fun in that?" Audrey whined. "We're going explore! And power up! Yeah!"

"I don't know about you, but can't we stick with the easy commissions?" Madoka whined. Something wet splashed on her skin. Audrey shot a magic jet of water at her! "You—"