The Immortal and The Undying

A New Mission

The grand halls of the royal palace echoed with the steady clanking of armor as Thalion led Kaelin through the corridors toward the council chamber. The air was thick with the smell of polished marble and old history, and Kaelin's eyes darted around, trying to take in the luxurious surroundings while keeping up with Thalion's swift, determined pace.

"Let me guess," Kaelin said, stepping in stride beside him. "We're being sent on a 'serious, top-secret mission' that involves guarding some stuffy noble or chasing down the queen's missing jewels."

"Not quite," Thalion responded without looking at her. His voice, as usual, was flat but carried a slight edge of reluctance. Kaelin noticed it immediately.

"Oh no," she groaned, instantly suspicious. "What's the catch?"

Thalion opened the heavy double doors into the council chamber without answering. Inside, a group of high-ranking officers waited alongside a slender, well-dressed man with sharp features and an expression that oozed arrogance. Kaelin recognized the royal crest on his velvet doublet—the prince. She blinked in surprise.

We're guarding this guy?

The prince—Caspian—stood by the window, half-listening to one of the officers give a briefing while his eyes drifted lazily over the skyline of Eldenor. He looked barely older than twenty, with a smug grin that suggested he believed himself invincible. He didn't even bother to turn around when Thalion and Kaelin entered.

Thalion stepped forward and saluted. "Captain Thalion, reporting as requested."

The officer speaking paused, glancing at Kaelin for a moment before gesturing for them to approach. "Captain Thalion, your next mission has been assigned. You, your squad, and our... new adventurer recruit"—he glanced at Kaelin—"will be responsible for safeguarding His Highness, Prince Caspian."

Kaelin shot Thalion a look that screamed this is going to be a nightmare, but Thalion's face remained impassive as the briefing continued.

"The prince," the officer went on, "has... taken to disappearing from the palace on occasion. Recently, these excursions have led him into increasingly dangerous situations—bars, back alleys, and even the occasional brothel." The officer cleared his throat awkwardly at that part.

"His Highness seems to believe he's above danger," Thalion added, his tone clipped, and Kaelin didn't miss the barely concealed annoyance in his voice.

"That's exactly the problem," the officer replied. "Your squad is tasked with ensuring that the prince is kept safe and... contained. His recklessness has become a problem for the kingdom's image."

Kaelin held back a snort. Of course, it's the image that's the issue.

The prince finally deigned to turn around, his bored expression immediately morphing into one of mild amusement when his eyes fell on Kaelin. "So, this is my new guard, is it? Interesting."

Kaelin crossed her arms, arching an eyebrow. "You don't seem all that impressed, Your Highness."

Caspian smirked, clearly entertained. "Oh, I'm sure I'll be plenty impressed soon enough." He shot her a wink that made Kaelin immediately want to punch him—hard.

Thalion, however, stepped in smoothly. "Prince Caspian, this is Kaelin, one of our finest adventurers and new recruit to the royal guard. You'll be under her protection, alongside the rest of my squad."

Kaelin gave the prince a mock bow, her grin more mischievous than respectful. "That's right, Your Highness. I'm very good at what I do. I just can't promise I won't die a few times while doing it."

Caspian raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Die, you say?"

"You heard me." Kaelin winked back at him, and for the briefest second, she almost thought she saw a flicker of discomfort behind the prince's smug demeanour. Good. Maybe I can keep him on his toes.

Once the briefing was over, Thalion led Kaelin back to the training grounds where the rest of the squad awaited. It was time for the formal introductions.

"Attention!" Thalion's voice cut through the noise as they approached the group of soldiers in the courtyard. The men immediately straightened, their idle chatter dying off as they noticed the captain's presence.

"This," Thalion began, gesturing to Kaelin, "is Kaelin, the new addition to our group. You've likely heard of her reputation as an adventurer."

Kaelin stepped forward, flashing a cheeky grin as she waved at the group. "Yup, that's me. The girl who can't stay dead. You'll either find it very useful or very annoying. But don't worry—Thalion will make sure no one dies. Except maybe me. I do that a lot."

There was a murmur of curiosity and a few suppressed laughs among the guards. Kaelin could tell they didn't know quite how to take her. She wasn't exactly the image of a 'serious' royal guard recruit. But that was fine by her—being underestimated was part of the fun.

"Get used to her style," Thalion said, his tone deadpan. "She's unpredictable, but she's proven herself capable in... unconventional ways."

Kaelin nodded, leaning toward one of the guards with a conspiratorial whisper, "He means I die in dumb ways and then pop right back up like nothing happened."

Thalion shot her a warning glance, but Kaelin just shrugged with a playful grin.

---

Their first task as the prince's personal guard began that evening, escorting him through the city under the guise of a "public appearance." In reality, Caspian had demanded to visit one of his favourite taverns on the outskirts of the capital.

The problem wasn't necessarily the tavern—it was the company the prince tended to keep while there. Seedy types, gamblers, and people who would jump at the chance to exploit the prince's status for their own gains. The perfect storm for trouble.

As the group approached the tavern, Kaelin could already feel the air of tension thickening. Her hand rested casually on the hilt of her sword, eyes darting around as they passed a rowdy group of drunk patrons lingering outside.

"Stay close to the prince," Thalion murmured to her. "He's impulsive, and you—"

Before Thalion could finish his sentence, there was a sudden crash. A barrel had come loose from a nearby stack, rolling directly toward Kaelin's feet. In an instinctive—and horribly clumsy—attempt to dodge it, she tripped over her own boots, flailing awkwardly before landing face-first on the cobblestone street.

Thalion didn't even blink. The prince, on the other hand, burst out laughing.

Kaelin groaned, lifting her face off the ground. "Right... I should've seen that coming."

"You really do have the worst luck, don't you?" Caspian smirked, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

Thalion, however, was less amused. He stepped forward, helping Kaelin up with a resigned sigh. "You should've expected that."

"Oh, I did. I just didn't expect it so soon." She dusted herself off, shooting the prince a wry smile. "I promise, I'm still pretty good at my job."

"I'll believe it when I see it," Caspian replied, still chuckling as they entered the tavern.

---

Inside, the tavern was dimly lit, filled with the low hum of conversation, clinking mugs, and the occasional burst of laughter. The prince immediately gravitated toward a group of shady-looking individuals at the back, much to Thalion's displeasure.

"Stay alert," Thalion muttered to the group. His eyes were already scanning the room, taking in every possible threat.

Kaelin, rubbing her sore nose from the earlier fall, grinned. "Don't worry, I'll keep the prince safe from both himself and... well, me."

Thalion just sighed, already bracing himself for the inevitable chaos that was sure to follow with Kaelin and the prince in the same room.