The Immortal and The Undying

A Royal Event

It was a quiet morning in the capital when Thalion gathered his squad for their next assignment. They met in one of the palace's smaller chambers, the light of the early sun streaming through stained glass windows, casting colourful patterns across the marble floor. The air was tense but not with the usual expectation of battle or a mission fraught with danger. Instead, it was something far worse—formality.

Captain Thalion stood at the front, arms crossed as he eyed the group. Kaelin, predictably slouched in her seat, glanced around at the other guards with mild confusion. They weren't heading into the wilderness or preparing for a military skirmish. So why the gathering?

"We've been assigned to escort Prince Caspian to the royal ball next week," Thalion began in his usual stoic tone, his expression neutral. "The event is crucial for Astoria's diplomatic ties. Nobles from neighbouring kingdoms will be attending, and our duty is to ensure the prince arrives on time and stays out of trouble."

Kaelin's eyes widened. "A ball? You're telling me we're babysitting a prince so he doesn't trip over his silk shoes at a party?"

The corner of Thalion's mouth twitched ever so slightly at her comment, but his voice remained steady. "It's more complicated than that, Kaelin. The prince has a reputation for sneaking out and engaging in activities that... don't align with royal decorum. Our job is to prevent him from embarrassing the kingdom."

Kaelin groaned dramatically, sinking further into her chair. "Great. So instead of fighting bandits or rescuing villagers, we're going to make sure the prince doesn't jump out a window in the middle of a dance. How... thrilling."

One of the other guards, a tall and serious-looking man named Gareth, chuckled softly. "Could be worse. You've never seen the prince when he's had one too many drinks. Keeping him in line is a battle in itself."

Thalion shot Gareth a warning glance, before addressing the group again. "The ball is an important event for Astoria's standing among other kingdoms. We need to make sure everything goes smoothly. No accidents."

Kaelin muttered under her breath, "Well, you clearly don't know me very well."

Thalion sighed inwardly, knowing full well that Kaelin's tendency to attract mishaps would likely make the evening far more complicated than it needed to be. But there was no turning back now—the ball was approaching, and they had a prince to guard.

The capital city of Eldenor was alight with excitement as the grand royal ball drew closer. Elaborate decorations hung from every corner, and the streets were packed with nobles, merchants, and commoners, all eager to witness the spectacle. The event was the talk of the kingdom—a night where Astoria's elite gathered to celebrate diplomacy and courtly grace. But for Kaelin, it felt like the ultimate test of her patience and endurance.

She stood in front of a large mirror in the guest quarters of the palace, fidgeting with the stiff, uncomfortable formal dress she had been given. It was a rich, deep green that brought out the color of her eyes, but it felt so unlike her usual adventurer's garb that she could hardly recognize herself.

"How in the world do people breathe in these things?" Kaelin muttered, tugging at the tight corset. She had already tripped twice just trying to walk down the hallway in the floor-length gown. Murphy's Law, as usual, was making things extra difficult.

Thalion, standing nearby in his polished royal guard uniform, looked at her with the slightest hint of amusement in his otherwise stoic expression. "It's not meant to be practical. It's meant to make you look like you belong at the event."

"Right, because clearly I belong at stuffy, royal balls." Kaelin rolled her eyes, finally giving up on trying to adjust the dress. "I'm an adventurer, not a noblewoman."