The Immortal and The Undying

Casual Training Gone Wrong

The morning light filtered through the training grounds, casting a golden glow on the squad as they stood in disciplined rows, ready for Thalion's instruction. Kaelin, however, was an outlier from the very start, a bright smile across her face as she swung her sword casually, clearly itching for something less rigid. Thalion's sharp gaze noted her stance, and he sighed inwardly; her natural talent was undeniable, but her carefree attitude would need work.

"Alright, Kaelin, let's try that sequence again," he called out. "But this time, let's keep a firm grip on the sword, yes?"

Kaelin saluted with exaggerated enthusiasm and repositioned her stance, only to immediately slip, her sword clattering to the ground as she stumbled forward. The other guards stifled their chuckles, already accustomed to her flair for the dramatic. Thalion's eyes narrowed in patient exasperation as he stepped forward.

"Hold it like this," he demonstrated, taking her hand to correct her grip. "If you lose your weapon in the middle of a battle—"

"I know, I know," she interrupted with a grin, reclaiming her sword. "But losing it means I get to improvise! Keeps things exciting."

Thalion raised a brow, his faint smirk hinting at amusement despite himself. "Exciting is not the goal here, Kaelin."

The other guards, who had gathered nearby, exchanged knowing glances, several of them trying to keep track of how many times Kaelin would drop her weapon that morning. Word of her eccentricity had spread among the ranks, and bets were being whispered: would she make it ten minutes without an accident? Fifteen? A nearby guard nudged his friend, nodding toward Thalion and Kaelin.

"She's got him smirking," the guard whispered, amusement gleaming in his eyes. "Haven't seen the captain react to anyone like this before."

As Thalion walked through the rows, inspecting each guard's stance, Kaelin continued her own improvised take on the training, stumbling and recovering with each new manoeuvre. In one instance, she managed to disarm herself again, her sword sailing through the air before miraculously landing a few feet from Thalion.

"Kaelin." Thalion turned to her with an exasperated yet amused glance. "If the goal was to throw your sword at the enemy, I'd say well done. Otherwise, let's keep it in hand."

Kaelin's face flushed with laughter. "It's just... muscle memory. My muscles remember to forget."

By now, the guards had stopped trying to suppress their laughter. Kaelin's carefree approach was a stark contrast to the grim routine of their day-to-day lives, and for the first time, the training grounds felt lively. Even Thalion, usually the embodiment of solemnity, seemed to soften, his rare moments of amusement not going unnoticed by the others. They murmured among themselves, speculating on the peculiar friendship blossoming between their unyielding leader and the carefree adventurer.

Once training concluded, Thalion dismissed the group, watching as Kaelin excitedly chased down the guards who'd bet on her inevitable mishaps, collecting the promised winnings.

"Did I win by tripping or throwing my sword?" she teased one of the guards, pocketing a few coins as her laughter echoed across the grounds.

Thalion caught her eye and shook his head, a smirk barely concealed. "I'm not sure if that counts as a victory, but perhaps tomorrow you can aim to last just a little bit longer without an accident."

Kaelin grinned at him. "I'm holding you to that, Captain. Though, I make no promises."

---

The sun had barely set, cresting the horizon when the alarm was raised during the training: Prince Caspian was missing. Thalion, sighed, already sensing the headache that was sure to follow.

Gathering his squad, he laid out the mission with a grim efficiency. "The prince has decided to... 'explore' the city unaccompanied. Our task is to bring him back discreetly. Any questions?"

Kaelin raised her hand, her face alight with a mischievous grin. "Do we get a list of where he'd likely be found, or is this a scavenger hunt situation?"

Thalion's mouth twitched in a restrained smile. "Let's start with reasonable guesses first. Libraries, museums... somewhere dignified. Though, knowing Caspian, he's likely opted for somewhere else entirely."

The team headed out into the cool, quiet streets of Eldenor, their first stop the city's renowned library. Despite the early hour, they approached in formation, casting a professional air over the mission—until Kaelin burst in through the doors with unbridled enthusiasm, loudly announcing, "Anyone seen a prince in here? About this tall, likely trying to look inconspicuous?"

A couple of elderly patrons peered over their books, brows raised, while Thalion's brow creased in exasperation. "We're meant to be discreet, Kaelin."

She shrugged with a grin. "I'm asking a question! Better than checking every nook in the place, isn't it?"

After a fruitless search through the library (where Caspian would certainly not be caught dead), they tried the museum, only to meet with more blank stares and mutters about strange guards disturbing the peace.

With the "respectable" locations exhausted, Thalion glanced at Kaelin and sighed, resigning himself to the less dignified parts of the city. "Right, next stop—the bars and gambling dens."

Kaelin's eyes brightened, and she clapped her hands together. "Oh, finally! Somewhere the prince actually might be. Let's go!"

They worked their way through the backstreets, diving into the livelier, louder parts of town. Each bar offered more strange encounters, with Kaelin practically bursting through the doors and asking at the top of her voice, "Excuse me! Seen a runaway prince? Handsome, with that 'I'm definitely somewhere I shouldn't be' look?"

Thalion's jaw tightened as he trailed after her, keeping to the shadows as best as he could manage. "Could you try not to alert the entire city?" he muttered, watching as Kaelin fearlessly approached another group of patrons.

Their search finally took them to a notorious brothel, where the doorman's eyes widened at Kaelin's blunt questions. "Looking for a prince...? Well, we might have had a young lad about that description wander in earlier. Bit nervous-looking."

Kaelin beamed. "Thank you, kind sir! Much appreciated."

Inside, they weaved through silk curtains and darkly lit alcoves, earning glances from staff and patrons alike. Finally, tucked in a corner, they found Prince Caspian, his face flushed with embarrassment as he spotted his would-be rescuers.

"Oh no..." he muttered, burying his face in his hands. "Please, don't tell my mother."

Thalion crossed his arms, levelling a disapproving stare. "This is hardly appropriate behaviour for a prince, Caspian."

Kaelin sidled up next to him, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "You know, this incident could be our little secret... for a small price."

The prince groaned, reluctantly conceding. "Fine, whatever it takes. Just... not a word to my mother."

Kaelin winked at Thalion, her grin wide as they escorted the blushing prince out of the establishment and back to the palace, the threat of comedic blackmail hanging over him, and the guards exchanging conspiratorial smiles the whole way back.