Forbidden Mage

Chapter 1

A small knock at the door wakes Lucy from her deep sleep. "Princess, your breakfast..." The door's lock unlatches and one of the palace's maids walks in carrying a tray of eggs, fruit, and a roll. Lucy rises from her pile of blankets and places her feet into her soft slippers that were waiting by the side of her bed frame.

"Thank you Michelle. You can leave it on the dresser." She smiles warmly. The maid bows and sets the metal tray down, exiting the room without another word and re-locking the door. Lucy glances at herself from the mirror placed across from her bed. Her blonde locks are tangled and scrunched up as if a nest was made on her head. Reaching for her brush she eyes her meal that was left for her.

'The portions seem smaller...'

She sweeps through her hair with her brush noticing that the length was now past her chest and to the small of her back.

"Mom's hair was pretty long too.." She chuckles.  A image of her mother's last moments flashes into her mind, and her soft smile quickly vanishes as she clutches harder onto her brush. "...Mom..."

Lucy grabs her breakfast and sits down on the window sill, looking out onto the Kingdom of Fiore. The townsfolk looked like ants from her tall castle. Running around opening up their stands for the day, others getting a head start on the day's shopping. The town was always hustling and bustling everyday. The outer kingdom was now re-built and better than ever. The newer homes brought in more travelers which meant more profits.

"Puu-Puun!" A little white figure came out of hiding, slightly startling the blonde.

"Oh Plue! How did you get out again?" Lucy smiles, picking the white creature up and setting him next to her. "Do you want some eggs?" She happily asks. Her small companion shakes his head and wobbles towards the bread roll. Lucy giggles at his adorable gesture, grabbing the roll and tearing it open.

"Don't worry. Michelle left it in here like she always does." Lucy winks. Pulling out a small silver key from the bread she slides it under a pillow on the window sill. "We will explore later tonight." She whispers, leaning into Plue and holding her finger over her lips.

"Puu-Puun!" He gleefully wiggles. The blonde grabs him and squeezes him into a hug.

"Hey Plue..." She trails off. "Why are you the only one that comes out of mom's keys?" She looks down at Plue who was squished between her arms and chest. His large eyes stare back into hers, responding with a weaker and longer 'Pu'. Lucy shamefully giggles "Just kidding. I know you can't really speak..." She forces another grin and tilts her head upward, while Plue buries himself into her more.

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It was now around midnight. Plue and Lucy had already used the key Michelle had snuck them and were now sneaking in the shadows of the castle. Lucy knew that most of the staff, along with her Father, would be asleep around this time.

Only having to avoid a limited amount of night guards. They easily sneak themselves into the palace library. "What section should we grab from this time Plue?" she asks. Her eyes happily wander around the giant room that was filled top to bottom with books, but before they could make up their mind a faint bang sounds in the distance. Lucy pulls herself away from the books and curiously glances back over to Plue. "What was that?"

They both decide to leave the library and follow the mysterious sound. Growing louder and louder with every passing step. Further up the way Lucy notices the main hall was still lit and she stops herself and Plue.

'What? Is father still awake?' She leans up against the dark stoned wall and creeps her way to the brightened room. "Plue return." She whispers. The little creature did as he was told and vanishes into Lucy's keys that are hooked onto her hip. She peeks her head around the corner, letting her father and three knights come into view.

"Did you put restraints on him?!" Lucy's father yells at the kneeling guards. You could tell by the strain in his voice he was tired.

"Yes your Majesty. Even though the chains prevent him from using magic, he is still quite physically strong." One knight dejectedly announces. Lucy realizes that the banging was probably coming from a mage that had been captured.

"Well put on some more! How am I to sleep with him making all this noise!?" Jude huffs. Turning around he dismiss the three men.

"RIGHT AWAY SIR!" The knights salute and head out towards the hallway Lucy was hiding in.

"Shit!" She grunts, frantically looking around for cover. She finds an open room and runs, swiftly hiding behind the door as she gazes through the crack and watches the three men leave for the jail below.

After waiting for the three knights from earlier to leave, and sneaking her way past the guard at the door. Lucy had finally made it down into the prison. It was disturbingly quiet as her steps echoed down the dim stairway. It was barely lit and the air was colder than above.

'I've never been down here before.'

Making her way to the main hall of cells she notices most of them were empty with only a few thieves and illegal merchants behind bars. 'I guess the town has been pretty peaceful.' She smiles walking past the small cells.

She heads to the few metal doors that were placed along the back wall. She peers into each one, hoping to find the mage that was causing the disturbance moments ago.  After opening each door, she finally spots a dark figure placed in the furthest away cell.

'That must be him!' She inches closer allowing her to observe the figure from a distance. Suddenly it quickly lifts its head. Lucy steps back as red eyes glow in the dark darting its gaze straight to Lucy. He stands up and pushes himself against the bars. His multiple chains drag against the stone floor. Lucy's body freezes, terrified at the amount of power she senses coming from the figure in the cell. He inhales deeply, flashing his teeth to her.

"My my. What a lovely scent."

^_−☆Hope the chapter wasn't boring! Next chapter will be updated as soon as possible. I loved seeing everyone's comments last chapter! ^_−☆

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed the chapter, a favorite and comment is appreciated. Next chapter will be updated as soon as possible. I'm working with one other person with the stories grammar and flow. Plot and main body does belong to me though! Together I hope we make a story that you love.

- キャラウェイ ヘリー