"WHO DARES INVADE MY TERRITORY?!"
Screams penetrated the clearing, and children started to run away from the monster. Looking around me, Joren seemed ashen yet still managed to smile like a child facing a new adventure, and Albert still looked as calm as ever.
"Do you boys know what that creature is?" I quickly asked while I checked the fastenings of my already secured bag. I thought, 'If we head out towards the general direction of the academy castle, we might just actually make it in time of dinner.'
"I haven't gotten the chance to see all the animalia mentioned in my books," Albert replied monotonously. "But, I believe, with the few seconds of observation given; its appearance dominated by its incredibly large, and upwardly protruding fangs, its heavy built upper torso and arms, and graying skin... Well, I wouldn't be a hundred percent sure but-"
"Just say it, Al!" Joren finally screamed out in frustration.
The prince only looked the tiniest bit affronted. "... A troll. I have a good amount of reason to believe that it might be a troll."
"Troll..." I murmured. It's not like I didn't know they existed. It's just that I hardly ever had the chance to see the legendary beasts and monsters that only a handful of adventurers could ever get a good glimpse of. And now, I, nothing but a young girl, was face to face with one of the very creatures I could have only imagined in the past.
"Exactly." Albert nodded. "To be specific, I reckon it is quite possibly an earth troll."
This said earth troll was starting to move now. It inched forward, growling all the way. Some of the students had started to back away enough to reach the forest line, but no one seemed idiotic enough to actually start outwardly fleeing. Who knows how the monster would react upon seeing its prey in flight?
However, seeing them getting nearer towards the edge of the forest, I was hit with a weird feeling that crawled up my gut... as though it was telling me to make a run for it.
"I think it'd be best for us t'hide ourselves inside the forest," Joren muttered, already backing away with the taller prince. His green eyes were staring at the inactively growling troll.
However, while the troll was definitely threatening, I actually felt more fear coming from the forest itself...
"Stop," I forcibly ordered.
"... Why?" Joren asked, but I couldn't really give out an appropriate answer. It was, however, nice to see how he had actually ceased his movements simply because he trusted me.
"I-I'm actually still unsure, but..." I started, and then surveyed the surroundings again. "The forest seems ominous."
"Yeah, sure, but we've been travelling through it for hours now," Joren reasoned. "We hardly ever saw anything any more dangerous than that flying squirrel... Sorry."
"Point taken," I grumbled. "But have you seen any earth trolls lately?"
Joren made a face.
"But, if I may interrupt, I would like to say that I agree with... ummm with... I apologize," Albert said as he looked at me with an embarrassed face. "What was your name again?"
"Elle... Eleftherion," I stuttered, inwardly chiding myself for the clumsy slip just because of past memories. "And that's Joren. But we don't have time for these introductions."
Both boys nodded, and I swiftly continued. "I just don't think we should just wander off aimlessly into the forest."
"Then...?" The black-haired boy murmured as he stared up at the large troll. "Do you suppose we should defeat... that?"
YOU ARE READING
The Crown Prince Thinks I'm a Guy
FantasyI was born a princess, only to be sold off to another empire's prince. In this world, where women are considered less than human, I would rather pretend to be a man. I may be broken and bruised, but I will rise up stronger than before. With a chance...
