IGIWS FIRST DRAFT: Vol.6 Ch.385 A Intruder Is Looking for the Queen.

The streets of Tairal were bustling with merchants, workers, and soldiers. The sun was high in the sky, and the air was warm and dry. It was a typical summer day in the capital of the Fiafyr Kingdom, a perfect day to relax and unwind. But, for a group of three young men and one older man, this was not the case.


Quinus, the Crown Prince, was dressed in a simple tunic and trousers, his reddish-brown hair neatly styled, and his golden eyes were alert. He was a tall and handsome man, with a strong build and an air of authority. He was accompanied by his two friends, Johan and Percy, and his bodyguard, Sir George, who was dressed in his knightly armor and had a serious expression on his face. They were making their way to the northeastern gates.


What was meant to be a possible relaxing day while Rya and the other ladies were away at Lydia's coming-of-age party was cut short when word about an intruder, who was stopped by the guards at the entry gates of the city, reached them.


Quinus and Johan were both frowning as they made their way through the crowd.


"Who would be dumb enough to slip past the guards and get caught at the city's entry gates?" Johan wondered aloud, shaking his head in disbelief. "What kind of idiot would do that?"


Percy shrugged. "Whoever it is seems quite skilled. They somehow outmaneuvered ten guards without even getting a scratch on them. It's probably unwise to face them only."


"Pff! You worry too much, Percy. No little thief is a threat to me. Once we find this brat, we will put an end to this charade and return to our duties," Sir George boasted in his usual confident self.


"But they said they thought it was a little girl who wanted to get into the city. And when she didn't have any identification papers was when the guards tried to apprehend her," Johan said.


"Fear not, Lord Johan. These city guards must have been fools for letting a little girl get the better of them," Sir George assured Johan. "Leave the matter to me, and I will take care of everything."


"Someone seems overconfident," Percy whispered to himself, but everyone heard him.


"That's because I finally finished my first draft on my book! Courting 'non-human' females, for the lonely human man! This is what my countrymen are in desperate need of! My guidance is sound! Also, I think I've finally cracked the cipher on hum—"


"Now is not the time, George," Quinus cut off his retainer before he started going into one of his usual tangents.


"Uh? Right... Sorry, My Lord. I let my excitement got the better on me again," Sir George apologized, a slight blush of embarrassment on his face.


Johan just laughed at his antics. Percy looked exasperated.


Quinus turned his head to the front and saw they were almost to the gate.


"Besides, this is a more serious situation. If what the report says is true, then we are dealing with a very capable individual. Someone that shouldn't be taken lightly."


"I doubt they are that capable. Especially against you, My Lord," Sir George boasted again.


Quinus didn't say anything, but his frown deepened. He had a feeling that this wasn't going to end well.


***


The bustling sounds of the crowd seemed to fade as they rounded the corner of a building. The northeastern gate was in view and a squad of knights were there with a couple dozen on guards. Sir Richard was the highest-ranking member there. And when he saw the Crown Prince and his retinue, he immediately bowed and ordered his men to do the same.


"Your Highness," Sir Richard said as the rest of the knights saluted the Crown Prince.


"What the status report, Sir Richard," Quinus replied as he observed the scene in front of him.


"Well, during a routine check, the guards noticed a cloaked figure attempting to enter the city, but without any identification on them, they couldn't let the person through," Sir Richard informed the Crown Prince. "The guards at the gate attempted to question them, but the figure refused to cooperate and tried to escape."


Quinus listened to the report as the knight pointed at two of the guards that were struggling get untangled by some unique bolas. They seemed enchanted as two guards were desperately trying to cut the rope to free their comrade with their knives, but their weapons couldn't cut the rope that was binding them. The other guards were still searching for the mysterious stranger and the city guards were looking for clues to figure out where they went.


"They say that the sounded like a girl. They think she might be eight to ten years old. She tried to force her way through after failing to provide the necessary documentation to enter the city," Sir Richard added.


"Is that so?" Quinus asked.


Percy was inspecting the bolas, and he was impressed by the craftsmanship. He could see why the guards were having trouble removing them. The craftsmanship was excellent, and the enchantments were even more impressive. These bolas were not something that could be found in a common market. And the metal balls on the ends were glowing runes. They were acting like magnets, pulling on each other to keep the bolas tight. He wondered where the girl got them.


"Indeed. She was cloaked, and her face was hidden, but her voice was unmistakable. She was also carrying a shortsword, throwing daggers, and a sealed letter. The guards mentioned that she was on a mission to give the Queen a message," Sir Richard said. "We believe she may be a skilled fighter, possibly even an assassin."


Quinus frowned, he didn't like that someone this skilled was looking for his mother the queen. "I don't like the sound of that. We need to do a sweep of the area and put the palace on high alert well as the guards on the western outskirts of city. This mystery person doesn't know that she's in my uncle's manor. She'll be heading towards the palace instead."


"My men will send word to the captain of the guard and we will search the eastern part of the capital, your Highness. She ran into the commoners district. She might be by the marketplace by now," Sir Richard replied.


Quinus nodded, then turned to his friends. "Johan. I want you to go back to the palace and talk to General Douglas about what is going on. This intruder might get inside the palace and I want Douglas and his knights to set a trap... Percy! You know the alleyways better than most of us. Take Sir George, Sir Richard and his men through the slums to see if you can find her. You two stay with me. I'll take a few guards through the marketplace. Let's go, we need to find her before she finds my mother," Quinus ordered.


Everyone saluted the Crown Prince before they broke off into their groups and went on the hunt for the mystery girl.


***


As the group separated into two parties, one went to the slums, while the other headed to the commoner district.


Percy was in the group heading to the slums. As they entered the narrow, winding streets, they could see that the slums were packed with people. The smell of food wafted through the air, and the sound of vendors hawking their wares could be heard from all directions. The slums were a bustling hub of activity, with people from all walks of life coming together to buy and sell.


As the group made their way through the crowds, they kept an eye out for the mystery girl. They scanned the faces of the people around them, searching for anyone who matched her description.


"Pfft! I hate crowds! Why can't this girl just show herself so I can take her down is beyond me," Sir George's voice was full of impatience. He was tired of searching for this mystery girl and wanted to get back to the palace. He had been on duty for hours and was getting hungry.


Sir Richard had his own thoughts. "This shouldn't take too long. But I wonder if this girl is truly alone. What if she's a decoy to lure us out while her friends get to the queen?"


Percy was getting a little worried. "The Queen has Princess Rya close by. Nothing bad should come to her Highness, as long as she has Rya's healing magic."


Sir George scoffed at that. "Please! You two are worrying about nothing. Not only is Princess Rya with her majesty, but Nieren, Dalia, Mistress Saffron, Lady Rachel, and the ever dangerous Lady Nelumbo. This little brat doesn't know what she's walking into if her aim is to harm the Queen. We just have to find her then I can get some food in me. I need to get back to my research," he said.


"And what research is that, George?" Richard asked, while Percy grimaced. The ranger knew where this was leading to.


George smiled and looked at his fellow Knight. "You know what I'm talking about. I'm close to understanding the female condition to help my fellow man," he said.


Richard furrowed his brows and shook his head. "This again? Why haven't I've seen you with a wife yet?"


Sir George burst out with laughter, "That's a good one, Richard. I am simply taking my time to find the perfect specimen before I can retire. And living the bachelor lifestyle is still in my bones. I can't be confined down to a single woman!" Percy rolled his eyes as George went on and on about his "exploits" with women. "I'm about to be bedding with so many women that my name will be written in the history books."


"Wait. You're about to be bedding women? Are you trying to say you haven't had any success?" Percy asked sarcastically.


George's pride was hit so hard that it looked like the wind was knocked out of him, "W-Well? I would be knee deep in passion if there were more beastkin, or elves in the kingdom. But once I crack the cipher on human women and figure out why they are so confusing, then I can get a few in the bedroom." The knight's eyes narrowed to the young man. "And don't get jealous because you left a perfect opportunity to live the lifestyle of a man. You chose to propose to Dalia, who was a very important research targ—I mean, a very good beastkin. However, you were my former pupil and could've had any woman in the world, but you gave up your chance and that's on you."


Percy looked annoyed as this was the hundredth time that George has brought up how he was his first and only apprentice that chanced him more trouble than it was worth. But now that Percy's wedding was fast approaching, George was hurt that he was going to go in this without him. Richard was curious about this book on getting non-human women to bed you. Sir Richard was still sore about Dalia challenging him that he couldn't get a Beastkin female to fall in love with him and every once in a while, he would bump into that wolfkin on the training grounds of the palace were she would sniff the air around him and smirk. She would tease him for failing to mate with a Beastkin woman and that if he truly wanted to prove himself an alpha then he would need to go outside the capital city and bring a strong beastkin female back to the city by her own will. Sir Richard hated how Dalia would tease him, and the fact that he had a told his follow knights that all Wolfkins were dangerous breasts that couldn't be tamed only for Percy to prove him wrong and to fall in love with the beastkin, Dalia. Sir Richard couldn't take it anymore, and he needed someway to restore his honor, so he approached Sir George and asked him what his research had revealed so far.


Percy didn't like where this was going and wondered if they should step in to save Richard from Sir George's grasp, but the ranger wasn't quick enough as George's ego got inflated almost instantly and he started bragging about the many successes that his research has yielded.


"Ha ha! Is the sky blue? Of course, I have had many, many, MANY success stories. I've watched the best and took down notes." Sir George's chest puffed out proudly as he boasted. "I've been keeping a journal of my findings and I've written down the important parts in a separate notebook. If you're really interested, then I can give you a sneak peak as my findings."


"Wait! Did you eaves drop on us when we were-making love, George!? Percy asked horrified, as he was starting to get embarrassed that his former teacher had spied on him and Dalia during their private moments. "You said you wouldn't do that! I told you that if you ever did that, then I would ask Dalia to chase you out of the kingdom!"


"Oh please, I'm smarter than that. I also spied on his Highness and Princess. Now, that is enough interruptions from you! So Richard, do you need a few pointers?"


Sir George smirked at Richard who gulped inaudibly while Percy didn't know weather he should push the old pervert off the side of the bridge or let Dalia kill him. But for Richard, he didn't think it was possible for Sir George to have a successful research subject, let alone several.


"So you have research on which races are more receptive to human males? How did you even get started on your research?"


"A gentleman never tells for free," Sir George replied with a grin, as he rubbed his fingers together. "You want information, you better be willing to pay for it."


"George!? We are on a mission here. Stop trying to get money out of him."


"I know, but I can't pass up a chance like this," Sir George protested. "I've been working on my journals for years now, and I need new subject—I mean, recipients for my research." He paused for a moment, his expression turning serious. "Besides, it's not every day that a young man like Richard comes to me, looking for advice on how to win the heart of a beautiful woman."


"G-Getting a woman isn't my problem right now," Richard stuttered, trying to change the subject away from him. "It's more about how my honor was challenged by Percy's fiancée. I can't be shown up by some random wolfkin."


"Hold on! You're still on that?" Percy asked, surprised. "Dalia didn't know what she was doing and how am I the more mature one out of this group right now. She's already forgotten about the whole thing."


"No, she hasn't. When you aren't around she just smirks at me with a smug look. I can't let her win. I must win against her at least once."


"Good luck on that." Sir George laughed at Richard's situation, but he could sympathize with him in a way. "I know! How about I let you in on what I've learned. Then if you so happen to come across a Beastkin, then you know what to—Oye! You there! Stop where you are!"


Sir George noticed short person dressed in a dark hooded cloak bumped into a delivery man carrying a few crates of goods, causing them to come crashing down.


The hooded individual was smaller than the average height of an adult, so Sir George assumed the person was a child. But Sir George's experienced eyes could tell that the person was a female who fit the description of the possibility intruder that fought their way past the city guards on the wall. So Sir George yelled out at the person, but they didn't stop, and instead started to run down the street.


"Hah! Running is only going to make things worse for you, kid." He chuckled as he pursued the fleeing figure. "You can't hide from us forever. We're gonna catch ya, and when we do, you'll face the consequences of your actions."


Percy and Richard spotted the commotion and ran towards the fleeing hooded figure. As Sir George ran after the hooded individual, he saw that they were running towards an alleyway, where there was a narrow passage that was difficult to navigate. The person seemed to be speeding up as she nimbly made her way through the obstacles. Sir George was impressed by her agility and speed, but he was determined to catch her. He was an experienced knight and knew how to track down criminals. He channeled his Mana into his muscles to increase his speed. He was closing in on the person who looked at him with determination in her eyes.


George plowed through a poor civilian as he was closing in on the person, but the person didn't slow down. She jumped up, using the side of the walls to propel herself to a window that led into the building.


"Hey! Acrobatic little shit, get back here," Sir George shouted as he sped up his run. He was going to use his momentum to propel himself up the 15-foot wall to pursue the assailant on the rooftops of the slums.


"Rah! Ha!"


George's foot made a slight impact on the brick wall as his enchanted strength carried him to the rooftop. The hooded person was still running across the roof and was about to jump onto the next roof. They turned their head to look at what was behind them. They noticed George on the rooftop and were shocked at his sudden appearance, and the hooded person tripped on a loose tile. They fell onto their face and their hood fell off.


Sir George saw that the person had a familiar sandy blonde hair that reminded him of Percy's hair, but the rest of the person's features were obscured by their arms. "Halt! You're under arrest by the order of the his Majesty!" Sir George declared. He then ran towards the fallen person. "You can't escape me, kid, so give up—Huh!?"


The girl laying down quickly pulled out another one of her bolas and channeled her mana into it before she launched it at Sir George. The bola flew with such speed and accuracy, hitting him directly in the ankles, causing his to go flying headfirst into the roof tiles with a loud thud.


"Wha-? GAH!?" Sir George groaned as he tumbled over the edge of the roof, landing in the alleyway below with a heavy thud. As he lay there, dazed and disoriented, his body was aching all over from the fall. The hooded individual got up, and looked down at the knight.


"Tsk! Can these Fiafyrians really help mother? I don't know why she sent me here in the first plac—" the mysterious girl's thoughts were cut off when Percy easy hopped from wall to wall to get on the rooftop. Sir Richard followed behind him with far less grace than the ranger. The hooded girl quickly put her hood back on her head and she looked back at the boy coming straight at her. "Tsk! Another one?"


"Hey! Stop right there!" Percy yelled at the girl, who turned and began to run to the next roof. She didn't want to deal with him while she was on her mission to find the Queen of Fiafyr.


Richard noticed George in a dazed state down below them.


"George!? Are you all right!?" Richard yelled down at George, who was coming back to his senses.


"That little brat is sneaky... I'm fine! You two get the girl!" Richard nodded and started to give chase to the hooded girl. George tried to remove the enchanted Bola that was around his ankles. He could tell that the bola was magically enchanted to restrain people, so he was having a tough time breaking it.


Percy and Richard were in pursuit of the hooded girl, who kept trying to outrun them as they jumped across the buildings. They were quickly catching up to her. Percy was the faster of the two, but Richard was more experienced.


"M-Maybe I was wrong about these Fiafyrians. They are more annoying than I thought!" The girl whined as she felt the Ranger gaining ground on her.


Percy was sprinting across the rooftop. He then used his enchanted agility to easily hop to the next building before the hooded girl could even get close to the edge of the roof.


"Stop, or you will be hurt!" Percy yelled, drawing his sword.


"Back off, creep!" the hooded girl said as she turned around to face Percy. Percy could see her bright hazel eyes. They reminded him of someone that he can't recall.


"I'm not the one to break through a checkpoint in the capital! And what on earth are you wearing!?" Percy shouted, his voice a mix of disbelief and concern.


The woman before him was clad in an eye-catching dark purple leather breastplate, meticulously crafted and secured with leather straps that crisscrossed both the front and back. The armor hugged her form, leaving her midriff exposed, which only amplified the raw intensity of her presence. Armored covers protected her forearms and hands, while a black leather kilt skimmed just above her knees, allowing for agile movement. Underneath, she wore a fitted short-sleeve wool turtleneck that added an unexpected layer of warmth to her otherwise fierce ensemble.


As she drew both of her daggers, the light glinted off the curved blades, hinting at their lethal design and the skill with which she wielded them. Percy found it impossible not to admire her; the way she moved was mesmerizing. She was petite yet possessed a dancer's grace, with an athletic frame that showcased both strength and femininity. Her thin waist accentuated her muscular arms, each movement fluid and purposeful.


Percy’s heart raced—not just from the adrenaline of their confrontation, but also from the exhilaration of facing a formidable opponent.


"Listen, I'm not here to fight you. But you need to stand down; you've broken through a military checkpoint," Percy insisted, his voice steady.


"Shut up! You don't know who I am! I'm more powerful than you think, and you're not the first Ranger I've fought!" the girl yelled at the young Ranger. "But you idiots just wouldn't let me through, and I'm running late!"


Percy shook his head. "You're going to be late for a long time when the guards arrest—Whoa!?"


The girl moved with the speed of wind, and she was in front of Percy in a blink of an eye. Percy's eyes widened at her quickness. She was as fast as Lady Nelumbo, maybe even a bit faster. The hooded girl then slashed at Percy. Her dagger moved at blinding speed, and it was a miracle Percy was able to dodge the blade.


The Ranger's reflexes were barely able to keep up as he raised his sword and blocked a downward slash from the girl's right arm. The two blades collided with a sharp clang, and the girl's hood fell back, revealing her face.


She looked like she wanting years old with a cute youthful face, but she was a human. She had shoulder-length sandy blonde hair and was a bit pale. Percy couldn't believe someone this girl could be so fast, but he wasn't about to let himself get beaten by her.


Percy pushed the girl away with his strength, and he swung his sword. The girl blocked his blade with her left dagger, but she was then surprised when she felt another blade at her throat.


"Hold it right there, or do you wish to die, girl!" Sir Richard said, holding his blade at the girl's throat.


Sir Richard had to go the long way around the rooftops as he couldn't make the jump that Percy and the girl did. He was moving as fast as he could, and he saw the whole thing. He couldn't believe that Percy was holding his own against her. Sir Richard was amazed at Percy's talent. But the boy was only eighteen years old, and he thought that Percy didn't have the experience to deal with a situation like this. So, the Knight intervened.


The girl's eyes widened when the man appeared behind her out of nowhere. She knew she had no chance to get away, unless she got him to drop his guard or distract him. And she knew how to do that.


"That's it now drop your weapons and put your hands over your—"


She dropped her daggers and then grabbed the bottom of her dress.


'Tsk! I didn't want to use my secret bloodline skill, but these morons leave me no choice!' the girl thought as she mentally prepared herself.


Percy and Sir Richard looked at each other, wondering what the girl was going to do. The girl then started to lift the skirt of her dress.


"Hey!? What in the hells do you think you're—"


Right as Richard's blade moved a few inches away from the girl's neck was all that she needed to channel her Mana into unique passive vein inside her body. Before Richard or Percy react, lightning burst out of her body like a Tesla coil and then she moved with unreal speed as she kicked Richard in the stomach, causing thousands of volts to discharge through him.


Even with Richard's Maja defensive skills couldn't prevent his entire body from locking up as the electricity surged through his muscles. He lost control of his body and dropped to the floor with a loud thud.


The girl then grabbed one of her daggers that was on the roof and did a somersault flip towards Percy. She swung her right arm with the blade at him from overhead.


Percy couldn't believe how fast she was and somehow after she knocked out Richard and was coming at him. She was even faster than before!


But somehow, his eyes could process what her movements and barely brought up his sword to intercept the incoming attack of an electrified blade.


'Got him!' the girl thought confidently as this Ranger was only delaying the inevitable. Once her blade comes in contact with his weapon, his muscles will lock up, and then she can knock him out like that knight.


*zz—SHING! CLASH!*


The blades looked like sparklers when the two weapons made contact, but that wasn't the surprising part. The lightning from the girl's dagger should have sent a thousand volts of electricity into Percy's body, but instead of frying him his hazel eyes glow a bluish white just like her's. Then Percy's body started emitting electricity just like the mystery girl.


'How is this possible?' the girl thought.


Percy didn't know what was going, but when his mana tried to stop the electricity entering his body, something happened that he couldn't explain. He could only feel that he could control the element and something that was running close by his mana vein started to buzz. It was his Heritage Vein or what the High Elves called, a Prime Vein, that he got from his father, Mathew. Who was known as a Lightning Rider.


'Huh? Why is everything slowing down? Gah!? This power feels different from any Maja Skill I've used! I need to use this to stop this girl!' Percy thought.


The girl had a look of pure shock as her eyes widen and she stopped her attack and jumped back on to the gutter on the edge of the roof. Percy didn't waste time as he was practically on top of her.


The girl panicked and attacked once more with a thrust to Percy's chest. He blocked her stab with his sword, but instead of it being a blade lock, his sword came in from an angle to push her dagger to the side.


Percy had an open opportunity, and he took it. He thrust his sword at the girl's shoulder.


'Is that—!?' the girl thought, as she knew the technique he was using. It was similar to her father's fighting style and skillfully jumped and rolled over the top of Percy's arm and tried to kick him in the back.


'Shit!' Percy felt his momentum going forward as the girl rolled over his right arm and say the kick coming and out of instincts he ducked and rolled over the edge of the roof, grabbed the gutter, then pushing off the wall. He was soaring across the street from the building he was just on and landed on a chimney. He had to hold his sword in his left hand as he needed his right hand to stop his momentum.


He saw the girl jumping into the air, and she was heading towards him with her dagger in front of her. Percy couldn't help but feel like he had seen this fighting style before. It was like he was a kid again training with his... mother? But she's been gone for ten years.


'Get your head in the game, dammit!'


Percy jumped backwards as the the two traded a series of strikes and parries as they were in a deadly dance of blades. Percy had a big grin on his face as the fight went on. He was enjoying this duel and the thrill of danger he was experiencing.


He's never felt this kind of thrill since his childhood and it made him nostalgic about his mother and father, who had to leave him behind to protect him. This feeling of excitement, of adrenaline coursing through his veins, was intoxicating. He had to focus on the present. He had to win this fight and capture this mysterious girl. She was too dangerous to let her get to the Queen.


The electrical current that was flowing out of Percy made it that he could sense the roof behind him without seeing it.


'Time to go on the offensive!' Percy thought and swung his sword at the girl's neck, and she parried his attack. He smiled as the girl as they were about to land on a three-story building and he pushed off of her as the two of them flipped in the air and landed on the roof in a crouched position.


The girl had her right foot in front of her and her left foot back while holding her dagger in front of her. Percy had his left foot back and his right foot forward. He held his sword in a reverse grip.


'I'm not going to let you roll over my arm again and get out of my attack.' Percy thought as he grinned at her.


The girl narrowed her glowing eyes at him and attacked him first this time. She charged at him leaving electrical wake behind her and swung her dagger with a vertical slash that was aimed at his head.


Percy blocked her attack with the crossguard of his sword and grabbed his pommel with his other hand so he could use his weight to push her attack down while the his blade swivels around her weapon causing his blade to be right in front of her face. She gritted her teeth when seeing this and quickly jumped back.


Percy didn't let up on his offense, as he used his Lightning Movement to quickly close the gap in a flash. He then spun and swung his sword in an upward diagonal slash at her left shoulder. The girl rolled forward and did a dive roll that caused her to be right in front of him. She then used her dagger to thrust into his stomach, which would have killed him, but Percy remember his mother's training when dealing with someone that gets dangerously close with a dagger or knife. Percy dropped his sword and gripped her right arm that was holding the dagger. He then raised his leg and slammed his knee into her gut, which caused the girl to get the wind knocked out of her.


He then pulled her towards him and elbowed her in the back of the head, which caused her to fall on the rooftop and her dagger fell out of her hands.


'I guess you don't know how to fight in close quarters combat if someone has a hold on your weapon. Or at least not well enough to fight me.' Percy thought. The girl tried to crawl away and grab her dagger, which caused Percy to pick up his sword.


Before the girl could stand Percy was on top. He swiped his sword in a horizontal swing and the two were locked in a struggle against each other's blades. The girl was on her knees while Percy was above her. He was pushing his sword down on her, and her arms were quivering at the strain of keeping her blade in place.


He was pushing her down and her left knee buckled. Her strength was wavering and she had been using her lightning abilities for far too long, which was making her limbs go numb. If she didn't stop using it soon she will become immobile for hours and she couldn't let that happen. Not until she delivered the message to the Queen.


"I will give you credit girl, you're the best fighter I've ever faced." Percy admitted and he pushed down a little harder.


The girl grunted and said, "I'm not done yet." She stopped fighting against Percy's weight as she abruptly dropped to the ground and rolled to her left. This caused Percy to stumble forward and he quickly regained his balance to swing his sword in an upward arc to the girl who was standing to his right now.


The girl dodged his attack by jumping backward and then spun her body to the left and kicked his sword to his left, which caused him to be off balance again. She used this opportunity to slam her left elbow into his gut.


'Got him—huh?'


Percy managed to loosen his body just before she could land her attack, and quickly wrapped his arms around her, trapping her in his grip. He was now on his knees holding the girl in a chokehold.


'Shit, how is he so flexible!' The girl thought. She tried to move her body to break free, but she couldn't. The girl had to use her last resort, and she started to wiggle and gyrate in his grip.


"What are you doing?" Percy asked.


"Something that will cause you to let me go," the girl grunted out as she continued to writhe.


"How will you writhing in my arms cause me to let you go?" Percy was confused.


"By making you uncomfortable! Grr! Now let go—Huh?" The girl was moving around so much the the sealed letter that she was trying to deliver fell out of her satchel and the wind blew it away. She watched it fall out of sight and she yelled, "NO!"


"Hey, are you okay?" Percy said. The girl wasn't moving anymore and the electricity arcing from her body began to fade. He eased up on his lightning ability as well to match hers. He didn't want to kill her by mistake if she was done fighting.


"No, I'm not!" The girl said. "This was supposed to be easy! But I had to run into a perv that is also a Lightning Rider!? Dad lied about how rare Riders were if a perv like you is one!?"


"Who are you calling a pervert, huh!?" Percy said.


"Who else? You're the only one holding me in an intimate position."


"Intimate? A head lock isn't—you know what? I have a fiancée and I don't need a lecture from a girl that obviously hasn't hit puberty yet. You're coming with—whoa!?"


Percy tried to stand up with her still being subdued but his legs felt like Jello and he couldn't stand, which made both of them fall to the ground.


'What's wrong with my legs?' Percy thought to himself as he tried to get his bearings. His left leg was feeling numb and he could barely move it. His right leg was fine though.


"Ugh!? You really never knew that you are a Elemental Rider? Probably because you're a pervert." The girl said and she shook her head as Percy's arms were beginning to follow suit with his legs and he was losing his grip on her.


"Wait, what? I don't know what you are talking about? And I'm not a pervert!" Percy said. He worried that she got him with some type a poison but her body went limp after his grip loosened completely. "Hey! Are you okay?"


"I'm fine, perv. My body is just... numb, that's all." The girl said.


"Numb? What do you mean?"


The girl struggled to turn her head towards him. "How are you a knight? Do they only train morons in this—"


"I'm a ranger! There's a difference! And who is a smart mouth girl like you to—"


"Smart mouth girl like you, huh? Is that all you can think of, a perv like you?"


"What?! You're the one who started it! Besides I have a fiancée so I'm not a perv!"


"Oh, and how many girls have you groped?"


"I haven't! I'm not a—! Wait, why are we even talking about this? C-Come on! Move dammit!" Percy tried to will himself up, but he fell flat on his face again.


The girl groaned in frustration, "Tsk! You ruined everything! And stop trying to move! You're going to knock us over the side and we will fall to our deaths."


Percy stopped struggling against the paralysis and sighed in resignation. "Fine, whatever. I'm too tired to argue. So, are you an assassin?"


"No, I'm not. And I wouldn't even tell you if I was!" The girl said in annoyance. She was trying to see if she could inch worm her way from Percy, but she slid a little closer to the edge of the roof.


"Who's the idiot now? Trying to get away and possibly fall to your death."


"I'm not an idiot, you moron! But if I did fall to my death, at least I wouldn't have to listen to you call me a brat."


"I don't think I ever called you a brat. And stop moving, you'll make us both fall off the roof."


"Tsk! Don't order me around, Perv."


"Whatever, Brat."


"Fine! Moron!"


"Dumb ass!"


"Jerk!"


"Hey, I'm not a—"


"Hey Percy! Is that you up their!?" They heard a shout.


'It's Quinus! Thank the Goddesses!' Percy thought to himself.


"Prince Quinus!? I'm up here!" Percy shouted back.


Quinus was accompanied by a few knights and looked up at the roof of the three story building. Most of the local residents had come out to look at the group of Knights in shining armor and the crown prince. The knights had their helms down and the residents could see their faces. A few of the women blushed when they saw the knights' handsome features. While the rest were surprised to see a Royal in this part of the city.


Quinus ignored them and noticed the seal letter on the ground. He picked it up and noticed the seal was from a Fiafyrian Knight.


'What the hell?'


Quinus looked up again, but he couldn't see Percy. "Is something wrong? Why haven't you shown ourself?" Quinus asked in a serious tone.


"Uh... I can't, I'm under the effect of some type of paralysis. I can't move," Percy shouted back.


Quinus's brow raised as he looked at his knights who were looking for a way to get up to the roof.


"Did the intruder get away!?" Quinus yelled up as he was a little concerned that this girl was on the move.


"No, she's here and is in a similar—"


"Shut up, jerk! You're a moron!" She yelled at Percy before he could finish.


Quinus was confused. It sounded like a sibling rivalry than a confrontation between two enemies.


"Okay?... A few knights will be up there shortly to retrieve the two of you," Quinus said as he heard the heavy footsteps coming from around the corner of an alleyway. He turned and saw Sir George panting.


"I heard yelling!? Is Percy alright?" George said in between gasping for air. Sir George's face was red from running at full speed, and he was covered in sweat. It took far more energy than he would have liked to admit before he finally broke free from the Bolas' hold on his legs.


"I believe so. Sir Greg and his man are making there way up the roof. What happened to you?"


"This blasted rope is what happened," George said, pulling out the Bolas and tossing them to the Prince.


Quinus caught them and looked at the weapon. He had a slight smirk on his face. "Well, I'm sure we'll get the full story once we get this girl down."


Sir George took a deep breath and let it out slowly. His face was still red from running so fast, and he was still sweating profusely. Sir George's brow furrowed. "This girl is trickier than she looks, My Lord. I would be on your guard, Your Highness."


Quinus was amused at Sir George's warning. "I'll keep that under consideration, Sir George."


George nodded but nearly did a double-take when he saw the enchanted wax seal on the letter. 'Sir Mathew's seal? No... That can't be right.'


It's been a decade since he's seen a seal with the family crest of the former Knight Commander. And the wax seal was exactly like his. But he knew that the Knight Commander left the Kingdom to help his wife deal with the Assassin's Society in the North. It was a bloody battle from what he heard, and the King's spies haven't heard or seen either of them in over years. They had been presumed dead. But for some reason, a letter with the exact seal as Mathew's was in Quinus's hand.


Sir George's mind was racing to come up with any explanation. But he held his tongue as the knights Got Percy and this girl from the rooftops. They also found Sir Richard barely conscious from the electricity that he was struck by the girl. He would make a full recovery, but Quinus wasn't happy.


***


The rest of the knights and city guards conversed on the area where Quinus was waiting as they were bringing down Percy and the mystery girl. They both looked like rag dolls when Sir Greg and his men were carrying them on their shoulders.


"H-Hey!? Don't you dare drop me—ack!"


The girl was dropped on her butt in front of Quinus when they got back down to ground level by the alleyway. "Oww! You jerk! That hurt!"


She rubbed her butt in a circular motion to soothe the pain. She was beginning to get feeling back into her limbs, but she won't be able to stand on her own until sometime in the evening.


Quinus looked at the hooded girl with an unamused look. She was still hiding her face, but he could see that she was pretty. The girl was around 5 feet 6 inches tall, slim and athletic. She hadn't quite hit maturity yet, but when she does, she will be quite the looker.


"Who are you and why did you attack my men?" Quinus asked in a serious tone.


The girl was silent for a moment. She looked at Quinus's face with a glare of defiance. "They refused to let me in! And my name is none of your concern!"


Quinus looked unfazed, "From what I heard, you needed to see my mother... And that is my concern when a girl dressed in assassin's attire is trying to enter my home."


The girl did a double take and noticed that this golden eyes man was dressed in royal attire. She scanned him up and down a few times before she scoffed. 'This is the guy my mother and father protected when he was a baby? What a joke! He doesn't look that special!'


Quinus noticed her smug attitude and held up the letter with her father's wax seal on it. "So, you don't mind me opening this?"


The girl's head snapped back to the letter, "That's mine! Give it back! Oof!?"


She tried to lunge at him but her legs gave out from the fallout of overusing her lightning rider ability. She ended up falling on her side.


"Sir her up and take off her mask," Quinus commanded.


"Yes, Your Highness."


Two knights grabbed her by the shoulders and sat her up. One of them took her mask off, revealing her face.


"Hey! Let me go! You have no right!"


Quinus saw her and he was taken aback. It was like he was looking at a younger version of his old maid and former wet nurse. 'Wina? No... But she looks almost like her but she can't be older that a ten year old. Interesting.'


Quinus walked up to the girl and then knelt down and nearly was eye level with her.


The girl wasn't impressed at first, but the glow of pure power coming from Quinus's Golden eyes began to make her feel uneasy. She tried to look away from him, but his eyes seemed to draw her in. It was like they had a life of their own, and it was as though they were peering into her soul, searching for something.


"Who are you..." He said in a low voice.


He had asked her a couple of times but this was different. Her eyes went wide as his eyes began to glow brighter, and his pupils began to change. His pupils had the appearance of the sun.


"Um?... I-I'm Amber..." Amber felt like her voice was being forced out of her mouth. It was like his golden eyes were pulling the words right out of her. She had no idea why she was compelled to answer him. She tried not to, but she was powerless against the pull of his gaze.


"Amber what? Or did your parents not give you a surname?" Quinus said, with a hint of amusement in his voice.


"D-Daz!... Amber Daz!... Dammit!"


Quinus's eyes went back to normal as he was looked perplexed. This girl had the same last name as Wina, and Mathew took her last name because he never had one. Everything was adding up that this girl was the daughter of the strongest Fiafyrian Royal Knights and one of the deadliest assassins in all of Agon. And her sudden appearance meant a possible bad omen for two the the Kingdom's finest warriors. But he kept his stoic expression as he got up and looked over at Sir George, who had a serious look on his face.


A few of the other older knights had a similar expression as George because they knew Sir Mathew from long ago. In comparison, the younger knights only knew the stories about the beautiful assassin who fell in love with the valiant knight that she betrayed the Duke and sided with the Royal Family. Nearly ending Alaric's life. The only reminder that Mathew and Wina had been real was the fact that Percy had stayed behind to serve as the Crown Prince's retainer, and he was the only one that wasn't following what was going on


George looked over to Quinus, "Your Highness... That enchanted wax seal is from—"


"I know..." Quinus looked over at the two knights holding Amber, "Confiscate her weapons for now, and bring her to the guest chambers in the Palace. Station guards at the door, and keep an eye on her. Inform the staff that we need some formal wear for Ms. Amber Daz."


The knights looked at each other and then back to Quinus, "Is that wise, Your Highness? She might try—"


"She wants to speak with my mother. So, she will get an audience with her when the Queen is ready." Quinus looked at Percy who practically had question marks over his head, "Well, Percy... Looks like you are a big brother," Quinus added with a hint of amusement.


Percy looked at Quinus thinking he was playing a practical on him but when he saw all the other knights looking at him with a serious look on their faces he looked at his fellow knights in disbelief. Then it all hit him like a lightning bolt. He had a sister and she was right in front of him.


"Um?... Wait, what—"


"The perv's my brother!? Oh goddess! Just throw me in a dungeon!" Amber yelled as she tried to get out of the knights' grip.


"Wait! You're my little—Now hold on one minute! I'm not a pervert! You made that up—"


"If you have to deny it then it must be true! Mom said that my brother was brave and loyal! She never said anything about him being a lech."


Percy's left eye was twitching as he had a blush on his face, "I am brave and loyal!"


"Then why did you hold me in a romantic way, huh!? I've dealt with many creeps just like—"


"I am not a creep! I am engaged to the love of my life and she's older than me!"


"Oh!? So you stalk elderly women!? That's almost as bad you creep!"


"Gah! I am not a—M-My Lord! Tell her that I'm not a creep!"


Quinus's right eye was twitching and he felt a headache coming on. He sighed and waved his hand to motion to his knights to take Amber to the palace and the knights carrying Percy followed after them. The two bickered all the way to the palace and then they were both taken to their own rooms until to could walk again.


Quinus looked at the letter in his hand one more time.


'This message will disintegrate if anyone besides my mother breaks the enchanted seal. I hope those two are doing alright. It's been too long.'


Quinus had a bad omen when looking at that letter, he just didn't know what it was that had Mathew and Wina sending their own child across the Agon Continent to Fiafyr. It must be important, but he didn't know what they could do to help with all the turmoil happening into of the Kingdom of Fiafyr. He was going to have to talk to his mother and father once he got back to the palace. They need to be the first people he talked to about this situation. But first, he had to wait for his mother to come home. Only then will they find out the true intentions of why Amber is here.


"Your Highness, we shouldn't linger here longer than necessary," Sir George whispered to Quinus as he and the other three men walked behind him.


Quinus looked around and saw a crowd of commoners had begun to gather around them as they were curious as to why they were here in the first place.


"You're right. Let's go."


Quinus turned and walked down the street with his four companions in tow.


'What is going on, Wina... You and Mathew have been quite for too long. And I don't like it,' Quinus thought as he and the other four men disappeared into the crowd of the city.