4 Sinner
The magician Artesia noticed the fleeting gaze of the soldiers around her and yet no one dared to linger for too long. She understood that men will always want for a woman's company but she was neither interested nor inclined to even give them a second of her time.
As she continued walking towards her tent, she noticed the sound of a guitar and a few men making merry not too far away. The magician could hear them singing songs about the hero's accomplishments on the battlefield.
"For Arthur is the sword of the day and the saviors of the sinners of the past! His might is endless and he will…"
A bard skillfully strummed the guitar as some soldiers joined in the revelry by whistling, some followed the beat by tapping and others used a makeshift drum.
For the soldiers around the magician, it was but a matter of course to give praise to the hero and his party members.
For Artesia, every praise and every expression of adoration for the hero was as painful as a million stabs to her heart. The magician knew that the hero suffers for each life he takes. The hero suffers for each man he fails to save. The hero suffers for every time he thinks of his lover of yore, Alagarasi.
The magician reached her tent and as if used to such a sight, her attendants scurried over to lead her to her bath.
The magician followed them in silence as she was immersed in her own thoughts and the attendants knew better than to bother their master.
Artesia removed her necklace, one made with adamantium and tempered with the fire of the Dragon King. It was a holy artifact blessed by the Goddess which effectively slows down the aging process to about 1 year every decade – which practically spells out eternal youth and freedom from disease and curses.
As the chain of the necklace slid down her neck, it caressed her abundant breasts, making the magician shiver at the sudden touch.
The attendants pretended not to have seen anything as the mere sight of Artesia is enough to charm anyone – be it man, woman or spirit – and seeing the magician in shock is also an exquisite experience for anyone sexually aware.
Artesia paid no heed to her blushing attendants and dipped buttocks first on to the tub filled with roses and oils. It smelled of flowers and spring, a scent that many would associate with the mature and intelligent magician.
The silence in the tent was a comfortable one as the gentle splashing of the water and the soft scrubbing sounds made one feel at ease. The attendants were happily cleaning their princess and the magician was lost in her thoughts.
Artesia thought back to the time when she met Arthur.
10 Years Ago:
Princess Artesia Von Anellise – it can be argued that no one under the light of the Sun did not know of the Princess. How can anyone forget the most beautiful woman in the world? A fact undisputed even with the existence of demigods, elves and other beings of mystical origin. Many people claim that the princess, a budding magician with the potential to surpass the greatest spellcasters of any era, is a legendary figure who would one day move the world with her whims and thoughts.
Such a princess was currently red in the neck with anger, arguing with a brigand in the halls of the royal palace.
"How dare you mock me in the presence of the Goddess?!" The princess huffed and puffed and after added, "I care not if you look at me or stare at me but why in the seven hells would you sigh as if I stole your precious lover away from you?"
"Are you simply daft? Or are you looking to die?"
This was a sight to behold, of course, as the princess was known to be a woman of grace and maturity. But right now, she seemed like any other girl her age arguing with one of her friends.
Her attendants did not dare let out a breath as the situation was somewhat tense. Despite her youth, the princess was still a genuine magical powerhouse and any of her spells could level a city block, much less a single hall in the royal palace.
The brigand replied, "I apologize if I made you feel that way but that was not my intention."
Now the princess was a little surprised as the brigand's cold face seemed to be hiding some sort of dark secret. His dark hair seemed both soft and delicate to the touch and his deep dark eyes tried their best to remain strong despite seemingly close to breaking down in anguish.
The brigand's handsome visage certainly caught her unaware but she wasn't some fictitious female character that the scholars would yearn for as a substitute for a real woman's touch – instead, the handsome brigand simply made her angrier.
"If this matter could simply be resolved with words then we would have no need for the police or the laws! You have offended a royal of this kingdom! These are your charges and the punishment is twenty lashes!" The princess harrumphed and said, "What say you?"
Of course, the princess was angry but she wasn't immature either. She just wanted to play a little prank on the brigand – in short, she wanted to break his artificial aloofness and see what kind of person he was.
'Would he beg and cry for mercy?'
The princess's eyes narrowed into two beautiful crescents as she smiled at the idea of 'defeating' this detestable man.
The brigand simply nodded in defeat. "If that is what it takes to earn your forgiveness, then" and unsheathed his sword, "this lowly one shall comply." And stabbed it into his torso.
The princess's smile was wiped off of her face as she froze on the spot. It wasn't until one of her attendants screamed that the princess rushed towards the dying brigand who was covered in his own blood.
"Is this enough punishment, my lady?" he asked weakly, in a raspy voice that tugged at the princess's heartstrings.
The princess was simply dumbfounded as no one in their right mind would ever react the way this brigand did.
'Of course, he isn't in his right mind. But why?' The princess stared into the deep eyes of the brigand who was both looking at her and through her.
The brigand took the princess's answer as an affirmation and smiled. "At the very least, I can see Al again."
The brigand reached over and caressed the princess's face.
"You truly do remind me of her. It's like a cruel joke and I know not whether to admire or pity my own fate."
The brigand was slowly losing the light in his eyes and the princess's heart tightened at the thought of the brigand's death.
'Why does he look at me as if he knows me? But he clearly doesn't know me. I've never met him before in my life.'
The princess started casting Angelus, the highest level of white magic known to humankind. While this magic can heal most wounds, it can NOT bring someone back to life. Understanding this completely, the princess was doing everything in her power to heal the brigand.
Before darkness completely overwhelmed the brigand, a sudden burst of light jolted him back to life. He could feel his chest loosening up as a warm breath of fresh air circulated around his lungs.
Arthur slowly opened his eyes and what greeted him are two golden irises that seemed to see him for what he is – and for that he felt exposed and maybe a little bit ashamed. But it was not a completely unpleasant feeling.
The sunlight behind the princess further added to the mystique behind her otherworldly beauty and her golden eyes seemed to be able to see all.
As he took her visage in, one that was completely similar and yet dissimilar to someone he once knew, the Brigand found himself enchanted by the princess.
"Brigand, why would you do something stupid like that?" The princess asked, as tears formed in her eyes.
The brigand smiled and said, "I couldn't bear the heartache that came with displeasing your face…you look like someone I once knew. Someone I once loved. Someone whose death I caused."
The princess steeled herself and replied, "I am Artesia. I will have you know that I am the only one in the world and that other woman is her but I am me. Do you understand? Now name yourself you hooligan lest I call you an idiot forever."
The princess's eyes curved into crescents as she waited for the brigand to answer.
"Mine name is Arthur, Princess…and I am but a sinner of the past."
