Say You're Sorry

"Ma… Mage Kalcifer." Princess Alessandria started, swallowing hard, "I'm pleased to see that you have made it back safely. Does that mean you were successful in subjugating the monster?"

Professor Kal could see clearly in the near pitch-blackness of the basement. He could see the terrified looks on their faces as they pressed against the bars of their cell. Even as the princess spoke, he could see her eyes dart back and forth, trying desperately to peel back the darkness so that she could see what he was doing. The way that both of them were behaving truly stung a little, it was as if they had suddenly started to fear him for some reason, even though, he thought, he had been nothing but nice to them thus far.