Unbelievable Alanis ,& Not too Patient

• The Royal Palace Of Sibiah•

(• Secluded Training grounds •)

Following her rigorous training session with Ser Alanis, Felissa felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. She placed her sword onto a table closer to a wall at the far end of the training ground. As she left the area, her right hand brushed aside the sweaty strands of hair that clung to her forehead,a simple gesture.

However, what was ordinary to her held a different meaning for Alanis. He stood there, almost frozen in time, as he watched her hand move with a certain grace. Even though her body was covered in sweat, this subtle act was nothing short of captivating and seductive to him. His heart raced in response, thudding loudly in his chest once more, echoing like a drumbeat, "lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub." ,he momentarily lost himself in the moment.

It took the third call of "Alanis, Alanis, Alanis" to snap him out of his reverie. He quickly regained his composure, responding, "Yes, your highness," and bowing slightly to acknowledge her. However, the princess had noticed his absent-mindedness, and her eyebrows furrowed with a mix of puzzlement and concern.

She inquired, "You have been absent-minded.... twice now. What is troubling you? Is there something I should be aware of? Is my mother unwell?" Alanis reassured her with a calm tone, "Nothing of the sort, Princess. I'm just a bit exerted." Accepting his explanation, Felissa replied, "Very well then," without dwelling too much on his distracted state.She then proceeded to her chambers, and Ser Alanis followed suit.

• Princess Felissa Chambers •

Upon their return, Alanis politely excused himself and took his leave, allowing the princess her well-deserved privacy. In her chambers, the maids had prepared a warm bath already, complete with floating petals. Felissa undressed and, feeling the soothing warmth of the water envelop her, closed her eyes briefly.

As she closed her eyes she went into a trans – a dreamlike state,In this surreal vision, she witnessed a grand courtyard within the royal palace, where dignitaries and royalty from diverse kingdoms gathered for a significant celebration. Laughter and cheer filled the air as those in attendance feasted and enjoyed the whole festivities.

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. The tranquil scene morphed into a tense one. From nowhere masked assassins dressed in inky-black attire materialized. the maids and some royals started running Helter skelter for their lives, trying to flee the scene. Some royals alongside their guards, who were skilled in combat started fighting back against the intruders .

Amid this unexpected confrontation when the Intruders became overwhelming and they could not be stopped or held off, a mysterious figure, cloaked in a hooded mantle, stepped into the scene. With swiftness and valor, this enigmatic hero assisted the royals in repelling the attackers, ensuring the safety of the gathering.

As the hooded hero was about to subdue the last of the assailants,Princess Felissa opened her eyes, her face a canvas of curiosity and intrigue. Her brow furrowed with a question. "What is this?" as she wondered, perplexed by what she just saw but she soon wavered it.

After emerging from the bath, the princess was attended to by her maids. They carefully dried her off and adorned her in her royal garments. One of the maids, while grooming her hair in front of an ornate golden mirror, could not help but shower Felissa with flattering words.

"Your Highness, you are as radiant as the morning sun," she praised, her voice filled with admiration. Felissa, who hadn't smiled like this in a while, could not help but blush in response. The compliments continued to flow like a gentle stream. "You are the epitome of grace and poise, Your Highness," the maid praised her enthusiastically. "Princess, your smile is like a beacon of hope in our kingdom."

The last remark, however well-intended brought about a subtle change in the princess's expression. Her smile faded as a hint of sadness crept into her eyes. It was not due to the maid's compliments,the last compliment she heard just reminded her of the intricacies of her life as a hidden princess.

She realized she hadn't led the life of a typical princess, hidden away for her own safety. Unanswered questions about her past, her father's whereabouts, and the reasons for her concealment. These unresolved matters sometimes weighed heavy on her heart, casting a shadow on her countenance.

Sensing the change in the princess's demeanor, the maid quickly lowered herself into a curtsey, her voice laced with concern as she offered an apology. "My apologies, your highness, if I misspoke," she humbly conveyed.

Felissa looked back at her maid and offered a reassuring smile. "No, nothing you said offended me," she replied kindly. The maid, visibly relieved by the princess's understanding, moved closer and gently inquired, "Then what is on your mind, Princess?"

With a thoughtful gaze reflected in the mirror, Felissa as she leaned back thought 'How can I be a beacon of hope to the people that do not even know I exist', she then answered, "It's nothing." She didn't wish to burden her maid with the complexities of her thoughts. The maid, having heard the princess's response, resumed her work of tending to Felissa's radiant hair with care.

• By The Palace Gates •

Lucian found himself amidst a group of excited individuals who could not contain their enthusiasm about the prospect of entering the palace and working there. They chatted energetically about the opportunity that lay ahead.

"I can't believe I'm going to see the palace, let alone work in it. It is truly unbelievable!" The man standing in front of Lucian exclaimed with evident excitement. Lucian, however, was preoccupied with his own thoughts, driven by the singular desire to lay his hands on the elusive arcane book of magic. He was momentarily lost in his aspirations until he was abruptly brought back to reality by an unexpected question, "What is your name?"

He looked into the expectant eyes of the questioner, completely unprepared for the inquiry. Without a second thought, he spontaneously blurted out a random name, "Viden... Viden Kove."

The man noting down the names registered his response, then directed Lucian toward the palace gates. A faint smile graced Lucian's face as he contemplated his new opportunity, thinking, 'Finally.'

As he entered the grand palace, he was awestruck by the opulence and beauty that surrounded him. His initial distraction with the palace's grandeur was swiftly interrupted by a tap on his shoulder from a man behind him, bringing his attention back to the direction of where they were heading .

Lucian, still a little stupefied, followed the others through the palace, eventually reaching the area designated for the palace staff . Though it was somewhat less grand than the palace itself, it far surpassed the houses outside the palace walls. After some time, they finally arrived at their destination.

Most people in the group were either exhausted and seated on the ground or still filled with adrenaline and unable to relax. Lucian, on the other hand, remained unwaveringly focused on his quest for the arcane book.

A few minutes after their arrival, a woman stepped forward and commanded, "On your feet, everybody." Obediently, they all stood up. She continued, "In just a few days, we will partake in the grand celebration of our great kingdom's Queen's birth anniversary. Each one of you is here for a specific purpose: to serve on that momentous day. You'll receive training for your respective roles, be provided with new attire, and be directed to your accommodations before your training begins. I implore you all to behave appropriately, as any misconduct could result in dismissal."

After conveying the information, she then proceeded to ask the group, "Do you understand?" In unison, the men responded, "Aye, Madam!" and the women responded, "Yes, Madam!"

The woman glanced at the man beside her, silently conveying that she had concluded her address. She was the Queen's personal maid and the head of the palace's servants. The man she signaled to was her assistant.

He promptly issued instructions, directing the female maids to escort the prospective female servants to their designated resting places, while the palace guards were assigned to guide the males to their respective resting area before their training commenced.

As they reached their resting quarters, a sense of elation swept through the group. For most of them, it was like a dream come true. However, amidst the jubilation, Lucian remained an exception. His heart's desire was to initiate his quest immediately.

To his bewilderment, when he moved towards the entrance of the resting area and cautiously peeped through the door, he noticed the palace guards patrolling. Though he had anticipated the presence of guards in a royal palace, he did not expect them to be so tight.

His hand reached inside his upper clothing, pulling out the locket of timelessness he wore around his neck. He held it in his palm, gazing at it, contemplating the dilemma: "Should I employ it now, or should I not?".