The Great Gismead - The capital of Girannon

That night when Lucian and I walked back home together, he had a stiff air about him, as if something was on his mind and he couldn't concentrate on the present. I guess I didn't blame him since tomorrow was a big day for him; both he and I were travelling to the capital city. He was going to be part of the Knight's order and Cornelius had promised to find a place for me in the healing sect of the Royal Mage Society since the whole Royal Mage Society was run by his family, the Marcellus's.

I was excited and nervous and didn't know how I was going to get to sleep tonight. However, the energy I was getting from Lucian wasn't that of nervous excitement it was more of worry and anxiousness.

"What's wrong?" I asked tentatively as we walked on the cobblestone street, the sound of our shoes on the stones echoing behind us.

At first, he didn't respond but after a few moments of brooding he answered me, "I'm worried about you..." he said frowning.

"Why?"

"You're too soft and kind, and you know nothing of the capital or what people can be like, I'm afraid that you will get taken advantage of if you come with us to Gismead tomorrow. Not to mention how powerful you are - both the bad and the good will be drawn to you..." Although Lucian could be so serious and stoic, when I asked him to be my friend and he agreed a few days ago, he really meant it. He was looking out for me and was concerned about me, just like how a real friend/family member would be.

"Thanks for worrying about me. But you don't have to be worried, I'll be fine, I'm all grown up and can look after myself." I said to him reassuringly.

He scoffed indignantly at what I said and countered with, "look after yourself? I found you lost in the woods with no memories..."

"And I found you half dead in the woods completely helpless!"

We both laughed heartily under the stars, a beautiful night sky that I wouldn't have been able to see back in New York.

"But in all seriousness, you have to promise me that you will be careful. Also, try not to show too much of your power to lots of people, but don't try and hide your powers from the Royal family because they will probably just find out anyways and you will be in trouble if you are caught lying to them." He said sternly.

"And the other nobles... Is it okay to tell them?"

"Besides the prince, Cornelius seems trustworthy, and Braxton is the prince's aid, so he is also trustworthy, as for the others, you will have to make up your own mind about them."

I nodded, satisfied.

Soon after our little chat, we reached the house, we had to inform Elsbeth of the change in plans and of tomorrow's activities. She said that she was sad to see us go, but happy that we both were getting such great opportunities for our future endeavours, afterwards she gave us both a bear hug and sent us off to sleep.

That night I just laid on my bed thinking, of the future.

<---------------------<<<

Kristopher sat at the small table in his small room at the St Margaret's Inn in Willow's town, the cool night air blew in from the open window and made his long golden hair sway in the breeze. His mind was on the healer named Riley.

Her power as a healer was unbelievable, truly out of this world. Although her not having an identity was concerning, it might actually be for the best. Since she certainly wasn't apart of Girannon's noble class she was most likely part of one of the other kingdom's noble families. But now that he had witnessed her power, Kristopher had no intention of letting her go back to whichever kingdom she belonged to, this dark-haired healer was a valuable asset to Girannon, and in Girannon she needed to stay. Hence, he had invited her to join them on their trip to the capital, so that he could ensure she was safely delivered to the hands of his kingdom and be named a citizen of Girannon immediately.

The second prince's golden eyes glowed mischievously in the moonlight as the final touches of his plan we're falling into place, soon she would be in the clutches of Girannon, a place she wouldn't be able to escape. Kristopher didn't plan to cage her up or keep her locked away in the castle, he just had to make sure she integrated and made a home for herself in Gismead so that she would be of aid to Girannon and not any of the other nations. The kind of power level she had even though she was completely untrained was astounding, it was the kind of power that had to belong to Girannon.

Kristopher knew, that his older brother, the first prince, would agree with him.

Kristopher pursed his lips and made a low whistle through the open window of his small room. Soon the Royal falcon and messenger bird that he always travelled with landed on his windowsill. A beautiful red-eyed golden-feather bird patiently waited for its master to finish writing a letter addressed to his older brother and father. Kristopher rolled the note into a small cylinder and tied the small note onto one of the falcon's feet. Then he clicked his tongue and the bird took off into the night sky, flying east, headed for the Royal castle in Gismead.

With that, the prince undressed and then went to sleep.

Early the next morning the five knights, Lucian and Riley met at the entrance of the town. After a quick greeting, they left Willow's Town and headed East for Gismead, the capital city of Girannon.

The prince and Braxton rode in front while Riley rode on Lucian's horse just behind the prince, with Alucard and the rest just behind them.

At one point in the journey, the prince called for Lucian and Riley to come and ride next to him, Braxton and his stallion sidestepped out of the way and fell into place behind the prince in the train while Lucian and Riley rode next to the prince.

"Lucian, have you by any chance tested Miss Riley's magical affinity with the gemstones?" Asked the prince nonchalantly.

I felt my chest tighten, even though I knew it was okay to tell the prince I still felt a wave of anxiety wash over me.

"Yes, Your Highness." Replied Lucian.

"What were the results?"

"I can use all the magic types, your Highness," I replied nervously. How would he react?

The prince's horse came to a sudden halt. Since we were all trotting in such close proximity, Lucian had to pull on the horses reigns swiftly so that he didn't crash into the prince's steed. And so did all the other knight's in the line.

"Prince, is everything alright?" Called a concerned Braxton from behind us.

"Yes. Everything is quite alright" the way he said that made it seem like everything wasn't alright. Nevertheless, the prince began to trot again but stayed quite silent for the rest of the journey accept to make us stop for a break for us and the horses.

It had been a long day's ride, but when they finally got to Gismead, it was worth it. It was late evening, still about an hour until the sunset, the beautiful orange colour of the sky only further illuminated the beauty of this fantasy kingdom, Girannon.

Riley senses were completely overwhelmed with breathtaking beauty, the aromatic smells of flowers and foods she had never seen before, the sounds of people chattering away and salesmen calling out the prices of their items.

Authentic stone and brick houses with pointed roofs, streets that led on as far as the eye could see, this place was straight out of a dream.

A few kilometres ahead of them, she saw an unbelievably huge castle. It glistened and sparkled under the sun as if it were made of crystal. It was a beacon that shone so brightly that it became the highlight of an already jaw-dropping kingdom.

In front of her, on the same horse, Lucian was having so much fun listening to Riley's ooooh's and ahhhhh's at the wonders of the city. He chuckled under his breath at her reactions to everything.

The party rode the kilometres to the castle at the centre of the city. It was humungous, the closer they got to it the more it seemed to grow. To her, it looked like an imposing gothic castle with impossibly high roofs and intricate details on every inch of it.

As they passed through the main entrance the guards on either side bowed deeply to them.

The more people they came across, the more Riley heard voices call out and either curtsey or bow while saying:

"Your Highness."

"Esteemed Lords."

"Greetings to the Knight's Order."

The group was showered with such greetings all the way through the palace until they reached the Royal stables and dismounted the horses and two horse keepers came and settled the horses into the barn.

The group then said their goodbyes, Lucian was going with the prince while Riley was going with Cornelius.

"Well this is it..." she felt her heart tighten in her chest, she was both happy and sad at this goodbye.

"Until we meet again..." said Lucian, not really wanting to leave her to the nobles, but he had no choice. "I'll come and call on you when I have the chance." He said, not only promising her but himself.

"Goodbye, for now, Lucian."

"Goodbye, for now, Riley."

Riley's Point of View

Cornelius and I walked back out of the palace, he took me down a long winding road until we reached an unreasonably beautiful mansion/mini-castle.

There was a copper plaque above the huge metal gates that read 'Marcellus'. I thought that the copper colour was fitting for Cornelius's copper coloured hair. In fact, I was excited to meet the rest of his family because he told me the Marcellus's were all recognisable by their orangey-pink hair.

"Riley, before we go in, I just want to warn you about my family..." he started.

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