Don't make me zap you

"Elvis." Mae knocked on his door, a little out of breath, she took her time to catch up on it by resting her hand on her knees.

Opening the door, Elvis looked down at a panting Mae, "What's wrong, Your Highness?"

"I... need... to..." She paused, not wanting to continue until she was in. Walking herself in, she pulled on a stool and sat down, looking at the concoction he was cooking up.

Closing the door behind him, Elvis allowed her time to get a grip on herself.

"Have a seat, Your Highness." Elvis gestured towards his stool in which Mae was already sitting on. "Oh wait, you already are." He deadpanned.

Mae shot a glare at him, finally getting a grip of herself, she whipped her hair behind her, resting her elbows on the desk.

"Would you cut out the title calling? No one's here, remember!" She hissed in disdain.

Raising his hands in defense, Elvis gave a chuckle at her response.

"Hmph." She scoffed with a roll of her eyes.

She took her time scanning her surrounding area, "What's that?" She pointed at the bubbling blue concoction he was making, little pockets of air evaporated as the bubbles popped, with the stirring stick tilted to the rim of the pot, it was set under the raging fire.

"That is not of your concern now." Elvis disregarded her curious tongue, "What I should be concerned about is why you came here in such a rush."

Mae's demeanor turned sly and cautious at his question, she turned around, not wanting to face him.

"Mae?" Elvis tugged at her shoulder but she wouldn't budge. "Why do I feel like you witnessed something you weren't supposed to? Or did you sneak out again?"

'Well you have you were right about both in a sense.' Her eyes darted elsewhere, she began doubting if running towards his tower for questions was a right decision.

"Mae?" Elvis raised his hand, a glow engulfing it, "Don't make me zap you." He threatened.

Mae jolted back to reality with just that sentence. "You wouldn't dare, Royal sorcerer Elvis." She stressed, reminding him where his loyalty lay, holding his gaze.

Moments later they both burst out laughing at what had transpired between them.

"You have gotten bolder over the years." Elvis commented, dropping his hands down along with the glow gone.

"I learned from the best. All those empty threats given to me then to spill what I knew or did when I was little definitely can't work on me now, you of all people should know that." Mae winked, regaining her confidence.

"You are a smart girl, you got that from me." Elvis nodded his head in pride about his influence on her.

"I was born smart, I don't need an external force driving me to what I already am." She blew a raspberry at her witty answer.

"Strike one." Elvis admitted defeat. "So would you tell me what's going on in your thoughts, it must be important if you could run all the way to my domain."

"Is there anything you aren't telling me that I should be aware of?" Mae decided to use the subtle approach.

"Are we onto another question to draw out an answer from me like last time?" He asked with a raise of his brow.

He knew too well how Mae had a habit of turning the tables with her questions, even at a young age of thirteen was his first experience with her expertise.

"Something like that." Mae shrugged.

"But I was the first to ask the question. Why don't you answer first?" Elvis tried reasoning.

"So..." Mae slurred her speech, standing up from her stool, she walked towards him with a purpose.

"So what?" Elvis felt uncomfortable, so much so he unintentionally froze her in place with the wave of his hand.

Mae couldn't believe she had been frozen so effortlessly, with her eyes the only thing moving, which showed how pissed she was.

"I apologize Mae." Elvis snapped his fingers, reverting his spell.

Mae took a moment to get a hold of herself, she had definitely not expected to be caught in that situation.

"I would only accept your apology if you follow through with my questions." She folded her arms awaiting an answer from him, a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips at how quick witted she was to turn the situation in her favour.

"And what if I decline? At least I did my part by apologising to you." Elvis challenged.

'Why would you...? What in the...?' Mae bit on her bottom lip. She was definitely not expecting such an answer from him, nor such a good counter attack.

"Would you like to know what my parents would think if they knew of your little friend down below?" She tested the waters to see his reaction once more.

Gasping in betrayal, "You would not dare! Wait... little? Little? You call him little? Well he's your little friend also, in that case." Elvis retorted.

"Of course he's my friend, but you were the one who said I keep this a secret. You never know what the outcome might be if you don't test the waters and find out." Mae shrugged, pretending not to care, but deep down she knew what it would entail if the news about Skun got out.

"You are pushing it, young lady. What are you up to?" He narrowed his eyes, skeptical on why she would use Skun as a bargaining chip.

"Same place you are trying to hide things from me now." She replied cryptically.

"What exactly do you want? Why are you here?" He wiped his face, snapping his fingers a floating cup of water appeared, taking it by the handle, he took a mouthful of it to quench his thirst.

"I just need you to tell me truthfully, is there anything I need to know? I wouldn't want to experience a certain shock I am still trying to overcome." She facepalmed.

"What shock?" Elvis picked up on that snippet of information.