Forest Fire.

(Riveria POV)

I gazed up to look at my father, Larfal Ljos Alf, the high elf king. I had complicated feelings toward him… Though I'm sure for reasons pure, it was due to him that I ended up being chained down in the forest for close to seventy years. It was the first time I got back in twenty years or so. It wasn't that much of time for us elves, more so the high elves, which I'm a part of. But that didn't mean much, it was still a long time...

To my right was Ken. He was a mysterious man of many talents… Perhaps the one that truly captivated me was his magic. We had talked a few more times when he would spar with Aiz these last couple of days, she seemed really fond of him. Maybe it's because he doesn't treat her as someone with a tragic past… Although, that sparring got way less after a certain time as he somehow disappeared for two weeks, and nothing was heard about him. Only to suddenly come up and send a strange date invitation in the dead of night.

I was asleep when my apprentice Lefiya informed me about an apparent 'Defamation to my reputation.' Naturally, I went to see what it was.

'Would you want to go on that date?- Sword King to Princess Riveria' That message lit up the sky in multiple colours.

I still don't know how, but he must have used the magic that he always boasts about. The control needed to do such a thing would be impressive, never mind the fact that the message was apparently composed of multiple elements.

It went without saying that my elf 'companions' in the Loki Familia didn't like that so much. We elves are known for our pride, myself included, but I learned to curb it down a bit through the last twenty years with the help of the relationship I built with Gareth and Finn.

Ultimately, they couldn't really do anything. Ken was strong, unnaturally so. He would always 'spar' with our elite elf squad after having his usual bout with little Aiz. Not only I, but Loki-sama as well prided herself on that squad. It was the main damage dealing group. That was when I truly knew how strong he was… His magic usage comes naturally. There is no chant, no delay... It just happens.

I shook my head to dispel those thoughts. To my right rested Ken with his head slightly bowed, showing some respect for father.

I'm still young, in my nineties. As such, there was no need to rush things... But I suppose if I had to be in a relationship, I wouldn't mind someone like him. He was competent and also had quite handsome looks, rivalling even the looks of father and me as high-elves. Of course, I would naturally prefer someone pleasing to the eye as my partner. He also seemed to be the same, as I would often catch him taking sneaky glances at my thighs.

To be honest, I was not expecting him to come along with me. I assume my father used that as a reason to summon me without fail. That move that Ken did was splendidly stupid…. Had he been any weaker, I wouldn't be sure what would have happened. He had already gathered the animosity of the elves resting in Orario.

I looked around the castle, and it was just like I remembered it the last time I was here.

"So you are the filthy human that is consorting my precious daughter." Father's voice bellowed in the empty throne room.

I grimaced, and was about to interfere… This was not going to make for a good impression. But the composed smile from Ken stopped my attempts.

Father hummed, "I hear you already have a partner. What makes you think I'll let you take my princess, god-lover." Father essentially spat out the last part with venom as his hands tightly clasped the throne handle.

Unlike before, Ken seemed very much insulted by the ridiculing tone father used when implicitly under toning Lady Hephaestus. Ken raised an eyebrow and was about to respond—

*Baam*

The throne room's door opened with a thud as a couple of royal guards entered the room. There was even my good friend Aina among them.

"Catastrophe has struck, your majesty." the head guard screamed, with his hand flailing around for added effect.

I widened my eyes, that was a huge breach of conduct. Have things changed so much in these last twenty years?

"There is no time for this!!" Aina, my good friend and previous Chamberlain, said. She drew close to me, drawing a dirty look at Ken meanwhile.

"We need to get out of here. The entire forest is on fire!"

I widened my eyes, I looked at the head royal guard, and he nodded.

"It's the one-eyed dragon…." he muttered with a shaky tone, already looking defeated with no hopes of escaping.

"!"

The entire room. father included, was sent into a panic. Murmurs and whispers dominated the room.

"SILENCE!" Ken shouted, somehow, his voice stopped the thoughts of every single person, including me.

He shot out a magic projectile from his place at the throne, and he seemed to concentrate, almost as if seeing something from that small hole. Ken's expression turned graver with each passing second.

Ken continued when no one said anything. "So here is what's going to happen. You are going to gather in one place, and I'm going to transfer you to Orario."

Only I and father knew the meaning behind those words, such magic only existed in the records accessible to high-elves. Of course, Ken could be lying, but I doubt it, looking at his serious expression.

"You think Loki will accept them?" I was snapped out of my thoughts when Ken said that.

Although Loki-Sama is mischievous, she still loves our Familia members. Besides, I doubt she would hate having more elves in the mage squad…

I squinted my eyes as a foreboding feeling grew deep inside me "...Why are you talking as if you'll be staying here?"

"Yes, I am," he said. "Someone needs to stay here."

"Huh? Why can't you go with us?"

Ken shook his head. "It won't let us." he gestured to the hole. And a large orange-yellow draconic eye looked at me.

"Easy there…" I got grabbed by the shoulders as I felt my knees weaken from the pressure. "...Just gather everyone here, and I will distract the thing."

"I will go with you." I was the princess of the elven forest, naturally, I held responsibility.

"Don't bother. You'll just slow me down."

I closed and opened my mouth multiple times in rapid succession, but I found no answer to that.

"Just wait for me, we will have that date after I kill this thing," he said with a smile. That smile somehow didn't look right.

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Skills: GamersMind(Off) - GamersBody - Instinct - Mind'sEye(True) - Mage - Mystery- DivineSmith- MasterSworsman- Rejuvenation - Shapeshifting - Mixing- DivineTouch- Luck- EndlessLibido- Battlecontinuation- Mana Burst.

Magic:- MasterElementalist - Temporal Spacial Archmage- Dark/Light Archmage.