Chapter 3- Best friend

"Lady Azmaveth, it's time for dinner. The duke, duchess and your brother are waiting at the dining hall." The maid informed me and I walked towards where the food was. I'm hungry.

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"Assfrior how are you?" My father asked.

I know what they are thinking. They think that I have nightmares and some traumatic behaviors but nope. I'm good. "I'm feeling much better now that I can eat some steak." I said in my normal voice. "Don't worry father, mother and brother. I'm not like the princess who has a weak heart who cries easily." I can feel that they were all surprised and they were looking at me.

"If you say so. We're proud that you came home safe and also saved the princess. The king would like to reward you." My father said.

"Hmm. I guess I can ask for access in their library." That will help me in my study of elements.

And we continue to eat and talk in between.

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Cerys POV

"Your highness, it's time to sleep." My new maid said and tucked me on my blanket. She gave milk a while ago and I feel sleepy. I think they put some potion here to help me sleep. And I dozed off.

Someone is laughing. "Hello princess. Any last words?" Then the scary man laughed so hard. It's scary, it's terrifying. I tried to ask for help but nothing came out of my mouth. No. I don't want this. Not again. It blacked out and I was standing in the center of the corpses. Father, mother help me. Then there's the man who kidnapped me, with a dagger in his hand. "Any last words princess?" His voice is scary. I closed my eyes and I felt and heard that someone fell. I open my eyes and the scary man is dead? Who did that?

I was awakened by some voice. "Princess. Princess Cerys. Wake up" I open my eyes and a man is in front of me. No no. Not again. " Ahhhhh. Don't come near me! Leneeeeee! Help! Mother! Help meeeee!" I cry my lungs out.

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"Ahhhhh. Don't come near me! Leneeeeee! Help! Mother! Help meeeee!" The voice of the princess was heard in the middle of the night. A voice crying for help. The princess is crying. The knight who was assigned to keep her safe was worried and didn't know what to do.

"Your highness. It's me. Leve." The knight trying to calm down the little princess.

"What's happening? Your highness?" The maid came with a worried look. She goes to the side where the princess scrunched up terrified and crying. "Leve, what happened?" the maid asked.

"I heard the princess crying and I came to see what was happening. She was crying while sleeping so I tried to wake her up by calling her. However, after she opened her eyes, she shouted as if she saw some ghost." the knight quickly said. "Princess Cerys, I apologize if I made you cry. I'll accept any punishment from you." the knight kneeled and asked for forgiveness.

And that scene where the princess is having a nightmare every night continued for days.

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"Duke Rue, how was your daughter coping up with the incident?" the king asked the duke.

"It both fascinates and makes me proud as she wanted to learn more about her powers and was eager to train even at her age. However, I only allowed her to learn more about elements, magic and demons to hone her skills. Her training with swords will take place after she turns 10 years of age and she agrees." the duke proudly and honestly said while bowing.

"You do really have a great daughter." the king praised the duke.

"Thank you my king. I'm proud of her." the duke said. "If I may, what would the king want from me today?" the duke continues.

"I will tell you straight. I have a favor for your daughter, please let her be friends with the princess. Maybe Cerys' well being will improve. Then I will grant your daughter's request to have access to the library." the king said.

"I will let my daughter know your request, your majesty. Azmaveth will be glad to hear this news" the duke said and bowed again.

The both knew that this request was a request as a father but not as a king. The princess' case was rapidly spread throughout the kingdom. Some were saddened but some said that the princess might grow crazy.

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"Hi princess cerys. Why are your eyes puffy and reddish?" a four-year-old child asked the princess who was reading a children's book.

"Do not look at me if you will only tease me." the princess coldly said.

"Okay. Would you like to go to our house?" the child asked. The princess stopped from reading and looked at the daughter of the Duke.

"Do you think father will approve of it?" She wanted to play outside but because of what happened, she was forced to stay inside the palace with heavy security.

"Yes. Because duke Quillon and his men are strong. Even I, I am strong." the child proudly said.

"Are you saying that his majesty and his men are not strong enough?" the princess curiously asked.

"I did not say that." Azmaveth said. "I'll ask the king myself" she continued standing straight. "Want to come, your highness?" She lent a hand waiting to approve her idea.

"Alright. I'll come." The princess holds Azmaveth's hand and they both seek an audience with the king.

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"What do you call this?" Cerys asked Azmaveth while pointing to the accessory in Azmaveth's room.

"I'm still thinking. But I'm trying to store my mana there and let a spirit live in that little container. Let's try. You can store a bit of your mana as well if you want." Azmaveth answered. They are now in the study room of Lady Azmaveth. The children tried storing mana bit by bit and Azmaveth last tried to call on a small wind spirit who can sing a lullaby or any songs that can help a person sleep.

After 4 days of trying, they've finished. "Alright. I'll give this to you Atasha. We'll try this later in the evening." Azmaveth said and handed the container to the princess. It is two small round containers that connected with each other, can be folded so the spirit will not sing. If opened, the spirit will appear and will sing a song.

"I'm excited! I can't wait to try it later." the princess's excited voice cannot be hidden. "Wait. Did you just call me Atasha?" puzzled, she asked her friend.

"Yes. Atasha means successful and I believe that you will be far more successful. This thing we just did is a start." Azmaveth explained, but little did she know, that sentence touched the heart of the princess, leaving a reddish part of her cheeks. Then she remembered the thing they 'invented'. "Wait, are we going to try this later when we sleep?" the princess asked.

Cerys POV

"Yes, however, we will try this IN your room. We will see if this will help you sleep on your own." what? No! I can't sleep on my own. I'll have nightmares again.

The few days that I am here in the Quillon's palace, I always intrude to Lady Azmaveth's room and she's really kind to let me be. The thing is, I don't dream the bad dreams I usually had, I can't sleep again if I woke up from that nightmare. Scared that I'll dream of it again and again. It's terrifying.

"Do you remember what I said regarding your name earlier?" my friend here asked while looking me in the eyes.

"Yes. that Atasha means successful?" I answered. She's the first person who called me that name. Not counting when they announce my full name in gatherings.

"That is correct. Testing the object later while in your room will be successful as well. And you will be successful in overcoming your nightmare." she sweetly said. She pinched both my cheeks lightly. "I know that you will beautifully succeed in beating those bad dreams and turn them into beautiful ones." Her rainbow colored eyes are beautiful. She's cute.

I inhaled and had this conviction. "I agree. I'll face any challenge and grow strong." I said and smiled at her. She nodded and smiled at me too. "But I have one request." I said and I fiddled my fingers.

"What is your request, princess?" she asked and waited for my reply.

"I will call you Ryne from now on and you will call me Atasha." I looked at her and she seemed a bit surprised. She doesn't like it? "While we are on our own. If there is anyone around you may call me what you usually call me." I think that would be okay. I hope she's okay with it.

"I am honored, your highness." She stood up first and bowed to me. "Atasha". I smiled to her as my response. She's my best friend now! I'm so happy!