> [Ring of Conflagration] - 4th circle spell

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> Element: Magma.

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> Type: Evocation.

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> Classification: Attack. Trap.

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> Target: Earthen ground (earth, stone, sand, etc).

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> Enchants the ground around the caster with fire mana, creating an immobile trapped area. Any creatures touching the enchanted ground will trigger a pillar of fire. Caster must pay mana for the trap's upkeep as well as any pillars that trigger. Spell ends if caster loses contact with the ground for more than five seconds or leaves the area of effect.

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"Healing Light."

Dawn's spell fixed the physical damage on Aidan's body. The young man was unconscious and Dawn was not too keen on using their connection to wake him up. Gurf and the driver lifted the blanket and carried him into a tent. Cythrel took Skippy inside and didn't return. She was going to keep him company and call for help if his situation worsened.

"Lumina, how are you?" Pearl approached her with sincere concern. Sora came right after.

"Can we go inside the carriage to talk?" Dawn suggested.

"Sure. Sir Gurf, please set some soup aside for us. We will be right back for our meal. As always, thank you for your service."

They went back inside the carriage.

"Dawn, please tell us what happened? Aidan was fine, why did he become suddenly ill like that?" Sora asked.

"It was Lumina. Again." She sighed. "Something caused her to stir that much. It felt like my insides were churned like butter."

Lumina within Aidan's soul felt more like a jumbled mess of feelings and desires than a consciousness sharing the same body. And most of the feelings were not positive either. To say Lumina was a difficult person to deal with was a euphemism. Dawn looked out through the carriage window at the starry night.

"What caused her to react so violently? What were you doing?"

"I was in the bath with Gurf and he asked me if I were close to Lumina. I dismissed it telling him about Lumina's fianceé. And then it started."

Pearl tapped a finger on her chin, thinking. "Crown Prince Brody of the northern kingdom of Heath. A trading and military powerhouse with a stranglehold on several trading lanes and an almost complete lack of morals. I can't imagine how much pressure they put on King Helios for him to agree with this engagement. I met him only once and I'd die happy if I never have to again."

"Does Lumina hate her engagement this much? To almost kill you two just from mentioning it?" Sora asked.

"Hate? I bet my tiara she loathes him with all her being. If I were engaged to him I'd put poison on my lips just to make sure he dies before consummating the marriage. That piece of royal offal makes womanizer nobles look like saints. That settles it. It happened because Aidan mentioned him."

Dawn closed her eyes and thought a bit more about that. It was not just mentioning him. It was because Aidan thought Lumina belonged to him. He dismissed her as if her wedding was already a done thing.

They were interrupted by the sound of horses approaching. The three girls left the carriage to see who was coming.

"Dark Vision."

Dawn used the spell three times on all of them. Focusing on the two riders that were coming from the forest, she could see they were the two knights sent as advance scouts. Who was about to find out their captain and another knight were dead and the four others imprisoned.

"Lumina, you are going to need to handle the situation. I don't think these two are to blame for their companions' actions but they might turn hostile. Don't hesitate." Pearl advised.

"Lola, my rapier, please," Dawn called. The maid brought the belt and helped strap it on her waist. "Gurf, Sora stay ready but try to not look aggressive. I'll handle this."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Dawn took a deep breath to calm down. 'Everything is fine, I am Lumina and they are sworn to serve me.' She walked out of the camp to intercept them.

Focusing on her meager light affinity, she channeled mana to cast spontaneous magic. Just to illuminate an area. A small globe of light appeared over the trail leading to the hill from the road and she stepped in the light, rapier drew but pointing down. She wanted them to know she was there.

The knights approached and Dawn shouted. "Halt! Dismount and Kneel."

They stopped their horses a few meters away from Dawn. "Your Highness, is something wrong? What is the matter?"

She narrowed her eyes and tried to figure out what Lumina would do. "Silence. Were my orders not clear?"

They looked at each other and silently agreed to comply. The two knights were soon on a knee. Dawn shouted without taking her eyes off of them.

"Sir Gurf, please take these horses and have the carriage driver look after them."

She waited until the horses were taken away to continue.

"My Knights, answer only with aye or nay to my questions. Do you serve Yutis?"

"Aye," They shouted at the same time, without hesitation.

Dawn fired a lot of questions after that. All of them answered with 'aye'.

"Am I your princess? Do you serve me? Are you honored? Would you choose death before dishonor? Would you cut down a fellow knight that disgraced himself?"

And the final one. "Would you ever dare point your swords at me?"

At this point, these knights knew they were in deep trouble. The other men of their unit were nowhere to be seen and the princess came with her weapon drawn to get them. The nature of the questions made them wonder about the reason. And they came to a similar conclusion.

"Never, ever, your Highness." One of them broke protocol and lowered his head until it was almost level with the right knee. "We swear absolute obeisance to the Princess Lumina!"

Dawn swung her rapier through the air, cutting the silence with a sharp whistle. She finished her movement pointing the tip at the knights.

"Lay down your weapons and stand up. Uphold your oaths or face the gods' judgment. By my blade, I shall usher that meeting if you dare defy me."

They complied. Swords, daggers and a mace were left on the ground. One of them raised a hand.

"You may speak."

"Your Highness, what happened to the other knights?"

"Follow me and you shall learn their predicament. Suffice to say they have fallen."

Dawn turned her back to the knights and walked, full of pretending confidence. Her gait was calculated. Inside she was trembling, expecting to feel steel bursting through her back at any moment. She looked forward and saw her companions watching the scene. Pearl was smiling at her and she felt better.

They reached the camp and the Knights tied beneath the tree shouted to get the attention of the newcomers.

"There are your former brothers-in-arms. I will be brief. What happened here was simple. Your captain insulted Lady Sora. Lord Aidan took upon himself to uphold her honor and challenged the captain to a duel. Your captain won the duel but attempted to take Lord Aidan's life even after he forfeited. You can see what is left of your captain there."

She pointed at the vaguely humanoid mass of molten metal and cinders lying on the ground. A few moments later she continued.

"That rabble decided to avenge their dishonorable captain and took up on arms, threatening mine and Princess Pearl's lives. I was forced to use my lightning against that one over there. The dragon did the rest."

"What will be of these four under the tree?"

"They will be dragged back to the capital and brought before the King. I'll let father decide their ultimate fate and I won't advise mercy. If only a single strand of fair Princess Pearl's hair was harmed, blood would not be enough. Their treason here meant war and only Crown Princess Pearl's benevolence stopped the worst from happening."

The two knights knelt again. The same one that spoke out of turn on their arrival spoke again. "Your Highness, we beg you to forgive us for our comrade's misdeeds. Strike us dead here if it is your will. We choose to die with what sliver of honor we have left."

Dawn looked at Pearl, lost and without a clue on what to do. Pearl discreetly lifted her hand and placed a soft kiss on it.

Dawn walked in front of the knights and extended her right hand in front of them. The one that spoke removed his helmet and gauntlet and carefully grasped the tip of her fingers. He then bowed his head and approached close but not enough to let anyone mistake he actually touched lips to her skin. He let go and bowed deeply. Dawn did the same to the other knight.

"Your Highness' kindness will be forever remembered by this servant." The knight spoke and the other repeated the words right after him.

"Arise."

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After things settled Pearl took Dawn into the carriage to talk to her.

"Marvelous! It was very well done, Dawn. I didn't see much Lumina there but honestly, nobody wants too much Lumina anywhere... Don't ever let her know I said that though." Pearl giggled.

"By the gods, I am still trembling. I was so scared, I felt so vulnerable there."

"That is our life as princesses, my dear. In every shadow a dagger, in every goblet a poison. In every smile an enemy. We give our thanks every time that is not true."

Dawn beamed a warm smile at Pearl. "Then be thankful right now."

"Oh, I am. I am indeed. I was at the edge of an abyss, and you pulled me back, my friend. I owe you."

"Please don't. True friends don't count debts. You did the same to me before, I think I'd be dead now if you hadn't helped me heal my soul."

"Yes, yes. You are entirely correct. But I must say, that line about harming my hair and how there would be war, if you'd delivered that line in Aidan's voice I'd have swooned right there."

Dawn's expression changed to a deadpan. "Pearl."

"Yes, dear?"

"You are spending too much time around Cythrel."

They went back to their tents to sleep.