With the sword pointed at me I instinctively rose my arms up. It might have just been my imagination but that sword looked more dangerous than any gun I had ever seen. Its wielder was a woman clad in golden armour.

How I knew it was a woman under the helmet? Ahem let’s just say her curves and bumps particularly stood out to me. Returning to the situation at hand…

“Um, so… I’m sorry,” I muttered eventually. We were at a standstill and frankly my arms were getting tired so I carried out plan A, one known by men around the world.

“No matter what happens we are always wrong” It might be a coward’s approach to a situation but hey if it prevents a fight and saves me energy I’d be killing two birds with one stone.

Frankly this tactic always worked on my sister so it should work on this brat. “Yo-You…” the tomato began muttering under her breath while shaking. I didn’t know this tomato had a vibrating option. Also, shit this isn’t going to be as easy as I had anticipated.

“How dare you! You actually had the guts to attack me, 5th princess of the Albion Kingdom, Elizabeth Meriel Keila!” the girl named Elizabeth snapped forth.

“Now hold on, attack is a rather strong word. I just accidently knocked you down,” I insisted. “It wasn’t my fault the explosion knocked me off my feet and I happened to collide with you,” I continued.

Sigh… what am doing arguing with this brat. I have to find out more about this strange place. I’ve got to find a way out.

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With that I attempted to leave as I considered my explanation to be sufficient but of course the blade moved closer till it touched my neck. “Don’t move,” the knight ordered.

Her voice was soft yet it still set shivers down my spine. With cold steel against my neck I was pinned and unable to move. A single trust from that sword at this range would mean the end of my life.

I’ve got to play this situation very carefully. Elizabeth pushed her face close to mine and spoke, “You, a human actually had the guts to make excuses for yourself. I’ll make you pay for the trouble you have caused me. Sarah kill him!”

Shit, am I going to die for something so irrelevant. No think there has got to be a way out.

“But princess the tournament, we can’t”, the knight replied.

“Hmm, just take a limb or two then. You should be grateful peasant that I am kind enough to spare your life”, Elizabeth declared, her face beaming with pride.

Kindness my ass! Ok… calm down. I have got a rock concealed in my palm.

She’s most likely going to dismember my arms first with slash as its closest to her blade. The moment before that happens I push the sword up, pull her forward, slam the rock into her face and somehow make it to the princess to hold her hostage. Damn that’s a stretch but that’s all I can do given the situation.

“For being so smart you’re actually quite a dumbass aren’t you,” the one voice I didn’t care to hear blurted out.

“Let’s just say you’re lucky and managed to avoid the slash. Do you really think a rock hitting her helmet will stun her long enough for you to make it to the princess and even if you do what are you going to negotiate with you’ve got no weapon to harm her faster than the knight can react.” Xam relayed to me.

I know that. I know but what other choice do I have. This isn’t some algebra question I can solve; it’s a life or death situation. “Hey…” Xam muttered. “Want to switch?”

Switch? What’s that? Ah it doesn’t matter here she comes.

“If it can help me just do it!” I screamed much louder than I anticipated. “Gladly!” Xam exclaimed. The sword made contact with my arms before I could push it away. Blood was drawn; it’s over… Before darkness could take me to the land of the unknown I heard it.

It was the sound of chains.