A field of grass rustles gently in the breeze. insects hunt and flee from blade too blade while watchful birds swoop down to snatch away a careless leaper. It is a peaceful, natural scene.

All of which is of course shattered when a group of humans appears.

Five feet off the ground.

Ellyria:

The journey through the shadows had been... disturbing... to say the least. Ellyria wasn't sure whether to throttle the golem or curl up in a ball and hold herself. She had felt her self dissipate growing smaller and colder until there was nothing left. The nshe'd felt like she was burning, growing massively... and being drooped five feet onto the ground. Luckily the grass was soft or she would have most likely broken something.

As she shakes her head to clear her thoughts, she finally notices a swaying Anders trying to hit Gerald and yelling at him.

"What are you trying to do kill us?"

Ellyria was frankly shocked. She'd never seen the grizzled old veteran lose his cool like that. Then again, it was the most disturbing experience she had ever felt, and as a princess of the realm she had been repeatedly poisoned to build immunity and watched an elderly village matriarch berate her father on his throne, and then proceed to spank her eldest brother who was twelve at the time. She hadn't understood until she'd been told that woman was her grandmother. Then she'd immediately gained a healthy amount of respect for her mother. Shaking off the tangent, she returned to the scene that was forming.

Gerald had easily slid away from the staggering Anders. and was now proceeding to taunt him.

"Is that all you can do? Pah, you humans are so fragile. You should have a warning that comes with you: "Do not touch: very easy to break!"

" Gerald what has Master Tritan told you about getting into fights with our guests? Especially in front of a princess?" a sweet voice calls out.

Turning around Ellyria sees a small woman standing there. Made out of shadow like Gerald, she is much thinner and humanlike. Her face was flawlessly formed and she had dark hair cascading down to her knees. She was wearing a thin onyx dress that was belted at her waist. With perfect hips and bust, she would easily be considered beautiful. Except for the fact that she had her hands on her hips and was tapping her foot. Gerald, clearly missing the red alert completely, replied:

" Calm down Melanie dear, I'm just playing with the humans a bit and its not like I'm actually fighting  them or anything. And who cares about the princess, sure she's rather good looking but...

Instantly, Ellyria and every married guard flinched. They knew what was coming.

Melanie scrunched up her nose and blew out a heavy breath and began walking with small deliberate steps toward Gerald. Gerald finally began to notice something was wrong. He stops dodging Anders' blows, instead sniffing the air.

"Melanie dear, do you smell all this mana in the air I wonder what's goin...." it was at this moment that Gerald turns and finally sees Melanie cracking her knuckles and walking towards him while emitting a shadowy aura.

He visibly takes a step back and begins to desperately plead his case to the deadliest danger that has ever walked the Earth, an angry wife.

"Uhh... Melanie I didn't ... uhh I mean... wait no I'd never....!"

He was interrupted as Melanie's petite fist slammed into his stomach. He was bent in half over it when Melanie grabbed him by the ear and began dragging him off towards a small shadowy house near the mage's tower that they could now see about 50 feet away. At the door of the house, She turns back and says in a sickly sweet voice:

"Oh right! Please do make yourselves comfortable! Only Master Tritan can allow you to pass throw the shadow barrier around the tower. He should arrive in a few minutes or so. I should really talk to him about being more punctual shouldn't I? Anyways I'm off to have a TALK with my husband. I'll be back soon! Until then, Toodles!" she waves and disappears into the house dragging Gerald in after her.

"Whew, poor guy I wish I could help him," a panting Anders said.

Ellyria is confused by this. "Weren't you just fighting a minute ago? Now you're sympathizing with him?"

"Princess," Anders replies completely straight-faced," All men must bond together in the face of great danger. Even after facing countless battlefields, I can tell you that is something far to perilous for me."

The guards all solemnly nodded, some even went as far as too offer a prayer for the poor foolish soul.

Just as Ellyria wanted to explore this further, the world around them seemed to darken and the wind began to blow away from a foot wide rune that appeared on the ground.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Their host had arrived.

Shadows rapidly formed him from the ground up. He wore simple dark boots and loose baggy pants that tightened into dark leather cuffs that covered his shins. His shirt was a tight tunic that ended at his elbows. Overall Elyria thought his apparel was slightly lack luster, then she saw his face. A gently sculpted jaw framed by a small amount of stubble, wavy dark hair and eyes. His eyes were shocking spirals of power. Stars and gasses flowed in towards the center. Blinking his eyes, the effect disappeared.

"Hello. I am Archmage Tritan Shadus. I've heard you needed some help?" he asks with a slight tilt to his head

Ellyria steeled herself. She'd found him, now she had to convince him to aid her.

Tritan

"Tritan... My kingdom needs your help."

After introductions were completed, Tritan had quickly transported them to his library for more comfort. Once he had apologized profusely about not realizing just how uncomfortable teleportation was for them, they settled down in leather armchairs  to talk.

He was seated across from the princess and was observing her, to..... um see what kind of person she was.... as she talked. She was blonde with hair down to her mid-back. Her face was beautiful and gentle but determined, her brown eyes burning brightly as she explained the situation to him.

" My kingdom Deria is one of the larger kingdoms in Altia. We have kept the same lands since ancient times and been protected by a council of Archmagi. They were kind and Brave, fairly deciding all disputes brought to them," she spoke with a tone of genuine admiration and a little hero worship even. As she continued her face tightened with loss," That was until ten years ago when a new member joined them. They welcomed him gladly and all returned too normal until one by one they all perished. Some had magic accidents while others died peacefully in their sleep. Of old age the doctors said. hmph, like any mage worth a d--- would ever fall to that."

"Then once they had all fallen, the new mage Grimm took control of the kingdom. H...he tried to corrupt it somehow," the princess almost sobbed," His evil purple magic poured into the ground. I.. it was absorbed by one of the relics though."

Tritan's eyes had snapped to he when she said purple magic.

Purple? But... that can't be... that's demonic! They can't have returned so soon! He must be one of the fore-runners prepping the way for their invasion. The other Archmagi had 50 years... I'll expect the worse and give it 20. So, In 20 years I have to be able to stop an invasion? I can't that's just insane! Hmm, but maybe just maybe if I get help, this can be done.

Tritan looked up breaking out of his thoughts. Ellyria had stopped when she realized he wasn't listening and was now looking at expectantly.

"Ugh, this is gonna be a bother but okay Princess I'll help you on one condition." he said to her.

"Umm, just to tell you I am a 6th princess with 5 elder brothers. My hand in marriage won't be worth much..." she replied resignedly.

Tritan laughed deeply. She'd completely misunderstood him.

"Princess, while marriage to you would certainly be glorious, the presence of this Warlock speeds up an event I had expected to arrive much later. As such I need to focus all my energy on preparing it. Therefore my request is to become the kingdom of Deria's True archmage." Tritan continued.

Ellyria looked slightly confused but Anders gasped in shock.

"What is it Anders is it an unreasonable request?" She asks her guard with a slight frown.

Hmm interesting. I thought all knowledge of the true archmagi had disappeared with the hundred. I'll have to watch this guy carefully.

"Princess," Anders said carefully," a true Archmage is connected to the land itself. He can not leave the position except through death. With a true archmage, a kingdom flourishes as more people are touched by magic and live longer. He also protects the land from dangers and generally helps the people. The problem however, is that he has equal authority to the leading royal. It won't really change much, all functions of the monarch would stay the same, but he would have to accept some of the mage's decisions."

Ellyria looked shocked by this. She thought for a few moments but eventually took a deep breath, steeled herself, and said:

"For my People, I would gladly give up my crown and I know the same can be said of my father. I accept your deal Tritan true Archmage of Deria."