Frederick was refusing to back down from being the self-proclaimed leader of the team. As I looked around for someone higher stationed than us to step forward, they all turned away. Prince Michael was looking at our group but did so with disdain.

“I am a prince. Not only that but everyone here now has a magic-based path and I am the most learned in magic. I demand she withdraw her proposal to be leader and the rest of you apologize now!”

“I only studied a little magic in the monastery”, Faith began, “but I believe that higher level spells require intense concentration.”

Frederick scoffed. “What of it?”

“Would having a leader that needs to focus on magic more than strategy be wise? I would rather have a leader who is focused on all of us to know when to heal anyone as a leader if they would be using magic during battle as well, as they would have a wider focus.”

I kept two steps away from everyone else, preferring not to step in against the prince when my stance was already known. The saintess seemed to have the same idea of not involving herself, massaging her temples with her hands.

Frederick did a quick breathing exercise, likely something he learned as a mage, and calmed down. “Let’s look at the other options for being a leader. We have a thief, which is enough said. She is a monastery child who likely hasn’t had to live with our laws, only the laws of her monastery. The saintess is a soul taken from elsewhere and placed in the body of a sleeping woman, we cannot be sure if we can trust her yet. Then we have the dishonorable house of Baux. I am the only possible choice.”

Something inside of me snaps and I can only speak in a whisper, barely holding back a rage within me. “Care to repeat that? What you said sounded suspiciously like something that I could demand a duel over, and I’m sure our audience would love a show.”

The prince turns to see me past his blonde bangs and flinches.

“My family would kill you for issuing a duel against me.”

“They sent you here, so they don’t seem to have a problem with you dying.”

The prince’s palms contain vibrant blue wisps of fire, singing the ends of his sleeve. Logan grabs Faith to fall back, but the atmosphere for a duel is ruined by the saintess walking forward to within arm’s reach.

“Now that we agreed on a leader, me, with the agreement of the church and first prince, let’s talk about how we plan on fighting. Having a meeting before a match is important to set goals and expectations. I am the healer of the party. I watch after you guys and stay away from the enemies. I don’t know the features I learned as a martyr, but I will be training in running to get back some of the strength of my former body. I’ll have you know I was a star runner on... On… damn summoning sickness. I plan on carrying my weight and have been told to avoid attacking for future paths.”

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Logan nodded to her and shot me a look, the meaning of which was lost on me, before clearing his throat.

“I have gained a class I know very little about. I plan on using it to complement some of my self-defense skills and abilities however I can. I have already learned to detect potential ambushes, track others in cities, defend myself with a dagger or small crossbow, hide, barter, and disguise myself, among other things. I cannot defend in close combat encounters easily, as I have always been trained to escape from them. I can, however, try to kill anyone that gets too close to the saintess.”

He stepped backward before saying, “Oh, and the prince too”.

The younger prince was staring at his older brother, likely wondering when the saintess got an agreement to lead the team. The fact that she called it a party concerned me as nothing we were doing was considered celebrating. Then the monk stepped forward.

“Greetings. In the monastery, we are taught many things that differ from how you four live. All things are connected in some way. My path likely will allow me to utilize my natural hand to hand skills as well as the weak water magic I learned. I hope to combine them in some form to better act as an extension of my will and body. I need to be close to fight with my hands and feet but have no training in armor. I hope I do not disappoint.”

Her manners were not that of nobles, but still had a sense of grace to them. Her light blue robe was likely the sturdiest thing she was prepared to wear. Our group’s defense was not looking good. I looked at the prince who began to fold over the singed edges of his sleeves.

“I am the prince. I have been taught how to use magic for many years. I imagine all of you will learn to look up to me as a teacher. My fire magic is unparalleled for my age. Keep things from killing me and I will take down the great evil for you. I have also been taught how to carry myself as a royal and can use my name to get us favors. Commoners love us.”

I was beginning to wonder if the prince had any tone of voice that wasn’t angry or condescending. The others began to look towards me and I realized I probably should have prepared a speech while they were talking.

“I am Louis Baux. I trained to be a knight. I am good with a sword and decent with an ax or spear if I lose my sword. I carry a shield usually in full splint armor and helm. Despite being the only person who could take a hit non-lethally, I would rather plan around not getting hit. I don’t know what else to say.”

Faith looks over at me. “What do you plan on doing with your new magic abilities open to you.”

“Nothing. I don’t even know the basics of magic.”

The saintess called out to me. “Louis, would it not be beneficial to learn magic even if you don’t use it in fights often?”

Faith nodded. “I imagine he learned the spear and ax for much the same reason.”

I looked back at them, preparing for an argument that I didn’t feel confident in winning.