After Mira and Alatar stepped off the stage, everyone was silent as Alatar stared at Xeriah. He sits next to Mira as the announcer approaches the stage. "W-well then that was..." She clears her throat. "Something else! and brings a lot of potential excitement for the next event!" She looks nervously at Mira; when Mira matches her gaze, she looks away. "Um! Right! That, uhh, concludes the Exhibition. We will be taking everyone to their quarters. Spectators, please go to the observation room."
They leave as Cunningham calls for Mira, "Wonderful display. I look forward to his performance. You got a nice catch there!" He walks away, laughing at the display. Asha comes over while all of the other Royals attend to their Shadows. "Princess Mira." She says, bowing to her. Mira stands and does the same. "Princess Asha, I enjoyed your beginning performance even though I thought it was a tad over-exaggerated." Asha smiles. "I agree it was something just to impress the spectators. They love a good show." Alatar gets up and looks down at both of the two girls. "Princess Mira, where did you find Alatar?" Asha asks as she takes a small step back. Alatar just stares at her with those emotionless eyes.
"Oh! He was from the Bronze Kingdom. Then, he came to me and became my Shadow after a while." Mira says, grabbing his arm. Asha nods as she studies Alatar. "I'm assuming he's a swordmage?" Mira nods. "I believe so!" Mira says as she pulls Alatar back as he tries to walk off. "Clearly, I do not want to be here." He thinks to himself. Asha giggles a bit. "I wanted to warn you that you should be careful. You've put a big target on your back. They may target you during the event." She says to Mira as she bows. "If you do want to ally with us, let me know. Fourteen is better odds than just two." Asha walks away to her group as they drag their Shadows out of the room towards the Bronze quarters.
"Interesting tactic," Alatar says as he watches Xeriah leave with two of his Shadows over the other Royals' shoulders. He has a face crunched in disgust. Mira walks arm in arm-with Alatar. "So you've noticed, too?" She says with a purr. Alatar nods. "She was the first to come to us about an alliance. That means the play worked." She teases Alatar by squeezing his bicep. "Exactly. Now we wait and see what the Warpath and Mastery event is about. The Bronze isn't a bad pick, but I don't want to choose too early." She says as They head into the Diamond Kingdom's quarters.
The quarters combine arcane beauty, mystical knowledge, and magical prowess. An alchemy room, a library, and chamber rooms for meditation. They continue to look around until they find a room with floating crystals around a podium with one orb on it. "This looks to be the training room; I know where you'll spend most of your time!" Mira says to Alatar with a smile as she looks up at him. Alatar looks at her as they stare at each other for a moment. "You don't have to hold on to my arm anymore. We are alone." As Mira blushes a bit, "R-Right! Sorry, Alatar!" She quickly separates herself from him.
Alatar takes note of the surroundings. "Look at you, kid. You got a whole new crib, huh?" He hears Vorgrimm say in his head. "So what's your plan with The Iron Prince? He has some of Nexiloth's power and no telling about the others he has with him." Alatar closes his eyes for a moment. "He will be my main target of these events. I will kill him." Alatar says in his head. Vorgrimm lets out a sinister chuckle. "I like that. Destroy them all. Every Demon that gets in our way..."
He follows Mira out of the training room, and they eventually reach the living quarters as servants are bustling through cleaning and waiting for their arrival. They bow to Mira and Alatar, bringing them to the kitchen as a chef awaits them. "I'm sure you are hungry, your Majesty! I was sent here from the Diamond Kingdom once they got word of your arrival. I can make you the finest dishes the Diamond Kingdom offers. " He says as Alatar takes notice of the shine in Mira's eyes. "It appears the Princess was dying for a good meal. She has had a real one in a year, right?" Vorgrimm says to Alatar as she orders some food. "Perhaps I need food for fuel and a lot of it. I don't care for the taste." Vorgrimm groans in Alatar's head, annoying him. "You and the broodiness are literally killing me. Please eat something good. I am honestly tired of eating food with no seasoning!"
Mira looked at Alatar as she finished ordering. She smiles at him, "What would you like? I can get you what I'm getting. It's what we're best known for." His nose catches a smell, something absolutely delicious. "Sure he says as his stomach audibly grumbles. Mira bursts out in laughter to the point where she has to hold her stomach. The chef, with a satisfied grin on his face, looks at Alatar. "And for you, Shadow?" Alatar sighs, "I'll get what she has, but triple the portions." Taken aback, the chef is momentarily speechless. Then writes down the order and heads to the back of the kitchen.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
One of the servants walks up to Mira as she wipes her tears from the laughter. "Your Majesty, we'll be escorting you to your living quarters. Your food will be brought to your room as well." Mira nods as she drags Alatar with them. "Why do I have to go to YOUR room?" They reach the living quarters. Mira gasped as she saw the lounge area with plush sofas, high-backed chairs, and beautifully designed coffee tables with intricately made vases filled with crystallized roses.
She lays back on the sofa, letting out a groan. "This is one thousand times better than what you had me sleeping on Alatar." The servant looks confused. "Your Majesty, I'll bring you to your sleeping quarters." They head to it and see a spacious, elegantly furnished private room with a lavish four-poster bed draped in rich silk and carved wooden frames. "Where are the other bedrooms?" Alatar asks the servant. "We were told that only one Royal attended the Diamond Kingdom's Chamber. " They say, a bit embarrassed.
Mira jumps on the bed and sighs. "That's fine. I will make sure he is taken care of." She says to the servant as she looks at Alatar. The servant nods. "Thank you, your Majesty!" Mira waves them off as Alatar leans against the door. "Don't worry, I'll take the couch." Mira shakes her head. "No, you will sleep in here. We are alone. Who knows what tricks they will put to stop us. Besides, this wouldn't be our first time sleeping in the same area." She says to Alatar, but he doesn't respond. Mira lay on the bed, which reminded her of home. She begins to reminisce about her family.
"Mother, I hope you are watching over me, guiding me on the right path. I will ensure I win this and find out who did this to me. We will not allow Demons to seduce us and lead us astray." A knock is heard on the door as a cart is brought to the door. "Your Majesty?" A chef says as Mira quickly wipes her cheek. "Yes!" She says, sitting up. "Your food!" They say with a smile. Alatar grabs the cart. "I'll handle it from here. Thank you." He says with a voice filled with a hint of emotion, and Mira takes extreme notice. He takes the cart and brings it inside. "Here's your food, Princess." He says, opening the lid off one of the trays. It's a plate of beef tenderloin wrapped in layers of flaky pastry with a savory blend of wild mushrooms and foie gras, garnished with edible flowers and served with red wine.
Alatar plate is three times bigger than Mira's, and they eat silently. Sitting on the floor, Alatar looks up at Mira and says, "Tell me about the Diamond Kingdom." He says, looking at her. "Well..." Mira says, trying to understand why Alatar is showing so much interest. "My kingdom is very pristine. There was no poverty, everyone helped each other, and the sky was always bright. I especially loved the days when the dragons would soar over the sky, just watching over it. I love that place so much. "
Alatar watches her go on and on about her home. The way her face lights up when she remembers something funny or when she talks about the pranks she would pull on her siblings. It brings him a sense of nostalgia. Of his own home and how they were. Eventually, the red wine disappears, and Mira hiccups as she pats her stomach. "Whew! That was amazing!" She says, sighing with relief.
Alatar stands up and moves Mira's plate back onto the cart. He picks her up. "H-hey, w-what are you-." She hiccups. "You doing?" She says as Alatar lays her on the bed. As Alatar goes to pull away, Mira grabs him. "Don't leave. Stay here with me, please? I only feel comfortable sleeping when you're here." She leans close to Alatar as Alatar pushes on her face with his hand, smushing it. She groans, "Fine! We could've had a little fun, but go ahead and leave." she says with a fuss. "I'll stay with you, Princess; I won't leave you tonight." He says, taking his jacket off and covering her with it. Mira snuggles in as she whispers, "I like your old jacket better. It smells more like you." Alatar feels a need to respond, but he doesn't. He slides down to the side of her bed as she passes out.
"Well, isn't that sweet?" Vorgrimm says to Alatar. Alatar looks at his reflection and sees him smiling at him. "She loves you, Demon Eater. That won't affect your war, will it?" he says with a raised eyebrow. "No, and she doesn't love me. She is hurt and wants something or someone to make her forget it." Alatar says, staring back. "We will see about that. Besides, kid, you need to remember. I am a part of you, so I feel what you feel. Don't let that weakness cloud your actions. The heart is deceitful." He says as Alatar's reflection returns to one, he's familiar with rage. He sits there as he listens to Mira's breathing become softer.