"Yo Wolfy you think we should let the stand-owner know someone stole their money?" she asked cheerfully.

    "Let him figure it out himself," I say as we continue walking through the market.

The market was almost completely crowded with people yelling all over the place.

 She looked impressed, "The market is quite busy today."

    I look around, "Probably because people are coming for the sword pieces." I saw people of all social ranks, rich, poor, priests, kids, and a lot of animals too. It was a bit chaotic, probably because it's the first time so many people gathered in one place in the city.

She stopped and turned to me, "How are they even going to break the sword into pieces?" 

    I look back at her, "How would I know it's not my idea." 

She started walking again and I followed, "I mean the thing is a frozen, two and a half kilometers high, 75 percent stuck in the ground, sword that freezes everything around it. How will they do it?"

    I responded, "I don't know, we just gotta get the sword before they do whatever stupid plan they got and bring it back to our museum." 

"Did you forget our museum is still closed. Bringing a sword that big back to it wouldn't go subtly at all." She turned her face to me waiting for a response.

    "Don't worry about it Rave I got this," I replied. She was right, but I had a plan: Improvise, I was always good at that, somehow. In the past when we were "heroes" we used to just jump in and it worked, most of the time at least.

She started glaring at me, "And how exactly?"

    I put my hands behind my head, "You know magic and stuff," which was somewhat how the improvisation was supposed to go.

She sighed, "Yeah, that will do it for sure, just don't mess up. And you know you can just call me Fel we've been over this."

    "You call me Wolfy so I'll call you Rave." 

"But that's different the nickname fits you. At least call me Raven." She responded.

    I thought she was starting to get irritated but her face looked calm, "I'm too lazy for that."

She changed her tone which was usually a bad sign but this was just a bit teasing, "You're too lazy to call me Raven instead of Rave, but you won't call me Fel even if it's shorter?" 

    "Just accept it." I relax again.

"You know we've been friends for way too many millennia, why do I keep up with this?" She sighed again.

    I smiled, "Because you like our friendship and aesthetic."

"I give up."

She continued walking towards the end of the market.

We walk out of the market. Rave was walking in front of me, she was looking at the castle in the center of the city. The castle was impressive for something made by humans in just 8 years, but it was a standard gray stone castle. You could find castles like these in most cities. I think what got her attention was the banners and flags hanging from the walls. 

We had fought together right at this spot eight thousand years ago. We fought against a few stone elementals that had escaped a prison on the north pole, nothing major but the elementals were stronger than expected. We were with the titan who the giant sword belonged to. It was an ice titan from the north pole he used to be a friend of ours. The banner of his people was what used to be placed here before the humans came and built their city. We won the battle but the titan didn't make it and his sword stayed behind.

I looked back at Rave she a had a subtle angry look on her behind her long black hair. I was getting a bit angry myself but I know we couldn't do anything about this.

I put my hand on her head and say: "We just need to get the sword before they break it. We'll tell his story in the museum."

    She looked at the ground. "I know, I know. That's why we're making the museum." She smiles again, "Also take your hand off my head before I cut it off."

I take my hand off her head and laugh, "So do you wanna do anything before we go get the sword?"

    "I want to check the castle. If the leaders are bad people we gotta deal with that."

"I didn't know we still did hero stuff," I responded.

    "We don't, I just need an excuse to tear down the banners and flags," She said playfully.

"That's more like it. Now, are we gonna walk or fly? I ask her.

    "I don't feel like showing this town my wings," she answered

"Walking it is then." I look at the castle and smile, "Time to ruin the castle."

After about 20 minutes of walking, we arrive at the wooden gate of the castle. 

"So do you have a plan Rave?" I ask her.

    "Yeah, it's the same as yours actually." She says with a smug on her face.

"Improvise got it. Anywhere specific to go first."

    "We just gotta find the royal chambers and throne room. It will be easy. We'll get the sword tomorrow."

"I'd suggest the stealthy plan, but we could just take the front door." 

    "I like the front door." The castle was barely guarded the subtle way was definitely an option but that would require effort and Rave clearly didn't feel like it. She walks towards the guards at the gate. "Excuse me sir but could you tell me how you open the gate?" She says with a smile on her face.

I walk towards the big wooden gate. It's about 7 meters high and 8 meters wide. Two guards on each side and three on top of the wall. I put my left hand on the gate. "And the door is open. Rave, are you coming?"

    "I was gonna do it a bit more subtle but I guess this works. Go ahead," 

If we're not gonna go stealth I don't think there's a point in being subtle so I put some force into my hand and the door flies open. "Here we go, now do your magic."

    "Aaaaaand sleep." She waves her hands and throws some magic towards the guards and they pass out.

"You know, saying sleep isn't really accurate there. You just kinda threw a  stone towards their heads."

    "Does it impact the performance, Wolfy?"

"No."

    "So what's the problem?" She put the smug on her face again.

"Nothing. Time to go in." I reply

She laughs a bit.

We walk in and search around while Rave puts everyone to "Sleep". About fifteen minutes later we find the throne room.

Rave starts excitedly as she points to the girl sitting on one of the smaller thrones, "Look Wolfy the crown princess."

    "How do you know her rank."

"Just a guess."

    "Well, hello princess we got a quick test for you."

She whispers in my ear, "Did you prepare a test?" 

    I reply, "Not really do you have anything"

"Not really. Improvise?"

    "Guess so."

"Awesome, good luck I'm gonna look for the rest." She walks away before I can protest.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    She probably just dumped this on me because she couldn't think of a test but at least she was doing something useful. I turn to the princess, "So princess, how's your day going?"

I wave with my back to Wolfy. He uses his tactic which is improvising while mine is much easier, luck. I walk into the first hall I find and start to check every door. I should come up with a test before I find a royal member, I could just use something I find along the way but there isn't much here. 

    The first door on my left opens. An old guy opens comes through, "Excuse who are you miss?"

And I'm supposed to be the lucky one of us two, but of course, the king is the first thing I find before I find something to use as a test, I reply hastily, "Me, I'm a visitor." I put on a smile

    "Visitors aren't allowed here, " he glares at me

"The princess invited me to her room," I respond promptly

    "Then where is my daughter?" 

He stayed calm which was a good thing for me. It also meant he wasn't judgemental. "She's dealing with the other guest." At least that wasn't a lie. But I need to come up with something better, best case a test. I think I could stall this enough to get something.

    "And why would my daughter invite you, a stranger, into her room?

"Private reasons your highness."

    "I see, in that case, you will wait here until she comes and confirms it." He relaxes a bit.

This gives me time to think. I'm not sure how to get the princess here but I can make it work, I hope.

"So uhm. Who are you?" The princess asked softly.

    "I'm a visitor I've been sent to inspect the safety of the royal family."

She looked surprised. "Why wasn't I told about this."

    "Then it wouldn't be a realistic check."

"That makes sense, so what do I need to do?"

    "Just lead me through all the rooms and that should be fine."

"Make it quick I have to prepare for the sword ceremony." 

    "Okay let's start, Could you bring me to your rooms to check for safety?"

She looked a bit conflicted but then she replied, "I'll give you twenty minutes for this afterward you leave."

    That was something I could work with, it should give me enough time to at least see what kind of person she was. Hopefully, Rave found something by now. I replied, "That will work. Now let's hurry then.

She led me to hall Rave went into. After we entered I saw Rave with some old man standing as if they were waiting on something.

Of course, Wolfy couldn't give me some more time but at least the princess came. So I quickly started before Wolfy would ruin the opportunity, "See your highness, here they are." I glance at Wolfy

    The king looks up, "I take it that is the other visitor."

Wolfy steps in, "Yes, I'm the inspector sir, I'm here to check out the rooms."

    "It's true," the princess adds.

"Let's go ahead then shall we," I say as I start walking in the room.

We enter the king's room. Nothing special, in fact, it was pretty boring. I was surprised. I look at Wolfy and by the look on his face, I can see he thinks the same. 

"Is something wrong?" The king asks us

    "Nothing your highness. It's just calmer than I expected," I reply. This could be the bedroom of some old trader who had some money left it was so plain but still a bit detailed in the structure.

Wolfy starts to enter the room and begins investigating.

    I needed a bit more information to make a plan work so I should try to get a response from the king, "So, the sword ceremony is next week. Anything we need to know related to that."

The king still looked at us as if we're guilty. Which we were. "Nothing you need to know."

Wolfy stepped back up again, "Everything looks fine."

Afterward, we checked the princess' room and then the servants and then the bathrooms and on and on. Everything was so... plain. I mean it was impressive in design but it didn't have the "Royal" look. They didn't look important they looked like simple people. Which was a bad thing since I needed an excuse to tear the place down. "Well looks like everything's fine," I say after we're done.

    "Well, then you can leave now."

Wolfy and I walk away until we're sure they can't hear us anymore. "So anything?" I ask him hoping that he found something even if it was small.

    "Nothing," he replies

I let out a sigh, "Well, we still gotta test them."

    "Yup, any ideas?"

He says it calmly but I can see in his green eyes that was getting a bit stressed. I shrug, "They seem so normal. Wanna just create a fire and burn the banners down in the process." Not the best idea the throw out there, but something that could be fun.

    He looks at me with a small smile, "I mean, that would test their priorities," 

"Do you have a better plan?" I started jumping at the idea of creating such a big fire again.

    He looks up, "Nope."

I begin to dance around a bit, "Then here we go." I create some magic fire and shoot it and the nearest banner. The fire starts spreading fast.

    Wolfy smiles and begins the sprint after me, "Time to run."

After we arrived outside we turn around and smile, "Wow, there's fire everywhere Rave. Good job."

    "It's my natural talent," she says while dancing.

"Next to losing wings?" I ask her teasingly.

    She stops and looks at me, "Hey, it was never my fault."

"I see why you didn't want to fly," I follow respond.

    "Oh shut up!" She says while she softly hits me.

I look back at the castle, "Well at least we know they're good people now. They're evacuating the staff over saving their property."

    "And all the flags and banners are gone," she adds

I look back at her, "Along with half the castle." 

    She starts to walk away, "It'll be fine don't worry about it."

"Whatever you say Rave."

    She throws her hands into the air, "How did you even come up with Rave I don't even look like one. Black hair, brown eyes, cheerful smile,? I guess I do wear awesome black clothes."

"I don't know, I just like it. Also don't describe yourself like that again," I answer as I follow her.

    She smiles, "Shut up side character looking guy."

I look up into the air, "I don't even know how to reply to that. So where are we staying for the night?"

    She turns around and starts walking backwards, "We'll just fly into a VIP room and stay there."

"You know you destroyed your wings doing that twice,"

    "You know it wasn't my fault there were spirits angry at me."

I look back at her, "Yeah, it's not your fault you drank their entire lake," 

    "I was thirsty okay I didn't drink for an entire 2 weeks," She laughs.

I started smiling again, "And that is totally their fault," 

    "Ignore that part," She turns back around and starts walking a bit faster.

I laugh, "Time to find a place to stay,"