Reginald let out a groan as he tumbled off his bed, hitting the ground with a loud thud. For the last couple of days, he had been recuperating from the brutal beating that he had to endure. After his fight, the body he was inhabiting gave up on him and he couldn’t see who had the power to interrupt his fight. He hadn’t anticipated that the human world was going to be so tough, he didn’t know people were so barbaric. He was sensing a pattern here. It seemed that people didn’t kneel when they saw a superior being, rather, they sought to assert dominance with petty tricks and cheap shots. He would never stoop so low and use such methods.
Both of Reginald’s eyes had healed enough to the point where if he wiped the pus oozing from them, he could appreciate the room that he was staying in. Though it was sparse with only bare necessities, Reginald had made discoveries that simple brains could never think of.
He had discovered that with his hands, he could pull a blanket on top of himself while he slept which helped him circumvent the many troubles of human beings associated with having no fur and lacking simple modesty. He decided that his invention was so brilliant, so creative, so ingenious that he just couldn’t tell anyone. He had experienced how people went crazy when they had realised their inferiority to him, God knew what people would do when they found out that he was the best mind that ever existed.
There was one thing that really pleased Reginald the lion knight even more so than finding more evidence that he was superior to every living thing. That was the window on the far side of his room.
Did he like the window because he missed nature? No. Be serious. Lions didn’t waste their energy expending emotions on missing inanimate things.
Did he feel couped up and the window was the only thing that allowed him to feel freedom? Not really. He had to admit that the family of butlers that had begged him at his feet to stay in the Queenswood tavern for free were doing a good job of keeping him preoccupied by bringing him the most interesting of treats.
Instead, Reginald liked the window because from there he could plot and plan.
I can make a map which will lead me to the Kingdom’s castle. After the guards submit to me when I tell them how much better than them I am, I can make my way to the throne and there claim my rightful place as King.
After being thrashed black and blue, Reginald decided that if he was going to stay and grace these people with his presence, he would at least have to be king. That was the very least that he could demand being such a fearsome and intellectual beast. They were lucky he wasn’t greedy and didn’t ask for more.
“You can carry on planning to do something that can only lead to your hanging for treason later. Right now, you have a mission to complete.” The Voice spoke up for the first time that day.
Good. You are learning to be quiet, Reginald said merrily, completely missing what the Voice had told him.
“I said you have a mission.”
A m-miss-mission. Reginald’s knees started to knock. Reginald’s stomach started to churn. Reginald’s head started to feel awfully faint.
“Are you scared?”
Scared? I? Never. Don’t say such nonsense with that much confidence. It is quite unnerving.
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“You should tell your body that you are not scared. Your teeth are chattering.”
Reginald thought quickly. That is not my fault. Since I am locked in such an inferior body with hardly even a speck of fur, I get cold easily. Brrrr- It’s chilly.
“Your knees are also knocking. You look as pale as a ghost. It’s quite frightening actually. Don’t go out at night. Everyone, there is a monster in town-”
COLD. I SAID ITS COLD, Reginald snapped wondering whether there was a way to sell the Voice in his head for even the littlest of profit.
“Calm down tiger-“
I am a champion lion. Bred from the very best of the best. Tigers are nothing compared to me. They should bow down to me-
“Okey dokey. So, the mission.”
The lion’s brain was working in over time to come up with a suitable reason as to why he couldn’t do it.
You see, I would. I really would. But I happen to be busy. Extremely busy. You don’t know how busy.
“I can hear your thoughts. So, I know that’s not true.”
Reginald grimaced realising that this wasn’t an easy opponent that he was having to face. Fortunately, as he was insistent upon, he was a champion lion, bred from the very best of the best. In both brawn and in brain.
Tut. Tut. If you had asked, I would have told. At ten a.m., I need to roar and see whether I can still frighten little children. At twelve, I have it in my schedule to dwell in greed and gluttony, by eating a great feast, fit for a king. At three, I have an appointment-
“With who?”
Myself. Don’t be silly. I have to tell myself how wonderful I am. It’s for the mind, being trapped in such a body and being around an inferior species, I might forget. The consequences would be disastrous. Now at five, I have to go out and look for someone to save. And then of course, not save them, I simply can’t be caught catering to a lesser species. It would be embarrassing. The other lions would laugh at me. And even with so many tasks weighting heavy on my heart, I would have to succeed in all of them and avoid bumping into the scariest beasts in all the Earth, my wives.
That should do it, Reginald spoke to himself, I can live to fight another day.
“No big deal. At seven you can start.”
Reginald choked. Reginald gasped for air. Reginald tried to stop a tear from leaving his eye. But- but- but-
“No buts needed. The reason why a mission is always dished out so soon after a new knight is born, is that if not they would run away with their tail in between their legs. Useless. And to think the kingdom is relying on them. I knew lions wouldn’t be able to fit in. The most scared cat of them all.”
Reginald took offence. That couldn’t be him. He wasn’t scared. He didn’t get scared. I’m not frightened. I was planning on doing the mission as soon as possible. Whatever it is, it wouldn’t take me anymore time then ten minutes.
“Great. You can do it today then.”
Reginald had been tricked.
----
[Level Two]
[DELIVER A PACKAGE TO THE WIZARD OF THE BLACK FOREST]
Sorry? Reginald demanded the blue box to reappear in front of him. I don’t think I saw correctly. Not a wizard. Not a dark forest. Never. I know the way this story goes.
Reginald, who often suffered from an overinflated ego, started thinking about all the human stories the lions used to laugh about. In particular, he remembered the story of Hansel and Gretel. Drat my charismatic nature, the wizard is going to want to keep me and feed me. It won’t even put me out of my misery and eat me. Drat my charming countenance.
Reginald the lion knight didn’t feel comfortable going that far away from civilisation. He knew he was a lion, but to venture so far out into nature seemed… dangerous.
----
“You’ll be fine.” Edith said smiling. “No one can force you to do anything.” Reginald smiled back at the woman. How wonderfully understanding she was being. A real delight.
Edith handed Reginald a water pouch and guided him to the door. “But sometimes people need a push to do something, or else they will never reach the limits of their potential.” Edith pushed Reginald so hard he tumbled out the door and she waved good bye to him merrily.
Reginald squinted his eyes. What a rude woman, he thought. He was starting to see what her father was saying, she was strong and she was stubborn, nobody could force her to do anything.
A carriage pulled up in front of him. Just my luck, he thought meekly. He got in. “To the Black Forest, please,” he said totally resigned to whatever his fate might be.