Helga

I was sitting in Nautilus’s lap as she leaned against the tree looking across the lake. Working for the Imperial Family does have its perks. The view was gorgeous over the deep cerulean lake as the early morning sun was still rising. Nautilus ogled me with a wide smile while gently stroking my hair. That attack earlier would’ve hurt; forling Krahinn. Who launched an attack like that on a whim? Then Emperor Father Nil just dropped it after maybe ten seconds? Krahinn was a jerk who constantly imposed, and he just let that level of attack slide? Did he aim it at me or was I just unfortunate enough to be in the path of the attack? The attack was uncomfortably accurate for it to not have been intentional. What was Krahinn’s deal anyway? I recalled I told Luna to let some of his crap slide because he was a miserable bucknarl who enjoyed making people as unhappy as he was, but in retrospect I should have clarified there was a limit. Krahinn could be so endlessly rude at times. He also is brilliant and probably the most skilled at being I have ever seen. I didn't like to admit that fact as I wished the answer was someone more pleasant like Archmagus Nez. Why would the Lords make such a jerk so good at ? Was it just some sick joke they played on the world? Nautilus kissed my forehead before caressing my face a bit.

“Why ya brow so fu’owed?” Nautilus inquired while looking at me with palpable concern.

“Krahinn annoys me with his actions.” I confessed, leaning against her.

“He st’ong. Ya gotta let i’ slide.” Nautilus sighed with audible annoyance in her voice.

“Just because he’s strong it justifies his horrible behavior?” I challenged her. Nautilus shifted awkwardly.

“He ain’ jus’ strong dear; we talkin’ a league o’ his own. He ain’ somet’in’ t’ challenge willy nilly.” Nautilus replied looking a bit crushed.

“Why does he have to be such a bucknarl?” I whined as I set my head under hers.

“Wha’ a naugh’y mouth.” Nautilus teased me. Like you're one to talk dear.

“Oh yea, I have the naughty mouth.” I shot back. Nautilus was grinning ear to ear at me.

“Ya defi’itely do. Wha’ eve’ am I gonna do wit’ ya?” Nautilus continued, putting her face closer to mine.

“I don’t know. I think you can think of something.” I teased her. Nautilus kissed me a bit.

“Jus’ gotta keep ya from talkin’ then.” Nautilus stated before kissing me some more. She is such a good kisser.

“Can we snuggle and admire the lake a bit?” I requested after making out with her for a few minutes.

Nautilus leaned back against the tree while loosening her arms so I could rotate around and nestle my head under hers. She put her arms around me as we now were both fully facing the lake just sitting in a bit of silence, enjoying each other’s company. I hated to admit that Nautilus was likely right about Krahinn. There were moments he wasn’t bad, it’s just when Krahinn got bored or felt the need to see something he became fairly unbearable. I settled into Nautilus a bit more as I tried clearing my mind. Wanted a more pleasant topic to think about. Like Nautilus. I need to decide if I want to see if things will work out with her. Nautilus was a lot of fun so far, just her past bugged me a bit. Formerly being the most wanted pirate in the world was a tough pill to swallow; Nautilus was also incredibly open about her previous partners, which was a mixed blessing. How did she find the time? There were so many, just how many was a bit intimidating. The more rational part of me knew her life, her choices, but some part of me was struggling to get over it. Was that immature of me? They were all consenting adults, she wasn’t in a committed relationship, but there were just so many. It’s more than the staff of the castle. It was so stupid. Why was I struggling with this? Demons imprinted heavily on their partners so we tended to have a single partner for life, was that it? I hated how much it bugged me. Nautilus was fun, passionate, spontaneous, free-spirited, strong, and breathtakingly beautiful. It was so peaceful here though; it felt pleasant with Nautilus. As I mulled it over, a monstrous was inbound which Nautilus angrily deflected. Walking towards us were Crown Prince Nil, King Krahinn, and Luna.

“Krahinn! We came to apologize!” Luna yelled immediately. King Krahinn turned and gave Luna the most incensed stare I ever saw. WHAT'S HE MAD ABOUT?!

“Wow Krahinn, attacking my poor caretaker. What is your issue with her?” Crown Prince Nil added on, which caused King Krahinn to give both of them an immensely unamused expression. Nautilus marched up to Krahinn.

“Wha’s ya prob’em?!” Nautilus snarled at him. King Krahinn gave the kids some side eye as he let out an annoyed huff.

“I dislike weak links.” Krahinn stated in a complete dead pan. I felt annoyed at King Krahinn as he sounded near emotionless while being an absolute jerk. Nautilus’s normally dark silver eyes were glowing in rage as she summoned something and slammed it at his feet.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Pick i’ up.” Nautilus demanded. She was willing to duel Krahinn for me?

“Why?” Krahinn checked, looking annoyed.

“Ya enti’e atti’ude. Attackin’ Helga fo’ no reason, twice. I don’ care how st’ong ya are, I ain’ lettin’ ya shiza slide.” Nautilus snapped at him. Krahinn’s eyes narrowed as he let out a long, deep breath.

“Fine. We can duel over the lake.” Krahinn agreed. His head snapped to Crown Prince Nil and Luna as their heads bobbed back and forth for a few moments. King Krahinn was grimacing as his eyes seemed to be trying to evaporate the kids.

Nautilus took off her overcoat, kicked off her boots, and glared at Krahinn as her got turbulent. Krahinn twisted his head to crack his neck as he unleashed a staggering amount of . His body was covered in this odd mist as Krahinn took his real form, as he usually was close to height to Crown Prince Nil, but now he was standing nearly seven feet tall. Krahinn was still lithe, but his entire body was covered in black feathers rather than that black armor while his legs now looked more like a raven’s. It was amazing how slender Krahinn was because his overall width barely grew despite how tall he became. His arm was long, lanky, and covered in feathers the entire way through his fingertips while his other arm was missing from just above the elbow down, turning into smokey wisps. Krahinn’s face got longer while his beak became a color that extinguished light. He had four eyes on each side of his face with one in the center between them; all nine had small, deeper red stars swirling passively through them. Krahinn had his dual horns on each side with the left ones being cracked off, surrounded by shifting floating in the air. He was wearing ornate armor with feather patterns on it that was black with gold trim outlining the pattern covering his chest, upper legs, greaves, and arm plates that were all draped with this odd cloak-cape mix that looked like a night sky with shifting swirls and shooting stars.

“Any particular kind of duel you would prefer?” Krahinn inquired while looking calmly at Nautilus.

You don’t have to do this, Nautilus. I told her mentally. Krahinn clearly was ready to fight for real.

I do cause he ain’ gonna stop ot’erwise. Nautilus retorted as she bored holes into Krahinn.

He’s being a jerk. I don’t get what his deal is today, but don’t endanger yourself for me. I pleaded with her.

Ya wort’ it. I ain’ lettin’ his crap slide jus’ cause he stron’, ya deserve t’ be treated righ’. Nautilus shot back immediately. I felt oddly flush at the moment as I kind of just stood there, not sure what to say.

“Done flirting with your next conquest?” Krahinn taunted. Why was he like this today?

“She ain’ a conques’ ya forlin’ bomslog!” Nautilus yelled at Krahinn. He was calmly looking back at her as I felt my heart race a little. It was oddly nice hearing her say that.

“Fine. Sure. Did you have a particular type of duel in mind?” Krahinn yawned. It was impressive how obnoxious he could be. My heart was beating kind of oddly at the moment.

“Fi’e mi’ute duel.” Nautilus proposed. Krahinn shrugged.

“Works for me.” Krahinn agreed before summoning a timer. He handed it to me and motioned for the kids to stand next to me.

Krahinn and Nautilus both leapt to the center of the lake, waiting for Crown Prince Nil to flip the timer. Crown Prince Nil flipped the timer, and the lake was engulfed in a haze in an instant from the two of them clashing. Their first attacks colliding unleashed a thunderclap that shook the area. Their clashing made waves surge against the shore before Krahinn enveloped them in some sort of black sphere. I was struggling to see the two of them dueling as the they both were radiating buffeted the world around them, kicking up small storms of dust and debris from the shore. I could feel the drumbeats of Nautilus as she buffed herself, but that was about it. I kind of wish I could witness the duel; Nautilus is doing it for me after all. I felt warm at that thought. She ain’ a conques’! I smiled again thinking about that. Nautilus protecting me was honestly endearing; hearing her confirm I wasn’t some fling to her made this pleasant tingle radiate through me. She always tried showing I mattered to her. Why did I struggle to believe her? Was I seriously being that immature about her past? Even now, she was dueling the utterly monstrous Krahinn for how he was acting towards me with no hesitation. Thinking about it, she helped Crown Prince Nil and Luna return home even though there was a solid chance she’d get arrested after.

An inky, dark thought began gnawing at my mind. Am I good enough for Nautilus? Was that why I was so insecure about her past? Nautilus could easily find someone better than me if she wanted to. She was a powerful, charismatic pirate queen turned Naval Admiral, and I was just the caretaker of the Crown Prince. It’s not exactly what I imagined doing in life, but I enjoyed it a lot except when Crown Prince Nil and Lux were being brats. I was nowhere near as powerful as Nautilus. I thought I was quite talented when I was younger and was able to land this job because of my abilities with a little help from Cesar, but seeing the utterly monstrous growth of Crown Prince Nil and even Lux thoroughly crushed that thought. Crown Prince Nil found Krahinn by accident and he was terrifyingly powerful; Krahinn’s friends Ipnerslei and Hoggdin also were near or surpassed Emperor Father Nil. I know the world is vast, but these last seven years have been so humbling on several fronts. My job was definitely not the most glamorous or prestigious, my family was okay standing wise, and I was above average. Why would Nautilus choose me? She was currently risking serious injury on my behalf because Krahinn apparently felt like being a miserable shiza today.

“Do you either of you know what Krahinn’s problem today is?” I asked the kids, trying to distract myself from my thoughts.

“I think he misses Ipnerslei.” Crown Prince Nil answered with twitching lips. Luna flicked Crown Prince Nil.

“We both know that’s not it. Don’t tell a lie you find funny if you don’t know.” Luna chided. Crown Prince Nil looked at her less than amused but didn’t press it.

“Sorry.” Crown Prince Nil apologized to me sincerely.

“I’m amazed Nautilus challenged him to a duel. You must mean a lot to her.” Luna chimed with an innocent smile. Something about it sent a minor chill down my spine. Why is that glint in her eye similar to Crown Prince Nil’s when he’s about to misbehave?