The strangest thing happened; James has shut the hell up. All it took was for Lily to introduce herself. Like it was a conditioned reflex, the boy hit his knees and bowed saying something along the lines of ‘My Lady’. I wanted to flick him again, but I suppose he was probably using the proper courtesy for royalty.
I know better than to assume kings and queens are different from ordinary people. In my past life most kings were called dictators by the unwashed masses. Almost all the sensible countries were run by a Parliament or Congress of sorts.
Still, I can’t let this knowledge influence my actions in this world too much. Common Sense in this world is drastically different from my previous one. I suppose by refusing to bow then the nobility here could even potentially ask for your head, but I don’t really need to be afraid of that sort of thing. I’m far too valuable of an asset for them to turn on me. Not to mention the resources needed to actually take my head are far beyond what this Kingdom could produce. I can afford a little rudeness now and then.
The fourth princess didn’t seem to mind that I didn’t bow to her. Though, even if she asked, I wouldn’t do it. I have some pride. I was thankful for the princess’s nonchalant nature. I hadn’t expected her to be this amicable, but perhaps she’s just afraid of me. Well, beggers can’t be choosers.
The three of us decided to leave the tied up traitor in the possession of the princess’s second guard. The guard would take the two horses he and his partner had arrived on ahead of us to the next town. There was a small prison there where they could interrogate the puppy abductor. I think the guard was only willing to leave the princess’s side because I was here. He personally witnessed my skills in action, after all.
James opted to drive the carriage since the last driver had fled and I wasn’t feeling particularly motivated to go collect the man. This left just the princess and I inside.
The princess pulled off her cloak and I was able to get a good look at her for the first time since we’ve met. Her hair was golden in color and tied low for horseback riding. Her face was freckled and her nose was angled slightly upwards. Her eyes had bags underneath them and her face looked a bit wind scarred. Her cheeks were flushed slightly and there was a bit of chub to her. She wasn’t a twig and her body looked like it was in the latter half of puberty. She was probably around 16 if I had to guess.
She was wearing a green flax shirt with a high cut. The shoulders were bulbous but the sleeves were lithe and the cuffs draped a bit. Her legs were covered by a parted riding skirt that was a grainy blue color. Her shoes looked to be leather riding boots with a metal clasp over the shin.
I wouldn’t call her pretty. She had a charm to her, but her youthfulness was drained by her tired blue eyes.
“Whew, okay. I guess I’ll break the ice. I’ve heard about you from Jack’s letter, but I really didn’t expect anything like this,” Said the princess as she adjusted her clothes a bit and shifted around in her seat. “My name is Lily Grphyn Gransus, I am the fourth princess of the Gransus Kingdom. It’s nice to meet you.”
She held out her hand to me. It wasn’t a dainty ‘Take my hand and kiss it’ kind of thing, either. The fourth princess was offering me a handshake. I grinned a bit as I accepted it.
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“Nice to meet you. I’m a demon named Calliope.”
“Calliope, how many skills can you use?” Asked the princess when we finished the handshake.
“Why do you ask?” I replied to her question with another question. I wasn’t sure if I should actually tell her the truth or not.
“Well, I told you earlier that I am a skill user as well. My skill is called -Analysis- and it can only be used when I’m in physical contact with an object or person. I’m sorry to tell you, but I used it on you just now… But it didn’t work. My skill could even see through the level 55 Knight Captain with two different skills, but it didn’t work on you.”
Ah. I messed up. I suppose I should have asked RED what her skill was earlier. It’s not like I plan on hiding my strength or skills, but it’s nice to avoid others knowing all of your talents. I want to avoid anything troublesome, after all. RED, what’s a good number to say in order to fool her.
[Solution: The princess witnessed you using at least three skills when fighting the Devil Hounds. She is also aware of your skill Mana Bomb that destroyed Jack Evergreen’s home. This guide recommends telling her a number above 5.]
I see. How many skills do I have in total, RED?
[Solution: Including the skills the user recently developed, the user is currently in possession of 21 activatable skills. This number does not include the user’s racial skills or benefits.]
Wow. I have more skills now than on my main account from SHO. This is above top tier. Even in the world of Saga Heroes Online this character would be at the peak.
“I can use 7 skills.” I said, arbitrarily deciding on one third of my total as a good estimation. The princess’s right eye twitched after hearing the number.
“I had been expecting something ridiculous, but isn’t this too much? Just who are you, Calliope?”
I wish I knew the answer to that myself.
“I’m just a demon who was abandoned by her family.”
She didn’t seem completely sold on my answer, but she decided to drop the subject there. I know I could probably tell her the truth, but I doubt she’d believe it. This is one of those cases where fact truly is stranger than fiction.
After a long pause, the princess’s curiosity seemed to get the better of her.
“Calliope, from what I’ve seen you’re already more than a match for the top knight in our Kingdom. What possible reason could you have to accept Jack’s proposal and go to the Academy?”
“I suppose there are a few reasons. At first it was just to repay Jack for accidentally destroying his home, but now I’m starting to think that your Academy might actually be good for me. If I’m being completely honest, my own power scares the shit out of me. I’m terrified that I might hurt -or possibly do something worse- to someone I care about.”
I don’t know why but I answered her honestly. I think she could tell based on my tone of voice alone. Lily seemed like a terribly smart girl. I couldn’t read her thoughts at all. She’ll probably just want to use me like all the rest. Still, I don’t really care if she does. I always repay favors, and if this Academy can teach me to control my strength then I will use every fiber of my being to aid them and their students.