Novels2Search
Through the ages: Dark princess
Chapter 9 Lakeside night

Chapter 9 Lakeside night

Act 1 Walk

In the forest path back to the summer house, with the trees shading us of the last bits of sunlight for the day, there I spoke as we walked.

“So what do you want to ask, lady Komiko?” I broached the subject, as I have an idea of what she wanted to talk to her about but I wasn’t sure.

“I . . . No, sorry Shiro, but I think it’s best if I tell her first.” She said, stopping and not meeting my eyes as she answered me.

“It’s fine Lizel, as long you're not going after her again, then you have my support.” I said, giving her a gentle smile, as I walked forward and patted her shoulder.

“Let’s go, I think we had enough fun for today.” I said as we switched places as I was now the one leading.

“Oh!” I just remembered something.

“What, is it Shiro?” She said looking at me confused and then looked around us.

“Do you hunt? Like do werewolves do regular wolf things?” I asked her as I was started to be curious about the so-called ‘monsters’ of this world. She looked almost offended but I continued.

“Like I'm a human right? If werewolves come from the ancestral wolves, like how humans came from ancestral apes, we humans still have the tendency to do ape-like behaviors.” I talked like that as we walked, and her insulted look just turned into confusion.

“Ahh. . . sorry Shiro, but I don’t know, I didn’t listen much when the elders told us our origin myths and folk stories.” She said scratching her head, trying to remember things she barely paid attention to.

“But to answer the first one, yeah some werewolves do hunt and practice the old ways, I even joined a hunt once..” She said as she now looked at me smiling a proud smile.

“When I was little, I remember the time I spent with my dad and brother more than the actual hunting.” She said as her memories made her smile a genuine one.

"But mostly the werewolf tribes today do husbandry or just work and buy meat or livestock from humans or other races." She said as she looked away from me.

“Thank you.” I gave her a small hug from behind and then shook her by the arm.

“I’ll ask to hunt with you sometimes.” I said to her as I entered the summer house.

Act 2 Early dinner

I was in the kitchen of the summer house, in full view of the living room, the princess was there reading her book, Lizel just went to the bath.

My sister stayed in the manor so it was up to me to cook, and it was simple as the fridge and covers were well supplied, I wonder who deals with the logistics for the princess. . . or finances.

“Princess! I’m not as good a cook as my sister and I don’t know how to cook any fancy western recipes, but I’m really good with Asian ones.” I loudly said so she could hear me.

“It’s fine Shiro, if I don’t like what you make I’ll just ask Flenna to cook something else.” That actually took away the pressure I was feeling so I went to work.

First I looked for flour, salt, pepper, other herbs, some meats, rice and some veggies with all that I started working, and singing and asked Arcana to make my cooking go faster, and the meal tastier.

“In the warmth of the evening glow,

Underneath the stars, watch the embers flow,

Got a cast-iron heart, and I'm ready to sear,

Pulling memories close, in the crackling air.”

The butter oil and the natural oil of the meat crackled as I sang.

“With a sprinkle of salt, let it rain like the past,

Each grain an echo of the moments that last,

We’ll dance with the fire, let the flames take the lead,

Pour the love in the pot, and let it breathe.”

The soup stock, where I first boiled the meats, started simmering, the steam and smell wafted the room, as I added veggies and herbs.

“Cooking with fire, it’s a soulful delight,

Bring on the rice, let the flavors ignite,

Sizzle and swirl, in our kitchen so tight,

With you here beside me, everything feels right. . .”

And I continued to sing and work and at the end I had bowls of hearty soup, and thinly wrapped meats with vegetables and rice, I remember the boy who taught me to make this, called it a shanghai.

“Done! Let’s eat people.” I said as Flenna helped me carry trays of food to the table so everyone could eat.

The princess stood up and with the help of Flenna sat at the table, I sat with her. And asked her to take the first bite, and it made me sweat, as she looked at what I made.

She first tried the soup and she smiled.

“I’’m not used to the flavor but I don’t dislike it.” She said as she then tried the wraps, I made two kinds, one soft and another crispy.

She tried the crispy one first, cutting it in half and then biting one of the halves.

“Good, it’s not bad Shiro, thank you for cooking for me.” I smiled happily at her as I dug in my own food, and damn, I nailed it but I think if I didn’t use magic it would have taken me half the day to make all of this.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Ahh~ that was a good bath, oh! The foods ready!” Lizel said as she joined and ate with us, her hair was still wet and she was only wearing a loose bathrobe.

“I like the softer shanghai than the one you fried using the honey butter.” The princess said as we ate, I laughed at that, as the princess really does have a refined palate.

“Well I like the crispy ones the best, thank you Shiro!” Lizel said as she finished her 3rd plate, good thing I made a lot.

I enjoyed the moment, so I savored it as much as the soup, that I liked the best in this spread I made, and as I savored this moment I felt my connection to Arcana in this new body grow stronger.

Act 3 Fishfolks

We finished our food as Flenna fixed and cleaned the table and plates, we sat down on the sofas, satisfied. Lizel being the one who ate the most didn’t look like she ate a few kilograms worth of food.

“Hmm, do werewolves have high metabolisms?” I asked casually.

“Yeah we do, that’s why we heal fast and become stronger when our stomachs are full.” Lizel said as she drank green tea, I had some too because it tasted wonderful.

“I didn’t really plan on coming here but I’m glad I did.” Lizel told the princess, making her smile, but then Lizel’s nose twitched.

“Well anyways don’t you feel them?” She asked suddenly.

The princess looked confused, and I was too until I felt it. . .

“See that’s why you're a princess, I can smell them, a lot of them.” She looked serious, which made me focus on the barrier more.

“Something. . . no, a lot of things are touching my barrier, and going past it.” I said as I was worried of danger, right now at best, I can do 2 powerful spells and 3 weak ones, without needing to be revived.

“Dozens of them. . .each one of them are hostile.” With that said I went to the floor kneeling, my hand on the hardwood.

“What’s going on? Did you do something princess?” Lizel said, her voice was very blameful.

“That’s preposterous, the tribes here are peaceful. . .” The princess was cut off mid word, as the entire cabin started trembling, turning on one side.

“Princess! permission to protect the cabin.” I said as I felt the entire building sliding down the hill, as the fading ink tattoo on my arm turned blood-red, bleeding slightly.

“Granted.” She said as both her and Lizel stood shaky legs, while Flenna fell towards us from the kitchen.

“Root!” I yelled as I broke one of the spells on my arm, making the bleeding one fade.

The sliding stopped, but the trembling did not as it grew worse, as huge vines covered the windows shattering some, breaking some of the flooring, cracking the log walls and then it stopped.

“Ha. . Ha. Ha," I was deeply as I tried to speak.

"Alright I have the cabin stable princess, I think a bunch of monsters broke the poles supporting the cabin.” The princess ignored my words, as she went towards the balcony, fortunately it was spared by my vines. I followed her, as everyone else did, and we saw them, shadows in the lake.

“Merfolk.” Lizel said confused but also angry.

We were at the edge of the lake supported only by a hundred or so tree-like vines, we were safe here but also trapped

“To the roof!” The princess said as she led the way.

We were on the roof now and saw a lot of the Merfolks, on both up the hill land and coming out of the lake toward us.

“Where surrounded.” The princess muttered as she looked around.

“Yeah we are, I can smell some of them climbing up.” Lizel added.

“Flugga.” Flenna said just behind the princess.

But I stood quietly and then sat down, and started meditating, relieving as much mental pressure as I can to atleast be able to cast one more weak spell, as I’ve already used one of my stronger ones.

“Shiro! We do. . .” I don’t know why but Lizel stopped mid word.

“Leave him be Lizel, we would need his magic later.” I lost connection to the world around me, as I meditated too deeply.

Act 4 Demands

When I woke up from my meditation, the first thing I sensed was the rhythmic drumming.

The second was the smell of the lake and fresh fish.

As I opened my eyes I saw the princess was tied to a pillar.

We were on a clearing, at the shore of the lake lit by bonfires.

Lizel was tied next to me.

I don’t see where Flenna is.

And where surrounded by disgusting fish monsters.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you princess.” I looked towards the old voice and saw it was an old looking fishman being carried by a small palanquin.

“I believe this is the first time you and I meet.” The elder fishman continued, and then I noticed the old Shinto temple behind him.

I heard a small laugh from Lizel, I don’t know what she found amusing.

“I take it you’re the chief of this tribe?” Princess Komiko said towards the elder fishman unconcernedly, as she was tied to a pole 10 meters up from the ground.

“We’re a race that have long been banished, from the neither kingdoms.” The old fishman said, his voice trembling.

“Forced to live here amongst the humans.” Anger was starting to paint his words.

“We will never forget the mistreatment done to our people by the Royal family!” Something was wrong, I hear his anger, but I felt another emotion in the air. . . Greed.

“Our hatred, we despise you princess!” There, it looked too much like a play rather than real emotions, I cut my bindings but pretended to still be tied up, as our guards were focused on the elderly fishman.

“Enough of your speech old one, why don't we skip to the truth?” The princess said with a confident smile, the fishmen were struck by her silent words.

“As you haven’t killed me yet because of your vendetta against the royal family.” She started as the fishmen quietly listened as they looked on with shock.

“Then you must be after my power, you all wish to become immortal do you not? Or am I mistaken.” Everyone was looking at the princess now, I felt the greed rising among them, but many others started bowing.

“Get up you fools!” The elder said as he made those that bow stand as he stood himself and started walking towards the princess.

“Ha ha! You are a true princess, worthy of your bloodline princess Komiko, I’ll be direct.” The elder started.

“Yes we desire your power, as having immortal bodies will be the best method for the survival of our race.” The elder spoke and as he did I started humming to slowly build up a spell.

“Very well.” Everyone gasped, including me, almost ruining my focus on the spell.

“Eh. . . Just like that?” The elder was struck speechless, but I recognized that look, in the eyes of the princess she was buying time for something, and she didn’t look at me, so she must be waiting on something else.

“So, who wants to die first?” The sounds of the drums stopped as I felt everyone around had only shock and disbelief in their hearts.

“Mermaids bane.” I said to the wind as I casted my spell, Lizel looked at me but the guards were to focus on the conversation.

“Everyone in the kingdoms knows that the Royal family possesses the ability to bestow partial-immortality.” The princess was truly smiling now.

“However, it only works on the dead. You might not know this but I do not harbor the power to grant immortality to the living.” She finished as I felt the morale of all those around me lower.

Defeated using only words, I am amazed at her.

“Decide amongst yourself, who wants to die first? Or would you all want to do it all at once? well?” Her smile was straight out of hell and her eyes made me feel like a child in the dark.

Everyone started talking to each other as the silent order was broken, some even got into arguments, then Lizel went werewolf and charged at the chief.

“You're the leader right!” She screamed as she aimed to bash the leader's head off.

“No!” The elder said as he fell over at the surprise.

“Stop Lizel!” The princess commanded, making Lizel stop and looked at her confusedly.

“Why?!” Lizel shouted back mad and confused.

“Because right now I’m asking them whether their entire tribe is willing to pledge eternal loyalty to me.” Everyone was silent again, as the princess looked imperious even in bondage as she was.