Princess
“Ah, thanks for the advice. I was coming to that conclusion myself. I’m Logan Brewer, nice to meet you.”
Looking over to the origin of the voice, he found it belonged to a woman about Logan’s age, with thick, black hair. He couldn’t make out any more specific details other than that in the dim lighting of the dingy prison.
“Hmmm.”
Ah well, I can’t blame her for not wanting to share her name in prison. Still, it would be nice to have someone else to talk to, right Remy?
-Sure!-
“I got thrown in here for not bowing fast enough to the Prince on my first day here… Pretty unfair, right?”
“Hmmm, that man is impossible to deal with. So obtuse and unwieldy, his ego.”
“Uhhh…”
This was the first time in this life that Logan had met someone who sounded so distinctly upper class. Even the Prince had sounded more bratty than elegant, but this mysterious prisoner had that quality to her speech that made Logan think of old British Nobility.
“Sure. I hope they let me out soon though, I really need to get back to training. I’m still pretty ‘unwieldy’ myself with a blade in my hands.”
“Hmmph, I see.”
“If you're seeing anything in this place, I’m jealous, I can’t even see how cute Remy is.”
At that, Remy squeaked and cuddled up to Logan’s chest, making him laugh. He wasn’t sure, but he thought he might have heard his fellow inmate giggle a little. From the third prisoner he saw earlier, still not a peep.
“Uh, correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t there three of us down here? Hello last unknown person, are you still alive?”
It was several seconds before the woman spoke again.
“It is just us two, no one else remains.”
“What do you mean? I’m sure that two of the cells had someone in them.”
“Unfortunately… He is no longer with us, the man in the last cell.”
Several seconds passed again.
“Oh...”
----------------------------------------
“Welcome, Gregor, please enter.”
Gregor had been led to a separate tent after the officers meeting, escorted by the Prince’s guards. He still didn’t know who had requested his presence, but the voice was distinctly female, and quite elegant. Stepping through one flap and past another, Gregor made his way into the next tent.
Once inside, Gregor was immediately shocked by his surroundings. Lavish tapestries and a luscious carpet covered the extremities, while various gaudy ornaments decorated the space. Centered in the back of the tent was a mirror that probably cost more than Alteep Village, seeing how it was entirely constructed of gold. And then there was the person seated next to that mirror.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
With a cascading flow of blindingly blonde hair, a truly refined woman was seated in an elaborate rocking chair situated next to the mirror. As she swayed back and forth slightly on the chair, Gregor spent a few seconds too long just staring at her perfectly smooth and proportioned face. He may have also stared at other places, but he would never admit to that out loud.
The beauty watched Gregor’s face with interest, before lightly laughing. Her laughter was soft and comforting, like being wrapped in warm furs. Gregor realized he had been staring for much too long, and bowed his head.
“Gregor Greatwood, at your service ma’am.”
“How lovely to finally meet the Hero of Langst Harbor, but don’t let anyone hear you call me ma’am. It’s considered improper to refer to Royalty in such a way, although it doesn’t bother me.”
As those words slowly seeped into Gregor’s head, he realized who exactly he was speaking to. Of course, it helped that she introduced herself too.
“I am her highness Arboriette Lille Austenian, although I prefer people I’m close to refer to me as Arbor.”
“It’s truly a pleasure to make your acquaintance, your highness Arboriette.” Gregor said while descending to one knee.
Gregor didn’t know the standard procedures for interacting with Royalty, so he lifted his head after a couple of seconds. He could have sworn there was a slightly peeved look on the princess's face, but before he knew it her visage was back to looking graceful and kind.
“No sir Gregor, the pleasure is all mine.”
----------------------------------------
“Oh...”
“...”
“I’m sorry, did you know him?”
Logan asked the question to the woman he shared the dingy prison with. Frankly, he didn’t care much, but at least pretending wouldn’t cost him anything. It may even improve the mysterious woman’s impression of him, pointless though it may be.
“...Yes, I did.”
“Ah, well I’ll leave it there, then.”
Instead of continuing an obviously dark conversation path, Logan focused on himself once again. His hands were still bound uncomfortably behind his back, and his body was sore from the exertion of marching for multiple days straight. All in all, it was an unpleasant situation, made worse by inability to move freely.
So to rectify this uncomfort, Logan managed to stand without using his hands, and began to stretch out his body as much as possible. His cell was only five paces wide, and even more shallow length wise, but Logan made the most of the space, going through a warm up routine he had been taught in high school gym class.
Logan was sure it wasn’t the most effective stretching routine ever created, but it got the job done, and his blood pumping to his extremities. He had to be careful of Remy as he carried it out, but the Rizzel understood Logan’s intentions, and sequestered himself in the corner of the cell for the duration of Logan’s stretching.
After about fifteen minutes of that, Logan’s soreness had faded into the background, at least for his lower body. He would have loved to stretch his arms and chest some, but that didn’t appear to be in the cards, so he sat back down on the packed earth floor. Remy crawled over and sat in his lap.
-When we leave? Remy getting bored…-
Sorry bud, if it were up to me we would already be gone. Let’s just wait a little longer, ok?
-Ok… Remy wait.-
Logan wished he could scratch the little guy behind his ears at least, but again, his hands were tied. Literally. Instead, Logan leaned back against the dirt wall, and looked for sleep to take him.
----------------------------------------
As Logan had slept multiple times since the incident at Langst Harbor, he felt slightly more safe receding into the world of his subconscious. However, as the blackness of sleep gave way to the unending darkness of the Void, he realized that was a false preconception.
However, as he came to this conclusion, he also realized it was too late to leave. Instead, Logan hung, once again suspended in the endless Void. As Logan gazed out at the fields of stars and planets in the distance, he sighed. Although the sight was beautiful, and the Void's energies flowed through his being pleasantly, it was just a precursor to an experience he would much rather avoid.
Facing the music, or in this case, an eldritch power beyond reality, Logan turned himself around slowly. Only to discover he was alone.
Where before, his patron had sat beyond the walls of existence, now that space was just more of the Void. Logan let loose another breath, although this time it was in relief. If the Being wasn’t here, then he was free to enjoy this vision, and absorb the power inherent to the Void at his leisure.
Redirecting his focus, Logan did just that, letting the various flows and energies of the Void enter and exit his soul, sifting through his being. Although it sounded painful, to an Abomination, like Logan currently was, the cosmic energy gave him a sense of fulfillment, like the purpose of his life was the collection of such a thing. Letting it wash over and around him was as simple as breathing, and just as life giving.
His arms, which had carried his soreness into the vision, relaxed and began to feel limber once again. A nervousness that Logan hadn’t even realized he was carrying evaporated, leaving him feeling lighter in general. The power of the Void was cleansing him of his burdens, and it felt great.
As Logan felt his consciousness slip back towards his living body, he only regretted that his time in the Void was so short.