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Eileen walked through an exuberant show of shadows and colors created by the moonlight shining through the open windows and balconies at the top floor of the guest wing.

As she was approaching the door, each step became harder as her resolve wavered. She stops half way through the corridor.

Unable to make up her mind, she slowly approached until she stood in front of the door.

She wasn’t sure anymore of what exactly she wanted to find out there. What was the point of talking to him again? The anger now had turned into anxiety and doubt.

She noticed a presence nearby, noises of someone on the next balcony further down the corridor. She moved away from the door and leaned in to check who could be there so silently at that time.

As she approached the archway to the balcony, the princess could feel the cool breeze caressing her skin, gently stroking her loosened hair.

There she saw the boy with his messy hair blown softly by the breeze. He was leaned against the handrail, supported by his elbows, peacefully observing the night sky in the distance.

As the castle was high above the ground, they could see very far into the horizon, it was a splendorous view.

The boy could see a few mountains in the distance and smaller hills through the landscape. Nearby the city were many farmlands.

She observed him from the archway for a moment before slowly approaching and standing by his side at the balcony.

She glanced at him and waited for him to address her.

But to her surprise he didn't move nor speak.

Both remained silent gazing into the distance.

A few moments passed without a word. She smiled awkwardly at herself. It was the first time someone didn't eagerly engage her and she didn’t quite know how to start a conversation with him.

She struggled for a few moments trying to find the words she wanted to ask. Until she finally sighed and took another good look into the distance

“It's beautiful,” she finally said.

He nodded “It truly is” he replied with his eyes set into the horizon.

A moment passed and the silence became once again uncomfortable for Eileen.

She turned to look at him as she wished to talk. But she was taken by surprise. Despite his young years, he seemed to look towards the horizon with deep melancholy in his expression.

She couldn’t help but to wonder what could be the cause of such intense feeling.

“Bhalrom told me you came from a far away land.”

He gently turned towards her then nodded and smiled “Very far”

She forced a smile back and nodded as well “I’m sure you will be able to get back to your home”

“I hope so,” he said with his voice filled with disbelief.

She noticed that her remark had the opposite effect she desired.

“So… you got to train with the First Army? No wonder you are such great swordsman”

He forced a smile “Stop it, you will make me blush” he said rather playfully.

She then asked “What did you think of the duel?”

Riou pondered for a moment answering it “You were fast and precise, opted for lighter gear while your opponent chose poorly crafted heavy armor. You attacked with precision and got him. It was very well done” complimented Riou.

She knew he chose that answer on purpose, but she insisted “I meant our duel”. As she finally asked, her hands couldn't keep still, she grabbed the handrail, moved them from side to side, waiting for his response.

The boy leaned back and put his hands on the handrail for a moment looking up.

“It was a good fight too…”

“Why did you give the fight away?” She suddenly asked, her eyes were wide open looking at him. She was really wanting to know.

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Seeing the change in the princess he remembered how important those duels were to her.

“So you know… It’s just…” he sighed and looked at her directly.

“I just arrived in the city, I’m not from around and I don’t know anything about your customs or traditions. Besides, I didn't know who you were by the time or I would have never stepped into that arena. I didn’t know what that duel was really about…”

He shook his head “I wasn't aware of your Rite thing… All this marriage through battle is a new concept to me, I had no idea” he took a deep breath, looking at her eyes he felt compelled to continue.

“And then I saw you… upset and clearly not enjoying yourself. Your eyes were cold as ice. And during the fight, well...”

He paused for a moment thinking on how to say his next words “Let’s say things escalated a bit, you seem very desperate to win... it was a strange feeling. I felt bad to continue with it. You know, it was supposed to be just a show, so giving up so that you could win seemed the right thing to do”

He had thrown the duel so she felt cheated on her victory. Her sense of honor did not allow her to cut corners, as she felt she didn't deserve the win, it made her feel like the actual loser.

“But what about your honor? Didn't you care about the shame of losing a duel in front of all the lords?” She asked puzzled. A warrior should always fight to win, to lose is to bring shame and dishonor to oneself.

As a matter of fact, not only his honor was stained but he was also ridiculed by the lords and even by her brother in the feast. ‘Doesn't he care about honor and the shame he brought to his name?’

He shook his head “You are wrong” he said to her surprise “Honor has nothing to do with winning or fighting. It’s about doing what is right, even if it makes you look bad.”

She began to understand why Riou was so highly praised by Bhalrom.

That boy was really something else. As she was knowing him better, the weight she was carrying since the duel was finally lifting off from her shoulders, she finally was able to put her mind at ease.

She smiled brightly.

The boy was instantly captivated by that smile, it was the first time he saw her happy and that sight of her under the moonlight, took his breath away.

“Even if it makes you look bad, I understand it now... Riou was it?”

Coming back to his senses he nodded “I’m really sorry for that duel princess, I really didn’t know what it was all about. I should have known better and left” 

“Please, call me Eileen… after this conversation we are past formalities like that”

He smiled and nodded. “As you wish, Eileen”

She nodded “Thank you, I feel much better now that we talked.”

“Me too”

It was getting late and it was time for her to be going back. But before she left she suddenly had another question.

“Do you have time tomorrow? I could use a good training partner”

Riou was surprised by the request “I suppose”

“Good, meet me in the afternoon, there is a training hall in the backyard of the castle. It’s the largest house there, I will be there.”

He nodded “Ok, I will meet you there then”

She smiled once again and elegantly bid goodnight to him before leaving.

He watched as she left the balcony “Very beautiful indeed” he said to himself before returning to admire the night sky.

-------------------At the Study room

The king was meeting Maximilian in his studies room once again.

Max was setting aside a few books he was intending to take with him, a big pile was being formed by him on the table nearby the bookshelves.

The king was relaxed in his chair, but contemplative to the events of that day.

“So, you too didn’t know he dueled against Eileen?”

“I was very surprised when I saw him walking to the center of the room”

“Say Max, what can you tell me about that boy?”

Max let out a small laugh “He got you too?”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t tell you anything more than what I told you the day we arrived.” Max closed the book and turned to the King.

“You must be intrigued by him… feeling there is something about that boy, am I right?”

The king nodded “The King’s game, then the duel… Did you know that he held back and even gave away the fight against Eileen? Can you believe that? How can someone that young be that good of a swordsman? He must be from the nobility… but then why does he not care for his honor or his name?”

“Oh believe me, I know how good he is. And forfeiting a duel sounds just like something he’d do” said Max unimpressed.

The king was surprised by the mage’s response “If he is royalty, then why during the feast, he just stood there when I called? Kasius once again insulted him, my son failed to recognize his ability and made a fool of himself, yet the boy paid no mind to it, he wasn’t even bothered by anything that was going on. Like he didn’t care what the lords might  think of him. No royalty or nobility would accept such thing”

Max smiled and chuckled causing even more curiosity into the king. “Well, I understand why you are so frustrated. So maybe I can tell you one thing more about the boy that might help you understand him a bit better”

“What do you mean?”

“Have you talked to him yet?” Misdirected the Mage returning to browse the books.

The king got even more confused  “Of course, I called his name, introduced him to the court just a while ago in the feast”

“You have spoken to him, I asked if you have talked to him, had a conversation. Just the two of you”  Maximilian closed the book he was looking at and proceeded to the next one.

“No... I don't see what we could possibly have to discuss, he is a lost child that doesn’t know where he is or how to get home” Said an even more confused king.

“Tomorrow, call the boy and talk to him.”

“About what? He say nothing about him”

“Don’t talk about him… ask instead anything else you’d like to know, maybe something you need help with. Something you’d discuss with your advisors… Economics, Politics, Agriculture” Maximilian stopped browsing the books and looked seriously at the king before concluding in a very serious tone “War.”

Max put another book on the table pile “This is my advice, try to see past his age… think as if he was some sort of a scholar like me, maybe that will help you understand more about him”

The king stroked his chin leaning back in his chair pondering on those strange words. He gazed upon the game board in front of him then observed the magus' actions with more care.

The titles of the books he was selecting were rather curious, ‘The Traverse, The Endher, Myths and old Legends’  Indeed a strange selection.

---------------In another place of the castle. 

In a darker corner of the castle, a shadowy figure swiftly moved through some less used corridors. It was going towards the outward walls. Unnoticed by all, it used a black robe that covered the person from head to toe.

As it reached the castle outer walls and the far away empty garrison at the back wall. It stood in front of an open window high above the plateau and the fields below.

The dark one brought its hand out of the robe he conjured a flickering flame. For three times it ignited and put it out.

Soon after, at s great distance on the ground below, the same pattern of light flickered. The shadowy figure pulled a rock involved with a tied parchment from within the robe. The rope involving the parchment began to glow in a yellow color. The dark figure then quickly threw it in the direction of the flickering light at the ground.

A similar shadowy figure was waiting on the ground, it looked for the glowing rope as it fell down. The message read "We act as scheduled, be ready" the figure burned the parchment as soon as it was read.

------------------------------------- An hour later

The princess Eileen was readying herself to sleep, wearing light yellow pajamas and combing her hair on the dresser.

Her mother entered the room and walked towards her daughter.

Hanna noticed the change of mood on her daughter and smiled. She then stood behind Eileen and picked up the comb to help her brush her hair.

“So, Did you have your talk?”

Eileen smiled brightly and nodded.

Hanna was astonished, it had been such a long time since she had seen her daughter happy like that. Eileen’s face lit up as she smiled and it said everything a mother needed to know.