Isaac was sitting on a small bench in the garden pavilion trying not to think.

He needed some time to rest, for the past week had been nothing but hectic. He was scared but tried not to give it too much importance. He he knew he would be the first piece the Judge disposes of should it come to that, but he couldn’t help imagining the future in which she would lead his nation for him while he watched over his dear garden. No weeds would ever grow in it.

How did it come to this? It was supposed to be simple.

He thought he had everything figured out, that he only had to listen and follow, but Diane’s continuous disobedience inflicted unhealable wounds to his determination. She was the person he respected the most, so her wavering loyalty scared him. He couldn’t help but wonder why the Judge had played such a vicious move. She could have found a million different ways to test them. Unless that was not her objective. Unless there was something, someone else she wished to test.

“I'd give a penny for your thoughts.”

Isaac smirked. “Aren't you underestimating my royal mind? It's quite delicate, you know,” Isaac said jokingly.

Thomas casually sat beside him, still sniffing a little; they had spent quite some time together during the past couple of days as they waited for Diane to wake up. They breathed the air around them, the strong smell of late September blossoms never failing to amaze the simple town boy. Sitting in the most beautiful garden in the world, for a moment Thomas let himself forget what he refused to know.

“Are you crying?” Isaac asked Thomas.

“A little.”

Isaac chuckled. “Do you regret coming to Painron?”

“I'm not sure.”

“You are handling this better than I thought.”

Thomas let out a sigh. “There is nothing admirable about an ignorant peasant. Add the monster element and there you have me: a complete catastrophe.”

“If you are a monster then so am I.” Isaac looked into his eyes. “I don't like being called a monster”

They enjoyed the silence. Somehow, while with Isaac, Thomas didn't feel the need to ask, not even about his uncanny ability to heal others. Everything was, in its own unique way, already said.

“It will be okay. You’ll see,” Isaac told him softly.

“Somehow I doubt it. I like my life as it is, you know. And I really don’t want anything to change. What Diane and you are doing, it’s not for someone like me.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t want it.”

“And you think we do?”

Thomas lowered his head. He could still see the flames playing around his fingers when he looked down. But they didn’t feel right. He was scared of them, of what they could become. Thomas looked at Isaac. “I don’t want to be like you.”

Isaac chuckled. “Fair enough. But, what if you don’t have a choice?”

The look in Isaac’s eyes almost made Thomas chilly. “Everyone has a choice.”

“Yes, on paper.”

“What do you want from me, Isaac?”

Isaac still had a smile on his face. “I want you to think about it. Come to Carcer with us and see it for yourself. Don’t be too hasty in making the choice.”

“Well, it’s not like Diane would let me go now even if I asked her to,” Thomas mumbled. With a corner of his eyes, he caught Isaac’s smile changing; the prince had noticed something in the distance that made the undertone of his expression change completely. He was still smiling, but even less happily.

“Diane is not a bad person. She just has a lot going on.”

Thomas nodded. “What about you?” the Flamer asked. “Do you regret coming to the ball?”

Isaac sighed; that something in the distance wouldn’t let his eyes wander for long. “I do. Every time.”

Thomas followed the prince's gaze until his eyes landed on a pale girl sitting in an endless flower field. The wind carried the blossoms around her, safely landing them on top of her gray hair. From the distance, she looked surreal. Next to her, like always, stood a petite being. She wasn't as pretty, but she was much more pleasant, even though she never talked.

“Come on,” Isaac said once the servant girl waved their way. “Let's say hello.”

Naisa pretended not to notice them coming closer. She kept brushing her hand through the dewed grass and singing a song they had never heard before.

“Isaac! What a lovely surprise!” she said once they were too close to be ignored and proceeded to put on her gloves slowly.

They both bowed and Isaac slowly kissed Naisa's hand.

“Oh, come on, Isaac! You can drop the act! We are friends, aren't we?” she flirted.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

He nodded and then directed a kind smile towards her maid. “It's nice to see you too, Elaine.”

She carefully bowed, smiling shyly. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

“So, what have you two been up to?” asked the princess as she removed her gloves to feel the grass beneath once more; Isaac held them, the soft material rubbing against his bare skin. He didn't miss her shaky hands but knew better than to ask her anything.

“Nothing much, actually. We were hoping the two of you might have something interesting to offer,” Isaac answered cheerfully.

“Nothing much, huh?” Naisa's face made a strange, sour expression. “I take it your mission isn’t going too well.”

Isaac looked at Thomas who instantly went pale and nodded. “Not exactly. We are making progress.”

Naisa looked at Thomas with pure disgust. “If that is your progress, no wonder Aquarius is falling apart.”

“What?” Thomas let out.

“I am bored,” she commented. Each time she ran her hand through the grass, she pulled out a couple of blades. Isaac winced every time and, just as he was about to say something, he noticed the little smile forming on Naisa’s face. If only he knew it wasn’t her own. “I know. How about a duel?”

“What? Are you out of your mind?!” Isaac exclaimed. When he realized she wasn’t kidding, he immediately looked at Elaine. “Let’s go, Thomas.”

“But, think about it, Isaac. My maid and your peasant. It will be like in the old times before this Crystalian nonsense!” she laughed out, holding onto Isaac’s arm. “It will be so much fun.”

“You’re insane,” Isaac bit back and broke free of her grip. He quickly pulled Thomas by the hand and marched towards his castle. The Flamer barely moved, too numb from the shock. “Hurry up!”

“What just happened?”

“Just…walk faster.”

Naisa screamed after them, pulling out chunks of grass. “He deserves it, Isaac! I bet it was all his fault! The Demons must have come for him!”

“For the love of the king!” Thomas yelled as he ran after Isaac. He didn't have time to think; he was too busy trying to save his life.

“Elaine,” Naisa said calmly, “you were right. His head would look wonderful on my bedroom wall.”

Elaine was used to her princess's madness, but the recent events had gotten to her more than Elaine could have imagined. She looked ahead and towards the castle. Then she bowed. “As you wish.” A spear of water appeared in Elaine's hand. Almost twice her size, it fit perfectly in her small hand. She lowered her body, her feet pressuring the ground underneath her. She left a hole in it as she charged towards the two.

“Thomas!” Isaac yelled as the Flamer's face collided with the marble floor in front of the back door. A deep cut appeared on Thomas's back, one that would take months to heal. “Elaine, please!”

Elaine stepped on Thomas’s back and put her spear under Isaac’s chin; the tip was close enough to make him bleed a few drops. “Don’t move. Orders are orders.”

“But is this really necessary?” he asked, both of them ignoring Thomas’s cries.

Elaine tilted her head. “Are you questioning…”

“No. Just encouraging you to rethink your decision.”

An arrow flew through the weapon just as Elaine was about to a few holes in Thomas’s back. Until he saw the shooter, Isaac wasn't sure just how they managed to break the spear in half. But the golden arrow that slowly turned to dust drew a smile on his face. The ground blasted beneath her feet as she jumped out the window. She stretched her arms covered in bandages as she calmly made her way towards the source of the commotion.

“Now, care to explain what in the world you think you are doing with my guest?” Diane asked.

By the time she had reached them, Thomas was already back on his feet. Supported by Isaac's steady arms, he watched through half-shut eyes as the maid trembled. Her spear was gone, and she knew better than to try making a new one. She was trapped between her duty and common sense.

“No, wait! Don't answer!” Diane mumbled as she looked in the direction they all came from. “I think I have a pretty good idea.”

“Orders are orders,” Elaine replied through her teeth. “I advise you not to…”

“Shut up, Elaine.”

Still laughing to herself, Naisa slowly rubbed her hands against her face. She stood up, putting her gloves on once more.

“Isaac?” Diane called out.

“Yes?”

“Take them both inside.”

“Diane, you know you can't take her on in this state,” Isaac said. His glowy hand was drowning in Thomas’s blood, doing its best to stop its flow.

“Get inside and call my father as fast as you can!” Then she glanced at the maid. “You too, if you know what’s good for you.”

Isaac listened without objecting. Thomas's body was heavy, so Elaine put his other arm around her shoulder. She was more robust than she seemed, so Isaac felt extensive alleviation. They moved as quickly as they could, so they were inside the castle in no time. As soon as he shut the door behind them, Isaac ran in an unknown direction.

“I am sorry, Mr. Hammer. I truly am,” Elaine whispered in her own sweet manner.

“Don't mention it!” Thomas was lying flat on his stomach and was therefore unable to see her face. Isaac had managed to heal him enough not to be worried for his life. “Oh, and just Thomas is fine.”

Elaine tried to cover the wound with the torn bandages masking his, now old, scars, but somehow only made things worse. Then loud, joyous laughter interrupted the comfortable silence.

Elaine cursed under her breath. “Crazy…We need to leave. Do you think you can stand up?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Not really. Come on!”

Before they were able to move a step, the door opened with a loud bang. Naisa's murderous eyes found him and, for the first time in a few weeks, Thomas felt true fear. He knew there was nothing he could do to stop that bloodthirsty animal.

“Well, would you…”

Before she could finish the sentence a river of blood flew out of Naisa's mouth and nose. Moving her eyes down the princess's body, Elaine could clearly make out the sharp end of a golden sword sticking out of her gut.

“Remember me?” Diane said in Naisa's ear as the sword disappeared.

The Aquarian fell to the ground, lifeless.

“No!” Elaine yelled as she dropped Thomas and ran towards Naisa's unconscious body.

“Don't worry, I would never kill her. She'll be in a lot of pain for quite some time, though. Let's say it is a farewell gift from her favorite princess,” Diane commented.

Ignoring the crimson stain that kept spreading on her stomach, Diane somehow managed to support Thomas back on his feet.

“That one is going to leave a scar,” she said.

Thomas's smile was filled with fear and regret. “Wonderful.”

Isaac and Brandon appeared just in time. The Florian prince, accompanied by some guards, managed to bring the Flamer back to the infirmary. Isaac grabbed Diane by the waist while she, completely ignoring her father and her guards, confidently looked into Elaine's eyes.

“Oh, and Elaine?”

“Yes, Your Majesty?” she answered, ready to rush after the guards that took her master.

“Let's see each other soon. I have some things I want to discuss.”

The expression on the maid's face changed into something inexplicably secretive. “I really hope we will. ”