5-3

___“We could settle the score from last night!” David eagerly proposed, eyes twinkling, “Can‘t have you thinking you‘re the better fighter.”
___I can’t even remember last night…
___“Alex,” Nina snapped, reminding the boy yet again to reveal his meddling.
___“Okay okay, I‘ll tell them,” Alex whined.
___Averting his gaze downward he gathered his thoughts, a small silence settling over the room. Over the span of a deep breath he realized no matter what he said it would sound bad so he just went for it. “About that… You guys were trying to kill each other back there and I gotta protect you above all else. I didn’t have a lot of time to think either with David burning the building down on top of us...” Alex recounted, clearly at odds with himself.
___Erik’s focus quickly intensified, gaze pinned on the child. He was already assuming by his tone he’d done something terrible. Wait, how in the world is he supposed to protect us?!
___Tiffany was the complete opposite, having seen the incident first hand and understanding his actions completely. The fact Alex felt any guilt at all confused her. As far as she was concerned he’d saved them both.
___“…to protect you from each other, I did the only thing I could. I, cast a spell to stop you.” Alex cagily informed them, his words trailing off to a small whisper. “I put a spiritual barrier between you, meant to remove all thought. It knocked you both unconscious… If you can’t remember anything it’s probably my fault.”
___“I knew it! There‘s no way some sissy noble could beat me!” David proudly announced, only belatedly realizing his careless insult. “No offense…”
___Apparently not losing the fight was of much greater importance than Alex ability to completely incapacitate him.
___“Don’t forget your place,” Erik tersely warned. Eyes fiercely narrowed and jaw clenched the threat intended by his scowl was obvious.
___The Prince was well aware that this was probably David‘s only encounter with any true Noble, but boundaries had to be enforced regardless of his ignorance. Now while effective, Erik’s expression wasn’t exactly becoming, and fortunately he knew this. Quickly composing himself the tension drifted away, his main concern still being the mysterious boy across the table. The youngster certainly hadn’t done anything reproachable, but the Prince could easily understand why he’d be apprehensive to share such a skill. There was definitely far more to him than first appearances would dictate.
___An envoy with spells and all. How curious? Maybe, he’s for real…?
___“Uh, so… are you gonna do it?” David reluctantly inquired, impatient to know if he’d get a rematch. How many people could say they fought with the Prince of all Urchine?
___He’s really going to completely ignore the boy’s power…
___“Don‘t be a chick about it,”
___…and apparently has no idea of the consequence for addressing me so casually?
___“I suppose, I wouldn’t be terribly inconvenienced to participate as well…” Erik sighed, finally realizing David would probably never understand the gravity of his small insults. If nothing else he was persistent.
___“Well, if everyone else is gonna do it,” Tiffany quipped, “Why not? I‘ve always been a fan of peer pressure.”
___“That’s the spirit,” Alex cheered, beaming another ridiculous smile. Feeling good he swiftly rewarded himself with the last pastry, sitting up to reach across the table, too impatient to even finish chewing before speaking again.
___“All we gotta, do now, is, find a place, where no one, will bother us.” He mumbled between bites, next turning to the Prince. “Gosh these things are good! Are there any rooms here large enough for a match?”
___Erik didn‘t know whether to laugh or cry. Alex was unabashedly ill-mannered, and yet supposedly a messenger from some Great Guardian. Never in all his life had he ever dreamed he’d one day consider joining the likes of him, to save the world no less. It was too pathetic to even dwell on.
___“The gymnasium I use for my fencing practice is suitable, although, the servants are likely to see… We could probably use the entertaining hall. It’s never used and for all purposes forgotten. I, hardly even remember what it looks like really…”
___“As long as there’s enough space,”
___“There’s plenty I assure you.”
___“Alright then, let’s do this!” David concluded, readily rising from his chair. The rest of the table followed suit, the group’s next activity apparently decided.
___“Hey, what about all the food?!” Tiffany stammered, already picturing the massive banquet being tossed out. As a product of poverty herself it was unthinkable.
___Noticing her worry Erik only smiled, casually assuring her, “It wont go to waste dear if that’s your concern. Whatever we didn’t eat will be taken to a nearby orphanage.”
___A small, “Oh,” was all the small thief could articulate, suddenly at a loss for words. All she’d ever been told about the monarchy made them out to be cruel and arrogant, too wrapped up in their stately affairs to take any real interest in the people. To hear him say something so generous so easily… If preconceptions were glass a small crack now existed near the top of hers.
___“If no one else has any objections…” Erik affirmed, searching the party’s faces for any inkling of doubt. He still wasn’t quite sure of this himself, but it was difficult to swim against the tide of popular opinion.
___Staring blankly off into the distance, Nina was surprisingly the only person to speak. She could feel the two guards posted outside either exit to the room, even felt a mild respect for their unceasing vigilance. Just close enough to be of immediate assistance, but without privilege to any intimate conversation they waited.
___“Your guards,”
___It was a distant reminder, but necessary as the Prince had truly forgotten about them. Erik could only stare wide eyed for a moment before he laughed, amazed that Nina would realize their nearness. She seemed to grow more intriguing by the minute.
___Everyone else merely looked around confused, unaware of the joke being shared.
___“Yes, I suppose we will have to get rid of them,” he calmly sighed, eyes locked on her.
___It was only for a moment, but he found himself spellbound and couldn’t pinpoint why. Of course she was beautiful, but there was plenty of that in the world. And it wasn’t just her bearing either, the way all her subtle movements screamed nobility. It was, the sense of… detachment? She had this intangible quality, the kind of presence that made you wonder if your hand would pass right through her. It was a challenge of sorts to reach her, to truly grab hold of her, and it genuinely intrigued him. Still, those thoughts were for another time.
___“I’ve got a nifty little trick up my sleeve just for these kind of occasions.”
___“Lemme guess, you‘re gonna go invisible,” Tiffany taunted him. She mockingly wiggled her fingers in the air like it was supposed to be spooky.
___“No,” Erik dryly replied, only vaguely irritated. He still had plenty of other tricks but he wouldn‘t spoil the surprise by telling her now. “We‘re gonna go invisible,” he corrected her.
___“Whoa, you‘re gonna teach us how to do it!” David piped in, eyes lit up with excitement.
___“…not quite,” Erik grimaced. “I can mask your presence for you…”
___“Oh, I guess that works too,” David admitted, shrugging his shoulders with obvious disappointment.
___“Do we have to do anything?” Tiffany questioned, now somewhat eager to be invisible.
___“I‘ll show you how it works.” Erik contentedly offered, simultaneously keying into his power.
___It was an indescribable feeling, knowing he could freely show them anything without criticism or fear, especially after keeping it bottled up for so long. It might have been the rush of the moment but he couldn’t help but give in just a bit to the fantasy.
___It might be nice, leaving all this behind- the secrets and regrets -living with a real purpose for once...
___“Now, I won‘t really make you disappear,” he explained, subtly smirking at his drifting thoughts as his eyes began to glow. Showcasing his unique Elemental color they were soon completely white and mystifying. “I’ll just keep you from being seen. Like the area right in front of me for instance. It has a set amount of light passing through it from every direction. If I balance my focus just right, I can maintain that pattern, no matter what enters the space. So… if I step inside, like so,” he demonstrated, moving forward. “I can disappear.”
___And he did, almost like he walked through an invisible door into another world. The spot never changed in the least, and even though they couldn’t see him, it was obvious by his voice where he stood. He even stretched out his arms so that his hands floated right outside his cage of invisibly and tauntingly wiggled his fingers. Obviously mimicking Tiffany moments earlier, two almond brown hands dangled magically in the air. Tiffany merely pursed her lips at his little gibe, crossing her arms defensively. It wasn’t anything terrible, funny even, but the score was definitely in his favor.
___He sooo got her, Alex thought, giggling at the interchange. David smirked too, shaking his head at the two of them. If this was a sign of things to come it’d definitely be fun.
___“You see, if I make an area big enough, we can all walk right out of here and no one will ever be the wiser.”
___“I gotta admit that’s kinda cool dude,” David grinned watching the Prince materialize before him as the cage of light faltered.
___Impressive, but useless, Nina thought, silently writing the noble off. As long as she could feel him in the air he would always be an easy target. Illusions would serve no purpose against her.
___“As long we don’t create any unnecessary commotion, it should be fine,”
___“Okay then, let’s do it,” Alex cheered, thrusting a rallying fist into the air. With the exception of Nina it brought a small grin to everyone’s face, enraptured by his liveliness. It was a bit unsettling to realize he might just be their leader, but at least he was cute.
___“First, let’s go over the basics,” Erik began, grabbing everyone’s attention once more. “Once you enter the hall, nothing will change. You‘ll be invisible to everyone including yourself. Try not to get disoriented. I‘m going to send you one at a time to keep accidents to a minimum. Walk straight to the end, turn right, and wait for everyone else. Got it?” He asked, pausing to make sure everyone understood.
___Four nods affirmed his plan, and all that remained was to ask, “So, who’s first?”
___“I’ll go,” David announced, surprising no one, sauntering up with his hands in his pockets. “Sounds easy enough.”
___“I hope you can handle it,” Erik warned, turning his attention to the room’s double doors. His eyes quickly regained their white luminance, this overwhelming sense of ease accompanying the feat, and after a brief moment he carefully reached out to grab the door handles. What happened next was quite possibly one of the most confusing visual experience possible. The Prince opened the doors, swinging them inward toward himself, and even though they were clearly in his hands, another set of doors remained in place as if he‘d done nothing at all. It was then he smiled, moving aside to allow David passage, signaling him with a quick nod and flourish of his hand.
___I hope this works, Erik thought, well aware either Minos or Lukas would be standing just around the next corner.
___If all I gotta do is walk then this should be a piece of cake, David hoped, bracing just in case the doors before him were real. His weight shifted forward, one heel rising from the floor, but even after seeing the Prince vanish multiple times it was still difficult to have faith in someone else’s power. He just couldn’t keep himself from first poking the illusion, watching his finger disappear into the glistening cedar surface and return to him unharmed. It was all the proof he needed and with that, he went for it, disappearing from the dining hall.
___As a course of habit, Tiffany and Alex strained to see through the glass panes in the doors, soon realizing that the whole point of this was for him to remain unseen. Erik was the only one who could truly see him and watching from behind the fire breather seemed just fine. David’s pace was steady, path well centered, and most importantly quiet; no noisy shuffling or stomping. Pleased, the Prince nodded his silent approval, readying himself to summon the next guinea pig.
___His power is so perfect for sex! You could do it anywhere, and no one would ever know… David imagined, sulking as he neared the halls end. Forced to change directions, it was the first time he truly took note of himself. He’d been on autopilot up to then, but for some reason he’d never know he glanced down at his feet and suddenly couldn’t remember which foot was forward. Now that may sound stupid but you really never think about things like that until you can’t verify it with a simple peek. Now, certain things he just knew, but for some reason he couldn’t shake the feeling he was falling. He could ‘see’ the floor below him and it wasn’t getting any closer, but if your feet aren’t beneath you it’s because you’re falling and that’s just the assumption his brain was working on. Trusting his feet to be where he needed them, it was suddenly like learning how to walk all over again. There would probably never be another four steps as nerve racking and ultimately gratifying as those last uncertain few around the corner and out of Erik’s effect.
___Didn’t see that coming… well, didn’t see much of anything really?
___Erik couldn’t help but grin as he waved the next person over. David’s brief taste of light vertigo was obvious, but he did better than expected.
___“I‘m not so sure about this anymore,” Tiffany muttered, a quizzical lilt in her voice.
___Her usual confidence had somehow given way to nervous jitters, a quick peek at the Prince revealing the most adorable large worried gray eyes. A few strands of dirty blonde hair fell into her face with the gesture, right over her tiny pink lips and for a moment she looked like a toddler. A small huff and roll of her neck and everything soon fell back into place, her attention returning to the ‘closed’ doors before her. It wasn’t much at all, but it served to ensnare the Prince interest anyway. He just couldn’t bring himself to look away, scrutinizing the tiny details of the girl’s face, awed by the simple beauty of her. It wasn’t even any kind of attraction, just appreciation for the elfishly adorable picture she made.
___With only a small moment wasted, Erik coaxed her, “It’s really not that bad,” directing her forward with an open upward facing palm. The tip of his manicured fingers slid through his illusion and disappeared, the small meaningless impetus Tiffany needed to start moving. Breathing in until she felt appropriately ‘full,’ she stepped into the Prince’s void of illusion and… finally realized there was nothing that great about it? No tingling, no weightless sensation, no anything really. It was rather disappointing, and showed on the young thief’s face as she met David on the other side.
___“You don’t look too happy there missy,” David smirked, propped up against the wall beside her. “Get confused too?”
___“What,” Tiffany muttered, realizing a bit late he was addressing her. “No, I just thought it would be a little more… I don’t know, exciting?”
___“Well, I don’t know what‘s wrong with me but that hallway got me seriously messed up. I could hardly walk outta there.”
___“Really,” Tiffany giggled, fascinated by his bluntness. He was so honest she couldn’t even bring herself to make fun of him, instead fighting away this awkward diffidence as she met his gaze. It was the first time she truly ‘noticed’ him, and like the Prince he was stunning, a subtle blush growing in her cheeks the longer she stared into his eyes.
___Everything about him was comfortable, in every sense of the word, much like her father actually. In poor imitation, Tiffany tried to come off confident, but in honesty she doubted herself quite a bit. She worried about how people perceived her. It was nothing major, but Tiffany was the kind of girl who would truly be surprised when someone told her she was beautiful. David on the other hand had this natural confidence about everything he did. It wasn’t pompous like the Prince, but you could tell he didn’t waste any time second-guessing himself. He was who he was; end of story. It didn’t hurt that his looks fit his mentality perfectly either. If confidence were physical it would definitely be his robust physique. Chiseled, roguishly rugged, and well proportioned, David’s body stopped just short of being ‘bulky.’ With his height he could easily be imposing, but a few minutes with him and that notion flew out the window. His attitude was just magnetic, pulling you into a friendship that existed before you ever met. A friendship Tiffany was growing to like.
___“I‘m so pumped right now?” David announced, throwing a few mock punches into the hallway.
___His anxious mood was contagious and Tiffany couldn’t help but smile as she watched him. “Yeah, I guess I‘m a bit excited too… I really just wanna see everyone use their powers.”
___“Yeah, I know right!” David agreed, finally stopping to look over at the girl. “I never really thought about anyone else having powers like me, but I gotta say it’s kinda cool.”
___“Hmm, I guess it is…” Tiffany admitted, gradually realizing exactly what all this meant.
___I’m… not alone anymore?

___“Alright, who‘s-” Erik began, words faltering as Nina brushed past him.
___Having watched Tiffany make it through without incident he was about to call the next person, but apparently Nina didn’t care to wait. She stalked past without a word, dutifully dragging Alex along by the hand. The boy looked back over his shoulder before he disappeared, shrugging his shoulders with a helpless expression, but in Nina’s care he couldn’t feel but so bad.
___Mystified by her audacity the Prince only shook his head. He thought he explained why they were supposed to go one at time fairly clearly, but it was too late to stop her now. If they fall all over one another it’s not my fault, he told himself, shrugging as he too departed the dining hall. Gently closing the door behind him, Erik followed after them cautiously dispelling his illusion. Careful not to let the entire construction falter, he watched Alex curiously inspecting himself. The boy first just looked all around, at his feet and then at Nina, raised his hand to his face and shook it as if it would suddenly appear. Obviously entertained, the boy seemed to have stolen the curiosity from Nina for himself. She seemed determined to get through and nothing more. Watching her wasn’t any less interesting though, the steady rhythmic quality of her hips naturally drawing his eyes. The brilliant dress adorning her figure clung to her skin just enough to hint at her build, a hint his mind was running with. The only surprising thing she did was look back, a cold gust of air brushing across his skin as her eyes swallowed him. It was almost surreal for the Prince, suddenly unable to breathe inside her scrutiny. She probably only took about two or three more steps before turning at the hall’s end but the beautiful wind conjurer’s message was clear: his illusion held absolutely no power over her.
___Normally, having someone stare at you is a bit unnerving, but when you know you’re invisible it’s downright chilling and Nina’s stoic expression ensured a cold shiver ran down the noble’s spine. Eerie as it was though, the sudden sensation crawling through his body made him feel suddenly alive. It was a sensation long departed from the Prince’s memory and served only to make the ethereal young lady all the more appealing.
___I don’t know whether to thank Dahlia or Kronsylus but she’s definitely a god send… I might ally myself to the boy just for her?
___“Hmm,” Tiffany hummed, closing her eyes as a small gust of air assaulted her. David felt it too, both looking up to see Nina emerge before them with child in hand. They didn’t even give a second thought to the pairing. It was just subconsciously accepted that the boy belonged with her. If they did all decide to continue on together it would probably be a long while before anyone thought to question that.
___“Now then,” Erik concluded, sliding through the group before him. “Let’s see if I still remember how to get there.”
___Everyone readied themselves to follow the Prince, vaguely confused when he turned to face a nearby wall. Raising his hand to one of the many silver sconces lining the hall, he tenderly felt along its side for a moment, rubbing small circles along the smooth surface before apparently finding his target. Firmly pressing a small hidden panel inward, the Prince was rewarded with a slight clicking noise, a proud smirk touching his lips as he nodded.
___“Alright, here we go,” he decreed, steadying himself as he placed both hands flatly on the wall. A throaty grunt resonated from his throat as he valiantly pushed forward. With his polished appearance it made an awkward scene, especially when it became apparent that he wasn‘t actually doing anything? Well, at a closer inspection a small vertical crack stretching from the floor to ceiling had opened on the wall, but it far short of anything useful.
___“Need a hand buddy?” David chuckled, the strain on the noble’s face obvious.
___“If you wouldn’t mind…” Erik sighed, slightly embarrassed he couldn’t even open his own passage. “It’s been a few years since I’ve used any of these I’m afraid.”
___Sauntering over with nothing more than a telling smile he waved the Prince away. Shaking out his arms and quickly rolling his neck, he quickly got himself ready, turning to the side and ramming the panel full force with a broad shoulder. The impact was solid too, and more than enough, his muscled body barreling through the secret entrance, over a small landing and down the unexpected flight of stairs awaiting him. The token multiple part crash stairs always illicit ensued, ending in an almost comical thud as the fire breather hit the bottom. A string of curses almost immediately littered the air, everyone rushing to see the scene. Looking down, the passage opened up into a dank stairwell descending into complete darkness with David somewhere undiscernibly at the end.
___I would have warned him if I knew he was just going to throw himself at it!
___“Grand,” the Prince sighed, anxiously looking over his shoulder. Surely someone had to have heard the commotion. “Let‘s go find him before anyone comes,” Erik insisted, motioning everyone forward.
___Alex was the first one down, anxiously calling into the darkness, “Are you okay David?!”
___“I’ve been better,” David muttered, a mixture of anger and confusion filling his voice. He managed to sit up at least, propping himself against the cold gray stone wall beside him as he held his sore arm. The comprehension of all that hurt was beginning to settle in. Even so, he mustered the fortitude to summon a small flame to his free hand, lighting up the passage enough to look around.
___“Hold on, I’m coming,” Alex blubbered, making his was as quickly as he could manage. The boy’s face was the picture of panic, startling even David with his worry as he knelt beside him.
___“Don’t worry kid,” David laughed, wincing a bit as the injuries on his torso proclaimed their presence. “I’ve survived worse…”
___“I’m supposed to be keeping you safe,” Alex complained, obviously disappointed in himself as he raised his hands to David’s arm. With a purposeful certainty the boy began mumbling indiscernible phrases, a slow melodic rhythm curving his tone until it appeared he was attempting to sing the injuries away.
___Shifting uncertainly with the awkward change of events, David grimaced, unsure of how exactly to respond. He didn’t really have to do anything though, his sore body soon flushing with a tingling pressure. It was unlike anything he’d ever felt. Confused, he couldn’t help but raise questioning eyes to the boy, hearing his murmurings become somewhat more forceful, his pauses stretching and pitch rising until it was only brief punctuated syllables spilling from his mouth. It was so entrancing it took a few seconds to even notice the new effect on his body. The small flame in his palm was now violently dancing, roaring with each utterance from Alex as raw energy pulsed through him. Feeling his very being assaulted, it was difficult to maintain control, but it wasn’t necessarily bad either. The overwhelming sensation drowned out any pain and after awhile felt quite relaxing, soothing even as it worked him over. Closing his eyes, he felt himself settling in to it, breathing deeply just as the force abruptly ceased.

___“What…?”
___Minos turned, this time absolutely certain he heard something amiss.
___More than a little perplexed, he’d been straining to decipher the small shuffling sounds passing him by. The hallway was bright, his sight keen, and hearing the same, and still he couldn’t reconcile the two senses. The hall was clearly empty, and had been for awhile, and yet the nagging feeling remained that someone or something was eluding him. It was the marginal kind of doubt you felt simply childish indulging but it lingered nonetheless. Luckily the small crash in the manor’s depths gave him an excuse to check on the prince. Just for safety’s sake of course.
___Heh, I wonder who the stairs conquered this time? They really should stop polishing those things…
Smiling to himself, Minos unhurriedly covered the scant few steps that brought him within awareness of the desolate state of the Dining Hall. The eternal optimist though, he continued onward ever hopeful his limited view through the grand entrance doors hid a safe prince. Of course it did not, and walking inside served only to illicit the most tumultuous roll of his stomach. The Prince was gone… again, and more than likely being held at the merciless hands of fiends he’d brought here himself.
___“Kronsylus be damned…”