Careful table, shiny cutlery, flashy plates, glasses of an incredible transparency...
This dinner had been prepared with a master hand!
The Nameless Hero had the buffet in front of him, there was something for everyone: meat from gigantic carnivores, cute little creatures, big three-headed buffaloes that had been well-stocked, those damn chickens, rare meat like that of Monteto - a kind of lion with glittery eyes, very popular in what was left of the worldly circles -, fresh vegetables of all colors and shapes, in addition to fruit that looked incredibly juicy.
He had an irresistible urge to help himself, but he had to wait for the arrival of the other protagonists of this reception, because the queen had taken him far too early in relation to the time that had been agreed upon.
About the queen, she had come to see him in his house to discuss this dinner, which the fairy wanted him to attend. Strangely enough, that day, she had come with a small troop to his house, which was strange because she only came accompanied when she brought him something heavy. Moreover, she had come in a carriage and with knights riding centaurs. And above all, she had stayed longer than expected.
A real official delegation, said the Hero.
The guards and soldiers surrounded the ladder to block access, letting the queen-fairy fly to the window of the Hero's suspended "house" and knocked, he indicated with a gesture of the thumb to pass through the front door. The guards gave him evil looks and he returned them well, he would have gone even further if Audiselia had not been present. He knew very well what they had in mind, but they were far too cowardly to try to throw him out of the kingdom and face the wrath of their sovereign.
- So how's my little guy?
- How are you doing, how are you doing?
- Problems as always, but as they say "heavy is the head that wears the crown". Always so empty this barrack, commented she while passing of a glance in the room.
- Still nothing to fill this house. If not what is worth the honor of this visit without present towards my person? he cut these useless mondanities.
He leaned against the wall, watching the queen's movements in this "studio. She touched the beams and the table, and saw some dirt, however it looked clean enough to be livable or for her to afford to stay. Next time, she would come in and do a thorough cleaning...
Why next time, by the way? she thought, she'll do it as soon as they've settled their little business.
- Do you know about the reception of the champions before the future duels? asked the queen, taking place on the bed of the Hero.
- The reception, yes. Its purpose, no.
- If you feel like it, it's to congratulate the remaining winners of the tournament and for you to get to know each other. I had planned to put it much earlier in the tournament, but well, between the assassination attempts and you...
- Like I'm the problem?" laughed the Hero.
- Besides the fact that I shriveled you...
- Oh!
- Besides the fact that I shriveled you! she repeated by amplifying her voice with her hands, I remind you that you are in a kingdom that strongly discriminates against humans, so yes, you are a problem in spite of yourself.
- That's nice.
- Are you being ironic?
- No, he said slowly, not understanding what she was getting at.
- So modulate your voice, you don't seem to care.
- I'm sorry if I offended you.
The queen lowered her eyes to the ground, clasping her hands together, she thought about what to do with the boy.
Her mother had asked her to change him so that he would not become like them, but she could not do anything: either they hardly spoke to each other with conversations that did not exceed ten sentences, or they simply could not understand each other and "argued".
Was she still inhabited by the resentment she had against Elena's son?
It is true that she was not the type to forgive easily, nevertheless, was she really going to resent him, for the rest of her life, for having prevented the woman she loved from becoming one of the enemies of mankind and for having taken on this prestigious but terrible role of being the hero of the legend? The one who must take on the task of defeating an ancestral evil at such a young age? Perhaps he also felt bitter towards himself? Coupled with his shyness, he was never going to break the ice once and for all.
Then, suddenly, she remembered what Helmir had told her one day, and what the airy fairy confirmed some time later: "He's a tough guy, but when he's pushed a little bit, he's a much friendlier person than usual.
She asked her what she meant by that, she answered that he should be embarrassed. And the Fairy had explained to her that since the story of the bath, he had been rather cordial to the point of gently mocking her as if she were not a princess but a normal person. Realizing that the solution was so simple, she slammed her fist into her hand and shouted:
- Esfilosa!
- What is happening to you?" exclaimed the Hero.
- We'll resume our discussion a little later. For now, we'll clean this dump together.
- You say that as if it wasn't you who offered me this place," retorted the Hero.
- That doesn't stop you from making it clean," replied the queen.
- As if it were dirty...
- That could be better! corrected the queen, especially that I had proposed you to sleep with me but you refused categorically, whereas I could have warmed you of all my body...
- Oh my! Oh my! Oh my!" he repeated several times quickly, widening his eyes and waving his arms, "what are you talking about? What's wrong with you?
The queen laughed so hard she fell on her back and held her ribs. But they were right! He was taking on the role of an adult when he was as innocent as a child. What a prude he was! He reminded her of Sawyer.
Esfilosa! That's what I'm going to do, she thought enthusiastically, I'm going to annoy her like I annoy Sawyer!
She got up on her feet and went to the Hero's wardrobe, she took out a long sky blue top that was probably meant to be the boy's pajamas, but considering her size -smaller- and her build, it was going to fit her like a crop-top. So she shrank down to the same size as the Hero, her dress became too big and heavy for her to "wear" - not that she didn't have the strength, but it was becoming restrictive. She took it off and threw it out of the window over the heads of the guards, who cried out in surprise at their queen's attire. She found herself with her stockings facing the Hero, who instinctively hid his eyes with his hands and hid his face in a corner of the room, which made the shrunken queen laugh.
- What's bothering you? she thinks, ah! But, normally at this age and as a human, your hormones are in full boil. It means that I do not leave you indifferent, making a mischievous pout.
- But get dressed! ordered the Hero, why are you doing this?
- Bah I took this dress in your cupboard to dress me precisely! You follow a little? she teased.
Although she teased Sawyer in the same way, it had always been with words, not deeds, she didn't know if she had gone too far, not only as a queen and ruler of Sylvania who had a code of conduct to uphold, but also as a tutor. Perhaps he would resent her?
- But get dressed! You said you wanted to put this top on, so put it on," he implored her as he approached her, eyes closed, searching for her with his hands.
He eventually managed to reach her and push her toward the cabinet where he thought she had put her pajama top.
- It's on the other side," breathed the fairy queen.
She removed her hand from his face and dressed as the Hero wished, and as she had expected the outfit was so large that it came down to her knees, she even wondered if it was not a girl's outfit.
- I didn't think you were that chaste.
- It's not that, he defended himself, you are a queen, I can't see you like that.
- I thought royalty didn't affect you that much.
- Yes, but I was educated! And even though you look like you're in your twenties, you're probably my mother's age, I can't afford to see you like this.
She smiled at him and went to get a towel to wrap around her head to protect her hair. She equipped herself with a broom, a mop and all the paraphernalia of the good housewife and declared war on the dirt of this place.
- Are you sure you want to do this?
- Totally. What? Are the guards the ones you're worried about thinking about me? I could always lobotomize them and pass it off as anger. But no time to argue, we need to clean up this mess. By the horns of the Perciflare I'll make this place shine with beauty.
And they embarked on an extensive cleaning of the Hero's "studio".
No dirt, no grime, no dust escaped the cleaning unit, the duster burrowing into every corner of the great room, pulling out every particle of dust that squatted in the Hero's dwelling without permission, the cobwebs that camouflaged themselves in the corner of the walls... Once it was time to mop the floor, the queen took the opportunity to splash the boy, and this cleaning session ended in a water fight between the aunt and her nephew. Then she started shooting lightning bolts at him to make him dance - western time, that! You don't want to tar and feather him either, while we're at it...
An hour later, the Hero's apartment was shining with a thousand lights, it even made him want to invest time and money in its embellishment. He slumped on the bed of exhaustion and Audisélia wrung out the clothes she had borrowed from the Hero before taking a new one and putting it on.
During this cleaning, the queen noticed small tufts of hair with crusts of blood in them around the Hero's bed. She saw fresh blood on his pillow and asked him if he had a dying animal in his home. He said no, he had neither the time nor the faith to take care of an animal that he would have to abandon to someone once he left here.
Audiselia concluded that it must belong to him and that it must have come from his bruised scalp. Normally, with his increased regeneration due to his status as a hero of legend, he would not have any wounds that would not heal for months, and it could not have anything to do with his curse since the most powerful mages in the kingdom of Sylvania had managed to seal it with the seal that had been placed on it.
So it could only be his genetic attribute that interfered with his heroic powers. What kind of disease or power could be strong enough to counteract the hero's legendary power?
- Get in the bathtub," the queen said, pointing to the bathroom.
- What for?
- Don't argue.
She took his arm, led him there and ordered him to remove his clothes.
- What? You want to wash me again?
- Yes! It looks like the Miracle Bath didn't work properly, so I'm going to try again.
- But I'm old enough to do it!
- You are devoid of magic so you can't do it yourself... Ah, you're silly, there's no erotic connotation, nor is it childish! Especially since it is a tradition of the fairy doctors. In fact, the Princess-Without-Wings should know about it. In the end, she's not that good a student. But that doesn't change the fact that you have to strip! Keep your underwear on if you're uncomfortable, but I'm not going to let you lose blood like that.
He obeyed her while grumbling and settled in the bathtub which she flooded with water. Audisélia took a washcloth above her, and passed water on her head.
- Wait, I'll be right back.
Audisélia left at lightning speed to find all the elements to produce the Miraculous Bath and returned immediately with the mixture already made.
- It smells burnt, doesn't it? commented the queen.
- I had managed not to be touched by your lightning...
- Sorry, sorry," she apologized.
She put the glittery liquid in the bathtub water, mixed it with it to make it as white as translucent, shiny milk, soaked the glove and gently rubbed his head to avoid any pain. The delicacy and tenderness she showed in cleaning the wounds on his scalp was in stark contrast to her usual behavior - at the same time, just ten minutes ago, she was having fun throwing lightning bolts at him while he was soaked. He didn't know she was capable of such gentleness, the Hero would have thought that with her rough hands like lizard scales, she would have lacerated his skin. But no, on the contrary, they were as soft as silk, with each of her touches, it was as if he was wrapped in a soothing and warming veil around him, making him shiver with happiness.
However, this bliss was interrupted by her natural instinct which made her body stiffen involuntarily.
- Relax. Why are you so tense?
- I... I don't like someone being behind my back, especially this close.
- I see. Still, you'll have to get used to it since your wounds are on the back of your head.
The Hero took a deep breath and tried to relax until the queen had finished treating him. He took the initiative to interrupt the silence by asking the queen a question.
- Didn't your power make you younger when you changed your size?
- Did you notice?" Audisélia said, "you are rather good at observing despite your poor vision.
- That's because of your hands. They are softer than usual.
- Ah, that. Well, that's just a coincidence, it was the Miracle Bath that made them all soft. But somehow my magic actually made me look younger.
- Only, in none of your words did you mention rejuvenation.
- Because I can just lie in my words and think the spell in my head. It's a way that even seasoned magicians have a hard time doing, she pointed out, even more so if it's a combination of magic.
- What do you mean?
- I was even younger when I was your size.
- Oh, a real little giant," he exclaimed.
- However, I had been put on a magic constraint to fit everyone else, so it was more convenient. It has recently been dropped.
- But why did you get younger?
- To try to understand you. Maybe that way I can be of better help to you.
- Better help?
- Your mother's last words to me were to help you because, presumably, I would be the only person who could understand you. And given the way we started out, we ended up in this more than uncomfortable situation.
- That's why all this mess...
- That's it!
The Hero wanted to express himself, but held back, he didn't know how to say it. It was too intimate a confession for him to make by lying in his actions, he would be unable to do so anyway in such a situation. The queen put her hand delicately on his shoulder.
- If you have something to say, tell me," she whispered in a reassuring voice.
At her words, he twisted his fingers and lowered his head, looking at the luminous water that surrounded him and ran down his body.
- I thought about what you asked me on the roof of your castle before I fell asleep on your lap. And I think in memory of my mother, I might agree, although I don't have the same concept of how a family is organized as she does, I don't think she would mind if I thought of you as my mother, knowing that where she came from, they often called her mother's aunties or friends "mom", so I guess that could apply to you. I know that I will serve to bring you closer in some way to my late mother...
The queen surrounded him with her delicate and firm arms, and embraced him.
- Don't think of it that way. In a way, yes, but don't see you as a tool for my love or grief issues. I have come to really like you beyond the fact that you are my friend's son. Although Helmir watches you and informs me of your actions throughout the kingdom, I have witnessed the kindness you show to others despite the rejection you face. I now understand what your mother meant, and I will do everything in my power to save you. Whether it's from Nemesis or from the hatred that consumes your whole being... as it can for me. Don't take it all on yourself. Don't endure it all, alone.
The Hero placed his hand on the Queen's and nodded.
- If it suits you...
- Yes, it's fine with me.
The boy's eyes blurred, ending up in a blur, losing his sight for a short time. It was as if his gaze was sinking into his mind, which was blurred... and "empty", before returning to reality when the queen finished treating him. Although it was difficult to distinguish him, one could recognize on his dark face a wide smile.
Once that made, she explained to him the real reason of her coming: she wanted him to go to this reception so that he could assimilate himself to the other champions and learn to know them, in a certain way, he was recognized by them since he went so far in the tournament, and that would allow to "humanize" him near the others.
However, there was another reason why she wanted him to go, even though Beneltig was already accompanying the princess, and that was because of the plot that was going on in the shadows of the kingdom, and in which Beneltig was somehow involved. The Hero revealed to the Queen that he had heard a conversation between some hooded men and Beneltig, who were talking about the loss of the Princess without a name, which confirmed the Queen's intuition. Unfortunately, she had not heard any conversation on the air that could incriminate any person linked to this plot, and she firmly believed that they were linked to the sect that worshipped Marrynelia, given their conversation with Beneltig, as reported by the Hero
There was no doubt about it!
So, she instructed the Hero to see if there were others who might be affiliated with the Queen and Fairy's enemies.
The Hero had a little idea of who he would go to question whether she was there or not.
Now we can go back to the present time when the Hero was alone in the reception room and was being watched by all the servants and handmaidens currently present. This explained why he had arrived so early compared to his Faerie counterparts - although it didn't stop him from being angry about being there so early.
One of the servants, intrigued by the appearance of this young man, who was disconcertingly over-attentive, came to sit next to the Hero to chat, having finished preparing dinner and waiting for the other guests to arrive. The Hero was reluctant to talk to him, but remembered that day with the queen, and understood that he had to be more open with others, as much for the sake of the mission he had been given as for himself.
- Then, my lord hero, why this so hasty arrival? asked the servant.
- Well, you don't have to be so formal with me, the Hero stopped him, I don't have the status, neither here nor elsewhere.
- But you are a champion of suitors! From the start you get a status greater than anyone else in this kingdom.
- Seriously?
- Yes. But you will lose it if you lose.
- An ephemeral status, therefore.
- That's it.
The Hero had no idea what to talk about, he was racking his brains to find an interesting topic of conversation so as not to let silence settle between the two - if the queen had not broken the ice between them, he would never have taken the initiative to agree to converse with someone. If the person had nothing to tell him, the power of the discussion was his, since he was the one who came to see him. This became apparent when he began to scratch his head. He finally remembered that he had not answered the question of the young man who had come to ask him about his presence.
- I am here because the queen, worried about a possible delay on my part, has brought me by force earlier than expected.
The servant laughed and said:
- That's just like her. Considering how much importance she attaches to this party, it's not surprising. But tell me, why do you always wear a hood, even indoors? Although your clothes are classy.
- Right?
- Yes, no matter where you can be seen, I have always spotted you in a hoodie when I go uptown. The same goes for when you are in the company of your protégé. I don't think it's to hide you from the light, you haven't shown any so-called vampirism, unless you are an undead.
- It's for... uh...
He was reluctant to reveal to her that it was to conceal his scars, in his mind: to deliver information about himself would be to set up a future betrayal against him.
Until now I can't say whether his paranoia was legitimate or not.
- You don't have to answer me if you don't like it," the servant reassured him.
- Thanks," he sighed, reassured, "by the way, what's your name? We didn't even introduce ourselves.
- My name is Lelelitio Grave, a fairy serving Princess Malalalivia.
- What a name... particular.
- If you meet her, don't ever mention her, please," Lelelitio begged him, "but you, you still haven't told me your name.
- Well, I don't have one, despite my ephemeral status," he laughed.
- You have been denied your existence...
- Don't look so dramatic! I don't care anymore," the hero calmed him down, "I don't care as much as when I was a child. You are not in the service of the queen? he changed the subject so that no embarrassment would come between them.
He was fighting with himself to be able to break the ice with this Lelelitio, it was necessary for the good of his mission and for himself. And it was rather easy thanks to the sociability of this servant. His mind kept repeating "Break the ice! Break the ice! Break the ice!" as Queen Audiselia had told him to do.
- Yes, but indirectly, she can requisition us if necessary, like now. I must admit that it is exhausting to come up here...
- Don't abuse, the city center is not so far, although the climb is hard, laughs the Hero.
- You are mistaken. I do not come from this place that you call the "downtown", my lord, corrected him, I come from lower than the High City, from the district of the Nether like my mistress.
- The Nether?" asked the Hero.
- A place that I hope you will never have to go.
Their conversation ended when the doors to the reception room opened, Lelelitio left to resume his role and said goodbye to the Hero who returned it with a wave of the hand.
Now the Hero would be able to meet his rivals in their entirety.