"Hello!" the girl said with a smile, her hands clasped behind her back as she swung her body from side to side.
"H—hi," Felix blushed, waving his hand.
The other three stood behind him. Sunlight streamed in from the large window to their right, casting shadows that partially obscured their frowned faces.
"She is beautiful," Josh uttered, his gaze intense.
The princess had striking features; while not as beautiful as the elf they'd seen at the slave auction, she could rival many beauties back on Earth. Her skin was delicate, her golden hair shining in the sunlight. She had blue eyes like the king's, and her features were well-balanced.
They all agreed: she was someone Felix liked.
"So, I hear you wanted to meet me, Sir Felix?" the princess said, snapping Felix out of his contemplation of her lips.
"Ah! Uhh, yes. I wanted to introduce my friends and perhaps suggest we explore the city, if you don't mind, Princess," Felix replied.
"Oh? Certainly!" the princess said joyfully. "Well then, I'm Arian Venice, the third princess of the Venice Kingdom. A pleasure to meet you, sirs!"
"Likewise," the three replied.
"Wait, did you say third? Are there two more princesses?" Josh asked.
This might be my chance! he thought.
"Oh, no, haha, not like that. I apologize; I have two older brothers!" the princess clarified.
"Oh..." Josh's head drooped.
The other three stifled their laughter.
"Anyways, I am Sol," Sol stepped forward and bowed. "And these two are Joshua Heinman and Simon Zegler."
"It's an honor to meet you, Princess," Simon said, smiling.
"Shall we get going, then?" the princess suggested.
The princess and the group, accompanied by several bodyguards and a maid, went outside and rode in a carriage. They explored the city. It was pleasant and peaceful—a sign of a prosperous kingdom. People went about their daily lives, chatting and working in the streets. Children played, laughing as they playfully struck each other with wooden swords. An old lady scolded them for nearly hitting her. Sol smiled, watching the peaceful scene; it evoked a sense of nostalgia.
"Nice, isn't it?" the princess asked.
"Yes, indeed," Sol agreed.
"Well, that's not all. Once we reach our destination, you'll see the true splendor of this kingdom."
The carriage took them to a tower resembling Big Ben in London, England. It had clock faces on all four sides and was taller than the castle. Simon gulped as he looked at it. They entered. The interior was filled with large and small gears rotating on the walls.
At the center was a spiral staircase leading to a large bell. They climbed, with the princess leading the way. Simon looked down, his pupils constricting; he was afraid of heights but persevered. The others suppressed their laughter as they watched him.
They climbed higher; the large gears on the side made banging noises as the clock's heavy pendulum swung. They reached the top level. A balcony extended above the clock faces, where they stood.
A breathtaking scenery awaited them. The setting sun cast orange hues over the city. Brick buildings shimmered in shades of gold and rust. Steam hissed from factory vents. Carriages rumbled below, and people looked like ants going about their lives.
"See? Beautiful, right?" the princess said to the four.
"How can you build all of this?" Josh asked.
"It took a lot of time, effort, and magic!" the princess answered.
"Magic?"
"Yes! For example, do you see those four towers, slightly smaller than this one, at the corners of the city? Those are like wands that create an invisible protective dome over the city," the princess explained.
"How can someone cast magic for so long? As far as I know, people have limited mana," Sol asked.
"Someone cast the initial spell, yes, but inside those towers are large stones containing vast amounts of mana, which prolong the spell! The stones are called Primordial Gems," the princess explained.
"It's beautiful, indeed," the four said simultaneously.
Ding!
The large bell rang, but the group didn't hear a sound; it was as if their ears were covered. A faint blue glow faded from the princess's palms.
"I think it's about time we went down and explored the city more."
"Yes."
The group descended and took the carriage around the city. This time, they witnessed some of the city's darker aspects, such as the slave district and the slums. Of course, no place is perfect. Where there's light, shadows can also be found.
The four contemplated this, feeling somewhat thankful for the decisions they had made so far. After their city tour, the carriage returned to the castle.
"Now, I want to hear about you guys!" the princess said enthusiastically.
"Ah, haha, well, alright," Felix said.
Felix explained their experiences. They had all met in school because of a game they played. Simon was the first of the three Felix had met. He had a bad temper and was always stubborn, but like Felix, he wasn't afraid to try new things, which is why they adapted easily. As for Josh, he was initially considered a weird kid but became their friend as soon as he heard them talking about the game. He was shy but possessed much courage, which is what made him take a step into this situation. Of course, Felix didn't explain all of this to the princess verbatim; he made improvisations to make it believable for someone like her in the current world.
"As for Sol… I don't really know him that well. He's kind of… nonchalant? He's the last one we've met, so…" Felix said.
"Oh? I thought you all knew each other well," the princess said.
"Well, he's kind of quiet and loud at the same time and doesn't really tell us his problems, but it's all good; we can't pry into his business," Felix replied.
"Hmm. I guess that's good. But can you tell us more about yourself, Sir Sol?" the princess insisted.
"Ahaha… well…"