"It's time, my Princess," a noble voice spoke, filling the chamber as the door opened.
"Vey…" Lysandra rolled over to her side, immediately bringing a pillow over her entire head. "I—it can wait. Five more minutes."
Veyla approached the foot of the bed, and saw the prince completely passed out in a very messy position with his arms spread out and drool running down his face. And… the princess, who was currently taking refuge under her pillow, seemingly trying to become one with the bedding. Veyla merely adjusted her tunic. "The Trial of Memory awaits, Princess. Not a nap."
"Gosh!" Lysandra rolled over one more time, before her body pressed into Joshua. "Eep!"
But the prince didn't care. With a flick to her forehead his voice slurred, "Get back over there… You—you hogged the covers all night. I refuse to let you hog my space too pri…" Snores overtook his words as Joshua's head fell limp yet again.
"H-how dare you!—" Lysandra gasped, bringing her hands to her forehead where he'd flicked her. Her face flushed crimson from pure, royal indignation.
"You insolent—!" Her hands shot toward Joshua's throat, mana crackling around her fingertips like crimson lightning. "I am a princess! You do NOT flick the future ruler of the demon realm like some—"
A firm grip caught her wrists before she could wrap them around the sleeping prince's neck.
"Princess," Veyla's voice was calm but unyielding. "Perhaps we should let the prince wake up without strangling him."
Lysandra struggled against the hold, her eyes blazing. "Let go of me, Veyla! Your ridiculous strength is so infuriating—he needs to learn respect!"
"He needs to survive the trials first," Veyla replied dryly, not loosening her grip. "Killing him for unconscious disrespect seems... counterproductive."
"I wasn't going to kill him," Lysandra protested, though the mana still crackling around her hands suggested otherwise. "Just... educate him. Thoroughly."
"Right right." Veyla turned to leave with flawless military precision, before stopping in the doorway with an amused grin.
"We must leave for the rift in an hour. I will leave it to you to wake the prince." She took her leave the door clicking softly shut behind her.
Lysandra stared at the indentation Joshua had made on the sheets—an imprint of total, exhaustion. She nudged him harder, but he just shifted, muttering something about demons being scary.
She carefully extracted herself from his side, not wanting to wake him immediately. "I suppose my soon to be husband deserves a few more minutes of rest." She whispered glancing back at him.
As she moved toward the bathing area, a familiar cold knot formed in her stomach.
Don't let the memories convince you that this was a mistake. Joshua's words echoed.
She paused, turning back to look at the prince sprawled out on the massive bed. He was vulnerable right now, entirely reliant on her to wake him. He trusted her.
Lysandra walked back to the bedside. She leaned down and gently squeezed his cheek between her thumb and forefinger, pressing slightly.
"Wake up, Joshua," she commanded, her voice clear and stable, stripped of last night's softness.
Joshua groaned, but the pressure worked. His eyes fluttered open, instantly clearing as the reality of the morning settled in. He blinked, then looked at Lysandra sitting beside him, utterly composed.
"Good morning, Princess," he managed, a tired grin twitching his lips. "Why my cheek…?" he questioned, rubbing where she had pinched with his hand.
"I—I don't have an answer for that." She huffed. "Would you rather I pinch your cheek or wring your neck Joshua?"
"Neither...?"
Lysandra crossed her arms, glaring at him with impatience. "We leave in half an hour. Waste no more time."
***
The door opened swiftly, and the Shield of Lysandra walked in, seriousness etched on her face. "Are you two ready?"
Lysandra stood up and rested a hand on her armored hip.
"Veylaa~" Lysandra called out with annoyance.
"Yes Princess?"
"I'm hungry."
"Veyla…"
"Yes Prince?"
"I'm also hungry."
A moment of silence passed before the door opened again. Veyla entered carrying a simple tray with dark bread, preserved demon fruit, and a flagon of steaming spice tea.
"I anticipated this," she said dryly, setting the tray on the side table. "You have fifteen minutes to eat and prepare. The Royal court will not wait longer before sending other demons to grab you."
Joshua grabbed a piece of bread immediately. "Veyla, you're always so helpful."
"I do my duty, Prince." But there was the faintest hint of satisfaction in her voice.
They ate in comfortable silence, their hunger gradually fading with each bite.
"That's it. Time to go." Lysandra shot to her feet with Joshua following suit.
They moved through the palace halls toward the designated rift point, the air growing colder with every step they took away from the royal chambers.
Veyla walked six paces ahead, like a steady sentinel, while Joshua and Lysandra walked closely together, their shoulders brushing constantly.
Outside the royal court's ceremonial room in the field surrounding the kingdom where the rift portal would open, the usual massive crowds of onlookers were already gathering; Demons with tails, horns, and varieties of beastmen all watching them with anticipation.
They wanted to see the abnormal prince fail, watch the human and demon leaders forced into this uneasy truce shatter.
"We walk through together," Lysandra stated, her voice low so only he could hear over the growing noise. "No lingering. No looking back. You stick near me."
"Where else would I be?" Joshua met her gaze. His exhaustion was gone, replaced by the focused preparedness of a warrior. "I said I'd fight beside you. Right?"
That simple affirmation, offered in the face of absolute, mandated misery, was enough. Lysandra let out a quiet breath, the tension in her spine easing infinitesimally. She nodded once, a genuine, non-royal gesture.
The air in the chamber suddenly dropped ten degrees as Vaelthar began the invocation for the rift. The shadows pooling in the corners deepened, taking on impossible shapes. It was time.
[QUEST - SURVIVE THE TRIAL OF MEMORES]
[REWARD: ???]
[QUEST - SURVIVE THE TRIAL OF SOULS]
[REWARD - ARCHETYPE EVOLUTION]
[One breath at a time Joshua! Don't you ever forget your ol' pal crimson is right here with you. I won't let you die without a fight!]
"Thanks…" Joshua muttered, before taking his final step into the rift turning the world black.
As the rift's darkness began to swallow them, a flash of memory struck Joshua unwanted—the sound of his father's voice, cold and final. "The council has decided. You will go to the demon realm."
[QUEST - SURVIVE THE TRIAL OF MEMORIES: START!]