It was midnight. The moon was brighter than usual, brightening Felmer's room. Felmer was tired and sleeping. Even in sleep, pictures flashed through his mind. He could see numerous magical beasts glaring at him and snarling. They growled and flashed. They were vague figures. Red and yellow eyes glowed in the dark, making Felmer uncomfortable. He couldn't sleep peacefully. Then suddenly, he felt a strong magical wave pulling him. It was calling him.
As he slept, he woke up with the sound of swords. He got up swiftly, put on his coat and headed outside. The sound was violent and swift. Like someone battling.
'No one would be training at this hour…' Felmer thought.
Felmer walked swiftly through the corridors. His sword was in his hand, and he was going where the sound led him. As he felt he was near the source, he felt another sound behind him.
It was a girl wearing a long pink frock. She looked at Felmer and smiled. She was the daughter of Salter.
"Are you Lord Felmer?" Her voice was swift.
"Yes…And you?" Felmer asked.
"I am the princess and an heir to the throne like you. Princess Elsa."
"Nice to meet you…What are you doing here at this hour?" Felmer asked, trying to get rid of her.
"I should ask the same. You are the guest." She replied.
"Well…I couldn't sleep, so I decided to take a stroll."
"No one takes a stroll with a sword in hand."
Felmer looked at Elsa. He knew she wasn't going to buy that.
"Are you here for the jewel?"
Felmer sighed and sheathed his sword. "Yes…I am."
"Hmm…And father isn't giving it to you?"
"Correct…"
"Hmm…Well, I could ask him to…If you spend some time with me…" She said with a smile.
"I have a fiancé. It wouldn't be a good thing…" Felmer tried to excuse himself.
"Hmm…That is not good." Elsa said sadly.
"Well, that's reality," Felmer said with a smile. "I am going back to my room. You should rest as well."
"Well…You are a nice man. So I will listen to you. I will still ask father…" She winked, waved, and walked away.
Felmer nodded and returned to his room. The flashes had stopped. He took off his coat and went to sleep again. Sleep caught him, and he awakened a bit late the next morning. When he woke up, a maid was there with a rolling table. She moved the table closer to Felmer, arranged the dishes, and left the room.
'That's some luxury treatment.' Felmer thought.
He still remembered the encounter with the princess.
'She has a good personality. But she is careless. Maybe that's why people don't want her on the throne.'
He thought and then ate breakfast. After eating, he took a bath, changed his clothes and went outside the room.
Felmer saw Holtif walk towards him. He was walking strangely. Lazily. Different from yesterday. Felmer immediately noticed.
"The king would like to see you…Follow me…" He said like a guard. There was no sternness in his voice.
As they walked towards the hall, Holtif said nothing.
'Unusual,' Felmer thought. 'He should have heard the swords last night.'
They entered the hall, but Holtif excused himself and left.
Salter was tense. The queen was sitting on her throne, and the princess was sitting on the chairs on the left. Lelis was with her, talking.
"Something's wrong?" Felmer asked.
"An intruder attacked last night. Holtif engaged, and the intruder ran away. He tried to steal the jewel. Probably Falvarian."
"So, is it safe? The jewel?" Felmer asked.
"Yes, it is. It seems you are more worried about the jewel than this country. Why should I give it to you when you are not ready to help us?"
'You never asked me for help…Does he want me to punch him?' Felmer thought.
"I would if you asked?"
"But for the jewel…" Salter shot back.
"Yes…" Felmer wasn't lying.
"Talk calmly, gentlemen…We shouldn't fight unnecessary fights." The queen spoke calmly.
Salter nodded and sat on his throne.
Felmer looked at him, and at the words of the queen, he sat on the chairs, near Lelis and the princess.
He looked at the two girls and then at the king.
"I heard you two met last night?" Lelis said to Felmer.
"Yes…We did…" Felmer replied.
"He is a good man…Your taste is good," The princess said with a smile.
'Either I am gonna punch this princess, or Lelis will punch me…' Felmer thought.
"What were you doing outside last night?" Lelis asked.
Felmer exhaled and told them.
"So that's why you had a sword in your hands…" Elsa spoke.
Felmer nodded.
They chatted for quite a time, then suddenly a soldier bashed through the door. He was breathing heavily.
"Your majesty!"
Salter got up swiftly and walked towards him. "What happened?"
"The Falvarians…" He took a deep breath. "The Falvarians are attacking from the south. 360,000 troops. They are swift."
Then another soldier rushed inside. "Sir! Chancellor Holtif has betrayed us! He killed our scouts and joined the Falvarian army. He has the second jewel!"
Everyone stood in shock, looking at the soldier. "Do you hear what you are saying?" Salter shouted angrily.
"Sir, I swear on my life. I am not lying. Eyes of a hundred soldiers can't lie…"
"Then the jewel in the vault?" The queen asked.
"The vault jewel was a replica… the real one is missing!"
"Impossible!" Salter was extremely angry. "They have the jewel, what do they need now?"
"The governor would like to bargain. Daughter for the jewel or lose both." Felmer said.
"And you think I will accept it?"
"Can you fight?"
"We have the best strategists!" Salter fought back.
"Your chancellor betrayed you. Can you believe the rest of your commanders?" Felmer's question was on point.
"You need to sit back and let us do our thing!" Salter shouted.
"Lord Felmer, do you have a plan?" The queen spoke.
"What help? Take the jewel for himself?" Salter followed.
"Let him talk!" The queen raised her voice.
"Let me do a one-on-one battle with Holtif. If I win, they return and never disturb you, and I get the jewel."
"And if you lose?" Salter asked.
"Simple…I die…" Felmer said with a straight face.
"Are you mad?" Lelis asked.
"No…I am taking risks. I trust myself."
Salter looked at him. It was a difficult choice.
"Father! We should trust him." Elsa spoke. "You know this is the only way." Her intentions were unclear.
Salter stared at his daughter and then at Felmer. After some thought, he gave his reply.
"Fine…I will let you fight and trust you."
Felmer looked at Salter and nodded. The inevitable battle had arrived.