Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

"No, Miss Ravastine will not be allowed to leave the Royal Palace." Petril Wyvernjack said right after Kaizen called her in for a test. "She will not be cleared to leave the Royal Palace."

Kaizen was surprised by the butler's rigid reaction. "Why can't she go?"

"The attack on the city was yesterday. Everything is still very recent. It is better that she stay in safe territory until everything is calmer. We don't know when or if another attack might occur."

The princess was furious at Petril's attitude and squirmed:

"You should have thought about my safety when I was almost killed by some guy in an arena in front of thousands, not now. It wasn't you who saved me that day, because you weren't even there. Not that day, not yesterday, when the earthquakes started. Besides, I am a free person and can go wherever I wish!"

She then took Kaizen's hand and led him out of the waiting room as fast as she could, leaving the butler dumbfounded at his revolt.

Although it was hard for him to hear those words, he knew she was right.

At first Kaizen thought that the words Ravastine spoke to the butler were out of anger, but as he walked quickly through the palace corridors being dragged along by her, he noticed a growing smile on her face. In reality, the words she said had been in store for a long time, so Kaizen smiled.

"Wait a moment, princess. You're going too fast." He said as he saw her panting.

Ravastine stopped and as she caught her breath, Kaizen asked:

"What was that with Petril? Why did you say that to him?"

"I was just telling the truth.... For some time now, it's been hard for me to know who I can truly trust. You know how it is when even those who used to be kind to you when I was a kid suddenly start looking away when you walk by?"

Kaizen remained quiet, looking at her earnestly.

Looking down, Ravastine continued. "Even the maids who used to play with me habitually now avoid me.... My sister, I can hardly see her. She's always saying she's taking care of some business, but I think she just feels too guilty to look me in the eye.... Everyone is weird with me, and my dad, who used to be my safe haven, is so sick that he's always sleeping or too weak to talk to."

"That's awful." Kaizen said. He wasn't sure what words to comfort the feelings Ravastine was showing.

"É. I just wish things could go back to the way they used to be."

"I know..."

"Do you know what that is?"

"Well, I think so. It's what happens when we naturally get older. Everyone gets more responsible and we have to carry the weight of our own on our own. As children, people take care of us, teach us things, give us attention, but deep down, everything changes with time. In addition, everyone has to deal with problems that they didn't have before. Like your father, who is sick. Your sister, with the forced marriage. It's hard to be an adult."

Ravastine stood watching Kaizen as he spoke and realized that he not only understood how she felt, but was possibly going through something similar. She hadn't expected that, so she felt grateful.

"Thank you, Kaizen." She said softly.

"For what?"

"For being here. Just for that."

Although the princess was an NPC, Kaizen also felt that he had found someone who understood him. Someone as lonely as he was, whose surrounding people were too busy to pay proper attention, but that loneliness makes them strong. The two continued walking in silence until they finally reached the palace gates.

"Hey, wait a moment! Where do you guys think you're going?" One of the guards protecting the inner part of the walls inquired.

Ravastine looked at Kaizen, waiting for him to answer.

"We will just go for a walk in Nyland Forest." Kaizen said.

The middle-aged guard didn't even know where the mentioned forest was, but quickly exclaimed:

"No, the princess can't leave! Even if you have her safe, I have orders not to let her out!"

"Ravastine, you want to leave, don't you?" Kaizen asked, looking at the brown-haired woman.

Without any fear or delay, the princess nodded to his questioning, looking up determinedly.

Ravastine's confirmation was the only thing Kaizen needed to act. He took a step forward and slowly raised his right hand with the palm facing upwards. At that instant, an overwhelming aura began to emanate from him, who smiled as he bowed his head slightly to the right. His smile was vile and the pressure on the guard's shoulders became overwhelming.

"If she wants to leave, she will leave. And it won't be one, ten or fifty guards who will be able to stop it. Do you understand that?" Kaizen asked in whispers that echoed in the man's head.

The guard's face turned white with fear, as if he had seen a demon with his own eyes. His hands were shaking and he couldn't take his eyes off Kaizen.

"I-I understand. S-sorry, sir." He said after a while, his voice trembling. "Open the gates!"

"But sir, the orders are..."

"It doesn't matter what the orders are. If the princess wants to go out for a walk, we will not deprive her of that!" The middle-aged guard said and stepped out of Kaizen and Ravastine's way as the metal gates opened.

"Thank you~." Ravastine said, after noticing the change in the guard's expression.

Kaizen, on the other hand, remained quiet until the wall gates closed behind him.

"You must be very respected where you come from." She said as the two began walking away from the palace. "Because you're not from here in the Royal City, are you? I would know if you were..."

"Well, you're right. I am from the neighboring town, Holinda." Kaizen replied. "I came to the capital a few days ago for work."

"Why would someone from Holinda come to the capital to work? There is much more work in the countryside, especially for someone as strong as you. Or are you not an adventurer?"

"Technically, I am, but I've never done missions for the Adventurers Association, although I do enjoy exploring new places..."

The two continued to talk about various subjects about each other, including about Ravastine's stepmother, what they did during The Eye of Hermodr's attack, and the entire Tretidian Kingdom. There were many things Kaizen did not yet know about this place and there was no one better to teach him than one of the princesses of one of the greatest human nations.

As they talked, the two of them didn't realize that the distance between them had lessened and that although they were almost total strangers to each other, they felt as if they had known each other for a long time, which was a very good feeling for both of them.

Before long, Kaizen came to see Ravastine not with love interests, but as someone similar. Without a doubt, there was a connection between them. Possibly the similar past and present of the two created that feeling for him.

When they left the white house district of the Royal City, they continued to walk northward.

Ravastine covered her head with a hood, so as not to be recognized by the ordinary citizens, and they walked to the gate that was further north.

The day was neither sunny nor rainy, but the sky was partially covered by clouds, so it might rain at some point. To avoid trouble on the way to and from Nyland Forest, Kaizen decided it would not be a bad idea to use Black Cloud, his mare that was in a stable.

After leaving Ravastine waiting for a few minutes, he returned driving an extremely black and strong horse, whose coat was shiny and his crest very long.

"Ow! Is that your horse?" The princess asked, surprised, because even the horses in the palace stable were not that beautiful. Her eyes sparkled looking at the animal.

"Yes, it is. Actually, her name is Black Cloud. She's a companion who's been with me for a little while, so we're still getting used to each other." Kaizen stroked the mare's head with her left hand as she smiled.

Black Cloud seemed to love the affection and that she was also missing him, because she was docile and tilted her head in the Psyker's direction.

Ravastine put her right hand in front of her mouth as she laughed at this scene. She never imagined that someone with a way like Kaizen's would get along with animals.

"What?" Confused, the player inquired.

"It's nothing, but I think you two seem to get along quite well already. Hehe!"

At that moment, Kaizen looked at the mare and realized that indeed Black Cloud seemed to like him. Possibly because he was the one who helped her when she was injured.

"Yeah, I guess so."

Kaizen straightened Black Cloud's saddle, mounted her, and then reached out to help Ravastine up as well. "Shall we? Your first test awaits you."

With determination to prove that she deserved to be in Kaizen's trio for the challenge against Taznaar, the princess looked at him with determination and climbed onto the mare without needing his help.

"Let's go!" She stated with energy.

...

Edited by: DrHitsuji

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