Trash Panda

Welcome To Shine City (Season 1)

Random thread stalker popping in to say hullo~~

Well, actually I was directed here by the lovely MyCatGinger who informed me that y'all are in need of more male characters
As a self-proclaimed specialist in that category, I've decided to make an appearance!

For the past six months or so I've only been apart of 1x1 RPs, so I'll have to do a bit of adjusting to the whole 'group setting' concept, but if you'll take me on, I'd be happy to join this little band of roleplayers! ^_^

Mahz's Dev Journal

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Royally Enchanted [MyCatGinger + Summer]

Rivalen grimaced at Roxanne’s scathing words about his kind. Again, he found himself wishing that he could defend the witches and wizards she so deeply loathed, and again he was frustrated that he could do nothing but nod in false agreement. He hated to lie about his own people like this. Despite common belief, most sorcerers were peaceful, and there were very few who would even dream of killing someone… But he doubted the princess would be so willing to listen to the truth after losing her mother to one such unlikely wizard. Hopefully the rest of the kingdom won’t be so difficult to persuade when Father takes over as king, Rivalen thought longingly.

Roxanne also didn’t seem impressed with his description of the loyal farmer who would rather die than leave the land his family was raised on. In retrospect, Rivalen supposed a person like that would sound strange to a princess who knew nothing of the hardships in the peasant villages. She didn’t understand what it meant to even own a piece of property as a commoner. To own and live in a house, no matter what size, for one’s entire life was a highly respectable feat in small villages like Oldpine, so Rivalen’s tall tale would have gone over well with a peasant. It seemed, however, that the princess wouldn’t be so easily convinced.

“Since you insist, I suppose I can tell my father about your invitation the next time I write him a letter,” Rivalen shrugged. “Though I doubt his answer will change. He’s hard set in his ways and doesn’t change his mind often.” He lowered his head in a bow. “No matter what his answer is, I do appreciate your concern, My Lady, and I believe my father will, too.” He hesitated. Actually, Morold would likely find the princess’s concern more ironic than anything else. She had unwittingly invited her father’s enemy into their home! He could almost hear his father’s laughter…

Rivalen looked up when Roxanne spoke again, her next words catching him by surprise. She thinks I’m charming? He flushed red, once again distracted from his plans by the strange flutter in his stomach. How was it that her simple, offhanded compliments affected him so? His own father’s praise never gave him the same feeling of accomplishment, yet the princess’s flattery had just left him completely tongue tied. The color in his cheeks deepened when he realized he was smiling stupidly as well. He quickly laughed in a weak attempt to cover up his blunder and looked down at the floor, “My mother passed when I was still young, so I don’t have many memories of her, but I don’t think my father has a charming bone in his body. At least…” At least, he hasn’t been in a good humor once since Mother’s death, he finished silently. He wondered how Morold used to act when his mother was still alive. Had he been a smooth talker such as everyone accused Rivalen to be? Had he been charming or playful at any point in his life? No matter how much he racked his brain, Rivalen couldn’t remember what his father used to be like before he changed.

Fortunately, he didn’t have to dwell on the thought, though, because Roxanne went on to talk about literature with an infectious glee. Rivalen soon found himself smiling again at her enthusiasm for reading and her excitement for meeting a literate peasant. She was quite right about literacy being uncommon among commoners. In fact, in a village like Oldpine it was nearly impossible to find someone who could read a single word—apart from the sorcerers, that is. With their spell books and scrolls, literacy was a necessity among wizards. Rivalen had been taught by Morold to read the vernacular of Miroin as well as the ancient language of the druids, which all spells were written and recited in. Luckily, the king’s men had yet to make the connection between literacy and sorcery, but just to be safe…

“Ironically, I was actually taught to read by a wizard,” Rivalen said, following Roxanne with his eyes as she got up from the bed and walked to her desk. “I had a friend who used magic, though I was unaware of it at the time, and he taught me how to read and write during our breaks from work. Unfortunately, he revealed his true colors later on and was executed, but I managed to procure at least some useful information before the knights had their way with him. I even shared my literacy with my father so we could communicate if anything happened that might separate us, and it’s definitely come in handy since I moved into the castle.” He fell quiet again as he watched the princess gather the books on her desk and pick them up—though he noticed that she missed one. The books she carried now were all large and bulky, so perhaps she didn’t have room for the last one? Or, judging by the haphazard bookmark shoved between the pages, maybe she just wasn’t finished reading it yet.

“My Lady, I can do better than that,” Rivalen smirked at Roxanne’s suggestion. He got up from the stool and stepped over to the princess, trying to ignore how quickly his heart startled beating when the distance closed between them. It was strange how his nervousness made itself apparent in the most inconvenient moments. He wondered if it would fade with time, or if he would always feel that foreign excitement when he was around Roxanne. Somehow, he couldn’t say which he preferred.

Standing in front of her now, Rivalen was struck again by Roxanne’s beauty. He had seen plenty of pretty peasant girls back in Old Pine and the surrounding villages, but they all carried a sort of ruggedness that the princess lacked. It might have been the fact that she was born into nobility or that she was educated or that she had never need to put in a hard day’s work of physical labor or perhaps even all of these things, but there was just something feminine about her that made her more beautiful. And she thinks I’m charming. The thought sent a shiver of pleasure up his spine.

“Allow me,” Rivalen said, taking the books from Roxanne. Carefully balancing them in one arm—it would have been so much easier just to use magic—he stepped over to the door and pulled it open with his free hand, holding it aside for the princess to walk through first while casting her a wry grin, “After you, Your Highness.”

Royally Enchanted [MyCatGinger + Summer]

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Rivalen said when Roxanne agreed to keep his ‘true intentions’ a secret, though her following words caused his ever-present smile to waver. “I suppose you’ll just have to wait and see the next time a wizard attacks, now won’t you? Although, I do hope neither of us will have to encounter such a dangerous situation as that, My Lady. I’d prefer not to engage a sorcerer in battle if I can avoid it, as their kind is known to be violent and ruthless in nature. If I can live my days in the castle only fighting dust bunnies and dirty stockings, I can truly say that I will be content.” But he knew that wasn’t going to be an option. Morold was already pulling the strings to arrange a mock-battle that would keep Cedric occupied, and it was only a matter of time before Rivalen found an opportunity to clear out the presiding royal family. So, as tempting as it was, the life of a pampered servant boy was not for him.

Though… thinking about it now, Rivalen had to wonder how he could falsify a convincing weakness during his staged fight. It had to be something real enough that Cedric would believe he was a capable ‘witch-slayer,’ but subtle enough that it would leave the king wondering just how he did it. Meeting such specific requirements would be tricky. He would have to look through his spell books later and see if there was anything he could use.

Distracted by thoughts of the upcoming battle, Roxanne’s next words caught Rivalen completely off-guard. His eyes widened in surprise when she suggested that he bring his father to the castle for medical treatment. He never expected her to make such an offer—it was why he had chosen the lie in the first place! Morold couldn’t come to the palace. His face was known by many of the king’s guards after all of the battles he had waged against them, and he would be recognized immediately, blowing Rivalen’s cover in turn. He fidgeted anxiously, his eyes shifting away from the princess’s face as he examined a suddenly interesting tapestry on the wall, “Err, thank you for your generosity, My Lady. I appreciate it; I really do, but my father… he’s an ornery man. He refuses to leave his home for fear of dying on strange soil.” Rivalen forced himself to meet Roxanne’s gaze again, faltered for a moment, and then went on, “He is stubbornly content in Oldpine, where he is being cared for… by a close friend of his, one whom he has known since his own adolescent years.” He bit his lip, his mind racing as he tried to come up with a plausible excuse. “Even if His Highness gives the order directly, my father will not leave his home. So, I am truly grateful for your offer, My Lady, but I must respect my father’s wishes. I’m afraid I have to decline.”

At the princess’s question, Rivalen managed to give a halfhearted smile, as if the effort was straining, “Of course I worry about him. He’s the only family I have left, even if he is a stubborn old man.” He paused, slightly surprised by the truthfulness of his own words. Even though Morold was not ill, he was reckless, and that recklessness had often led him into many close calls with the knights in Oldpine before. Rivalen remembered the long nights during his childhood where he would lie awake, wondering if his father would return home from his attacks on the kingdom. He was often concerned about Morold’s safety, and he was even more so now that the man was living on his own with no one to talk him out of any foolhardy ideas.

“I’ve actually written to him already,” Rivalen said, his smile now coming a bit more naturally as he recalled the brief conversation he had had with his father. Morold had been mostly critical of his actions, as he always was, but he had also praised him for getting a high-ranking position in the castle. He was never one to offer praise lightly, so the subtle compliment meant quite a bit to Rivalen. “It was the first thing I did when I found my room. Honestly, I think my father didn’t expect me to get the position, since… well… since I lack certain feminine qualities, but he will be pleased to hear that His Majesty thought highly enough of my humble talents to give me the job in spite of that.” He sat up a bit straighter on his stool, proud with the knowledge that Morold was indeed impressed with his progress so far.

Rivalen fell silent again when Roxanne began questioning him about his interests. He stifled a frustrated sigh. Again, he was faced with a subject about which he could not be fully honest. In reality, he often spent his time practicing spells from his books—proper pronunciation was a cruel mistress—or studying recipes for interesting potions. Magic was sewn deeply into every part of his life to the point where he could not separate himself from it. Did he even have any normal hobbies? Truly, he couldn’t say for sure.

“Um… yes, literature is quite alright by me, My Lady,” Rivalen said, looking at the princess concernedly when she began to cough. After a moment, however, she seemed fine again, so he continued, “Since I’ve lived in a small village throughout my entire life, I haven’t had access to many books, so I wouldn’t mind learning a little more about the kingdom I come from.” He paused, thinking again. “Since I’ve been busy assisting my father, I haven’t found time to develop many of my own interests. I suppose I never minded working in the field, but I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it, either. However, I do know that I would like to spend some more time exploring the castle. I’ve only seen a small fraction of the hallways and rooms, yet I feel as though I’ve seen more riches than I ever imagined could exist—and those are only the decorations!” He shook his head in disbelief. “I’m sure I’ll find other ways to occupy myself when I’m not serving you, My Lady, but for now wandering the castle is the pastime that piques my interest the most.”

Royally Enchanted [MyCatGinger + Summer]

Rivalen rose again at the princess’s command, but kept his gaze fixed on the floor. After his last blunder, he wanted nothing more than to leave Roxanne’s chambers and hide away in his own room until the tension dissipated. He wondered what was wrong with him. Normally he had no problem keeping his emotions in check in order to deceive someone. He had done so on many different occasions with the knights in Oldpine, putting on a confident face so they wouldn’t see his fear, or feigning innocence when caught in the act of using magic. He had even lied right to the king’s face! But somehow when he tried to look Roxanne in the eyes, his mind went blank and he could no longer think straight. For a moment, he wondered if he had been enchanted, but he quickly discarded the thought. The princess might have had an enchanting beauty about her, but she was no witch. Whatever it was that was causing his wits to fail, it wasn’t sorcery.

Rivalen lifted his gaze from the floor as Roxanne offered him the scroll upon which she had written her schedule. He looked from the small paper in her hand to her olive green eyes, only to see his own anxiousness reflected in them. Knowing that the princess was just as nervous as he was, the warlock felt a strange mixture of relief and concern. He was relieved that he wasn’t alone in his discomfort, but he was also worried about why she was uncomfortable. He doubted Roxanne was anxious for the same reason that he was. After all, she was royalty; she probably thought of him as nothing more than a commoner who only gained a position in the castle by the grace of her father. There was no reason for her to feel the same nervous excitement that he did at the thought of being alone together in her room... Oh, God.

Quickly banishing the unseemly idea, Rivalen attempted to distract himself by holding out his hand to take the princess’s scroll. He hoped that perhaps once the exchange was made, Roxanne would tell him that his work was finished and he could retire to his own chambers until he was needed later. Unfortunately, however, it wasn’t that simple.

When Roxanne placed the paper in his waiting hand, Rivalen felt her linger for a moment longer than she needed to before she let go of it and pulled away. He hesitated, his eyes moving from the princess’s face to the paper she had left in his grasp, before he took the scroll and busied himself by looking over its contents, wearing a focused expression so the princess might not notice his perpetual discomfort—though maybe it was too late for that. He couldn’t help but wonder if she had been toying with him by letting her hand brush against his for that extra moment; if she had already realized how completely foreign this situation was to him and was using his fluster against him… But, then again, that didn’t explain the color in her own cheeks and the anxious way she avoided his gaze. Just what was going through her head?

Exhaling in quiet frustration, Rivalen skimmed over the list Roxanne had given to him, though he found himself admiring her handwriting rather than memorizing her schedule. The words were artistically crafted compared to the messy scrawl of the peasants—or at least of those peasants who could read and write to begin with—and they flowed with a certain elegance that naturally drew his eye. He wondered absently if she was taught to write in such a manner or if she had developed the calligraphy on her own. Either way, the scroll looked more like a work of art to him than a mere to-do list.

Rivalen lifted his gaze from the paper when he noticed Roxanne get up from her seat at the desk and walk over to the platter of food on her bed. Unsure of whether or not she wanted him to follow her, he remained standing where he was until the princess told him to pull up a stool. He felt another brief flutter of anxiety in the pit of his stomach as he did what she asked, picking up one of the stools by the foot of her bed and setting it down near the side upon which she was sitting, and had to remind himself yet again—he was beginning to marvel at his own forgetfulness—of his original purpose in the castle. Being alone with the princess was only a side effect of that mission; he couldn’t let it overshadow his father’s plans. So, when Roxanne started bombarding him with questions, he had regained his bearings enough to think his answers through.

“I found my room perfectly fine, and I assure you, I’m not that mysterious, My Lady,” Rivalen said with a shrug, slipping the scroll into his pocket and sitting down on the stool. “My life before I came here isn’t very interesting, either.” He thought for a moment, sorting through his memories as he tried to determine what he could tell the princess without raising any red flags. He didn’t want to resort to inventing a new childhood for himself, but being a warlock, much of his true past was filled with magic. Most of his adolescent years were centered around running from the knights with other sorcerers, watching them get caught and executed one by one… and dreading when his own time would come. He shuddered as he recalled when his mother became one of the captured and his father took him into hiding… But, of course, he could tell none of this to Roxanne.

“I’ve helped my father work in the fields since I was just a child,” Rivalen lied, forcing himself to hold Roxanne’s gaze so she wouldn’t suspect that he wasn’t being honest with her, although he couldn’t help but cross his arms as he went on. “Life in a small village like Oldpine is hard. Everyone has to put in their fair share of effort, from the youngest boy to the oldest man, or there aren’t enough workers to pay off His Highness’s taxes.” He looked away from the princess, wincing as if he recalled a painful memory. “My father has been in poor health since my mother’s passing, so he is finding it more and more difficult to tend to his fields as of late. These past three years, I’ve almost completely taken over his responsibilities.” He looked up at Roxanne again. “But that’s why I came here. I hope you’re not offended, My Lady, but I didn’t just take this position for your sake. I am proud to be able to serve you, but I’m also here because my father needs the extra money to pay His Highness’s taxes. If I can send home a few silver coins, it should be enough for him to get by on his own.” He held a finger to his lips, which curved upward in a secretive smile, “Please, would you keep this just between us? Your father believes I am only here to protect you and I fear that if he discovers my ulterior motive, he may send me home and my own father won’t be able to pay his taxes.”

Don't Get Caught [FaithfulMuse + Summer]

Yeah, sometimes I get that with certain RPs :(
I'm still working on my post, but it won't be finished until tomorrow or Monday at the soonest

Royally Enchanted [MyCatGinger + Summer]

No sooner had the word ‘dinner’ left his mouth than the door to Roxanne’s room was opened and a short man came shuffling through. Rivalen, being unprepared to move quickly, had no time to step out of the way, and the man, being too intently focused on reaching his destination, didn’t seem to notice that anyone was standing there. Naturally, a collision resulted—or one almost did. Luckily, the short man noticed Rivalen at the last moment and came to a halt, saving both of them from dropping their loads. He also accidentally saved the warlock from a worse fate, even though he didn’t realize it.

Startled by the man’s sudden appearance, Rivalen had instinctively tapped into his powers, which he would have used to keep his platter from falling if the man had run into him. He managed to avoid using magic this time, but his heart still skipped a beat when he realized that he hadn’t been able to stop the second reaction that happened whenever he accessed his powers: His eyes were glowing gold. Silently cursing himself for slipping up, Rivalen quickly turned away from the man in the hopes that he hadn’t noticed anything, but fortunately, the man was too concerned with his books to even spare him a passing glance. After muttering a brusque apology, the man went on his way, and the young attendant was left holding his breath as he forced his irises to return to their normal dark brown.

Once that was done, Rivalen exhaled quietly. The brief encounter had been mildly frightening to say the least, but it had opened his eyes to a critical weakness in himself: He now knew that he relied too heavily on magic. He hadn’t even stopped to think before he summoned his powers even though he was in the heart of Cedric’s castle, and within sight of the king’s beloved daughter, no less! If he wanted to survive here, he would have to learn how to cope without magic, to live like a normal man. He winced inwardly. He had been using magic for so long now that it had become a part of him, just like his arms and legs. The thought of willingly living without it felt unnatural.

Rivalen turned back towards Roxanne’s room when he heard the princess call for him to enter. Instead of following her simple direction, however, he wavered in the doorway. His worries about using magic were suddenly outranked by the remembrance of his… uncomfortable responsibility to take care of the king’s daughter. Perhaps if she had been but a child his job would have been easier. He mentioned to the princess that he had expected her to be a spoiled brat, but he left out the small detail that when Morold told him she was the younger of Cedric’s two children, he had been expecting a brat of the age of twelve or thirteen rather than a mature, young woman—and a beautiful one, at that. And now she wanted him to come into her chambers, where they would be alone…

You’re just here to bring her dinner, Rivalen reminded himself, closing his eyes as he tried to calm his racing heart. Besides, Roxanne is Cedric’s daughter. It doesn’t matter how old she is; she’s my enemy, and I have to think of her as such. He opened his eyes again and stepped tentatively through the doorway, his gaze wandering over the inside of the princess’s room. He hadn’t gotten a very good look at it through the crack in the door earlier, and he could see now that her chambers were even more elaborate than he first thought. There were a number of antiquities and expensive-looking decorations that spanned across every wall in the room; a countless number of old books piled on her desk; multiple wardrobes that he guessed were packed with fine clothes; and a huge bed that looked as if it could fit a small family.

Rivalen was so caught up in marveling at the princess’s lavish collection that he nearly missed her next words to him, but he managed to pull his gaze away from a particularly interesting shelf of fineries in time to catch her directions for him to close the door and come closer. Stifling another wave of unease, he did as she asked, shutting the door and moving towards the desk at which Roxanne was seated as she went on to announce that she would be explaining to him her schedule.

Rivalen was just about to ask where she wanted him to put the platter of food he was carrying, but the princess spoke first, telling him to set it on her bed for now. Still slightly overwhelmed about being alone with Roxanne in her chambers—with the door closed now, no less—he simply nodded and did as she asked, placing the silver tray on the mattress and turning back to listen quietly as she went on to list her daily routine. Through the fog of his mind only a few things stood out, the first being a time frame in the morning where Cedric and his two children would all be together. At the mention of this, Rivalen was able to momentarily forget his discomfort and focus on his original plans. If he could find himself alone with all three members of the royal family on one of these mornings when they gathered together, it would be the perfect opportunity to fulfill his duty for his father. He made a mental note to pay special attention to the whereabouts of the king and his children during that time.

However, thinking about time only led him to wonder how he was going to keep it. He didn’t know what “half past” meant, but he had a feeling that it had something to do with the “minutes” the servant girl had mentioned to him earlier. He would have to try to find her later so he could ask for a proper explanation. For now, though, he just feigned understanding by nodding along with the princess’s words so she wouldn’t know of his ignorance.

Just when Rivalen was beginning to think that he could handle his new job, Roxanne said something else that made him cringe. Personal attendants are in charge of baths? Part of him knew that he should have expected something like this, but it came as a shock nonetheless. He swallowed anxiously, feeling his face grow warm at such a thought. Roxanne didn’t look very comfortable about the situation, either. He could see a hint of a flush in her cheeks as she went on to explain the last part of her schedule.

When the princess was finished speaking, Rivalen cleared his throat and spoke softly, “Err, I believe I will be able to memorize the routine, Your Highness. It may take a day or two, but I’m a fast learner. As for your baths… I’m sure I can figure something out. Perhaps one of the servant girls would be willing to assist me.” He blinked when he realized how his words sounded and went on hurriedly, “Um, I-I meant to say that maybe one of the servants could take over that task for me, not help me with it. I promise that I do respect your privacy, My Lady.” He leaned forward in a deep bow. “Please forgive the slight of words.”

Royally Enchanted [MyCatGinger + Summer]

Pleased that Roxanne had appreciated his meager advice, Rivalen lowered his head in a polite bow, “I’m glad I could be of service to you, Your Highness.” And in a way, he truly was glad. His father’s approval had always been hard to come by, and instead the man was always pointing out ways that his son could improve. Rivalen knew he meant well, but it still would have been nice to hear a ‘good job’ every once in a while. So, even though he knew it shouldn’t have, Roxanne’s praise made his chest swell with pride. He was almost disappointed when she announced that they had to part ways.

…Almost.

Even though he appreciated the princess’s laudatory words, Rivalen knew he wasn’t here to win her approval. He had more important things to do; things that he couldn’t do as long as she was around. So, as much as he enjoyed feeling useful, it was for the best that they let each other alone for a while. The only problem was figuring out when they were to meet again. He had no idea what ‘two on the clock’ meant but, not wanting to seem like an ignorant peasant, he wasn’t about to ask for a definition. Instead, he nodded along as if he knew exactly what the princess was talking about and prayed that he would be able to find someone who could give him a proper explanation later.

“It has been a pleasure for you, My Lady, but it has been an honor for me,” Rivalen said, smiling again as he met Roxanne’s gaze. When he did this, however, he noticed her look away, averting her eyes by examining the interior of her room through a crack in the door. He blinked in confusion. Had he done something to offend her already? Slightly anxious now, he looked away from the princess as well and followed her gaze to the open door, but as it turned out, this did nothing to lessen his unease.

Rivalen’s heart skipped with a different kind of nervousness as his eyes fell on Roxanne’s room. Until this point, he had been so concerned with getting into the castle that he hadn’t felt the full weight of the responsibility he had chosen to take on. Now, looking into the princess’s bedroom, it was all suddenly very real. He was her personal assistant, which meant that he would be tending to her personal needs. He shifted his weight uncomfortably. He had never even stepped foot in a woman’s chambers before. Morold had always disapproved whenever he showed interest in any of the girls in the village, and they were constantly on the run from knights, so Rivalen never had a chance to try getting into a relationship with someone. That and his mother’s early passing left him with little to no knowledge about women, and now he was supposed to wait on one hand and foot. Even though it was only an act, he couldn’t banish the slight flutter in the pit of his stomach.

Rivalen forced himself to put the thought aside though as Roxanne began to speak again. He replaced his anxious expression with one of casual interest, hoping that the princess hadn’t noticed his momentary discomfort. “I must admit, you are not what I was anticipating either, Your Highness,” he said. “Before I met you, I had thought you would be a spoiled brat, born with a silver spoon in your mouth and expecting the entirety of the kingdom to bow to your wishes.” He let out a curt laugh, shaking his head as if embarrassed by his own assumption. “I’m pleased to say that you’ve far exceeded my expectations, My Lady. I’ll return with your dinner at, as you say, two on the clock. Until then,” He bowed one last time and turned to walk back down the staircase, leaving the princess to retire to her chambers alone.

Now that he had some time to himself, Rivalen decided that the first thing he was going to do was find this room he had been assigned to. He descended the stairs and walked down the corridor, his dark eyes roving over the people that passed by as he searched for someone dressed like Alain had been, someone who could direct him to his room. The castle was still bustling with activity, but it didn’t take long before he spotted one such man standing at a corner up ahead.

“Excuse me,” Rivalen called as he approached the official. He waited for the man to turn towards him before he went on, “I was hoping you could give me directions, sir, to the chambers that formerly belonged to someone named Maria.”

The official stared at him confusedly, “Maria’s chambers? What on earth do you need from there?”

“Well,” Rivalen said slowly, bracing himself for the inevitable scrutiny that would follow his next words. “I have been assigned to live there for the duration of my stay in the castle.”

The official’s bemused expression, as expected, transformed into one of concern, “But that would mean you’re—”

“Yes,” Rivalen interrupted impatiently. “I am Princess Roxanne’s new personal assistant, and no, I am not a debaucher who is only here to satisfy some indecent urge. Now that that’s cleared up, would you please be so kind as to direct me to my room?”

“Err, yes,” the official nodded, seeming eager to put the subject behind them at Rivalen’s sharp tone. “Maria’s chambers are this way.” He turned and began walking down the corridor towards another short flight of stairs that led down to the floor below. Rivalen followed behind him, doing his best to memorize the route between his new room and Roxanne’s quarters. He would of course have to learn the layout of the palace eventually, but he had a feeling that he would be using these particular hallways much more frequently as he served the princess.

At the bottom of the staircase, the official led him to a room that he noted was two doors down on the right hand side of the corridor. He also noted that it was close enough to Roxanne’s chambers that he would be able to reach her quickly if she needed anything, but far enough away that he could give the princess some privacy as well—quite a fitting location for a personal attendant. He only wondered what it looked like on the inside.

Rivalen turned the handle and pushed the door open, stepping into the room. He walked around the edges as he examined his temporary, new home. From what he could see, his chambers were much simpler than Roxanne’s. The living space was small and furnished only with a bed in one corner and a wooden desk in another. A thin, empty dresser stood alone at the back of the room. The walls were bare as well apart from a single window across from the door that provided a clear view of the clock tower outside. He guessed that was done intentionally so the princess’s personal attendant would be able to serve her more punctually, but the lines on the round face still meant nothing to him. He wondered if the official whom had brought him to the room could tell him how the strange device worked.

Rivalen turned to ask, but the other man spoke first, holding out his hand, “Give me your bag.”

“Pardon?” Rivalen knit his brow in confusion.

“I need to search your belongings before you move in to the room,” the official explained curtly. “It’s nothing personal. The King only wishes to ensure that no wizards slip into his castle, so we guards are required to search any and all newcomers for items of magic.” He nodded at Rivalen’s pack, “Your bag, please.”

Rivalen eyed him for a moment before shrugging the pack off of his shoulders, “I suppose that’s understandable.” He was thankful now that he had already taken the steps to disguise his belongings with an enchantment before he had arrived at the palace. As they were now, the official would only see his spell books and magic artifacts as plain reading material and candle sticks. He held it out for the guard to take, “Go through all of it, if you’d like. I have nothing to hide.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” the official smirked. “I’ll be thorough.”

As the man went through his belongings, Rivalen went on to look at his new room more closely. He enjoyed its simplicity, but he also knew that the lack of elaborate furnishings would make it more difficult to hide his books and artifacts. He could only keep up the enchantment for so long—about two more days at most—before he ran out of the energy he needed to sustain it. So, if he wanted to avoid getting burned at the stake, he would have to find a more permanent place to keep his magic items hidden.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Rivalen heard a loud creak from the floorboard he was stepping on. He looked down at his feet and then froze, eyes wide as another idea came to him, I wonder…

“You look like you’ve never heard a squeaky floorboard before,” the official spoke up from the other side of the room, looking at Rivalen with his lips pursed in amusement. “Also, I’ve finished searching your bag and, fortunately for you, I found nothing suspicious.” He handed Rivalen his pack. “Enjoy your stay in the castle.” With that, the official exited the room and left Rivalen by himself.

“Oh, I will,” the warlock smiled to himself and closed the bedroom door. Now that he was alone, he could finally complete the first item on his to-do list. He crossed over to his bed and dropped his bag on the mattress, opening the top and rummaging through his things. After a moment, he retrieved a thin, handwritten spell book, a small mirror, and a candlestick, all of which he carried over to the desk in the other corner of the room. He sat down in the wooden chair and began thumbing through the pages of his book. Before he left Oldpine, he had written down a number of spells that Morold had taught him since he didn’t have them all memorized. Now, that notebook was proving to be quite useful, because after a bit of skimming, he found the spell he was looking for.

Rivalen picked up the candle again and fixed his gaze on the tip, his eyes taking on a subtle, golden glow as he focused his magic on the first spell, “Sebud o heli.” It was a simple spell, one that every wizard learned when he could first tap into his powers, and one that Rivalen knew by heart.

In the next instant, the candle flickered to life, a small flame dancing on the tip of the wax. Rivalen watched it proudly. The freedom to use magic again felt immeasurably satisfying. Setting the open spell book down on the desk, he picked up the mirror in his other hand, waving the lit candle in front of its glass surface as he recited the second spell from the book, “Anim o bodivoi’ da ask nemi.” He waited as the image in the mirror became warped for a moment before it cleared up again. The face it reflected now, however, didn’t belong to him.

“I see you’ve made it successfully into the castle,” Morold said.

“Of course, Father,” Rivalen nodded.

“Well, don’t spare me any details,” Morold said with a hint of impatience. “How did you get in? What position did you take in the castle? I hope you chose a role that will keep you close to Cedric and his spawn.”

“You could say that,” Rivalen shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I’ve been assigned to be the princess’s personal attendant.”

Morold blinked at him in surprise through the mirror, “I must say, Rivalen, that is impressive. How did you manage to win such a trusted position?”

“I may have told Cedric that I know how to kill wizards,” Rivalen shrugged. “He believes I know of some grand, secret weakness in our kind that I’ve used to hunt them before.”

“Hm,” Morold grunted, nodding thoughtfully. “That was a risky move, Rivalen. It may have gotten you a high position in the castle now, but you won’t last long. Cedric will want to see proof of your capability to fight magic, and even if he continues to believe you can do so, he will try to pry this ‘secret weakness’ out of you so that he can use it for his own benefit. As soon as he finds out you’ve lied to him, he may very well have you hanged for treason.”

“That’s assuming he lives long enough to find out,” Rivalen objected. He didn’t want to think about what could happen if the king realized he was bluffing. Just the thought of it made him shudder. “Right now, the only thing I need to worry about is giving him proof of my capabilities, right? I’m sure we could stage a fight that will convince Cedric I’m not a fake—at least, one to convince him long enough that I can take his life before he suspects otherwise.”

Morold thought for a moment, “I suppose I could arrange something, but it will take time. The act needs to be flawless or Cedric will see right through it, and he will kill you for tricking him.”

“I know, Father,” Rivalen grimaced.

“Until I finish making the preparations, just try to keep your head down and don’t give Cedric a reason to question you, understand?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Good. Contact me again in two days to update me of your progress. Meanwhile, I will get started on the preparations for your fight. Goodbye, Rivalen.”

“Goodbye, Father,” Rivalen bowed his head and waved the candle in front of the mirror’s surface once more, his eyes taking on their golden hue as he tapped into his magic. “Rios dui bodivoi’.” The glass warped again, this time showing Rivalen’s own reflection when it cleared. He sighed and blew out the candle, setting it down on the desk and stowing his mirror in the top drawer. When that was done, he leaned back in his chair and stared at the clock tower through the window. Keep my head down, huh? The best way to do that, he supposed, was to simply play the role of a servant, working diligently and satisfying the princess’s every need. It wouldn’t be too difficult… if only he could figure out how to read that cursed clock so he could complete his very first task as her personal attendant!

A sudden knock on the door made him jump. Silently scolding himself for letting his guard down, Rivalen took a slow breath to calm down before he got up from the desk chair and walked over to open the door. Standing outside his room was a young servant girl—she couldn’t have been more than fourteen—who stared up at him with wide eyes and red cheeks. She dropped forward in a deep bow, speaking quickly, “My apologies, sir! I believe I have the wrong room. I was looking for Her Highness’s new attendant. Do forgive the intrusion.”

“You have the right room,” Rivalen said as the girl turned to hurry away. “I am the princess’s attendant. What do you need?”

The girl shook her head in disbelief, “Please, you don’t have to lie to me, sir. I’m very sorry for bothering you. It won’t happen again.”

“I’m not lying,” Rivalen frowned and crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. “I was appointed by King Cedric earlier today. Now, tell me what you need, would you?”

The servant girl gaped at him for a moment before she seemed to find her words, “I apologize, sir. I was expecting… err, I was expecting a woman.” She paused again, knitting her brow as if she had forgotten what she wanted to say, and then went on, “I came to tell you that Her Highness’s dinner will be ready soon. The cooks are nearly done preparing it in the kitchen. I assume you already know that you are to deliver it to her chambers?”

“I do,” Rivalen nodded. He glanced over his shoulder at the clock tower in the window as another thought came to him. “Say, can you read the time on that?” He pointed at the clock and smiled sheepishly at the girl. “I’m afraid I can’t make out the meaning of those symbols.”

“Of course,” the girl chuckled softly and stepped forward to enter the room, but then she stopped, shifting her weight uncertainly. “Um, do you mind if…”

“You can come in,” Rivalen laughed and walked to the back of the room, resting his arms on the bottom sill of the window as he stared out at the clock tower. “So, what does it say?”

“Right now it’s almost twenty ‘til two,” the girl said, stepping over to join him at the window. “Do you see those twelve lines that make a circle around the outside of the clock? They represent the twenty-four hours of the day, but each number is accounted for twice. The twelfth hour is on the top and the sixth hour is on the bottom. The rest of the hours are spaced between them like this,” she traced a clockwise circle on the window with her finger, pausing at different intervals as she counted off numbers from one to twelve. “Now do you see the two lines in the middle of the clock that point at the lines on the outside? They’re called ‘hands.’ The short one represents hours and the long one represents minutes, which are shorter lengths of time in each hour.” She stopped when she noticed the puzzled look on Rivalen’s face. “Err, I’ll tell you about minutes another time. Most time is kept according to the hour in the castle anyways, so just look at the line that the short hand points to and you should be fine for now.”

“Okay,” Rivalen said slowly. The concept of keeping time was still abstract to him, but he felt like he was at least starting to understand how the clock worked. As long as he could remember which lines represented what hours, he would be fine. He turned back to the servant girl, “Thanks for the help.”

“You’re welcome,” the girl smiled. “If you ever need anything else, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Rivalen thought for a moment. “Actually, there is one more thing you could do for me.”

“What is it?”

“Do you know how to get to the kitchen from here? Since I’ve only been in the castle for less than a day, I don’t know my way around yet.”

“Of course,” the girl nodded and gestured for him to follow her. “It’s right this way.”

--

With the servant girl’s help, Rivalen managed to find the palace kitchen and pick up Roxanne’s dinner. It was a challenge to carry everything through the bustling hallways without spilling anything—he was almost tempted to use magic to make the platter float above the crowds—but luckily he was able to make it up the stairs without dropping any plates or glasses. He adjusted his hold on the platter when he reached the princess’s room, balancing it in one hand so he could knock on her door with the other as he called, “Your Highness? I’ve brought your dinner.”

Don't Get Caught [FaithfulMuse + Summer]

I think I have a mild case of writer's block for this RP :/ I keep drawing blanks when I sit down to write a reply.
Hopefully it goes away soon, but I just thought I'd let you know so you don't think I'm losing interest or anything! ^_^;

Royally Enchanted [MyCatGinger + Summer]

For a moment, Rivalen feared that he had overstepped a boundary with Roxanne when she sighed at his request to tell him about herself. His worry was short-lived though, because soon the princess had stopped walking and began to give him an answer. He leaned back against the opposite banister, taking in every word she spoke. His motives for doing so were not as innocent as he would have the princess to believe, but he still wanted to learn as much about her as he could. Perhaps she might even tell him something that he could use against Cedric later on. If only he was so lucky.

However, Roxanne’s first words didn’t sit well with him. Rivalen felt a familiar stab of frustration when she spoke of hating witches and wizards in such a lighthearted manner. It seemed that everyone in the royal family shared in the ignorant belief that all magic users were rotten to the core. If only they knew! He almost wished that he could tell the princess what he really was so he could prove to her that not all wizards were the heartless killers she imagined them to be… But, then again, he wasn’t the best example of a ‘good’ warlock, either. The entire reason he had even chosen to become her personal attendant was so that he could get close enough to the royal family to inevitably take their lives. It wasn’t exactly the most convincing argument to persuade her that he wasn’t just another bloodthirsty brute. So, he swallowed his anger and forced himself to simply nod at Roxanne’s words—he also had to keep up the part of a ‘witch-slayer,’ after all.

When the princess brought up her deceased mother, Rivalen wasn’t surprised. It was common knowledge that the late queen had been killed by a magic user and was the reason why Cedric began exterminating all of the witches and wizards in his kingdom. What did catch him unawares was the brief pang of sympathy he felt for Roxanne. The death of his own mother he left him traumatized for years during his childhood. Since then, he had learned to channel his grief into hatred for the king, but he still felt an occasional hollowness from the loss. He supposed he knew better than anyone what the princess was going through.

But that doesn’t mean I can empathize, Rivalen reminded himself. Even if he shared a similar history with Roxanne, he couldn’t let himself get too close to her. It was already going to be difficult enough to kill her; he didn’t need to make the task any more challenging by adding emotional ties into the mix. So, when the princess moved past the story of her mother and went on to describe her passion for the outdoors, he was relieved.

Rivalen watched her features light up with an infectious smile as she described her affection for horseback riding before she sank back into a sullen melancholy when telling of her father’s intentions to marry her off to a suitor. He nodded in understanding since he knew firsthand just how stifling one’s duties could be. His mission in the castle was particularly so. He was forced to suppress his own morality in order to lie and manipulate everyone so that he could ultimately murder three people. Even though it was for a good cause—the freedom of magic and vengeance for his mother—he wasn’t fond of the process.

But he chose not to dwell on that now. Instead, Rivalen copied Roxanne’s earlier sideways glance, looking at the princess discreetly from the corner of his eye as he considered what she said about her father’s desire to marry her off. In all honesty, she was a striking young woman, one whom many a suitor would be eager to court. He imagined it wouldn’t take long before one of them won her hand in matrimony—if she lived long enough, that is—but she didn’t look happy about the thought. Rivalen supposed he could understand. Once she was engaged to some wealthy prince, she would likely be unable to continue her personal hobbies. He didn’t know much about traditions between married nobles, but he suspected that Roxanne wouldn’t have very many freedoms after she was married, either.

“It is true that you may not be able to do those things forever,” Rivalen admitted as they continued to climb the staircase. “But you do have them now, so I would suggest you hold on to them for as long as you can.” He paused for a moment and then laughed. “I suppose that must sound obvious to you right now, doesn’t it? What I meant to say was that from what you told me, it seems like your life will only get busier from here, what with all of the visiting suitors and an inevitable marriage, so you should hold on to the moments you get to yourself now without ruining them with worries of the future.” He glanced sheepishly at Roxanne. “Was that alright? I know I’m not much of an advisor, but I promise I am trying my best…” He blinked, suddenly realizing he had been so focused on trying to console the princess that he had forgotten to use proper titles. “…My Lady.”