The Rusty Tankard was a stark contrast to the velvet-lined halls of the palace. It was loud, smelled of sawdust and roasted boar, and was filled with the rowdy laughter of adventurers. Clara and Seraphina sat in their usual corner booth, enjoying the simple comfort of being just another pair of Steel-Ranks.
The door creaked open, and the tavern went silent. Prince Alaric stood there, stripped of his royal cape and golden circlet, wearing a simple traveler’s tunic and leather breeches. He scanned the room until his eyes landed on the duo.
The Unexpected Request
He approached their table, ignoring the whispers of the crowd. He didn't wait for a bow. Instead, he pulled up a stool and sat across from them.
"You turned down enough gold to rebuild a province," Alaric said, his eyes searching Seraphina’s face. "My father thinks you’re crazy. My advisors think you’re arrogant. But I think you’re the only people in this city who actually know what it means to be free."
Seraphina raised an eyebrow. "Is there a point to this visit, Highness? Or did you just come to critique our financial decisions?"
Alaric leaned in, his expression dead serious. "I want to join you. I want to join the Azure Aegis."
The Prince’s Proof
Clara nearly choked on her ale. "Join us? You're a Prince! You have a throne to inherit and a kingdom to run."
"And how can I run a kingdom if I don’t understand the struggles of those who defend it?" Alaric countered. He held up his hands, and a low hum filled the air.
Suddenly, a spark of White Lightning danced between his fingertips, quickly followed by a bloom of Crimson Fire. He manipulated the two elements with surprising grace, weaving them together into a spinning orb of crackling heat.
"I have dual-affinity. My masters said I was a prodigy, but they only taught me how to fight in a courtyard. I want to learn how to fight in the dark. I want to see the world from the edge of a blade, not from a balcony."
The Conditions of the Aegis
Clara looked at the fire and felt a momentary shiver—the ghost of Marek's flames—but Alaric’s fire was different. It was warm, controlled, and lacked the jagged malice of the hypnotist.
Seraphina crossed her arms, her gaze piercing. "If you come with us, Alaric, the 'Prince' stays at the city gates. You sleep on the ground, you clean the gear, and you eat what we hunt. If I tell you to jump into a pit of vipers, you don't ask why—you jump. In the Spire, I am the commander. You are a Cadet. Understood?"
Alaric didn't blink. He stood up and offered a crisp, military salute. "Understood, Commander."
The New Dynamic
Clara grinned, her old "Happy-go-lucky" spirit finally feeling fully restored. "Well, we did say we wanted to be the best. Having a royal battery with fire and lightning might make things interesting. Just don't expect us to carry your bags, 'Cadet'."
Alaric laughed, a genuine, relieved sound. He looked at Seraphina, his heart racing. He knew the path ahead would be brutal, but as long as he was following her silver-steel armor into the depths, he knew he was exactly where he was meant to be.
The Azure Aegis was no longer a duo. They were a Trinity.
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and then Add to home screen.