Chapter 48

The door banged open to reveal a desperately worried Alastair, he rushed to Alexis who clutched her face in shock.

"What the matter? What's going on?!" He shouted at her, Roger informed him.

"Miss Mage seems to have lost her sight in the battle. Her healing is doing nothing to help", he gravely spoke. Alastair's eyes widened.

"Is that true Alexis? Can you not see?" He asked, relief flooded his body.

'Thank god it's something I can fix'.

Alexis nodded her head. Her body trembled from the thought of never seeing again, but she felt relieved at the same time. Alastair's voice calmed her.

"You just keep getting into trouble don't you? Why can't you just sit still?" He tenderly asked as he lifted her face.

"S-Sorry", was all he heard and he sighed in return.

"Luckily for you I'm not completely human" and with that he leaned into her face and kissed her eye lid.

And then moved towards the other one, Alexis' brows knit together the whole time. His lips felt cool on her eyelids and a strange tickling sensation seemed to occur behind her lids.

The cool feeling seemed to enter her mind. She felt refreshed as if her mind had restarted on a new page. A better one.

Her eyes flicked open the moment his lips left and. A gasp of relief left her as her knees gave out.

'I can see! Oh thank god I can see!'

Alastair caught her, not expecting the hug he received. Her face smushed into his fur cape, right under his head.

"Thank you Alastair", she muffled out between tears of shock.

He patted her back with a forlorn face.

"You're my Mage. There's no need to thank me. Now, let's go home".

He lifted her up with ease, so simply Alexis felt as though she weighed anything, and made his way to the palace Alexis hadn't realised she missed the thought of. Nobles, who had gathered in the brass palaces pathetic excuse for a garden, gasped at the sight of them. But they ignored them, wilfully going to their palace.

When they neared it Angela, Rosy and Andrea could be seen waving at her from her balcony with smiles and cheers.

Her heart warmed at the welcome. She looked at Alastair who carried her with a smile and before she knew it she pecked him on the cheek.

He froze. His face turning a deep shade of red as he gave a flustered look of confusion to her.

"It's a thank you".

"Don't most people just give a gift or say the words?" He asked carefully, trying pathetically to control the blood rush on his face.

Alexis laughed at his shy face.

"Yes but I couldn't help it Alastair. I think I"- her words lodged in her throat as she realised what she was about to say. The weight of the words suddenly becoming very real to her as she realised the tragic situation she was in.

"You think you?" Alastair tilted his head.

"N-Nothing".

"Okay".

Alastair wanted to pry but he decided against it. After all, he was lucky Alexis hadn't run off after what he did, so in a way he owed her.

"Why is this place so much grander than before?" Noticing the extravagant gazebos surrounding the garden and statues she hadn't seen before scattered around. Even the inside was more decorated.

"Oh, that", Alastair clicked his tongue, his lips twisted in a sneer as he recalled the event. "It's to celebrate the birthday of Empires Emperor".

"As in, your birthday?" Alexis said staring in surprise at Alastair.

"That's right. There will be a ball in three weeks".

"W-Well why didn't anybody tell me?" Alexis felt like she had been left in the dark, and about something so important too.

"… you've been quite busy for the past week, haven't you?" It was more of a jab than a question.

"Fair point".

He reached her room and stopped outside. She gave him confused glance.

"Should I walk in myself?"

"No".

"O-ok…"

He carried on standing until a sigh left him and he gave her such a serious stare she felt squirms in her stomach.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Only thank me like that, that's an order", before Alexis could process what he said he stepped in, placed her on her bed and disappeared.

She stared at where he last stood with confused smile.

"Ok…"

Alexis carried on her lessons which she realised where much less intense than before. She forgot how sweet Emilia was for a bit there, but she'd never forget the monster that trained her.

She also realised Dwayne didn't bother her anymore, he occasionally popped in and when she joined Alastair for his family meal he gave her a wave that she always ignored.

Alastair had told her she was welcome to join them and she did, deciding she'd do it always. The idea of Alastair sitting alone motivated her and she enjoyed watching their reactions to his many expressions.

"Say ahh" she held a spoon full some strange soup that Alastair shivered at the sight of. Despite its appearance it was a delicacy and Alastair ought to know that.

He didn't because he had disappeared from the dinner leaving Alexis holding a spoon to absolutely nothing and the royals in a heap of laughter. Alexis and Alastair grew on them a bit, though they'd never admit it.

The only stubborn mule who wouldn't laugh would be Darron and as Liliana knew, that was just how he was.

She enjoyed the presence of the strange fairy who brightened the palace and made it easier to breathe in. She notices how young Dexter had even started to smile at the sight of her, that miserable boy of all people.

The girls on the other hand would just gossip about her antics with chuckles and smiles. Sometimes spying on her from the flower palaces tower. Where they resided like all unmarried princess' did.

This was all oblivious to Alexis who kept a careful eye on the royals. Trying to clue in their next move, she had a hunch they'd try something at the upcoming ball.

Her gaze met Dexters eyes and she decided to have a talk with the quiet boy, but where exactly could she get alone with him, she hadn't a clue.

The boy in turn turned red at the eye contact and turned away looking at his food a bit too intensely. She realised he wasn't at all used to attention. Then again, everyone seemed to look at Dwayne, or ask him for his opinion on any given subject.

The situation was made all too clear to Alexis, who jot down mental notes.

Alastair met with Joshua when he had transported to his office. The man in question smiled politely at his appearance.

"Your majesty, back from dinner already?"

"Please don't speak about it".

"That's fine. Speaking of dinner I have a favour to ask" he turned his head of cotton candy her to the window. As if he anticipated something.

"Ask it", Alastair was glad for the distraction.

"My friend from Dai will arrive when the ball starts. Do you think it would fine for her to attend?" Joshua seemed nervous, hoping he wouldn't get rejected. After all, he was the one who had invited her here.

"Just send an invitation" Alastair waved his hand.

He suddenly recalled Alexis holding the spoon to him. His face reddened and he cursed her stupidity, he would've had it if she recommended it. She didn't have to-

His face burned.

"Sir are you okay?" Asked Joshua and Alastair just shook his head not wanting the freak to start some strange experiment.

"Fine. Completely fine".

"But your face is red?" He wondered, "maybe it's because of your elf blood? Can I ask you a few ques?"-

"No! I'm fine, did you get the work I asked done?" He hoped to change the subject and Joshua, reluctantly, let him off.

"Yes". He pulled out a file from his long robe and handed it to him, "you were right, they were planning exactly what you feared. Thankfully, the match Miss Mage had has lessened their numbers".

Alastair opened the file with an analytic expression as he scanned through the document.

"Of course, nobles know power when they see it. But their numbers are still exceeding ours. We have a month at most until then. Start preparations".

"Yes Sir, let us start with the soldiers".