Arise, The Lady and The Dragon I

- QUARIA -

Hielgan followed the path to the palace as the mortal in red had described to him, he walked through the square and came up to a cobblestone road. Just as the individual had said, Quaria's royal palace was now in his sight.

"There it is!"

The palace was situated on a small hill in the city, a short stone wall separated the palace's boundary from the city making the Palace guard's job easier. Hielgan started the trek up the palace hill as the scent of refurbished goods filled the air, fresh air filled his nostrils and he could feel himself entering an entirely new atmosphere.

As he approached the entrance to the palace yard, he saw two guards standing at the open gate.

"Halt." One of the guards bellowed. "State the purpose of your visit outsider."

Regardless of the words they had used, Hielgan could not feel any malice in their voices.

"Only those summoned by the Royal family may proceed further."

The guard made it clear to Hielgan that he was not allowed any further, noting this Hielgan stopped and addressed the guards.

"My name is Hielgan, I am here to join the Royal Army."

Hearing this the two guards looked at each other in confusion and then looked back at Hielgan, they examined his demeanor and the state of his attire as the expression of shock slowly faded from their faces.

"Do you jest?" One of the guards asked.

A miniature smirk appeared on the corner of his mouth before both guards burst into laughter. The two guards ridiculed Hielgan for a few minutes before they started to speak to him again.

"That was a good one, but I am sure you know this isn't the place for you."

The guard's demeanors suddenly shifted Hielgan noticed a slight change in the air around them, he could feel a chill begin to brush around his skin.

"The Royal Army is not taking in any recruits."

"Especially not outsiders like you."

This came as a shock to Hielgan, he had been told by his late father that the Royal Army recruited from any race.

"There must be some misunderstanding, my father told me the Royal Army used to recruit everyone willing to fight for the King."

Hielgan tried to explain, but his words fell on deaf ears. The guard's appeared indifferent and would not allow Hielgan to pass through, nor did they offer a possible recommendation for him.

Hielgan looked at the palace beyond him, he had traveled from far to be denied when his goal was within reach. He looked around hoping for a miracle to happen, but he saw only the two guards beckoning him to move away.

'Father, this can't be…'

"No, I can not take your word for it," Hielgan responded. "I wish to talk to one of the Captains."

The guards seemed offended, one of them tightened the grip on his spear and walked over to Hielgan.

"Best get on your way."

Hielgan knew he was in the wrong, but so were the guards. His mind was telling him to back off and avoid a fight with the very Kingdom he wished to serve, but his body would not budge.

"Don't say I didn't warn you."

The guard pulled his arm back to strike Hielgan, but before he could poke a hole through him, a voice called out from behind the mortals.

"Is that what the Empire is teaching the Royal Army these days?" The voice came from the figure of a lady behind the guards. "That's unbecoming of you Iben."

"My lady."

The guard that was about to strike Hielgan recognized the voice and quickly turned around to face the speaker, immediately both of the guards dropped to one knee in unison as they acknowledged the presence of the mortal standing before them.

"Your royal highness."

Hielgan was stunned to witness the arrogant guard's demeanor sudden shift to humility before this young lady.

The lady stood by the entrance to the Palace with two of her attendants standing on either side of her, she was clothed in a lavish cream-colored mantle that swept the ground beneath her feet. The Princess' attendants standing beside her wore regal tunics with decorated sword sheaths strapped to each side.

"You are in the presence of her royal highness-"

At the moment before Iben, the guard had started rebuking him, Hielgan seemed to lose his legs as he suddenly fell to the ground on his face in front of the princess.

"Princess, I wish to join the Royal Army!"

The guards looked stunned by the mortal's uncanny speech towards the Princess, Iben's mouth was ajar as he awaited the Princess' response.

Everyone stood in silence, even Hielgan knew he had been outspoken in this situation.

Then from his prostrated position, Hielgan took a sneak peek at the Princess and beheld her beauty, she had dark curly hair that fluttered above her shoulders, and her face was stunning to gaze upon, however, there were two unique things that Hielgan noticed on the Princess.

The first was the coronet of precious jewels plastered across one side of her head with hairlike strands that seemed to stretch across her forehead. Hielgan had heard of these before, they were the traits of royalty that all descendants of Gherial and Lazuriel were born with, a lumireole.

As Hielgan continued to peek at the Princess, her gaze finally met his and in that instant, he noticed the Princess' eyes. Her eyes held a chromatic hue within her iris, and the pattern of her pupil seemed to resemble that of a feline, but smaller and with similar streaks at the edges of her eyes.

'What sort of eyes are those?'

Hielgan retracted his gaze as he noticed her eyes seem to burrow into his mind when he looked at them.

Iben clenched his fist as though to strike Hielgan, but he dared not make any sudden movements in the presence of the Princess and her attendants.

"Have you contemplated on your words well traveler?" The Princess spoke calmly with words of kindness towards Hielgan.

Hielgan's eyes watered, but no one seemed to notice them.

"Yes, Princess- Your highness, I apologize for my foolish sputter," Hielgan began. "However, I have traveled far and have been fortunate enough to be blessed with a chance to meet you here. My request remains the same, your highness."

The Princess smiled then walked over to where Hielgan had prostrated himself, with her eyes aglow she examined him as she muttered to herself.

"You are- Mmmh your kind are quite rare."

The Princess smiled gleefully and beckoned everyone to rise, Iben and his colleague rose to their feet and stood by the Princess' attendants. Hielgan got up but remained on his knees with his head bowed.

"Tell me Hielgan, how many dragons have you slain?"