The Battery

"I don't remember hiring an assassin." She replied coldly with eyes full of scorn, "Judging by your features, you are not from here are you?"

Like an entitled brat, she reached for the keys hanging tantalizingly above her head, but Dalton quickly pulled the keys away from her reach.

She was far more gorgeous up close. Looking past her bruises and wounds, her silky soft skin was pale as if it had never seen the sun before. Her posture was elegant while her clothes, though tattered, were clearly tailor-made. She was not any normal resident. And those scarlet eyes and black hair… Dalton knew of only one other person with those features.

"Before that, I have a few questions to ask you"

Her eyes squinted in annoyance, but conceded as she knew she couldn't do anything.

"I would rather not talk to one who relies on cheap tactics like poison. But I guess I owe you for saving my life. Hmm… Fine, ask away."

Dalton nodded.

"That black hair and scarlet eyes of yours… you don't happen to be of Ymir's royal blood right?"

Her eyes opened wide, jumping back in a defensive position.

"It's okay, I don't intend to do anything to you. I just want answers." Dalton continued.

She bit the bottom of her lips. Could she trust him? Slowly she paced forth a couple of steps, contemplating an answer. Well whatever, she thought, if he wasn't on her side, he wouldn't have saved her.

"It is as you said. I am Princess Lariana, daughter of the king. For what reason do you ask?"

Dalton bit his tongue to control his grin. It was just a hunch, but he seems to have gotten it right. Though, this does raise more questions.

"Well I was just curious. For what reason is the daughter of the king being chased by his own knights?"

"Because I can wield magic." She said with a serious tone. There was a tinge of sadness in her voice, and for once the prideful air around her dissipated into a somber one.

Dalton raised his eyebrows. Surely it couldn't be for as silly of a reason as that, especially considering Ymir is often touted as the kingdom of magic.

"Here in Ymir, there used to be a social hierarchy of elves where magic users are seen as superior and as such are given more privileges. This caused friction between the magic users and non-magic users, with riots and rebellion being common ways people express their hatred." She explained, sensing Dalton's confusion.

"But couldn't the king easily suppress the riots?" Dalton asked.

She smiled. She was worried that being a non-magic user too, Dalton would have symphatized with them. Seems she was right to trust him after all.

"Previous kings have successfully quelled their fair share of rebellions, though it was always resource intensive and quite frankly a hassle. As such, when my father realised it was easier to side with the majority non-magic users, he created a scheme in which other magic users, aside from him, had to wear magic inhibitors no different from this shackle and were stripped of all their rights. Those who refused were executed in what we call the 'Witch Hunt'. Despite being his daughter I received the same treatment. That's also why the knights who attacked me just now couldn't wield magic. Those who could were neutered."

Dalton stroked his chin. He remembered an article written a few years back. Magic users make up only 5% of the world population with only a quarter of them having enough aptitude for magic to battle. In fact, his previous guild only gained notoriety for having 2 decently powerful mages which was unheard of for a small guild. In Ymir, where the population are mostly eleves, it's slightly higher at 10%. But that said, magic wielders are still the minority.

"So I am guessing that's why you formed the Liberation Party?" Dalton asked.

"Yes, though I did not form the liberation party. I joined quite recently but quickly rose the ranks due to my ability 'Mana-Battery'. With this ability, I can store mana in my body and cast spells quickly without gathering them from my surroundings; an unprecedented edge in this mana depleted forest. Of course, my status as a royal is kept a secret." She answered.

"Alright, thank you for clearing my doubts, as promised I shall unlock your shackles. But before that, if I may make a request."

"What is it?"

"Let me join the party."

There was a puzzled look on Lariana face. She was certain that he was simply a curious tourist of sorts. Then again, a tourist wouldn't pick a fight with the royal knights.

"Sure." She calmly replied, "But if I may ask, for what reason do you have to join us? You aren't a local or a magic user, and if If you are a guild member, wouldn't it pay better to hunt for the rainbow worm queen?"

Dalton sneered slightly.

"Let's just say I have a score to settle." He said.

In all honesty, teaming up with a resistance group wasn't what Dalton had in mind. But it was definetly a more viable plan than going in solo. 

She chortled, "You are certainly an interesting character."

Dalton then crouched just infront of her cuffs to free her from her shackles. They fell hard onto the dirt floor with a loud thud. To think this what every magic user has to wear in the country… isn't that too much?

Footsteps could be heard from the north. Was it reinforcement?

Lariana hands glowed red, preparing to fire another barrage. With all that talking, she was already sufficuently charged up. But Dalton was calm. He knew that rhythm of footsteps anywhere.

"Don't. She's a friend."

Dalton raised his hand infront of her face. Doubtfully, Lariana lowered her hands. Then, panting could be heard along with a wimper. It was Sylph!

"This mutt?" She asked.

Dalton nodded, stroking her black fur. Sylph howled, jumping on Dalton with a huge grin on her face. She must have gotten a bit lonely with Dalton gone for too long.

"Alright, that saved us the trouble of having to pick her up. So now what. Where do we go?"

"Although our main base has been taken over by the royal knights, our second base is quite close here." She suggested, "Let's rest up first. You must be hungry going into the forest with so little supplies."

Dalton nodded in agreement. A warm bed and some rations… It certainly beats having to forage for food, he thought.

***

"Your highness, the troops sent to capture Princess Lariana are no longer contactable via our mana transmitters. It is safe to presume they got wiped out." A knight reported, "But we have found the location of their second base! Shall we sent another batch of troops to capture them?"

"What… a… drag…" a low voice moaned.

"Your highness, you shouldn't neglect your duties" a stout man reprimanded.

The man then turned to the knight.

"No, if a troop can't capture a single mage, what make you think they can capture a whole den of them?" The stout man commented, "We were lucky last time Princess Lariana wasn't at the main base when we arrested them. It is not far-fetch to believe she has re-grouped with those at the second base this time."

He tapped his feet impatiently, prowling around the king's throne. 

"Urgh! Must I do everything in this kingdom!" He shouted in frustration.

He then looked at the lazy king on the throne and then back to the knight. 

"You! What are the coordinates of the base?" He growled as he snatched the map off the poor knights hand.

"Hehehe… its seems to be a nice and secluded area… perfect, we can make use of that then."

"Listen Yggdrasil, I need you to cast a spell." He instructed the king.

"Urgh… what… a… drag… but… if… it… means… I… can… sleep…"

"Of course you can sleep your highness! For a whole day if you like! But cast this spell first alright?!"