Chapter 2: The Prince's Perplexity
The heavy doors closed behind us with a soft thud, cutting off the rest of the palace—and my last shred of normalcy. I found myself in a vast, high-ceilinged room that was worlds apart from any royal chamber I'd seen before. One wall featured a massive stone fireplace, its mantel cluttered with strange—almost scientific—devices. Across from it stood a towering bookshelf stuffed with an eclectic mix of volumes: Veridian history, magic theory, and what looked suspiciously like cutting-edge physics.
A large table dominated the center of the space, buried beneath jumbled papers, diagrams, and more of those odd instruments. There was a sense of organized chaos—an unmistakable workshop vibe, despite the gold filigree and plush carpets. I also sensed a faint buzz of energy in the air—nothing like the hush of magic I'd heard whispered about in the kingdom's halls, but something else entirely. Almost technological.
Alex, apparently oblivious to my fascination, started clearing a small area at the table. "Please," he said, gesturing to an armchair near the fireplace, "have a seat. This might take a while."
I hesitated, still trying to marry the polished grandeur of a prince's private quarters with the smatterings of laboratory gear. "You're saying you're from Earth too," I began, sinking into the chair. My smartwatch felt heavier on my wrist than usual. "And you—somehow—know about my… system?"
Alex paused. "Yes, on both counts," he replied softly. "I do remember Earth, though my memories are fragmented. An accident brought me here, into this body… this life. I was once a scientist. AI, neural interfaces, that sort of thing." His expression turned distant. "Something went very wrong. And now—here I am."
I brushed a hand over my smartwatch. "And I ended up in Veridia through a glitchy video game and a freak storm. It's all still a blur." I met his gaze. "But you mentioned you can sense my system?"
He nodded. "A side effect of the dragon bloodline I inherited. It's dormant—mostly—but it grants me heightened sensitivity to certain energies. Your system's signals aren't purely magical; there's technology woven into them, something only you, and arguably I, could detect."
"Dragon bloodline," I repeated stiffly. "You're saying you're part dragon, and that's normal around here?"
"Not normal," Alex admitted. "My ancestors tried to suppress it, after one of our kings—Alaric, the 'Dragon Tyrant'—nearly destroyed Veridia with his powers. It's why I keep it secret. If anyone discovered I had even a fraction of that ability…"
He didn't have to finish. The weight of centuries-old fear spoke for him. I let that topic rest, noticing the tension around his eyes. "So my system," I said, "how do you know it's the key to the Blight?"
He pulled over a stool and sank onto it. "That's just a theory—mine and… Matt's." At my questioning look, Alex tapped his temple. "Matt is an AI bound to me via a neural implant. He can sense data streams, magical fluctuations—anything that crosses my own thought patterns. He also picks up on your system's readings. We've studied the Blight for a while now, and we suspect your analytical skills—your 'mimicry' and 'appraisal'—could help us understand it on a deeper level."
I stared, half-expecting him to say "just kidding." But his face remained grave. "So, your AI can detect my smartwatch's readings? Does that mean I can talk to him?"
A faint smile touched Alex's lips. "I'm… not sure," he said slowly. "He's never spoken to anyone else. Let me see if he'll greet you."
He closed his eyes, focusing. A moment later, he nodded. "Matt says hello."
I blinked. "Huh. Hello, Matt," I said to the air, feeling slightly ridiculous. "This is surreal."
Alex coughed back a laugh. "He's analyzing your device right now." His gaze went distant again as if listening. "He says it's… 'a complex interplay of technology and organic magical energy.' That it draws power from your smartwatch's battery."
I glanced down at it. "I guess that explains why I keep seeing warnings about residual charge."
"Precisely. From what Matt can tell, you can prolong the device's life by solar recharging or possibly finding certain magical crystals."
A surprising wave of relief washed over me. At least I wouldn't be stuck with a dead system if the battery died. "That's… good news."
A comfortable silence settled. Then Alex jolted to his feet. "There's so much more to discuss, but I promised you a trip to the old wing for research. And you probably want some clothing less… pink."
I glanced down at the bright hue of my dress. "Yes, please."
He led me out of his workshop-like chamber, through a narrow hallway. It felt like stepping back into a classic palace corridor: gleaming floors, polished busts of ancient kings, walls trimmed in gold. We took a sharp turn into a dimly lit area. I felt a chill; the atmosphere grew heavier, an unspoken hush blanketing the stone walls.
"This section of the palace is rarely used," Alex explained. "Storage, old records, half-forgotten relics. We'll find something for you to wear—and hopefully avoid too much attention."
We reached a seemingly blank wall. With a quick glance behind us, he placed his hand on a barely visible emblem. The wall clicked, swinging inward to reveal a dusty, forgotten storage room. Rows of battered wardrobes lined the walls, their doors ajar. Moths flitted in the faint light from a single overhead glowstone.
"Welcome to the palace's most unsightly closet," Alex said wryly.
I wrinkled my nose, stepping inside. "If I see a spider the size of my face, I'm blaming you."
He laughed softly. "You'll survive. Let's try these wardrobes."
We spread out and began opening doors, rifling through severely outdated dresses, cloaks with suspicious stains, and occasional aristocratic doublets riddled with moth holes. My pink dress was no masterpiece, but it started looking better by comparison.
Eventually, my gaze snagged on an ornate dark-wood wardrobe with swirling carvings. Unlike the others, this one seemed… humming with faint energy. I ran my palm across the front, and a golden flicker of my system's interface popped into view:
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Insight System
-----------------
Item Appraisal: Available
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She focused her gaze, activating her Item Appraisal skill. The world shifted, the wardrobe taking on a shimmering quality as information flooded her system interface.
------------------------------------
Target: Ornate Wardrobe
---------------------
Description: An ancient wardrobe
crafted from enchanted
Whisperwood. Contains
garments imbued with
residual magic.
---------------------
Properties:
- Enchanted Wood
- Contains magical
garments
- Concealed Compartment
(Locked)
---------------------
History: Belonged to a powerful
mage during the reign
of King Alaric.
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"Oh, interesting," I murmured. "Hey, Alex—this one's special. Seems there's a hidden compartment."
He approached, brow furrowed. "A hidden compartment?" He ran his fingers along the carving. "I've never noticed this piece before."
We located a subtle indentation in the wood. I pressed it, and with a click, a panel slid open. Sure enough, a shallow cavity lay behind it, stuffed with… very unexpected items.
I blinked at the leather whip and matching choker lying on a dusty piece of velvet. "Uh, okay, that's definitely not standard palace-issued attire."
Alex's cheeks reddened almost imperceptibly. "Must've belonged to the previous mage occupant. They had… eccentric tastes."
I smothered a grin. "Eccentric is one way of putting it. Guess they liked to experiment." I tossed the whip back in with a mischievous look. "You never know, right? Could come in handy."
He cleared his throat loudly. "Yes, well—let's keep looking."
Behind the whip and choker lay a smaller, more discreet compartment. Together, we slid aside another panel and discovered a tiny wooden box inlaid with silver. My system lit up again, registering faint magical energy.
My eyes darted to the system readout:
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Target: Ornate Box
---------------------
Description: A small box made of
unknown wood, inlaid
with silver. Contains
two rings.
---------------------
Properties:
- Faint Magical
Resonance
- Concealed Mechanism
(Locked)
------------------------------------
"There's faint magical energy coming from it," she reported. She tried to open the box, but it wouldn't budge. "It's locked. And it says there is a concealed mechanism."
"Let me see," Alex said, taking the box from her. He examined it closely, his fingers tracing the intricate carvings. Scanning object, Matt reported. Mechanism identified. Requires two simultaneous pressure points to be activated.
"There," Alex said, pointing to two almost invisible indentations on either side of the box. "Try pressing here and here at the same time."
Maria followed his instructions, pressing her thumbs against the two indentations. There was a soft click. It opened. Inside were two rings: one silver, one dark metal, both faintly humming with power. Beneath them, a cloth pouch containing a handful of unusual trinkets—a crystal shard, a shimmering feather, a vial of glowing liquid, and a small key.
"Whoa," Maria breathed, her eyes wide with awe. "These are definitely not ordinary."
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Target: Rings
Description: Two rings, one silver,
one dark metal. Linked
together by a magical
connection.
Properties:
- Contain Inventory
System (Locked)
- Linked Communication
(Locked)
- Other Abilities
(Locked)
- Require Activation
Items to Unlock
------------------------------------
"Whoa," I breathed, lifting the silver ring. "They have an inventory system? That's next-level even for me."
Alex scanned their inscriptions. "Eldrin craftsmanship, maybe. This could be huge for studying the Blight—if they store or analyze energies."
We rummaged in the pouch, reasoning that these strangest items must be the so-called "activation keys." The crystal seemed to resonate with "Flow," the feather pulsed with something airy and cool, and the vial of glowing liquid seemed to be pure mana.
Before we could plan a careful approach, I sneezed—hard. My hand collided with Alex's, and the open vial splashed liquid across both rings and our joined hands. Instantly, a raw jolt of energy slammed through me, like static shock turned up to eleven. Alex gasped. Drifting lights flickered around us, and for one bizarre second, I swore I felt Alex's confusion… inside my own head.
When the surge receded, my ears were ringing. I stared at him. "What was that?"
He looked equally stunned. "I don't know, but…" His voice trailed off, and I felt the strangest swirl of embarrassment—except it wasn't mine.
"You're feeling… me?" I whispered, my heart pounding as realization dawned.
Alex paled. "It… it appears so. The rings must have activated the communication function, but instead of words, we're sharing emotions."
"That's… incredibly awkward," I muttered. Sure enough, flickers of tension, worry, and a dash of curiosity that didn't feel like mine flitted through my mind. "We need to turn it down."
We spent the next few minutes focusing on our breathing—at Alex's direction—and visualizing a sort of "mental barrier." Gradually, the chaotic swirl of shared emotions dimmed to a more bearable hum, like turning down the volume on an old stereo.
"Better?" Alex asked, exhaling shakily.
"Yeah," I said. "Still there, but not overwhelming." A bubble of laughter escaped me. "So… guess we're stuck with a psychic friend line now?"
A faint smile tugged at his lips. "It's not how I expected these rings to work, but maybe we can harness it. If we can keep it, you know, discreet."
I smirked. "Because telling the palace I can sense your every passing mood might be scandalous."
He rubbed the back of his neck. "Or undermine my entire political standing, yes. Let's keep experimenting, but carefully."
I nodded, slipping the silver ring fully onto my finger. A faint warmth pulsed along the band, and I noticed the corner of Alex's mouth quirk. He must have sensed my renewed excitement.
Just then, a distant crash—like splitting stone—echoed outside the hidden chamber. Dust trickled in from the corridor, and I caught a flicker of eerie purple light.
Alex's expression hardened. "Beatrice," he muttered in warning.
The concealed door we'd come through shattered, giving way to Lady Beatrice's silhouette. Her eyes shone with angry, amethyst sparks, and she clutched a chunk of the palace wall that pulsed with dark energy.
"Well, well," she purred, stepping forward. "Did you really think you'd hide from me? This changes everything, Your Highness. Now hand over those rings."
My pulse spiked, and I sensed answering dread from Alex through the newly forged link. Great. So much for a subtle exit.
I squared my shoulders, ring glinting on my hand. "Sure," I said, letting sarcasm lace my tone. "Come take them."
Beatrice's purple aura flared—and all at once, I knew we were out of time for idle experimentation. The real fight was about to begin.