As I’ve said to myself a few times already… magic has always been this.
Desire.
Wanting something so strongly that the world gives in a little.
But there is a price for that.
You can’t carry something bigger than what you truly want… or what you can endure.
My body was never made for this world. I accepted that a long time ago.
The sensitivity is absurd. I feel mana as if I were touching it. The reservoir isn’t small either… far from it.
The problem was never having it.
The problem was always recovering it.
While for others mana comes back like a river after rain… for me it sometimes feels like a well drying up.
Days.
Sometimes weeks.
For something that, for any other mage, would take a few hours.
Being different never comes only with advantages.
"Bruno, are you coming?" Anaalyn said while looking around for Elaris.
"I’ll be there in a second… just recovering a bit." Bruno replied, his breathing still heavy.
He ran a hand over his face, trying to organize his thoughts.
"Damn… I think I made a mistake."
"A mistake? Don’t tell me you’re already regretting not exterminating the assassin." Kearlin commented with his usual provoking tone.
Bruno let out a low sigh.
"Right on the mark…"
He looked toward the forest, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"I have a bad feeling."
"I found her!" Anaalyn shouted from the middle of the crowd, pushing through people.
"I heard you already, dwarf." Elaris replied as she approached Bruno. "What is it, Bruno?"
He didn’t answer immediately.
His eyes were far away, scanning the crowd as if counting every face, every movement, every shadow between the lanterns.
"Bruno?" Elaris called again.
He finally blinked.
"Nothing… I just wanted to make sure you were alright."
Elaris crossed her arms suspiciously.
"You wouldn’t pull me away from the party just for that."
"I would."
"Liar."
Bruno let out a small breath through his nose.
"The thing is… I found someone on the rooftops."
Anaalyn frowned.
"Someone?"
"An assassin."
The silence between the three lasted a second.
"…You what?" Anaalyn said slowly.
"She was looking for someone."
Elaris understood before he even finished.
"Me."
Bruno didn’t answer, but he didn’t deny it either.
Anaalyn put a hand on the handle of her axe.
"Great. An assassin in the village in the middle of a party. Perfect."
Elaris tilted her head, studying Bruno.
"But you’re here… so she wasn’t good enough."
"No." Bruno replied simply.
"Then why that face?"
Bruno stayed silent for a moment.
"Her job wasn’t to kill you."
Anaalyn grumbled.
"Big surprise."
"No."
Bruno finally looked at the two of them.
"Her job was to find you."
The music of the party kept playing in the background.
Laughter.
Dancing steps.
Lanterns swaying.
But now, for the three of them… the atmosphere had completely changed.
Elaris narrowed her eyes.
"Then let’s deal with it."
Anaalyn gave a crooked smile.
"Finally something interesting."
Bruno only murmured quietly, almost to himself.
"If that was all… I would have already dealt with it."
He looked again toward the rooftops of the village.
Dark.
Quiet.
"Let’s call the other two and go back to my house. I don’t want anyone in our group alone right now." Bruno said.
"That would be a good idea." Anaalyn started scanning the party, climbing onto a rock to try to see Tila and Seralyn among the crowd.
Bruno watched the movement for a moment, attentive to the rooftops, to the shadows between the lanterns.
"You’re used to it, aren’t you?" he said.
Elaris crossed her arms, looking at the party as if it were something distant.
"Yes. It’s normal for someone to want the power of a princess… and to use the most cowardly methods possible."
"The person who sent the assassin must be someone who knows you very well." Bruno replied.
Elaris turned to him.
"Or someone who knows you very well."
Bruno let out a small laugh through his nose.
"Very well said, princess."
She raised an eyebrow.
"It wasn’t meant as a compliment."
"It still was."
Elaris sighed.
"You have many enemies."
"You too."
"Yes… but mine usually wear crowns or titles."
"Mine use anything that can cut."
She looked at the bandages still visible on his body.
"You should be in a bed."
"I was."
"Then why did you leave?"
Bruno shrugged.
"Because every time I stay in a bed… someone tries to kill someone I know."
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Kearlin floated beside him, laughing quietly.
"He’s not exaggerating."
Elaris narrowed her eyes at Bruno.
"Did you say something?"
Bruno blinked twice.
"Nothing."
From the other side of the party Anaalyn shouted again.
"I FOUND THEM!"
Tila and Seralyn were walking behind her.
Tila was still holding a corn candy.
Seralyn already looked irritated before even arriving.
"What happened now?" Seralyn asked.
Bruno answered simply.
"Assassin."
Tila froze.
Anaalyn smiled.
Seralyn sighed.
"Of course there’s an assassin."
Tila looked at Bruno.
"You can’t go to a normal party… just once?"
Bruno scratched the back of his neck.
"I try."
Kearlin burst out laughing in the air.
"He never tried."
Bruno completely ignored him.
"Let’s go home."
Anaalyn spun the axe on her shoulder.
"Now the party got interesting."
"No." Bruno replied.
"Now the party is over."
Finally they walked back toward Bruno’s house. The lanterns of the party stayed behind as the music slowly faded.
"The house looks more crowded than usual… compared to two months ago." Kearlin said while floating beside him.
"You think?" Bruno sighed tiredly. "I just wanted some peace… now I have problems that never end."
"Funny… you complain much less than before. You’re far less grumpy."
"And what does that have to do with what’s happening now?"
"Nothing. I just like pointing out that you’re finally becoming like you used to be."
Bruno answered with only a low grunt.
"Come on, we’re here." Seralyn said while climbing the small porch steps.
She pulled out a key and started opening the door.
"Wait." Elaris frowned. "You have a key to Bruno’s house?"
"Of course." Seralyn replied as if it were obvious. "I live in this house. Why wouldn’t I have a key?"
Elaris crossed her arms slowly.
"Curious."
Seralyn opened the door without much concern.
"When I asked us to live together you refused immediately." Elaris looked at Bruno. "What’s your excuse, Mr. Bruno?"
"At the time I didn’t even have a house… so that’s why—"
"I live in a castle, idiot!" Elaris interrupted. "You could have lived with me!"
Anaalyn burst out laughing.
"Imagine the knight living in a princess’s castle."
"Idiot." Elaris huffed.
Bruno scratched his head, clearly unsure how to escape that.
"You two, please…" Tila said raising her hands between them. "Let’s calm down."
Seralyn was already walking inside.
"Get in before someone decides to try killing the princess again."
Anaalyn followed.
"Good point."
Tila gently pulled Elaris.
"Come on."
Elaris still looked at Bruno for a second before entering.
"This conversation isn’t over."
Bruno was the last one at the door.
Kearlin crossed his arms in the air.
"You refused a castle."
"I know."
"You’re very stupid."
Bruno sighed.
"I had things to do. I couldn’t get used to living in a castle."
The moment Bruno dropped onto the sofa he collapsed from exhaustion.
"Time for a brainstorm." Bruno said while sinking into the couch he himself had created.
"Brainstorm? And what would that be, Bruno?" Tila asked.
"Basically… throwing ideas on the table until one makes sense." Bruno answered with a tired voice.
"That sounds very messy." Anaalyn crossed her arms.
"Because it is." Bruno said, closing his eyes for a moment.
Seralyn leaned against the wall observing everyone silently.
"Then let’s start with the obvious." Elaris said seriously.
"Someone tried to kill me."
"Not exactly." Bruno replied.
His eyes opened slowly.
"She didn’t try to kill you."
The room fell silent for a moment.
"What do you mean she didn’t try?" Tila asked confused.
"She had several opportunities." Bruno said.
"When you were dancing… when you turned… when I was still far away."
Anaalyn frowned.
"So what was she doing?"
Bruno took a deep breath.
"Confirming."
"Confirming?" Elaris repeated.
"Confirming that you are really here." Bruno said.
Bruno’s mind was racing.
I knew it. I let the assassin escape. Now the bastard who sent her probably already knows that yes… she is here.
The princess’s face became serious.
Seralyn finally spoke.
"So someone wanted to be sure before making the real move."
"Exactly." Bruno said.
Kearlin crossed his arms in the air beside him.
"Which means the party was just reconnaissance."
Bruno let out a small sigh.
"Which means…"
He opened his eyes completely now.
"...that the real problem hasn’t even started yet."
Anaalyn let out a short laugh.
"Great."
Tila looked worriedly at Bruno.
"You think they’ll attack again?"
Bruno stayed silent for a few seconds thinking.
"Not today."
"How can you be so sure?" Elaris asked.
"Because if they were going to attack…"
Bruno stopped mid sentence.
His eyes stayed on the window for a few seconds before turning away.
"...they already would have."
Silence.
It wasn’t exactly a convincing answer, but no one commented.
Anaalyn spoke again first.
"Or maybe they’re waiting."
She slowly spun the axe in her hands.
"Waiting for what?" Tila asked.
"The right moment."
Seralyn crossed her arms.
"Assassins don’t usually wait inside houses full of armed people."
"This isn’t exactly a normal group." Anaalyn replied with a crooked smile.
Elaris sighed and ran a hand through her hair.
"Then let’s think."
She started pacing slowly through the room.
"If someone wants to kill me—"
"Or kidnap." Seralyn added.
Elaris grimaced.
"That’s worse."
Anaalyn shrugged.
"Depends on the ransom."
Tila looked horrified.
"Anaalyn!"
The dwarf only laughed.
"Relax, I’m joking."
Bruno remained quiet on the couch.
Watching.
Listening.
Thinking.
Something was wrong.
Kearlin hovered above the back of the couch looking at him.
"You’ve got that face."
"What face?" Bruno murmured.
"The face you make when you think you did something stupid."
Bruno didn’t answer.
Tila was speaking now.
"Maybe… maybe it isn’t someone trying to kill Elaris."
Everyone looked at her.
She seemed a little nervous about speaking.
"Like… maybe someone is just trying to scare her?"
Anaalyn raised an eyebrow.
"Sending assassins to scare someone sounds a little expensive."
Seralyn agreed.
"Assassination is a profession. No one sends a professional just to scare someone."
Elaris tilted her head.
"Depending on who paid… money isn’t exactly a problem."
Bruno finally spoke.
"If it were intimidation…"
Everyone looked at him.
"...they would have shown themselves."
He rubbed his tired face.
"Assassins who want to scare people leave marks."
Seralyn nodded.
"Bodies."
"Or threats."
Anaalyn grinned.
"Or heads in boxes."
Tila made a horrified face.
"ANAALYN!"
"What? It’s a common technique!"
Elaris sighed again.
"So it’s not intimidation."
She stopped walking and looked at Bruno.
"Then what is it?"
Bruno took a moment to answer.
"Information."
The word hung in the air.
Seralyn was the first to react.
"Someone wanted to confirm the princess is outside the castle."
Tila swallowed nervously.
"That… that sounds very organized."
Elaris crossed her arms.
"It is."
She looked at Bruno.
"And you let one escape."
The sentence wasn’t said as an accusation.
But it still weighed on the room.
Bruno simply shrugged.
"She wasn’t the problem at that moment."
Kearlin laughed quietly.
"Lie."
Bruno ignored him.
Anaalyn sat down in a nearby chair.
"Alright then."
She rested her elbows on her knees.
"Who would be interested in knowing the princess is here?"
Elaris answered immediately.
"Half the continent."
"Great start." Anaalyn muttered.
Tila raised her hand timidly.
"Maybe it’s someone from her own kingdom?"
Seralyn looked at Elaris.
"Internal coup."
Elaris shrugged.
"It wouldn’t be the first attempt."
Tila blinked several times.
"That… is normal?"
"For royal families?" Anaalyn replied.
"More than it should be."
Bruno remained quiet.
Thinking.
Kearlin watched him.
"You’re not listening to half of this."
"I am."
"You’re not."
Bruno closed his eyes for a second.
The assassin running across the rooftops.
The light magic.
The impact.
The body flying.
He could have ended it right there.
one more spell.
One step.
One second.
But no.
He let her go.
Because he was tired.
Because he didn’t want another fight that night.
Because for one second… he chose the easier path.
Kearlin tilted his head.
"Ah."
Bruno opened his eyes again.
Anaalyn was speaking now.
"Another possibility."
Everyone looked at her.
"Maybe it isn’t about the princess."
Elaris raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
Anaalyn pointed at Bruno.
"Maybe it’s about the idiot on the couch."
Tila blinked.
Seralyn did too.
Elaris looked thoughtful.
"That… isn’t impossible."
Bruno made a face.
"I love how easily you say that."
Anaalyn laughed.
"You have an incredible talent for making enemies."
Seralyn nodded.
"That’s true."
Tila tried to defend him.
"He also makes friends!"
Anaalyn looked around the room.
"Yes… but strangely all his friends end up in dangerous situations."
Tila opened her mouth.
Thought.
Closed it again.
"...okay."
Elaris rested her chin on her hand.
"So someone who wants to hurt Bruno… targets someone close to him."
Seralyn replied immediately.
"That’s a common strategy."
Anaalyn looked at Bruno.
"Can you think of anyone?"
Bruno thought.
Many names passed through his mind.
Many.
But none made sense here.
"No."
He finally answered.
"This isn’t personal."
Seralyn narrowed her eyes.
"How can you be so sure?"
Bruno answered without thinking.
"Because if it were personal…"
He looked at her.
"...I would already be dead."
Silence again.
Tila quickly changed the subject.
"Maybe it’s just some criminal group?"
Anaalyn shook her head.
"Criminals prefer money."
Seralyn added.
"And living princesses are worth far more."
Elaris made an irritated face.
"Thank you for that information."
Kearlin was almost laughing now.
"This is incredible."
Bruno murmured.
"What?"
"Five extremely intelligent people."
He pointed around the room.
"...and not a single useful idea."
Bruno raised his hand.
"I am officially too tired to think properly."
Tila looked worried.
"You should rest."
"Probably."
But he didn’t move.
His mind kept returning to the same thing.
The rooftop.
The assassin.
The decision to let her go.
Kearlin floated closer.
"You’re doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"Assuming everything is your fault."
Bruno answered quietly.
"Sometimes it is."
"Sometimes it isn’t."
Bruno looked at the ceiling.
"If she reaches the contractor…"
"She’ll say she saw the princess."
"Yes."
"That would happen anyway."
Bruno didn’t answer.
Anaalyn stood up from the chair.
"Well."
She stretched her arms.
"My final idea."
Everyone looked at her.
"We put the princess to sleep."
Elaris narrowed her eyes.
"I’m right here."
"Yes."
Anaalyn pointed to the hallway.
"And that’s exactly where you should be."
Seralyn nodded.
"Layered security."
Tila nodded immediately.
"I can stay with her!"
Anaalyn raised an eyebrow.
"That sounded weird."
Tila turned red.
"YOU KNOW WHAT I MEANT!"
Elaris sighed.
"I don’t need babysitters."
Bruno finally spoke.
"Yes you do."
She looked at him.
"Excuse me?"
Bruno was serious now.
"Tonight… you do."
Her eyes stayed on him for a few seconds.
Then she sighed.
"...fine."
Anaalyn smiled in satisfaction.
"Miracle."
Seralyn was already walking toward the hallway.
"Let’s organize shifts."
Tila followed right behind.
Elaris walked too… but stopped at the doorway.
She looked at Bruno.
"You coming?"
Bruno was still sunk into the couch.
Tired
Thinking.
"I’ll be there."
She watched him for another second.
Then left.
The room fell silent.
Only Bruno and Kearlin remained.
Kearlin crossed his arms.
"So."
Bruno didn’t answer.
"You’re going to sit there thinking about this all night?"
Bruno murmured.
"Probably."
Kearlin sighed.
"You really think all of this started because you let the assassin go?"
Bruno stayed quiet for a few seconds.
Then he answered.
"No."
Kearlin raised an eyebrow.
"But…"
Bruno closed his eyes.
"...I have the feeling I just made things a lot worse."
Bruno stayed silent on the couch for a few seconds.
His eyes were fixed on the floor, but it was clear his mind was racing.
Kearlin watched.
He knew that look.
Something had clicked.
Slowly.
Too late.
"...something…" Bruno murmured.
Kearlin tilted his head.
"What?"
Bruno rubbed his face, as if trying to pull the entire idea out of his head.
"I think I just thought of something."
He lifted his gaze slightly.
"I’m not sure if I’m right… but…"
Kearlin crossed his arms.
"But?"
Bruno took a deep breath.
"They say the king’s brother…"
Kearlin immediately became more attentive.
"The one who tried to overthrow Elaris’s mother?"
Bruno nodded slowly.
"He never died."
Silence.
Kearlin narrowed his eyes.
"He was imprisoned."
"Yes."
"He was tortured."
"Yes."
Bruno rested his elbows on his knees.
"But he never died."
The room was quiet.
From the hallway they could hear the distant voices of Tila and Anaalyn arguing about who would take the first watch shift.
Bruno didn’t even seem to hear them.
Kearlin kept looking at him.
"Elaris never mentioned him."
"Because she never met him." Bruno replied.
He lifted his eyes now.
More serious.
"But I did."
Kearlin blinked once.
"...oh."
A small silence fell again.
"Wait." Kearlin said slowly.
"If he’s still alive…"
Bruno finished the thought.
"...then he spent years in a prison learning how to hate."
The wood of the house creaked slightly in the night wind.
Kearlin began to understand.
"A man who wanted the throne."
Bruno nodded.
"A man who knew the castle."
"A man who knew the queen."
"...and who would certainly recognize his niece."
Kearlin thought for a moment.
"That would explain the confirmation."
Bruno raised a finger.
"No."
Kearlin tilted his head.
"No?"
Bruno looked at the window again.
Dark outside.
Silent.
"...that would explain someone wanting to know if she’s alive."
Kearlin went quiet.
"Bruno…"
Bruno continued.
"Because if someone wants the throne…"
He breathed slowly.
"...the first thing he needs to know…"
Kearlin finished.
"...is whether the heir still exists."
Bruno didn’t answer.
He just kept looking into the night.
Then Kearlin asked something that took a moment to come out.
"And how exactly did you meet her uncle?"
Bruno took a few seconds.
But he answered.
"...I was there."
Kearlin blinked.
"There… where?"
Bruno finally lifted his eyes.
And for the first time that night…
he looked genuinely worried.
"...when he tried to take the throne."
