Kion strapped his scrolls and the remainder of the storm-pills he'd brought on the journey with him. He was sure not to use them anytime soon, Shaman's warnings replaying in his head, but he carried them with him just in case.
He sheathed his sword and proceeded outside, only to bump headfirst into Penelope, who seemed to be rushing somewhere.
"Why are you in such a rush?" Kion asked her.
"Sorry, my lord. I was coming to get you actually. His majesty, Kai, says it's time for us to move."
"Of course he did." Kion began to walk down the corridor. Penelope rushed after him.
"My lord. If you don't mind, I would like to draw you a bath to soothe your muscles for the journey ahead." The maid said, while fidgeting nervously with her fingers.
"It's fine thank you. I've already had one." Kion relied sternly, not turning his back even once.
Even before she'd blurted it out, Kion could feel her rage simmering just below the surface from behind him.
"Why won't you just let me do my job?!" Penelope raised her voice, and Kion turned.
She clamped her mouth shut with her mouth upon seeing his reaction.
Kion walked to her slowly. She went back in fear.
It was until she got back up against a wall that she stopped moving.
"My lord. I didn't mean to raise my voice I'm so sorry. Spare me please!"
Tears slowly streamed down her cheeks and dropped to the floor.
She was sure he would kill her then and there. Have her hanged or strip her naked and have her publicly stoned to make an example.
She was sure that Kion wouldn't spare her.
But what the young prince did next shocked her to the bone.
Kion cupped her cheeks.
"Why do you cry?" He questioned, while wiping away her tears with his right thumb.
Penelope looked away in embarrassment.
"Into my eyes." Kion commanded, and she couldn't help but fix her eyes on his.
For a moment, they seemed to lock eyes. A moment that was merely seconds but felt like ages.
This close, the prince's amber gaze was mesmerising. His eyes held in them worlds of beauty and marvel. They seemed to take her to a place she had never been, a place where dreams came true.
Kion finally pulled away.
"You're more than that, you know. I want an assistant, Penelope. Not a slut, or even a maid. An assistant. Can you be that for me?"
"Y-yes." The maid stammered.
"I couldn't hear you, Penelope."
"Yes." Penelope said in a louder voice.
"Good." Kion said. "Now I need you to make arrangements for rations along the way. It would be quite unfortunate if we ran out of food. If anyone questions you, you tell them that I sent you. Dismissed."
Penelope turned and skipped away. Kion stared at her rushing form from behind, not seeing that her face was burning red where he'd touched.
***
The new carriages were more pristine than Kion would've ever expected.
The handymen and carpenters that Sir Gaius had brought really knew their fashion, as everything about the carriage seemed to be brand new.
The soldiers were readied in their defensive positions round the carriage, Sir Gaius giving them new orders and drills to fortify against an ambush, if any may occur.
It was a necessary precaution that came as a result of Lila's earlier attack. In fact, it was the kind of formation that thwarted not just any ambush of any kind, but an ambush of Lila's kind.
Kion had not filled them in earlier on the details of the deal he'd struck with the mage, so they were still left in the dark, the only knowledge being that Lila and her mercenaries would meet them at the entrance.
Most of them were not happy about it, especially Kai.
"So when are we going to meet up with your killer friend?" Kai asked just as Kion arrived at the carriages.
"Just before we make our entry to Porf Tabara." said Kion. "These security fortifications…" Kion said, pointing to the scene of a local mage enchanting their carriages with a shield.
"Is it necessary?" Kion asked.
"Of course it is!" Kai snapped back. "I don't trust that girl one bit, and I'm almost certain that she might try to strike again."
"And you think this will help?" Kion asked rhetorically as he gestured to the completed shield. The Lila he'd known in his past life would not find a problem taking down magical shields.
"I'm taking precautions." Kai interrupted. "I've been at it since the crack of dusk. At least I've been doing something, unlike you."
"Let's just get going." Kion said, as he did not have the time nor strength to argue with his brother.
They began to move towards the two carriages.
On their arrival, all the guards, knights and soldiers present made a salutary gesture in respect to their leaders. Penelope stood right outside Kion's carriage, waiting patiently for her master to come so she would escort him into the carriage.
Kion saw something unusual on her face.
Was she…smiling?
Kion had never known Penelope to smile, or any other maid for that matter. They lived miserably most of the time, and as such, their penchant for basic human emotions like happiness and anger were seriously grave.
She even seemed to be maintaining eye contact this time.
"My Lord?" She curtsied gracefully as she took his hands and guided him into the carriage seat. Normally, Kion would've reacted, but he found her behaviour unusual, but all in all, he was happy that she was finally coming along on his advice.
That she was more than an object, and should treat herself as such.
"I've rallied the rations my lord." Penelope said as she sat next to him.
"I gathered most for the knights and soldiers, but I picked the best ones for you."
"Here, my lord." She handed him a satchel.
Kion rummaged through the ingredients. He saw rare scented spices for cooking fresh catch over a fire, newly picked fruits and nuts for snacks, and a flagon filled with chilled water.
"Thank you." He muttered the appreciation.
"My pleasure, my lord."
"Let's move!" Kion could hear Sir Gaius' voice ring as their carriages slowly began to move.
They were headed east, just past the Styrian mountain range via the travel path, into the town of Port Tabara.
If they left now, just at the half moon made its ascent through the star-filled sky, they would arrive just before twilight of the next day.
Kion somehow still found himself tired. Thea had sabotaged his sleep earlier with her unannounced visit to the world of his dreams.
He skimmed through the contents of the talent scroll for his first lightning skill. It was the same technique he'd glanced over since he obtained it from his castle's royal archives.
But he'd somehow found it hard to master.
The energy that came with harnessing lightning was too wild for him to control. He remembered Shaman's words on taming his lightning-mancy by putting in gruelling hours of physical training.
Apparently, that helped a lot when it came to his lightning. Although Kion was physically fit, he needed to extend himself. He needed to push his limits, gain more stamina, agility, reflexes, and overall stability.
He thought of the crucial stat that had to do a lot more with his physique than his mana potential: his resonance.
Maybe it was time he focused on cultivating his resonance to the Fourth level. Not with storm-pills this time, but in the traditional way. He hoped within himself that he would find the time to do it.
For now, it seemed he would have to sleep.
Kion didn't even know when his eyes closed.