*Eleonore woke up from her bed, still a bit groggy. The events of yesterday had been a rollercoaster of emotions, but she was excited to see what today had in store for her. This new adventuring life was much more exciting than the boring life at the castle, which she was already skipping both voluntary and involuntary on very frequent occasions. She could actually explore the lands she was supposed to rule, instead of making blind decisions based words alone. After spending an eternity combing her long hair, the princess decided to surprise her protector with . what to eat this morning? She decided that today was a toast and egg day. She took out the eggs from the icebox. It is a tall stone rectangular box that is kept at low temperature via some ice runes. She then cracked them inside a frying pan. Touching the fire rune, she activates the stove. This magical based stove can lit a small fireplace inside of itself and allows to cook anything placed on the metallic grid. A piece of very common home furniture*

Eleonore: He sure takes time to wake up

*an hour later, a grumpy Felix comes out of his room. He doesn’t look like a morning person. He looks at the eggs, toast, and bacon the princess prepared for him, cold from the wait.*

Felix, a bit groggy: I usually… nevermind, thank you, princess… *yawn*

Eleonore: What is the plan mister Felix?

Felix: In five days,  we are to go where Georges lives. My spies reported to me that he is the one occupying your kingdom right now, and he wrote too us saying he wanted to negotiate or something... *yawn*. You should be close to fight on your own, might need a few more spells. *He eats a few bacon strips*

Eleonore: Still planning on leaving?

Felix: You can always ask for my services *yawn*... afterward if you want me... to stay around… *his face falls in the plate*... zzz…

Eleonore: FELIX!

Felix: Wha? Oh, oops, thank you. In any case, today we should seek another quest for your *yawn* training *he burns the eggs out of his face, leaving a bad smell for a few seconds.*

*After they are done eating, Felix leads her to the balcony*

Felix: We shall head out toward Tradesburg again…

*Felix then notice the heavy rain outside*

Felix: … *his face goes white* NOPE nope nope nope, change of plans, feel free to explore the lair or and train some new spells. I am NOT going outside

Eleonore: But it's only rain!

Felix: Rain that makes it so If I die I… well die!

Eleonore: … like the rest of us?

Felix: Funny. I heavily rely on being able to revive at will when I fight, plus fire magic simply doesn’t work well in the rain. No, I am not going outside. I have matters to attend too, so good luck princess.

Eleonore: Okay then..?

--- 

Eleonore: Two hours of intense training, pfiou, I think I deserve a break.

*as the princess heads towards the kitchen to fetch a treat, she hears a commotion in Felix's letter room. She decides to listen to the conversation*

Felix: What do you mean "We don't ship in the rain"!? Rahhh! *Felix sights, before throwing the letter in the bin* Sebastian, can you send someone to fetch it?

Sebastian: I Fear that all our couriers are busy doing trades, Sir. If we add your package to the mix, I fear it may take a day or two before they can deliver it.

*Sebastian spots the princess, but pretends he saw nothing, even giving her a wink*

Felix: You know full well I need it today tough. Curses. *sigh*. I will have to cancel my command. I fear I will have to make one myself.

Sebastian: Are you sure its a good idea sir? Remember the last time you tried making one?

Felix: I don't have a choice, Going outside in the rain would make me too vulnerable, god knows they are just waiting for such an opportunity. *he starts speaking louder, heading outside the room* Prince..!

Sebastian: *Sebastian stops him with his arm before Felix spots the princess* speaking of "them", I got news from the delta squadron.

*Eleonore use this opportunity to head towards the armor room*

Sebastian: They have decided to keep their distance

Felix: Very unusual... they tend to be more aggressive, just like in the mark... hmm, thank you for the report, Sebastian.

*Felix heads towards the armor room, finding the princess on the balcony*

---

Felix: Enjoying the view princess?

Eleonore: *she is searching for something in the scenery* I am playing a game of "spot the spy"

Felix: Hmm?

Eleonore: Yes, look! There is one guy in the tree there! *she points at a pair of binoculars inside a tree who quickly disappear*. It's fun to see them distressed after they know you found them. Wanna play?

Felix: I am afraid I can easily cheat at this game.

Eleonore: How so?

Felix: *His pupils turn red and he points a direction* There is one over there, a tall one in that tree, probably a dwarf behind that hill and a humanoid behind that rock.

Eleonore: Wow, how did you...

Felix: Heat vision. That is also how I was able to shoot arrows even with the smoke bombs. I told you my shots where precise *he smirks*... Fun game aside, I want you to go visit Drake and try to study magic with him.

Eleonore: Doesn't he use darkness magic? How will that help me?

Felix: To cast darkness, you need to trap light in a precise point I believe he said.

Eleonore: While I need to bounce or redirect light.

Felix: While you two have different goals when casting spells, maybe some of his tricks might help you bend light as well.

Eleonore: I get it, so even if he tries to do the opposite of me, his tricks he uses to manipulate light might still apply?

Felix: Exact. I have learned this thanks to the desperation cast I did in the cave. Apparently, I can use my fire magic to make an area colder by absorbing its heat, very similarly too a frost spell

Eleonore: But it took you 100 years for the snowball?

Felix: Because I have to manipulate the water in the air, and my flame nature makes it very hard for me to manipulate water. However, manipulating heat is my specialty.

Eleonore: I see... I shall be going then, see you later!

---

*Eleonore searches for Drakes location, as suggested by Felix*

Kobold: Drake? He must be with the Rattlesnake family, as usual.

*Following the directions of the kobold, Eleonore manages to find the house. She takes time to admire the view of the city. Every building is carved inside the mountain walls. Various Snaking paths go in all directions and are Buzzing with Kobold's life. Eleonore wonders how high the paths go, are there houses up to the top of the mountain?*

Kobold mother: You must be Eleonore! Please, come inside! We have enough food for everybody!

*Eleonore turns back in surprise, a motherly Kobold holds the door to her house open. Inside, Drake is eating at the dinner table with what looks like the father and the child. As she entered the kobolds house, she found a room filled with half-sized furniture, except for a regular-sized chair where Drake was currently sitting on*

Drake: Your cooking is as delightful as always miss Silvia

Silvia, the motherly kobold: ho ho ho, always the flattering little boy, are you. You know you're always welcome in our home, your like a second son to us now dear Drakou.

Eleonore: *chuckles* Drakou...

Drake: Taking a break are we princess?

Eleonore: Felix told me you could help me with my light magic.

Drake: Doesn't he know I only cast Darkness magic, plant magic or a bound bow?

Eleonore: I told him the same thing! But he said that our magic manipulates the same element and that it might still help me learn new light spells.

Drake: Interesting, I never thought of it that way... Sure, let's give it a try. I should still have a few scrolls lying somewhere...

*Drake and Eleonore goes to a little park inside the city. A piece of the outside world for people living underground*

Drake: Now you are ready to learn magic like a real magic scholar, ha ha.

Eleonore: Felix already passed me a few light scrolls that were lying around his mailroom. From what I understand, each scroll contains both the incantations too cast a certain spell and the spell that helps you cast it. The stronger the spell, the fewer charges a scroll can hold before it is discharged and burns down.

Drake: Correct, here is a spell allowing you to make a small "cloud" of darkness

*Eleonore holds the scrolls and reads it. As she pronounces the words, her eyes glow blue, and her lips seem to move on their own*

Eleonore: "Lux Effusio!"

*A small cloud of darkness forms in the middle of her hands. She puts one inside the cloud*

Eleonore: It's working! I can't see my hand at all!

Drake: The scroll should still hold 29 more charges, try to see if you can learn how too cast the spell without using a scroll

*Eleonore casts the spell 11 more times until the scroll burns down in her hands*

Drake: oops, I must have used that one a long time ago when I was still learning. Here, take another one

*Eleonore proceeds too use up the second scroll*

Eleonore: I think I have come up with something, here. "Lux effusio diffusio!"

*As she finishes casting her spell, a little ball of light appears between her hands*

Drake: Interesting, you managed to learn how to cast a light spell by studying a darkness one. Felix's hunch was right after all. Also, you must have a LOT of light affinity for learning a spell in a little less than an hour!

Eleonore: *cough* I think I need a break. Magic casting is more tiresome then I imagined.

---

Drake: I must say, princess, I am impressed. most people would have given up on Felix by now.

Eleonore: I just have this feeling... He and I are not so different. He reminds me of myself from before.... well before I met him actually.

Drake: Oh? in what sense?

Eleonore: I used to be jaded, bored and cold. I Didn't want to get attached to anyone anymore. All the guards I fell in love with ended up murdered in front of my eyes or just wanted a easy access to the throne.

Drake: Being over 5000 years old, I can see how he probably saw a lot of loved ones die before him. You are not like that anymore, am I wrong? You seem happier then what you just described.

Eleonore: He gave me something I had lost a long time ago, hope. Finally someone I can get attached to without risking to lose them. Finally, someone who believes in my own strength instead of making me rely on others. I just wish I was HIS hope...

Drake: I believe you are already, he seems to warm up the more time you spend with him. He just needs to realize it now.

Eleonore: *She sigh, contemplative for a few seconds, before growing a mischievous smile* What about you Drake? met anyone you fancy?

Drake: Well... huh... this is backward... have you ever heard of aesthetic love?

Eleonore: No? What is it?

Drake: It is the kind of love you feel towards someone when you gaze upon their beauty, like a painting! Someone you love from afar.

Eleonore: And who is your "painting"?

Drake: Its... *blushing in embarrassment* it's Felix...

Eleonore: ... WHAT?

Drake: You wouldn't want to touch a painting right? from fear of ruining it... What I mean is that I am not interested in doing anything with Felix, even if he was into guys... I just want him to be happy. Since the day he saved my life 100 years ago... Even while I was trying to take his... 

Eleonore: Awww

Drake: And I believe you are my best chance at seeing him smile. Picturing you two together, cuddling while gazing at the night sky is a scene I would kill to make happen. You two are very cute together.

Eleonore: You don't plan on watching us... *she blushes a little, giving Drake an accusatory look*

Drake: Oh no no no no no no, I am really not interested in anything... "private" *he grimaces, looking disgusted*, no, I was never into those things... but seeing you two being romantic? *he blushes, lost in tough*

Eleonore: *She starts fidgeting, still blushing* I... I think we are done here, my throat is going soar with all this talking... I will... keep all of this in mind... See you tomorrow Drake!

Drake: In that case, I shall return with miss Silvia. If I am lucky, she might have prepared a delicious dessert. Good luck miss Eleonore!

*Eleonore waves Drake goodbye, and takes the elevator back too Felix's home*

---

Felix: *He Looks all sad, holding a plate of pancakes in his hands* Happy birthday princess...

Eleonore: Wait... is it really today? I completely lost track of time! How did you know!

Felix: Yup, Today is the 20th of August 2000. I like to gather all the information I might need before taking a contract *smirk*. I... I wanted to buy a cake instead, but...

Elenore: Ah yes, that is what you must have been trying to deliver?.. sorry for eavesdropping.

Felix: I tried making panCAKES, I hope that's enough...

*Eleonore grabs the plate with excitation. She takes a bite and is instantly taken by the crispiness. Every bite she takes crunches in her mouth, and they all feel extremely satisfying. Not burned, just cooked to perfection. There is only one problem with them. While the texture was simply divine... they tasted... nothing, blend.*

Eleonore: They are amazing! Best cooking of pancakes I ever tasted! I am kinda glad you couldn't deliver your cake, this is much better. Especially since they are made by you~

Felix: When you control the exact amount of heat injected in your cooking, like me, baking is a piece of cake. I... am not very good with ingredient dosage, however...

Eleonore: I am good at that! Maybe we should cook together one day, I am sure we would make the best pancakes in the world!

Felix: *Melancholic* ... Maybe... I also got you these!

*Felix pulls out two wrapped gift he was hiding behind him*

Felix: I used the time we were separated in Tradesburg to get you these.

Eleonore: Oh Felix, you shouldn't have!

*She unwraps the gift, revealing a book titled "Survival guides: How to recognize mushrooms"*

Eleonore: How did you know I was missing that one! ... Right, my father, thank you very much!

*She unwraps the second gift, it is a beautiful gold and emerald tiara*

Eleonore: ...

Felix: We will make you strong enough to reconquer your kingdom, I promise...

*Tears in her eyes, The princess hugs Felix, who hesitates before returning the hug, but does so with a smile*

Felix: Happy birthday princess.