*The duo enters a giant room. A tiny slope leads to what looks like a giant sandbox filled with training dummies. The walls are coated with a wide variety of weapons, from bows to swords, maces, and lances, even weapons the princess didn’t know even existed! As she glances at the wide arsenal, her eyes stop at a slim sword with a round handle*

Felix: I see that you have chosen the rapier. It is a light sword which favorizes quick movement and dexterity. Unlike a broadsword, you don’t aim at exhausting your opponent with strong hits but rather rely on quick attacks and openings in the opponent's guard.

*Felix faces the princess and invites her to a duel. He plans on going easy on the princess and takes a flimsy pose. He readies his sword and prepares to teach her the basis of lateral and horizontal attacks, but the confident smile of the princess put him on edge. He readies a proper battle stance just in time to block the princess's first strike. One leg toward Felix, she swings multiple menacing swings that force him to step back. Did the king lie when he said she didn’t know how to fight? Did she take secret classes? The princess gains more and more ground as Felix was not prepared for a real fight. His back against the wall, he cannot dodge The princess's next attack. She cut his shoulder. At the sight of blood drawn by her blade, the princess takes one step back in shock. Felix uses this opening to do a powerful swing that knocks the rapier out of the princess's hand. He then proceeds to slide his sword below her arm, like he just stabbed her chest. Their faces are pretty close, and the princess can see a happy and childish smile on Felix's face. Is he... Having fun? When Felix realizes the face he is making, he turns around and sheath his sword. His attitude return to his cold and formal self*

Felix: You really surprised me there princess. I didn’t know you could use a sword!

Eleonore: I don’t, but I did take some fencing classes. It is a sport many nobles practise. It is a little loophole I found in my late father's "No fighting lessons" rule.

Felix: I see, this is why you were shocked when you hit me, you are used to fighting as a sport, not to take lives. But know full well princess that what you have in your hand is not a stick with a round shape on the end of it, but a real and sharp weapon that was forged to kill! I shall teach you what you miss to turn your fencing skills into real battle expertise! Frankly, I must say I'm glad that you have at least a little bit of knowledge with a blade, this should speed things up a bit.

Eleonore with a snarky smile: Impressed are we Mr. Felix? Next time we fight, I shall be the one to be victorious! I will train hard so the student can beat the master!

Felix: I sure hope one day you will surpass my sword skills! *with a smile* but you are no match against my fire magic! Can you wait over here? Since you already know how to swing a sword, I have something that I want to give you.

*Felix left the room, the princess was pretty curious about the surprise the phoenix was preparing. Since they met a few days ago and he didn't have time to go back home, so it must be something he already had and he figured would fit her. While he was gone, the princess explored the room. The majority of the dummies seemed equipped with various pieces of armor, runes, and trinkets. This must be where Felix tests his various findings. One dummy boar scorch marks yet the armor is untouched. In a similar pattern, all the other dummies had marks of being hit by various elements with chestplates untouched or partially damaged. A ray of light caught the princess's attention, it was coming from the other side of where they came from. After passing through the giant door-shaped hole, the princess realized she was stepping on the rock platform she saw before entering the kobold's gate*

Felix: I see that you have found my balcony milady. Be careful, I still haven't installed a fence to prevent people from falling. I keep forgetting since Drake and I can fly.

Eleonore: Wait, doesn’t that defeat the reason why having a dungeon with puzzles down there? can't you just fly over here if you “forget your keys”? Why give the opportunity for an unwanted guest to be able to come into your room? Could you not also just carry me up here? It would have saved us from crossing that maze of puzzles.

Felix: Well you see the reason is… It is important for me to… argh fine, I just like the idea of having my own lair! I mean I have complex puzzles and exotic beast in there! It's like a Dragon dungeon! If it rains, I cannot fly as the water would extinguish my wings. I like to have a way to enter my home without the need to fly, and I cannot carry someone on my back as my wings are just strong enough to carry my own weight.

*Felix sounded like he was vexed that Eleonore found a flaw in his little castle, however, she couldn't resist smiling at the seemingly childish expression he was making. She then focused on what Felix was holding. It would seem that the surprise was a pretty set of partially plated leather armor with a brown cape. Felix suggested that she changed in the guest room. The guest room was to the first room to the right of the main room. Eleonore noticed that the guest room is located next to what looked like Felix's sleeping quarters. The guest room had a queen-sized bed with a few storage drawers. The few objects that were lying here and there gave the impression that the last locator was a woman.*

Felix: This will be your room for the night milady!

*Felix's voice was coming from the other side of the closed door. Surprisingly, The armor was a perfect fit. When she was done changing, she steps out of the room to find Felix waiting, his back facing the door. When he turns around, Felix doesn’t say a word.*

Eleonore Thinking: Is he... crying?

*A tear rained down one of Felix’s eyes. He looked both moved and sad by the image of the princess wearing the armor he gave her.*

Felix, mumbling: If only I gave her this armor sooner… maybe she wouldn't be…

Eleonore: Are you alright Mr. phoenix?

Felix: Y… YES… Let us continue with your training. It is time I teach you how to use magic!

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Eleonore: How does casting spells work exactly?

Felix: Before trying to learn a spell, you should figure out what kind of affinity you have.

Eleonore: Affinity?

Felix: Yes, anyone can theoretically learn how to cast any spell, but the time it takes to learn a spell depends on how much affinity you have for that element. For example: “Et mittent Viburnum apud te”

*caught by surprise, the princess has no time to dodge the snowball that Felix threw at her. After a little laugh, Felix continues*

Felix: It took me 100 years to learn that one, kinda weak, but sometimes worth it, ha ha ha.

Eleonore: Wow, why did you decide to spend all this time learning such small spell?

Felix: I figured having at least one ice spell would be useful, also it is pretty amusing to be able to throw snowballs on command.

Eleonore: So how do you gain affinity? You said mine was holy magic?

Felix: Depending on how you live your life, you might gain affinity based on the elements around you. For example, a farmer would gain earth and plant-based magic. Being a member of a royal family, I'm guessing that praying at a gold idol is part of your weekly routine. God tends to favour those that give him faith by giving them holy magic in return.

Eleonore: So you get holy affinity simply by praying?

Felix: The altars are important, as they act as amplifiers for your faith generation. Have you ever asked yourself why gold is loved so much even if it has almost no practical utility? It's because gold has the power to multiply the power of prayers. It is even better if you add some precious stones. The altar that was in the forest is a good example of it. But there is also another reason why you got so much holy magic affinity.

Eleonore: What do you mean?

Felix: Did your mother give you anything? Something in the shape of an orb?

Eleonore: No, she didn’t, why?

Felix: Are you sure?

Eleonore: Well, she did give me this amulet…

*The princess takes out a gold amulet that was hidden inside her chest. In the center of the amulet, A small white sphere seems forged inside the circular and details pendant.”

Felix: I knew it! You see, humans have developed a way to make learning spells easier to counteract their shorter lifespan.

Eleonore: You mean this orb inside my amulet?

Felix: Yes. Powerful mages will bind their soul to an orb like this one. When they die, their affinity will be transferred inside the orb, and so their apprentice will receive their expertise.

Eleonore: If you need a magician to die to make those orbs, all the orbs that are in the market should be worth a fortune!

Felix: You can also charge an orb the same way any living being would gain affinity, but at a much slower rate. They tend to be those common cheap orbs that you find at the market.

Eleonore: This orb seems a little small, does that mean it is weak?

Felix: That is a lie spread by merchants that want to sell you petty orbs, the size of the orb doesn’t matter. They are even made to be able to change size easily so you can put them at the end of staves or inside jewelry like this one.

*Felix touches the orb of the amulet, and makes it changes size, going to a crystal ball size to a tiny marble, before putting it back in the amulet.*

Eleonore: How do you tell if an orb is strong?

Felix: If the orb is filled with a lot of affinity, the magic will start to influence the orb with its element. An ice orb will be cold to the touch, and if really strong, ice will even form on it. I can see that your orb is really strong since it even gives a faint glow. It would be more visible in the dark. try saying “retexuit orbem, ostende mihi faciem tuam pleno robore!”

Eleonore: “retexuit orbem, ostende mihi faciem tuam plenam fortitudinem?”

*as she finishes her incantation, A blinding flash emanates from the orb, blinding both the princess and the phoenix. It takes them a few seconds before recovering sight*

Felix: *Rubbing his eyes* I can confirm this powerful holy orb, I might have underestimated it even... My eyes still hurt...

Eleonore: What did you make me say?

Felix: To make them safe, the orbs contain the affinity inside to a non-harmful level. This is why you can touch, for example, an ice orb safely even if it has ice on it, it won't freeze your finger. I simply made you ask it to show us its real strength.

Eleonore: Do you have an orb mister Felix?

Felix: No. I already have quite a long lifespan. so I don’t really need one. Plus, I could not bind my soul to an orb apparently.

Eleonore: Why is that?

Felix: I don’t really understand myself, Lucy told me I was "made out of fire" or something like that. I could use an ice or water orb to compensate for my extreme lack of affinity in those elements, but I can't bind myself to one to transfer my affinity.

Eleonore: So having affinity of a particular element makes it harder to have affinity in another element? Like fire against water?

Felix: Normally no. From experience, it seems related to your species, and humans are particularly neutral. Apparently, I am a special case. I don’t remember why. Lucy tried explaining it to me but I didn't understand *scratches the back of his head*

Eleonore: I see.

*After a good day of practice, the sun was starting to go down. The night was approaching*

Felix: It seems like it is almost time to go to sleep milady. Tomorrow, we shall go to the market to go buy some adventuring supplies so we can go to your first dungeon.

Eleonore: A dungeon!?

Felix: Yes. Puzzles, traps, monsters, and a reward at the end! It will be perfect practice to hone your new fighting skills.

Eleonore: O...Okay

Felix: Do not worry, Drake shall be part of the party. He still has a week of servitude since he lost against me in that duel. It was actually good timing. King Bertrand also asked us to go see him next week, so we have time to kill.

*With the smile on Felix’s face, the princess could hardly say no to his plans. It looked like in the last few hours, Felix had finally warmed up to her. Both of them proceed to go to their room for the night*

Felix: Good night princess. Sleep safely here, only fools would dare try to attack you on my territory.

Eleonore: Good night Felix.

---------------------

*Eleonore stands in her royal chambers facing the window. The windows are barred shut with wooden planks. A man is on his knee*

Romeo: Eleonore, my Eleonore! A second without gazing into the grassy hills of your eyes is like an eternity spent crawling in the deserts of the south branch!

*looking from the position of the barred window, we see Eleonore whose green eyes boar no pupils, as if faded... broken.*

Eleonore: Leave me, you are but an inconvenience.

Romeo: But princess! Why stay in this prison you call a castle when we could be free exploring the lands...

Eleonore: I do not have time to waste walking next to a corpse-to-be. Now do your job and guard the door to my royal chambers

*The man leaves the room, dejected*

Eleonore: *Sigh* It wasn't long ago I would have taken that offer, in fact, I did many times. Sadly, genuine or just a ploy to gain more power, it always ends up with me rescued next to a pool of blood.

-------------------

Eleonore: *Gasp* *pant*... My own brain is betraying me now, I did not need a reminder of my old self.

???: *sobbing*

*Her senses on alert, Eleonore decides to go investigate. She reaches the main room. Listening in to find the location of the sound, Eleonore determines it is coming from the training area. A silhouette is crying while sitting on the balcony*

Felix: *sob* *sniff*

*Felix!? The princess recognized the shape of the shadow and the voice coming from it. She was right, he is hiding something from her. She could feel pressure on her chest like someone was grabbing it. She could feel a liquid running down her face*

Eleonore Thinking: Tears? Why am I crying?

Felix: *soft crying*

Eleonore Thinking: Aside from my father's passing, I didn't know I even still had tears left to cry... But I don't want to go back to being... hopeless again. However, what could possibly make HIM sad? Is it related to the portrait? But who could I ask about... Drake! Will it work? I don't know, he keeps calling him a "rival" or even his "eternal enemy”, but Drake himself seems to consider him more like a long-time friend...

*Eleonore walks back to her guest room, still deep in thoughts*

Eleonore: I have no choice, Drake seems to know him the longest. Everyone else, Felix seems to try and avoid. I can't stay idle pretending to not know, maybe I can do something for him in return. After all, he is the reason I regained hope...

*Eleonore blushes a little as she tucks herself back into bed*

Eleonore: Oh dear, that was as cheesy as... what was that guy's name again? Roger? I don't remember...