*After a good night of sleep, the princess gets out of bed. Tonight was the safest she ever felt for a long night, but the events from yesterday night kept her awake for a little while. Why was Felix crying? Was it because of that photo? Did she bring back a painful memory? Those are questions she will have to ask Drake. After a nice little breakfast, they start heading to the elevator*

Eleonore: You mention I can do holy magic? I have no idea how I cast that spell!

Felix: What you did is what the elves call an “Invocation du désespoir” or desperation cast if you prefer. When a mage is trapped in a corner and risks losing their life, the caster instinctively reaches for all their energy stored inside them to cast a spell that would normally be outside of their experience range. It's a great way of learning spells, but is highly discouraged because of how risky it is. You have to literally look death in the eyes and use all your energy in the hope of saving yourself. You can’t just fake it, you have to be sure that you will die, and the spell could hit the people that would try to artificially recreate the sensation.

Eleonore: If I understand correctly, I can use that spell again?

Felix: Indeed milady.

Eleonore: “protegas me ut lux” 

*A light shield once again protects Eleonore in the direction she is looking, Felix punches the shield to demonstrate that it is indeed there and resilient*

Eleonore:  Noice, that could come in handy!

*They reach the gate, where Drake is waving to a little Kobold family. He prepares his snow-white horse to follow the group.*

Eleonore: We are not going to the dungeon directly I hope! We are definitely not prepared for it! we need food, potions, bandages, tools like knives…

Felix: There’s a village on the way. I brought some gold. You will each get a share when we get there. I shall lead the way.

Drake: And where is this dungeon?

Felix: I don’t know.

Eleonore: WHAT!?

Felix: We will pick a nearby quest in the said village.

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*The trio heads to the plain in direction of a little village, Felix is leading the troupe far ahead, making sure nobody is following them. The princess uses the opportunity to talk with Drake.*

Eleonore: Drake, I have to talk to you, it's about Felix.

Drake: What is it, princess?

Eleonore: You know him since a long time right?

Drake: Since half my life milady, and I’m 200 years old! I Still remember the day I tried to take his life for the first time, ha ha ha. He decided to spare me and told me I had to train better if I wanted to have a chance of beating him.

Eleonore: Does he have any friends?

Drake: Not that I know of, he lives a pretty secluded life and makes more enemies than friends. In fact, I don't think I saw him ever make friends. I try my best to be there for him, but he keeps on pushing me back for some reason

Eleonore: Is he not a bit of a jerk towards you?

Drake: Ha ha ha, worry not, princess, I make sure to give him back the treatment whenever I'm the one that wins the duel. You should see him when I demand he kneels to me, ha ha ha.

Eleonore: I found a photo of a young lady in his home. *Drake eyes go wide* it was surrounded by flowers. It said her name was “Sarah”

Drake: *His smile melts instantly* What kind of flowers!!?

Eleonore: Orchids

*Drake expression goes dark, like she had announced a terrible news*

Drake: Of all the theories, that one had to be the right answer. It is worse than I feared.

Eleonore: She is the sidekick you mentioned yesterday right? You didn’t want to let me know it was a girl.

Drake: Do you know what those orchids mean?

Eleonore: No.

Drake: When used for something like… a funeral, they have the signification “I will always love you”

Eleonore: …

Drake: I fear this confirmed that something happened to her and that she didn’t survive. They looked so happy together, and it was one of the rare moments I could see him smile. He was also less of a jerk towards me when she was around.

*This triggers a flashback in Eleonore’s mind where she see’s Felix smiling for the first time in the training room, she felt like it was the first time Felix ever open himself to her*

Eleonore: I also… surprised him crying last night

Drake: He must still be grieving, this happened only 10 years ago.

Felix: We arrived! Welcome to Tradesburg!

Eleonore: Original...

Felix: Hey, I'm not the one who named the city.

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*It was a small country town filled mostly with farmers and merchants. Orcs, Elves, Humans, catfolks and even a few red-scaled kobolds are roaming the streets. They arrived in the middle of a grand sale festival, and the streets are filled with temporary shops and the like. Eleonore eyes a gleaming with excitement*

Eleonore: Wow, so many colours! Such diversity in the people! Oh! food!

Felix: I’m guessing your Capital is mostly filled with humans I presume?

Eleonore: The peoples of a city tend to be as closed-minded as the place they live in, and castles are known for their giant stone wall fortifications. Oh, what is this! *she points at a rice ball*

Cat merchant: Come try our assortment of delicious sushi!

Felix: Here, I will give both of you a little budget for you two to spend, I will go see the mayor for any jobs that have to be done around here

*What to buy? Drake didn’t know where to look first. Checking on the princess, he saw she was looking at all the exotic meals scattered all around. As a man approaches Eleonore with what seems like ill intents, Drake ready his blade, but he is quickly dispatched after Eleonore give him a powerful punch in the chest*

Eleonore: Common, is that all you’ve got? I’m used to much better!

*Drakes chuckles. The merchant, impressed, gives her a discount. Drake was still lost as to what he could get with his budget. After all, he much prefers to go empty-handed, using what he can find on the spot. One thing catches his eyes tough, and he buys it almost instantly*

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*After an hour, they meet back to a specific location a bit outside of the town*

Felix: Okay, let’s see what you two go… really?

*A bit embarrassed, Drake came back with what looks like only a gold bracelet ornated by a few black jewels, one in the shape of a crow*

Felix *hand on his face, looking a bit irritated*: Please tell me it is at least magic, tell me it protects from… whatever!

Drake *Like a kid being reprimanded* : No... it just looks pretty...

Felix: *sigh* Give me back what is left of the gold! What about you pr… oh by my father.... *sigh*

*Eleonore was dragging a giant sack behind her. Apparently, she managed to get a few bargains. The bag was so big, it was 1 and a half her size. The princess had quite a bit of trouble dragging it. A hole had been made by the floor and the content was spilling*

Felix: *murmuring* couldn't get an in-between *normal voice* What the hell is in there?

Eleonore: *brings out a long list* I got four medkits, 5 meters of rope, food for about two weeks, 2 litres of holy water, 5 litres of normal water, a 10-foot pole…

Drake: A 10-foot pole?

Eleonore: Yeah, very useful to poke things from a distance, like shrooms or traps! A demon-warding cross, flint&steel, bedrolls, 3 lanterns, various pots for cooking, lock-picks, a book about traps, a book about plants, 2 bear traps…

Felix: Bear traps!? We are not gonna worry about bears *sigh*. Grab what you can carry, and we will leave the rest here. I got a quest from the mayor, so I know where to go. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go somewhere private, don’t follow me.

*As he turns around, Drake notices a big cut in Felix’s red cape and is soaked in what looks like water. His skin looked very pale and little drops of blood traced his steps. He goes behind a small hill, and then comes back, feeling a bit better*

Felix *seemingly a bit annoyed*: Okay, follow me guys

Drake *Whispering to Felix*: Did you just… What happened?

Felix: *ignores him*

*3 hours of Eleonore and Drake arguing about what to bring and what not to bring on a quest adventure and Felix staying as far as safely possible from the conversation later, they arrive at their destination. Stairs leading down some sort of abandoned mining camp with dwarven architecture.*

Drake: Oh great, an underground dungeon...