The Princess' Dream Citadel

[wizardseason]

The Princess' Dream Citadel is a tower surrounded by waterfalls on all sides, surrounded by a spiral staircase that reaches every floor. At the top is a reflective platform below a starry moonlit sky. Within its many floors are any number of amenities that the Princess or the good-allured knights good need.

Each night, the Protector can be found on the roof, stargazing and listening to the sounds of the waterfalls around the tower.

Comments

[eutychia]

"I will," he says. "I'm trying to get the hang of having someone speaking to me in my head still."

[wizardseason]

The Protector decides he's going to do exactly that, since Luka was bringing it up. A moment after Luka says he's getting used to someone speaking in his head, the Protector's voice is now in his head:

"It is necessary."

[eutychia]

He blinks at the sudden change.

"How so? It's not like the animal companions need to hang out in the Knights head all the time. What makes our situation different?"

[wizardseason]

"She cannot overhear me if I do not show myself." He answers matter-of-factly. His words are, after all, far more important than those of the animal companions.

[eutychia]

"That makes sense. I'm kind of surprised she doesn't have some way to breaking into here on her own though. It seems like she can do almost anything."

[wizardseason]

"She can do many things. I have steeled myself against many of them." He pauses, glancing to the waterfalls beyond.

"She will try to turn your knights against you."

[eutychia]

"Well, they're idiots if they do," he says, crossing his arms. "She wants to end the world. What would they get out of that?"

[wizardseason]

"Even if she doesn't succeed, she can promise them what they need. She can provide it." He answers, taking one last puff from his pipe before tilting it out into the air. The ashes fall out of it and get wisped away in a sudden breeze that rushes past both Luka and the Protector.

"No knight is immune to temptation."

[eutychia]

"None? What about the ones you showed me?" Luka pauses.

"That was you who showed me them, right?"

[wizardseason]

"I showed you them." He nods, confirming as he puts his pipe away, turning to the sky to stare at the stars.

"They are not immune. Any knight can be tempted. Even you can be tempted." He pauses, turning back to look at Luka.

"Do not be tempted."

[eutychia]

Luka scoffs.

"I'd really like to see her try."

[wizardseason]

The Protector smiles when Luka so confidently denies the chance. Thank goodness this year's Princess was so determined.

"She will. Know that she tells only lies."

[eutychia]

"Oh, I've had my fair share of experience with lying scumbags, trust me. Nothing new, except the part where she's you know, the Wizard. But I'm hardly worried about that."

[wizardseason]

"Don't underestimate her." His response comes quickly after Luka says he isn't worried. That's a mistake. Always be worried about her.

"She will separate you from the others. And she will separate the knights. She always does."

[eutychia]

"I think there are some Knights in the bunch she could manipulate easily. I'd like to think I'm not like them." Luka says, pacing in his place.

"And we know she's going to try to tempt us. I'm sure she can be convincing, but I'm trying to believe it won't be enough to turn any of us to her side."

[wizardseason]

The Protector's eyes are back on Luka, watching him as he thoughtfully paces. It was good that he was believing him.

"I am not optimistic about that." He comments, pausing for a moment. "I am more familiar with her than the new knights, and she is a great danger."

After a moment, he changes the topics. "Are you pleased with the knights allied with you?"

[eutychia]

"Hm?" The Protector's question seems to have interrupted Luka's thoughts. "Olivia and Rory? Ah..."

He takes a moment to regather himself before answering.

"I respect them. Olivia's really streetwise and Rory, well. She's driven. I like that. But I've hardly gotten to speak to them these past few days, and first impressions don't say much."

[wizardseason]

Sorry Luka, the Protector needs this information so he's directing the conversation towards it. He watches as Luka considers it, giving him the moment to consider it.

"I would like to meet them myself." He answers, calmly. "You can bring them here if you wish it so, tomorrow night."

[eutychia]

"I'll try, if that's what you want," Luka says, folding his arms. "How do I do it?"

[wizardseason]

"Wish it." He answers, before pausing because okay, yeah, sure, it's a vague thing to say to just wish it.

"Think of them before you rest tomorrow and think of this place, imagine them here, and they will come."

[eutychia]

"Oh, that's easy. So they don't get any say in it at all?" He asks with a faint sigh of relief.

[wizardseason]

"They do not." He confirms, before adding: "Though you cannot bring the other ten here in the same manner, only those two."

[eutychia]

"... I see." Luka seems a bit disappointed.

"So I'll bring them along tomorrow night. Are you excited to meet them?"

[wizardseason]

"I am. I have questions I need to ask them." He pauses, observing Luka's disappointment.

"Including some that I did not need to ask you."

[eutychia]

Luka raises an eyebrow.

"What is that supposed to mean?"