Act III

When the sun rises, both the scheming scoundrels are already heading back to their homes. Regis had parted with his accomplice Nythera on they way and entered his home sleepy, but feeling triumphant.

"Good thing that little minx was out hunting. Otherwise rigging the sack would be trouble, even for a Riftwalker."

He starts walking his way to his room to pick up his stuff for later. It was a tedious thing to even try to stay up, but the hope of seeing Robina's face when she comes down smelling like frogzard crap pretty much kept him motivated. He went by his chimney before noticing a cauldron heating in the fireplace.

"Funny, I don't remember setting up breakfast... it smells like Doom sauce…..uh oh."

Outside the lodging, Ash walks over to Regis's home with Draco in his arms. He comes over to the doorstep.

"Regis, I picked up Draco from lady Celestia for you…. Eh?"

Ash seemed to notice red hot sauce seeping from the space beneath his door. He raises an eyebrow and steps to the side before the door bursts open with a screaming Regis covered in Doom sauce running out flailing until he jumps into the river. Ash merely blinks as Draco squirms in his arms, attempting to get inside his rider's home and into its own bed. After a few seconds, Regis emerges from the river and walks towards Ash while grumbling.

"Uhhh, was that Doom sauce?"

"Yes… It was…"

"You know, that stuff isn't even meant to be eaten-"

"I know."

"Well, here's Draco. Little guy keeps squirming; I think he wants to go inside. Although, I don't think that is a good idea. After all, Doom sauce is highly flammable."

The two were caught off guard when Draco finally burped for the first time. The burp would be natural if it weren't for the small bits of fire and ember coming out.

"He burped."

"Aww, he finally burped."

Regis's smile instantly falls off remembering the flammability of Doom sauce.

"Damn…"

Back in the castle, a small mushroom shaped cloud could be seen from the window that Robina is sneaking into. She heard the soft boom as she looked back outside after she got in.

"Hehe, good morning Regis."

A voice calls down from the halls of the castle which echo to Robina's room.

"Victoria, where the devil are you!?"

Despite being used to sneaking out at night, Robina was still quite tired but still called out to her father in reply.

"I'm in my room father!"

"Well get dressed and come down here. I want to introduce you to someone!"

Robina sighs as she takes off her adventuring equipment before stowing it away. She spoke to herself quite exhaustively.

"Not another suitor…"

As it turns out, King Alteon has been looking for a suitor to marry Princess Victoria and to give her, his crowned glory an idea of how important it is to rule a kingdom. After she had finished body preparations like bathing and washing, she moves straight to her closet. Meanwhile downstairs, King Alteon and a prince are having a face to face discussion about the so-called princess."

"Young man, I am sure you will enjoy the company of my daughter."

"And I'm sure you're probably right. So, what is Princess Victoria's best quality?"

"Well, besides the free mind, my daughter is very-"

A loud explosion occurs from upstairs, followed by a frustrated scream. The king was held in a pause before finishing his sentence with his eyes closed after just finding a proper euphemism to describe his daughter's behavior.

"… eccentric."

"A small cloud of green smoke blows out of the corridor along with Robina coming out of the smoke coughing. Sir Ano, who was just standing nearby, quickly tried to cover his nose and mouth. Unfortunately his nose was just far too big to block out the scent of frogzard feces. King Alteon and the Prince immediately stood up and ran over to the stairwell entrance to find Victoria

"By the horns of Akriloth, what is that smell!? I can't breath!"

"Victoria! Listen Prince William, I apologize for this I-"

"No no, it's quite alright. Your daughter's entrance has just made me think about my life and choices. Please excuse me for my sudden escape-… err I mean departure while I think about my reflections. I shall send you a messenger."

With that, the now teary eyed prince runs out of the hall. You could say that he bolted out of there leaving an annoyed king and a smelly princess.

"Father, I-"

"Go upstairs Victoria, and clean that smell off."

"But-"

"Now!"

A couple of hours later, Warlic stands in front of his tent as usual as he sees a figure appear from the forest. A horse and a rider emerge from the shadows quite slowly. Unfortunately, the rider turns out to be Regis, who appears to be suffering first degree burns practically everywhere on his body. The horse slowly stops next to the surprised Warlic before he looks up to Regis with curiosity.

"What happened to you?"

"Something good, and something bad."

"Let's hear the good first."

"Well, Draco finally burped."

Regis seemed to smile to the very prospect of his little dragon growing up. He spoke as best as he could but sounded rasps which makes Warlic inquire for what happened.

"Congratulations, though I doubt that a little dragon's burp can do that to you unless you grew him again with a dragon amulet, so what's the bad?"

"My house was covered in Doom sauce at the time."

"Why was your house covered in-"

"A strike of evil Warlic, a strike of evil."

"I see, well I have some healing balm that can remedy side effects sustained by stuff like Doom sauce. But first, let's get you down from there."

"How?"

"With magic, duh."

"Oh."

Warlic waves his staff gently but a large gust of wind blows Regis right off the saddle and unto the ground, on some of his burns.

"Agh, couldn't your magic be a little gentler?"

"Sorry about that. Where is Draco anyway?"

"He's back at Celestia's for now. At least until I find a new home."

Warlic helps Regis unto his feet and leads him into the tent. Inside, he lets him sit down on one of the beds in the healing ward.

"Alright, you just stay right there and I'll go get the healing balm."

As Regis takes off his upper garments to apply the balm on, Warlic leaves the ward and closes the curtains to look for it until another voice could be faintly heard as it just entered. Seconds later, the curtains of the healing ward open to Robina who was also looking for something to get rid of the smell of frogzard feces. They looked at each other in surprise and and a little embarrassed for a moment before starting again with their arguments out of the blue.

"You!"

"Oh look, well if it isn't her royal stinkiness."

"Right back at you, hot stuff. Hope you enjoyed breakfast."

"Not as much as you enjoyed your new perfume. I think it suits you."

A single sound interrupts them before the both answered to it in sync.

"Ahem."

"What!?"

Robina was a little embarrassed about yelling to the Archmage before she apologized to him.

"Oh, I'm sorry Warlic."

"It's fine. But, I have some bad news. There only seems to be one jar of healing balm and it's not enough for the both of you. I'll just leave it here and let you two RATIONALLY decide who should get it."

He puts the balm on the table before leaving the two to talk it over. Warlic exits the tent to find Nythera standing near the entrance.

"You lied just now. A new batch of healing balm arrived just this morning."

"Well, it's just to get those two to get along a little better."

Not two seconds after Warlic's line, Robina bursts out of the tent running away with the healing balm leaving Regis at the side difficult to move because of the burns.

"Mine!"

Robina yelled out as she chuckled away.

"I'll get you back for this!"

Warlic and Nythera look at each other as Regis enters back into the tent to put his gear back on.

"You were saying, Warlic?"

"They are getting along very well."

"What?"

"You will know soon enough my apprentice."

"I just don't get you sometimes."

Around noon time, Regis manages to reach Falconreach on his horse to find someone who has the specialty to heal his burns. Meanwhile on his way, he could hear people whispering about him as he passes them by. This made him a little conscious for a moment since it was about him.

"What's with everyone?"

He thought to himself as one villager approached him.

"Excuse me Regis, may I ask you something?"

"Yeah sure go ahead."

"Do you spend a great deal of time with Robina?"

"Well, she is a fellow adventurer and-"

Before Regis could say anymore, the villager runs off.

"Hey wait! ... The heck was that all about?"

He ponders for a moment in confusion and shakes his head before heading off to Reens's potion shop. He enters to find both Reens and Alina at the table. He makes a sigh and closes the door as the two look at him and his burns.

"What happened to you?"

"Long story short; Open flame and a whole lot of Doom sauce. I need some help, Warlic ran out of healing balm and Twilly is out for the day."

"Well, you've come to the right place. Please take off your clothes where you have burns and we'll heal you up."

"Don't I just have to drink the potions?"

"Well, no. Your burns are from Doom sauce, you're gonna need some more specialized potions for that."

"Uhmm, but I am burnt everywhere."

"Everywhere everywhere?"

"Yeah."

"Ahh okay then."

"That doesn't bother you two?"

"Nope."

Regis merely shrugs before taking off his upper garments the funnily strange instance Rolith walks in through the door and both Alina and Reens approach Regis with vials in hands. Regis looks towards Rolith with surprised eyes as everyone stopped moving.

"Rolith, uhhhhm. This is not what it looks like."

"I'm pretty sure it is. Doom sauce burns really hurt, don't they?"

"Uhhh…. Yeah… they do"

Regis shakes his head just surprised that no one misinterprets these situations. Well, it was a good thing. As he was already finished with his applications, he looks to Rolith for some help.

"Hey uhhh, Rolith. My house blew up and I really need a place to stay."

"Why don't you just stay at the castle? You're supposed to be Princess Victoria's escort right? I'm sure King Alteon will let you have a room somewhere so that it makes your job easier. Speaking of which, shouldn't you be at the castle now?"

The very instant Regis hears about his current task as a bodyguard, he remembers that he has to be at the castle before noon. The idea of living close to Robina was unnerving for him but he currently does not have many options until he gets paid.

"Crap, I really do. Thanks Rolith, Reens, Alina, I will pay you two when I get paid."

"Don't worry; this one is on the house. Just make sure you don't get burned like that again too soon."

Regis had rushed putting on all of his armor and left the shop to head for the castle.

"Will do!"

Thanks to being a Riftwalker, Regis soon arrived at the halls right on time to check in with King Alteon. After having normal discussion regarding the protocols for protecting Princess Victoria, especially when she goes into her Robina state and leaves the castle grounds, Regis asks the king for the help of lodgings.

"King Alteon, I have a request while I go about my task."

"Speak, Regis."

"I would like to have a temporary lodging for me to stay. See, my house on the edge of Falconreach blew up and I have no place to stay. So for the time being, I would like to request for a servant's lodging."

King Aleon merely laughs before agreeing to Regis's request to stay within the castle walls.

"Of course you may have a room. Hell, take one of the knight's lodgings."

"No, I couldn't."

"Nonsense boy, go ahead. It is my honor to have a hero such as you living in my castle. Anything I can do to help, just ask. Servants, please escort Sir Felliand to the room later tonight at the base of the west tower, bellow Victoria's room."

"Thank you for your generosity and hospitality your majesty."

"You're welcome, now off you go."

After the entire day of having to put up with watching Princess Victoria being a brat to him since she has not even left her room because of the frogzard stink bomb incident at the morning, Regis retires for the night into his room designated by the servants. He looks about the neatly made room before looking to the servants. He soon sits down to take off his armor. He reaches for the knots at the back of his chest plate but could not undo them. He realized that in his haste of putting back his armor, he did not make the proper knots and buckles thus making them stuck. If he could see it, he could be able to remove the knots but his neck doesn't exactly stretch out as it needs to do just that. Though he was used to wearing armor for long periods of time, he just didn't feel comfortable sleeping in it. So, he looks to the servants for some assistance.

"Uh, do any of you know how to put on and take off armor?"

Each of the servants look at each other in confusion as none of them know how to operate on armor until one of them raises a hand.

"I know someone who can."

The servants leave the room to call for the closest person who knew how to work with armor and would still be awake to do so, leaving Regis to sit down and wait while the cold night air creeps through his steel plates. After waiting a while in his room, wondering how to get his armor off by himself, the creaking sound of the door opening captures his attention. Upon looking to the doorway he spots a woman who strides in her green and ivory night gown and has let her hair down completely without it being bound up or tied by a piece of cloth. One of the first things that stood out to Regis in the night were her blue eyes peering from her auburn locks which belonged the last person he wanted to see in his room tonight.

"Having trouble with our armor are we?"

"I should've figured."

"Hey, you should be a little more grateful. I don't want to be anywhere near you because of what you did."

Regis could only think amusingly towards his stink bomb prank that he pulled on her earlier in the day. In fact, all he could do was smirk.

"What's the matter, did your charm drive away another hopeless dweeb?"

"Not without your stink bomb it did. Still. . ."

Robina walked her way to sit next to Regis on the bedside but gave a light punch to his shoulder as she sat down. She soon starts untying the bad knots holding Regis's armor together.

"Aside from humiliating me in front of my own father, you did buy me some time to be free a little longer so I could make you suffer."

"Heh, so am I hearing a threat, or an appreciation?"

Robina would only shrug before she replied.

"A little bit of both."

"Just like my breakfast?"

"Yeah, pretty much. You know, spicy food does wake you up."

"Oh believe me, it did."

Apart from the curtains moving and the wind whistling, the silence in the room had the both of them feeling a little weird just talking like this. Regis wasn't one to thrive on such situations since he was usually the accomplice, if not the third wheel. So, he tries to start a conversation.

"You know, Draco burped for the first time today."

"Really, congratulations. He's growing really fast."

"Yeah, he can already climb up the table, without flying."

"Wow, where is he now?"

"He is with Celestia. I needed someone to keep an eye on him for now."

"I got it."

"Huh?"

Robina had finished undoing Regis's straps and helped him take off his armor. By the time they loosened his chain mail; Robina stood up and went to the door.

"I'm pretty sure you can take off your chain mail at this point."

"Yeah, I can do it."

The two looked at each other with their eyes looking away and back. They just stood there for a few seconds, silent until Robina looked out the hall and back.

"Well, good night."

"G'night, princess."

"Just go to sleep."

Ironically smiling, Robina left the hall, leaving Regis to finish up with his change to something comfortable to sleep in. After which, he walks up to the window and looks out until the sound of a voice coming from Sir Ano leaning beside his window opening from the outside.

"You sure you don't need her to keep you warm?"

"Gahh!"

Regis stepped back and almost picked up his sword before Sir Ano shows up on the window sill.

"Easy hero, I rather die of old age than a sword."

"You scared the crap out of me."

"You know; for a hero of your caliber, you sure get caught off guard easily."

"I have a lot on my mind recently."

"Besides the princess?"

"Oh real funny."

"Not as funny as you two gawking at each other."

"How long were you out there?"

"The whole damn time."

Regis gives Sir Ano something of an irritated look because of the idea of Sir Ano eavesdropping on their entire conversation.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about your love affairs."

Regis rolls his eyes back in some slight annoyance before lightly pushing Sir Ano further from the window.

"Get lost."

"Good night, lover boy."

"Now."

Sir Ano already runs off to wherever as Regis lays down on his bed to rest for the night.