~ Day 11- Fairy Tale ~
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a courageous adventurer, known by everyone. She was a strong and reckless girl who had a tongue as sharp as the sword she had battled countless enemies with. No treasure could hide from her. No rare beast would go unslain.
So, one day, the adventurer came across a small country that was ruled solely by an old king whose health was very poor. As he heard about the legendary adventurer coming to his kingdom, though, he had her summoned immediately. And when she bowed low in front of him, he greeted her in tears.
"Oh, brave swordswoman! How long I have been waiting for someone like you!", he said and wiped his eyes. "I am not to stay alive much longer, dear girl, as I can feel my life dwindling away. And as I am gone, my people will take this land for their own!"
"Then what do you need me for, your majesty?", the girl asked. "I cannot assist you much. Even if you said I shall go take your kingdom for myself, my heart is only beating for the treasures and journeys this world has to offer."
The king coughed terribly. "If it is as you say, adventurer, then I offer you a chance to explore places unknown to you", he told her and the girl perked up. "My only son has been cursed by an evil witch and has ever since been sleeping more and more, so that I am afraid he'll never wake up one day! Only getting rid of the object bearing that spell will make it go away. Surely, the witch must be holding onto it!"
And so, the adventurer accepted the offer and went to travel great lengths into the country's most remote part. Over the tall mountains and through the deepest swamps, the girl travelled, all in order to retrieve a single item she didn't know either the name or appearance of.
As she arrived at the house of the witch, hidden deep inside a forest littered with dangerous animals, she felt relief wash over her. She had dealt with witches a few times already. This would be but a walk in the park. And if the witch was gone, her curse would either disappear the second she died or the adventurer would have it easy going through her things.
She knocked at the door. No-one answered her. That was to be expected. But as she was about to kick down the door, a voice came from within. "Hold up a second! I'm coming already!" And then, the door was opened and the witch stood before her.
Even though she was clad in black, she wore several red accessories. Her long hair was orderly and its dark brown colour shone in the lights of the forest. But the strangest thing was her kind smile. The adventurer froze. Was this truly the one who cursed a prince?
"Well, hello there!", she said. "I am Ayano, the witch! I do not often get to welcome visitors here, so I do believe you require my services?"
"I do", the adventurer responded and brought her blade to the witch's throat. "You cursed the prince? I came here to have you lift that spell. If you do not wish to cooperate, I will strike you down without further ado."
"My, my", the witch laughed. "You have such a pretty face but your temper is so short." The witch stepped back into her house. "But I am willing to lift the spell if you so desire. I almost forgot about it. That poor boy probably is not feeling too well", she pondered aloud as the adventurer watched her dig through her belongings.
Then, Ayano came back after a while and placed something in the adventurer's hands. The girl looked at it. It was a bone of a dragon. She had seen them many times. "Do you not want anything in return? Is this not a trick?", she asked suspiciously.
"No tricks, no gimmicks", the witch said softly and closed the girl's hands around the bone. "Break it and he will be free from the curse." She laughed. "But to think that I hurt that person in order to let the king know that I fancied on of his ministers was a terrible action", Ayano muttered.
"Then I will be on my way again", the adventurer told the witch who nodded at that.
"Have a safe trip!", she yelled after her. But then, "Wait, what is your name?"
"I am Takane, adventurer and dubbed the Dancer of Lightning!"
And, after spending a lot of time on the way back to the castle of the king, Takane finally arrived. Asking for the king, the people informed her that he had already passed away. The adventurer ran up the stairs of the castle, past everyone, as she went looking for the prince's room. As she found it, she opened the doors.
Inside, on the bed, lay a dark-haired boy her own age, breathing softly. As she got closer, she looked down on him. Muttering a quiet promise, she then broke the dragon's bone she had received from the witch and broke it in two.
Immediately, the prince's eyes snapped open.
"Who are you?", he asked the adventurer and Takane responded by telling him her name and her previous mission. Nodding, he accepted her explanation. "Then, as I appreciate you going great lengths for me, I am asking you: do you want to become my queen?"
The adventurer thought about it for a second. But then, feeling her adventure-thristy heart suddenly stilling and telling her to accept, she agreed on marrying the prince.
And they lived happily ever after.
...
Takane looked at Haruka dumbstruck.
"There is so much wrong with this, I can't even describe it in less than sixty words", she said and placed the sheets on the hospital bed.
"Well, I was bored", Haruka offered weakly and scratched the back of his neck. "Besides, you would make a great adventurer! Imagine all the things you could go and see! I'm sure you could handle everything, too."
"That's not the point. I'm not complaining about my role", Takane told him and crossed her arms. "It's mostly the fact that you had us marrying in the end. What were you even thinking? That's terribly rude!"
Haruka just laughed at that.
Takane hated fairy tales.