The Regali-Pristel family home. A beautiful, massive tree that excessively towered over the entire forest, and the three of us were about to enter it.

  Like the vilge gate, there were guards stationed at the entrance to the tree. Unlike the gate guards, however, these ones were wearing some kind of metallic armor, matching the spears they held and the shortswords at their hips.

  Luci walked forward with Tahli to say something, and after a nod of affirmation from a guard, she waved me forward. I soon caught up to the pair and we entered through the doors together. Once through, I could instantly tell that this pce was occupied by royalty.

  The inside managed to look like a real pace despite how everything was made from a tree. If anything, the atmosphere of the organic room filled with wooden furniture really left a nice impression on me. It looked like some kind of dining hall, other than the complete absence of food of course.To complete the feeling, the room even had a host of maids running around to fulfill their allotted tasks.

  "This way, you two."

  Luci led us to the side of the hall, which had a staircase decending alongside the slight curve of the wall. Tahli looked around with a grim expression - and the first time I've seen her without her typical smile - but before she did anything, her elder sister grabbed her by the wrist.

  "Oh no, you're not getting out of this one, Lia."

  "P-please?" The younger girl had tears forming in her eyes. It was honestly so cute I doubted anyone could resist, but...

  "No. If I don't let Mom do this you're never gonna learn. Besides, we have a guest. Behave yourself."

  "Okay..."

  The stairs led to a small nding, and opposite from the wall of the tree, there was a rge pair of double-doors. Continuing forward from the nding, there was another set of stairs to descend.

  "Over here."

  "Right." I expected that we would continue further down, but Luci walked over to the doors and pushed them open. On the other side was a small corridor and another set of doors with a few more guards like the ones outside.

  "Princess. The King and Queen are inside. They've just finished receiving the envoy from the Stub Mountains, so they're likely eager for a break. You couldn't have come at a better time, ma'am."

  "Thank you. Come on Mira, my parents are just in here."

  Right. I've already gotten so comfortable around her that I've forgotten her parents are the rulers of an entire kingdom. I'm kind of nervous now...

  Tahli audibly gulped as Luci opened the door, revealing the throne room and her parents. The throne room wasn't too special, everything else we've passed through was much more extravagantly decorated, but this pce felt more grand. It had a dark brown carpet threaded with leaf-green borders that blended nicely with the lighter brown floor as it led to the two thrones, which were both made out of wood at the base with the rest having the same brown color and green outlines. Aside from this, the only other decorations were the guards lining the walls, about ten on either side, and two banners. One had what looked like a hammer fttening a mountain, and the other had a pointed star above a beautiful tree. Whatever they mean, I have no idea.

  Atop the thrones were the rulers of the kingdom. The king was tall and thin, but still had a clear amount of muscle him. He had a clean-shaven face with a well-defined jawline, green eyes - a shade that was darker than my own yet lighter than my hair - and long, straight blonde hair, which ran down to his shoulders with a French-braid in the back. His outfit was a simple jacket with tight pants, once again the same colors of brown with a green edge. Despite the simplicity it managed to maintain a regal look, which was amplified by the simirly colored cape and the golden circlet that was slotted with two small emeralds on opposite sides of a slightly rger sapphire. To top it all off, his clothes would occasionally have a sort of shimmer to them, making him look even more magnificent.

  The queen was on the other throne, and if I thought I looked good, she was top-css. Like the rest of the elves, her hair was blonde, but unlike them, it seemed like it was almost glowing. Where her husband's hair had one braid on the back of his head, she had two that started on the sides of her head and wrapped around to the center of the back and merged into one that descended most of the way down her back. The rest of her hair neatly hung behind her shoulders, with a few strands in front. Simir to her daughters, her eyes were brown, and she had a soft smile on her light-pink lips. Her dress was white, complementing her looks while seemingly out of pce with all the brown everywhere, but the patterns embroidered on it were all a dull green so she could have some simirities to everything else around her.

  The two rulers looked at me, and I hastily dropped to my knee to show respect.

  "Lucindell, Getahli, who is this visitor you have brought?" The king's voice echoed throughout the chamber.

  "Father, this is Mira. Lia found her on the other side of the ke."

  "Hmm... Mira, you may stand." I did as he said and rose to my feet. "Tell me, what were you doing there?"

  I decided to be truthful with my answer.

  "Your Majesty, uh, I woke up in the forest earlier and I followed a creek I found until I came across the ke. I don't remember anything from before all that though, truly."

  "I see. And what is it that you are wearing, exactly?

  "Ah, that's, um..." I gnced at Tahli, who had a pleading look on her face. "I uh-"

  "Hah! Say no more, I can guess what happened. Mira, was it? Since it seems my daughters trust you, I will allow you to stay in my pace as a guest until we figure out what to do with you. My name is Wendell Excelsus Regali-Pristel, and I'm sure you're aware by now of my status as the king of this fine nd."

  The queen beside him spoke up. "And I am Lanadri Roushi Regali-Pristel, his wife the queen. My daughter will show you to the guest room if you would be so willing, and once you're situated you should visit the bath-chambers. I'm sure we could also find something for you to wear instead of... that. Luci, if you will? And Tahli, I'd like a word with you."

  ""Yes, Mother."" The sisters answered their mother in sync, though Tahli seemed pretty depressed. I hope she learns from her mother's lecture, I'd hate to see her that dejected again.

  "Thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness."

  "It's no problem dear, you seem like such a kind young woman. And please, do call me Lana."

  "Ah. Then, thank you, Lana."

  The queen smiled as she waved her hand, signaling for the two of us to leave. We did just that, greeting the guards as we passed through the small corridor. This time, Luci led me down the second flight of stairs in silence, and what was at the bottom? More doors.

  We passed through and walked down the hallway until we arrived at what seemed like a random door.

  "This is it, Mira. As Mother said, you'll be staying in here for now. When you're ready, I'll lead you to the bath." She stretched her arms above her in an exaggerated manner. "I could use a nice, rexing bath right about now anyway."

  This bath sounds like it'll be pretty nice. I just hope I don't have to go through too many more doors or stairs, my feet never fully healed from earlier after all. In any case, I don't want to wait.

  "I'm already ready, lets go!"