Athanasia had taken a walk for about forty-five minutes to try to clear her head. After the walk, she went back to her bedchambers in the castle and promptly passed out for a couple of hours—-but still, she awoke before the other members in the palace.

Athanasia headed out to the clearing outside the castle and reached for a sword. She checked the balance on it before approaching the sparring-dummy. She slashed at it. Athanasia wasn't the best when it came to hand-to-hand combat, no matter how many times knights had tried to teach her it.

All the knights in her kingdom—-Cyeollaria-—knew how to fight, but yet, she really didn't.

Heimir had forbidden it. He claimed Athanasia would be severely injured by practice like that. He said there was a reason they had warriors… to protect them, so they didn't have to protect themselves.

That didn't stop Athanasia from trying to learn—-and that didn't stop her from trying to teach Cadwal what she knew either.

By the time the people of Cyeollaria awoke, Athanasia had already been busy practicing for hours.

Knights eventually approached Athanasia for practice.

Athanasia engaged in battle with Danr, but struggled a little.

"Try to move your grip a little lower on the blade's handle… You don't wanna choke it," Danr suggested.

"Yeah," Svenn explained.

Athanasia slashed at Danr's, just barely missing his armor.

"Just like that," Danr said in response.

Agnar approached, on his horse. "...Prince Ásgeirr."

Athanasia sighed a little bit before looking up at Agnar. "Yes?"

"We're to check on the village to try to catch the raiders," Agnar told her.

Athanasia nodded. "Of course. Let me retrieve my horse."

─┉─¡! • !¡─┉─

Unfortunately, Agnar and Athanasia's quest wasn't successful. So, they both agreed they'd get a drink at their usual tavern to drown themselves for their failure.

"I can't believe we didn't even find a single lead to lead us to the raiders," Agnar said, sounding frustrated.

"My father will no doubt have my head since we've made no progress." Athanasia angrily huffed before stopping her horse and dismounting it.

"What are you doing?" Agnar questioned her.

"I'm going to let off some steam… Care to join me?" She asked Agnar.

Agnar nodded, getting off his horse as well. "Of course."

They both had unsheathed their swords, swinging them at each other-—they met with a clang.

The two dueled for a long time before Athanasia started to rant.

"I don't get it," Athanasia began to say. "My father says he gives me everything on a silver platter, but he doesn't give me shit! If I don't live up to his expectations, he tells the servants to refuse me meals!" She swung her sword at the forest floor aggressively. "He claims that I drove my mother away, but it was him! It was all him! He used to hit her… He hurt her. He tried to kill her!"  As Athanasia swung the sword again, sparks danced up the blade before it caught fire.

Flames leaped onto a dead tree. It didn't take long for the flames to leap higher.

"Fuck." A lump formed in Athanasia's throat.

"Aquaas arkanu!" Agnar shouted, quickly.

Water then began to pour from the sky onto the tree.

The rain cleared up after the fire died.

Athanasia panted, trying to catch her breath before both she and Agnar exchanged glances.

Afterward, the two resumed their journey home.

On the way back from patrolling, Cadwal ran out to Agnar and Athanasia's horses.

"Princess!" Cadwal called out, trying to catch his breath.

"What is it, Cadwal?" Athanasia questioned.

"King Drest and his daughters have arrived… Your father wants you to meet with them," Cadwal explained to the viking princess.

Athanasia and Agnar exchanged a glance before Athanasia dismounted her horse and followed Cadwal up into the palace.

"You can't wear that…" Cadwal told Athanasia as they neared Athanasia's bedchambers.

Athanasia pulled a face. "What's wrong with my armor?"

"Nothing, your highness," Cadwal said, quickly. "It's just your father might not find it appropriate for meeting a princess."

Athanasia sighed. "Alright."  She entered her bedchambers and closed the door. She left the room a little bit later with a new outfit. It was mostly black and most likely made of velvet and silk. Athanasia raised an eyebrow. "Better?"

"Yes," Cadwal answered.

Athanasia huffed before heading down to the Great Hall with Cadwal trailing behind her.

King Drest stood, speaking to Heimir.

Poor Hrafnúlfr stood awkwardly, like he wasn't sure what to do.

Queen Wassa, of the Scots, said to Heimir, "Too bad that Aðalbjörk couldn't be here."

"It is too bad," Heimir said, faking sounding upset.

Drest smiled when he noticed Athanasia's presence. "Oh! There he is!"

Aculia smiled, softly at Athanasia. The light from the window trickled in and illuminated the burn on her face.

Derbáil bit her lip.

"Derbáil, darling, how about you and Prince Ásgeirr head out for a little bit?" Wassa suggested.

"I can go," Aculia added.

"No, no," Drest swiftly said in response. "You can stay back here with Prince Hrafnúlfr."

"A-alright." Aculia sounded disappointed.

Heimir gave Athanasia a look when she did nothing.

Athanasia sighed before raising her hand out to Derbáil. "My lady."

Derbáil didn't budge; she needed Wassa to push her forward before she even approached Athanasia. She hesitated before taking Athanasia's hand.

Athanasia led Derbáil out of the room; and once they were out of line of sight of their parents, they stopped holding hands.

"I swear my parents are going to kill me someday," Derbáil said, sounding annoyed.

"Sounds like you need a drink," Athanasia commented.

"Please," Derbáil responded.

Athanasia and Derbáil headed out to where Agnar and her usually had gone for drinks.

"Sorry, I just don't know if I can marry you," Derbáil began to say. "I really don't do romance… Especially with men."

Athanasia winced.

"You alright?" Derbáil asked.

"Yeah…" Athanasia said. And when Derbáil continued to give her a look, she told her, "It's a long story… I don't think we'll have the time for it." It really wasn't a long story per se, but Athanasia didn't feel like explaining how she was actually a woman to Derbáil; it's not like Athanasia thought the Scottish princess wouldn't understand, it was just a whole can of worms she didn't wanna open right now.

Up in the front of the tavern, the bard strummed his lute. Familiar gray locks brushed against his face. His violet eyes lit up the room.

After leaving the bar yesterday, Athanasia had talked to a couple of other knight friends, only to find out that the bard was known for scamming people.

"Giveeee me your money~ Give me your coins! Give me your money right now~" Noaah sang, gently strumming the lute.

Athanasia rolled her eyes. "What kind of idiot would fall for that?"

Derbáil stood, heading toward Noaah's bag as if she was about to give him money.

"Derbáil!" Athanasia called out, disappointed, as she stood and rushed after her.

Derbáil took off a bracelet and held it over the sack.

"Put it in the bag," Noaah sang.

"Don't listen to him!" Athanasia shouted as she got between the two.

Derbáil blinked a couple of times. "I just had the strangest dream… I was about to give some low, peasant boy some of my trinkets."

"Oh, that was no dream, Princess." Noaah then turned around, sack in hand, and headed toward the door.

"My necklace!" Derbáil then suddenly shouted out. "He's got my necklace!"

"I'll take care of this," Athanasia reassured Derbáil. She headed toward where Noaah was and shouted, "Hey! You!"

"Me?" Noaah turned around, all innocent like. "What did I do?"

"You stole my friend's necklace," Athanasia said. "I demand you give it back."

"I didn't do it," Noaah denied. "I'm a child. Do you really expect me to do anything like-—" He was cut off.

"Cut the crap. You're not that young. You're like 17 at the youngest," Athanasia said.

"Fifteen," Noaah corrected.

"The point is you're rotten. You swindle the shit out of people. And you're a no good thief," Athanasia growled. She then pushed him, knocking him to the ground.

Noaah sighed. "Fine." He tossed the necklace toward Athanasia, which she caught.

Derbáil exited the tavern and met with Athanasia and Noaah.

Cadwal ran over to them. "Princess-—" He breathed. "Your father wants to speak with you at once."

"Can it wait? I need to deal with a little thief." Athanasia turned back in Noaah's direction, but he was already gone.