Astil stared up at the ceiling of her new room, lying on her new bed with the extra soft mattress.

Monday. This was already her fourth day in the human world. Before falling asleep last night, the first signs of homesickness had kicked in. She missed the lush green forests and fields, the vibrant magic of her world. She missed her family.

Frowning, she closed her eyes. Her family had abandoned her. Before that, they never understood how she felt. They couldn’t wrap their heads around the fact that an elven princess could like dark stuff, preferred to wear black and write dark, foreboding poems to dark, foreboding music.

Astil was the black sheep of the royal family. The unadmitted failure. Linnia, her older sister, would have taken the throne anyway. Astil was expendable.

Sitting up and rubbing her eyes, the princess looked at the clock on her nightstand. Eight o’clock. Too early for Zacharias Gryphon to be awake and fully functional.

For her whole life Astil had been woken by her maids, prepared for the day and was rarely alone. But now that she had the silence and privacy she had always wished for, it felt lonely. Empty.

Maybe I should just go back to sleep, she thought and rolled over, pulling the blanket tight around herself.

Shuffling through the floor after washing herself a little and making sure she was presentable, Astil was surprised to hear familiar voices from the living room. The archmage.

“...must protect her at all costs. The Ring of Thorns has never killed before, but they are dangerous nonetheless.”

The princess carefully peeked through the gap between door and doorframe. Zacharias sat on a chair he had pulled over, facing the couch where the archmage and some unfamiliar elf sat. The mage looked serious and concerned, the shady one had no expression at all from what was visible behind his shroud. The face of her host she couldn’t see, but his body was slightly tense. He rested his head in his palm in annoyance.

“And you didn’t think that would have been an important thing to tell me?”

“There was no time. Usually we introduce a host days, sometimes weeks before the princess is handed over to be able to prepare them. We were still scouting and collecting information, you weren’t supposed to be told yet. Complications turned up and things had to be...rushed.”

Zacharias nodded, thinking. “Why don’t you tell her? Doesn’t she deserve to know?”

The archmage’s face softened and his greying beard seemed to straighten out a bit. “No, her highness has already enough on her plate. This much change is never easy, even though she was well prepared. As well as we could, anyway.” The old elf sighed. “I cannot apologize enough for forcing this duty upon you, but we are grateful you accepted it. How is she doing?”

From her spot behind the door it seemed like he smiled a little. “I didn’t have much time to get to know her much, but she seems...lonely. Curious and easily excited, but lonely.”

Astil bit her lip. How did he know? Was it that obvious?

The archmage nodded as if he expected nothing else. “We picked you, Sir Gryphon, because we thought you might be good company for her, seeing as you both like...dark stuff.”

“That’s the reason? Good company? If I wasn’t so dead inside I’d almost be hurt.”

“My point exactly.”

Zacharias snorted. “Touche.”

She smiled.

“Your unique abilities were also taken into account. Sooner or later, her highness will want to explore this world and human society. You have to protect her from any harm. Her nature needs to be kept hidden as well, always.”

Unique abilities? Astil knew he worked for the army, but how was he going to protect her with his profession? Throw computers at muggers? Trip them with cables?

“How much do you know about me, exactly?”

How long were you spying on me, you mean.

The archmage hesitated. “Enough to know she is in good hands.”

“If you can do a thorough background check on me, I’m sure those ‘Ring of Thorns’ guys can as well. I enjoy my right for privacy, thank you very much.”

There was that name again. Ring of Thorns.

“They don’t have the resources or people to be much of a threat here. At least for now.”

“If you can pop into my living room whenever you feel like it, I’m sure they can as well.”

“The existence of the human world is a well kept secret from the elven public and it takes immense magical power and skill to form a portal. Even I can only keep it open for an hour or two before my magic begins to fade. They only recently learned about this world, they will not be a threat for quite a while, but you needed to know. We can only do so much in this world. This is why you need to protect her.”

“I think you underestimate her. She is too smart for her own good.”

Astil’s cheeks warmed slightly at the compliment.

The archmage rose, heaving a sigh. “I was her teacher for many years, I am quite aware of that, believe me. We must leave now, it’s almost time.”

“Whoa, wait. You don’t even want to say hi?”

He hesitated. “...as much as I would like to, I shouldn’t disturb her sleep.”

Astil wanted to rush out and greet him, but restrained herself. They couldn’t know she was eavesdropping.

“Your compensation.” The shadowy figure handed Zacharias a thick envelope. He opened it and shuffled through its contents, whistling. “That’s a lot of money.”

“We realize taking care of a princess from another realm will not be cheap.This is to cover any expenses that might arise on your end, as the money on the card is for the princess to use. I will also not be able to visit for a few weeks due to my duties, but I will make time as soon as I can.”

He half stepped through the portal. “...please take good care of her.”

Zacharias nodded firmly. “I will.”

Zacharias sat back down, the envelope resting on the coffee table. After a moment, he smiled and turned to the door. “You can come out now.”

Astil opened the door, caught. “You knew I was there?”

“Could smell your royal farts through the door.”

She huffed, crossing her arms. “And here I thought you would be easier to bear from now on.”

He grinned. “Sweetie, I’m just getting started.”

Awkward silence again. This was getting old.

He scratched his chin. “So, want breakfast and then some tasty magical electronic books?”

Her eyes lit up. “Yes! I mean...I would like that.”

While he went to prepare breakfast, this time with fresh buns from the oven, she looked outside through the wide windows. “It’s raining.”

He turned to look mildly surprised. “Looks like it.”

Standing there, not sure what to do or say, Astil’s gaze wandered to the many different cacti in front of the windows. “So, I see you like plants.”

A snort. “No idea what you're talking about.”

She sighed again. “Why are you always making it so difficult? I’m trying to socialise!”

The princess was surprised by the warm smile he quickly hid behind a smirk. “Because it’s fun to tease you.”

The only person who ever teased her was her sister, and she was no challenge. This man was driving her nuts. Or was it go nuts? Nut?

“Just so you know, I could have you incarcerated for this.”

He chortled. “Not in this world you don’t. My apartment, my rules. Deal with it.”

She smiled while he was busy chopping vegetables.

This was nice.