There was nothing but darkness. The darkness stretched for what felt like an eternity, slowly creeping and engulfing the lone figure standing amidst it all. Charles stood with his blade readied and charged into the unending darkness. He continued on, slashing and striking at the seemingly harmless void around him, with his movements growing tenser as his breathing intensified. It was as if he was running away, from the void that relentlessly pursued him.

Eventually, however, he came to a grinding halt at the sight of that valley. The darkness had vanished and he was transported back to the valley where everything he knew ended. He could only watch from the sidelines as another version of himself battled with another man, locking blades and trading magic blows with each other. It was an oddly nostalgic feeling that he never thought he would feel from watching such a sight. Perhaps it was due to his inability to ever use magic properly again that triggered such a reaction. He wasn't too sure. Yet with each second that passed while he watched, he felt his heart sink as he attempted to stretch his hand out.

The scene had finally arrived at the same one he was in those 300 years ago. He watched as the blade pierced his chest from the back. He watched as he collapsed onto the rain-soaked ground, his blood slowly dying the colourless water a crimson red. He watched as his friend placed the spell on him that sealed him for what felt like an eternity, all the while he helplessly watched from the side, unable to do anything or rather afraid he couldn't do anything.

Just as he felt the darkness covering the scene before him, he felt the presence of someone he never thought he would see ever again. Turning around, he came face to face with those blue eyes he had so often seen in the past. His blonde hair made him stand out amidst the darkness before him, he was like that even in the past.

"Martin..."

It was the name of the person before him. His best friend, his comrade in arms and most importantly, his rival.

"It's your fault you're in this position now you know?"

He felt his chest tighten as he bit his lips in response to such a statement.

"If you hadn't started that rebellion. We could have worked together. You wouldn't be in this spot... all alone."

His voice was cold and unforgiving. Charles had expected it though. He had betrayed the nation he swore to serve, he clashed with the one person he called a friend. He hadn't expected forgiveness. He had expected death.

"Yeah... I know... I shouldn't be here now."

"And yet you are."

"You're right... everyone's gone...it's just me and Pandora left... I...I-"

Before he could say anything else, he felt his vision getting blurry as Martin vanished before his eyes. The darkness soon turned into a storm, barrelling towards him at full speed and sweeping him off his feet.

Instantly, Charles jolted up from his bed. The intense sun that shun over the Pavonian Channel over this time of the day ensured his eyes were wide open. He stared out the small window he was given with his small room on the ship.

(What's up with you?)

Pandora had questioned his sudden reaction.

"It's nothing... just a bad dream I guess."

(Aw that's sad. Want me to read you a bedtime story so you can sleep better?)

"Sure, although any story you tell is sure to end in blood and at least a few hundred dead guys."

(Well that's all I've got in terms of life experience.)

"You should use your imagination sometimes."

After a brief exchange with Pandora, Charles headed back out onto the deck. He observed the calm waves and sea breeze that helped put his mind to ease. The dream he was having still weighed heavily on his mind. It reinforced the fact that he was now by himself. The future had arrived and he who was a relic of a forgotten era should have died along with it.

While pondering these things in his mind, Charles noticed that the Kingdom of Pavone was coming into view. Several travellers had also started to notice.

"The Kingdom of Pavone huh? I'd heard a little bit of it from Koren. Apparently, it's quite a wealthy nation, they're the only source of kristan crystals. It's quite funny since back then it was in abundance everywhere else. I guess they ran out huh?"

(Kristan crystals are a pretty important resource though. Without it, mages wouldn't be able to use their spell casters.)

"Oh yeah, I forgot most mages required spell casters to use their magic."

(You've only forgotten since most of the people you hanged out with were those who could use magic effortlessly.)

"Well, you're not wrong about that. Although to be able to reach the point of casting magic without a spell caster is a feat most mages could only dream of reaching back then."

(Among the millions of mages the continent produced. I'd wager only around the top 100 or so were able to cast magic without a spell caster. Well, a spell caster to a mage is almost like their soul itself. To be able to cast magic without it means you've probably fully integrated it into your body. At least that's how it was for you.)

"That's true..."

Just as the two were busy conversing, they had forgotten to pay attention to their surroundings as they soon noticed the ship had arrived at the port. Grabbing the small bag he had, Charles stepped off the ship and entered the port. Usually, all travellers and merchants arriving in Pavone had to be searched and declare any goods they had, however, Charles had been given a special seal by Marcus which allowed him to enter the nation and the port without being searched. It was the seal of the royal family, represented by a proud lion that was the symbol of the Comonor family that ruled over the Kingdom of Pavone for over 300 years.

"This place has changed so much over the last 300 years huh?"

The port was filled with merchants exchanging goods of all sorts with each other. Haggling over prices as various goods changed hands. It was without a doubt a nation that prided itself on trade and wealth. Amidst the huge number of merchants exchanging goods, Charles noticed the rare resource that was kristan crystals being held and put onto ships, likely headed for the continent. There was also a huge security force that guarded the warehouses and storage spaces the kristan crystals were held in since it was one of the few materials that couldn't be affected by storage magic.

"Excuse me, but would you happen to be Charles?"

An old man with grey hair and dressed in a suit of sorts had approached him. He stood out in the midst of the merchants who wore commoner attire and the fisherman who had just returned from sea. There were several eyes on him even as he spoke.

"Yeah, are you from the royal family?"

"Yes. My name is Otto Sorenia. My family and I have served as butlers and messengers for the royal family ever since their ascension to power."

"I see. So I'm assuming you're here to pick me up?"

"According to Sir Marcus's orders of course. I've been instructed to take you to the royal villa located near the countryside. The 3rd princess is currently staying there."

"Oh? I had assumed she was staying at the royal palace."

"She had been for most of her life, however, due to some recent incidents and events she was moved to the royal villa for her own sake."

"I understand. Well, then shall we get going?"

"Yes allow me to escort you to the carriage."

The two exited the port and soon boarded a carriage that was courtesy of the royal court. It was often used to escort esteemed guests invited by the royal family.

(There are only so many reasons why they would move a member of the royal family away from the court. Either to avoid a power struggle or minimise assassination attempts. This princess seems to be quite an interesting individual if it warrants such action.)

Charles sat in the carriage together with Otto as the two made some small talk. Charles had made up a story of him being a retired traveller who was satisfied having journeyed across the entire continent. Soon the conversation shifted to the topic of the 3rd princess.

"So what kind of person is the 3rd princess? I've heard several things about other members of the royal family, yet nothing much about the 3rd princess."

"Well, it is only natural. The 3rd princess has been raised her whole life in the palace, never really venturing out like her siblings. She has an extremely shy and passive personality, preferring to spend time alone in the courtyard than interact with members of the court. An oddity in the royal family you could say. However, I can safely say that she means no harm or intends to go against her duties as a royal. She tries her best in her own way but it seems it will take a lot more time before she opens up to her responsibilities as 3rd princess. Although she is going to be 19 this year and many in the court are worried about her lack of growth."

"I see, that could pose problems as a member of the royal family."

Wait a minute... she's 19 this year...that means she's technically older than me...

Charles had remembered that despite having been over 300 years old, he was technically 18 when he got sealed away. His body had never grown in the ice and he was still the same age as he was when got sealed. The more pressing thought on his mind, however, was how conflicting the personality of the princess was compared to her role. Charles had seen such cases far too often. A person born into a role they were never suited for, yet forced by their circumstances to adapt to the role. Often times, he had seen such cases end in failure with the person crumbling under the pressure. He worried for the princess and whether her withdrawal from others was a result of her crumbling under the responsibilities of being a royal.

(Well, this could be a troublesome one. Looks like there's gonna be quite a lot for you to do before she can become the person her family wants her to be.)

Pandora was right in every aspect. It would take much work before judging from how she behaved from Otto's words. However, Charles tried his best to take the story with a grain of salt and held out hope.

"We've arrived."

Opening the door to the carriage, Charles and Otto stepped out to be greeted with the sight of a huge mansion. It seemed larger than most noble families households.

"If the royal villa is this nice, I wonder what the royal palace is like."

"I've been waiting for you, Charles."

Waiting for them at the entrance of the villa was Marcus. Charles greeted him before the two entered the villa and Charles was given a rundown of the place and where every place was.

"It's a surprisingly cosy place huh? Although it is a little over the top for a countryside villa."

"Well, this is meant to be the king's personal villa so it has to be the best there is."

"I guess there's no arguing with that."

As Victor continued to show Charles around as well as introduce him to the various staff working at the villa, he also explained what he would be doing here.

"The two months of training in the contract will take place here. I will personally train you to be ready for the job."

"Wow, I'm honoured the representative of the royal family is personally training me."

Victor chuckled at such a statement.

"Don't be. I'm just another old man if you think about it."

"An old man who serves the most powerful man in Pavone."

"If you want to put it that way."

Marcus continued explaining Charles's duty in this place as well as the various rules and regulations he and other staff all had to abide by.

"During those two months of training, do try your best to build some rapport with the princess. Even though it might be a little difficult if you've heard about her."

"A little huh?"

Just as they finished the tour of the villa, Charles was confused as he hadn't seen where the princess was yet.

"If you're wondering where the princess went. She's currently by the lakeside and was asked not to be disturbed. Although I give you full permission from the king himself to go against that order."

"Are you sure about that? Can you guarantee my safety if I do such a thing?"

"Well..."

Marcus awkwardly backed away as his face turned towards the right avoiding eye contact with Charles.

"I'll leave it to you, see you soon."

After being left by Victor who departed from the villa to settle other matters, Charles went up to the room he had been given to stay in for the next 2 months. He put his stuff down before deciding to do as Marcus had told him to. He made his way towards the lakeside after asking some of the maid staff for directions. All the while he admired the beauty of the sea and the breeze that blew. It had been over 300 years since he came to the island when it was called Sampian back then. It was only a few fishing villages and a small town back then. To think it would develop to what he had seen at the port was astounding to him.

Arriving at the supposed lakeside the princess was at. Charles once again stood still gazing at the lake and how still the atmosphere around him was. He took a moment to appreciate how tranquil the place was, it was no wonder the princess who enjoyed things like this all the time would get so hooked to places like this.

Right before he could begin searching for the princess, however, he heard the roar of what sounded like a magic beast before the sound of hooves could be heard approaching him.

Wait a minute... that sound is...

Just as he turned around, he noticed a horse-like beast towering over him with its wings spread out like a majestic being. For a moment, Charles admired how elegant the pure white beast before him right as the beast decided to use him as a landing point and crushed him.

"Ow! How heavy is this thing?!"

Charles was now lying on the floor with a massive beast sitting on him and crushing his body.

"Where did this come from?"

Upon closer inspection, Charles realised that it was a pegasus, which was quite a common sight on the island if Charles remembered correctly. Yet he had never seen one that was pure white and appeared this majestic.

"Oi Pandora, you knew this pegasus was headed straight for me and yet you did nothing to warn me."

He could still hear the intense laughter coming from Pandora.

(Sorry sorry it's just such a rare opportunity to see you like this I just couldn't pass it up.)

Right before Charles could reply, he heard the footsteps of someone sprinting towards his location, their mana wasn't particularly plentiful nor did he sense any danger and thus relaxed a little.

"Wait for me Crystal!"

Just as he heard that voice, a girl who looked around his age ran up to him. She had scarlet red hair down to her chin and a slender figure that almost made her look like a mannequin. She was wearing a grey skirt and a simple military-style attire, which sort of stood out amidst the peaceful atmosphere the lakeside offered.

"So this is where you are. You shouldn't run off like that again..."

The girl was so preoccupied chasing after the pegasus that she hadn't noticed the person underneath it.

"Uh...hi I'd appreciate it if you could help me get her off."

Immediately the girl ordered the pegasus to get off Charles. Getting up and adjusting his attire, Charles attempted to clean off some of the dirt that had gotten on his shirt. Once he was done, he realised that the girl before him was the 3rd princess. His image of her didn't exactly match up with her appearance as she seemed much more confident and strong than he had thought. Yet he instantly realised that she had turned her face which was now bright red away from him, her hands seemed to shiver and she was clearly very nervous.

Charles knew he needed to do something and placing his hand on his heart, he took a short bow as was the custom he had observed for greeting nobility in Pavone.

"It's nice to finally meet you, princess. My name is Charles and I'll be training to be your escort and butler here."

Charles had thought he nailed the greeting considering it was his first time, yet when he looked up the girl only seemed even more nervous and without saying anything, she turned around and ran off in the opposite direction with the pegasus following behind her. Charles was left stunned and shocked with Pandora hysterically laughing in his head.

"Well...this is going to be harder than I thought."