Kalius von Hochburg

The day after the duel Theresa was in high spirits. The way Asura had completely knocked the air out of that idiotic Alverin was a real treat. Especially because that idiot was one of those people that had been pursuing her forever and having seen him put into his place was... satisfying.

Of course her mood had nothing to do with Asura's answer to her question for tea. In hindsight she was really embarrassed. She asked him for tea of all things. As if she was an old lady or something. Every time she thought about that scene she couldn't help herself but blush and obviously Maya caught on to that.

So at the moment Maya's favorite way to spend her time was to tease Theresa about the aftermath of that duel. Anyone else but her, Theresa would have already put into their place but Maya was after all her best friend. She was likely the only person who was allowed to tease her.

Her embarrassment came of course from the fact that she did not represent the dignity of her family at that time. In no way was it related to Asura!

Still being on good terms with him was important, yesterday made that even clearer than it was before. But now Asura's fame undoubtedly spread and many factions would seek to gain his assistance. And not all of them supported the royal family.

So her anxiety about him obviously came from that fact! But no matter how she tried to push her thoughts to the back of her mind and concentrate on her cultivation somehow today she couldn't manage it.

That actually annoyed her quiet a bit. As she was about to get up to get herself an early dinner someone knocked onto her door. „Your highness are you there?“

A familiar voice sounded through the door and as she thought when she opened her father's most trusted servant the old Hili was standing there. He was quiet robust for his sixty five years of age had no more hair and kept his face cleanly shaved.

He had been his father's personal attendant for as long as she could think back. She smiled at him: „Hili what can i do for you?“ Hili's serious face turned into a warm smile. Hili had been serving the royal family ever since he was a boy and he actually grew up with the emperor.

His father had already served the last emperor as his attendant and he had taken over the job when his father died of old age. So the princess to him was like the daughter of a dear brother. He held her in high regards and had high expectations for her.

It wouldn't be the first time that a daughter of the imperial von Hochburg family succeeded the shining throne as it was called. He bowed with deeply felt respect:

„Your highness, your royal father asks you to attend dinner tonight. I have already contacted the principal and he gave his permission.“

Normally Theresa would be a bit annoyed because she wanted to concentrate on her magic training. But tonight she couldn't concentrate anyway so this distraction actually came at the right time.

„Sure, i actually thought of having an early dinner anyway.“ That reply made Hili quiet happy. He too thought at first that the princess would be displeased but it seems his worries were unnecessary.

„Then is there anything your highness needs before we leave? I have taken freedom of already preparing a carriage for you.“ Theresa smiled at him again: „Always the faithful servant Hili? Thanks a lot, i don't think i need anything else, let's go.“

She didn't need to change her clothes. These silver robes showed her status more than any fancy dress could. As mentioned earlier the light students had quiet the high status within the empire and enjoyed preferential treatment in most aspects of life.

Seeing that the academy was next to the royal palace, the way there was quiet short. After only half an hour they arrived in front of the impressive silver gates. The walls around the palace were more like a fence with the silver bars forming fantastic patterns.

And most impressive were the gates: The bars actually formed a magic circle together giving the entire 'fence' the strength of diamonds. Without magic it was impossible to break into the palace.

After the gates quiet the long way through a perfectly maintained park lead to the high oaken front doors. Up to three meters tall and six meters width those two massive doors stood atop of two staircases that winded their way similar to the academy's great hall towards those doors.

The entire palace was made out of white marble and overall looked quiet impressive. The interior was quiet the sight as well. Comfortable carpets held in red were laid out on the way's through the castle.

Different kind's of art lined the way through the halls. At every doorway two soldiers were stationed who all bowed as Theresa passed by with Hili.

After a while they arrived at the eastern wing that contained the dining hall as well as the banquet hall. They went to the dining hall that was exclusively for the royal family and those closest to them.

When they entered her father's strict face softened a lot. He was quiet muscular, in his mid fifties, had an orderly trimmed full beard and short brown hair.

„Theresa you came.“ Theresa smiled back which seemed to relax the emperor quiet a bit. After all even he was anxious when he upset his daughter and normally she wasn't too keen on getting interrupted in her training.

He really respected her diligence but sometimes he was just a father who would like to see his daughter. „Father!“ with that she hurried to her father and gave him a hug.

Of course in public they would never act this way but the dining hall was different. That and their sleeping chambers were the only rooms that were only for her family. Hili was included in that. Emperor Kalius von Hochburg was laughing out loud:

„Ah Theresa it is good to see you. How have you been? How is school?“ Theresa let go of her father and sat down next to him. „Is Katrin not here?“ she asked while looking around.

Her father answered: „No she is taking care of some diplomatic issues with the military faction. The general is... displeased.“ that last part he said with a chuckle. Theresa gave a relived sigh and couldn't help but chuckle herself:

„Yes i can imagine that the general is displeased.“ You could her a hint of satisfaction from her. Her father still heard that small sigh before. „You still don't like her?“ he asked her anxious.

Theresa sighed again, she knew it would come up. „Father, it's not that i don't like her and her abilities are unquestionable but.... She is not my mother and i can't shake of a bad gut feeling.“

Katrin was the emperor's second wife. Theresa's mother died when she was born and ten years later Kalius remarried. It was a political marriage with one of the biggest faction's daughters that opposed the imperial family's rule.

Katrin now von Hochburg turned out to be an excellent politician. She improved the empire's finances and was able to quench quiet a lot of the noble's quarreling. Combine that with her lovely looks even for a woman in her forties and you had the perfect empress.

Even before she married into the family she had been working as her father's ambassador with the emperor so she had been well known and well liked in the castle for a long time. So she was the natural choice for the succession of the late empress. Kalius sighed and said:

„Let's not talk about that. So back to my original question. School.“ Theresa laughed at that. „Father you know perfectly well how my school days are going, i know that you have your people in the academy.“

That seemed to make the emperor quiet uncomfortable. With a smile Theresa continued: „Why don't you ask the question, you really want to ask?“ Her father's expression was quiet sour. „Can't you at least let me pretend to be a caring father for once?“

Hearing that she could only laugh: „Father i love you and i know you love me as well but you have been, are and always will be an emperor first. So just ask your question.“

With that Kalius gave up: „Fine. But before that: Hili order the food to come and than sit down and eat with us.“ Within this room Hili was part of the family but before the food was served and everything was to his satisfaction he would not sit down Kalius knew that but he said it anyway.

„Now tell me about that youth called Asura.“ Theresa chuckled again. „See that wasn't so hard, was it?“ No one but her would ever dare to talk to him like that. Maybe for the exception of Hili when the two of them were alone.

Her father only looked at her with a raised eye brow. Theresa just smiled back: „Whatever you have heard, it's not even close. This kind of genius is someone you will only find once in a lifetime. To put it bluntly: I believe he could be the deciding factor in the war against the demons.“

That surprised even the emperor. Never before had his daughter spoken so highly of another man.

„He can't be older than sixteen but he has reached perfect control of his wind magic. It is as if all the wind in this world belongs to him. At the same time his combat ability is... out of this world. He treated Alverin like a play thing. I have never seen anything like it. To be honest i don't think there is anyone in this empire who could take him on.“

Kalius could only reply: „Astounding. So do you have a plan? Should i invite him?“ Theresa immediately answered: „No don't. I don't think he would answer a summon from anyone. Either he decides to do something or he won't do it. At least that is the impression i had. Well I...“

Suddenly she stopped blushing. That shocked him even more. His daughter never had any interest in men and only worked towards the future of the empire.

„Dear daughter is there something you are not telling me?“ he asked with a suspicious look. The shade of red of her face became even deeper. „Don't talk nonsense. I invited him to tea and he at least did not refuse. He just said that he liked sweets.“

Now Kalius was grinning. „Is that so.“ Theresa glared at him: „Father please stop grinning so slyly.“ That just made him chuckle more. „Well dear Theresa. I will leave it in your capable hands.“

She shouted back: „Father!“ He kept grinning waving his hand: „It's fine. It's fine. Let's eat!“ At this moment the servants started to serve the food. Still glaring at her father, Theresa prepared for dinner.

As mentioned not sure if i will post again. I will lay back now for a bit and try to gather my motivation again. But no promises this time.

Oh and i will put this under every chapter from now on: After the third arc i will rework the first two arcs and the third arc as well: Rewrite a couple of chapters that are just plain bad compared to my recent work and improve the font as much as possible to make reading as enjoyable as possible.

Thanks to Apache for resizing the chapter! You are awesome man