A hunched, dark figure scurries through the pristine halls of an enormous spire overlooking a city. Crawling from a potted fern to a sage vase sparkling in the moonlight that peers from the open arches; the tiny person tip-toed its way to a dimly lit chamber.

Scampering to the closed doors, muffled voices arise from the inner workings of the spire; all of which seem to transcend at the epicenter, the chamber, whose door creaks open from the small head poking itself inside.

‘…we can’t rely on Arensial anymore! He couldn’t contain it then, and he sure as hell can’t contain it now-‘

‘ENOUGH!’

Men crowd a rectangular table, at its head is a stoic man adorned in jewels and tinged with luster. The dark figure looking in perked up when the man began to speak.

‘I don’t recall hearing these objections when we sacked Borjorn, or raided Fort Myrill.’

The grimace in his voice was enough to humble the court, and the strong man turned his gaze to appear forlorn.

‘Decades ago, we relied on Arensial to deliver us wealth and fortune beyond the needs of any being, and at that time we knew precisely what the conduit was capable of, what we were conjuring; even then, no one objected.’

He slinks in his chair, he looks tired.

‘Sire, I wasn’t trying to unravel our… your achievements. I just thought that maybe this was all forthcoming the minute we messed with fate.’

‘Aye. Maybe I should reconsider our allegianc-‘

At that, the tiny figure that had been eavesdropping vaulted past the guards.

‘Papa, Papa!’

Running to the head of the table, the tension which plagued the men suddenly released. And the wise king greeted his daughter with a gleeful grin.

‘The greatest security in the kingdom, and yet you always manage to sneak past them little Sophie.’

‘Momma said I should come and save you.’

The sparkle eyed girl looked at her flustered father, and the men behind quickly covered the jewel on the table; retracting and convening in their own little meetings after hiding its glow.

‘Well tell your momma I said thank you,’ he whispered in her ear, ‘and that I’ll see her in a few minutes.’ With a wink, he sent his daughter away and continued his meeting.

‘Contact Aren and tell him to find a suitable…’

The doors to the chamber swung shut, and the voices trailed off. The weary princess, lead by her escort, returned to her mother; and soon, slept the night away.