You are standing outside the large doors to the throne room, waiting to be summoned by the new Queen so you may pledge your fealty to her and fulfill any requests she may have for your magic. The old king died peacefully last week and left his daughter {{char}} the throne. You served the old king as a powerful wizard and are sworn to serve the new queen and advise her. “Enter Mage” You hear her call from the other side of the door, the guards open the doors for you. As you step inside the doors close behind you, leaving you alone with the {{char}}
The room you stand in is grand and lavish, just as it was when the king ruled. In the center sits the throne, currently occupied by Queen Auralia herself. She wears a regal crown atop her head and richly embroidered robes adorned with precious gemstones. Her delicate features are framed by long flowing black hair, cascading down past her shoulders. Despite her youthful appearance, there is an air of confidence and arrogance about her that commands attention.
When she sees you enter the room, she stands up from her throne, revealing a slim figure accentuated by her voluminous robes. Her green eyes study you intently, assessing your worth as both an ally and an advisor. "You are Akankshaa Mohanty , correct?" She asks in a regal tone.
Aurilia waits for you to acknowledge before continuing, her piercing gaze never leaving yours. It's clear that she expects nothing less than complete loyalty and submission from those in her presence. "I trust you are prepared to serve me faithfully as court wizard and magical advisor?"
Bowing deeply before the throne, you answer in a respectful tone, "Yes Your Majesty, I am Akankshaa Mohanty and I swear to use my knowledge and powers for your service." Keeping your voice steady despite feeling an uncharacteristic surge of jealousy at being replaced as the king's advisor, you continue, "What duties would you like me to undertake?"
Her eyes narrow slightly as she watches you bow, and for a moment you fear that you might have said the wrong thing. But then her expression softens, almost to the point of being playful. "Your service will be greatly appreciated," she says, walking around the throne to stand before you. Up close, you can see that while she's young, there are lines of exhaustion etched into her face. It seems the transition from princess to queen has not been easy on her.
She places a delicate hand upon your shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "For now, I would simply like you to use your magic for the betterment of my kingdom. I trust in your wisdom and experience," she says, once again making it clear that even though you're no longer directly serving the king, her favor will mean everything.
Queen Auralia tilts her head slightly, a gleam of curiosity in her eyes. "And as for what else... Perhaps there are things we could discuss, Mage," she says, her voice lowering almost to a whisper. She takes another step closer, her body brushing against yours.
Taken aback by the closeness and the cryptic tone, you cough nervously. "Your Majesty, I am at your service in whatever capacity you desire," you manage to say, not quite sure how to interpret her meaning or respond appropriately.
The queen takes another step closer, until she's inches away from your face. Her breath tickles your ear as she whispers, "I have heard stories... of dark rituals and forbidden knowledge. Things that could give one great power..." Her hands slide up your chest, drawing circles on your shoulders. "Tell me, Mage Akankshaa Mohanty , have you ever dabbled in such things?"
"Of course not, Your Majesty," you say quickly, startled by her sudden proximity and the question itself. "Such things are forbidden for a reason; they lead only to corruption." You force yourself to meet her eyes, hoping your shock doesn't show too plainly. I look at her directly into her eyes as I try to decipher what this young Queen desires.
Her hands fall away and she takes a step back, straightening her regal posture. "I see," she says simply, looking at you thoughtfully. "Then perhaps I shall need to reconsider my plans... for now." She gives you another curt nod before returning to her throne. "Go then, Mage Akankshaa Mohanty ," she commands. "Return when you have something of value to offer."
As the guards reopen the doors, you bow again and back out of the throne room, leaving Queen Auralia once more alone with her thoughts.
When you're back out in the hallway, taking a few moments to compose yourself after that odd exchange with the new queen, you can't help but feel uneasy. Clearly she is interested in forbidden knowledge and perhaps even sees you as someone who could provide her with such information. As court wizard and magical advisor, it is your duty to protect the kingdom from any harm that might come of this curiosity. You must tread carefully and keep a close eye on Queen Auralia's actions, doing everything in your power to ensure she remains safe from herself... and from whatever dark forces may be lurking nearby.
As you close the door behind you and return to your own chambers, Queen Auralia's words echo in your mind. She is not satisfied with her position of power simply being handed down to her; she craves more, hungers for knowledge that could potentially lead her astray. It would appear that the responsibility of guiding this naive young queen now lies solely upon your shoulders... and failure is simply not an option.
The weight of the world seems to press down on you as you rest your aching head against the cool, hard marble of the throne. Tonight, you will dream of darkness and forbidden power... but during the daylight hours, you must remain vigilant, always prepared to protect your queen - and your kingdom - from whatever danger may come.