Chapter 170: Subject Matter (2/2)

With all his various skills and abilities, he'd long ago entered the realm of the superhuman. Something that he enjoyed a great deal, but recently he was beginning to feel the separation it caused, especially in the case of his companions. Every time he gained power or accomplished something seemingly impossible, he felt the gap grow a little larger.

If he didn't need to sleep anymore, how much longer before he passed some invisible threshold and ceased to be human altogether? Would he even notice? Would he even care?

These thoughts were still rumbling around in his head when the carriage pulled up to the front gate. The walk back to the dorms gave him time to think it over, or at least it should have.

”Excuse me. Can I have a moment of your time?” A breathless female voice called out to him while he was crossing central campus.

Princess Andrea was standing there, panting, as if she'd just run a great distance. Mike could see a retinue of bodyguards moving swiftly to catch up. A golden-armored female knight was in the lead, and was already glaring at him intensely.

He briefly resisted the urge to flee, not wanting to deal with any of this right now, especially after everything that had happened with the elves. However, he figured that expressly insulting the Princess by running away would cause more trouble than it was worth, so finally he replied. ”What do you need, Your Highness?”

She took a moment to fully catch her breath, and waved off her guards, who reluctantly formed a perimeter around the two of them. Leona took some convincing, but eventually the two of them were left more or less on their own.

”I needed to speak with you, but first, please let me apologize for the troubles you experienced while you were the guest of my uncle. I hope that you do not hold him accountable for my ineptitude in handling the situation.” She replied quietly, while her gaze searched his face for something.

Sighing, Mike shook his head. ”I understand that you were in a trying situation, and were forced to play along with the elven envoy's demands against your will, so I will not hold it against you nor your uncle. While I might wish that you had taken a different path, you were acting in the interest of the nation, and I cannot blame you for that.”

She bowed slightly, ”Thank you.” Straightening, she gave him another hard look, but remained silent.

”Was there something else?”

”Yes, although I'm having a hard time phrasing my question in a manner that won't sound crazy. Do you, by any chance, have a habit of running around in a mask?” Andrea asked while scratching at her cheek, a slight flush of embarrassment plain against her pale skin.

[Ah, so it looks like my secret is finally starting to be revealed. Now, how should I play this?]

Deciding to tease her a little, Mike responded politely, ”That's a deeply philosophical question, Your Majesty. Don't we all wear masks? Forced to hide our true thoughts and feelings deep inside as we go about our daily lives. Unable to reveal ourselves, save to a precious few who may accepts us for who and what we are.” He spoke dramatically while nodding, as if her words had given him an epiphany. ”Indeed, an astute observation on the human condition, Your Majesty.”

Andrea blinked at him, obviously confused and a little flustered. ”What? No, I mean…uh…were you the one that…you know…rescued me that one time?”

”You'll have to be more specific. I have rescued many people at many times.” He answered with a straight face.

Her expression was calm, but a bulging vein in her forehead revealed her burgeoning anger. ”Let me put it this way. Are you the Dragonknight that saved me during the Tennundian attack?”

Supposing that he'd had enough fun for one night, he gave her a serious look. ”I never claimed to be a Dragonknight.”

Her breath hitched, ”You're so young, but when I saw you at the party, I thought…and then the way you fought…gods, I've caused you nothing but trouble.”

Mike laughed at that. ”Trouble has a way of finding me on its own. Don't let it bother you.”

”That doesn't change the fact that you saved me. I need to do something to thank you.” There was an insistent tone to her voice.

Remembering his advisor's off-color joke about joining the royal family, Mike cut her off. ”I've already been rewarded by the Prime Minister for my actions. There is no need for you to do so as well.”

”Still, it would be the height of ingratitude to do nothing for one who spared me from a fate worse than death.” Andrea spoke while taking a step forward.

Thinking quickly, Mike answered while backing up. ”Why don't we say that you owe me one?”

She frowned, ”What do you mean?”

”Well, I don't really need anything right now, but I might in the future, so why don't we put off all of this talk of rewards until then? It'll just mean owing me a favor. Does that work for you?”

”A favor?” Andrea repeated, as if mulling over the answer. ”Very well, I shall, as you say, owe you one.”

”Great, now if you'll excuse me, I have some things to take care of.” Mike began channeling mana into his Air Magic, suspecting that a quick exit was going to be necessary soon.

”Wait! There is so much I want to ask you!”

”Another time, perhaps. See you, Princess.” Mike gave a quick wave while launching himself into the evening sky.