The fallout from Avelilinélia's fight against the champion of the Fairy-Without-Name-Without-Wings was gargantuan. Everyone involved in the fight was hunted - in a good way, of course. Orders to the armorer Fokatino were made by the thousand, as much in the kingdom as outside, he had to employ new people because the orders were so numerous. All this thanks to the publicity that the fight of his muse against the princess made him.
The princess was not left out since she was in demand from everywhere, fortunately for her, the Nether was considered too dangerous to go alone, so under the queen's order, all the guards had to forbid the access to strangers of this district. But in her heart, Avelilinélia received a lot of support, she was asked by all the inhabitants of the Basfonds to take pictures, to sign autographs - if she had her wings, they would tell her to spread her stardust to bless them... It made her happy to be so much solicited but it didn't change the taste of her bitter defeat. And so did a lot of people who had believed in her victory, but the monster she had to face was of a different nature to hope for victory.
Speaking of the wolf... here he comes. The famous hero who fought against the oppressed. It was mean of me to call him that when all he did was keep his promise. However, the people of the Nether did not hear it that way. The children set out to blockade the boy, armed with sticks and stones.
- We won't let you exterminate us! they shouted.
The Hero squinted, not understanding what they were saying, and then remembered what he had said in the fight.
- If you start believing everything on the holo-tv, you'll end up as stupid as Berle.
He crossed this hateful crowd and reached the Grave's house, he knocked and it was Avelilinélia who opened to him, a bag of ice against her forehead.
- Oh! The winner of the semi-finals.
- Don't say that..., he replied ashamed.
- You have nothing to be ashamed of, you won fair and square. Knowing that we should have been disqualified given the number of rules we broke.
I can tell you that Caesar was on the verge of exploding with all the rule violations they had committed, but for the beauty of the show and the confrontation, the queen demanded that he let her pass.
- You'd better get back before people forget that you were one of the instigators of the offensive against the fanatics.
- Is that why they don't throw rocks at me? Well, it wouldn't have changed me. But wait a few minutes.
- Why?
- I brought you this," said the Hero.
The Hero took a leather purse out of his bag and gave it to him.
- What is it?
- The semi-finalist victory prize. I know that Grave's don't get awards for winning rounds, so I used the ones from my previous wins to give you a little gift that shouldn't take too long.
And no sooner had he said these words than a horde of carriages arrived and guards came out to alert the whole assembly that in honor of the Hero - he had not asked for it to be said - the inhabitants would be treated to a magnificent banquet to feast together. Chefs got out of their vehicles and set up tables in all the streets of the Basfonds so that everyone could enjoy it, young and old, weak or strong.
- It's just incredible," enthused the lowly fairy.
- I have to do something for you.
- You have already done enough, Avelilinélia answered, wait for me, I will look for the other children.
He entered the house behind the owner of the place and discovered her in a mess once again. Whether Avelilinélia lost or won, it did not change the order of things here. Lelelitio as well as his princess were filled with bandages but had to struggle with a child who was throwing her food around while sitting on his shoulders, the Hero intervened and put her on a chair.
- Well, being a nanny still doesn't work for you.
- What do you want? One of us has to run the show while the other goes out and fights the world for us.
- Speaking of which," intervened the embarrassed Hero, "I wanted to tell you...
- No hard feelings, Nalo, said Lelelitio tapping his shoulder, everything you did and said was for the good of Avelilinélia and you had to honor your princess.
A sharp pain appeared on this shoulder, which made the Hero wince.
- That's for your bastard moves.
- I guess it's fair game," laughed the Hero, "by the way, I have some water from the Lake of Songs to heal your wounds.
- You have to be two to use this thing, otherwise you risk falling into an endless sleep.
- Well, I'll make you take it.
- What the hell?
- What's up boys?" asked Avelilinélia while dressing Tarsi.
- I have brought some medicine for you, but Lelelitio says that it takes two to use it, so I offer to help you, he explained, the queen and my protege did it for me. Besides, she told me that it was an act that had nothing to do with anything lewd.
- You know that for me to take it correctly, it will be necessary that you see me naked, remarked the princess.
The Hero and Lelelitio started to blush - a way of speaking for the Hero - and then got angry at the fairy.
- But it's not okay to say such things, they exploded.
They continued to yell at the princess while she was laughing her head off.
The Hero helped with the household chores, getting the children ready for the good meals that the royal cooks were going to prepare for them. Exhausted, the Hero slumped into a chair, picked up a book and began to read it.
- Is it wrong to read a woman's diary?" smiled Avelilinélia.
- Look at the size of the trinket, you want me to believe that you wrote all this?
- No, it's my mother, the ancient fairy of legend, I'm sure...
The Hero put it back where he found it and returned to his slug position.
- I'm not interested in that anymore.
- Really?
- I assure you. It's a holiday, why bother with old uninteresting legends...
- Your opinion about your role has not changed.
- Yes, but not my principles...
- By the way, you are not supposed to leave today...
They were interrupted by the arrival of Lelelitio, who had left the table to bring the Minister of Festivities, Caemgen, and two guards to their home. He wore a strange green artifact around his neck with a rune that the Hero did not know.
- If you're wondering what it is, son of Elena, it's an artifact that allows me to speak at normal speed.
- I greet you, Minister of Festivities," the princess bowed.
- I should be doing that," Caemgen corrected her, "but let's leave etiquette aside. I guess you don't know why I'm here.
- Is it about the fanatics?" the princess asked him.
- No, this will be reported to you by the queen herself. No, I come on my own initiative. I humbly come to ask you to become the Karyoten of the army of Sylvania.
The princess raised a large eyebrow in amazement as she raised her head frightfully high.
The Hero raised his hand to ask a question.
- Yes?" said Caemgen.
- What is Cariöten?
- It is the general-strategist of the army of Sylvania, answered Avelilinélia, there is only one per generation. As for the kings and queens of this nation, it is only in case of resignation or death that a new Karyoten is elected, either by the former Karyoten, or by the queen herself.
- Which means...
- That I, Caemgen Jasiloëm Barskersclay, son of Caemgen Waliuim, former Karyoten of the nation of Sylvania, want Princess Avelilinélia Grave as my successor.
This seemed like a good position from the Hero's point of view, but from the look on the princess's face, she didn't seem to like it.
- I don't see how I deserve to be your successor, said the princess of the Basfonds, I didn't participate in any war and didn't perform any act of bravery.
- War is not enough to be a Karyoten, you have demonstrated a great intelligence in combat which is not the prerogative of all champions or princesses who are inclined to combat? And as an act of bravery, do I have to remind you that you are facing the hero of the legend?
- That's a good point," commented the Hero.
Which I agree with.
- And I've been reading your evaluations, you must be one of the most intelligent beings in this kingdom, staying here is wasting an incredible potential.
The fairy thought for a few moments, then sighed.
- I'm sorry but I'm going to have to...
- Caemgen, cut off the Hero.
- Yes ?
- Give her some time. She just lost a fight that meant more to her than any other princess. It's not easy to grasp the magnitude of an opportunity like this.
- You are absolutely right. I'll let you think about my proposal. If you change your mind, come and see me in my office.
He handed her a scroll.
- This is a pass that will prevent any guard from bothering you if you are, in the future, brought up to the royal palace.
She hesitated to take it, but the Hero urged her to do so, so she accepted, and let the visitors go on their way.
- Why didn't you let me refuse?" the princess asked him furiously.
- So that you don't make the same mistakes as I did in refusing everything outright, he retorted, it's no small thing to have a proposal to the government.
- What can a Karyoten do to help others?
- What can a princess, who lives in the underworld of a Faerie kingdom, who was considered less than a human, do to help others? If you want to contradict me, you already have the answer.
The Hero turned on his side and rested his head on his forearms.
- Life is far too unpredictable for you to take any chances. Especially when it comes to a gift.
- Stop talking in riddles and get to the facts...
A loud snoring sound echoed in the room. The Hero had fallen asleep. He had not been able to sleep since the fight with Avelilinélia.
This kid is not possible...
Avelilinélia went to get a quilt and put it on the Hero. Sitting on the dining table, she opened the purse he had given her to find out how many crowns he had won, but inside she discovered a paper with an imperfect Oli'Ane inscription, which I will not be ashamed to transcribe to you as imperfectly as it was written:
"Here Linélia, with this, go and buy yourself some lovely girls' clothes like you so much dream to have as Lelelitio told me!
PS: It's also your paycheck for my princess party, so come even though it's been moved to two weeks from now since they lied to me!"
Avelilinélia sulked when she learned that her secret of wanting to have beautiful clothes was revealed, then giggled. And to think that less than twenty-four hours ago with a stern face and a murderous look, he swore to exterminate his people if she lost. A liar with a big heart as it was not possible.
As a token of thanks, she kissed his forehead before going to lie down in her own bed, she too had not slept much.