Chapter 80 - ALI MINI THEATER Side Story 5

How Alinea's team was formed…

Alistair, King of Ritz was in his study, reading one of the new books he had acquired with the utmost difficulty when a soft tap on the door disturbed him. His forehead wrinkled as he frowned, a deep eleven formed in between his perfectly formed brows.

A glance at the horologe told him that it was already late in the evening. Who would dare disturb his personal time? Who dared to –

"Brother…"

A soft, female voice he knew all too well spoke behind the heavy oak door, interrupting his mental rage and all negative thoughts vanished from his mind in an instant.

Oh…

Of course, this little one could dare disturb him all she wanted. She could disturb him all day if she so wished. He wouldn't tell her that, though.

He cleared his throat as his amethyst orbs glanced at the mirror across the room, and set his face devoid of expression as he called out to his visitor to enter. "Come in, Ali…"

The door creaked as it slowly opened, and one raven-haired beauty popped her head in the not fully opened entrance. Her head sideways, her long hair falling to the side in Alistair's view, and the king fought hard not to break into a stupid grin as he found this little sister so adorable.

Huge silver-grey eyes locked with his, and he raised one hand to beckon her in.

Hmmmmnnn…

Judging by the way she looked at him, with those pair of determined orbs, Alistair knew this little one came here to request something. He was not wrong.

"Speak," he softly commanded her.

The princess of eleven years, wearing a ruffled gown the color of the sun was still half a child. But the expression on her face showed maturity beyond her age.

"Brother, I want to be a soldier," she declared.

Alistair tried his best not to suck in air in his lungs audibly in his shock. It took a while for him to reply, but when he did, his voice was surprisingly clear and calm.

"What do you mean Ali?"

Of course, he understood what she said. What he couldn't fathom was why.

"I want to be useful to you, brother. I want to serve our country."

Alistair sighed as he shifted on his seat. He had no idea what happened as to why this little one was suddenly saying these things, but he didn't have the heart to really clip her wings if that was what she wanted. After all, he was born to make sure her dainty hands could reach her dreams.

Still, he had to make sure she really understood what she wanted.

"Ali, as the princess of Ritz, you are already very useful to the country," Alistair told her matter-of-factly. "Your beauty alone boosts the morale of our people."

Alinea frowned, and the king wondered what he had said that made her do so.

"But brother, with your beauty, who cares about mine? You alone can boost the country's morale." Alinea told him thoughtfully, and the king nearly palmed his face.

After all, his aesthetics were indeed more distracting than this little one. With his divine power, he could barely suppress, his charms were always on cheat mode.

"Ah, but you increase their heart rates too – that's not good is it? And Nana said many women couldn't get married anymore because many men jumped over the other fence because of brother's face alone – whatever that means," Alinea continued softly in confusion, not totally understanding what her nanny meant, but Alistair could.

The King if Ritz had a beauty that led even the toughest of men astray.

He took a mental note to fire the nanny tomorrow. Seeing as Ali was totally distracted, Alistair cleared his throat loudly, taking his sister's attention again from her thoughts.

"But Ali, there are other things you can do for the country other than being a soldier," he told her again.

This time, he watched as Alinea's face fell in sadness, her huge silvery pools shrouded in disappointment as she looked at him.

"It means I can't?" she beseeched in a voice that was almost a whisper, and the big brother who got K.O.ed by that puppy look stiffened on his seat.

"Of course you can! You can be whatever you want to be," he announced abruptly, and it took a lot of self-control on his part not to jump and clap in joy with her.

When she left, Alistair realized he'd been bamboozled with no chance of winning. With a sigh, he ordered the servant who was on standby to gather five of the best warriors they had in the country. If his little one wanted to be a soldier, then she should learn from only the best.

The next day, five warriors clad in their finest gear were lined up in front of the king. Alistair scrutinized them one by one, checking if they're good enough for him to leave Ali in their care.

One was a huge blonde warrior with a battle-ax. He looked totally strong with his muscled body and weathered face. A scar ran down from his forehead across his eye to his cheek. Ali who was a demigod, of course, had more strength physically, but he looked like he had techniques that he could pass on to his little one.

Alistair nodded. Yes.

His amethyst gaze then transferred to two handsome youths. Their light gear reflected their roles, and they looked totally agile. Both were archers. The reports said these two were sharpshooters, but without arrows, they're also experts on hand to hand combat.

Alistair nodded. Yes.

Next was a middle-aged warrior with a beefy build. His silver armor indicated his role. He was a paladin, a great swordsman. He was the best among his peers, and his maturity would be beneficial to the little one. This man could be the leader of the five.

Alistair nodded. Yes.

Last but not least was another comely young man – a very tall lad who bore the most gentle of faces among the five. He wore light leather armor almost similar to the archers. In the group, he was the only one who could control elementals – an earth caster. Being one granted him the ability of healing. He would be vital to his little one's team.

Alistair nodded. Yes.

Satisfied with the warriors, he ordered the servants to call his little one.

When Alinea arrived in the throne room, her little face lit up in happiness. The smile she bestowed on her older brother made Alistair think he did the right thing. He introduced her to Horgall, Rubic, Lucius, Midas, and Sven consecutively, telling her each man's specialty and their tasks.

"When will my training start, brother?" she asked in excitement, her silver orbs dancing in delight.

"As soon as you'd like," he replied nonchalantly.

"Great! I can explore dungeons now!"Alinea declared, making his brother's eyes pop out of their sockets in shock.

"Ali, what dungeons are you talking about?" he said with a slight frown.

The little one's face fell as soon as he said that.

"I can't?" she asked softly.

"Of course you can! If that's what you truly want," was his automatic answer, and Alistair almost wanted to hit himself. He really should try to curb his sister-spoiling habit.

But, seeing her so happy as she ran to her new companions, the Ritz king decided to give in.

"Just always prioritize safety…"