The Crown's Entrapment

[Twelvth night inside the Element Forest]

As soon as Xenia finished the trial by air, Devas quickly picked her up so that they could both go back to Polo's territory. She still had to use her newly-found permission to view the past in the Lake of Life, and from there, make her way back to Cordon to both participate in the trial by combat, as well as to relay whatever information she'd get from her viewing to Darius.

"You did great back there," Devas praised her just as they arrived at Polo's underwater mansion. "I didn't think that Helena had it in her to make a hard trial, but I'm glad you survived."

"Wait, you mean that was her hard trial?" Xenia asked.

"She would usually just do something simpler, maybe even a variation of the trial you just did without the insane height," Devas chuckled. "For her to actually not pull her punches, that speaks volumes on how much faith she had in you."

Xenia sheepishly smiled at the praise. While she would've been smug at any other circumstance, the fact that she knew that Helena had helped her throughout the entire trial humbled her somewhat. She supposed that whatever the Fairy Queen did to hide her presence, it was enough that even her fellow guardians didn't notice her support.

"Anyway, where's that merman? You're in a hurry, right?"

Xenia nodded. "That's right. Still, I don't think we should try and push the issue."

"Oh relax. You practically passed every single test Polo already threw at you," Devas scoffed. "If anything, he probably already likes you enough to tolerate a bit of annoyance coming from you."

Xenia narrowed her eyes at the Sphinx just as they reached the same waiting area they once use back when she asked for Polo's permission to use the lake in the first place.

Watching the guardian converse with one of Polo's servants, she couldn't help but think about what he just said. There was a certain word there that told her that she should push the issue on what he was insinuating. It might lead to a long conversation and a possible argument, but what else did they have to do other than wait right now?

She might as well entertain herself. And what better way than to engage a conversationalist as interesting and amusing to rile up as Devas?

"Did you just say that I'm annoying?" Xenia cheekily pointed out as soon as Devas was free.

"Are you?" Devas promptly questioned back. "I'd guess you are, seeing as you annoyingly crawled into our realm and snuck your way into our hearts."

"Really, now?" Xenia mustered, controlling her blushing cheeks as she composed herself. "Flirting with me even after that stunt you did using my husband's appearance?"

"Who knows? Maybe it might work," the guardian chuckled. "I did make you blush, right?"

Xenia rolled her eyes at the guardian. Maybe it was the amount of time they've spent together now, but she was honestly considering both him and Helena to be her friends. Sure, she might not see them again after she left the Element Forest, but she'll at least have some cherished memories that would stick with her for the rest of her life.

"I'll give you that then," she scoffed. "But don't think anything you'll do will work on me."

"I know, Princess, but can you fault me for trying?" he smiled. "You are that beautiful, you know."

Shaking her head, Xenia decided that she was done conversing with the flirtatious guardian. Waiting quietly for Polo to arrive, it wasn't until five minutes after that the merman graced them with his presence once more.

"Princess," Polo nodded to her in greeting. "I see that you've completed the Trial by Air. On that, you have my congratulations."

"Thank you, Lord Polo," Xenia nodded in turn.

"And it would seem that my fellow guardian has accompanied you here," Polo commented, pertaining to Devas's presence. "I assume that you're here to spend as much time with her before she inevitably leaves?"

"What else is there to do anyway?" Devas chuckled. "It'll be a long while before Cordon commissions another series of trials from us, so I might as well savor this moment, right?"

"That, indeed," Polo hummed. He then turned his gaze back to Xenia. "I take it that you're here to arrange a viewing at the Lake of Life?"

"Yes," Xenia nodded, her face already betraying some of her excitement. "I'd like to get it over with so that I can return to Cordon as soon as possible."

"I see," Polo nodded in acknowledgment. "Unfortunately, I will still prepare the rituals required for the viewing to take place. The Lake works differently, you see, and it will require at least a day before anyone, including myself, to be able to use its services."

"Oh…" Xenia blinked. "So I guess I still have another day to spend here then."

"Really? That works for me then," Devas smirked. He then turned to Xenia and asked, "So, where are you staying then? Since you have a day left here, you'll have to spend the night somewhere."

Xenia hummed in thought as she thought about Devas' question. True enough, she never really had to worry about her sleeping accommodations ever since Helena took her into her territory. With the Fairy Queen seemingly unavailable, the only options she had were to either stay somewhere outside or ask for accommodations herself. Maybe…

"Lord Polo, can I spend the night here in your territory?"

The merman's ears quickly perked up. "Oh?"

"Really? You won't even ask me first?" Devas exclaimed in false hurt, his joking tone clueing her in on his teasing. "You wound me, Princess…"

"It's better this way," Xenia scoffed. "Once the Lake's operational, we'll be able to get to it immediately. We'll save on travel time as opposed to me staying at your territory, Lord Devas."

"Dammit…" Devas cursed under his breath.

Meanwhile, Polo simply shook his head at his fellow guardian's antics. Giving his two guests a look, he remarked, "If there's nothing else, then I'll be taking my leave. Feel free to ask my servants to show you to your accommodations, Princess."