#karle

Maybe she was just feeling restless. Despite her inadequacies, part of her perhaps did still miss prince Alvara’s training. Maybe it was the fact it added some structure to her day? Or was she missing that feeling of personal progress? 

She sighed again. Sure the companionship part of it could be a factor, like when queen Lula would come grab her to plan on of her events, or when queen Lorena would come task her with things or ask her opinion on a person...

“Oh...” she said quietly when a realization struck her. “I’m starting to feel like I’m useless, ” Mazella said and groaned at herself before she picked up her cards. After shuffling them she stood and made a quick trip to her room. She grabbed a couple more decks of cards, before letting a guard know she leaving her post by the main entrance of the grand castle for a while to go train.  

Then she headed outside to the spot where prince Alvara had been training her. She did not want to risk causing damage to any of the gardens or farms. She then took a deep breath as she took out the four decks of cards she brought with her and set them on the ground. Each one having their own back color (blue, red, purple, and green), so it was easier for her. 

Mazella took several deep breaths. She knew that she could easily sustain having two decks active at once for a decent amount of time. Three was pushing it, but she could do it for a significantly shorter amount of time. Four, however?  

She clenched her fists at the memory of the last time she tried four. Three had already been harder for her at the time, but her young self wasn’t as concerned about that, wasn’t as wise. Back when she was first brought to High Queen Crystalia, back before she started wearing most of what she is now known for. When she looked like the princess she technically was. At the time Mazella just wanted to show off her unique talents, that she could possibly serve the high queens as an entertainer, or something. 

But that look of concern the high queen had for her when Mazella was conscious again after her failed attempt...

The lady of the cards exhaled sharply and her hand out over the blue deck of cards. For a moment her eyes and her hand glowed with a pale green light. With a snap of her finger the blue deck was now the one glowing with the light. She then swiped her hand to the side and one by one the cards began to float and move in that direction. the light around the cards dimmed slightly but they remained enchanted and moved to start flying around her in different patterns. 

Sustaining one deck was like nothing to her. Almost as natural as breathing. 

Mazella lightly crossed her arms a moment and looked towards the distance as the cards swirled around her. Other thoughts and memories were trying to surface that she did not want to deal with right now. She huffed and then held her hand over the red deck. Within a few moments they were now active and joining their blue brethren in swirling around her. She then looked at the last two decks. She would have to do them in quick succession, so that the third deck wouldn’t drain too much before she enchanted the fourth. 

The master of ceremonies took a few deep breaths to steady herself as she was starting to feel nervous. She held her hands over the purple and green decks as her eyes and hands glowed for the third time. With a quick snap and an upward motion the purple deck was activated. 

And there was the beginnings of the pull she would feel when her magic gets  used  too much or spread out this much. She gritted her teeth slightly and repeated the quick snap and motion to activate the last deck, her most used green one. She had hoped by saving that for last would make things slightly easier as it is the deck most attuned to her and her magic. 

However, as the cards shakily started to rise she suddenly felt as if a heavy weight was bearing down upon her. At least she did not near instantly pass out, but this was far from pleasant either. 

Mazella hugged herself tightly as the green cards tried their best to seamlessly join the other three decks. In addition to the pressure, she was starting to feel as shaky as all her cards were now becoming. It was taking all of her focus to try to sustain her decks and steady them. However, the effort, and struggle, was starting to drain her magic too fast and leave her feeling sick. 

The aura around her cards started to fizzle out a couple at a time and flutter to the ground like normal cards do. She fell to her knees and exhaled sharply as she instantly cut her connection to her cards and deactivating them. She hastily reached up to loosen her tie as she tried to slow her, now hastened, breathing while trying not throw up. 

She grabbed her hat and set it down on the ground in front of her. She also would have cursed silently if she wasn’t preoccupied with more pressing matters. If anything, however, she knew that four decks was still a far off goal, and likely impossible. Trying to improve her endurance with three seems like the more reasonable goal to try and achieve instead. 

Several minutes passed before she was even somewhat recomposed. Mazella reached for the card nearest to her, a jack of diamonds from the blue set, and sighed. She lifted it up and a brief flash of green surrounded it before she placed down in front of her. She ignored the slight return of the sick feeling as the other blue backed cards gathered with it’s fellow. 

Once the deck was complete she placed it in her pocket and reached for another card. This one was the colored joker from the purple deck. She repeated what she did before, and watched as the other cards came to it as she covered her mouth. Her free hand gripped at the grass a moment. She had to do it this way, so she could gather them before the wind starts picking up. Doing it the normal way would just risk her getting dizzy and falling. This way she was already on the ground, and ready to sacrifice her hat if necessary. 

Two more deck restorations later, and she had one hand at her head and the other over her mouth again. She wondered if most magic users feel like this when they’ve pushed their magic or energy too far. Mazella began to sway slightly, and moved to lay her face on the cool grass. “I just...need some time, and maybe this part’ll pass...” she mused quietly. She could handle just feeling drained, but she definitely wanted to get over feeling nauseous and her foggy head. 

“Mazella!” a familiar, strong-willed, voice called out to her. She groaned quietly not realizing she had slipped unconscious. Mazella would have taken the time to ponder when that happened and for how long but not if this was who she was thinking it was. “I was told zat you were out here training, not napping!”

The master of ceremonies was certain now of what sight she was likely to see. She shifted so that she was on her back and opened her eyes. Sure enough High King Seff’s golden-haired granddaughter was looming over her with hands on both hips and a disappointed look on her face. She was about to say something until a snout was suddenly in her face and she was being licked. 

“Zat’s right! Get her Athena!” Karlene, the aforementioned granddaughter, commanded. Karle then chuckled as she watched Mazella wriggle slightly unable to fend off the ‘attack’ of the wolf companion. “Now pin her down!”

Mazella was winded for a moment as Athena unceremoniously plopped down on her. When she caught her breath again she spoke. “Your Highness, please...I was training with my cards, but I pushed myself to my limit,” she tried to explain. “I did not expect my eyes to close as I tried to recover some energy.”

Karlene crossed her arms and scoffed slightly. It was followed by a short huff from Athena. “I suppose I can believe zat...but only if you tell me where to most likely find my grandfather right now,” she said. 

The pinned master of ceremonies, had to try and think about it while guessing at the current time of day. He was no doubt with High Queen Iona, but she was not certain if they had any plans today. However, she could venture a guess without being able to use her cards at the moment, which probably wasn’t wise to try yet anyway. “I can only give you a guess this time your highness, would that suffice?”

The ambitious warrior princess nodded. She was restless and itching for a spar with her grandfather. He had not been back to the stronghold in some time, and Sechiel was often too busy, or looked it, for her to try and bother him for a spar. It had been some time since she was able to catch Rio either, and it was getting to her. So of course she had to make a trip to the Light Kingdom, while leaving a note for her parents and twin about it. She also supposed it had been some time since she saw her relatives here anyway. Maybe she could test Dietrich and Alvara’s skill for herself instead of just hearing about it. 

Karle waited to hear the location that she might find her idol in swordsmanship. She swears one of these days she’ll be able to beat her grandpapa Seff in a match. When Mazella told her, she nodded and looked at the castle. “I see. I zink I remember enough of the layout to know where to go. Oh, und I suppose it is nice to see you again after all zis time. Zough I was hoping to see how your magic had grown for myself. Maybe before I head home, or get dragged back zere…” she said and laughed. “Athena, keep her pinned until you zink she is fit enough to move!” Karle commanded in amusement. 

“Your Highness! There is no-“ Mazella began to respond but was cut off by a short howl of acknowledgement from the wolf. “Athena...please don’t...” Mazella whined slightly. However, it was only met with a huff from Athena, and the slight wagging of her tail. Mazella sighed in defeat while Karlene laughed once more.