"Lady Erica! Oh, my Lady Erica!"

Caspian felt a small droplet of sweat trail down his face as Derek, restrained by several maids and butlers, struggled to make his way over to him and Erica as they exited the MAFT. It was definitely an odd sigh; one man struggling against half a dozen people in his quest to reach someone. Wasn't he supposed to be sick? How come those people were struggling with someone whose strength should have been practically nonexistent?

"Let me go! Lady Erica! I need to be by my Lady's side!"

A Glance at Erica showed that the fatalistically gorgeous femme was not pleased. There was a small twitch in her right eye, and Caspian could see a vein pulsing on her forehead, throbbing in time to the beat of her heart. Her teeth were also grit, which was never a good sign on a woman.

"Why are you all holding me back?! Let me go to my Erica!"

Impossible though it seemed, Derek seemed to struggle even more. His armor clinked together, metal against metal, and his frail-looking body strained against the people holding him back. There were six of them, two maids and four butlers. One maid had her arm around his middle, while the other had latched onto his legs and was being dragged across the ground. The four butlers were restraining the man's arms with little success.

"Are you going to do something about him?" Erica stopped glaring long enough to look at Caspian. When he saw that he had her attention, he hitched a thumb over at Derek. "I mean, this is kind of amusing to watch, but it's also just plain pathetic. You really should do something about him."

Erica held his gaze a moment longer, and then her shoulders slumped. "Yes, I suppose a should, shouldn't I?"

The sigh that escaped Erica's lips was one of both annoyance and exhaustion. Caspian wondered if it was because she'd been dealing with Derek for so long? Speaking of Derek, had he always been like that? If so, Caspian almost felt sympathetic towards the woman. She might be a selfish, narcissistic witch, but no one deserved having to deal with someone like that on a daily basis.

And he also felt a slight kinship with her as well. After all, didn't he have someone like that back at the academy? This Derek fellow might be even more annoying than Christo.

Great. Now he was sighing.

"Derek!" Erica snapped. Her voice caused the man in question to straighten, his spine actually cracking as it became ramrod straight. Caspian barely withheld a wince. "I thought I told you to remain in bed?"

"Ah, w-well, yes, you did. B-but! When I heard that you'd left Dorehan Tower, I became worried."

Erica raised a finely manicured eyebrow. "Worried?"

"Yes! Very worried!" Derek nodded his head emphatically. He reminded Caspian of a faithful puppy, the kind that returned to their owner even after being beaten. "After all, it was not so long ago that you had been attacked by an elven assassin. What if they came back and attacked you again? You would be in danger!"

"I see, I see." Erica nodded her head. She cocked her hip to the side, arms crossing under her bust as she adopted a thoughtful mien. "So, in other words, what you're telling me is that you do not have faith in my ability to take care of myself? Is that it?"

"Yes, that's―no! No, that's not it!" Derek began to sweat as Erica held his gaze, her face deadpanned. "I know better than anyone how capable you are. That being said, I am your Knight, and it is my duty as your Knight to protect you from all dangers, no matter how small."

"That is true," Erica allowed, causing Derek to smile. "However, you are currently weak from being... ill, and are therefore incapable of protecting me. Consequently, that is why I have Caspie with me―"

"It's Caspian," Caspian mumbled. He didn't even know why he bothered anymore. It wasn't like she was listening to him.

"―To protect me while you recover your strength," Erica continued as if he'd never interrupted. She gave Derek a look, one that made her Knight flinch. "Why can't you understand? I have no use for a weak fool who can't even obey orders."

Caspian wondered if he was hallucinating. Yes, that must be it. There was no other reasonable explanation for why Derek's body had suddenly taken on a dull gray pallor reminiscent of stone. And were those cracks appearing on his body?

"M-my beloved Erica... she doesn't... need me... anymore!"

Derek collapsed onto his hands and knees. Tears fell from his eyes and snot dribbled down his nose. Like a waterfall, various fluids flowed from him, turning his face into a disgusting mess. It was a sad sight. Pathetic even. By the Spirits, what kind of Knight was this man?

Erica rolled her eyes. "Get up, you sorry excuse for a Knight."

"Yes, My Lady!"

The words were like magic. Derek was back on his feet before Caspian could so much as blink, standing erect once more, without even a hint that he'd been bawling his eyes out just a few seconds ago. It was almost like the whole thing had never happened.

Caspian slowly pressed a hand to his face.

I must be losing my mind.

Erica placed her hands on her hips. The imperious look on her face was that of a haughty princess, or maybe even an arrogant queen, staring down at one of her disobedient subjects.

"Now then, you will go to your room and you will get some rest. If you do not do as I say, then I will ensure that you can never come near me for as long as you live."

Derek paled. "No! Please don't do that! I'll be good!"

Erica glared at the man decked in red and gold armor. She then pointed at the door, letting Derek know exactly what she wanted from him. In return, her Knight walked over to the door, shoulders slumped and back stooped in a clear sign of depression. When he was gone, Erica turned back to Caspian, who just looked incredibly confused.

"Well, now that this little matter has been settled. Why don't I have Cassidy show you where you're going to sleep?"

As if Erica's words carried prophetic abilities, Cassidy came running outside, her dress fluttering in the wind as she ran over to them.

"You called, Mistress Erica—WAH!"

Caspian and Erica winced as one when Cassidy tripped on air―at least, they thought it was air―and fell flat on her face.

"Now that's just sad." Erica looked more amused than worried. Caspian sent her a glance, then sighed and walked up to the maid who laid sprawled face first on the ground, her rump sticking in the air.

"Owch..." Cassidy sat up, rubbing her now sore nose, which was red enough that Caspian imagined it could probably glow in the dark. "That really hurt."

"Are you okay?" Caspian held his hand out to the girl.

"Oh, um, y-yes." Her face growing redder, Cassidy took his hand and allowed him to help her stand up. "T-thank you."

Caspian felt his lips curl into a small half-smile. Having someone thank him instead of scorn him—or tease him like Erica did—felt really nice.

Erica coughed into her hand several times, gathering their attention. Caspian turned in her direction and saw the woman frowning. It was small, a tiny downturning of her lips, but it was there.

"Maid, be a dear and show Caspie to his room."

"It's―" he started, only to stop. "Ha... you know what? Never mind. I'm not even gonna bother anymore."

"Well, that's no fun." Erica sauntered up to Caspian, raising a hand and pressing it to his cheek. She moved her face in close, so close that he could feel her breath wash over his lips and smell her intoxicating scent overwhelming his senses, addling his mind and dulling his reaction times. Erica smiled widely as he shuddered at her proximity. "I thought you said you were going to entertain me."

"I-I-I never said anything of the sort!" Caspian tried to scowl. When that didn't work, he moved away from the woman and crossed his arms over his chest. Erica just looked at him, an expression of faux puzzlement etched onto her face.

"Really? But I could have sworn you said..."

"I said nothing of the sort! Stop putting words in my mouth!"

"If you say so. In either case..." Erica clapped her hands together and looked at Cassidy. "Show our esteemed guest to the room that is to be his for the duration of his stay here."

"Of course, Mistress Erica." Cassidy bowed to her mistress. When she rose back up, her attention turned to Caspian. "Please, follow me, Master Caspian. I will take you up to your room."

Caspian thought about reminding Cassidy that he had told her to call him Caspian, but decided not to in the end. Having dealt with Erica all day, he didn't feel like dealing with this right now. Maybe tomorrow, after he'd had a good nights sleep.

"Yeah. Okay." He gestured to the woman. "Lead on."

Caspian followed Cassidy as she led him into the tower and up what must have been several hundred flights of stairs. He was tired, exhausted in both body and mind. The only thing on his mind in that moment was getting to bed.

Who knew guarding a Sorceress could be such an arduous task?