Chapter 1: The Mushroom Knight
The Great Sage of the Empire, Mia Luna Tearmoon, had her hands full. The future of the Empire rested on her shoulders, and these days, it felt as if the fate of the entire continent was resting on them too. Thus, Mia spent her days tirelessly (well, at least in Mia terms, that is). Despite these preoccupations, however, she was currently spending her time relaxing to the fullest in one of the guest rooms in Count Lampron’s residence.
Her original objective had been to avoid Sion’s assassination, and she had done just that. She had also somehow saved King Abram when a series of extraordinary circumstances led to him being faced with the same threat, and she even succeeded in freeing Sion’s brother, Echard, from the fate of execution. Now, at last, it was time for a moment of respite.
“Even if it’s just for some quality milk and butter, visiting the Equestrian Kingdom with Miss Rafina means that I can’t afford to let my guard down,” Mia noted. “I’ll have to teach her how to ride horses too...”
Should a moment of negligence lead to injuring Rafina, the consequences would be disastrous. No matter what Rafina might have to say on the matter, one couldn’t ignore the very real possibility of being chased down by a guillotine that had sprouted legs. In other words, it was of absolute priority that Mia keep her eyes open at all times.
“And that’s exactly why I need to take the time to rest and recover now! A slice of cake while relaxing in bed is the perfect way to restore my spirits! Oho ho! I should get planning! I’ll go on a tour of the sweets shops in Sunkland, and...”
Whether it be for better or for worse, this yet-nascent ploy of Mia’s was not afforded the time to be fleshed out any further. The talks between Rafina and King Abram were worked out strangely and surprisingly quickly, and just two days later, Mia’s party departed from Sunkland.
Rafina’s attendants, as well as Ludwig, had taken care of preparations for the journey home. Three carriages from the Empire and one from Belluga were in position, and in front of them stood Mia, who