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wiltingMyosotis · 06-13-2017, 02:10 PM

You think briefly about talking about the 'higher ups', so to speak, but decide against it. It’s usually a touchy topic. Maybe after you’ve become better friends, you could probably discuss it without much worry.

You decide to talk about an old friend you had. You know that, at least, this would be a good way to fill the silence.

“I used to have a good friend too, actually.“

Leon’s eyebrows rise at words ’used to’, but doesn’t ask. “Who were they?”

“A guard! And I know she’s training hard to be a good one, too.“

A fresh vision comes to your mind of a girl holding a sword hilt, with a younger version of you cowering a bit behind her.

“She was brave.“

In your mind‘s eyes, you see a boar.

“I met her when I wandered off too far from the path.“

The path under the two girls solidifies. Runes cover it, but they aren’t glowing.

“The path wasn’t fixed yet, so.. something came out after me.“

The boar growls. Leaves and thimbles cover its fur, but you can clearly see the bits of scales on it.

“I don‘t know what it was.“

The girl with the sword raises her sword.

“But.. she saw me. Guarding the path, she said.

The little girl behind her tries to hold a small glow in her hands.

“I’m glad she found me.“

Her sword strikes the beast.

“I don’t know what would‘ve happened if she didn’t.”

The beast clenches its teeth.

“...Where is she now?“

It lunges.

“Living her dream, I hope.“

The smaller girl cries out. The elder closes her eyes, ready to accept her fate.

“Which is?”

Light shoots through the boar.

“Learning to be a guard, of course!'

The elder looks in surprise. She turns to see the smaller girl hugging an imposing figure, gathering light in her hands.

“She said when I left that she was going to aim for the bigger missions.“

The elder looks to the side and bites her lip. The figure frowns, yet speaks.

“What was her name?“

“It was..“

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Memory log.
A younger Jack sat little aways from the path. She knew well that she wasn’t to come here, but it seemed too inviting! She could see all the wildflowers and leaves around. If she was quick, she could make a small crown and be back before mother knew!

She hummed, concentrating on the colours, and wondering which one mother might like best.

Then she heard rustling from the bush across her. She froze.

What was she to do here, again? Was she suppoused to run? Was she suppoused to fight? Should she find someone?

She looked around. There was no one to be found.

She breathed heavily.

She dropped the flowers and ran.

She could roaring. (A beast, then.) Something running. (So it’s out for me.) Snarling. (Really, what will mother think?)

Scared, she cried out. “Help!“

She felt it come closer. She could hear it. She ran faster.

Then she heard another voice.

“Stay back.“

It came from behind her. She turned and saw a girl, certainly older than her, brandishing a sword.

Except, it almost seemed as if it was directed at her.

“This is a protected area. What was a noble like you doing there? Do you think you can do whatever you want!“

Jack gulps. “Behind you,“ she points.

Then the stranger turns to see the thing chasing her. Its teeth barred, leaves scattered on its fur. Scales glinting in the sun.

She heard the straner-sword-girl curse.

“What‘s your name, noble?“

“Jack Aiden.“

“Well, Miss Aiden,” She raises her sword. “you should most definetly run.“

“I-” Jack stammered. “I-”

“Run.”

The stranger charges, striking her sword at the beast. It looks at her with a newfound fury.

Jack hears the stranger curse again. Then she knew. She tries to mimic her mother’s magic, to cover it’s eyes, but her magic was but a fizzle.

So she cried out.

In the distance, she felt her mother’s magic come closer. Brighter. She knew they‘d be safe.

She saw the beast lunge.

The stranger closed her eyes.

She held her breath.

Then her mother came and struck it.

Without thinking, she ran to her mother and hugged her. She knew without looking she was upset, very certainley most upset with her. But she felt maybe she was upset at the stranger too.

The stranger saw her, and her mother. Her eyes seem to widen, before she trains her gaze to a nearby bush and bites her lip.

“Some guard,“ her mother scoffs.

Jack feels a small burst of anger. She feels her hands glowing warmly. She hopes her mother doesn‘t notice.

“My daughter almost died.“

“With all due respect,“ the stranger (or, a guard?) says through clenched teeth. “she wasn’t suppoused to be here, Duchess.”

“And you were suppoused to make sure of that, weren't you?"

“Mother,” Jack murmurs. She feels her mother’s eyes on her, piecering. “if not for her, I would haven’t been able to find you.”

“Is that so.” Her voice seems cold. She can feel the edge of her tone.

“Forgive her, mother.” She says, even quieter. She tries not to feel every eye on her.

Silence fills the air. Then she hears her mothet take a breath.

“Who is your superior?“

The girl (she‘s not scary like the guards) furrows her brow but answers promptly. “The Head of Lux, Duchess.“

“I will have a word with them. Clearly they need to get their mind off the burrow.“

The girl bites her lip. “Yes, Duchess.“

“Your training starts tommorow.“

The girl blinks and rubs her eyes. “I’m sor- with all due respect, what- what exactly do you mean?“ She coughs. “Duchess.”

“It’s simple. You will train under my command. Surely it would be beter than the guards of Lux.” Jack’s mother shakes her head. “Really. They must be getting desperate.“

When Jack looks at the girl, really looks, she sees that the girl’s trying to hold her tounge.

”Yes, Duchess.” Then she pauses. “Thank you, from my heart.” (No one had to ask if she was sincere or not- she was. She truly was.)

“What is your name, girl?”

“My name is-“

“-Reviel. Have you heard of her?“

Leon tilts their head and shakes it. “It sounds familiar, I’m sure, but..“They paused to play with the pages of their book. You hadn‘t noticed they took it out. “..I can‘t place it.“

You give them a funny look. ”Hm. Well.. I hope she’s making a good name for herself with the others, either way.”

They grin at you. ”I’m sure she has.”

There’s a pause before Leon asks, “Were you close?“

You nod, more quickly than you should’ve. “Yeah. My mom made her.. stick around me a lot. It was kind of hard not to be, really.“

Leon tilts their head. “I’ve always thought she wouldn‘t have been.”

This takes you by suprise. “Why not?”

“Guards are raised to be distant, aren’t they?” They seemingly gesture to the sky. “So they don’t get attached to people. Pity the enemies. Liabilites, they say.”

“She volunteered.“

They stop playing with their book. “Willingly?“

“She says she did– she said something to me about how she always wanted to protect the people she cared about.“ You pause. “Obviously that bit wasn‘t told to the guards, but...“

“How was she accepted as a volunteer?“ Leon seems bewildered. “That’s-“

“Impossible, right?“ You smile. “She was, well.. better than every other person who ever volunteered. And my mother said something about them running low..“

They bite their lip and look away. “They’re running out of troops for the war, aren’t they?“

You don’t say anything for a while.

“Jack?”

You sigh. “I don‘t know, but.. yes, probably.”

Leon looks at the sky again.

“Why reject every other volunteer, then? Why her?“

“Every other volunteer was weaker than her. They only wanted a home, nothing more.” You pause. “And.. I was told they’re going to use all the stationary guards for the war.”

“...”

Leon closes their book suddenly.

“I’m not sure if we should think about this. Do you?”

You stay silent for a moment. You’re not sure what to say now. You were usually told you should think about what would happen to avoid it, on the other hand.. it’s scary, what they’re fighting for out there.

What will you say?

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