Why did she keep failing? She was supposed to be representing her family in the future! She was the eldest, her birth was supposed to be a good sign! She was doing her best effort! But still, leadership and strategy really weren’t her forte, at least not yet. She could handle herself perfectly well in the heat of a (training) battle, her tactics were excellent, but the big picture eluded her. It was the first time she had seen the instructor get so mad.

She wanted to scream she was trying her best, but it wouldn’t be proper for a lady, and she didn’t want any extra etiquette lessons, as relaxing as they were. She just kept trying until the instructor got tired.

“So much potential” she said “Yet lacking in the fundamentals. Reflect upon what we learned, maybe a night’s rest will be enough to hammer it into your head.”

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Instructor Genessa was tall, specially for a woman. Her red hair contrasted with her scarred face, yet she spoke very formally. She carried a parrying dagger with an unusual shape, and no other weapons. It was rare for her to get angry, yet something had changed today.

“Just know this: this bothers me because I know your potential.” she said, as she left “You’re just not letting yourself bloom.”

Rheann was frustrated. She knew that! In her anger she stomped the floor, and a flower bloomed. She couldn’t help but smile, and calm down. It was late, but she guessed she still had time to attend the tea party.

When she crossed the threshold, she saw her mother, on her cheek a single tear.

“Raelynn, the army is calling for you” she was saying “and I just don’t know how long I can stop them”