“Sister...”

“Sister?” My voice echoes into the aether, bouncing forward and back several times before fading into nothing. The sudden, wispy voice woke me from my sleep as I became eerily aware that I stood in a blank, white world. It was like I was floating yet my hands and feet felt stable against invisible, see-through walls. Beyond them an empty nothingness that seemed to stretch out for eternity.

“Sister…”

The voice calls out to me again, echoing again and again in this cage-like room. I clasp my hands up to my ears, hoping the voice would die out eventually. It feels like the voice came from all sides.

“Who are you? What are you?!” I scream out, my own voice reverberating in similar fashion as it gradually fades.

“Your sister…”

“I have one sister and you are certainly not her!”

“Twin sisters, you and I…” She continues, and her words pierce through my chest like an ice dagger. What kind of person claims to be your twin sister? Was this all a dream, or was this something worse?

“Twins?” I ask, tentatively. The word hangs in my throat even as I spoke it, as if a ball had lodged itself into my throat. I shiver with anticipation, not knowing what consequences my next words would have if I spoke them. “How can I know that you are my twin?”

The words hung in the air for a moment before she responds.

“Let me show you…”

Then, before me a shroud of shadow appeared from nothing and forms in front of me. I jump back in surprise, colliding with the wall behind me but my eyes remain fixated on that blob of shadow as it grows a fair ways wider and larger until it resembles a large porthole. The porthole convulsed and spun, the edges of the mass of wispy shadows seemingly struggling with its own mass as it flounders in place. The rotation intensifies briefly as it expands once more, now about the size of a door, before it stabilizes itself. By now it was a large oval structure that seemed both transparent and opaque, somewhat like a black, foggy window. I attempt to peer inside it but found myself looking only at emptiness until a limb reaches out from the oval and steps foot onto the flat, white plane. Before long another limb, both limbs now clearly feet and legs, also step out. They were smoky at first, but then they start to become more visible and material as if the dark matter coalesced and converged into a solid object. Following these two legs came two hands, pale, and snowy white in complexion. Then the rest of their forearm, and then the rest of its body slowly reached outward from the black porthole. Lastly, and certainly the most eerie of all, came her face that seemed to rise out of the tar. Her eyes were closed, yet my eyes widen in shock as I realize that her face was identical to my own. Everything about her facial structure was the same, even my birthmark on the right side of my nose was there in the exact same location. It was horrifying, as if looking at a rag doll of myself.

Slowly her eyes open, and like my own her irises were a dark, faded kind of red. She looked at me and gave a slight, ghoulish, sinister smile.

“Sister...see..?”

She whispers again and it was just as unsettling as before. In appearance, she was completely identical to me. Her dark, indigo hair fell right down to her shoulders just like my own, and from what I could tell her proportions in both her arms, her hips and legs, and her body all matched my own.

“We are twins…” She stated simply. “Do you know what that means..?”

I shake my head, gulping.

“It means that we have to kill each other…”

Swiftly she pulls a knife from her cloak and faster than I could react she rushed for me, thrusting the blade into my ribs. I yelp in pain as she attempts to pin me down, but I push back on her shoulders, swiping a punch against her. My fist clobbers her face sending her rolling backward, clutching her eye with one hand while the other held on to her knife.

“Do you really have to be violent…” She whispers, gripping her knife a bit tighter. “If you could die quietly it’d be simple…”

“You’re trying to kill me, why would I die quietly?!” Once again she lunges for me but this time I sidestep. The blade of the knife narrowly cuts past my cloak, slashing through a few strands of cloth but leaving myself unscathed. Taking advantage of my position I grab her free arm, twisting it around while my other arm clasps the top of it and held her in place.

"Why do you even want to kill me if you’re really my sister?” I demand.

“Because…I hate you…”

“What for? What have I done to make you want to kill me?”

“Because…you lived a life of luxury…whereas instead I’ve known nothing but pain..!”

Her words echoing in my ear, she screams in hatred and threw her knife right at my face. I react in time to avoid it, but my grip on her arm loosens and that was the opening she was looking for. She broke free of my grip, spinning around and elbows me in the ribs. I stagger back a few steps from the blow, cursing myself. I wasn’t used to fighting without armor, and certainly not someone who was this fast. Moreover, I was used to having to fight with a halberd and magical augmentations, but neither of them were with me right now. I felt incredibly vulnerable since it was clear she had the upper hand and was physically better trained in such close quarters.

“Please just lie down…and die…sister…” She said with a ghastly sort of conviction, staring at me with dead, fish-like eyes.

"What will killing me even solve? What does hating me do? I don’t even know you, or if you’re even really my sister!”

"It doesn’t matter…you just have to die…” She pulls out another knife from her cloak and sprints forward, already upon me. I watched the blade shimmer and glimmer against the light in slow-motion before it met my neck and…

“Lau! Lauriel! Please, say something!”

Someone calls my name and I open my eyes, my arms outstretched and my body drenched in sweat. Above me was a familiar face staring at me with eyes full of concern.

“R...Raye?” I ask confusedly, recognizing my fellow dragoon. She was dressed in her casual attire, a simple tank top and long, black pants. Her brown, chestnut hair tied and braided over her shoulder and draped against her collar bone. “Where…Where am I Raye?”

“Oh Lau, you’re back at headquarters! I promise, you’re safe now.” She sniffs, pulling downward on my body to give me a tight hug. From behind her I hear a wyvern growl, and tilting my head to the side I found it came from my own partner, Guinevere, who after seeing me well bent down her own head to rub against mine. It shocked me that both Guinevere and Raye felt immensely warm, which made me realize that my body had certainly become several times colder during whatever that strange trance I was in earlier. The three of us shared this sort of embrace for a few moments before I ask, “What exactly happened just now?”

“I don’t really know Lau, Guinevere arrived and sounded really panicked, crying and roaring for no reason whatsoever. When I came to see what was happening, I saw you flat against Guinevere’s neck your arms and legs flailing around everywhere. It looked like you were having a seizure of some sort while you were riding her…”

“Ah…that makes sense, I think.” My memory started to come back to me as I remember getting on Guinevere for our usual morning flight. It was a nice experience where the two of us could just have each other instead of having to deal with anyone else in the vicinity. Sometimes I would fall asleep on her and just lie up against her neck, and Guinevere would always become aware of it after a few minutes. She is a really careful and perceptive young wyvern, and flies extra carefully whenever I doze off. I imagine that’s why I even survived when I had that nightmare or vision, whatever that was earlier. Either way, I knew I couldn’t stay still here lying down—as far as I could tell it was just an awful nightmare. I push myself up but stumble, a wave of nausea rushing over me. Raye catches me in her arms, and Guinevere similarly growled with concern.

“Lau!” She shouts again. “Are you really sure you’re alright? Here let me pick you up, you always push yourself like this…”

“I’m…fine.” I grunt, trying to steady myself by using Guinevere’s tail as a base, brushing Raye’s hand aside. As I attempt to stand up once again, my legs caved and cracked and I drop down onto one knee.

“Lau! Goodness you’re always like this. Please, just let me help!” Raye once again reaches out to support me, but I push her arm aside again.

“I’m fine, it was just a nightmare.” I assure her, and lean all my weight against Guinevere’s tail.

“I’m not going to lose to something that was just in my head.” I state firmly. Slowly, my wobbling legs begin to steady as my arms take up the bulk of my weight, eventually shifting over once I stabilize. I heaved a sigh of relief, knowing that at least for now I wouldn’t be humiliated for being invalid because of a nightmare or something.

“See? What’d I say?” I ask, giving her a slightly pained smirk. It still hurt, but I had no intention of appearing weak.

“Lau, you know I only worry about you because you’re my friend and I look up to you—I don’t want you to get hurt because you chose to push yourself while you’re in pain.”

“Listen Raye, I promise I’m not in pain. I know my limits, and a little nightmare certainly isn’t it. Besides, I got a ton of work to do today regardless.”

“At least let me help you out. I don’t really have anything planned even though I’m on break, and you can’t say anything to change my mind girl.”

I sigh but sheepishly smiled, appreciating the help regardless. Guinevere snorted in agreement and I gave her a reassuring pat on her snout. “Thanks for taking care of me old friend.”

The obsidian scaled wyvern rumbled lightly and pressed her snout against my hand endearingly before rising up onto her hind legs, her serpentine body stretched and curved upwards. Then, with a single push of her limbs she beat her wings downward and took off for the rookery further up at our headquarters. The rookery itself was to the right of our main fortress keep, which was directly carved into the mountain side. It is a large tower like structure where wyverns loved to rest in, mocking the caves that feral wyverns tended to hide and sleep in. All of our wyverns are kept there though some tend to be more aloof than others, and prefer to make their own home in the wild. These wyverns are usually called via a horn, and while they may live away from us, they are still our loyal companions. Guinevere is extremely introverted when it comes to wyverns but she enjoys my own company so she remains here so that we can remain together. I watched my partner fly upward, her magnificent body soaring through the skies above us and then past the stairs that led into first our walls and then our main castle grounds. At the top of these stairs though was yet another familiar face.

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“Ah. You’re back. I trust everything is well?” Master Stefans asks, his arms crossed. He was wearing his dragoon armor like usual, and his grey eyes had that unsettling gaze only a professor or mentor could have. He was an incredibly grouchy elf, but I owe him many things including my place here in the Order.

“Yes, I’m fine Master.” I reply with a slight bow.

“Good, because the Grandmaster would like to speak with you and me. Miss Claire, you are also requested by the Grandmaster at once.”

“Me?” Raye points to herself with a look of shock. “Have we done something wrong?”

“No, or otherwise he would be significantly more irritable. But his demeanor was rather grave so I suggest that the two of you head into our conference room at once. After both of you have changed.” He adds, noting that the two of us remained dressed in casual clothing. Raye and I share a short glance—we both had a feeling it had to be something official. Considering that both she and I were both senior dragoons in the order, it was unusual for the Grandmaster to call on us. If it was a mere exercise, it would usually involve one of us alongside a few younger knights or squires. Plus, he had also asked for Master Stefans, which indicated that he sought his counsel as well. I had feeling this was something more grave or somber than a mere exercise or minor banditry mission.

“Well, off to it you two. I shall be expecting you soon.” The blonde, old elf orders before spinning upon his heels back to the castle.

“I’m a bit scared Lau…it’s been a while since I’ve been officially summoned by the Grandmaster.” Raye whispers to me.

“You get used to it. The old guy’s really nice and easy to talk to, he just has a really scary aura. A lot easier talk to than that old stuck up Stefans at least. He’s just super old fashioned.”

She giggles, slapping me lightly on the back. “Don’t let him hear you say that you dumbie. C’mon though, we shouldn’t keep them waiting.”

With that, the two of us headed quickly for the dormitories. We first hail the guard who allows us into the castle courtyard where we saw many squires being overseen by other dragoon knights. How they taught varied considerably with some acting as drill sergeants while others as kind-hearted mentors. Minor wisps of magic whizz by our heads as the squires fight, their inability to control mana still obvious but it was clear all had a distinct passion to serve the order. As I pass by them, the knights give us a slight salute to us in respect to our seniority over their own. Raye and I both had distinction in that we’ve both served the Order for several decades now and it was nice having younger people look up to us.

Once we were inside the castle we made a single right and then up a flight of stairs where our bedrooms were. Raye smiles and tells me that she would wait for me at the bottom of the stairs whenever I was ready, and then went inside to get dressed. My own room was a few more paces down, and with a light specific tap on the wood I undid the rune that sealed it shut. I was extremely paranoid about people stealing my belongings so I made sure to keep my room locked magically. It was a trick my real sister taught me before I left since she was certain I would need it eventually.

Speaking of which, I needed to make a mental note to speak to her the next time I saw her or my mother. Both were much more skilled at magic than I was and if anything I was worried about that dream I had, at least to some extent. I’ve always had nightmares, even as a kid, but my early nightmares were all explainable and involved my father. Mother described it as vague memories of my past that have started to come back to me over the decades, but this was entirely different. I’ve never been assaulted by a twin, and it really bothered me.

Either way, I knew I had to focus on what was at hand so I made my way to my wardrobe, where I swiftly rip my shirt off over my head, exchanging it for a white blouse, and then an indigo coat over it—the uniform of the dragoons. Similarly, I quickly take off my pants for the appropriate skirt to match it. Lastly, I gingerly take my personal cloak from its hanger and sling it overhead. Though it seemed silly, I would always fight with this cloak, specifically with its hood over my own head so much so that it has become almost like a symbol to me and those that knew me. Giving myself one final inspection over at my mirror to comb my hair, I step outside and reunite with Raye, who was similarly dressed in her uniform. In a few short steps we walk our way down into the Conference Room, where Master Stefans was waiting for us.

“Good, both of you look quite charming. Now, come inside. There is much to discuss.” He said sternly, ushering us inward. Inside was the grand table where we met any guests that sought the aid of the Dragoon Order. Surprisingly, the three other Masters were present in addition to the Grandmaster who sat right in the center of the table. All four of them looked upon our guests, who I could instantly tell were envoys from the royal capital based off their attire. There were two of them, one female, one male, and both were dressed clearly in the colors of the royal family. The female was dressed in a particularly large hat that obscured her eyes which gave me the impression that she was some sort of noble.

“Ah, our esteemed senior knights are here.” Grandmaster Zollern waved to us. He was a hefty man, a drakken like myself, and a veteran of a previous era. He had a magnificent aura of gravitas, a sort of voice that made any wish to pay attention to him and it was certain that he was a former officer of the old Celestial Empire. “Please, take a seat next to us and let our esteemed guests fill you in on what they need from us.”

Quickly, we take our own places across from the envoys. Raye sat next to her master, Vivian de Croise, whereas I sit next to an empty chair which soon Master Stefans would take after he closed the door.

“Now, would you please explain your request to our two young ladies here?” The Grandmaster requests, to which the male envoy would reply to the both of us.

“Miss Claire and Miss Perthesa?” He addresses us. “Your reputation precedes both of you, and especially you, the Indigo Dragoon.” He said to me, giving me a slight bow of the head. It was one of those names people came up for me over the years because of my reputation. Silly, honestly.

“To put it simply, the royal family is in need of the Dragoon Order’s expertise. Recently we have been receiving word of goblins trespassing the borders that we had agreed upon nearly fifty years prior when we first settled here. We were content to remain as peaceful neighbors, but lately we’ve been having several border issues with their kind that ultimately erupted into raids upon several of our frontier towns. Duchess Isabelle, as you might expect, would not tolerate any such incursions onto her territory and immediately sallied forth. Since then though…which was about six weeks ago, she has gone missing, and we have no idea where. Her patrols have similarly also gone missing, and we can only suspect that the goblins are no longer content with remaining in their lands. None of their dignitaries have spoken to either of us, and the Queen suspects that they wish to invade us for Aeternum.”

Aeternum, such a small mineral yet capable of such immense powers. The Great War was fought over it, and all races in Flua rely on this miniscule crystal. The elves use it to cast magic, and the Celestial Empire used it to power their war engines. The goblins, who are similar engineers, likewise use it to power their own powerful constructs.

“While we do not wish to plunge our country into war, something still must be done.” He continues. “Our irregulars and patrols have always gone missing over the past month and a half and her majesty therefore asks for your assistance to solve this matter with your skilled wyvern riders.”

“And thus you ask for myself and Raye to fly up with you to look for the missing Duchess?” I ask. “With all due respect sir, how do you expect us to have any more luck than your own patrols?”

“We will also be sending five legions to support the entire operation.” The envoy states. “We only ask that you aid us—naturally we will provide for any expenses that you two may incur over the course of this mission.”

“Out of the question.” Master de Croise responds tersely, almost immediately. “Our dragoons are not meant to be the military’s dog.”

“Quite right.” Master Elan scorns, a wizened, grey haired elf. “Such a mission has no honor to be gained in simply scouting. There is no glory in such an action.”

“Master Croise, Master Elan.” The Grandmaster sternly looks over to both masters with a stern gaze, to which both immediately silenced themselves. Both of them had their own issues with the nobility of the kingdom. “Put aside your own personal feelings about the Crown. Our mission is to aid the innocent and to protect the peace, remember that.” He then turned back to the envoy.

“However, I do have my own concerns over this mission. I will not endanger some of our finest knights on a mission that we have very little information over, especially one that will pit them against an entire nation potentially.”

“I…agree with the Grandmaster and with Lau here.” Raye timidly spoke up, clearly still not accustomed to these formal meetings. “I really don’t see how just the two of us will provide anything extra to your operation at all. We might be Dragoons, but we aren’t super heroes or anything.”

“While you may not be super heroes, the two of you still possess qualities more desirable than any of my own soldiers in my personal legion.” The female envoy states, adjusting her hat upward to reveal her face and identity. Upon her left eye was a large sword scar, and to the side of that eye, near her temple, was the unmistakable Cross of the Winter Lion, a simple cross that adorned every member of Ilmeiya’s royal family on some part of their body that designated their supposed strength. It became very obvious who this person was, and why she had decided to remain hidden up until now. In fact, all of us except Raye, knew who this person was personally. I smile, a bit amused at seeing such a familiar ally.

“I myself am overseeing one of the legions in our operation.” Princess Elissa de Ilmeiya declares, taking off her hat and placing it on the table. Master de Croise and Elan both glared at her while the Grandmaster looked on with an amused expression. Princess Elissa de Ilmeiya, alongside all of the older dragoons here, including myself, fought with us at the Battle of Vasal fifteen years ago. The Dragoons have always stood for freedom and self-expression, something that Elissa and the Crown did not agree with. The royal family had extremely stringent rules and hierarchy to uphold, and as the Dragoons served briefly as an ally to the Crown during the Great Northern War, many dragoons disliked the firm, iron hand that Elissa liked to maintain over her troops. With Elissa as leader, there is no discussion involved in any tactic—it was only her own tactical mind that belonged in her unit, and with good reason. Elissa, for all her service during the Great Northern War, has not lost a battle since her appointment as a general.

“My, to meet royalty again.” The Grandmaster nods without a hint of surprise. “What an honor. It makes sense why you would request Miss Perthesa now.”

“Correct.” She gives me a glance, about as friendly a gesture as you could expect from her. I return it with a slight smile. “I have much faith in your Order, Grandmaster, and especially in Miss Perthesa.”

“Then, may I ask, why you also choose Miss Claire?”

“You forget that I am one of your primary patrons, Grandmaster.” The princess explains, and she was right. While many of the older dragoons disliked her, she did not dislike the Order, and instead provided an ample amount of gold to us monthly to fund us ever since she became old enough to personally oversee her funds. Our spending revolves around her support these days.

“I keep a close eye on your knights, and the young Miss Claire caught my eye while I was overseeing possible dragoons to take.” The princess then looks onto Raye with firm eyes. “The fastest, the most agile, the most nimble. All superlatives that describe yourself and your wyvern. All traits that are extremely valuable to this mission. That is the reason I am intrigued, as well as your closeness with Miss Perthesa. Your teamwork together would be extremely valuable to me.”

“Mmn…I don’t know…” Raye blushes a bit, looking over to me for a bit of comfort. I knew I had to speak for her.

“Princess Elissa, while my other Masters may disagree, I would have no issues working with you again.” I say, speaking honestly. I trusted this woman with my life, as I did before. Plus, it was an interesting mission, even if it may just turn out to be a search and rescue one as servants to the Queen. I’ve never been that far north, nor met goblins in person. “Though, I do wish to add something to your request.”

“Speak.”

“Even if it’s just the two of us, I don’t see us making that much of a difference. However, if you would give us permission to form our own squad of dragoons, with semi-independent autonomy, then I would be much more willing to accept.”

“I am in agreement.” Master Vermeil nods. He was a black haired drakken who always seemed much more down to earth than the other three masters. “And if that’s the case, I volunteer myself for this mission in addition to two our knights here.”

“Vermeil…” Master Elan looked over to him, and the two men exchanged a glare. They share a sort of rivalry between one another, especially since both are the most senior knights in the order.

“I shall volunteer as well.” Master Stefans announces, simply. “I trust that two masters leaving will not affect you negatively, sir?” He asks, looking over to our Grandmaster.

“None, in fact I support this notion. Elan and de Croise can remain, while you and Vermeil shall ensure the success of this operation. The only thing we now need is the agreement of the Princess.”

Wonderful, everything worked much more in our favor than I expected. A personal squad would give us leverage for autonomy, and it would certainly give Raye the comfort and familiarity she definitely needed away from the Order. I knew that Elissa was not one to grant such requests freely, but I suspected that the situation was dire enough for us to have our way. She blinkes slowly, considering it for a moment, and then faces me directly.

“Very well, I accept your conditions. Muster two other dragoons for our Legion, and I shall expect to see you all by the end of the week.” She then stands up, satisfied with the outcome of the meeting, but her eyes remained on me.

“Lauriel, I trust that your skills have not deteriorated since we last met?” She asks, with the same intelligent, analytical gaze that she gave to everyone around her.

“Not one bit.” I assure her.