“Dewey Herschel.”

The murmur stirs the sprite, but he otherwise curls back up and stops moving.

Unimpressed, Sweiza crosses her arms and looks down at the sprite.

“Dewey Herschel!”

He moves slightly, but otherwise remains still.

Sweiza leans over as she moves her head closer to him; now just inches from the creature. She contemplates the best way to wake him up. She puts her fingers up next to him, ready to flick him, but decides against it. Instead, she draws in a deep breath and lets it out.

“DEWEY!”

The sprite’s head jolts up; he sees her inches from his face and then startled, he jumps into the air and darts towards the ceiling. He spins around with his breath catching up to him as his wings flutter every so often. Such thoughts as impatience, mean spirited, crazy and childish run through his mind. His heart still going, he watchers her calmly ignore him as she turns around and sits on the bed. She then lets her upper body drop on the bed and her arms spread out to either side of her. Her eyes closed, she lets open and she looks up at the sprite. He notes she is in neither her armor, nor her Fertility Festival robe. Sweiza lets out a sigh of contentment.

“Showers are always the best.” She says it with a joyous enthusiasm.

Dewey remains where he is.

“You can come down now… Sprite.” She says the last word with sarcastic intent - as if he’d just messed up on something and should feel sorry for his naughtiness.

He turns his body and sight towards the window, then looks back down at her. She rolls her eyes at him and he darts out the window.

“What…ever.” She says it again with sarcastic intent.

She waits patiently for what seems like a few minutes and the sprite comes flying back in. He lands on her right knee and puts his hands on his hips.

“Sweiza, that’s not nice.” He says it with proper sophistication - as if he is an adult.

Sweiza lifts her head slightly and looks up at him. She frowns. “Wait. The Valkyrie is back.”

“What? Where?” He turns towards the door as he says it.

It is enough to distract him. In one fell motion, Sweiza uses her right hand to assist her as she raises her boy to a sitting position; meanwhile she bounces her right foot to pop him in the air; she grabs him with her left hand. She turns her hand and the sprite towards her; she loosens her hand just slightly for him to turn around. She tightens her hand again so he can’t move.

“Sweiza!”

“Sprite.”

The standoff between them continues until Sweiza hears her mother, “Sweiza, dinner!”

Both her and Dewey turn their heads from the direction of the sound out the door and towards each other. A big grin crosses her face. She lets him go. He jumps a foot into the air and looks up at her.

“Food!” He says it with enthusiasm.

“Agreed.” She says it back to him.

She realizes she can’t remember the last time she at, save for when she was with Valkyrie Strife.

“Coming mother!” She says it towards the door as she rushes towards it. The sprite chases after.

—

Heads turn towards the stairs as quick footwork is heard. She bolts to the floor at the end of the stairs and quickly orients her body around and towards the table. She freezes and her enthusiasm disappears when she sees the Vakyrie at the table.

“What is -she- still doing here?!” Sweiza says it with stern contempt as she slowly approaches the table.

“Sweiza, your manners! We have a guest!” Her mother returns the stern contempt, but for different reasons.

The Valkyrie says nothing.

Melda’s head turns towards the sprite behind Sweiza. “And take that thing outside or upstairs. You know how we feel about him in the house!”

The sprite ignores the comment as he flies up to the table.

“Don’t even think about it!” Her mother pulls up a large spoon from one of the dishes of noodles.

The sprite freezes.

“Mama, can’t he eat with us? Please?! He hasn’t eaten for two weeks!” She says it, as if it were the truth.

“I highly doubt that young lady. He’s probably the reason food has been going missing in the market.”

The sprite flies over to Sweiza and behind her for protection. She turns around at him, puts her right hand on her hip and points her left finger at him.

“Sprite, is this true?!”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

He looks away from her.

Just then the Valkyrie speaks up, “It’s not a bother really.”

Strife keeps her eyes closes as she pulls up a cup of tea and a saucer under it; she continues to ignore the two causing a scene and waits for the parents to make up their mind.

Tars and Melda look over from Strife at each other. Melda look from Sweiza to Tars.

“Maybe just this once Melda.” Tars says it looking at Sweiza, not wanting to further the commotion.

Sweiza and Dewey look towards Sweiza’s mother eagerly.

“Well hurry on over then. This food won’t eat itself.”

Sweiza bows. “Thank you mama.”

The sprite darts over to the mother and in place bobs up and down while he does a quick bow, holding both of his hands in front of him. Melda makes a quick quip, “I’m surprised it has manners.” The sprite jolts and then darts over to Sweiza. It lands down next to her plate.

—

“As I was saying before, Miss Serif has agreed to be a Valkyrie and…” Strife doesn’t get a chance to finish.

Sweiza’s fork drops to the table as she pushes her chair up and stands up; both her hands arms cross sharply. “It isn’t true; I never agreed to any of it!”

“Sweiza.” Her father says it calmly.

“I don’t want to be a Valkyrie.” She says it to her parents and frowns her mouth in determination at the Valkyrie.

“Sweiza.” Her father says it again, a little louder and less calm.

“I said I didn’t want to be a Valkyrie, I never agreed to it!” She says it again, this time at her father and louder. Her intent clearly isn’t being heard and she readies her next volley to argue.

Instead, her father interrupts her, “Sweiza! Calm it down or go to your room. It’s your choice. We act civil at the table when we have guests. It’s time to act like an adult. Understood?”

She feels her body jolt as shes her shoulders jolt up. She sits down and pulls her chair and herself back under the table. Her confidence gone, she turns slightly and away from the three people at the table. Her gaze falls to the sprite to her left. He is looking up at her, but says nothing.

“If I may continue?” Strife says it again, having just taken a sip of tea. She sets the teacup and saucer back down to the table. She turns her body slightly and her head moreso towards Tars and Melda.

“As I mentioned before, I believe some years ago Miss Serif here, came out to the old tree at the edge of the village. You know the one.” Her head switches from Sweiza to Melda and Tars.

Both Tars and Melda nod, seriously. The tree is well known throughout the village, namely due to its placement at the edge of the village; but more known is that a Valkyrie in the village is known to frequently guard said village at said tree.

“Fate brought her to me under the full moon of Lokul. She rejected her new role as a woman and informed me of her plight to be a knight.” She looks over at Sweiza. Sweiza’s face flushes red - knowing full well what Strife is referring.

“To keep a long story short, she agreed to be a Valkyrie when the time was to come some years later. I am here to make good on that.” She turns her attention to the teacup in front of her and takes another drink before setting it down.

She continues, “I warned her it wouldn’t be an easy path and she took it anyway.” She says it with sharp eyes at Sweiza, whom sinks in her seat. Strife turns her attention back to Sweiza’s parents. “I will be assuming guardianship over her as her mentor and trainer in one week’s time. Do you have any objections?”

Melda looks from Strife, to Sweiza, then pauses on Tars and then looks back to Strife. “Really, Verdandi! Is this really necessary?”

Strife turns her attention from Melda to Tars awaiting a response. He answers. “I agree with Melda on this. She was just a kid back then. She probably had no idea what she was agreeing to, let alone what a Valkyrie is.”

Sweiza sinks further into her chair. Dewey flies up from the table to her shoulder and quickly whispers in her ear, “Now you’ve done it!” She turns her head slightly at him to say something, but the sprite jumps up level to her face, “I’ll be upstairs. I’m stuffed.” He flies off towards and up the stairs. No one else gives him much attention. Sweiza turns her attention back from the stairs over towards the table. All three adults are staring at her.

“Well Miss Serif?” Strife again sets down her cup and looks her sharply in the eye.

“I said no!” She leans foward, anger on her face and her eyes glassed over.

All eyes are on Strife.

“I think it would be best if I left for now.” Strife says it as she pushes her chair back. She bows to both Tars and Melda. She says nothing else and ignores everyone as she heads towards Sweiza’s direction. Sweiza feels her shoulders raise and her body tighten in fear as she tries to pull her body behind herself - with nowhere to go. The Valkyrie stops just behind Sweiza, her body pointing towards the door leading to the hall and the house exit.

“Miss Serif. I will allow you one week to get your life’s affairs in order.”

Sweiza looks over and behind her towards the Valkyrie, “But why?”

Strife turns her head slightly to her left and behind her at Sweiza, “We will be leaving for Valhalla.”

Speechless and taken aback, Sweiza’s gaze still rests on the Valkyrie.

“I suggest you pack anything that might be considered essential.” Strife turns her head towards the door again. She continues speaking without moving, but her voice chances to less stern and more kind. “I suggest you also bring anything personal that you view as sentimental or important; you will most certainly need it for what is ahead.”

Sweiza turns her head from the Valkyrie and looks towards her parents and then stares down at the table. Again, she is speechless.

Strife turns once more to the table. “Melda, Tars, thank you for the meal. It has been a pleasure as always. I now depart.”

She turns towards the door and walks off; the metal walking of her greaves grows fainter as she does so.

Melda and Tars look at each other and then to Sweiza. Sweiza looks up at her parents.

“Mama, papa, if I have done anything to offend you or show disregard for this house, I truly am sorry. I truly mean it when I say I didn’t agree to becoming a Valkyrie. There is nothing less that I want right now than not to be one.” Her face twists into upset, but the tears do not come. She sets her head down on the table and covers it with her arms.

“Sweiza, you have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into, have you?” Her mother says it, more curious than anything.

Sweiza lifts her head from her position and looks up at her mother. Sweiza shakes her head.

“Sweiza.” Her father speaks, “Lady Strife is well known as the protector of this village.”

Sweiza’s head turns to her father, she seems more shocked than anything at this point, “You mean that she’s the one that…”

Her father nods to her. Thoughts fill Sweiza’s mind. She knew them as monsters, specifically forest creatures and swamp demons, but the occasional bandits weren’t unheard of. Her school lessons mentioned a sentinel that patrolled the village and gave protection from those monsters. She’d also heard talk among some of the adults about a Valkyrie that guards the village near a specific tree.

Some of the thoughts come back to her, not many, but enough to know she is now responsible for a decision and agreement she made years ago.

She stands up from her chair and pushes it back; she faces her parents. “Mama, papa, I will bring honor to this family, or at least try.” She bows to her parents. When she lifts her head, her eyes glass up and sadness hits her face. “I now excuse myself for the night. Goodnight.” She bows slightly and leaves the table without waiting for any response.

Her mother looks at her father. “I hope she’s ready for this.”

Her father looks down at her mother and says nothing as he turns his gaze back towards their daughter, whom is slowly climbing the stairs with her hand on the banister for support. He mouths something towards her, but without vocalizing the words, “You’re going to need it kid.” He knows full well that the realm of the adult is not an easy one, not for anyone, by any means - but especially for their daughter and a Valkyrie at that.