Author: Hello everyone, author here.

Sweiza: And me Sweiza. Pleased to meet you all.

Author: I'm sure everyone knows you after having read the main adventure Sweiza.

Sweiza: But the whole story hasn't even been written yet!

The author pushes Sweiza away from the camera and gives a really weak smile and a very nervous laugh.

Author: That is the whole point behind this interview; to gain some perspective on your up and coming adventure.

Sweiza: ...and my award winning personality.

The author hides his disbelief at her outgoing and 'award winning personality'.

Author: Right, right; however, before we begin, we've brought a guest to assist us with this interview.

Sweiza: Who?

An ominous figure appears behind Sweiza. She feels her skin crawl as she hears a very familiar voice.

Valkyrie Strife: It would seem you've gotten yourself into yet 'another' predicament young Serif.

Sweiza: Valkyrie! You scared me!

Strife: As you should be Miss Serif; that is what happens when you let your guard down.

Sweiza gives a humble bow.

Sweiza: My appologies Valkyrie. I will endeavor to commit those changes.

Strife smiles.

Strife: At least you are becoming more ladylike and doing away with that rough attitude of yours.

Sweiza gives yet another bow.

Author: Anyway.

Sweiza stands to attention, Strife does not.

Strife: Sweiza, you are not a robot.

Sweiza freezes. Strife faces the camera.

Strife: As you can see. She requires a lot of work. I will make sure she...

Sweiza gulps.

Strife: ...has more training.

Sweiza says nothing, having learned her lesson many times before.

Two chairs appear behind them and the author motions for them to sit down. Strife sits with a type of grace about her, with her legs crossed and her hands in her lap. Sweiza sits down in a huff; her legs are together and her arms are crossed. Strife shoots a look at her and she puts her arms into her lap. Sweiza looks up at Strife and then looks away.

Author: So then, you two seem to have developed quite the relationship with each other. Could you tell us more about that?

Sweiza: Absolutely, Valkyrie is...

Strife interrupts her...

Strife: In actuality, I am the one charged with training young Serif over here. I am flexible at points with her, and sometimse I let her negotiate some free time. Otherwise I maintain a strict training ethic with her. Isn't that right, Miss Serif?

Her eyes change to disbelief when she looks over from the author to Sweiza, whom isn't paying attention. Rather, her gaze is focused on the sunlight reflecting through the window.

Author: Ah, Miss Serif!

No reaction from her.

Strife clears her throat, but no reaction. The author turns his head away, knowing all to well what will happen next. He hears a yelp and turns around. Strife is mid-walk back to her chair and Sweiza is massaging her arm.

Sweiza: You didn't have to hit me so hard!

Strife: A fate worse than death awaits you young one; so pay attention.

Author: I've been meaning to ask, and I'm sure the audience is also wondering, what exactly do you mean by that?

Sweiza: Yes, Strife! What exactly do you mean by that?

Strife: I believe I say it to express this young girl's naivete at points; although I dare say she is willingly ignorant as an idiot at points.

Sweiza's face flushes red. Strife stifles her laughter and the author pays their behavior no attention.

Strife: In reality, Miss Serif has an interesting future history, but it's one I can't reveal yet, due to...

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

Strife points at the camera.

Author: Ah, I see what you mean.

Sweiza's head shoots blankly at Strife, then the camera and back to Strife.

Sweiza: Valkyrie, I don't know why you always have to be so mean. I thought we were supposed to be friends!

Strife: Miss Serif, that is a plot spoiler. That hasn't even been written yet.

Sweiza: But it happens in the next three chapters!

Strife shoots her a look, Sweiza's eyes widen and her head shoots down.

Sweiza: Sorry.

Author: So clearly Valkyrie Strife is the more refined of you two and Sweiza is the energetic and enthusiastic one.

Strife: I would dare say so. Her personality and mannerisms must be honed and tempered into an appropriate Valkyrie.

Author: So would you say she is a bit odd for a Valkyrie?

Strife: In some ways yes, in other ways no.

Author: What do you mean?

Strife: After all of the bad fortune that has fallen onto this young woman, she is still energetic and easily distracted. She has no sense of reponsibility unless it is rooted in tradition and then she has... those.

Sweiza looks up at Strife. The author looks over at Sweiza.

Sweiza: She means my ears.

Author: Ah, that's right. You are an elf.

Sweiza: Just barely, I don't have the long ears of my ancestors; they look more like these small nubs posing as seashells.

Author: You sound like you don't like them?

Sweiza: Actually, I love them. I've always liked my ears and feel I've been blessed. You see, our village is relatively isolated and we don't get visitors very often. However, we did get some elven visitors that chose to live there many years ago. Strife for some reason has never really cared for elves and she...

Strife clears her throat again and Sweiza stiffens. She quickly looks down.

Sweiza: My appologies Strife.

Strife: You have a lot to learn Miss Serif.

Sweiza: I don't understand what I did! Why should I be the one to get in trouble when I...

Strife looks down once and just as fast, her hand swings up and smacks Sweiza behind the head. Sweiza stiffens up again and shivers. She says nothing this time.

Strife: Even now she insists on engaging in her training, I find it most impressive. I am so proud of her.

Sweiza's eyes half close at the remark. The author looks confused.

Author: Moving on, can you give us some brief stats about yourselves?

Sweiza looks over at Strife, almost as if to ask for her permission. Strife nods while her arms cross.

Sweiza: I am eighteen as of this year. My blood type is AB+. I stand 5'3" and weigh 110lbs. I'm very athletic and I have some muscle on my body, despite my short stature and looks. My parents are farmers, although my mother is a merchant. I have one younger sister and one younger brother. My favorite color is green. I am best described as being very cheerful, energetic and very healthy. I like to help out others around the village whenever I can. My hobbies include dancing, writing and gardening. I hate spiders. Uh... I think that's about it.

Author: What about your name 'Sweiza'? You said your name is 'Starla Serif'.

Sweiza: My parents wanted a boy to help with farmwork, they got a girl instead. My name is Starla, but they and everyone in the village have always called me 'Sweiza'.

Author: Ah, I see. What about the elven ears?

Sweiza: I don't know. My great grandfather was supposed to be a full blooded elf. My mother and father have told me they were visitors to the village that chose to stay.

Author: Why did they stay?

Sweiza: I don't know. I think it is because of the village's natural beauty.

Author: What do you mean?

Sweiza: To the far west of the village is a dormant volcano and a hot spring. Just past the volcano are these beautiful trees of crystal. To the north is a large forest and river system; the river runs down the mountain and to the south. To the south and east of the village are the great forests and swamplands. Much further south are the grasslands. We are very remote from other villages, but also have splendid terrain and are in the middle of everything. We truly are blessed by the Goddess of Fertility.

Author: You seem to hold her in very high regard.

Sweiza: Indeed. It was always my desire that once I became of age, I would make the pilgrimage to her temple and win her favor. This is a very big deal in our village; she grants the land prosperity and blesses our annual harvest. We wouldn't survive without her.

Author: What do you mean?

Sweiza: The terrain we are located at is very harsh. Our village legends speak of the land near the volcano being very dry, dirty and unforgiving to crops without the Goddess's blessing. It is therefor my place to continue tradition. I only wish I could do more to protect the village.

Author: What do you mean?

Sweiza: There are supposedly ill creatures that patrol just beyond the village boundaries. The young males of the village get the honor of becoming armor-clad knights to prevent these creatures from harassing the villagers and destroying the crops. I want to protect the village like they do, but young women in our village do not become knights.

Author: Or so you thought!

Sweiza lets out a sigh and her head drops.

Sweiza: I wish I never made that wish to that star.

Author: What wish was that?

Sweiza: I wanted to keep the village and the harvest safe. I wanted to be a protector like the men. I always envied them and their swordsmanship and thought it was really cool.

Strife was silent up until now, but her distaste at the word 'cool' is evident.

Strife: What she means grand-author, is that she wanted more responsibility than just tending to fields as a shrine maiden. She got her wish.

Sweiza: This isn't what I mean!

The author is about to say something, but Strife continues to speak.

Strife: Sweiza here is a bit of a daydreamer, quite contrary to the rest of her family whom are very hard workers.

Sweiza: I work hard!

Strife: Furiously scribbling in a notebook doesn't count as working hard, nor does bossing Lester around and having him do all of your chores count.

Sweiza: At least I'd make a good wife!

Strife scoffs to herself. Sweiza stammers.

Strife: Her heart is in the right place and she has the right motif. Unfortunately, certain 'future' events which are a big spoiler, I can't reveal. Let's just say Odin heard her prayer and knew of her ultimate future. Hence she is a Valkyrie to prevent it in others.

Sweiza gets quizzical and puzzled, if such a thing were even possible.

Sweiza: Valkyrie, what do you mean? What am I preventing?

Author: Indeed. And what of Odin? Is he friend or foe?

Strife: Time will tell on that one. And we'll find out what ultimately happens to Sweiza, or what 'isn't' supposed to happen.

Sweiza: Strife, I need to know!

Strife shakes her head, turns around, gives a bow to the author and then walks just past Sweiza. She grabs the back neck cuff of Sweiza's armor and pulls her from the chair and out the door. Sweiza tries to wrestle free, but to no avail.

Sweiza: But there's still an interview to do!

Strife: I think we'll end it here. Goodbye everyone.

The author shakes his head as Sweiza waves her hands frantically goodbye.

Author: She is indeed an energetic one. It's just a pity Strife didn't give us some of her stats.

Strife's head pops back in through the door.

Strife: There is no need to say more than needs to be said; it's in the back of the book in the character bio.

Strife disappears behind the door again. The sound of Sweiza arguing and pleading also fades into the background.

Author: Good grief.

[Fade out]