'Not much could happen on a sunny morning' many people used and still say, most agree, as it is the time to wake, not the time of work, and certainly no time for rest. A time of preparation, where most awake from their slumber, cook breakfast and pray for fortune for the day. Well... Most do, for example, Maia, who's still sound asleep, dreaming of the day she first saw those gleaming warriors, knights.

"Maia!"

Such dream was cut short by the shouting of her mother, she's downstairs, preparing a hearty morning meal.

"Hah? Oh... Oh! Coming mama!"

She rushed out of her room, still in her sleeping attire. She knows her home well, it's a straight path to the kitchen from her room, but her half awake self somehow made a turn, towards the wall. At least she still made it to the kitchen.

"Oof!"

"Maia, deary, what did i tell you about running in the house?"

Her mother scolded her in a soft yet stern tone, seemingly unbothered by the fact that Maia ran into a wall, more so bothered by the fact that she ran at all.

"Sorry mama... I'm still..."

"Hazy? Well come sit then, and have your tea"

"Ouh... Okay..."

"Don't be sleepy now little lady, you have a shop to tend to in a minute, you don't want to make old man Kass angry do you?"

She giggled as she sat down.

"He's always so early to go to the market... One time i was still dragging the cart and he was already there!"

"Well you know him, don't dissapoint him, else he look for another merchant"

"Oh... Don't worry mama... He says our sweetroot is the best in town, can't have that"

"Good to hear then!"

Her mother spoke happily. She sat down next to Maia, laying down their breakfast as she did, a simple porridge, with ingredients taken from their own garden.

"Say, can you go the market and set up alone?"

"Why? I can... But why?"

Her mother held her hand, and her expression gloomed a little.

"You understand how we be don't you? Mama has to work at Lord Aular's farm for the next few days or so"

Maia looked worried, Lord Aular's farm is known for its size, and the crop grown in it, the infamous Crimson berries. A famous ingredient for royalty grade wine, infamous for poisonous barbs and stinging leaves.

"Why didn't you tell me? I could help!"

"Aye... that's why, i knew you would..."

She kissed her on the forehead, and gave her a sad smile.

"It's your big day today... I don't want you be dirty when you get your gift"

"But-"

"Finish your food first... Don't worry, your mama is not just any old lady y'know? Some rude plants are no problem"

"Still..."

"Of course, but i don't mind..."

"Why?"

"Why not? Especially..."

She kissed her forehead again, but now followed by her hand, it was covered in soot, taken from their furnace, she drew the symbol of Kaesa, goddess of love.

"...for my lovely little lady, off you go now, tell Kass your mama's busy"

"Yes mama..."

"Don't fret now, remember what i say to you when you're afraid of thunder?"

"I'll always be there for you?"

"Yes, and i'll be here, always"

She poked her chest, and smiled.

"Oh dear, look at the time, i'll be going now, don't forget to clean the sweetroots once you're there will you?"

"Of course..."

"Farewell now, i'll be back by sundown"

"Yes..."

Maia's word trailed as she watched her mother left, she looked down on her half eaten porridge, and sighed.

----~----

Maia' has heard of many a tales in her life, she's always fascinated by them, tales of heroes of old, tales older than her sweet little town, Lightspire.

"Wonder where that old man is, he's a bit late..."

An odd name if you never visited, not so when you live there, in the middle of her town is a massive, ancient and strange tower, it came from a time not even the elders could remember, for they were not even born yet, and It hovers above the town with an old magic that no scholar could comprehend, as it is said to be older than the very mountains.

"Oi! Watch it! An old man's walking 'ere!

"Ah... Here he comes..."

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

No one's sure what it's for, or what it is, but everyone knows it's what left of an old kingdom that once lived these lands, the land of Magaia. And perhaps the predecessor of the inferior kingdom of Luxan, a somewhat bitter fact that all nobles live with, and one that the king and queen deny in their hearts, but that ancient tower is undeniable proof of that.

"Hello Kass!"

"Hello wee lass, a fine evening ey?"

"Kass, the sun's barely awake, you're switching it up again"

Maia has always wished for her own tale, her own legendary tale specifically, so far her tale's been going to the market every morning and chat with old man Kass until he either falls asleep or get dragged back home by his grandson.

"Eh? Really? Ouh... Scuse's yer old man, lotta things look the same now..."

"It's fine Kass... at least you're not mixing up sweetroots with whitebuds do you?"

She prefers the latter result, his grandson's a local spice, lots of girls coming for him, Maia included. He’s not too fond of most of them, except her, as she was practically his old man’s nan already and he appreciates the help.

"Ehhh no! I still remember! Those buds be more bitter than me on a rainy morning! You got any roots today?"

"Always! Here, the green tipped ones you like, 10 piece like usual"

"Aye... Ooh... Where's your mother?"

"Oh, she's off at the lord's farm, working"

"That's dirty work! Is she crazy?"

"She said we need the money Kass, i couldn't say no"

"Ahh.... But working there don't pay much no?"

"Still more than this..."

She glanced down at her shop, it's a bit simple, just a few options, with average quality and cheap prices. It isn't much, but that's all they've got for a long time now.

"Aye... True that, but don't you think it's a bit rough in there?"

"Well she's off already, i can't do much Kass..."

"Ah, but can't you-"

The old man's word was muffled by a nearby shouting, from someone whose face she's all too familiar with, but doesn't know very well.

"Grandpa? Grandpa! There you are!"

Cass, Kass's grandson, it's a family thing, his father's name is Tass for example, she wonders how many names could be made from that sometimes.

"Hey Maia... sorry if my old man's bothering you again"

"It's fine Cass, he likes being here, i like it too"

"Eh... I doubt it"

"Are ya calling your old man bland, young man?"

"Of course not! Hey... Sorry for that"

"I already said it's fine... Hey Cass?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you going anywhere this sundown?"

"Uhm.... No? What of it?"

She reddens a bit

"Do you wanna... You know?"

"Oh... Sure... You-you're free too right?"

Cass reddened too, a bit more than she did, she wonder what that could possibly meant.

"No... I'm all free for sundown"

"Great!... Hahaha… You know where my home is right?”

“I do! I mean… yes”

"Ey, if you two's done scoffing, lead this old man back home, i've forgotten the road"

"Aye... See you Maia"

"See you Cass..."

The two walked away and disappeared in the crowd together. The rest of the day went by as usual, but this time without a mother by her side to entertain her, Maia was as gloomy as a young girl of her age can be. There's a good number of customers today though, and she found her stocks nearly empty, she wonder why, usually it isn't like this, then she realized the market seems to only get denser the later the day gets.

"Huh...."

She looks around, is something going on? She asked a fellow merchant who she's a friend with what was happening, and they gave her a look of confusion.

"You don't know?"

"No?"

"Lord Aular is visiting today! He wants to see the market, everyone's here to see him!"

"Really?"

She smiled happily, excited even, but not for the reason most people there seem to smile or cheer for. She's more excited for what would come alongside such a noble.

"Yes, he'd be here any moment now..."

A loud murmur can suddenly be heard, it came from somewhere in the market.

"...Or now"

"I want to see it! Can you look over my place for a bit?"

"Sure... I ain't too giddy about it"

"Thank you!"

She said as she ran to the source of the murmur. There was a large crowd slowly moving through the market, between the cheers and talks was the distinct sound of metal, a rythmic *clink* *clank*. Her favorite sound, she couldn't care less for the presence of the noble, such care was reserved just for the shiny warriors they came along with.

"Excuse me! Sorry, Excuse me..."

She squeezed through the crowd, and found herself in the very front line of it, the first thing she saw was not the noble, but the shining gauntlet of a knight, which she ran into, she really shouldn't make this a habit.

"Oof!"

She had nowhere to fall but forward, since the crowd were pushing in on her, she managed to grab on something hard and a bit warm. She looked up and realized she was holding to a knight's leg, he looked down on her, his eyes met hers through the slit on his helmet, and she heard a laugh.

"Ehm... Do you mind?"

"S-sorry!"

She was redder than an overripe crimson berry. Even redder when the knight grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her up, she stands once again, but the embarrassment made her felt like she would collapse.

"Sorry for that young lady, now please, back away..."

The knight, or rather the knights, all eight of them, were holding back people to make some space for the noble, who's in the middle of it all. She's surprised they're not on a carriage, and are just walking, that's unusual, but that's not what she's here for.

"Y-yes..."

She's here for the shiny ones, the knights, to say she's fascinated by them is a bit of an understatement, she's been obsessed with them since she was little, she remembers that day she first saw them as well as she remembers her name. Many tales she heard and loved all had something with knights, tales of Cato the great, Katel the ironskin, gold heart Fulgrin, just to pick a few.

"Are you okay lady?"

"I'm okay... For sure..."

Her looks don't tell that, she's as red as blood now.

"Hmm... Okay then"

Knights, no ordinary footmen they are, wearing only the finest mastercrafted armor, brandishing only the greatest weapons. With most sporting a handsome face to add to that, she likes the concept of them a lot more than the person, but having something more to gawk at is not a downside in her book.

"Ehm... Once again, are you sure you're okay?"

The knight spoke to her, it was then she realized he has a piece of regal cloth hanging over his pauldrons. His fellows didn't have one, she can only assume he's the captain.

"Y-yes... Yes..."

"You look redder than a forge, as hot as one, are you sure?"

"Y-y-yes... I'm... Fine...."

She said, as she gushes all over him, appreciating the details on the armor, the liveries, the craftsmanship, the man. She wants to feel all over it, but she knew that would get her in big trouble, knights are part noble after all.

"Guards!"

Her gawking was interrupted by the loud and somewhat high pitched voice of the noble, Lord Aular, a man known mostly for his grand Orchard, and his investment to the development of her little town. Though lot of people has the suspicion that Aular's simply interested in whatever secrets the tower holds, more so than helping people.

"Let's move on to the town square! I've had enough of this place..."

There's still some credit to him really, he's one of those more "adventurous" kind of nobles, who for the most of their time doesn't just sit in their palace and enjoy their wealth.

"Meh..."

She doesn't really understand nobles, the concept of knights she understood really well, not nobles. How does one even become a noble is a mystery to her, do you need to be born under a specific name? or do you simply need to get rich? Do you need to have done a great deed? She doesn't understand it at all.

“Please make way citizen”

The captain spoke, elegant, soft, yet stern. The people complied with no problem and soon the crowd dispersed, leaving the market, and into the town square. Maia stayed at the market, as much as she wanted to gush more at the knights, she had a shop to run, a mother to welcome back home, a gift to claim, and a man to meet.

—-~----

Maia arrived at her home just before sundown, with her shoddy little cart in tow, she pulled it behind the few fences present in front of her home and tied the two together with a rope, there are thieves that would still snatch such a lowly looking cart.

“*Sigh….*”

It’s been a great yet tiring day today, she can't help to take a moment to breathe before she opens the door. She shook her head and opened the door. She expected the house to be empty, so when she saw her mother on the kitchen table she was no less than surprised.

“Mama? You’re back already?”

“Ahh… my little lady… yes, though, i’d say sent off would be the word”

Maia ran up to her, and saw what made her stop and gasp in shock. Her mother's hand, bleeding all over, mostly patched up, yet some still trickles with blood. Contrary to her reaction, her mother simply laughed a little.

“Those berries are a tad bit pricklier than usual…”

She ran up to her and held her mother's hand, she saw a small pile of rags on the table. She figured her mother was tending to it before she came, she took it, and rubbed on it a few herbs that she knew could be used for pain relief.

“Here… let me help!”

“Of course dear, your mother could always use a hand”

“This is why I told you I should come! you didn't listen!”

“Don't speak to me with that tone, little lady!”

A little whack to the forehead toned her down, and she looked at her mother with worry.

“Sorry… but-”

“Shh… all is fine… your mama has been through *much* worse… besides, no one should be sorry on their special day”

“I know…

Maia finished wrapping the clean rags around the little wounds, stopping any bleeding, the herbs did their thing, and the stinging sensation faded. Yet her heart feels it still, and only getting worse.

“...but that's no reason for… this”

She caressed her mother's arm, wrapped in crimson stained rags. The mere sight made her feel the guilt only a loving daughter could feel.

“I know… but i had to… for this”

Her mother presented a golden necklace to her, it shines in the dim candle light that illuminates her home.

“Y-you don’t have to…”

“Perhaps not for you… but…”

She stood up, and walked to her room, Maia can hear her moving something heavy, like a bed or a drawer. Her mother came out a moment later with an ornately decorated box in her hands, made of fine whiteroot tree wood, with brass trimming and a small jewel as decoration.

“I’ve always wanted a worthy necklace to put this on… our family’s heirloom, no necklace is complete without a pendant, and here it is…”

She took out something that made Maia gasp in both awe and shock. A sizable pendant, made of gold and silver, both precious metals were intertwined like the roots of a tree to envelop a green gem that had a shine like no other. On the gem itself she could see an intricately made crest, made by making cuts on the gem, then filling the gaps with pure platinum.

“Your grandmother, and their mothers before, all held this piece of our family’s history, and now… since you’re a proper adult…”

Her mother linked it with the already beautiful golden necklace, somehow it seems to make it glimmer even brighter.

“....it’s your turn”

Her mother handed it to her, and she felt a strange sense of honor as she held it in her hand.

“It’s so beautiful…”

“It’s a lot more than beautiful, it’s powerful”

“Huh? How?”

“From the very first day I received this necklace, I always remember what your grandmother told me, a riddle… that she says one day will be solved, I never solved it myself… so i hope you could, who knows? It may just be you”

“What's the riddle?”

“*Once, the world is bright, then, scarred by blight… the light falters, but in love we find shelter, our home falls, but it will ever stand tall, for when comes a terrible night, where there shall be a noble knight… but he shall only wake, when the true hand quakes*”

Maia was intrigued by the word knight, but the riddle didn't make any sense to her.

“That… doesn't make any sense?”

“Your mother, grandmother, and their mothers before said the same thing, and none of them knew what solving it would do, but your grandmother… for however impatient she is… knows that it is a question only time will answer, i hope it comes in your time… Maia, my sweet little girl… and promise me, you’ll keep it safe”

“I promise…”

Her words trailed off, she was too distracted by the sheer beauty of the pendant. It seems to somehow glow everytime she holds it.

“Keep it with your life, as it may just save yours…”

“I will, thank you…”

She hugged her mother as the sun finally disappeared below the horizon, replaced by

majestic twin pale moons, accompanied by a thousand far away stars. A sight that would soothe any soul, of those old and young, of those happy and gloom, of those rich and poor. Yet there was one soul, forever in unrest, all it sees is dark, all it feels is cold, without ears to hear, without mouth to mourn, without body to grief, only a mind, forever in toil.