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Chapter 28
Priam, with a grin of accomplishment, hovered in the foyer just behind Atalanta. He leaned slightly against the blunt handle of his cane, the metal tip pressed dangerously into the polished floor. The day was still young and yet, he found satisfaction in the progress that had been made.
“That arrogant fool has finally given us a reason to be rid of him.”, he stated aloud. “Of all the annoying little thorns, he was the biggest.”
“Leland Hart may no longer be a threat to our cause, but he will still be present in the capital until the end of the trials.”, Atalanta replied. She stood with eyes locked against a framed map of Ardyn. It laid flat atop a hallway table, mostly for decorative purposes. Yet, the attention she gave its way was purposed.
“He is much too listless a person for us to see any real results from the candidates he has sponsored. I expect an early failure on their part. It won’t be much longer until the Aster Brigade is off to their trivial new home.”
“Indeed..”, with her finger, Atalanta traced a line atop the glass of the map. It glided slowly from Gracewind to the south of Melle, where Fort Valor was marked by faded ink. “..still, we will focus on maintaining the festivities for now. We need no attention to ourselves other than what the trials will bring.”
“Of course, Atalanta.”, Priam nodded his head. “Then, I shall wait until we proceed with the High King’s demands.”
°°
“I had this room prepared for you ahead of time.”, Leonora mentioned. “I had not anticipated Leland to sponsor Dani as well, so I had a bit of trouble securing a second room in this part of the Citadel. But, I did it!”. She smiled, although, was still wary.
It was clear from Ezabel’s slow pace that their conversation with Xavier had left a sour taste in her mouth. She was happy to have heard from him after all this time, of course. However, it was far less of a satisfying reunion than she had hoped for. Xavier may have always been the stoic of the household and often approached life with overt bluntness, but Ezabel had expected at least some sort of praise.
Was she sad? Not even Ezabel could be sure herself. There were many things that she looked forward to. All of which were soon to come; the trials for example. But, laced between it all were pockets of humbling and discouraging surprises. Should she temper herself? Or could she push on to enjoy all of the things she had dreamt about? If there was anything she learned in the short time she had thus far spent in Gracewind, it was that she was prone to being overwhelmed.
Nevertheless, Ezabel attributed Xavier’s lack of empathy to his busy post. It was certainly not easy to be a captain of the Order, much less a captain whose name is known throughout the realm. She hoped that the next meeting would be more pleasant. If she knew her brother as well as she believed, then the man was simply adhering to his obligation. She would not hold it against him for now.
“I don’t feel ready.”, Ezabel suddenly muttered.
“Don’t overthink it. Your room is in a quiet corner of the wing and even has a nice view of the northern gardens.”, Leonora explained as she placed a hand on the twin doors before them. They were tall and looked more like the entrance to a grand building than anything else. Ezabel had never been to anything that was even close to it.
“I meant the trials. Leland hasn’t come to give me or Dani any guidance yet. What should we do?”
“Most candidates feel the same when this comes around.”, Leonora explained. “The selection trials are different every year and their demands depend on the Attendant chosen to oversee it.”
It was a method that stopped most candidates from preparing for specific evaluations. And, from a broader perspective, it emphasized a candidate's ability to adapt to unforeseen circumstances. The world was an unpredictable place that refused to play fair. What good would the selection trials be if they made things too simple?
“Your head is in the right place, Ezabel.”, Leonora added. “Your sword arm is ready and your mentor will prepare you the best he can. Leland is quite the Attendant.”
“Is he?”, Ezabel thought quickly to every moment in which Leland proved himself the opposite of what she expected from an Attendant. He was often lazy, complained, and a little too childish when compared to the icons she read about. He had to be a lesser captain. Certainly someone far lower than Xavier. “I never thought any Attendant could be so…”
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“Careless?”, Leonora perked a brow, knowing well and true that she finished Ezabel’s sentence correctly. “He is certainly a character, alright. But, he’s a good friend and I don’t doubt his abilities for a second. You’ll see soon enough.”
It was hard to believe. Ezabel saw with her own eyes that he much preferred to kick his feet up than to do any serious work. She was even able to coerce him into sponsoring Dani, over sweetbread. How much more simple could someone get?
“I’ll try my best either way. - Thank you for doing all this, Leonora. I would have been on my way back to Alm if it had not been for you.”, thinking about the awful trek north was the last thing Ezabel wanted. Especially since it would have been filled with her own disappointment. Luck had played a huge role in her being here in Gracewind. And, she did not take it for granted.
She raised her hand and pressed against the door knob. With a click, she pushed open the pair of weighty doors and stepped into an open space where the gloss of the floor beneath continued. It was a wide, open space that felt surpassingly light. The balcony that came into view across the way was open and brought with it a pristine flow of clean air. It was high above the ground and provided an uninterrupted view of the Citadel’s greenery.
At the moment, more than anything before, the Citadel felt like a proper castle for a proper noble. Which made easy sense to Ezabel, as it was the home of house Skyward and High King Raziel himself. The thought of living on their property was absolutely surreal, as was the abundance of enticing, soft top pieces of furniture. They practically called to her.
Ezabel’s first step was slow, but it eventually took her into the middle of the room. To the right was a wide bed that was easily twice the size of anything she had ever used. The sheets were immaculately white and not a single crease ruined its facade. To her left and across from the bed, was her very own living room space. There were two arm chairs and a pair of cushioned benches, all of which were made of a darkwood that blended perfectly with the old walls of the keep. Between them all was a low table, which was long enough to even have dinner on.
“I was born and raised in the town of Braedon, in Caellum. We had nothing but old inns and even older homes there. - When I came here for the first time, I was in disbelief.”, Leonora stepped into the room and paused beside Ezabel. She gave an appreciative look across the room. “I knew that Attendants were heroes to the people. But, I never thought that Citadel gave them such an amazing way of life.”
“It’s better than anything I could have imagined.”
“Indeed, but as Attendants, we make the sacrifices that most in the realm can not. It is our duty to devote our lives to their wellbeing. We must not be selfish in the grand scheme of things.”
“I understand.”, Ezabel replied, although quietly. Leonora had reminded her of Bastion and Xavier once more. It was always their opinion that Attendants were not heroes. Nor were they adventures. They were servants, through and through. By the Order’s blades, the people of Ardryn were safe and free.
“I know you do. I’d imagine your brother imparted much of his stern outlook your way.”, Leonora chuckled.
“A little too much and a little too often.”, Ezabel smiled back.
Leonora was not so intimidating. And, Ezabel was grateful that she had turned out so. Such a moment was rare and she did nothing but appreciate the calm as her greatest test was on the horizon.
In the far corner of the room, just to her bedside stood a tall post. It was of the same darkened wood that comprised the rest of the fittings and it pulled at Ezabel’s gaze. Of course, it was clean and sturdy, but it was not its quality that saw her step in its direction. It was the awe inspiring garb that hung stalwart on its arm.
All fell quiet. The worries of the world had melted away and the weight of uncertainty was lifted by the sunlight. Through the drapes came brilliant rays that sifted into the room. And, with each pillar of light she passed, the glory of the uniform before her grew.
There was nothing in the realm quite like the white of an Attendant’s attire. It shone past even the sun and brought warmth to the darkest of places. Even as it hung there without a wearer, its shoulders were firm and its shape was perfect. With absolute obsession, her eyes quietly followed its sharp edges and soft curves. She looked deep into its fabric and fell speechless by its enormous presence.
First and foremost was the double breasted jacket; flawless white accompanied by black and gold accents, the signature arrangement of the Order. It hugged the frame of the wearer well and tight, yet sacrificed little in the way of mobility. Pinned neatly on the right portion of its chest was the crest of the Attendant Knights. A golden inlay of the famed ‘crown and flowers’ sigil.
The jacket was buttoned neatly over a black shirt whose collar peaked out in a handsome show. Below, a pair of white pants with the same black and gold accents, descended towards the floor where dark boots waited. They were high to the shins and made certain that the pants could be tucked securely underneath them.
A glimmer came from the dresser beside it, which presented the uniform’s finishings. Arranged neatly beside one another was a black and gold belt, bracers, and gloves. Each was expertly crafted and stood out easily on their own. - Disbelief briefly took hold. Every piece there was a real manifestation of Ezabel’s circumstance. No longer was she reading a story book or daydreaming about what their descriptions may look like. It was all laid bare before her, calling.
Leonora saw it all, even if Ezabel would have seemed like a frozen statue to most. There was much she hoped to say, but in that moment, there was nothing more precious than Ezabel’s first meeting with the regalia she had admired for so long.
Ezabel had assumed it was her own, but was hesitant to confirm the thought any further. It had only been a few seconds since she laid eyes on the uniform, but it was plain to see that it was going to be a perfect fit. However, it was incomplete.
“You must be wondering about the last piece”, Leonora said from behind. She crossed her arms and shot a look towards the uniform. “All the candidates have received the same set of equipment in front of you, but of course, it’s not complete without this.”, Leonora lifted the collar of her cloak with two fingers.
“W-will I be getting my own?”
“No.”, Leonora shook her head. “Only those who are chosen by the Order at the end of the trials will receive a cloak. Those who become Attendants.”
“I see..”, Ezabel muttered to herself. It was another challenge. Another goal to pursue. Though, it was still a part of her grand hope. It changed nothing, but made everything all the more real. - Ezabel’s turned her gaze back to her regimentals. There was nothing more she wanted in that moment than to put it on. The excitement had been building since she first laid eyes on it. And, it was beginning to show on her face.
“It’s going to look great on you Ezabel.”, Leonora smiled. “Probably a lot better than it does on your brother.”
“I hope it does! - I can’t wait to put it on!”
“Well, it won’t be long before you can. You’ll be wearing it for tonight’s ceremony.”
“Huh?”, Ezabel tilted her head near instantaneously.
“You still have most of the day to go, but take your time in puting it all on properly later. The whole city will be in attendance to watch you.”
“T-the w-whole city?”
The twitch from Ezabel’s eye could practically be heard snapping out loud.
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