Sadé always missed the forest when she had been away, and she hadn't been home in almost a year. The trees swathed with the wind and the Teneriel forest was trapped in a permanent summer. The scents of the forest were a perfume to her, and she revelled in them.
“Come on, let’s go home.” She said to Kazumi who was walking beside her, silently and lithe through the forest. The gate had brought her much closer to the front gates than usual and that disturbed her a little.
She hadn't been in the forest more than 10 minutes before she was greeted by a troop contingent of guards in plate armour bearing the flag of the moonflower household.
“Who are you? … My lady, we did not recognise you and your … pet.” The captain said.
“I was summoned by my mother, why are you patrolling captain?” she asked and the recognised the mood changed.
“We are to welcome the other visitors; you should discuss this with your mother.” He told her and with a curt nod, he led his troop to patrol further, and she walked towards the opened gates and entered her home.
The moonflower clan were well known for their strength and longevity. They had been avid members of the labyrinth, Seekers, Rankers and their two master tier elders were of renown. She had grown up beneath their banners and learned under their tutelage. In truth she was as close to a princess outside of the title alone. She hated the looks she got growing up, having all this status and being only half elf. The other children had never made fun of her, their dignity as nobles were too high for that. But they always shared their distaste for her and in the presence of her father, they did not hide their dislikes.
She stroked Kazumi’s fur and looked up at the mammoth trees that the clan had made their homes out of. She had barely even considered where to begin searching for her mother when she heard a ruffle to the side and saw the bear of a man; her father rushing towards her to give her a hug.
“Dad!” she hugged him, and he swept her up, spinning her like a child. She hated and loved when he did that, but she wouldn’t say anything to him about it.
“My little pea.” His nickname for her.
“What are you doing here and alone, well not alone.” He looked at Kazumi who simply stared back.
“I was summoned by mother, but I have a lot to share too.” She said with a smile and a peck on the cheek for her father.
“I thought you would have brought your boyfriend.” He said, placing her down gently. She slapped at him playfully and he winced feigning pain.
“I don’t know of who you are speaking of.” She said and he grew serious.
“When you speak like your mother it reminds me just how much you two are alike.” He smiled and then led the way, heading to their home.
“I am like both my parents actually.” She said, linking his arm. Kazumi followed closely behind, comfortable to just follow her companion.
When they reached their home she found more guards at the door, they didn’t move when they noticed her and as she passed them to enter. She could tell they were Ranker tier at least.
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“Guards?” she quizzed her father and he nodded, not explaining anything. She moved into the house.
Can’t come. Kazumi whispered into her mind and looking back she saw that Kazumi would not fit into the house.
“You will have to stay; you are too big.” Sadé said, a little perplexed.
I will enter. Kazumi sent again and with a flash of fire, she had shrunk down to the size of a fox again, her pristine white fur not even signed as she padded into the house, the guards watched her for a second and then went back to guarding.
Sadé entered the house and turned into the living quarters to see her mother. Her mother rose up from the meditative sitting she had been and rose up to hug her daughter. Her mother had changed, she could feel it. Her mother had always been powerful, one of the most powerful elders in the moonflower clan and now the pressure she was releasing was completely different.
“You underwent a tier tribulation!” she screamed and hugged her mother, her mother the master tier.
“I did.” She said, holding her daughter with ease.
“So you are now a master tier?” she said, and her mother smiled and nodded, she felt so powerful. Not like Baek who a master was also, he was at peace with his power. Quieter and refined, her mother felt like a sea raging beneath the waves.
“So did you call me back for a party?” she asked, and her mother smiled again but shook her head.
“Yes and no, you know as a clan the system provides us a measure of authority and strength, well we gain rewards for our achievements and endeavours. Well we have hit another achievement and as such, we are now about transform.” She explained to Sadé, who in truth did not realise what her mother was trying to tell her.
“The system has responsibilities for clans and guilds, I am sure you have the same tasks for your faction?” her father explained, and she smiled at him remembering that she had joined the faction.
“Well one of the clan tasks were for all the elders to become masters. Your mother has just become the final one and the task has been completed.” He told her and he smiled a little.
“So what will the reward be?” she asked, and her mother and father shared a look, something unsaid was shared between them.
“I gained some stat points to share between my stats, also I gained a weapon of tier III rank. But the clan gained a reward also.” She explained and Sadé could almost hear her heart thumping in her chest.
“Your clan has been rewarded with the upgrade to a kingdom. The moonflower clan will become the kingdom of the Teneriel forest.” Her mother said finally and Sadé felt her stomach flip.
“What does that mean for me? Why did you summon me?” she asked, and her mother looked at her father, the two had been sharing silent looks for a while into this conversation.
“Well the other elders are quiet old, preferring seclusion and staying out of the spotlight. It has been offered to us, it has been decided by the clan elders and other voice of opinion. That I am to be made queen, so as an extension. You will be princess to the kingdom.” Her mother explained in full and Sadé felt herself swoon.
DING!
PRINCESS OF THE ELVEN REALM!
AS A DENIZEN OF ROYAL ACCOLADE YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH A BUFF
3% TO ALL STATS!
The system pinged into view, and she scanned the notification for a moment before flicking it away and turning to her parents.
“What does that mean for me and my faction? I cannot leave it.” she said, and her mother shook her head and waved her words away.
“We would never ask that of you. We just ask that you adhere to the system and what it asks of all of us now.” She offered.
“What does that mean mother?” her words were a little curt, but she was emotional, she didn’t want to leave her friends, she didn’t want to leave him.
“I wish to provide you with two guards, retainers if you will. We are not sure how this announcement will affect other kingdoms and clans, so we want to better prepare for it.” her mother stated and Sadé had to admit, it made sense.
“I already have a retainer, she is training and working her way up. She should be a tier II or III seeker by now.” Sadé said but her mum cut through her words with a slice of her hand.
“She will not be enough. I will provide two retainers who will function as your guards while you are away. This will be up until the coronation.” She said and her tone alone told Sadé there was no point fighting. She sighed and felt the soft warmth of Kazumi who was laying at her feet. She settled down and stroked her fur.
This was going to be a long day.