SOPHIA STONECLAW

I found myself surrounded by a group of students, boys and girls included. As I knelt before them, some began to dump their leftover meals on me. Those who had been smoking scattered ash on my hair, while others hurled bits of trash my way. I couldn’t do or say anything, overwhelmed by a feeling of utter helplessness; I just knelt there, taking it all in, scared and powerless.

A glass wall shattered and the scenery changed. I found myself walking along a dark alley, half oriented, with torn clothes and disheveled hair. I was weak and breathless as I staggered along the alley until I finally made it to the exit. The words “help me,” left my mouth a few times, but I wasn’t sure I had any strength to make them loud enough to be heard.

Bright lights overwhelmed my vision, and the best I could do was to squint, too exhausted to shield my eyes with my hands. A sudden blare of a nearby vehicle horn startled me, and I stumbled forward. I had no strength to get hold of myself, and when I eventually did, I found myself in front of a speeding truck. Its loud honking, and persistent flickering of its headlights had a paralyzing effect on me, and I froze, right in its path. I could hear people screaming at me to run, but the sound of their voices were muffled to my ears, as if I were submerged underwater. I wasn’t sure I would have made it to safety in time even if I made a run for it, because, though everything unfolded slowly before my eyes, it happened in an instant. I was hit, and it all went dark.

Another glass wall shattered once again and I found myself in a new scene. This time, I was on my knees, watching in horror as a sword was thrust into my belly. The pain wasn’t overwhelming, but I was scared shitless because I thought I was witnessing the last moments of the second chance at life I had been given.

The glass wall shattered once more, and this time I found myself sitting in the corner of a dark room, face down and eyes shut. I was scared, but I couldn’t tell what I was scared of. A door creaked open slightly, just enough for me to glimpse a familiar figure standing in front of it. The room remained shrouded in darkness, but the door created an illuminated path. My body moved and I struggled to stand. I didn’t know where the door led to, but it was a risk I was willing to take.

I opened my eyes, and found myself lying on a bed in a dimly lit room. I heaved in relief—it was just a dream after all. I sat there for a while, pondering on the dream I just had. Usually, I didn’t pay much attention to my dreams; most times they were meaningless, and the ones that seemed meaningful didn’t translate into anything of significant importance. But this one got me thinking for a bit because It wasn’t just a mere dream, rather, a series of memories I relived in my sleep.

As I thought back at it, I realized that those memories unveiled a deeper truth. They were peculiar, highlighting moments of my life when I felt most vulnerable, and in those moments of vulnerability, an overwhelming feeling of fear crashed like waves on the shores of my consciousness.

I smiled, I had always known the truth, but I never confronted it, conveniently ignoring it. I lived a life that I’d always dreamed of in this world, but the trauma didn’t go away. I still avoided people, and kept social interactions at a minimum. I wasn’t sure if I learned to cope with that trauma, and I began to think that maybe it was an excuse I used to shield myself from what I was truly scared of…. Death. It was ironic because death awaited everyone in the end, but the thought of dying always triggered an overwhelming sense of fear in me.

I wanted to live, and I wanted to live a long life here in this world. But living in constant fear of people and death didn’t seem like a life worth living. That was my dilemma—a fatal flaw of mine. It was the reason I always wore an intimidating and cold demeanour that did just enough to mask my shortcomings. Also, thankfully, my status as Heiress, and the innate strength I possessed made sure I was revered, respected, and feared.

I understood why I found Svan intriguing on our first meeting. He was everything I wasn’t; fearless, carefree and even reckless, like he had no regard for his life. After the battle at Brisdow, I thought to myself; maybe he lived that way because he was strong, or maybe he was strong because he lived that way. I was strong too, but I didn’t dare.

I made a resolve to face my fears, as I told myself repeatedly,

“I can live like him too, I just have to try.”

Svan had changed my life, but he had no idea. I was grateful he saved my life, but I was more grateful that he showed me a path to conquer my fears.

“Anyone outside?” I called.

“Yes, your Highness,” two masculine voices replied.

“Take me to Vayr.”

It was already nightfall, unsure of the exact time. But from the noise coming from outside the building indicated that a lot of repair and construction was underway. We walked for a bit before stopping in front of a room at the end of the passage.

“General, Her Majesty is here,” one of the guards announced, as I opened the door in front of me.

The room was small, cramped, and dimly lit, yet it had more ambience than the chamber I slept in. It was barely more than a nook, with stone walls and a low ceiling that made the space feel even tighter. A single flickering candle casted dancing shadows, illuminating the cluttered desk, with the floor covered with a tattered rug. In one corner a rickety bookshelf leaned against the wall crammed with books of various sizes, while another corner held a heap of papers and scrolls.

“Your Majesty,” Vayr greeted.

“I am sure that there are better rooms,” I said to him.

“Probably, but I can’t afford that luxury at the moment. There are pressing matters that have to be taken care of.”

I sat down, trying to take in the chaos around me,

“What’s our status?” I asked.

“On alert,” he replied.

“Thanks to you and the Choryth, we’ve secured the port, but our problems are just beginning. I just received reports that an army is marching in our direction.”

“Imperial soldiers?” I inquired.

“Yes. They, and Lord Tulika’s men,” Vayr replied

“Who is that?” I asked.

The Lord of Duskenfell.”

I let out a sigh,

“Their strength?”

“Scouting reports estimates twenty-thousand men, though we can’t estimate how many knights are among their ranks.”

“That doesn’t look good. Their numbers here in Duskenfell are much more than ours,” I said to Vayr with worry in my tone.

“That is true, but I am confident of victory in this battle,” Vayr said reassuringly.

“While that’s good to hear, Vayr, are you confident that we can win without burning through our men and resources?”

He looked at me,

“Probably,” he said in response.

“Okay, so what’s the plan?” I asked.

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“I learned something from your success here. We strike first, and strike hard. But we will do that with our best soldiers to minimize casualties and losses.”

“By our best soldiers, you mean our lieutenants?” I asked.

“Yes,” he replied.

“But we barely have five hundred of them. How could they possibly take on an army of twenty-thousand with the possibility of facing the knights?”

I leaned back in my seat,

“You are either very crazy or very ambitious,” I continued.

“No, I am not. I am just being logical. Should we encounter the knights, the Choryth, you, Octavia, and I will take care of them. And for the army—the Lieutenants, and their falxes should be able to get the job done.”

I nodded slowly. Those damned creatures. I almost forgot about them.

Vayr continued,

“We move at dawn. Tomorrow, Duskenfell will be under our control.”

He was confident. It was the most assured I had seen him in a long time. His strategy was too much of a risk, but it was also one with a very high reward.

I stood,

“Alright, we will convene at dawn,” I said as I walked towards the door.

“I was wrong about the decision you made back at Stavern,” Vayr called after me.

I stopped and turned in his direction.

“Why is that?”

“The Choryths—you were right about them,” he replied.

“Well, I am glad you know, I said as I left the room.”

For a moment, I thought about heading back to my room, but I changed my mind.

“Where is my falx? I want to see it.”

“Your Majesty,” both guards responded, as they led me outside the building.

It was nightfall, yet everyone was busy. I wasn’t sure how long I had slept, but there was a considerable amount of work done on the wreckage Svan and I had caused. We walked through what looked like a street, and everyone we walked past, greeted with a bow. We did not walk for long until we got to a large clearing where the creatures were kept.

Vayr’s mention of the Choryths provoked thoughts of the events that happened earlier in the day, as a vivid image of Svan flashed in my head. I relived moments of the battle against the knights in my head, as I tried to figure out areas of combat I could improve on. Svan was literally unscathed, like he didn’t even swing a sword, yet two knights died by his hands. I was victorious too, but it wasn’t the easiest of fights. In fact, I struggled a lot.

I knew I could do more. I could feel untapped potential within me, but I couldn’t break past my limits to reach them. Svan’s abilities were unique, but I knew I was special too. He fought two knights without breaking a sweat, and I wanted to be able to do that too. Then, it hit me; I had a falx. Though I hated those creatures, I knew I wouldn’t have struggled so much if I had one with me.

This war was truly a humbling experience for me. I stepped out of my comfort zone and quickly found out that the great Sophia was lacking in so many ways. First, I performed the Erkvare ritual, and now, I am trying to reconnect with my falx.

The moment I caught sight of the creatures, I began to have a conflict of thought, whether or not I should proceed. In the end, I chose to go forward with it—concluding that it wouldn’t hinder me from getting better, or tapping into my buried potential. In my quest to get stronger, I needed to stay alive at the very least.

My falx bonded with me since I was a kid, and even though I never cared about it, or had any regard for it, it was still mine regardless. My father knew I never liked the creature, but he still had it sent here when I decided to join the war. I guess he was just looking out for me.

The falxes only bonded to El bloods, and there were three breeds of them; the Regals, the Sentinels, and the Ravagers. The Regals were bred for the royal family. They were the largest and probably the strongest breed of the falx. They had red skin and black fur that ran from their heads and along their backs. I was told that mine had grown over ten feet tall, and I was about to set my eyes on it for the second time in my life.

The Sentinels were bred for Elder guards. Strength-wise, they were on par with the Regals, but they looked very much like the Ravagers in appearance. The main difference was that they had a black skin, while the Ravagers had a somewhat brown one.

My falx noticed my presence and walked towards me, as the Ravagers made way for it. Both guards who escorted me took a few steps backwards as the falx approached. Its size was intimidating, as it stood towering above me, but I wasn’t scared of it one bit.

“Poor thing, you must have been bored to death,” I said to the falx, as it knelt before me.

It let out a low growl, but I could tell what message it was trying to convey.

“I know, I know. I am sorry for neglecting you all this while. It wouldn’t happen again, okay?”

Falxes couldn’t understand human language, but they could feel the emotions of their bond, and could communicate with them psychically. I could tell what it was thinking, and it could do the same if I allowed it. I could give it orders, and it will understand—not because it comprehended my speech, but because it could read them off my thoughts. It was one of the many reasons why I didn’t like the falx, because I didn’t entertain the idea that a creature could be in my head, and could read my thoughts. Yet, it was one of the marvels of this world, as it never ceased to amaze me. Even more intriguing was the fact that I could just block it off my head if I wanted to. It felt weird. It didn’t feel like a thought, or a voice in my head, rather, it felt like a switch I could turn on and off at will.

I had let the falx in, and it sensed sincerity.

“Rest, we have a very long day tomorrow.”

I left the area, and decided to take a walk around. Everyone was hands on deck, setting up the city as our base, and they were getting the job done pretty fast. I took a detour to the harbor, and it was completely restored.

“Wow, that was some job done,” I said inwardly, marvelling at the efficiency.

Thanks to magic, the entire work had been made easier and faster.

As I walked, I felt drawn to familiar mana presences. Turning towards their source, I spotted four figures sitting by a fire close to the shoreline. I walked up to them, not sure why I did that, as my legs just moved instinctively in their direction.

They were having a meal, as they roasted meat over the fire. My stomach churned at the sight of the meat, a not-so gentle reminder that I hadn’t eaten anything all day.

“Come on, have a seat,” Svan’s mother said to me.

I sat down and gestured for the guards to leave, and they complied without hesitation. Yukina and Evren didn’t seem to mind my presence, as they chewed their meat in silence. Svan stretched his hand for a fist bump, which I gladly accepted.

“Good job today,” he said to me.

It was strange. I barely knew them, but whenever I was around them, I felt so comfortable. I was a princess, heiress to the Azkhan throne, but I didn’t act, or feel that way around them. They didn’t also treat me like royalty. They gave me a different kind of respect, as if I was one of them. Although Yukina and Evren didn’t like me that much, I didn’t feel any sense of animosity from them.

“Here,” Lady Eliora said, offering me a chunk of meat.

I took a bite and my eyes lit up with delight. It was tender, and each chew released a burst of savoury juices in my mouth.

“This is so good,” I said in a muffled voice, trying to chew, and talk at the same time.

Lady Eliora smiled,

“You can have as much as you want.”

I ate until I was full, and when I was done, I thanked them for the meal.

“Umm, Has General Vayr sent any messages regarding the battle tomorrow?” I voiced.

“Yes he did. So, we decided to wait until dawn this way,” Lady Eliora replied.

“Oh, okay,” I said, nodding slowly.

“Hey, you like hanging around with us?” Yukina asked after a short spell of silence.

“Maybe,” I replied.

Evren reacted suddenly, like she already knew what I would say in response as she turned to Yukina.

“I hate this bitch. Do you see what I am talking about?”

“Evren, language!” Lady Eliora cautioned.

“Sorry, Mother. But she thinks she is better than us. I don’t care if she is Empress of anything; she should take her royalty somewhere else.”

It was surprising, and a bit funny that my harmless response was misinterpreted in the worst way. Even more surprising that I was just called a bitch, and I didn’t get offended.

I scoffed,

“Do you know that I could have your head for calling me that?” I said to Evren.

“Oh, you are welcome to try,” she shot back, as her pet creature snarled, squaring up against me.

Svan let out a little laugh,

“What’s funny? Evren asked.

“It’s funny because you played a similar character, if not worse, towards me for most part of my life.”

Evren’s demeanour changed instantly; her expression softened, and I could sense a tinge of guilt in it.

“Come on Svan, you didn’t have to rub it on my face,” she said quietly.

“I am not, I am just saying that you should cut her some slack,” he replied.

Evren fell silent. Yukina, ignoring both of them asked me,

“Why?”

“Because it’s livelier being around you guys. Unbothered by formality, I get the chance to live freely,” I explained.

Yukina nodded,

“That’s good enough a reason. But its a bit strange to me—why the send you, the heiress of an Empire to the war front. Is it customary, or is it choice?”

“Choice,” I replied.

“Why is that? She asked.

“Not sure. Maybe I got tired of life in the palace. I couldn’t see myself living that way for the rest of my life; It’s too boring. So I decided to embark on an adventure. Though I am unsure of what challenges I would encounter, I am sure that there would be a lot of lessons to be learnt.”

“Birds of same feathers, really do flock together. Welcome to the band,” Yukina voiced.

I found myself talking and laughing. I have never talked this long with anyone in both lives I had lived. I thought to myself,

“This is good.”

There was a part of living that didn’t involve the burden of responsibility, the fear of people, and death, or the guilt of killing, and I was just witnessing it.

I stole a few glances at Svan. He didn’t speak much, and smiled occasionally, but I could tell that his thoughts were somewhere else.

Time went by very quickly, as guards walked up to us.

“Your Highness, it’s almost dawn,” one of them voiced.

“I guess it’s time. Svan, girls, let’s get ready,” Lady Eliora said.

Yukina and Evren seemed a bit excited, and Svan appeared indifferent.

“See you guys at the briefing,” I said, before leaving.

While walking back to my room, I thought inwardly,

“Friends? Maybe it’s not that bad after all.”