Aermithy lightly smiled. Even with how young Avina was, she already knew what she wanted out of life. Who was he to stop his own daughter from getting what she wanted? Out of everything she could’ve chosen from, justice was sought from the young girl. Justice went further than just throwing wrong-doers in a cell. Justice treats people with enough respect to ensure that they’ll be treated fairly, no matter what crime has been committed. Although the answer to his next question was foreseen, he still needed to hear it first-hand.
“A goal with many complications. If justice is what you seek so badly, then how do you hope to achieve it?” Silence filled the cool brisk air. Clearly some thought was being put into her upcoming answer. Aermith would’ve taken his Daughter as a fool if she had spoken too soon. Only an idiot would drive themselves to an early death.
Her clouded thoughts formed into words, the exact words Aermith was hoping for. “I’ll become a Knight, just like you were!”
“Just a Knight you say? Are you sure your ambitions aren’t much bigger than just being a simple Knight?” He was quick to respond. Aermith needed to make sure that this is what Avina truly wanted.
“A Knight is all I need to be to make a difference. I will make sure my goal will take me to the top, fueled by my ambition. I will make it further than you ever have,” Avina slowly walked up the stairs, approaching her Father who stood at the top. “Freedom may have been what you fought for, but it was selfish. Freedom is what you had wanted for yourself, you didn’t care about those around you. No.. I believe you just fought for what your family believed in, our family! It left you with no desire to fight for yourself.” By now, Avina stopped just right below Aermith, now staring up at him. A calm breeze swept through the area, brushing Avina’s bangs out of her line of sight.
“Desire is meant to leave the soul yearning, Father. And because you didn’t have any, you sunk too deep into the water. Drowning from your own thoughts, thinking about what could’ve been instead of acting on it.” Her hand grabbed onto the railing next to her, gripping it tightly. “But I’m not here to bash you for your past. I’m here to help you, help us achieve what we both want in this lifetime. So now I have to ask, will you shape me into what you could’ve been in order for me to get what we deserve?”
Without a second thought, Aermith extended a hand to Avina. She hesitantly reached for his hand before fully committing. They locked hands before Aermith pulled her up to the top step. She was now able to completely see her father’s face and what he may have been thinking. Deep down, she felt as if she hit a nerve. Avina went off of speculation, not even sure if her Father had no genuine desire for anything.
Aermith couldn’t help but to begin laughing, so much that even tears began forming at the corner of his eyes. “I hate admitting when someone is right but you’re damn near spot on, Avina. You’re too smart for your own good but I'm sure you got that from your Mother. But I see this is what you really want, so I’ll mold you into the best version of yourself. A version that won’t even be able to recognize the old you. I will help you reach the top.” He then embraced Avina, hugging her tightly. Aermith loved his Daughter, she was his last tether to his world. As much as he didn’t want anything to take her away from him, it was bound to happen eventually. Whether it was now or later, Aermith needed to accept it. The two broke off the hug before he placed the palm of his hand onto her head. “We’ll start bright and early tomorrow. And when we start, I will not only be your Father, but your teacher as well. Let’s go home now and get some rest, you’re going to need it these next couple of years.”
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The sun’s golden edge peaked just above the treeline. A flock of birds chirped before escaping the area. Just below the trees, there was a trail of footsteps in the snow. In fact, there looked to have been two sets of footsteps. One set was much larger than the other. The trail they left behind was wild and unpredictable. They would cross in and out of each other, even looking as if they stepped in the same area more than once. Anyone following these steps would be quick to realize that they went on for at least a half of a mile before finally coming to an end. At the end of the trail lies a girl who was sprawled out on the snow. Blood trickled from her nose and stained the snow she laid on. Her fingertips twitched from the aching pains she’s been feeling for as long as she could remember. Calluses replaced the soft gentle skin on the base of her fingers. Few of them wore torn open which caused them to bleed. And because she’s been repeatedly applying pressure on the palm of her hands, it didn’t give them the chance to heal at all.
Her eyelids hung low, she was failing to keep conscious during a time like this. It felt good actually, the warm soothing feeling she usually got when she was drifting off. Unfortunately for her, the side of her thigh was met with a boot. She was awakened by the only thing that has been a nuisance to her for the past year. Now standing above her was a man whose beard was fully grey at this point. If it wasn’t from age, then it was certainly from the stress he’s been dealing with. It looks like these two both had their fair share of hardships.
“This is the third time you’ve been knocked down by my backhand, I thought I would’ve knocked some sense into you by now? Stand up.” Aermith demanded.
Without another word being uttered, the girl that laid before him slowly rose to her feet. She stumbled but caught herself from falling over. Her free hand wiped away the running blood under her nose. Just like the snow, her hand was stained but that was the least of her worries at this moment. Held in her other hand, was a wooden sword. As much as she hated these so-called weapons, it was the closest she’d get to the real thing. Avina took a fighting stance once more, placing both hands onto the hilt of the sword while keeping a good amount of distance in between her feet. Her eyebrows furrowed while frowning. Now that Aermith had gotten comfortable with his backhand, she knew how to handle the next one that came her way.
“Show me that ambition you speak so highly of!” Aermith shouted at Avina before the two lunged at each other.