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Shadows of Destiny
[Revised] Chapter 1-2.1: Father

[Revised] Chapter 1-2.1: Father

She didn't know the carriage had stopped. Curled up into a quivering ball on the carriage floor, her knuckles had gone white with the sheer force that she was gripping at the torn curtain. Somewhere along the way, a small object attacked her and she managed to grab the bird after the third time it bumped her on the head. She would have if she was in any position to reminisce proudly about it.

Varis had found her curled up on the ground when he opened the small carriage door. He furrowed his brows at the odd scene before carefully picking her up in his arms. The encampment was currently being set up by the knights who accompanied them on the journey. It would take a few days to reach the city and they camped off a little ways away from the main road. While the road was little more than compressed earth it was better than the untamed grass they trekked through to reach a small clearing. Obscured by a few trees they gathered wood for a few fires and took out their supplies and tents.

Varis took the little Ravina to one of the rest areas. There he carefully lowered her on one of the makeshift benches the knights pulled to the fire. The young girl was still holding onto the curtain and Varis pulled it over her, thinking she was cold. In her other hand was the small bird ornament, clutching it tightly to keep it from running wild and once again attacking her. Varis stood over her for a moment, then left, leaving her alone on the log as the world spun before her. Though she was on solid ground she could do little more than wish the log would stop moving.

Apart from Ravina's transformed cart, three others completed their little convoy. Two were troop transports, undamaged by the girl's redesign. The other one was a supply transport, crafted to accommodate the food and rations for the thirty-six knights currently returning to the city. Off in the distance, the cook and his helpers were setting up a makeshift kitchen. A dozen of the knights had already left to hunt game for the evening feast. Everyone was hopeful for their success, sick of the ration packs they were forced to eat in the tower.

A sweet voice greeted Ravina somewhere from her left, or was it her right? "Hello." The young girl hesitated to turn her head, half-expecting the log she was sitting on to suddenly start rolling away as Elysia, the lone female of the group, sat down next to her. "How are you doing?"

Ravina responded with a slow, painful grunt. Like the creak of an old floorboard.

"Feeling that good, huh?" Elysia joked, the corner of her lips curling upward. “You know, the first time I rode in one of these things, I was sick for a week straight,” she admitted. “Couldn't even look at a carriage without feeling my stomach churn - and that was without the fancy bells and whistles the guys added. Wish they did that for me.” She looked over the hastily made carriage. One of those little bells was clutched into her hand and if Elysia knew what the little barbel did to the little girl she might not be that upset the other guys didn't treat her like a princess. She let loose a sigh. “Well, Sir Varis has asked me to check on you once again, so… Here we go again."

Elysia did not resent taking care of Ravina. That was fine, kids were cute in small doses, and nothing was smaller than making sure the kid wasn't dead. What irked her was knowing that there had been healers around. Ones who were better suited to this kind of thing. Mages left behind with the rest of the Order to oversee the tower. Any one of them could handle this job with their eyes closed. Yet, here she was, a Battle Mage delicately handling the task of healing a little girl.

It was for that little girl she allowed Varis to give her that nonsensical order, and it was for Varis that she looked after the little girl. She teared up at her own internal struggle. Pushing down her frustration, she got to work. Bathing the young girl in the healing green light far removed from the vibrant red color that pulsated through her veins.

The arcane vapors washed over the young girl's body and soothed her body. "Thank you," her voice was a little steadier as Elysia's healing magic worked its magic. The comforting tingle eased her nausea. It was only after she relaxed that she realized how tightly her muscles had been pulled.

"Oh…" Elysia managed to get out, disguising her panting breath as she finished the spell. "Don't worry… about it, it's… fine." For a while, the two girls stared silently into the dancing flames. Eventually, the woman’s breathing steadied and the girl found her balance. It was the young girl who recovered first.

Nervously Ravina spoke up, watching Elysia from the side of her eye. "Do you need help with anything? Is there something I can do?"

Elysia chuckled lightly. "Oh, no. Just sit here. It's quite a relief not to be stuck doing laundry for once." she laughed at her own joke, the joyful sound coming out in a little wheeze.

"Really?" Ravina looked genuinely surprised.

"What? No! I'm a Red Mage, for heavens' sake! A Red Mage!" Elysia burst out in mock indignation.

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"Sorry," Ravina mumbled, looking a little flustered.

"No, don't apologize. I was just joking." Elysia turned to look at Ravina. "Instead of worrying about me why don't we talk about you instead?" Her eyes turned sharp. Elysia didn't fully understand why Varis was being so kind to Ravina, nor what her connection to the count was. All she knew was that Varis was acting out of character. This one little girl suddenly became the most important package they needed to deliver. The greatest oddity was her position. “Red mage,” she mumbled.

Meanwhile, Ravina fell into her own thoughts. Now that she had time to recover she didn't actually mind the bumpy ride. So long as it didn't happen again. Over the past few days, she had time to mull over being the long-lost daughter of a count. It made sense.

Finn, Ravina’s father, had black hair that was a shade lighter than hers, more dark brown than black. His grey eyes could not be seen in any of his children, each of whom had both auburn eyes and red hair. This world might be a step behind in terms of understanding genetics, but even so, questions about her lineage should've arisen much sooner. However, there was an easy answer when she thought about it. One that made a lot of sense.

She could easily take a guess at what happened. She had read about it many, many times. The kidnapper was probably a disgraced noble's daughter who'd kidnapped the child, intending to use her as a bargaining chip to restore her family's status. Yet, seven years seemed a rather long time to hold onto such a potentially powerful piece of leverage. She was probably yadda yadded out of the story.

After all, it was a common enough backstory. Switched or stolen at birth. She had woken up in some poorly written medieval fantasy novel, complete with a dashing knight to rescue her. She actually didn't mind that part. Looking past the fire she saw the handsome visage of Sir Varis overseeing the camp set up. Someone that good-looking could only be drawn from the pages of a novel.

It was the only plausible explanation. She had to admit however, it was a terrible one. The only missing cliché was her being an overpowered individual who can do whatever she wants ‘because’. She blinked as her vision waned into the fire. That man… that evil thing had already told Ravina that she was… She shook the throat from her head.

"It's okay," The girl finally replied. "There's just a lot on my mind." If she had read this story before, she didn't remember any of it — names, titles, events, absolutely nothing. Usually, the plot focuses on the young girl remembering the original story. Yet she knew nothing and could only hope that the author was more skillful than this already cliché storyline suggested.

"Alright…" Elysia relented. Ravina's thoughts had contorted her face a few times, leaving Elysia to wonder what was going on in her mind. Still, she allowed the girl her privacy. They sat in silence until Varis returned, holding a bowl of soup made with the fresh deer the knights caught in the woods. Much to the cheer of everyone there.

“Here,” he offered the bowl to Ravina, “they are going to cut a few pieces of meat later on but for now you should get something warm inside you.”

Elysia watched this unusual kindness from her commander, “where’s mine?” she teased as Ravina took the bowl and spoon from him.

After receiving a sharp glance from Varis, Elysia stood up quickly. "Guess I should go... help," she stammered, steading herself after rising from her seat too fast. With a small shake of her head, she retreated before any rebuke could be voiced.

Varis shook his head, watching Elysia go before taking a seat himself. Ravina was already savoring the soup, allowing its warmth to spread within her. The broth was rich, its saltiness perfectly balanced with the robust, gamey flavor of the venison. Real meat was such a great treat, creating a comfort that went beyond mere physical warmth.

Varis allowed her to eat a few warm bites before he broke the silence. “Again,” he said, his voice soft and caring, “I want you to know it's only a chance. The lord is… weary of those claiming to be his children. He has been burned before."

“I know,” Ravina replied, enjoying the feeling of the warm bowl in both her hands. Varis nodded, but Ravina knew he would continue reassuring her throughout their journey to the lord's city, Fort Ravyin. "To be honest, I'm more concerned that I might actually be the count's daughter," she confessed.

"Why? Wouldn't it be a relief to be reunited with your real father?"

“My father huh…” The young girl fell into silence. Ravina’s father had been an absolute worthless shell of a man after he lost his wife. He flat-out abused Ravina, she was just too young and naive to know it. Still, Ravina loved him in a way only family could, when the rest of the villagers turned their back on him, she persisted by his side, doing far more for him than he ever did for her. Her, or the others.

In stark contrast, her own father had been a good man. He had shown her love, nurtured her, and guided her through life with kindness and patience. Despite his overbearing nature and the stifling influence he had on her choices, he had always meant well. And now, she wouldn't see him again. In a bizarre twist, she had succeeded in escaping from under his shadow. The thought sent a pang of bitter-sweet sadness through her heart.

In the end, daughter or not, the count would just be another man in her life. She might come to see him as a father figure, but she doubted he would ever occupy the same place in her heart as... her grip tightened on the bowl. He had a name. Of course, he did. Taking slow, steadying breaths, she realized she'd rather face the jostling carriage ride than this.

“Count Ravenshield is more than just a good man.” Oblivious to her inner turmoil, Varis praised the count. He hoped to assuage the young girl's fears by showcasing the good count's nature. “He's a dedicated leader, working tirelessly for the welfare of his domain. Every day, he's buried in reports. He spends his time settling disputes and planning for the prosperity of our land. The count is a man who values knowledge and diplomacy. Usually finds solutions that avoid unnecessary conflict. However, he doesn't back down when the well-being of his people is at stake." As Varis went on extolling his lord, Ravina listened with half an ear, using his steady voice to counter the erratic rhythm of her sleepy heart.