*Knock *Knock *Knock

Three separate knocks hit the door.

"Miss, it is time to wake up." A lady with a soft voice said.

"Is it morning already?" Alice murmured. "Of all things, I dream of that day again."

She stood, her hair turned to a messy clump.

Alice sighed as she exited her bed. Her gaze drifted to her room, decorated with antique furniture that had been with her family for many generations.

Alice's electronics and television stood out like a sore thumb.

"I need some fresh air." She moved towards one of the windows and opened it.

"Much better." She said as the wind caressed her skin and pushed her long, golden hair back.

Her room overlooked the manor's garden. She remembered asking for this room when she was little just because of that.

"Weather is good. I can't stay inside on such a day." Alice quickly changed her pajamas with simple casual clothes and grabbed a mask and a hat.

"Not to forget." She grabbed a piece of paper and wrote a note. "I'm out. I'll be back before lunch."

"Alright, time to go out." She moved to the window and jumped from the second story right into the garden.

Workers were having breakfast at this time, so it was empty, and she used it to her advantage.

Right through the garden, she moved to the front gate and took the worker entrance to get out without suspicion.

It wasn't like she was forbidden to leave the house, but she didn't want security to follow her everywhere.

And when Alice deemed she was far enough, she stopped and looked at her house.

"Manor of the Knights, you look beautiful as ever." She said.

Massive walls, supported by a multilayer defense system, surrounded the manor.

But these were hidden from view. The family had spent extra money to preserve the manor's historic appearance.

Stone bricks and vines with bloomed flowers hid the modern reinforced walls, while towers and empty buildings hid defense systems inside.

"And sunlight hits just the angle to enhance the colors. Alice smiled and turned around. "Beautiful. Sadly, you are a bit too boring for me."

And she dashed towards the nearest town with one thing in mind. "The baked goods, here I come."

Her body radiated a faint golden glow, and her speed increased drastically, "Go fast enough to reach there in a short time, but not so fast that people mistake you for a speeding car." Alice reminded herself.

After a quick run through the surrounding forest, Alice arrived at a split.

"The coastal road or the main road? One is shorter, but the other has fewer eyes." Alice asked herself.

After a second doubt, she picked the coastal road. It led her to one edge of the island, to a narrow path on the side of a cliff.

"Ah, sweet freedom. Water is calm, the smell of the is nice, and even the weather is just perfect," Alice said, opening her arms to embrace the sea breeze as she increased her speed.

But there was a problem.

"Military vessels." Alice suddenly stopped, drifting. Small rocks and dirt rolled down the cliff.

Several ships were stationed just at the edge of their territorial waters.

"All from the United Nations, and these are not escort ships." She said. "No escort group carries this much weaponry."

She hastened her steps to the town.

"Father probably knows it, but he won't tell me. Better dig it myself."

Alice ran as fast as she could, leaving a trail of dust and dirt behind as she neared the top speed of a regular car.

When the tall walls of the town appeared on the horizon, she stopped and scanned the surroundings.

"Main gate is open, no soldiers in sight, and no panic. Looks like nothing happened." Alice took a deep breath, "Still, why the UN is here?" She murmured.

"Perhaps it is another show of strength?" A voice echoed inside her mind.

Then her sword appeared next to Alice, levitating. "Don't they like doing such things whenever they could?"

Alice smiled. "And here I wondered when you were going to talk."

"I was enjoying the sight. Since I don't remember the last time someone took a break from training and went out, I wanted to savor it." The sword spoke.

"Come one, it's not the time for temper tantrums. We have a situation in our hands."

If the sword had eyes, it would have rolled them. It thought the island was under no threat.

"Alright, let's go, chop chop." But it also craved the childish adventure, like Alice.

The sword vanished away, and the duo walked to the town.

The streets were busy. Everyday life was going as usual.

Kids playing, market owners stocking new goods, the florist watering her display products.

"Weird." Alice murmured, "I assumed warships would have caused more chaos."

"Right?" A man with a heavy voice spoke, then showed himself from the corner.

Longer than 2 meters, this hulking man was wearing the military uniform of the United Nations. Instead of a traditional military rank, he had a gold sphere with an 'X' over it.

"Alex Younglaw," Alice muttered. "What's the head of the UN Agency of Security doing here?"

"Young lady of the knights. I am happy you remembered my name this time." Man bowed forward in respect, but the sun shining from his bald head blinded Alice.

"Don't you dare laugh?" Alice warned to the sword in her mind before answering the man. "How can I? I clearly remember my father forbidding you from talking with me unless you had serious business?"

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Alex Younglaw smirked. "Of course, the current head of the knights was stern in his stance, but I am not here to recruit you. It was an order from my boss." He reached inside his uniform and pulled out a letter. "Here, it's yours."

Alice grabbed the latter. "It might be a surprise, but despite being called knights using swords, we have access to modern technology. Some are even daring enough to use magical artifacts called phones." Alice said while inspecting the letter.

"You are a joker as always. But it was his idea, not mine."

"And that's why you brought a small fleet of warships to our shores? For a letter."

"I understand you but worry not. The Wisesword, your father, knows my visit. After all, you knights love your independence and honestly are a bit paranoid."

"Well, at least you respect that, but again, the ships, you call us paranoid, but any person who saw a naval force next to their home be paranoid."

"The delivery was just a side job for me. We are after a sea monster pestering the trade around Gibraltar. I'll be on my way now you have the letter." The man turned around and began walking away from Alice.

The sword appeared. The gem on its handguard that looked like an eye stared at Alice. "This is bad." It said.

"Yeah, I never get to like him."

"No, not that!" Sword protested. "Look, what does this guy usually do?"

"Try to recruit me as his pupil because I don't have a teacher figure?"

"Exactly!" The sword answered.

"Maybe he was scared of dad?" Alice said.

"No, it's not like him. This letter must mean serious business. We must go see the elder." The sword disappeared, leaving behind a fading golden glimmer.

"Alright, if I run fast enough, I can reach the manor before breakfast ends."

*****

Soon after, Alice arrived at the manor.

"Where is Father," She asked the first worker she saw, a man carrying a cart of empty dish plates.

"On the dining hall." The worker answered.

"Thank you." Alice didn't spend one more second there and rushed to the dining hall, moving past several guards, leaving them confused by her haste.

And when she finally reached the dining hall, she slammed the door open and rushed in.

"Father!" She shouted and placed the letter on the table. "Youngclaw arrived with a letter to me by the Chancellor."

Alice's father, the only person still inside the dining hall, didn't break his demeanor. He first neatly placed his silverware and cleaned his mouth with a tissue. He then got up and grabbed the letter.

"Oh, it arrived then." He said and opened the letter, "Alice Ardenblade, I, the Chancellor, current head of the United Nations, invite you to our special training program for promising youngsters."

"What program?" Alice asked with a head slightly tilted to the side.

"It's a special training program for kids like you. They want to build better teamwork and help you grow faster. I think it's a good opportunity, but it's your call."

Alice read the letter and the fine print behind it. "No matter how I look into it, it sounds like a pretty good deal."

"Isn't it?" Father said.

"And you are awfully calm about it."

"Because I was informed beforehand."

"But am I ready?" Alice said, "All things considered, even with the sword as my weapon, carrying our family name is a big deal. Like, what if I see defeat on my first battle?"

Alice's father moved next to her. "Alice, look at me."

She did as ordered, and suddenly, the man hugged his daughter.

"You are ready and capable. Don't let such stupid thoughts draw you back! You are the knight of hope!" He released her. "And even if you lose a battle, I know this little bright knight will win her war eventually."

Alice put the letter back into her pocket with a smile. "Give me a day or two." She left the room.

"Take as much time as you want, honey." Her father said as she left.

Alice quickly moved to her room, ignoring greetings from knights and workers alike, which she never did before.

When she reached her room, she locked the door, closed all the windows, and moved to the quietest part of it.

"Alright, tell me, what are we doing?"

The sword appeared once more and began flying around Alice. "No, what will you do is the question."

"Really? No help at all?" Alice protested.

"Yes, no help at all... Hey!"

Alice grabbed the sword and shook it around. "Come one, at least give me your opinion."

Sword sighed, or at least made a sound like sighing. "I trust your father's decision, but as he said, it's your choice."

Alice released the sword and raised an eyebrow. "So you feel no suspicion?"

"Why would I? Chancellor is not the most trustworthy guy, but then again, he is the hero who united your kin against the Crimson invasion, isn't he? World's security is his main interest." Sword answered.

Alice opened the letter and read it once more. "No entrance tests to the school of our choosing, which are the big four, special classes, and missions, sparring matches with the best of the best. It is just too good." She "Alright! We are joining this program."

"We are!" Sword playfully shouted.

*grumble.

Alice grabbed her stomach. "But first, let's find something to eat."