Book 1: Chapter 13 The Path [Part 2]

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Another morning was heralded by the incessant sound of songbirds, which even now refused to give up singing.

“Lady Seraphina! I really must object to this!” Eloise twittered, clutching her new breeches, her voice a counterpoint to the racket outside Seraphina’s window..

Since discovering her Earth magic last night, she had become almost insufferably exuberant—like a child squealing over the perfect birthday present. Even now, she busied herself molding soil from a nearby planter into odd shapes. Though her attempts were crude, displaying her lack of control over the element, Seraphina was confident that with practice, Eloise might actually become useful.

To temper the girl's unbridled excitement, which was quickly growing tiresome, Seraphina had insisted she don men's breeches. Eloise, compelled to obey, had naturally asked why. Seraphina explained it was because she would be joining her for practice of the arts martial.

Annoyingly, the breeches suited Eloise’s slender figure better than Seraphina’s own, she noted grudgingly. Straightening, she addressed her.

“As heir to the Duchy of Sariens, I may be called to war if King Elidion requires it. I am expected to fight and lead the fighting men of Sariens on the battlefield. As a gifted Magister, you too will be obligated to join me.”

Eloise looked flustered. “But…”

Miriam, who was in attendance, dutifully folded her lady’s clothes, ignoring their exchange.

“And you will use your talents to aid the King’s cause,” Seraphina continued, hands on her hips.

“But Lady Seraphina, surely as ladies of quality… we would be exempt from such things…” her lady-in-waiting protested feebly.

Seraphina’s gaze made Eloise visibly shrink. “Ladies of quality? It is precisely because of our noble heritage, rooted in the very history and blood of Aranthia, that we cannot shirk our duties merely by hiding behind of our sex.”

“We must show men that we are as capable as they are, lest they see us as mere ornaments and broodmares!” declared the future Duchess passionately. Future queen, Seraphina corrected herself.

Eloise somehow managed a rebuttal. “I always thought men and women had different roles to play—that we are two halves of the same coin…”

Sometimes, Seraphina thought, the girl's views were so backward. She would never let anyone box her into a role not of her choosing. “So, you would let men decide your fate? Allow your future husband to control every aspect of your life?”

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Eloise hesitated, her brow knitting in contemplation. "But Lady Seraphina, isn't it our place to uphold the traditions? To be the pillars of grace and decorum in society?"

Seraphina raised a delicate eyebrow, covering her mouth as she gave out a small half-laugh.. "Traditions? Or limitations disguised as customs? Why should we be confined to roles others have scripted for us?"

"But society expects us to behave a certain way," Eloise insisted. "To step outside those expectations could bring dishonor to our families."

"Only if we believe that challenging the status quo is dishonorable," Seraphina countered. "I see it as courageous. Necessary, even. The Goddess, last time I checked, was a woman was she not?"

Eloise glanced down at her breeches, fiddling with the fabric. "It's just... I've always been told that a woman's strength lies in her gentleness and her ability to support her husband."

"Support is important, yes, but it should be mutual," Seraphina replied. "Why should we not stand beside men as equals? Why must we always stand behind? Do not the de Savants practice thus?"

“Yes… I guess they do,” she answered hesitantly. Eloise looked up, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "You speak as though the world could be different."

"It can be," Seraphina affirmed. "But only if we dare to imagine it so. Think about it—if we, who are gifted and privileged, do not challenge these confines, who will?"

"But won't there be objections?" Eloise questioned.

"There will always be objections, and change is always met with resistance," Seraphina acknowledged. "But every significant advancement in history was achieved because someone refused to accept things as they were."

Eloise sighed softly. "I suppose I've never questioned it before. It was easier to accept the path laid out for me. All I ever really wanted to do was go to…"

"Easier, perhaps, but does it fulfill you?" Seraphina cut in not-too-gently. "Don't you ever feel there's more you could be? More you could do?"

A moment of silence passed before Eloise admitted, "Sometimes. Especially since receiving my magic. Once I get to study at…"

"Exactly," Seraphina said, her eyes gleaming as she ignored what the girl was about to say. "It is a gift, not just to you but potentially to all of Aranthia. And don’t you forget who gave it to you! Why hide behind men?"

"Maybe because it's safer?" Eloise squeaked. "Remind me again, what does this have to do with me joining you for practice?"

"Because, Eloise..." Seraphina replied with an exasperated sigh, fiddling with the red ribbon she had used to tie up her long hair. "There might come a time when you'll have only your own strength to defend yourself. That is the price we may well pay for sticking our heads above the parapet. Now come along, Armsmaster Kellan will not wait for us all day. We mustn't dilly-dally any longer." She smiled sweetly. She was lying, of course; Armsmaster Kellan, the stolid grumpy veteran, would wait for as long as Seraphina deemed fit.

Before leaving, Seraphina took a moment to look at herself in the long mirror in her room. Though her long golden hair was undeniably attractive, it might become a nuisance during practice—not to mention how difficult it was to manage and maintain without modern conveniences like a hair dryer. Perhaps she should have encouraged Eloise to take up the element of Fire after all, she thought wistfully.

Her eyes traveled downward, noting how the brown men’s breeches hugged her form, paired with a loose, long-sleeved cream-colored blouse. On second glance, she had to admit, she did look rather dashing.