> “To get through the hardest journey and continue living, we need to take only one step at a time; but we must keep stepping.” - Chinese Proverb.
"ACCURSED fiend! You should've just rotted in hell!
The usually serene morning marketplace, bustling with cheerful stallholders and eager customers, was abruptly silenced by the enraged bellow of an elderly aristocrat. Brandishing his walking stick, the older gentleman muttered an incantation, summoning a gust of wind that sent a mud spray from a nearby puddle flying towards a young woman clad in gleaming silver armour.
With a practised flourish, the young knight raised a hand to deflect the mud from hitting her, leaving the gentleman sputtering in disbelief. Her emerald eyes, usually bright and calm, held a flicker of defiance. This wasn't the first time she'd faced such prejudice, and it wouldn't be the last.
"Perhaps Lord Ranfel keeps her around for his selfish desires? How scandalous!" one of the noblewomen nearby whispered to her companion behind a fan. Ignoring them, the young woman, Mika, retrieved a wrapped parcel from the mud. Security measures had been tightened, but it wasn't enough. These incidents seemed to follow her like a shadow.
The vast expanse of land that now formed the Kingdom of Luyas was once a desolate battlefield. Under the stewardship of the Heartlets family for generations, it had blossomed into a flourishing civilisation. The current ruler, Lord Ranfel Heartlets the Twelfth, was a man of surprising tolerance. He'd established a town, the Knight's Academy, and even defied tradition by allowing Mika to train alongside humans.
However, whispers persisted about the tragic demise of Lord Ranfel's beloved wife a decade ago. Some claimed it had hardened his heart, transforming him from a benevolent leader to a cold and ruthless tyrant. Yet, under his rule, the Kingdom of Luyas enjoyed stability and prosperity.
Mika's first encounter with prejudice had been a harsh lesson. Just thirteen at the time, she'd been accosted by a drunken man accusing her of being responsible for his family's death in the Great War. Despite his attempts to intimidate her with his words, Mika remained unfazed. However, the situation took a dangerous turn when the man decided to physically attack her in broad daylight, with no one stepping in to intervene. This harrowing experience was pivotal for young Mika, teaching her a harsh life lesson: she could trust no one in the town. Fortunately, she escaped the assault unharmed and wasted no time reporting the incident to her brigade's Captain.
Regrettably, the assaulter managed to evade any consequences for his actions. Only after significant pressure from the Commandant of the Knights, Lord Ranfel, was a new law finally implemented. This law stated that no physical harm should be inflicted upon the Lost Child. Those who failed to comply with this law would face a hefty fine of 500 Gold.
Suddenly, a wave of nausea washed over Mika. She clutched the wrapped package tighter, a familiar longing tugging at her heart. Fragments of a forgotten past, dreams of a world bathed in moonlight, flickered at the edges of her awareness.
"Urgh..." Mika winched at the migraine that suddenly came. The pain goes just as quickly as it came.
Once calmed down, the young knight continued with her journey.
----------------------------------------
MIKA stops in front of the two maroon, sturdy gates. She raises her hand, clutching the Luyas Knight's Crest, towards the guards stationed at the tower. The imposing gates swing open, granting her entry into the Knight's Court, bustling with knights and trainees alike. With her bright green eyes, she scans the area for an unoccupied seat where she can momentarily rest her tired legs. Suddenly, she hears her name being called from across the court.
Reaching the Knight's Court, Mika scanned the area for an unoccupied seat. A familiar voice called her name. It was Luna, her best friend and fellow trainee, with her bright smile and endless enthusiasm. However, Luna's smile faltered as she spotted Mika's mud-caked armour and the grim set to her jaw.
"Another incident?" Luna asked, her voice laced with concern.
Mika nodded, the frustration evident in her eyes.” Anyhow, enough about me. How was your combat practice session today with Sir Lance?"
Luna groans in frustration, "Awful. I can't believe I survived a gruelling two-hour session with Sir Lance constantly berating me about perfecting the Dance Blade technique." She flips her long ponytail, reaching down to her waist.
Suddenly, a look of excitement illuminates her face. "Oh, did you hear the news? I stopped by Yumm's Bakery earlier this morning for a quick breakfast, and Diana told me she was engaged! And guess who it is? It's not Ronald, it's-"
Suddenly, a bold voice interrupted them. Cad, a young Captain Knight with a reputation for arrogance, swaggered towards them. His predatory eyes settled on Luna.
Luna straightened, her smile returning as a mask of defiance. Mika, however, knew the truth – Luna was trapped in a gilded cage, forced into an engagement with a man she despised. Ever since Luna was bestowed with the title of Lalla on her eighteenth birthday by Lord Ranfel a month ago, she has been constantly approached by numerous noblemen and knights vying for her hand in marriage. This title was given to introduce her to high society and help her find potential suitors. Cad is no exception. Despite his reputation as the Kingdom's most notorious playboy, he caught Lord Ranfel's attention with his family's vast wealth and unwavering support for the Heartlets family. As a result, Lord Ranfel chose Cad to be Luna's fiancé while disregarding Luna's wishes.
Oblivious to the tension, Cad draped his arm around Luna's shoulder. Mika's hand instinctively reached for the hilt of her sword, but she contained herself for now.
"Well, well," Cad continued, his gaze dismissive when it landed on Mika. "Still playing guard dog, Spirit?"
"Captain Cad," Mika replied coolly, her voice unwavering. "Only male members of the Heartlets' family are permitted such liberties with Lalla Luna."
Chad scoffed. "Don't get ahead of yourself, pet. Until the ceremony, she's fair game."
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
"With all due respect, Captain, the official engagement ceremony recognising you as Lalla Luna's fiancé is still two months away. Until then, please refrain from reckless actions and keep your hands to yourself… Least you are afraid of losing them."
"Hah!" Cad scoffs. "Do you truly believe I would heed the words of a lowly servant like yourself? Who granted you the authority to dictate who can or cannot touch Luna?"
"Captain Guy Heartlets, your superior Officer and also the Moulay of this Kingdom has entrusted me with the responsibility of ensuring Lalla Luna's well-being during his absence for the three-month extensive squad training. If you are dissatisfied with this decision, please bring the matter up with Commandant Grants in his office.
Cad clenches his teeth, a look of arrogance quickly fading from his face.
"How dare you disrespect members of the Heartlets' family!" Luna growls. "I will ensure that my father is made aware of this!"
"Oh, Lalla," Cad taunts. "Beautiful and innocent Lalla. Do you truly believe that your father would trust your words over those of a Captain who has faithfully served in his Army for years? Lord Ranfel would sooner believe the words of a homeless man than his daughter, who is deemed unworthy of becoming a Knight in the first place!"
Those words strike Luna like sharp needles. For years, she has faced criticism for her decision to attend the Academy instead of fulfilling her duties as a young noblewoman, such as hosting tea parties.
Mika steps forward, fully shielding Luna from the Captain. "You should leave. Lalla Luna said she does not want you in her presence."
Cad narrows his eyes; if she were any other knight, he could easily overpower her due to their differences in height and physique. However, even Cad is not foolish enough to challenge a Spirit. Not if he wants to preserve his dignity and avoid being humiliated. With a mere tongue click, the haughty Captain turns his gaze away.
"I have no desire to share the same air as you. Let it be known that we, the Knights of Luyas, have taken an oath to safeguard this Kingdom and its inhabitants. Never have we sworn to protect someone as filth as yourself. If only the Commandant had minded his business, we would have gladly imparted some valuable wisdom in that little head of yours to ensure that you remember your place, Spirit."
----------------------------------------
"TO hell with that arrogant man!" Luna exclaims, her foot stomping the ground in anger after a few moments have passed. "And yet my father insists that I marry and bear children with a person like him... Damn it all!"
Mika observes in silence as Luna gradually regains her composure. "I'm used to people calling me names. But he should have at least known his boundaries when it comes to you. Thankfully though, he backed down when he did."
"You shouldn't allow him to speak to you in that manner, nor should you tolerate mistreatment from anyone else. I've heard about what occurred earlier in town. When someone speaks ill of you, it reveals their true feelings towards the Heartlets' family, considering we were the ones who took you in. I wish you had informed me about this earlier so we could report it to the Commandant and he could take the necessary steps to ensure your future protection."
"I apologise, Lalla, for not informing you sooner about what transpired at the market. However, aren't you forgetting something? Lord Ranfel has no tolerance for those who oppose him, even if they are in the right. Remember what happened to Lord Caster, the former Ministry of Finance, when he expressed his disagreement with the budget allocation last summer? He and his entire family faced severe punishment for daring to speak out against Lord Ranfel. Their executions were intended as a warning to others so that they would think twice before defying him... The last thing I want is for you or the Commandant to face trouble because of me."
Luna's intense hatred towards her impending betrothal instantly vanishes when those words escape her best friend's lips. She feels completely helpless and insignificant, unable to do more in her position to protect Mika from her tyrannical father and his cronies.
All she can do is suppress her anger and bear witness to Mika's daily abuse. A part of her longs for the courage to whisk Mika away from this Kingdom to a place far removed from everything. However, she knows deep down that these aspirations are fantasies.
"Fine," Luna says through clenched teeth, trying to contain her frustration. "Just so you know, I'm not entirely pleased with this arrangement. Guy won't be either when he returns. I can only hope he throws enough tantrums to convince Father to grant you your well-deserved freedom, Mika."
Freedom.
Six years ago, when a representative from the House of Heartlets confirmed that the last surviving member of the Spirit race was found unconscious at the rear gates of the castle, rumours spread like wildfire. The news that the House of Heartlets officially adopted mankind's sworn enemy became a hot topic of debate. Despite the public's criticisms, Lord Ranfel bravely stood his ground by adopting the young lost Spirit, whom he affectionately called the 'Lost Child'. With the backing of the Royal Knights, he became a formidable presence that could not be ignored.
Consequently, when His Lordship publicly announced the young Spirit's enrolment in the Knight Academy, he displayed no fear in the face of the public's backlash, all while well aware of his decision's adverse effects on the public.
----------------------------------------
AFTER a tiring day of running errands and training, Mika retreats to her chamber, seeking a brief respite before dinner. Situated between the kitchen and the servants' quarters, her chamber was initially intended for storing food. With limited space, it only accommodates a wooden bed, a study table, and a medium-sized storage chest for her clothes and personal belongings.
From the first night, Lord Ranfel made it abundantly clear where Mika stood within the family. Just a few days after being adopted into the household, Mika overheard one of the servants gossiping about the reason behind her isolation. It appeared that Lord Ranfel didn't want Mika to tarnish the castle's immaculate floors. Deeply hurt and upset by this revelation, Mika wept and made a solemn vow never to do anything that would defy Lord Ranfel, fearing that he would cast her out of the castle without any place to go.
With her face buried in a worn-out pillow, Mika contemplates skipping dinner. Her eyes shut tightly, and her mind begins to drift away from reality when suddenly...
Knock knock!
Loud thumps resound forcefully against the door of her bedroom. In an instant, Mika jumps to her feet and rushes to open the door, which impatiently swings open. There are no locks on her door, as Lord Ranfel had forbidden them under the guise of "security measures".
Initially, Mika struggled to adjust to rude individuals invading her room and violating her privacy without prior notice, whether sleeping or changing clothes. However, it took a little while to prove her swordsmanship skills to everyone by defeating three top Brigade Captains in combat classes.These small accomplishments have earned her a modicum of respect and instilled fear among her peers.
An annoyed messenger stands outside her door, his face contorted in disgust. "Master Commandant Grants wants to see you in his office. Now."
"Thank you. I'll make my way there."
The messenger quickly departs without closing the door behind him. From a distance, Mika can hear him cursing about her. "Honestly, it's such a hassle to come down here just to deliver a message to this Spirit scum."
Mika sighs, closing the door more forcefully than intended, and proceeds towards the Commandant's office.