FALINE spent the rest of her days in the Krystalline palace grounds, training nonstop under Levi and, sometimes under Hunter Lornn. She hadn't seen General Dana since then, and the Knights of Shaula, particularly Iwaoka, Siri, Ailene, Levi, and Hunter were busy training newly recruits. Faline could see who the strongest among the Knights when it comes to face-to-face combat, just by looking at the tight schedule her companions had.
Astora, her Halequin, grew into a fine young eagle. It would stay by her side but sometimes, it would disappear. Faline had a hard time looking for that adventurous Halequin and so she planned to let him be.
Only to find out one night that Astora was with General Dana.
Faline was strolling the large garden of the Palace at the side of the northern wing when she heard a familiar squawk. She quickly followed the sound and to her astonishment, Dana was there standing under the light of the moon without her usual armor. She was wearing white
"HOW are you doing?" Faline asked Iwaoka as soon as she pushed the tent's opening canvas aside and stepped in. She found him staring at the ceiling of the tent, looking so deep in thought.He turned his head to her and smiled. "I'm fine. Just being burdened with these splints," he answered. His voice was raspy.Faline set down the food tray beside his bed and proceeded to help him sit up. Iwaoka was heavier than before so she struggled. Even so, she managed to sit him up. Iwaoka chuckled under his breath but he didn't say anything."The men decided to scout the perimeter before going back here," Faline said, talking about their fellow Knights. "General Dana seemed missing. But there's nothing to worry about, I guess."Iwaoka nodded his head. Faline began to feed her childhood friend and they were silent for a little moment. He was staring at her, she knew that, but she couldn't bring herself to look at his eyes."Fal," Iwaoka called.She looked at
THE death of Kai Liu of the Liu Tribe spread across the land of Vestia. The leader was gone, and many of his subjects were in grief, devastated because of the loss. But none was as devastated as Iwaoka and Faline.For many days idling in the Krystalline Palace as commanded by King Seiki, the two members of the Liu Tribe and closest to the late Tribe Leader carried on with their duties. Every day, they acted as they were expected and every night they cried.Faline found him on the fourth day at the garden of the palace where she had talked with Dana. He was sitting there alone and in trance. The young lady stared at him, debating within her whether she would go and talk to him or leave him be. Before she could come up with a decision, he stood and turned to walk away.Iwaoka stood frozen as they gazed at each other. Both pair of eyes were puffy and red. Faline knew he had been crying just as much as she did.Kai was his father figure, in the first place.
IN the heart of Demetrian army camp was the command tent. It was still the High General's tent even though the young general was currently not present with them. None of the remaining Knights could bring themselves to officially take residence in it, though all four of them spent more time here than in their own tents. Ailene had just returned from scouting and was sharing what she had seen with the other Knights as they stood around the small table.Neptos was called back to Vestia right after General Dana and the other Knights left. The leadership was passed on Levi who was getting cranky the longer the days that General Dana and the other Knights were absent.They have been fighting for almost two weeks now. But there was no positive outcome as the enemies kept on pouring out from the large portion of the Land of Karhan.“Ten thousand foot soldiers and half strong witches?” Hunter repeated in a grave tone. “To be so outnumbered and with our army’s morale low bec
FALINE swooped her hands down, bringing the lake of water from the surrounding areas into the battlefield. The Illinorae were drowned and those who were able to escape were caught in the trap of sharp water bullets raining down.She could feel the strong connection with the water. Her anger, her frustration, and her despair of losing her father strengthened her control over her original terrain making it more deadly.Ten first rank witches blocked her path with their weapons high in the air. Their faces were always ugly, she thought to herself as she noted their pale translucent skin. She could basically see their black veins through their thin skin."You're too persistent," Faline told them with a knowing smile. The Water Kryst raised her hands. The water on the ground began to rise higher behind her with her hands guiding it. Even the Krysts stopped fighting and looked up.The ten witches attacked with a screech that rang against her ears. She gritted her t
KING Demetrius must have been waiting for this for so long, Faline thought to herself as she avoided a perilous attack from the Black Shaol. He must have overlooked the lands of Eriya and Karhan from the highest mountain in Vestia. What could have been the view from up there? To be surrounded with the Kingdom of Illinor, the mistress of witchcraft.The battle was like a slow motion in front of Faline's eyes. Allies and enemies alike, fell on the ground over and over again. Each one of the Krysts were specialized with various elements. Vestia had the main nature Earth and Water. The recently acquired land of Deirdre had the Wind. Fused together, they became stronger. Faline wondered why Eric Travis' tribe, who holds the strongest Fire element, didn't show up yet.It took her a moment to notice that there were no tribe members involved in this war except the Knights of Shaula.Her gaze went to the spot where her comrades were fighting with endless vigor. The Knights
THE wind blew harder. The sky was clearer and brighter blue. There were no clouds to shield them.Levi, and the other men of the Knights had already shed their top as they continued on their journey. Faline and the other girls just didn't mind as they were already shedding their heavy clothes and just used thin clothing.It was the second summer of their conquest. A couple of years had passed since they started their conquest in the land of Eriya, now Deirdre. The army, which was reduced to a smaller numbers than the first time they stepped into this land, were following them.With the help of the Rein Tribe, Lornn Tribe, Lewelyn Tribe, Travis Tribe, Jōn Tribe and Li Tribe, the land of Karhan was now under the rule of the Kingdom of Demetrius.As they reached the borders of the land of Karhan and Vestia, General Dana stopped and so did those that were following her. She faced the Travis tribe who were travelling along with them."I understand that you w
ASTORA perched on the table, atop Faline's mountain of papers. She, Ailene, Jade, Iwaoka and Trūx Seiki watched as Levi gently tossed the auburn-haired toddler in the air and then caught him, childish giggles echoing off the walls of the Solar with windows overlooking the courtyard. Eventually the little prince became tired of the game and tugged the Lightning Kryst’s shirt. The prince mumbled a request to be let down in the gibberish way of not yet fully mastered speech. Levi set the toddler on the floor and ruffled his auburn hair, causing the prince to pout in the same manner that his father did.“Amaury!” Ailene called out as she held her arms wide open.The toddler ambled over and settled down in the dark haired Wind Kryst’s lap with a yawn. Ailene smiled and lightly hugged him.“When did you get so big?” she asked.“His fourth birthday is coming up soon," Faline commented as her finger lightly petted over the Halequin's head.Ailene blinked as ret
FALINE sat next to the window while idly petting Astora with her free hand. Fall turned into winter. Large snowflakes were drifting in the wind and sticking to the garden grounds, covering the barren plants and walls in a thin layer white. Ever since she was granted the power of the ice, she could see and feel the winter more than her colleagues could. Snowflakes always fascinated her since then with their never ending patterns and glassy gleam. Faline could stare at them all day.Well, she could if she weren’t once again sorting through the intelligence reports. The stack of reports was large and varied in information. A week ago, Tara decided to leave the Knights and go back to the Wild.~O~"Tara, why do you want to leave?" Faline asked her friend one night.The Knight of the Wild Beast turned to her with a slight grin. "I am not fitted in this glamorous setting," she answered. Tara looked up at the glittering crystallized palace which had once been a home