WHEN the sun was at high noon the next day, Faline came back from her intense training with Iwaoka and went directly to the dining hall of the Krystalline Palace's barracks.
She had just sat down at the table and was pouring herself a cup of tea when her uncle hobbled into the room. Perhaps, her uncle had once been considered a handsome man.
However, aged scars were marred across his face and neck. One of his eyes had been gouged out; the gaping hole hidden by bandages. The other eye was clouded and nearly unseeing. He was a veteran of war and though he was now not fighting, he was one of those who adviced the King.
“Hello, Ūryi.”
“Faline," he curtly greeted as he slowly lowered himself into a chair.
Without a word, Faline poured a second cup of tea and placed it within her uncle’s reach. He took a few shaky sips before setting it back on the table. A couple of servants filed into the room to bring lunch and then left with a bow.
Her uncle broke t
FALINE could see the uncertain stares of the Krysts gave her as she walked through the Krystalline army camp. She tried ignored them.The Krysts' uncertainty of having a female high general - and a very young, at the age of seventeen at that - in their midst was just one of their doubts at this moment. The other was the presence of the tribe members chosen by the high general herself to accompany her and lead the battalion of Krysts against their foes. Faline understood their squeamishness.But that wasn't relevant at the moment. The blue-eyed Water Kryst was focused on her only destination: General Dana Rein's tent and command tent.The guards bowed at her, stepping aside as Faline pushed open the fabric and stepped inside. The red-haired young general, and the rest of the chosen Knights were gathered around the table in the middle of the room in discussion about strategy."Faline," Iwaoka greeted with his warm smile, "How was Ailene Ricca?""Eri
FALINE took a deep breath when Eric spoke up. "What if... What if we lose?"A wild glint lit Faline's blue eyes that gleamed with iridescence as she glanced at Eric. The Krysts around them involuntarily flinched seeing it but Eric met her glaze with understanding as fire flared in his sky blue eyes. It just occured to Faline that they were both blonde and they both had blue eyes.They were both considered weaklings. She tore her gaze from Eric and looked back at General Dana's figure who was already wreaking havoc with both her sword and her Blood Element."There's no option here but to fight."“I see why Dana chose you," Eric chirped cheerfully. “You will surely turn the tides of this battle.”Faline blinked in surprise as her blood rushed through her and made her face flush with heat. Whatever she had expected that was not it. She unconsciously fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve.“Sh-shut up."Eric laughed, bringing him out of his n
LEVI had managed to gather the nine Knights of Shaula for a group training that afternoon. Faline had never left the training grounds after he invited her over and just lurked around where she wouldn't be seen by the new recruits so they could concentrate.The Lightning Kryst was cranky in training, she observed. He would shout at the idling trainees. Thus, he was intimidating to the point that Faline wondered if she would survive he rtraining with him.They grouped into three. Levi decided to personally train with Eric and Faline first. The three of them were gathered in a private grassy area of the palace garden tucked away by large bushes.With a practice sword on her hand, Faline watched intently as Levi demonstrated the basic sword stance and strike. The position of his arms and feet, his center of gravity, and which muscles were being used were all noted. The Lightning Kryst finished the demonstration and glanced at his two companions who were gawking at him.
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