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
FALINE was beyond terrified as she set her eyes upon the third rank witch who was behind her, with a sharp blade stabbed on her left chest. It didn't hit her heart but she knew that once she moved, it will damage her organ.The witch cackled before pulling out the knife from Faline's body. "Surprise~!"The soldiers of Esteban Liu swiftly closed in. One grabbed Faline by the hair and yanked her half off the ground. She gritted her teeth and tightly shut her eyes as spasms of pain echoed across her body. Another pressed the edge of a sword against her neck in warning, while the witch carelessly stepped over the corpses of men until she met with the man she despised.They stopped just a little farther away. If the situation wasn’t so dire, Faline would have felt proud that even wounded she was considered a potential threat. When Esteban reached her, he bent down to eye level.“Hello, dear relative. That was an impressive display," his voice lit with false pleasa
FALINE grimaced as the female Healing Kryst finished wrapping bandages around her chest. Blooms of dark purple were peeking out from the edges of the white fabric. It had taken much effort on her part not to squirm away as the bandages tightened around the bruises on her torso and the wound on her left chest. With her patient’s wounds dressed, the Healing Kryst gently helped Faline lean back against the pillows. She then leaned back and sighed.“I managed to heal your minor bruises and broken bones. But your wound and those major bruises on your torso and arms will take time for us to heal," she informed. "Don't move too much. You are going to be bedridden for days at least until your wound will close," she continued with a stern look. She handed Faline a small pouch. "Drink one every after meal."The female Knight nodded numbly and brought the pouch to her chest. The Healing Kryst gave her one to drink. Once she had finished gulping down the tiny medicine, the Healing K
FALINE mechanically brushed through her locks of blonde hair as she prepared for bed. Iwaoka's announcement of him and the others leaving the castle, and saying that she should as well, weighted heavily on her mind. Here in the Krystalline Palace she was a leader. In Galenus City, she was a well-known figure. Thus more easily distinguished.Significance... Faline paused from combing her hair. Since General Dana's death, the Knights were distant. It was as if they were there but they were too far. Each of them had to deal with their own grief. They were once the Knights of the Palace. But just by thinking that they were back to being the Knights of the Palace, Faline felt more hollow in her heart.With Princess Elisa now the queen of the Kingdom of Demetrius and knowing the truth, there is no use to stay. If she left the palace, she could live in anonymity for a few years. She could rebuild herself before going back to the Liu Residence.The Knights leaving would al
HĒDIN'S hands shook from the cold as he attempted to light the campfire for the third time. Uninhibited by the lack of daylight, the female Knight and her assistant had continued walking for a few hours past sunset. It was hunger, cold, and Astora's tired noises and Hēdin's constant nagging that finally convinced Faline to stop for the night. They had trailed off to the side of the road and began to set camp. Above them, grey snow clouds drifted across the deep purple sky dusted with innumerable stars.A spark finally caught on the kindling and quickly grew into a proper fire. At the sound of crackling wood, Faline's head poked out of her cloak. The two of them basked in the small warmth as well. Faline was heating her chilled hands next to the flickering orange-red glow. She then quickly warmed and they ate the night’s travel rations before cocooning the thick winter blanket around her body. With her pack as a pillow and Hēdin settled not far from her, Faline fell asleep.
FALINE sat in the corner table of a tea house with her cloak’s hood pulled over her blonde hair. She had long discarded the bandage that she used to cover her eyes knowing that the people in Demetrius might have forgotten her and the Knights.As she took a long sip of her steaming tea, Faline reached out her senses to the other Knights. It was an ability she began to make use of by feeling through the waters of the Kingdom of Demetrius.Eric Travis was now in Galenus City along with Ailene Ricca, Hunter Lornn and Levi Lewelyn. The four Knights' string-like presences were mixed up in red flames, brown mud, flashy yellow, and reassuring white. It had been three years since the four reunited and Faline wondered if they will ever leave Vestia once again.Tara of the Wild - in a wild presence - hadn’t moved locations in a few years and yet she couldn't point out what land she was staying. It's enough to know that Tara was somehow between Vestia and Deirdre. Finally ther
WIND brushed through the blond locks as the two Knights jumped from branch to branch. Iwaoka had managed to sweep Faline off her feet and carried her along the way despite her objections. Faline’s hands lightly clutched Iwoaka’s shoulders while he carried her with one arm looped under her knees and the other supporting her back. Above them was the sparkling sky with a couple puffy yellow-white clouds drifting on the wind; below them the lush treetops and twisting dirt road blurred by.“I forgot how convenient this method of travel you are.”Iwaoka glanced at Faline with a frown. “So I’m a convenient method of travel now?”Faline nodded like it was the obvious answer, her blue eyes glinting with a hint of mischief.“I could drop you, Fal," his voice rumbled in false threat.“Even if you did," she said in a dry tone. “Levi or Hunter or even that brat Eric would miraculously appear to catch me.”Iwaoka snorted. "They would.”Faline blinked as h
THE floor boards of the inn room creaked underfoot as Faline gathered all their belongings that had been scattered around over the stay at the hot springs inn. Her bag tumbled over, a tube rolling out. Iwaoka, being closer, reached down to grab it. He stared at the tube a moment, realizing it was a carrying case for small paintings.“Is this...?” Twilight eyes glanced up at her curiously.Faline's cheeks flushed pink. She made a grab for the tube but Iwaoka was quick to hold it above her reach, a sly smirk forming on his mouth.“Must you do that?” she huffed with a glare, letting her arm fall to her side. Faline refused to jump for it. She had more dignity than that. Plus, if she did, it would only encourage him.Keeping it out of reach, Iwaoka twisted the tube open and pulled out the painting. As he unrolled it, the painting was revealed to be of Astora the Halequin spreading its wings as if it was ready to soar in the sky, daring the wind to overthrow it. A