Back in the caves, Nima sits on a stool by the counter. Melrina takes out several things of meat and starts heating the stove. Nima sit quietly while Melrina takes two knives and begin sharpening them. As she sharpens them images take her back into the dark place from where she came.
Nima's mind takes her to the first vision she sees at birth. Emerging from her mother's womb, she constantly screams while taken away. Nima sees a black-robed figure with a dark blade go into the room. Her mother screams out as she hears the blade running across the throat. Nima is five and already becoming fluent with a sword. She is cold and emotionless when practicing but it is clear that she has a wild nature about her.
She is forced to accept being born into darkness surrounded by such evil. Nima hates the idea of not being given any choice at the idea of who she wanted to be. She is never loved as a child. There is never a day since the time of her birth Nima can ever remember where she would not train to focus her abilities on the sword, unarmed combat, or magic. All she wished for is a chance to venture off on her own. Her days were confined to a cell hearing the crack of a whip on her flesh if she is disobedient. There is a time where she is dropped into the dangerous parts of the premderian deep and forced to find her way back on her own.
She is only six at the time when it happens. Such brutality to a child she thinks is custom. Nima comes across creatures that feel like they are over a hundred feet tall when they are only a third of the height she thought they are. Nima is only armed with a sword fit for someone her size. She spends the first few moons running away from them in fear. The next few she spends trying to fight them but would end up running in fear having many times to go back and get her sword when it is safe enough to do so. There is nothing gentle in the wild of the caves she journey through. Any direction She travels to avoid a fight would only lead to a greater one that makes her retreat further back the direction she came.
Half a year goes by. She finds herself becoming superior to them and grew closer and closer to returning to the castle. Her first action would be to remove both the hands of the one who cracked the whip. By her year mark of being sent out, Nima returned covered in the blood of the creatures she killed and is true to her word. She removes both his hands with two swings of her sword hearing him scream out in pain. It is even more satisfying to see Nima's witness her do it. He still did not acknowledge her.
She keeps training on her own in the training grounds in the bowels of Premderia with several guards watching her that day. She is working with two swords that are her size, training hard. Ten lay dead within the first hour of her training. Her master usually sends more for her to kill but did not. She despises the faithful and takes joy in killing them so they would not be traitors to their kind. Nima wonders if her master is aware of that and would not give her any of his stronger subordinates that present a challenge.
"Girl!" One of the Nethrol acolytes shouts from the balcony which gets her to stop "Our master summons you!"
She shakes her head while a low-class Nethrol servant slowly comes up to Nima with a smile holding out his hands to take her swords. She gives him that by cutting off his hands and following it by taking his head off before he can let out a scream. His body stands there twitching and she drives her blades into his chest letting it fall backward before walking inside.
Nima walks into the room and finds Steron standing there with his back to her. She she doesn't give him the pleasure of showing weakness or in front of others. Nima only wishes she has both her swords to drive into his back at the moment. Even if she did the effort would not be useless and not.
"Today you will be put to the test against some new prisoners," he calmly says to her. "You are still weak and lack in skill for what is needed of you."
"To you..." She comments with a small smirk
Nima finds his eyes taking her to another image that is far more gruesome. Her hands and arms are stained in blood. As are the two swords she wields. All around are her opponents of different species. The sight of them startles her as they are of the same age as she. They laid dead with their bodies mauled up and decapitated.
The images come to a halt. Nima stands up immediately and knocks her stool back. She stumbles to the ground holding her head. Melrina rushes over to Nima and sees the look of fear in her eyes. Melrina hunch over and touch her forehead with Nima's. The feeling of comfort eases Nima.
"It is alright," Melrina tells her and Nima slowly calms down, and the shaking stop.
She pulls Nima back up to her feet and assists in sitting her down. Nima looks at the raw meat sitting on the plate. Melrina goes back over to cook and look over to see Nima staring at it. She did not hesitate to push the plate in front of her. Nima looks at Melrina and sees her smile. She grabs one piece and devours it quickly, surprising Melrina. Nima hears her laugh while shaking her head. This sees Nima look back up and wonder what makes her laugh.
"You are just like Joran," she says and Nima sits puzzled by her words.
"Bad?"
"Not at all. You are a lot like him. I can tell that by seeing you eat. Someone who can eat for twenty hungry Premderians and still have room for more in her stomach just like him. Must be why he is so drawn to you."
"Drawn?"
"He is fond of you," she says and Nima is still confused. "He feels something for you," she says but Nima still did not understand her meaning. "He likes you."
"Likes...me?"
"Yes. Far more than a friend if he is willing to go to such lengths."
"Like...you?" She asks while looking at the picture of them altogether.
"We are all more than friends. We are a family. Like brothers and sisters. What Joran feels for you is something greater."
"Feels..like...you...and...Tilain?" Nima asks in shyness and Melrina shrug with a smile before leaning forward resting her arm on the counter.
"How do you feel about him?" He asks and she shows a small smile when giving her answer in one word.
"Safe."
Nima sets her sights on a picture. This one is carved out of stone. It consists of six creatures of Premderia. Two of them are of a Drazgov and a Trenin but are different. The Drazgov lets off a white energy over the crimson energy it usually does. As for the Trenin it lets off a golden stream of energy. The four are just as unique in their own way.
The first is a Kodliar. They are about ten feet tall when resting on all fours usually and weighed over two and a half thousand pounds. The back legs of the Kodliar are large, but the hands of the beast on the front are as big as their head. The creature has several small horns on the dome of its head. The animal are known for its deceivingly fast speed and power along with climbing skills.
For the second is a Ergoni. It is bigger than a Drazgov, and very scaly. The creature has five horns on the head along with a set of tusks. For the nose, it is a foot long. They have four sets of eyes as well. On the back are two large set of fins which are razor sharp. The creature is known as being one of the water and very territorial in such.
The third is one made of rock and fire. It wanders in the fiery mountains of Serog in the baron regional lands to the southeast in Neangrul, where few reside. Those who journey the mountain find they are not welcomed by the mythical creature known as Scrong. They are eight feet tall and are known for their muscular stature.
Lastly is a Hioran. A creature that is twelve feet tall. It has large hind legs and big arms. It has four fingers and toes that are sharp. They have a pair of large wings that are razor sharp on both on the top and bottom. Their tail is eight feet long and have four sharp spikes on the end with a fifth in the center. The snout is long with sharp teeth. For the eyes they are incredibly sharp as the horns on the dome of their head.
The six creatures stand with one that takes the form of a premderian. In his hands they hold a sword that is made of golden premderium. On their body they wear pure white armor with red and gold on the edges. The helmet is special and bares a silver mask that has a crimson eye shield. She can't help but stare at the picture until Melrina explains it to her.
"We found that when our group first found this cave. Joran stumbled down a hole and came across the place. We also met an unfriendly drazgov that gave everyone a challenge but when coming up against Joran, the drazgov is ferocious. Joran didn't quit. It wasn't until Joran's father, Kalsor, came and saved all of us. After several wounds being inflicted to the rabid beast it fell. I still find it surprising the creature lived as long as it did after Kalsor delivered so many blows that would have killed it." Melrina smiles once more. "That Joran is always a trouble maker. Lucky for us, his father is the strongest fighter of our kind. Honestly I believe when Joran gets to strongest he will be even stronger because of his mother."
"His...mother?"
"Yes. Kalsor is a legend but Joran's mother, is even bigger. She is the Golden Angel of Premderia and one of the Guardians."
Melrina smiles before beginning to cook what she can. The raw meat disappears from the plate Nima has in front of her. She takes out more from the fridge and places it on Nima's plate. Immediately Nima starts eating it.
"Do you want to hear how Tilain professed her love for me?" She asks her and sees Nima nod still keeping a small smile. "Not far West of here is a mountain called Mount Lerval that goes almost to the sky. The air makes it difficult to breathe but this mountain is not cold when it gets higher. It gets warmer. So warm that it can burn a Premderian if one is not strong enough in the mind like they are in the body. At the summit is this flower that has red in the center but glows like Premderian energy. It has green petals with golden edges that give off the energy of the same color. For someone to journey up there and retrieve the pedal is a show of how far they are willing to go for the one they love."
"Tilain...got...for you?"
"No," Melrina answers with a small laugh. "A few years ago she made it halfway up the mountain before falling, nearly dying. If Joran wasn't there she would have. While she healed from near death, Joran told me what happened and that she was willing to risk everything to prove how much she loves me. That is when I was certain we were aligned," she explains before continuing to cook. "More than likely I will have to aid Joran with his wounds when he returns from the mountain."
Melrina sees Nima's smile and the redness in her cheeks that matches her hair. Nima did not overthink when it comes to the thought of Joran doing such things. There is a small beeping sound which makes Nima stand up holding a knife, and ready for combat while looking to the door. Melrina acts calmly and looks in the same direction.
Joran comes down and holds up his hands with a small smile at the sight of Nima holding a knife. She looks at it for a second before putting it down and rubbing her hands to make sure they are clean. He looks to Melrina who stops what she is doing and collects her things. Before she takes her leave, Joran and her touch foreheads.
"Thank you."
"No need to thank me. We are family," she says to him before leaving.
Joran sees Nima looking down at her shaky hands. He eases her mind by touching their foreheads together as well. Again, his comfort soothes her nerves. Joran sees another troubling matter. The tiredness in her eyes is quite visible.
"I know you have endured much lately, but are you willing to meet someone?"
"Friend?"
"My father, Kalsor. If you do not trust him, he will leave."
Nima nods her head in agreement with his request. Joran takes hold of Nima's hand and brings her over to the entrance. She grips his arm tight showing her fear. Kalsor comes down shortly after but is not as quick to show a smile. He looks around at everything for a moment before looking to Nima. The presence he has is intimidating despite not trying to be. He walks over and takes a knee in front of her and watches her grip his son's arm tighter. Kalsor laughs.
"She clings to you. Are you sure..."
"Shut up," Joran says and Kalsor laughs.
"Does the girl have a name?" He asks and Nima is too fearful to answer.
"Nima," Joran answers for her.
"And where do you come from, Nima?" He asks and she did not have an answer. "Do you have parents?" He asks next and find Nima squeezing Joran's arm and beginning to shake.
"It is alright, child," Kalsor says to the scared girl placing his hands on her shoulders. "We only wish to help. You must be exhausted."
Kalsor takes out a bag with some sleeping gowns that would fit her. Nima looks at each one and finds the colors interesting. She touches each one and Kalsor and Joran watch. There is one that she likes more than the rest. A blue one with red and yellow lines that go across the bottom.
"I figured you would like that," he says and motion for her to go change with Melrina going to assist
While Melrina helps her change, Kalsor walks around the caves. He looks in the workshop where there are many unused suits of armor. The one Joran designed for himself stands as the only finished one. Kalsor looks at it for a moment and has a small smile while tapping the chest piece with his fist.
"Is this place secure?" Kalsor asks and receives an immediate answer by an abrupt beeping.
"Of course it is," Mildral's voice reply as his logo come up on a screen placed on the wall. "There are more than enough defense systems in place. If any alert happens you will be immediately notified and I will send my robot forces as well, who can arrive within ten minutes."
"Good," he says before looking to Joran. "Stay with her," Kalsor instructs and Joran finds it surprising.
"Father?"
"This place is safer than home right now. Here they won't find you, because nobody knows except those close to you. So keep it that way until we say otherwise," Kalsor tells him and Joran bow his head and his father touch their foreheads together. "You care for this girl?"
"Yes, father."
"Then protect her with everything you have, son. Do not let anyone take her from you. No matter what happens," he says, and Joran nod. "I will do what I can to help you and her."
"Thank you, father," he says. Kalsor gives a small smile towards Nima before he leaves. When his father is gone, he gives a command. "Initiate lockdown procedures and have all defenses online."
A computer system beeped and Joran watches on a monitor as his orders are carried out. Several thick steel doors slide across the tunnel along with the rock wall to conceal the cave. Any wires that run inside of the cave are extracted automatically before them closing. In the trees for miles around the cave are cameras that activate. Small holes open up within the mountain and small round drones as big as Kalsor's body begins flying around equipped with two blasters. Lastly within the mountains multiple robots equipped with rifles of a different variety, and heavy ordinance deploy around the tunnel.
When the lockdown is complete, Joran takes a breath. He grabs his swords before turning around. His eyes look upon her standing in her nightdress. He is frozen from the sight. She shows a small smile and Joran walk up to her and extend his hand which she takes willingly. He escorts her to a room that is surprising to her
"You can stay in my room. It will be safe here."
She looks around for a moment. The room where she has stayed for so many years is far different. The image of a stone bed in a dark room with no light and the sound of water dripping down constantly come into her mind. The bed she sees is far more comfortable. Despite not being made perfectly, it has a mattress, sheets, and several blankets. Far more than what Nima has ever had.
"There is an escape door as well," Joran says while tapping on the floor. "Mildral made it in case we have to escape. It leads right to his workshop. If there is any trouble we will be safe there. Probably even safer."
Nima looks around and sees all the toys Joran has. Not as many as in his room but she finds them interesting. She also looks at the many pictures he has. Most of them are the same he has in his room at home. Nima sees Joran's happiness. That makes Joran more relaxed. She looks at him and sees his smile.
She sits on the side of the bed before laying down and covering herself. Her eyes looking to the ceiling where she sees the Premderian starships hanging. Joran adjusts the blankets for her so she is perfectly comfortable. As he goes to turn his back she grabs him by the wrist.
"Please...don't....leave," she says and Joran sees her still fearful. "Please."
"Alright," he says while placing his other hand on top of hers. "I will stay," he says showing his smile.
Joran sits on the floor resting his back on the side of the bed. He holds the sheaths of his swords tight. While Joran stares through the door, he feels her hand rest on his shoulder. Joran looks over his shoulder and sees her staring in the same direction while gently squeezing.
"Rest. No harm will come to you. I promise."