Inside the four white walls a little girl sat in one corner with her back leaning against the wall. She looked bored but it seems it is her usual demeanor. She had her mask on even though she's uncomfortable with it. She's just a kid but she wore a mask made up of pure metal that weighs about to ten kilos. She had to bear it, she had to. During the day, the girl would just look at the window. Unusually, she could see in a farther distance than a normal kid would see. But despite of it, she could only see birds flying and a color blue background. On the night, she finds it strange that the blue background would turn into black with some lights glittering on it. But what makes her amazed is the appearance of a silvery white circle shaped that shine brightly.
One day her father visited her which is very unusual. The strangest thing is that he came with somebody else today. Though she had been brought in with food by other people, but to see another person is a surprise for her.
"Is she the one you're talking about?" he asked. His voice is so manly but had a malicious tone on it but the girl did not know all about that.
"Yes. I'm sure that you already know the contract that your father signed up for you." said her father.
"Yes, your highness. My father recited that in front of me for a hundred times already." He said and ducked as he approached the cell. He looked at the girl with his gray and squinted eyes with much interest.
"Well then. I shall be going." The father said and left by the door and walked through the hallway to get outside. He almost vomit when he got outside. He despised her daughter more than enough that he can't dare to get near her.
On the other hand, the man whose blonde hair reflected by the rays of the sun coming from the only window of the cell.
"Pretty clean isn't it? Your cell I mean." He said but the girl made no response. This made the guy mad.
"Hey! Will you just stop staring at me and just start talking?!" he yelled angrily. But the girl made no response. The guy clenched his fist with the iron bars of the cell between it.
Suddenly, a bird went inside through the window and landed on the girl's lap.
"What are you?" she asked the bird. The bird flapped its wings.
"Seems like the king is right. You don't know a thing in this world. Well, the thing is what we call as a bird." He said.
"You're different from the one who came here yesterday." She said talking to the bird.
"Well, there are lots of them out there so it's not really surprising." He said then decided to sit on the floor.
"It must be tough staying here for thirteen years. I am really surprise to even hear you speak." He added but the girl paid no attention.
"Hey! Will you talk to me?!" he yelled again slamming the bars.
"Even since I was born, I can speak. Isn't that true for all of us?" she asked.
"Nope. You're the first person I've ever heard to be able to do such thing." He answered.
��Have you been outside?" she asked again. At this moment, the bird on her flew away.
"Yes. I've been there. There's a lot of things out there. More than what you can see with that small window there. And more than what's on that picture over there!" he exclaimed excitedly.
"Picture?" she asked innocently and the guy sighed.
"That piece of paper over there." He said pointing to the picture lying on the ground.
"I think it must be nice to be outside." She said.
"Well yeah. I guess so." He replied hesitantly.
"Do you think I can go there?" she asked again. He was surprised by her question. He didn't know how to answer it without hurting her feelings. He knew too well that she can't go outside.
" I thought so. The last person who brought me food suddenly stopped coming after I told her to ask my father to allow me to go outside." She said in a plain voice but even the guy felt it. The desire to be free.
"Actually, you can." He replied.
"Don���t be foolish." She just said.
The next day, the guy came over again and their teaching lesson began. Although she understands some complicated things as a child, she's still naïve. She was taught about the countries that are not in good terms with them, strategies in war, how to wield different kinds of weapons, and hand to hand combat. She learned so fast that in three days time, they already finished. Even those were practical and physical lessons, it wasn't done outside.
"Why does my father sent you to teach me these things? Am I going to be outside after these?" she asked one time when they're taking a break.
"You don't really understand, do you?" he replied but his voice has a hint of annoyance.
"I don't. That's why I wanted to go outside. I'm sure, there's a lot more to learn than just wielding weapons and defending myself." She stated.
"Let me tell you this. You're this country's greatest weapon. You must learn everything about being a weapon. Next time, will be our last meeting." He said and left her alone again.
She was left alone again in that silent and miserable room. Even though she's used to being inside, but there's a void inside that's waiting to be filled and the only way to patch this hole is to go outside.
The time of her teacher's last meeting had arrived. Instead of having the lesson in the cell, she was brought in another place that looked like a hidden battle arena underground. When she came inside, she was amazed to see too much light. It touches her skin and almost burned her eyes. Can't really blame her. She was confined in a small room with a bit of illumination from a window.
It was just her and her teacher in the center of the arena. Her father as well as is fellow royalties stayed in the upper part of the arena covered by glass just in case her mask would be taken of.
She was given a sword and her teacher also had one. He prepares to breach an attack and she prepares to defend. But before he could attack, she made the first move and went at him first. This left everyone watching in shock. She was fast and ready however, she suddenly stopped in her tracks when she saw his eyes. It wasn't his usual eyes. He looks so angry that his gaze sent shivers to her. She doesn't know why but she then suddenly felt some guilt.
"Why don't you come at me with all you've got? Like you'll gonna kill me!" he said in a low growling voice. This made her stop even more. She just looked at him with confusion and even it is unknown to her, she was feeling the fear. She tighten her grip on the hilt on her sword and strengthens her stance. She fought back against his gaze and looked at him fiercely. There's a dead air between the two of them that made the audience forgot to breath. The air whistles and in a blink of an eye, their swords clashed. No one can tell who's stronger. It seems that the two of them is trying to drive away the other. They both back off to strike again. They were sparring too fast that the only thing the audience can see is the spark that was made from the clashing of the two blades as well as its sound. It was like that for a while. The two seem to prove that they are unparalleled. However, one move had made the tables turn.
The guy suddenly targeted her eyes with the tip of his blade. She tried to dodge it by bending on her knees. Not wanting to lose the battle, she slid her left foot to kick his toes however, he was faster. He dodged it by jumping and folding his knees. While he's at it, he grabbed her neck.
When he landed on his feet, he pinned her to the ground. Her small stature made it easier for him to do. She was left in shock. But nevertheless, she did not worry. She knew he wouldn't hurt her. Not in front of her father. But she was wrong.
When he was holding her by her neck, he slowly tightens his grip and raised his arm with a sword in his hand. He intended to strike her eyes again.
"Stop it!" she shouted but it looks like it did not get him. Or he might just ignored it. He kept his serious look and strike her eyes again. Even with the mask on, she can't be too careful. With luck on her side, she barely dodge it. It grazed her cheek.
The people who were watching were speechless. Some looked at the king, their eyes were asking if it is still all right to continue. But the king looked at the two brawlers intently. It is as though he doesn't want to stop it.
"Your highness! Your daughter--- I mean the weapon is in disadvantage already and it seems he would seriously kill her!" one of them said.
"If he can't survive against him, then surely she would not be the useful weapon we thought she is." He replied coldly.
"How could you watch your daughter like that?!" one of the swore.
"All of you must understand that she's just a weapon for our country!" he snarled. Some of the royals agreed with him and others just gritted their teeth in disappointment and pity.
Meanwhile, the little girl struggled to escape from his hands. But with advantage of his huge figure and manly strength, it became impossible.
"You told me…." She said.
"'Come, I won't hurt you. No one will'. Yes! I did said that! And it is way so amusing how you believed that easily! As I was always saying, women will always be women." He said maniacally.
"You liar!" she snarled still trying to struggle against his grip.
"Not quiet, dear. However, if you were only born without any curse, things would be different. I would even bring you to my bed!" he replied.
"Yes. But I am glad that you weren't able to bring me to your bed. That would be the last thing I'd ever do!" with one hand on the ground, she gathered dust in her palm and threw it in his face. This caught him off guard.
"How dare you!" he screamed. Because of what she did, he was able to let go of her neck. She pushed his chest away from her with all her strength and finally free from any of his touch.
With his eyes still have dust on them and was still shut, he swung his sword desperate to defend himself. However, with only one swing, she managed to make his sword flung away from his grip. He was panting and his eyes are still shut. He fell into his knees gritting his knees.
She pointed her sword to his throat. The tip of the sword reflected the light that produces a fierce and bloodlust appearance. The royals closed their eyes as they were expecting her to kill him. Their eyes full of sympathy, pity, and as well as disgust. The king stood there satisfied.
"Is she going to finish him?" one asked.
"She will. She's a mostre after all." The king replied.
But what she did next made them surprised. She dropped her sword and squatted in front of her teacher.
"What are you doing? Just do it! Finish me! Kill me!" he yelled at her.
"I don't know why you would kill me. That reason must be so strong. However, I don't have any reasons to kill you." she explained.
"But- But I just tried to kill you! That should be enough reason for you to kill me!" he said with his eyes half opened but tears were running down his cheek.
"You were one of the few persons who talked to me normally. And that is enough reason for me not to kill you." she said.
"What are you doing?! Just kill him already!" her father shouted from where he is standing. His companions were all shocked by his reactions.
She suddenly felt a jolt and opened her eyes. She found herself in a different place. That place was too bright but this place is dark. At first, she thought it was her cell. It took minutes before she realized that that was only a dream and that she is not in her cell anymore. And lastly, she forgot that she's already free.
She rise from her bed when she heard screaming from outside. She left her bed to look what's happening and then she saw that the women and children were taken as hostages by some armed men. Many of the men that was on her side were wounded. She showed up to help.
"Zoi, what's happening?" she asked. But Zoi looked at him angrily.
"Why did you come out?!" he yelled at her.
"Huh?" she said confused.
"Darn it! You're always saying huh as if you knew nothing!" he said even though he knew that she's still ignorant.
She just looked around again and she recognized some faces from the enemy's side. She became alarmed.
"You are…" she swore under her breath.
"What are you doing here?!" she snarled.
"Oh it seems that you recognized us. I guess you really saw us back there. Well, I must say you're good at hiding." The Prince of Amane came out of the blue. The girl who was given a name, Faia walked towards Zoi.
"Is it really about her being good at hiding? Or is it you don't have the ability to tell if someone is around?" Zoi said.
"What right does the son of a prostitute has the right to say that to me?" Prince Adlai mocked Zoi. Zoi just smirked.
"I don't really give a damn about being a son of a prostitute. I am Zoi! Nothing more nothing less!" Zoi exclaimed. This made his allies stood again to fight.
"You even sounded proud to be one." Prince Adlai added.
"I believe you did not come here to just mock me. What are your demands!" Zoi asked him.
"Just by mere coincidence. I was looking for someone. Particular someone. And I didn't even expected that I will found what I'm looking for in a garbage dump. Also, what a lucky spot! It was you who's governing this dump, so right here and now, I will eliminate you and finally become the king of Amane!" Prince Adlai said with a sound of malice. He sounded greedy, selfish, and his lust for power is showing but he didn't care. Nevertheless, even if the people who were witnessing it hate him, once he take over the crown, no one has power against him.
"Looking for someone? I guess you're lost. I wonder if the country of Amane will make it through if you're the king." Zoi mocked back.
"Enough with talk! I just want that girl!" Prince Adlai said and pointed to Faia.
"She's not just a girl, her name's Faia!" one of the kid who were taken as hostage said. Adlai glared at her which made the little girl shake. But some of them joined her from resisting.
"Damn brats!" Prince Adlai glared at them even more and swung his sword. However, someone stopped the sword before it reached the children.
"Dare to hurt the children and this sword will pierce beyond your throat!" it was Faia who swore angrily with the hilt of the sword on her hands and the tip of the sword on Adlai's throat. Her eyes were bloodshot and she's shaking in anger. No one dared to move even Lord Zereko who was beside the Prince the whole time. The prince was left dumbfounded and was stoned in his place.
"Get them!" Zoi commanded and everyone rushes towards the enemy. Swords were clashing and explosions are everywhere. Some houses have been burned. Faia pushed Prince Adlai away from her. She glared at the men guarding the hostages and was about to take off her mask but she stopped. She remembered the children. She doesn't want them to witness such violence. Instead, she pointed her sword at them. They backed away and she freed the hostages.
"Lead them to a safe place, don't look back! Do you understand?!" she told the women. They hurriedly run between arrows and swords. Some enemies tried to follow them but they fell into the hands of Faia. She stopped them.
The enemies thought they could win against her but of course, they failed. It's as if she can see every swing of the swords of the enemies and take on them mercilessly. She clashed with every men she encountered. Until she clashed sword with Lord Zereko.
"You got guts as a mere woman to fight me." He said to her.
"What do you want? Why did you attacked this people?!" she replied angrily.
"We don't need anything from these people. It just so happened that the monster we've been looking for is here." He said.
"Something?" she asked, their swords still intact with each other.
"That's right! A monster! The one who made my men disappear at the gate of Amane!" Lord Zereko replied and pushed her away. She backed away.
"A-A monster…?" she repeated him but she's lost in thought.
'Don't tell me…' she thought. The wind seems to hustle that made everything around her quiet. The fight is still going on but it seems time stopped at her. She thought, they are being attacked because of her.