The sun shone brighter than any other day on the kingdom of Sorciere, the trees, buildings and roads washed with golden light.
Yet this brightness did not reach the castle. Its halls were lifeless, its inhabitants carrying heavy hearts. Every soul was mourning the death of their prince, said to have been slayed by a ferocious dragon.
News of a winged beast bringing chaos and destruction had spread throughout the entire kingdom of Sorciere. The King and Queen sent many knights in pursuit of the said creature. But all of these men would come back bringing only failure. All would return, met with shame and disappointment on their honors.
All but one.
The enormous arched doors of the throne room crashed open with a loud bang it shook half of the castle, as if the weary spirits of the subjects were woken from sleep.
Indeed, it was like that. Entering the throne room was a person wearing steel armor, so shiny it illuminated the space. Almost blinding the courtiers who were present.
The clinking of armor resonated in the room, the hilt of a sword glinting sharply as it caught the sun.
The knight was a ray of light, chasing away the darkness as they trudged closer to the thrones where the King and Queen sat, grief-stricken by the loss of their dearest nephew.
The knight stopped a few meters from the steps leading to the throne, the courtiers' gaze still on them.
The knight removed their helmet, revealing a shock of pitch-black hair like a raven's. Focused deep brown eyes with long lashes that touched her cheeks. The knight had tan skin and a scar on one brow, evidences of being exposed long on the battlefield.
The knight was a woman. She brought her helmet to the side, placed one hand on her chest and knelt on one knee.
"I kneel before the glorious rulers of Sorciere. Your Royal Highnesses, I have come to answer your summons." she said, head bowed low.
"Raise your head," said a voice. The King had spoken, greying strands of hair mussed beneath his crown. "You may rise, Sir Knight."
The female knight saw that the King and Queen was in the same state as the kingdom's citizens. Burdened by sadness because of the prince's sudden death.
Once she got to her feet, the Queen smiled at her, jewels gleaming on her tiara.
The King continued speaking, "Or what shall I call you? Lady Elora, Sir Elora?"
"You may call me just as you always had, Your Highness."
The King gave out a low chuckle. "Very well then, Elora. It has been three years since you left for war, dearest. Who knew that the reason you'd come back was—"
The Queen elbowed her husband, giving him a warning glare. She cleared her throat, keeping on her smile that was rather forced. "You need not tell her, my love. Elora knows fully what she has come here for."
Elora's jaw tightened. "I have heard of the news. Rest easy, Your Highnesses. I will make sure to avenge Prince Kallis' death. Through my oath as a knight, I will slay the dragon."
'After all, this was why I came back in the first place.' Elora thought silently while balling a fist.
The Ladies and Lords of the Court present in the throne room looked as though their chests swelled with hope. For justice. For the safety of the kingdom.
There was a certain gleam in the Queen's eyes. Something about it bothered Elora. Though she shook the thought away.
Elora's gaze drifted to the queen's stomach. It was unusually large. Her attention went back to the King when he spoke,
"Of course, we do not expect less from the fiercest warrior in Sorciere." he stood and mumbled something to a servant, "I shall give you my blessing. Wait here, for I'll ensure that you are provided with weapons and supplies—"
"I thank you, my King, but there is no need," Elora proclaimed, chin high. "I have everything ready. If there is nothing else, I will be on my way."
"Oh—err, all right." said the King. "Best of luck, Sir Elora of Maidenvale."
The knight turned on her heels and headed for the exit. Elora's ears caught whispers,
"To reject the King's graces, she still has no manners."
"Just like her father, the General..."
"You cannot blame her, she and the prince..."
Elora gave them a glare. The gossiping courtiers hid their faces with their fans made of feathers.
On her horse, Elora rode through villages far from the cities of Sorciere. Where there were rumored sightings of the dragon. The Harbinger of Doom. As the locals called it.
Elora made a stop at a tavern in a poor village. Specifically because the thatched roof was scorched and crumbling.
By the door, a man who appeared to be the owner was picking up arrows. Also burnt.
"Pardon me, kind villager." Elora greeted. "May I know what exactly happened here?"
The tavern owner lifted his head up and sighed. "Another knight chasing the same dragon, eh?" He stood straighter, arrows in hand. "Why don't you lot hunt for that blasted dragon where there ain't no buildings around?"
Elora was confused. It must have shown on her face when the man continued, "That dragon was seen flying around this area," he looked up to the sky as if the beast was still indeed there. "Your fellow knights turned this into a hunting ground. The buildings and houses were scorched with the dragon's flames. Could have done it in a forest or somewhere..."
"Where was the dragon headed?"
"Hmm, to the West."
"Thank you," Elora tossed a pouch of gold to the man before striding for her horse.
"Huh? What's this for?"
He didn't receive an answer. Elora was already on the move.
She led her horse through more villages, past the same view over and over again. Houses that were close to giving away. Villagers that were stick and bones, with dirty faces.
'They probably couldn't get to the forests to hunt or to the river to bathe because they're afraid they might encounter the dragon.' Elora thought, 'Thinking the flimsy walls of their houses could protect them. I need to kill that damned dragon quickly.'
Elora saw the burnt marks on the roads and roofs, guiding her closer to the dragon.
A week passed and Elora had still not spotted the beast that killed the kingdom's prince.
Underneath the shade of the woods, Elora felt her horse getting tired.
"Would you like to rest?"
The horse neighed, confirming.
They stopped by a roadside, letting her horse feed on the grass. Elora sat down on a log where she'd tied the horse's reins.
At the same time, two children, a boy and a girl, passed by. They had firewood strapped on their backs. It seemed they were on the way to going back to their village.
The girl was smacking a stick on the boy's head while laughing jokingly. "Play swords with me!"
The boy smiled even if he was hurt, one eye closed. "That's a stick, so no."
Somehow images of a different pair of children entered Elora's mind. One boy, one girl, the same age as those two.
Elora's thoughts drifted to a garden. In the maze, a six-year-old boy with coppery hair and gem-blue eyes was being chased by a pale-skinned girl brandishing a sword in the air.
"Why is the general's daughter running after me?!" The boy cried out while hiding behind a bush.
The girl's face appeared between the leaves. "Play swords with me!" she said while raising a small sword. A real sword.
"No!" Prince Kallis said, puffing his chest and confronting Elora.
"I didn't ask you! It was an order!" Elora persisted, big brown eyes aflame, hands on her hips.
The prince's eyes were wide with disbelief. He shook his head and recollected himself. "H-how dare—You don't get to give orders! I'm the prince here! And why would a girl be holding a sword? Look at you! You're even wearing a dress!"
"What of it? Father says girls can use swords, too. I've been looking for a playmate, but..." Little Elora was going red, about to cry. She sniffled, lowering her sword. "No one wants to play with me. Everyone thinks I'm scary."
'Well, you are.' Kallis chose not to say it out loud. Instead he said with a sigh, "Since I don't like it when girls cry in front of me, fine. I'll do it. We'll play swords or whatever."
Elora's eyes lit up in an instant.
"In one condition." said Kallis with a raised hand.
Elora frowned. "What now?"
Kallis brought out a book from behind him, looking incredibly happy. He looked shy, cheeks going red. "I-I also don't have friends so—"
"I know, that's why I came after you."
Kallis glowered at Elora. "You're quite rude. Anyway, before we play, read a book with me first."
Elora scoffed and folded her arms, rolling her eyes to the sky. Her sword was discarded on the ground. "Everyone told me the prince preferred the company of books rather than people. Guess it's true. What's it about?"
Kallis grinned as he hugged the book to his chest. "It's about a knight sent to defeat a dragon."
Elora's eyes sparkled. "'Knight', huh? Go on."
The wind caught on Elora's hair, as she went back to reality, she saw that someone had sat beside her.