Kingdom of Zuland, Outskirts of Beswind, Present day.
The ocean waves crashed against the cliffside as winds carrying droplets of water slithered through the grass.
Sara awoke early and instructed Myn to do the same so that she could hone her silvermithing abilities. She exhaled as she tried slowing her breathing. Across the patchy field was the kasaber.
Myn's chest rose and fell slowly, unvexed by her series of prior attacks. Sara focused her aura, liquefying her shoulder pad and forming it into a large spike. She commanded it forward as it ripped through the air.
Myn caught the silver spear inches from his chest.
Sara commanded the spear to return.
Myn clutched it tighter, overpowering her pull and ripping it from her mental grasp. He quickly spun around held it above his head aiming for her. His eyes met hers for a split-second before he threw it at breakneck speed.
It whizzed past and impaled a nearby oak.
Sara rolled her eyes. He had missed willingly. "Why did you hesitate?" The cool wind did little calm her growing frustrations. "I had it! Why didn't you throw it at me!"
Myn's eyes broke away as he looked down.
"Myn! I commanded you not to hold back!"
"Sara, calm down," said Svarga from the corner of her eye. "You've been training all morning; you need to rest."
Exasperated, she focused on Svarga who was now nearing her. "No! What I need is for you to follow my orders!"
He was devoid of his usual grin and gratified tone of voice. "Your orders to do what? Kill you?" He pointed at the silver that was embedded into the tree. "You wouldn't have been able to stop that spear."
The cold air stung her throat as she swallowed. "I knew you wouldn't understand…"
Svarga shot his arms out. "You can't better yourself in a matter of days." He rose his voice to match hers. "This lack of control on your emotions is the reason you…how you almost died in Blaika. It's the reason your father banished you from the inner court."
"Any more words of wisdom, oh-so wise general?" she mocked.
"Something happened recently, something to have woken up the scared child at your center."
Sara froze for a second as she remembered the words of the assassin, Roxas. She needed to kill Kind Ered to prevent the rebels of Ara'koh from joining sides with them. She knew that the murder of her people was only the beginning. Loradel was nothing more than a weed that needed to ripped from its roots before its illness spread further north. "I need to be stronger to do what needs to be done."
Svarga raised an eyebrow. "And what would that be?"
The words were stuck in her throat. "To…to kill King Ered."
Svarga's eyes were widened, mouth agape. "Are you mad!?"
"I can guarantee Zuland's victory and prevent a war."
"Prevent? You'll be igniting one!"
"If I kill their king, the rest will yield. This will prevent them from allying themselves with Ara'koh."
"Are you daft? He'll be a martyr, a reason for them to join together! You'll fashion the very thing you fear!"
"And what of it? I'm your princess and soon-to-be queen. Your counsel is no longer needed, General Svarga. I've made my decision." She turned to leave.
"I won't let you do something you'll regret." He cut in front of her path.
"You won't? You don't have a say in this, General. Now, step aside."
Svarga towered over her. "You wanted us to not hesitate. Well, I'm here to fulfill that request."
"Fine." She exhaled as she quickly liquified her remaining shoulder pad and swung the sharpened steel for Svarga's throat.
He backstepped incredibly fast for a man of his size. He quickly strapped on his cestuses and stood in a defensive position.
Sara swung the liquid through the air like a silver serpent. To her dismay, the general predicted every attack as he continuously backed away while blocking every strike. It didn't matter, he was a close-range fighter, as long as she kept him away, he would be at a disadvantage.
Svarga's back was nearing the tree.
Cornered.
He quickly pulled the spear from the tree and in seconds it was flying right for her.
She gasped as she quickly put up an open palm, liquifying it before it reached her. So that was your plan all along. A stinging pain pierced the back of her head. She rubbed at her temple for a half second before looking back up to her opponent. Her breath was caught in her throat as she realized Svarga was now inches from her. She desperately swung and missed with her silver snake.
Svarga's tight grip took hold of her forearm as he maneuvered around her.
She grimaced as he twisted her arm. A second later, a well-placed kick sent her into the wet grass. "Bastard!"
Svarga's weight was unbearable. He pulled back his fist, ready to strike.
She flinched and readied herself for an attack that never came. The pressure dissipated as he set her free.
"I hope you're pleased—"
A loud roar boomed in the air as Myn pounced on Svarga, pinning him just as he did her. He pulled his claw back.
"Wait, Myn, stop!" she yelled. She slowly sat up to find the general's eyes barren. "Let the general go." Her voice shuttered.
Myn looked back at her then back down to Svarga, his pupils thin from rage. He growled menacingly once more before releasing him.
Sara stood and glared at Svarga before offering her hand. "Take my hand, General."
"Don't do it, Sara," he exclaimed.
"You know I have to."
"Then I can't stand with you." He refused her hand as he got back to his feet.
"You really are a fool, aren't you? Your brother was killed as a traitor to the crown, he marred the Svarga name. You have the chance to restore it to glory…and you squander it by repeating his mistake."
"He might have been labeled a traitor, though I'm not convinced it was a mistake."
Sara summoned her silver back, forming it back into shoulder pads. "For your past loyalty, I'll spare you. You may leave and walk the path of a traitor. I'll inform my father of your demise. But if I ever see you again…I'll make sure you rot in a cell for defying me."
Svarga nodded. "I hope you live a long life, Lady Sara. The future is about to change in ways you never thought possible. Maybe then you'll understand what I tried saving you from." He bowed before taking his leave. He was quickly swallowed by the darkness of the trees as turned back once more, sadness in his eyes.
Minutes felt like hours as Sara's mind grasped what had just transpired. The sound of loudening hooves returned her to reality.
A man she recognized rode towards her on horseback. "Lady Sara!" he yelled.
"Yes, soldier?"
"I bring dire news. One of our generals stationed in Beswind was just murdered."
"What?" She stammered. "When?"
"It happened near dawn; he was found dead in a brothel. I was asked to bring you to Beswind to restore our chain of command so together we may find the ones responsible."
"Very well. We ride for Beswind." Sara tried pushing aside Svarga's departure. He was nothing but a traitor now. Now another one of her people was murdered, her kingdom needed her, she would show everyone that she was a dependable leader. Her task at hand would be to kill the man that fed the morale of dishonorable men, King Ered.