Weylyn Kalver emerged from her quarters, donning the full armor of the Knight Of Kalver.
Outside, her attendants awaited her and Weylyn passed a glance to them, watching them sob quietly.
On Weylyn's departure this time, only two of her personal attendants would be allowed to accompany her to the Imperial City and reside with her in the Knight's Keep.
Upon her knighting, there would be no cause for Weylyn to return to the Dukedom of Kalver as all knights of the empire resided in the Knight's Keep on the outskirts of the Imperial City.
This was because the Imperial Knights were the elite forces of the Kinouri Empire and each Knight was licensed to command the Empire's military forces of over hundreds of thousands.
There was always cause for the services of the knights and so their residence was kept on the outskirts of the Imperial City where they were close enough to receive urgent imperial decrees.
The Knight's Keep was governed with so many strict rules by the Lord Knight that except on cases where the Emperor allowed for it or during their bi-annual leave, Weylyn could not return to the Dukedom of Kalver.
Weylyn heaved a sigh, there was nothing she could do about it.
She had been born and raised a warrior of the Empire, she had long been prepared for the day she would have to depart her family and join the ranks of the Empire's Knights, but she had not expected that day to come like this.
Weylyn glanced at the teary faces of her seven attendants she would be leaving behind.
As the only daughter of a Duke, Weylyn was of the highest nobility with no less rank than a princess of the Empire.
She had grown up with these attendants by her side, always there to look after her and see to her needs even when she was grown and insisted she could handle her affairs by herself.
Each one of them had been especially picked out by Weylyn's mother, perhaps she had known Weylyn's birth would come with a sacrifice... the sacrifice of which was ultimately the life of the Duchess of Kalver.
In her younger days, when her father Duke Kalver had still lead the Empire's military forces, protecting the borders from external invasion,
Weylyn had grown up under the tender care and nuturing of her brothers Ronan and Rehan as well as these attendants.
To Weylyn, they were her family and now, as was required of the Knights of the Empire, family and all emotional attachments were to be left behind to shoulder the duty as representatives of their respective houses.
"If it was up to me, I would take you all along but such privileges are not granted to a knight and I can no longer be willful to insist... I must bid my farewells here."
"I will have my father assign you new duties in the Kalver estate or should you choose to leave and live your lives outside the Kalver estate, my father will provide all that you need."
"For all these years you have looked after me, regardless of my willful attitude, I am eternally grateful to you all." Weylyn said earnestly as she lowered her head in a bow.
"You will be a great knight My Lady, and we shall be right here cheering you on and awaiting your victorious returns." Hilda, the more outspoken amongst Weylyn's attendants said.
Weylyn nodded with a smile as she sucked in a deep breath and headed out to the courtyard where she knew her clan awaited to send her off.
Weylyn took slow steps, her mind still burdened by many thoughts, however soon she emerged into the courtyard where the gazes of all her clansmen turned to her.
Weylyn could see the pride in their eyes as they took in her attire as well as the grief hidden deep within their gazes as the last they had sent off with this very same attire, merely a few years back was Ronan Kalver.
Weylyn gathered her wits, her shoulders held high as she strode confidently over to the Lord Knight who awaited before the carriage and bowed in greeting.
"Weylyn Kalver bids greetings to Lord Knight." Weylyn said before she turned and bowed to the High Mage of the Magoir Tower who had also arrived to fetch her brother, Rehan.
Amongst the Kalver children, whilst Ronan and Weylyn had exhibited superior physical abilities as was displayed by the warrior marked at birth, Rehan Kalver had been born with magical abilities.
The strongest amongst his generation, Rehan Kalver had already become a low ranked Advanced mage at his twentieth year, with only two ranks difference from the Junior High Mage of the Magoir Tower.
And so it was without a doubt that he had earned a place to study under the tutelage of the Empire's greatest mages in the Magoir Tower.
Weylyn remembered how Ronan had vowed to send Rehan off in the most lavish manner possible, he had said he would not allow the privilege of leading the procession to any one else and he would do it himself.
He had teased of how his shoulders would be raised up high in pride so everyone knew he was blood related to the first magic prodigy in centuries.
However now, as Weylyn looked over the somber atmosphere with which herself and Rehan would be sent off, her heart ached terribly.
"Come, let us bid farewell to father and the clansmen." Rehan's voice pulled Weylyn out of her thoughts back to the reality that hundreds of eyes were fixed on her.
Weylyn nodded in agreement as she walked forwards till she was standing before her father and then she lowered herself to her knees, bowing low.
Rehan also knelt at Weylyn's side, his head bowed.
Grand Duke Raego Kalver leaned down and aided both his children to their feet, his eyes glistening as he tilted his head up and blinked back the tears.
"Father, your daughter will leave now." Weylyn murmured in a low tone.