He wasn't sure where he was, but he was getting off a horse, the metal on him rattling as his feet touched the ground. He was tired. His body was sore and ached from the long journey, but the dullness of travel seemed to wear him out more than the actual trip did. It was at moments like these that he actually missed the thrill of the battlefield, where the clang of metal against metal, the shedding of blood and the screams of war and death reigned supreme. Time flew by then.

The King, His Majesty Fredrick Reynolds Marcria, came to greet him in person this time. A privilege that only he was granted. The man who was well past his primes stood there, at the entrance to the palace, looking down upon him with a benevolent smile, as if unaware of the number of lives he destroyed with his greed and ambition.

The King spoke, "Welcome back. It's nice to see you in one piece, Commander. You've definitely succeeded in making us proud once again."

He knelt in front of him in a show of respect. "It was my honor, Your Majesty."

He didn't have to look up to know how pleased the smile on the monarch's face was.

"Ah, that's right. Actually, there's someone I want to introduce you to," he continued. "This is my daughter. She was in Alcria when you first presented yourself, so I suppose this would be your first time meeting her."

Only then did he look up from his position. And as soon as he did, he felt like he had the wind knocked out of him.

Black hair that reminded one of the starless night sky ran past her shoulders, down to the small of her back. Green eyes, reminiscent of the color of his home, sat framed under a pair of long eyelashes. Red lipstick painted her full, luscious lips and her smile was something that seemed to put even the heavens to shame.

That was the first time he met HER.