Time frame: war time
Adeline knew that Lady Sophia was a rare gem, someone who would not be forgotten anytime soon.
Despite the circumstances of her birth and her choice to live outside the palace, the people would always know her as a true Princess, someone who had earned their respect and love through her tireless service and her unwavering compassion.
For Adeline, Lady Sophia was an inspiration and a reminder that even in the darkest of times, she refused to give up, even when others had already resigned themselves to a grim fate.
It was her belief in the promise made by the Crown Prince of the Gamaaloth Kingdom that kept her going. Lady Sophia knew that they would arrive soon to defend Clearport, the last defense of Everkeep Capital. She did not allow the uncertainty of the situation to shake her faith.
In the face of impending doom, Lady Sophia's calm presence was a reminder that they were not alone. The soldiers around her drew strength from her unwavering spirit, and her belief in the Crown Prince's promise gave them hope.
Was it true that those monsters from the Gamaaloth Kingdom would protect them? Or did they change their minds when they saw how weak Cescil was and joined forces with Ostrill to overrun Cescil?
It was hard to be as committed as Lady Sophia in these troubled times. Adeline began to cry and knelt before Lady Sophia to ask her to leave.
Adeline watched Lady Sophia, awestruck by her bravery and her resilience. Here was a woman who refused to give up, even when all seemed lost.
The battlefield was chaotic, a blur of smoke and steel. Lady Sophia stood tall among the chaos, her hair whipping about her face in the wind.
In the distance, she could hear the thundering of hooves and the clashing of swords. But her focus was solely on the man at her feet. He had been badly wounded, his armor stained with blood.
"This is my home, Adeline. You can't tell me to leave here. I will die here," she said firmly.
Coinciding with her words, the soldier she was saving breathed his last. His eyes opened, and his pupils dilated.
He was gone.
Lady Sophia gently closed the man's eyelids.
Adeline stopped whining and threw her stuff on the ground. "No, My Lady! I'm with you! I'll stay with you! Whether it's ashes or whatever!"
"My dear Adeline, don't be stupid!"
"Whatever!" She started helping Lady Sophia heal the wounded soldiers at the border.
Adeline's hands worked tirelessly, tending to the wounded soldiers with deft motions.
Lady Sophia watched with quiet pride as her young charge brought comfort to those in need.
The war had been raging for months, and though Lady Sophia's forces were holding their own, the battle had taken a heavy toll on both sides.
Lady Sophia and Adeline worked tirelessly to staunch the flow of blood and bring comfort to the dying.
But it was a losing battle. For every soldier they healed, two more appeared, their injuries more severe than the last.
The warlord of the Cescil Kingdom, General Pindale, knew this all too well, and despair was etched on his face.
"We will fight till the end, My Lady!" He paid his last respects to Lady Sophia, landing a peck on the back of her palm.
Lady Sophia stood proudly at the head of the Cescil army, her eyes fixed on the horizon.
In the distance, a vast army approached, their banner fluttering in the wind.
She knew that this would be the final battle, the one that would determine the fate of Cescil.
But she did not waver, for she had General Pindale and his loyal soldiers by her side.
"I, too, am honored to fight with you till the end, General Pindale," she said, her voice ringing out clear and true. "Cescil owes you and your entire family a great debt."
General Pindale's face instantly brightened, and he regained his vigor. He drew his greatsword upwards and shouted, "FOR CESCIL!!!"
Lady Sophia could feel the energy pulsing through the ranks of her soldiers, a fierce determination that came from a united purpose.
As they charged towards the enemy, their battle cries could be heard for miles around.
Adeline took out two vials of poison from the pockets of her dress, which were tied to her waist for easy movement on the battlefield.
She handed one bottle to Lady Sophia.
"Thank you," Lady Sophia said sincerely with a smile.
They would drink the poison when they were caught by the enemy later. Death by drinking poison for women in wartime was far more honorable and less painful than being taken prisoner, subjected to torture, and, worst of all, rape.
At the same time, a loud screeching sound was deafening, and the air throughout Clearport shook violently. It was as if a giant had split the air.
The sound of the beast grew louder and closer, and soon there was the sound of flames and the screaming of burned-out humans. The air became unusually hot and sweaty.
In the distance, a massive creature emerged from the smoke and flames. Its body was covered in rough, scaly skin that reflected the orange glow of the fire.
Its eyes glowed a fierce red, and its enormous wings flapped forcefully, creating gusts of wind that whipped through the air.
Despite its terrifying appearance, there was a strange elegance to the way it moved, as if it were a dancer performing a violent yet graceful ballet.
As it drew closer, it let out a deafening roar that echoed throughout the city, and the ground trembled beneath its feet. The fire raged fiercely on the battlefield. Ostrill warriors ran around with flames all over their bodies.
"Dragon," Adeline muttered. "Gamaaloth sent his dragon riders? Are those real dragons? I thought they were extinct! Oh my God!" She widened her eyes at the giant flying in circles above the sky.
The dragon was indeed real, and it was not like any creature they had ever seen before. Its scales shimmered like diamonds, reflecting the light of the sun and casting a rainbow of colors onto the ground below.
Its wings were impossibly vast, stretching out for what seemed like miles across the sky.
Its eyes were the color of emeralds, and sparkled with a deep wisdom that Cescil could almost feel emanating from them.
It let out another roar, and Cescil could see that it had a rider on its back - a figure in a silver suit, the rider seemed to be scanning the area below with intense focus, and they suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.
The sky overhead was a deep shade of purple, the color of bruised fruit. It gave the air a strange quality, as if everything was tinged with a faint melancholy.
In the distance, the sound of wings could be heard, growing louder and louder until it became clear that a group of dragon riders was approaching.
They flew in tight formation, their armored bodies flashing in the fading light.
Lady Sophia nodded. "Yes, Adeline. That's why I'm sure they'll arrive today. At least the dragon riders can come here faster." Lady Sophia hugged her small vial of poison to her chest and began to pray.
"Thank you, Old God, for hearing my prayers."
*