Rhea was the most surprised of them all. She had never trained with a sword before, didn't even know how to swing one. And yet, the sword had chosen her.
Mother was flabbergasted. For a minute, she truly lost her composure.
"M-my girl, you truly are the woman of prophecy… when you turned winter into autumn, we knew, we knew, but… to see it again. I don't know if I should congratulate you as my daughter… or just worship you." She paused, and coughed "No, no, you're still a human, you're not invincible. Your power makes you even more vulnerable."
Rei was caught between healthy envy (can I get a power like that? Is it stronger than mine?) and curiosity (can it be studied? Can I apply my magic to it? How else can it be used?). Her mind was working a mile a minute, so she didn't even notice Rhea's hand on her shoulder for a while. It felt warm, and it calmed her down.
Rhea was facing her own conflict. He loved what she could do, but hated what she couldn't. She didn't want to just have power granted, she wanted to prove herself. Failing on her studies was even more frustrating now. She wasn't just her power, damn it. She had instinctively put her hand on Rei's shoulder, and calmed down.
Recovering from her initial shock, Mother moved forward. She walked beside the armor in the center, and pressed a button behind it. The floor shifted, and revealed stairs.
"This is the most important thing I wanted to show you." Mother said, her tone serious "This passage will take you safely out of our territory, into the woods. You can hide there if you ever need it."
Rei couldn't help herself. "What about that armor beside you" she said, eyes brimming with curiosity "It's magical, isn't it? I can feel it."
Mother sighed. "Yes Rei, it is an enchanted piece. It was commissioned by your father to help against spellcasters, and according to his stories, it saved his life more than once. He left it here once the monster waves hit and he had to join the army, said he wouldn't like to damage it and that he'd save it until he truly needed it… now he's been gone for more than a decade" Mother paused, her face in deep sorrow. She recovered shortly "I didn't think you could use it. It's made for males and it's way too heavy. Maybe that kid could…"