Present day Ocsic
"Woah! So that's why nobody knows much about them?" Elise asked looking very excited
"Well it was a very ugly incident, nobody like's to remember it. A lot was lost in that war, Elise."
The king looked out towards the kingdom with gloom as he remembered the war that had shaken the entire kingdom, it was hard to believe it had been 30 years already. The freedom he sought and fought for alongside his best friend was finally restored. We did it, Lion.
He looked at his daughter, the next ruler and keeper of the peace, his expression suddenly changed and he smiled a bright smile. There was no need to dwell on past events. The kingdom was safe now and that was all that mattered. What was left was to protect the peace they'd been keeping all these years at all costs. But he had doubts; was Elise really capable of taking over the kingdom? He knew she was lacking in a lot of areas, especially in the political aspects. Elise thought it was boring so she paid little to no attention at the regular council meetings.
"Elise, dear…"
"Father?"
The king looked at his daughter with deep concern, almost making her uncomfortable. Why did he have that look on his face? It wasn't reassuring in the slightest, neither was it comforting. It was more of worry and a little hint of doubt.
"You're going to rule this kingdom someday…" he began to say
"Do you think you're ready for it?"
"Father…I" she paused, unsure how to answer.
She swallowed hard and gave her father an intense look. The man looked at her, his eyes filled with unspoken emotions. She simply hung her head low. She wasn't even fit enough to handle meetings and give specific instructions. She still hadn't mastered the basics of etiquette and aristocratic discipline. She was yet to even do a proper walk! And suddenly the entire kingdom seemed to be counting on her?
She clutched tightly at her dress and bit hard on her lower lip. No! Father is putting his faith in me,she thought. She steeled her resolve and looked at her father straight in the eye, silently wishing the ground would just open up and take her in its belly to save her from first hand embarrassment. But she had to do this, the honor of the kingdom's past warriors could not just be trampled on because she was too nervous to be a leader. She had to be strong like her father and his friend the lion. She needed to be!
"I'm ready! Our people fought hard to get here and I promise to keep fighting for them until I draw my last breath!"
"Elise…"
The king's eyes were filled with tears. How much his daughter had grown! To hear her speak with so much courage and determination, it moved his heart. He gently held her hands, looking at her with pride. His daughter, his seed, the hope of their kingdom. That little girl who was always running around causing trouble in the palace, had now grown into a fine, young woman who was now willing to take up her responsibility as leader and push forward for the betterment of her people. That little girl, now a warrior.
"Oh, papa." Elise comforted him with a hug
"You'll make a very fine leader, my child."
"I won't let you down, papa. I promise!"
Elise shut her eyes as she heaved a sigh of relief. She knew the task ahead was not going to be easy, but she was determined! To prove her mother wrong about her being unfit to rule, and to make her father proud to have entrusted her with his kingdom. She couldn't fail. No, she wouldn't fail! There was too much at stake. She slowly let go of her father, smiling at him as they shared quality Father-daughter time together.
"You know…we've never had to sit and talk in a long time." Her father said as he gently wiped his mouth. He signaled the butler.
"Mmm." Came her response as she fought back tears.
She silently wished the queen would sit with her more often too.
Elise finished her meal and wiped her mouth. She sat straight as she waited for the butler to come clear out the table. She then eased herself into the chair and looked up at the ceiling, counting each stones that hung from the lights and sorting them by color. She wondered what was next now that she'd accepted her new role. She closed her eyes and imagined herself giving speeches at the council, sitting down to tea with the governor's wives, disbursing the state funds…all sorts of exciting stuff! She didn't know exactly what to expect but she sure was excited.
"Your training starts tomorrow." The king suddenly announced.
Tomorrow? That was too fast. Didn't she needed to be briefed on what to do? What to wear? Nothing? Just tomorrow?
"I don't…I'm not…" She stuttered.
She definitely didn't expect her training to be that fast.
"Tomorrow, we're visiting Scye."
"Scye?"
"Hmm. Further north of Scye is a land where all the awakened spirits are being guarded."
"Awakened…spirits?"
"Ahh yes. They're assigned to you once you begin your royal training. They will help you and guide you."
"How does that even work?"
The king paused, then sighed.
"This kingdom has continually been protected by Ancestors; brave men who laid down their lives so we could walk the path they paved for us."
The king looked at his daughter to make sure she was paying attention. Seeing how focused she was, he continued to explain
"When these men were on the brink of death, sacrificial animals would be killed and offered to them to be possessed by."
"And it worked?" She asked with surprise
"Yes it did. Eventually there was no need to unfairly kill innocent animals when the ancestors simply decided it was best to possess dead or sick animals as a way of protecting them and rewarding them with a new life. One devoted to serving and protecting the kingdom."
Awakened spirits? How come no one mentioned it earlier? Come to think of it, she'd never seen her father with one. Just how much was she clueless about? First their history, now the spirits, who knew what was next?
"But if that's so. Then how come I've never seen you with one? The spirits?"
"You have…" Her father lead her to the window.
Elise pushed on the window doors and a warm gust of wind swept across her face, filing her nose with the pleasant smell of the breeze. The sun gently warmed her face as she closed her eyes, soaking herself in its warmth. She looked over at her Father and noticed he seemed to be searching for something. He squinted his eyes and locked his gaze in a particular direction. Then suddenly he made a whistling call. Elise looked out into the view in front of them, hoping to see who or what her father had called to. But for a moment, nothing seemed to happen. Or so she thought? For a while later, a whistling call came back in response to her father's call and a giant Eagle flew out from beyond the city gates.
The bird slowly flew towards the castle, and it looked as it it had come out of the sun, soaring proudly in the blue sky and showing off its magnificent wings. Elise suddenly recognized the bird. She had always seen it flying around the castle every morning, but she paid no mind to it and just thought it was any normal eagle whose nest was probably close by.
"That's yours?!" She asked, looking at the bird in awe.
"Guardian eagle, Torbe. That's mine." The king said proudly.
"Wow!"
The bird closed in on the duo standing by the balcony, then swooped down in a flash, making a turn around the castle before soaring back into the air and landing on the balcony. Elise took a good look at the majestic bird. Its wings were huge with each one measuring as long as her arm and its razor sharp talons looked like they could cut through stone. Its feathers were a golden color and a black beak sat perfectly on its head. Its intense black eyes seemed to pierce into one's soul the more you looked at them.
"Wow! It's even bigger than I expected!" She exclaimed.
"Greetings your highness." Torbe greeted
Elise jumped around her father screaming with excitement
"Oh my gosh! It talked! It talked, father! It…"
She slowly turned to face the bird, the realization suddenly hit her.
Wait a minute!It….talked?!
"Ahhhhhh!!!!!" She screamed.
"Your highness, please calm…" Torbe began to say when all of a sudden,
Bonk! Bonk!
"Ow! What was that for?!" Torbe yelled.
The princess had hit him on the head.
The king grabbed his daughter, restraining her from hitting the poor bird any further. PoorTorbe, he should've also told her that the guardian spirits could talk.
"You talked!" Elise screamed out in fear.
"Yes? I'm an Ancestor. Of course I can talk. How else would I guide you?" Torbe retorted.
"I don't know? Do bird stuff?!"
"Like what? Ca-caw?! I'm not a raven, sweetie."
"Ravens don't go ca-caw. Sweetie" Elise said pouting.
"Huh? Say that again, you spoilt little…"
Bonk!
"That's enough, you two." The king bellowed.
The two instantly stopped their bickering occasionally throwing offensive glances at each other, holding their hurting heads.
"Elise, this is my guardian spirit, Torbe. Torbe and I have been together since the Great War. He's my loyal companion."
"Torbe, you know my precious daughter, Elise." The king beamed as he showed off his daughter to the Ancestor.
"And tomorrow, you will accompany us to her awakening."
Oh hell no!
Oh hell no!
Torbe and Elise thought.