Fantasy A Kingdom's Gambit (AlwaysXeno and JyoMonty)

[AlwaysXeno]

Aveyln shook her head in hidden amusement at Winola's unprecedented reaction. The knight stopped at the door but Winola continued into the room, bursting to the table in unbridled speed. She sat at the table eagerly, whereas Aveyln dismissed the workers in the room and gently sat down across from Winola. Avelyn didn't scowl or make any crude remarks, but her eyes did display a sense of confusion at the girl's actions.

"Well, I would say the gap between the peasantry and the royalty are quite distinct. When I was a child, I rarely ate meat. However, yes, being the best of the best gives you some perks. Exquisite, though? It is quite delectable but King Eres certainly has had better in the past. Do you not possess food like this back in your world?" Aveyln questioned, pouring some wine into her chalice, sticking her nose in to inhale the aroma of the liquor. She took a sip, placing it down on the table before refocusing on Winola.

"So besides food, what makes your world so different than ours. I remember our first interaction, you looked at me as if I was a monster in a child's fairy tale. Your room and clothing seem so farfetched in relation to Aurelia. Your tone of voice, the way you speak, even the way you look is so unbelievably different. I was sure the king would have been startled by your hair color."

 

[JyoMonty]

Winola listened to Avelyn while she slowly grabbed a little of everything. Emphasis on slowly. She wanted to look a bit more respectful despite having eyes ten times bigger than her stomach. The potatoes, meat, vegetables, and anything else that looked delicious piled in on her plate. She then looked up at Avelyn. "Oh yes, the moment I arrived, it was clear to tell there's plenty to say about the differences. So, here's what I'll do. I'll tell you close to everything I know, let you eat and ponder on it as I go, and afterward, I'll dig in to," she took the full plate and lifted it in the air, "this magnificent feast of the gods!"

She placed the plate down and cleared her throat. Though she could rush through it all, she took her time to emphasize on several main topics, pausing if Avelyn might make a perplexed look or two. "Alright, first there's communication. That device I threatened you with was a phone. I'm able to talk to practically anyone in the world who also has a similar device. We can use our voice to speak into the phone or use our fingers to write words on the phone as a means to communicate to each other.

"There's also the matter of food. I'm sure there's food like this where I am, but our world prioritizes speed over quality. Especially in the lower and middle-class societies. We have food establishments called fast-food restaurants that readily prepare hot food in matters of minutes. You can drop by any of these places and get your meal in less time you could probably swing your sword. But, that comes at a cost since the food isn't made with the healthiest ingredients and it's advised to not eat this stuff daily. On the opposite end, the finest dining our world can offer is specific to those with a lot of money. In the region I'm from specifically, we don't have royalty, only people with millions or billions in currency. Some meals offered at those places would probably cost more than the armor you're wearing. The middle of the road is simply going to the market, buying stuff, and making food ourselves. The average person doesn't like doing this because we lead very busy lives and normally don't have the energy to prepare meals. Though, like fast food restaurants, we do have convenient ready-in-minutes meals we buy from markets and can prepare as well.

"Technology is another matter altogether. I won't get into too many details but just know that things such as food preparation, transportation, and even our currency deals with devices that are as small as the palm of your hand or as big as the entire royal throne room. Electricity and specially crafted crystals and ore are the main elements that run our entire society.

"Lastly, I'll end on work and leisure. Because we are rarely involved in wars in most parts of our world, most of our time deals with working most of the day and resting with some form of entertainment. Though not the same, imagine being in battle for 8 hours straight each day and coming home to hear a bard tell you a new tale each night. Well, for us, we work for eight hours or more a day and come home to a screen that shows us a new story each night. It's fascinating stuff when I think about it."

She sighed. "Sorry, wanted to get all of that out. Whatever you don't understand, I'm happy to go into more detail." She took a fork full of seasoned potatoes and took a bite. She nearly melted on the spot as she closed her eyes and squealed softly with delight. After swallowing, she looked at Avelyn. "So, any questions, comments or concerns?"

 

[AlwaysXeno]

The entire discussion that unfolded could have easily made Aveyln spit out her wine or choke on her food. Every last detail uttered from Winola's mouth simply felt like complete nonsense. Yet, one look at her face just showed how genuine it was. She wasn't being sarcastic or a bit of a smartass like in their first few interactions. As if the sheer amount of food stacked upon her plate and her odd manner of praising food wasn't appalling enough, the very conceptualization of some of the things she talked about appeared impossible.

Communication was what perplexed her the most. Being able to talk to anyone in the world with such a worthless, tiny box. Aurelia still relied on messenger birds or hearsay, yet Winola's world had such privlieges? They could speak and write at the same time? Using their fingers? Aveyln could feel her mouth grow agape in amazement, her fork stuck suspended in the air a few inches from her mouth. This was preposterous!

The girl moving to food reminded Avelyn of the meal before her and specifically her manners. She placed her fork down, instead placing an armor-clad leg over the other, folding her hands in her lap, listening intently to Winola. Her breakdown went on and on, from food that could be prepared in mere minutes, to portable miniature devices that help control fragments of their world to magical screens that display stories. Truthfully, Aveyln felt a bit saddened at all of this. Why couldn't her world, her life, be like this? Winola's world definitely could not be perfect, but from the way it sounds, it must be paradise in most moments. Why was Winola deemed to live in a world where everything is available at the touch of the finger whereas Aveyln has struggled through nearly two and a half decades of war?

As Winola finished, Aveyln had a drawn out stare, a moment of silence falling over the two women. Aveyln wasn't necessarily overwhelmed, but instead contemplating everything she's ever done. Everything she had experienced and considered to be the pinnacle of her existence. Winola's sudden apology broke her from her reflection, Aveyln's eyes fixating instantly on Winola. "No, no, that won't be necessary. To be frank, I do not believe I'll ever truly understand most things about your world anyway. Even if I sat here and asked questions, we'd never leave outside these four walls. You mentioned electricity, and that very concept has just become a recent topic in our empirical sphere."

The knight sighed in a similar fashion to Winola, taking a bite of roasted duck and a sip of wine to wash it down. "Nevertheless, your world seems fascinating. But, we are here and in the given ordeal, I don't have a way to get you back home. So, if you have any questions about Aurelia or our world, please ask now. This might be a bit of a rocky journey, and you already lied through the hardest part. Why not understand more about the situation you are so graciously strolling into?"

 

[JyoMonty]

"Anything I want to know about Aurelia, huh?" Winola tapped her cheek. She wasn't sure when she would get another opportunity to talk in detail about the current situation, but she didn't want a full exposition dump of details of everything Aurela. So, she decided to zone in on the more pressing matters.

"I guess the biggest ordeal to talk about would be this war. Why are you all fighting and for how long? More importantly, how have you handled it all? I can only imagine how much stress this must be on you." She took more bites of food, anticipating that the answers weren't going to be a mere few sentences long. Even though this wasn't home, she was at least glad to have some good food and someone to talk to. It was much too long since she had time to chill with friends. Working the restaurant was her life lately, and, to be honest, she was glad that Reginald probably couldn't contact her. He'd be raving mad to know she was going to be gone indefinitely.

 

[AlwaysXeno]

At Winola's question, Avelyn sighed, placing her fork down on the plate with an emphatic clatter. It was one thing for Winola to ask about the war and the circumstances around it, but asking about her current state was different than anything she ever heard. Aveyln never wanted pity or sympathy. She didn't want to be a sob story of a girl sold away by her mother who was crafted into a solider, perpetually slaying her foes. But, in truth, Aveyln actually did not spend much time thinking about how she felt regarding the war and her place in it. Much of her life had been imposing the will of others, like King Eres. She never considered the reality of it all, that reality being that she was more than a soldier.

Aveyln took a long pause, gathering her thoughts about the topic. She didn't want to mislead Winola, especially since much of the war's origins were debated. "This war began as a culmination of matters that nations just couldn't agree on. Aurelia has been a kingdom for countless years, however, the opposition to our west, the kingdom of Yadir, is relatively younger. Originally, there was no kingdom there, and Aurelia had plentiful access to the resources in the region, alongside clear trade routes and a variety of other benefits within the empty space. This new kingdom had risen so fast that it disrupted of all the workings Aurelia had made in that area. Then again, some theorize that Yadir is just a nation with a chip on their shoulder and aims to upheave the global order by toppling the world's mightiest. Initially, the planned route was diplomatic. Aurelian and Yadiran officials met regularly to discuss for the two kingdoms to coexist. However, some say that the Aurelians were demanding too much or some say that the Yadirans just wouldn't budge on their own expansion. Regardless, thirty years ago Yadir took the first shot, beginning their growth by invading and annexing a bordered region of Aurelia, sparking the war." The lengthy explanation was paused for a quick second, Aveyln trying to garner Winola's reaction.

Taking a breath, she continued. "During these past thirty years, there have been numerous transgressions on either side that have only heightened tensions. Violation of truces, brutal tactics of war, persecutions of travelers from either region... you name it. Much of the outside world has chosen not to involve themselves to avoid consequences, but we do receive aid from some of our allies."

However, explaining the next part of Winola's question proved to be more difficult. "As for your inquiry into how I feel... well, I truly don't know what to say," Aveyln said, finishing her wine and pouring herself another chalice full just as fast. "Truthfully, I've grown numb to the subject. War is war. Death is death. Kingdoms are kingdoms. I just don't desire to see my nation fall. The stress isn't here for me. I'm not a diplomat or an advisor or a lord in a region of Aurelia. I'm a distinguished knight, a soldier of high reputation amongst our ranks. I live to fight and that's all I've done. Perhaps peace may be in Aurelia's future, but, the thrills of battle are all I have ever known." Aveyln silenced herself instantly, feeling she was growing too personal in her response. She stared not at Winola but past her, taking a second to recuperate her composure.

 

[JyoMonty]

Winola placed her own fork down and frowned. She rested one arm on the table before propping her head on her hand. The heaviness of Avelyn's situation weighed down on her.

She wished she could relate but couldn't. War - real war was foreign to her. To lay your life down for your country is noble but eventually the carnage has to stop at some point, right? Your life shouldn't revolve around war. That wasn't a proper way to live. Though she was one to talk. Her life was anything but proper. Yet, it was that imbalance that made one thing clear. Her own feelings needed adjustment and evaluation. Avelyn's feelings did too.

Avelyn was more than a cog in a machine of violence. She was a fiercely loyal individual, which meant something. Honor and protocol seemed to be a default anchor for her life and it kept her thoughts outside of herself. This also meant love was also aimed outward. She loved her country but at the expense of loving herself. That needed to change.

Winola sat up and placed her arms in her lap. "Avelyn, I can hardly imagine what it's like growing up in a thirty year war. Hell, I thought I had it rough not knowing my own parents and barely getting my own means met. Regardless, it's clear to me we both have some things to work on.

"Look, I'm no expert on mental or emotional health but I can tell you that neither of us can continue forward if we don't talk about who we are really and what's truly hurting us. I see you as a caring person that fights for her kingdom but who needs care too. I see both the Yadir and Aurelia kingdoms as two families that need to embrace each other's needs and not fight each other for dominion.

"I see myself," she paused for a breath, "as a girl barely holding it together by a string of insults and jokes. People think I'm smart and mouthy for attention but I'm just someone who's trying to understand what's the point in living to please others when no one truly wants you? Yet, somehow, your mages see something in me. Because of that, I want that lie I told about bringing peace to be truth in some way. Maybe not with killing but with...something. Does that make sense? While here, I want to be useful and not used. More so, I want to be wanted and hopefully not discarded like I've been before."

She sighed. "Though you don't have to answer this now, ponder on it for a bit. What do you want? Not just what your country wants you to do. In that, I think we can find some common ground between us."

 

[AlwaysXeno]

Aveyln stifled a chuckle at Winola's surprisingly thoughtful response. That wasn't even the end of it, Aveyln could understand the pain of not knowing her parents. Realistically, Aveyln's father had gone missing months after her birth, whether that meant he was kidnapped, killed, or simply ran away all being in the cards. Her mother cast her away when she was at a young age as well... the only real parental figure she had was Gwyn, her mentor. In some way, Aveyln felt that the war had ruined her life. Maybe, just maybe, if she was born into another kingdom, another situation, another set of circumstances... she wouldn't be plagued by the screams of dead men and the stains of blood on her hands.

She remained silent as Winola went into her little exercise, laying her cards on the table and making herself an open book. In a stark contrast to her seemingly carefree nature in their first meeting, Winola stated her claim to bring peace to this war. She wants to be useful and turn the tables against her prior situation... how interesting.

"Sometimes, it isn't about what you want. I will say, your chase for peace is noble at best, however, I don't see a world where Yadir and Aurelia coexist. Too much has gone awry over this long time. The simple mention of Yadir boils my blood. I will not stand in a world where Aurelia must be equal to heathens who have taken excessive amounts of Aurelian lives and have caused harsh consequences on the livelihood of the nation," Aveyln rambled, again her words becoming synonymous with the idea that she was speaking for Aurelia, and not for herself.

She sighed, sitting back in her chair to calm down the intense energy she displayed. "I have never considered what I want, solely because I believe what I want coincides with what is best for the Aurelian people. If that means the death of all that reside in Yadir, so be it. If that means I battle to my very last breath, so be it. If that means I end up dead in a misshapen hole and forgotten... so be it."

 

[JyoMonty]

Winola sighed. This was a more emotional conversation than she originally planned, but that was okay. This felt right. Though her maturity was waning thin. A smile crept on her face. "Avelyn, if the king ever left you rot in a hole, I think I can annoy him to a point to where he would want to find a hole to rot in himself. Just know, you're not in this alone. God knows for a fact I'm tired of doing life alone myself." She stretched a bit. "And since you're stuck with me, I promise to be a bit less than a pain in your butt to keep you alert. In return, I hope you can keep us both from dying. Maybe."

She looked down before facing her again. "But seriously, please take time to consider your own desires. In your own time, just imagine - as hard as it probably is - a world without war. In that world, what would you want to do? Who would you want to become?"

 

[AlwaysXeno]

Avelyn couldn't help but feel appreciative for the lengths Winola was going to not just comfort but understand Aveyln's situation. Especially for someone who has been thrust into an unfamiliar world and faces a literal war without any experience, the ability to do such a thing was fascinating. However, the serious demeanor she had held up wavered, as a silly smile developed across Winola's features.

Her next words actually brought out a hefty laugh from the knight, who had to place a gloved hand over her face to hide the grin she displayed. "I'm sure you could annoy the king to death. Or, to be fair, I think if you showed him that magical communications box he would pass away from a heart attack. I do appreciate your kind words, Winola. I will do my very best to get us through this war."

Aveyln let her smile fade back into her natural stoic expression, taking a second to have another sip of wine as Winola spoke again. Once more, she touched upon this concept of Aveyln branching out from her nation and her king to take her own desires in mind. A world without war. A place where Aveyln could do anything she desired. To be fair, she longed for such peace. Yet, who was Aveyln without war? For years, her spear and sword were synonymous with her identity. Her armor could practically be her skin from how much she donned it. She had spent more time on the battlefield than with any friends... if she could even consider anyone to be her friend. As much as Lady Aveyln wanted to consider an answer to Winola's question, more important matters laid ahead.

The silence was a blatant sign that Aveyln was thinking deeply about Winola's inquiry, causing the knight to clear her throat and quickly stand from the table. "If you'd like to continue eating, go ahead. We shall have an early morning tomorrow. You need to learn how to defend yourself and I don't need any of these pesky advisors catching wind of your lack of proficiency. I'll have one of the palace workers escort you to your living quarters... I'm sure it'll be quite lavish. I'll be down the corridor from you, if you ever need anything. I bid you farewell until tomorrow."

The knight hurried to the door, but stopped just before to give Winola some parting words. Keeping her back to the woman to hide her smile she spoke calmly.

"Thank you again, Winola."

With that, she took her exit, leaving Winola alone in the dining room.

 

[JyoMonty]

Winola blushed as she heard those parting words. Words she has rarely heard uttered to her. A simple "thank you" meant the world but yet, they came with weight. Does this mean that Avelyn was becoming more trusting? If that's the case, Winola knew it would be hard to keep that trust. Her hands trembled at the thought. To be relied upon is not something Winola ever prided herself on. She made too many mistakes to be trustworthy. Dozens of broken relationships stared her in the face. She shook her head. Now wasn't to time to worry about that. This new world also brought new beginnings. From this point forth, she wanted to be useful to someone and if that required fight training among other things, so be it.

Winola watched Avelyn leave the room. She wished she said something sooner, but words failed her. She gritted her teeth. No, she wanted to make this right. She bolted up and ran into the hallway. Seeing Avelyn's back, she bowed and yelled, "I...I appreciate your thanks! Keep on being a great, uh, knight, Avelyn!" She blushed again at the fumbling of her words. Not waiting on Avelyn to turn around, she ran back into the dining room. She went to the chair and buried her head in her arms. Great job, Winola! Sooo eloquent!

~~~~~

An attendant guided Winola to her room on the west side of the castle. She glanced around as she walked down the halls, it seemed very luxurious even for a medieval setting. Her heart swelled, forgetting all about her previous nervousness, and she could feel a squeal wanting to break free from her mouth, but she tightened her lips. She truly wanted to make a good, if not decent impression. She didn't want Avelyn get word of how much noise she made while being escorted.

They stopped in front of a set of silver double doors, which was roughly 6 feet tall with ornate designs along the edges. The attendant opened the door slowly. Winola crossed her fingers behind her and whispered to herself, "Please have a canopy, please have a canopy!"

When the door stopped moving, Winola walked inside and the squeal finally burst forth. Beneath the candlelit chandelier was a lavish white room with a canopy bed against the left wall and a vanity on the right. Two night tables stood on the left and right of the bed. Winola turned and noticed several tall bookshelves loaded with hardback and leatherbound books lining the wall next to the entrance. She turned again and her jaw dropped at the balcony that stood past the glass doors directly across from the entrance. This was indeed the bedroom of her fantasy dreams.

The attendant cleared his throat. "Milady, did you require any more of my assistance?"

Winola spun and quickly shook her head. "No sir, you are good to go!"

The attendant then bowed and closed the door.

First thing Winola did right after that was run and dived for the bed. She squealed one last time in her pillow. Seems like this alternate world had perks beyond just nice food.

 

[AlwaysXeno]

Aveyln's night and day routine was always the same. But, now there was something new in her life. Her routine had to be different. Winola was here. When Aveyln first woke up and that thought crossed her mind, initially she felt a sense of dread at the potential burden an inexperienced person could be in a war. But, secondly, the flashes of their dinner last night pushed those first thoughts away, allowing a small smirk to breach the woman's face as she prepared for the day. She hadn't trained someone in a while, although she did spend a few months training new recruits that were ultimately pushed into the war with Yadir about a year ago. Occasionally Aurelia has had to reinforce their ranks with conscripts, leaving experienced warriors like Aveyln to teach young men how to charge into war.

But... nothing could truly prepare a soul for the terrors of battle. Would Winola be able to deal with such?

After she finished her routine, Aveyln didn't immediately toss on her armor, opting to don a casual long sleeve shirt and black trousers. She tied up her grey hair into a loose ponytail, beginning a march down the hallway until she reached Winola's living quarters. She pulled open the door without a knock, peering inside to see a still sleeping Winola. It appears that she loved her room arrangements and was probably enjoying the much needed shuteye. However, it was the crack of dawn and Aveyln felt the desperation of the war amounting on her shoulders. Winola had to be ready.

Aveyln sighed, folding her arms and stepping into the room. She had to wake up Winola somehow...

With a quick step, she spun on her heel, slamming the door shut with as much force as possible, creating a sound that echoed off the room's walls.

 

[JyoMonty]

Upon hearing a loud slam, Winola shot up and screamed, "I DIDN'T PUT THE SPOON IN THE MICROWAVE, I SWEAR!" She looked around, bewildered. She felt her disheveled hair; pink strands in every direction imaginable. Where was she? Wait, she knew where she was. Her new bedroom, curtesy of the Aurelian Kingdom. She turned into the direction of the door and saw a familiar silver haired figure. She looked a lot more lax without her armor. She rubbed her eyes. "Let me guess...training?" She looked out the window and saw the orange hue of a sunrise. "Ugh, the sun isn't fully up yet. Can't I sleep for like, 15 more minutes?"

 

[AlwaysXeno]

"I'm glad you understand the direction in which the day will take!" Lady Aveyln grinned devilish, stepping to the foot of Winola's bed.

"Alas, you can't get any more sleep. Extensive sleep is a luxury for those not at war, or those without any real responsibility. Since you lack any combat experience, I need to get you somewhat prepared to defend yourself. Who knows when we'll be called to battle once more. There's men on those front lines on the borders of Aurelia probably in the midst of combat now. It would be a disservice to them to not be training to take their place, no?"

It was as if Aveyln flipped a switch. The sweeter tone she had possessed the night before was hardened back over by her identity as a soldier. Although she still kept the fact that Winola wasn't a shivering eighteen year old boy who was drafted into the military in mind, she wouldn't choose to be any more nice or any more forceful than usual. "Luckily for you, the palace has its own small training ground. We won't have to take horses to one of the military camps a few miles away. Quickly now, time isn't on her side."

Aveyln left the room, letting the door slam behind her. She awaited patiently for Winola to get herself together before leading the young woman down the seemingly never ending corridors of the Aurelian palace. Not before long, the pair walked through a set of doors to the back land of the castle, overlooking the lavish garden. Instead of walking into said garden, the two turned left onto a gravel path that ultimately led to the training ground.

The training ground wasn't large, as Aveyln mentioned, but it was stock full of supplies to efficiently train. Bundles of hay were compiled to form people-like figures alongside lines of targets designated for archery. Stands lined either side of the training ground with a vast variety of weaponry, from spears and broadswords to rapiers and axes. Aveyln glowed as she stepped onto the firm dirt floor of the grounds, her face beaming with excitement. As odd as it sounded, she loved training. She spent hours upon hours training since she was young.

"So... are you prepared to get started?" Aveyln questioned, picking up a short broadsword in her hand, pointing the tip at the girl before her.

 

[JyoMonty]

"I'm glad you understand the direction in which the day will take!" Lady Aveyln grinned devilish, stepping to the foot of Winola's bed.

"Alas, you can't get any more sleep. Extensive sleep is a luxury for those not at war, or those without any real responsibility. Since you lack any combat experience, I need to get you somewhat prepared to defend yourself. Who knows when we'll be called to battle once more. There's men on those front lines on the borders of Aurelia probably in the midst of combat now. It would be a disservice to them to not be training to take their place, no?"

Winola yawned. She knew Avelyn was right. She knew she had to take her place in learning all she could about combat so she could be of use to the war effort. Truth be told, she would only train to NOT be killed. Being known as the savior of Aurelia could really put a target on her back. Well, as long she as a moving armed target, she should be okay. "I hear you, I hear you. Knights are doing their part and I need to do mine." She jumped up and stretched a bit.

It was as if Aveyln flipped a switch. The sweeter tone she had possessed the night before was hardened back over by her identity as a soldier. Although she still kept the fact that Winola wasn't a shivering eighteen year old boy who was drafted into the military in mind, she wouldn't choose to be any more nice or any more forceful than usual. "Luckily for you, the palace has its own small training ground. We won't have to take horses to one of the military camps a few miles away. Quickly now, time isn't on her side."

Aveyln left the room, letting the door slam behind her.

Winola blinked. "Okay. Well, that was...something." She was glad to know the training grounds wasn't far. Though she was young, she despised super long walks.

She walked over to the vanity and opened several drawers. Full set outfits were folded neatly in each drawer. She smiled seeing the different colors. It seemed that the royal family allowed her to pick her own colors to wear. She imagined they would be much more strict seeing they are fairly regal in nature. And if Avelyn was any indicator, fashion was the last thing on the kingdom's mind.

She picked out an outfit and tried it on. It was a black shirt covered in a blue vest and black pants. It seemed more suited for a boy her age, but it felt nice and snug on her. The fabric seemed to breathe as she walked around. She then performed some kung-fu poses she remembered from various action movies. Her awkward posing made her snicker as she saw in the mirror just how ridiculous she looked. She knew good and well they wouldn't be practicing any hand-to-hand combat, but it was nice to dream.

She pulled at the draw directly under the mirror and found a comb and other products. She let out a sigh of relief. So she didn't have to look like a porcupine all day after all. She quickly combed out her hair, wincing most of the way through, applied what seemed like conditioner and used her hands to puff the strands out.

She smiled into the mirror and did a twirling magical girl pose. She stopped and yelled. "Look out, Aurelia! Winn Ryder Blackwell is here!"

She awaited patiently for Winola to get herself together before leading the young woman down the seemingly never ending corridors of the Aurelian palace. Not before long, the pair walked through a set of doors to the back land of the castle, overlooking the lavish garden. Instead of walking into said garden, the two turned left onto a gravel path that ultimately led to the training ground.

The training ground wasn't large, as Aveyln mentioned, but it was stock full of supplies to efficiently train. Bundles of hay were compiled to form people-like figures alongside lines of targets designated for archery. Stands lined either side of the training ground with a vast variety of weaponry, from spears and broadswords to rapiers and axes. Aveyln glowed as she stepped onto the firm dirt floor of the grounds, her face beaming with excitement. As odd as it sounded, she loved training. She spent hours upon hours training since she was young.

"So... are you prepared to get started?" Aveyln questioned, picking up a short broadsword in her hand, pointing the tip at the girl before her.

Winola raised an eyebrow. "Depends." She turned and eyed pair of twin short-swords on the wall. She glowed in excitement as she pointed at the blades. "Oooo. If I can dual-wield those, I'll happily get this started!" This, of course, was only because one of her favorite anime characters dual-wielded swords. Again, a gal can dream.