I awoke the next morning, then deeming it too early, my ears tickled with the sound of drapery opening.
"Rise and shine you! It's a brand new day!" The gentle breeze of an airy tune thrilled against my skin, making it blatantly clear this was Aira speaking. Dammit.

I placed my head under the pillow, "Give me a couple of minutes. And while you're leaving, close the curtains. It's too sunny for heaven's sake." I heard Sofia's fluid humming in the background as she took her clothes and left, presumably to wash up for the day.

Aira's tone settled to a more serious one, reaching out as far as to gust the pillow away to the floor. I looked away in irritation. "I'm afraid not. Unfortunately protocol calls and besides, I still would've insisted. There's a world out there, at your disposal, to explore. You can't waste the opportunity at your dispense to mope to yourself."

I relented, pulling the quilt back, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know what I came for; to help your princess. I don't need every forsaken person I meet to remind me."

Aira signed, "You're doing it again. There's no reason to get hostile with everybody. Remember, we offer helping hands, not pestilent ones... unless you cross the line of endangering our people." She grabbed a cleanly wrapped bundle and placed it on the bed, "Now if you excuse me, I'm going to check on how breakfast is coming along."

Before I knew it, I was left standing there on my own in the bedchambers, with only my humdrum thoughts and the insufferably lively sun for amenity.

Lord Kalabhiti. The undead. Evonin. God, what trouble did I get myself into now? I kept asking the mellow sky. But nothing... just the chirping of sparrows.

Foolish of me anyways. I convinced myself, unwrapping the parchment and spreading the outfit over the bed. This time, it wasn't an everyday outfit, much less a dress. Instead, I had a white empirical blouse, with a fitted dark plum lace-up vest, black trousers, and ornate lace-up boots to match. I went to the bureau and grabbed a fresh pair of chemise, putting on the outfit one by one. Lastly lacing up the boots. I took a hasty look at myself in the mirror. There, acceptable enough. Other than brushing my teeth and washing my face, I'll be just fine for the day.

Yet when arriving near the door of the lavatory, I heard the faint sound of what I perceived as humming. I positioned my ear more firmly against the door, instead deciphering patterns more consistent to a ballad.

That means...Sofia's still in there. Part of me wanted to just turn back and come back later... yet the other felt the impulse to stay. When I was little, she'd sing to me whenever I had a nightmare or couldn't sleep. Not once had her voice failed me. But after Calix died, the lullabies me and Gavril grew accustomed to also died as she'd only hum sedately.

I stood idle the door, not making a peep, "Oh crane, oh crane, hither you? I've searched through the hill to a brook. There I see the barren wastes, I'd thought you'd make it through. The joyous laughs, the infectious smiles, the loving words that once passed.
"Hey little crane, did you know? Little crane, did you hear my heart call for you? On the hills, a raven calls, asking hither you?
"Then a daisy pure as snow arises through the barren hills. Chamomile grants its patience, chrysanthemum its cheer, lotuses its life, and yarrows as I... tumbled down..."

This song... I faintly recalled it, a long time ago... as to where and when exactly were dazed. I don't know why. I spontaneously opened the door. She didn't even bother to lock it. Disregardingly, I tapped her right arm gently three times, with which she was placing a sturdy white ribbon at the end of her dutch plait. She wore the same variant clothes as me, the blouse and neckline ruffled, her vest of a crepe pink shade, and caramel colored pants and boots. When she finally discerned my presence, her singing steadily dispersed into a whisper, then ceased like the stop of a hummingbird's chest.

"Oh...Liselotte? My apologies for the disturbance." She gave me one ruminative look, maintaining a mellow countenance as she left. Was it what I told her the previous night?  I'd like to make amends. I'd like to tell her at that very moment... I had no place to defile her. But every time I'd done so, she told me: 'your right. I don't nor ever will deserve your forgiveness for what I'm doing'. She always abided vague over the assertion. Perhaps she knew some dark secret about me. Maybe I was being left out of the loop. I thought every ninety-seven times I've heard it. I wouldn't make any assumptions on my part because that could refer to anything.

Picking the brush up, I went through the unruly locks. God, I need a haircut. The last time I got one must've been when I was eight. Not that it mattered. I rarely took much time styling it anyway, due to how tough it was just to put it in a simple ponytail. But today, I choose to waste my time, brushing through until all the knots were astray. Then, I took a ribbon and used it to make a simple ponytail. By the time it was over, I looked different... not akin to the girl slaving over fields of roses seven days a week until my body was sore. Not akin to the little girl climbing up trees, falling out and getting bruises, scratches, and scoldings.

Then, I heard it. Aira's distinctively lighthearted and accordant raps on the door three times. "Liselotte, breakfast is served."

Breakfast is served. I opened the door and nodded. She beamed as she examined my outfit, humming in complacency. "I knew you'd suit such apparel, practical and unconstrained. Just like you." She kept walking, I just followed suit.

"About that..." I placed a hand on the stairway, "What's with the sudden change of attire? All we've worn since we arrived were dresses." I said, looking Aira directly in the eye.

Aira coughed awkwardly, fiddling with the glittery gossamer of her dress, which was so clearly tailor-made and fitted that it suited her hourglass figure wholly. On the other hand, the glitter coated throughout and the low neckline was rather trying the lines for what would've been considered befitting in court. But it was clear from her exuberance that she could care less. In fact, she carries herself with such youth to the degree where it's difficult to remember that she's the eldest of the three. "Sorry, that would just ruin the surprise." She mused.

"For people who claim to need our help, you're sure awfully secretive about the crucial information. The more were told, the better and sooner we can effectively awaken the princess." I told her.

Aira sheepishly smiled, "Your right, Liselotte... but as much as I want to tell you... it wouldn't be fair if I just told you. But I promise...we will explain the situation later."

"Hmm... and what, I should just take your word? All anyone's been doing was suppressing detail after detail. Must I explain?" Lord Kalabhiti and the undead topping thus far, Prince Chariton's identity seconding that.

Aira signed and gave me no more of a proper response, just aanother one of her giddy smiles.

By the time we arrived downstairs, food was already set on the table. This time around, as opposed to the melon tarts and sweet basil broth served the day prior, there was only one singular tray of sliced black bread with poppy seeds encrusted and a pitcher of lemon water. Odessa was absent from the equation but from what Aira explained, it wasn't unusual for her to intentionally do so. Sofia was placing utensils on the table and Hestia just now came to the table, her choppy red hair emitting light hues of flame from the tips.

"Took you long enough, now sit your ass down and eat. We don't have much time."

Not much time? What the hell are we doing now? Waking up so early with such a light breakfast? Hell, I should be used to it. I should've been after two straight years of the routine, but at least then, I knew what exactly for. In this particular scenario, nobody was being too generous. Which was aggravating. If there was anything I detested more than small talk or being told what to do, it was beating around the bush.

"What time do you wake up Hestia? You're always one step ahead." I snark, somewhat out of irritation at her sternness, but also from genuine curiosity.

"And why do you ask so many personal questions not concerning you?" She shot back, "But if you care so much then four am, for what? That depends. Some mornings, I prefer horseriding, and on the other more... volatile ones...kickboxing or hiking." She averted her eyes from me, "...Don't barrage me with any more questions like that. Just sit down and eat."

I complied, sitting down and pouring myself a cup of lemon water. Gnawing my slice of bread, I took occasional gulps, which other than the faint taste of honey, went down my throat like acid. I ignored it and continued the pattern.

Odessa's still gone. I scanned the room as discretely as possible. She was extremely stealthy so perhaps at one point, she had entered and I was just blissfully ignorant. Or worst of all, she might've noticed me sneaking out and went to search for me? The possibility dawned on me and then, dispersed immediately at the irrationality. It would be out of Odessa's character to approach the situation in such a matter. Much less to disappear spontaneously if she were merely searching for me.

"Where's Odessa?" Sofia asked.

Aira stepped in to respond, "She never said anything about it but she departed to Troya with ambassadors for a state meeting. Rest assured, she's well and alive."

An alliance for the war, I suppose? Regardless, I didn't say a word. I only draggled behind Aira, Hestia, and Sofia through halls of paintings and the throne room. Eventually, we arrived around the kitchens, where young servants of various years held plates of broths, sprinkled in exotic spices, pieces of bacon, and sirloin of beef, along with pear and apple pastries and omelets. The cooks, as they worked on either the ovens, the kettles, the iron spits, skillets, or churners, greeted us. Though I believe the smiles were for Aira and Hestia, as opposed to me and Sofia.

We kept going through the seemingly endless crooks and nannies of the palace until we arrived at the very top and highly seclusive level. Where no entrance except one stood; a colossal obsidian scarlet door embedded with gold steel.

Unsure what to say, I prepared myself for whatever face was behind this door. Tahan? Chariton? Kapaneus? King Bervon? Queen Theia? Who? I kept praying it wasn't Prince Kapaneus nor his brother, Prince Chariton. Otherwise, I wouldn't know what to do with myself. Please. Anybody but them... anybody but them... anybody but them...

Aira held the right door handle, Hestia took the latter. But there and then, Aira hesitated and gave me and Sofia an imploring gaze- a gaze similar to the one I saw just two days prior.

"Try not to kill each other." She said.

Sofia and I gave her baffled looks. "Try not to kill each other? Aira...why are you saying that? Who's in there?" Sofia managed to writhe out her lips.

Aira tightened her grip on the door, "Actually, I meant that as a cautionary, but mostly aiming at Liselotte." She gave me a 'no offense' grimace at my glower. "Just don't kill each other, okay?" Sofia skeptically nodded whilst I too nodded, albeit begrudgingly.

For a slight second when the door opened, it was as if I died and was now in a seraphic paradise of some kind, with Calix and an unknown woman. Pallid skin to the point where it was ashen, a gaunt frame and long dark brown tresses. Brought to life by a pair of shining large, almond-shaped eyes, which were the color of dark soil on a sunlit day. I didn't know exactly whom she was. She did wear a necklace, the spinel gem shaped like the sun, etched with the name 'Viviana'.

A glass ceiling revealed the early morning sun, glass windows looking out beyond. Smack in the middle, there was a circular arena, the sound of running water from the fountain and statues looking upon me. Before I could protest, Calix and the smiling women banished as spontaneously as they came. Instead, the person who stood right in the middle of this room was not human. Those knife-edging eyes serrated mine, blonde hair shining with the sun along with a very familiar aura of princeliness.

Prince Kapaneus. Why him out of all people? He didn't look nearly as charmed to be in the same room as us. In fact, he looked just as chagrined as me. His arms crossed against his chest. Like us, he wore a matching outfit, only his blouse was porcelain white and tailored in the collar, his vest charcoal black with gold buttons and embroidery. He wore matching trousers and matching lace-up boots.

I kept thinking of different possibilities as to why this was happening to me. Punishment for something I've said to the Elemental Weavers? A order out of spite from the King? How come I have to deal with this prick? But that couldn't be true. It likely has to do with Princess Rosalia. He is her brother... unfortunately.

Sofia looked just as uncomfortable, though she was more mortified than anything - and I couldn't necessarily blame her. Especially after what he told her. The door closed behind us promptly and I knew this was what it's come to. Aira and Hestia did what at this point I figured was their staple nature...leaving.

Prince Kapaneus, of course, looked less than pleased. Staring at us both as if we were living venom.

"Introduction would be a waste of time. You know wholly who I am and I know precisely who you are. Follow me." He turned around and we both followed, albeit reluctantly. He led us to the circular arena and to the water fountain, focusing on the statue in the middle. He placed his palm on the statue. When he did, it flared flashes of color, from garnet to sapphire to periwinkle, to indigo. Then, the running water glistened and rumbled. Sofia, cautiously backed up until the water fountain demoted down into the ground, being replaced with diffusive underground stairs.

All my prior thoughts of hesitation dispersed as overwhelming curiosity took ahold. I went down the windy steps, the abrupt turns here and there. Sofia followed behind, treading circumspectly as we went. "Does the stairway entrance get replaced by the fountain... once we enter?"

Kapaneus nodded curtly, fixing the collar of his blouse as he responded, "Yes. The whole purpose of the palm detection functions would've been purportless."

Where are you taking us? It was the question I wanted an answer to. But I knew Prince Kapaneus wouldn't give a valid answer for that, a snooty remark at the most perhaps.

Little by little, the utter murkiness switches over to dimness, then something remotely distinctive enough to see. Ironstone walls, polished mosaic limestone floors indurate enough to crack a skull, and sconces hung about. Two doors stood in the back, likely leading to two other chambers.

As Sofia and I looked around, Kapaneus came to the middle. "Welcome to the Cryptic Quarters, otherwise known as our training quarters. This is where you will come every morning thereabout."

Great. Every morning? "What about those two doors in the back? And how long do we have to deal with this?" I said, pointing to the two chamber doors.

He stared me and Sofia down disdainfully, "Do all humans ask so many questions? Or is it just you two?" He spat that last line with such aversion that it could've cut the tension in two. If I thought Kapaneus was at his haughtiest, then I was wrong. Terribly mistaken.

"Ha! When you're instructed to follow a stranger somewhere with no context, how do you expect one to react? Wouldn't you have at least a shred of curiosity? But I suppose Mr. Goldeneyes could have no faults!" I replied mockingly, not even thinking twice over the consequences. Drats. Why am I giving this twat the satisfaction of my annoyance? I guess in that regard, both Sofia and Mama have a point. My mouth gets me in trouble.

Kapaneus smirked, almost as if I said something ironic. "How endearing. Of all the invectives you could've possibly used, you brought up my eye color."

"What do you mean?" I asked, furrowing my brow.

He dodged my question, "I won't waste my breath clarifying."

Sofia cleared her throat, her face pale with discomfort, "Pardon my interjection but are you two done quarreling?"

Kapaneus and I both glared at her, but eventually gave in as she continued, "And while I'm at it, what specifically are you teaching us? Why you?"

For what seemed like an eternity, their eyes met, both observing the other. Kapaneus's eyes broke first. "I had just as little choice in the matter as you. Someone has to accustom your fighting and magical capabilities. How else will you survive in this world? How else would you help my sister?"

Just like that, her complexion paled. There was very little Sofia didn't tolerate, very little Sofia couldn't accomplish with her tenacity. But anything having to do with combat was her weakness. Calix was nine, Sofia was eight, and I was five. That day, uncle Frederick took us to the guard's barracks for a tour. We were given wooden swords and allowed to practice on juvenile dummies. At some point, we practiced on each other. I recall the clashes of wood, her guarding her hands despite our uncle's reprimands not to. I lost my patience. Then the next second, she fell to the floor, tears cascading down her cheeks, her wrist sporting black and blue splotches. None of us ever forgot it.

Now, she sulked. Then she was back to her composed self, "Your right. I have to learn at some point." She mildly declared.

For one quick second, something flickered in Kapaneus's expression. But his knife-edging expression returned. "Enough with the questions, let's go." He led us to the first chamber, unlatching the door. What we were greeted with was a heap of various weapons. Hung on every wall, held in chests, all labeled accordingly- shields, swords, maces, daggers, axes, staffs, bows...

Kapaneus went to the wall of swords, taking down two pairs. One which was slender and light. "Swords, I'm sure you've seen these plenty of times before. There the most favored of weapons you'll encounter. This one..." He held up the slender one, "Is called a rapier. Their stab-thrust and cut-stab styled weapons. One crucial feature of them is their protective hilts."

He placed the rapier right back on the display, taking down a similar looking sword, only this one was more heavy bladed and sharp-ended. "Cut and thrust swords. Their similar to rapiers, only they have heavy blades and a dull spot on the guard wielded for extra leverage during combat. When you observe more of the bulky swords, they possess this dull spot as well." As he placed the cut and thrust sword back, I looked at the two final swords, a sharpened one-side blade and a rigid shafted one. Those I've seen before. Back home whenever I and Sofia walked past the town. These swords were always worn on the cavalry and infantry whilst the dull-bladed swords were seen on guards. Self-defense swords, he explained. Makes sense, they never looked all too effective.

For the next 20 minutes, he introduced us to other weapons, warhammers, polearms, and even firearms. When he came to the bows and arrows, he stopped. "Bows and arrows. Efficient weapons to have around, deadly if properly used. The only catch is that they can get extremely unpractical to carry around and take much dedication and patience to master."

Wait... Queen Theia mentioned something about Chariton training in archery. He'd be an expert with the bow supposedly, right? "Is there anyone in your family who's efficient with the bow and arrow?" I asked.

Kapaneus paused for a minute, "Unless you count my father and brother, then no."

"What about you?" Sofia piped up.

Kapaneus put the bow he held in his hands back up on the walls, "I know the basics of archery but they just aren't my style. I prefer the practicality of blades." He said.

Doesn't surprise me, he seems to be that kind of person.

He leads us back to the main chamber, up to the entrance of the second chamber. Then with the swipe of his hand, the door clicked open. Inside, this room was even more elaborate, solely weapons strapped all over the walls. In the middle, a mini arena with wooden fences surrounding it. The sconces lighting up the intense environment.

I explored attentively, while Sofia looked even more horrifiedly at the number of weapons staking the room. Kapaneus collectedly stalked the room, likely judging our reactions. I took my time, testing the swords. Surprisingly, they weren't nearly as heavy as I thought. I could swing them back, downwards and even upwards too without much problem.

Then, I move on to the daggers, taking a swing of one which was long and sharp at the tip, with elegant wings bordering the hilt. The dagger felt feathery and fitted in my hands, even more so than the swords. Suddenly, I felt as if two pairs of eyes were eying me, far too much for my likening. Sharply, I turned around. My grip on the dagger tightening.

"Your Highness, is there a problem?"

He smirked condescendingly, in the way that made me tempted to punch him, "Your really something else, are you? Though seeing as my brother's taken an interest in you, I'm hardly surprised."

It was then that the dagger fell to the floor. HE knows too? Actually, I shouldn't be surprised. It was a ball, with nobles all over court with snooping, vile tongues... and what I did...

"How did you find out?"

He smirked again, "Does it matter how? I just know." Then Kapaneus just left me be. Throughout the rest of that first session, the words 'I just know' kept reworking, even as I listened to the daily schedule.... swordsmanship every Monday, dagger throwing on Tuesdays, hand combat Wednesdays, so forth...