Steps echoed through the halls, the patter of feet upon the tiles. Forward she strode, her hair flowing with her gliding through the crowds. Her eyes darting around, the purple in them as bright as the brightest of Amethyst. The flap of her long black coat, airing the halls as she moved.
A sword at her side in full sheathe, a variety of somewhat visible washed away in the sea of black. Around her those in leather stepped aside, many nodding and carrying on with their day. At the edge of the hall she stopped with a quarter turn, facing a group, “Nalak’s Squad, right?”
Four individuals trenched in black turned, all giving nods with one stepping to the forefront, “Yes, that is correct. How can we help you Illiya?”
“I have orders from Illiago and a Mission for you to handle. Briefing Room C if you need more info but on Planet Yanpapi, there appears to be a report of ghosts haunting an old castle. Illiago felt the need to assign this mission to you, stating that you would do well.”
“Pft, of course he’d give us an exorcism mission. Oh well, come on gang,” the lead said walking from the direction Illiya had come from.
She turned a slight bit watching them go, a sigh leaving her with the swift turn back to continue ahead, “My oh my, what they could do if not for Illiago giving such assignments. Oh well, it can’t be helped.”
Her steps echoed with the chatter of voices ceasing behind, down a barren corridor where nothing stood, not even light at the fullest. The lights came on, flickering only to then die off for a split second. Despite this she carried on. The steps echoed, one two one two one two… three four five three four five.
‘Hmm?’ she thought to herself, stopping with her back turning.
Her eyes peered back, not a thing in place despite the footsteps that echoed over her own. Back around she turned, continuing on her way to a set of doors. Cast open by twin hands they parted, the light of Elysium pouring over as she stepped forward into a massive garden full of life. Trees, flowers, grass, bushes, all in green with a rainbow of coloration washing over the entire area. Few people stood outside as she swam through the light into the garden. Behind the doors clanged shut, her eyes fully lit now by the emergence into such a scene.
Warmth.
Warmth from the light baked over her, a feeling akin to that of a hug by one another cherishes deeply; for that is the magic of the Elysium light. Her arms spread, her hands flexed, breathing in a huge breath of the fresh air, “Ahhh… I love Elysium in its Summer. Hmm?”
Her eyes drifted towards one of the trees, squinting. There a figure sat in one of the branches, the back of someone visible with their hair flowing. On the ground way in front of this person slumbered several individuals. The feet of the one in the tree kicked forward and back, hands at their side.
“You up there!” Illiya shouted.
“Huh? Wha-WHA!!”
THUD!!!
Illiya ran over quick, the person on their back, “Oh gosh, I wasn’t expecting you to just fall over. You should know better than to watch people sleeping though cade- oh crap.”
“Ugh, that hurt,” the person mumbled sitting up.
Their hair, blonde and lengthy down their back. Their eyes, very emeraldy green and reflective of the light. Slight soot rested upon her face, especially around a tiara with the symbol of Starset engraved into it.
“Oh crap, I just spooked a princess. Oh man, dammit. Not good.”
The individual fully sat up now with her own arms outstretched, “Oh man, that was- hmm?”
She bent backwards allowing for her head to flop back, viewing Illiya upside down. All at once she sprung up with the soot and dirt flying off of her, “Oh gosh, a ranger! Oh please, please don’t report me. I wasn’t doing anything!”
“I uh, don’t- what?” Illiya mumbled.
“Like, please don’t tell my family or anyone that I’m here. I don’t want to get into trouble again.”
“I mean- why would I?”
“Beeeeeeeeee-cause they don’t want me hanging out around here cuz it’s a bad influence I guess or whatever.”
“Really? Huh, that’s a new one to me. Wait a minute, aren’t you-”
“Hmm?”
“Oh gosh, you’re the one that blew up Silas and Mifune during that last gathering, you’re Princess Dawn!”
“Shhh- keep your voice down. I don’t want anyone to know I’m here.”
“Oh, right, sorry.”
“Yeah though, you’re right.”
“So why are you watching people sleep?”
“Wha, oh I didn’t mean to I just- ugh, I just wanted to observe what you guys do on a daily basis.”
“Why?”
“Cuz my parents won’t let me. I just really really really want to know what it’s like to be a knight I guess, or even a ranger. The adventure, the people you could meet, heh. But all my parents care about is grooming me to be some stupid figure head. It’s not like I’m going to be the next queen or anything either. I’m only third in line should anything happen or should my folks retire.”
“I mean, that’s still wicked cool though right?”
“No, it’s boring. I have to learn politics and learn the duties of a princess. I can’t fight, I can’t learn cool magic. It sucks.”
“Well why not, huh?”
Before the two approached another set of individuals, two cloaked in black, one dressed in a gray armor heavily built, an ax on his back. He strode forward, his dark blond hair flowing in the wind, “Ah, Ranger Illiya,” the individual spoke.
“G-General Hrodulf, sir. A pleasure to see you again,” Illiya quickly stammered out with a bow.
“It has been quite some time, hasn’t it? Mmm, ah, Lady Dawn. A pleasure to see you as well. When last I saw you, you were barely passed my knees,” he spoke in a soft voice, a voice soft like honey.
“Heh heh, yeah I’ve uh, I’ve grown quite a bit.”
“And from what I hear you still have a knack for getting into trouble.”
“What, me? Nah haha, I don’t know where you’d hear such a thing, really I don’t. Eh, heh heh.”
“Heh, right right. Well at any rate, I have a task for you Illiya.”
“A request? Oh sure sure!”
“I need you to drop something off in the Avalon District. I know a delivery isn’t stellar but it seems you have a friend to entertain now, right?”
“Uh, sure, sure I guess. Yeah, I can do that.”
“Excellent,” Hrodulf murmured holding up a package handed to him by one of the cloaked individuals, “Doctor Greshin. He’s a researcher for the kingdom that is researching a toxin seen on a few worlds.”
“Thank you General, I’ll be sure that this gets to him.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll leave you to it then, Illiya.”
As Hrodulf walked by with his two escorts, Dawn turned quickly to Illiya, “Wait so does this mean that I-”
“Get to come with me? Seems that way, Princess.”
“Awesome! I’ve never seen the city on my own, well, sort of my own. This’ll be exciting!”
“Heh. If you say so.”497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32i6n7KgSC
