AN: Well... I'm on a "roll" :D I'm also sick, so it's either this or playing games. Which I surprisingly don't feel like doing. So, guys... I'm sorry, but we'll have to get through a couple more happy and whatnot chapters (which, although I don't particularly like them, are required for this story.) and then we go to the "wonderful" things I have in plan... Obviously. Have to warn you though, this story WILL deserve its M rating, although NOT because of lemons or something. Also, I have to warn you from now. I am not a fan of romance, and this story will have VERY little in it. The pairs will either START as such, or get together reeeeeeeeeeally slow. And Rayne won't get up paired with anyone. So... Knowing that I have now chased off some readers (damn it, me) let's continue with this ridiculously long AN.

Gotta say, receiving the follow/favourite email has to be one of the best things to happen recently! It's nice to see some people are reading this story... Though some reviews wouldn't hurt :p (where have I fallen...). I have to warn you though. I'll try making the chapters longer (maybe around 2K words for now) but I doubt I'll be able to update fast. So, without any further ado, let's get to the story!

Chapter 2

Rayne woke up with a start. Or rather, a thud. She had rolled off her bed again. As she groggily tried to stand up, she heard her sister snickering. Glaring at her, she went back to bed, only to be shaken awake by her mother. Rayne opened her mouth to speak, but the two other women interrupted her.

"Happy Birthday!" they chorused, almost too loud for Rayne's still sleeping self. She had absolutely forgot. Lyan then proceeded to splash her in the face with some cold water. Rayne got up, drenched in water but finally fully awakened and threw herself on Lyan, trying to tickle her. The older girl tried to get her sister off her, which was night impossible. In the past years, Rayne had not only grown to be as tall, if not even more, but she was also near immovable, so all Lyan could do for the moment was attempt to save herself from the merciless tickling.

"You know, usually the big sister terrorizes the little one in this way," Anna chuckled, "though it certainly is amusing to see it the other way around."

Finally, Lyan managed to push her sister off, but Rayne dragged her down with herself, both falling to the floor. They then proceeded to start laughing till their stomachs hurt, Anna smiling beside them. It made her so happy to see them like this. She regretted trying to make them like everyone else, trying to make them "normal" in the eyes of others. For her, the thing that made her happiest was seeing them laugh and smile.

It was Rayne's seventeenth birthday. Her mother planned a special surprise, but it had to be kept a secret. Even Lyan didn't know, seeing as the surprise would be for her too. Anna smiled, even the thought of how her daughters would react was making her so happy. She looked at them, and saw them both laying on the ground, breathing hard and letting out an occasional giggle. Even though Rayne had caught up in height, she and Lyan were still so different. Lyan remained the slender beauty, having many people stare after her, though she retained every bit of the wildness she and her sister shared. Her hair had brightened up, becoming almost blonde, but her eyes remained the same. Green and full of life. Her sister on the other hand, grew to be a splitting image of their father. Tall and stout, with almost black hair and wild gray eyes. The cut she acquired three years ago really did scar, much to Anna's displeasure. She scolded her daughter for not showing the nick to her, but all she ever got was a shrug and a smile. Though, as different as they looked, the two sisters still were as thick as thieves. They would still get in trouble together, sometimes without Anna ever learning about their "adventures", as they liked to call them. They had grown up to be iron willed and strong, and both of them couldn't wait till they started their real training. Still, even without proper training, they had developed some of their gifts. Both, like their mother, shared a strong connection to the Light, but Lyan could call upon it at any time, to heal and protect. Rayne couldn't heal or protect as well, but she could strengthen herself with the holy light, becoming a formidable warrior even with no training.

Both still pestered the adventurers, but this time not only for training, but for a friendly spar. The passing heroes agreed, and even though they held back much, it made them smile to see two people as devoted as the sisters. Their mother abandoned all "hope" for them to be ordinary, and just settled for supporting them and watching them grow into what they desired. Her thoughts were interrupted by Lyan, who was poking her.

"Mom, where's the cake? Shouldn't there be cake?" the sister impatiently asked. Both of them loved her cooking, and cake was a special treat. Anna smiled for the upteenth time today. It was nice seeing that they both had something childish left in them. Rayne raised her head and looked at her too, eyes like a puppy's.

"Of course there is cake, how could you even think I would miss it!" Anna laughed. "Come, it's downstairs in the kitchen with the presents and a special guest."

Rayne ran down the stairs, almost tripping a couple of times, and then zoomed to the kitchen. However, she abruptly stopped at the door, panting and with her jaw open. Lyan followed close behind and mirrored the reaction.

In the room there was a two floored cake, some presents in brown wrappings, two swords and a paladin standing next to it all. He was the paladin that they met when they were younger, the one that offered to train them, though now he was clad in spectacular armor, with Light shining from his pauldrons and a war hammer by his side. He was smiling warmly and it was as if his entire being emanated the Light, soothing and healing.

"Greetings, young paladins."

Both of them couldn't believe their eyes. Anna came in last and offered seats to everyone, now having donned a permanent happy smile. Rayne was just staring, thoughts going wild in her head. What if this was all a cruel joke? After all, she was only seventeen, and her mother had been strict with her words. But what if this was all real? The only sound she managed to produce was a weak "What?", before she just sat on the chair and continued staring. She tried to chase away all false hope, because no, there was no way this was going to happen. She felt her sister sit next to her, the same thoughts probably going through her head as well. They were awakened from their stupor by a voice, a smile evident in it.

"Come now, it's rude to stare." he said, voice warm. But they couldn't stop. This was the thing that they had both dreamed about for years, and now it was in front of their own eyes. It was a dream come true.

Rayne was the first one to speak.

"You... Are serious about this. It's not a joke?"she muttered in a hopeful voice. How she feared the answer, and yet wanted to hear it as soon as possible.

"The only joke here is you two's expressions," Anna laughed.

"But... Didn't you say I have to be older?"

"Yes, I did. But as I saw more and more of you two's devotion, I just couldn't bring myself to keep you two here. I've arranged with Sir Stanton here to train you both in the ways of the Paladins."

The man bowed.

"Sir Stanton Rutherford, at your service." he presented himself.

Rayne finally snapped out of it. She nudged Lyan and both kneeled in front of the holy warrior.

"It would be an honour to serve under you, Sir Stanton"

"You are not going to be serving under me, I am merely taking you two as pupils. Are you comfortable with leaving tomorrow morning? We will be headed to the Capitol, though on our way we shall visit Light's Hope chapel."

Rayne sent a look at her mother and received and encouraging nod.

"Of course sir, are we free to go and start preparing?" she asked, barely maintaining a squeal-free voice.

"Yes you are. I and your mother shall stay here to finish up some details."

Rayne all but hopped to her room, mind already swirling with possibilities and scenarios. She would get to train, to become a real paladin! She would slay monsters, battle villains and be praised as a hero together with her sister! She doubted she could ever thank her mother enough for this gift. She looked back and saw Lyan right on her heels, eyes sparkling with excitement. When they got to their shared room though, first thing they did was flop on their beds and start laughing in glee. Then they just jumped from the beds, hugged each other and started spinning through the room until their heads felt dizzy. Then both of them just collapsed and kept on grinning, with the occasional burst of laughter.

Downstairs both adults could hear the sounds of happiness, and both were gently smiling.

"Sounds like it was a long awaited moment."

"Oh yes, it was. Rayne would beg me before her birthday to let her and Lyan train. She hasn't done it the last two years though... So this might have turned out even better than what I originally had in mind."

The paladin was looking at the stairs.

"They sure sound happy. But what of you?" he turned to her.

"What of me?"

"You are letting your two daughters in the big world full of danger, something you have tried to prevent for so long. How do you feel?"

"I... Feel scared, to be honest. But unbelievably happy about them. Just promise me one thing." Anna's visage cracked. A sad mother was what Rutherford saw in front of him, a sad but strong mother, willing to do anything for her children.

"Yes?" he expected the request.

"Keep them safe. Do anything to keep them safe. I have no power to make you swear on your life but... Please keep them safe at any costs. Don't make me regret this."

"I will, Anna." Rutherford said with a hand on his heart."And I swear on my life."

Her only response was a nod. Tears were welling up in her eyes, but she would not let it show. Not in front of Rayne and Lyan. She didn't want to worry them or dim their happiness. Anna half-wished it would be over sooner. She never liked long goodbyes.

The evening came and dinner was served. Everyone, including sir Stanton were gathered around the small kitchen table. The holy knight was subjected to a barrage of questions, not all of which he could answer. Rayne glanced to her mother and suddenly felt sad. She realized they would be leaving her, the only family she had left would leave her. Anna wore a mask of happiness, but Rayne saw that it was cracked. She could sense the sadness radiating from her only parent, but she knew not what to do. Dinner was finished up fast, maybe too fast for her liking. As much as she couldn't wait for tomorrow, she felt bad. A part of her didn't want to leave now, a part of her wanted to stay, to have more time to prepare herself for leaving, but it was all set. Tomorrow at sunrise they would go. They had both already packed their belongings, and it would do no good to make their new teacher wait. She felt a stinging in her eyes. Her sister kept up the barrage of questions. Rayne leaned back and closed her eyes. Once on the way, there would be no return. The Capitol was far away and they would be able to visit only rarely. She glanced at her mother again. She wished to just talk, but didn't know what to say. Finally, she excused herself, explaining she was tired. As she was going up the stairs, she could feel the questioning eyes on her back, but she paid them no heed. She lit a candle and laid on her bed, starting to doze off. She heard her sister come in and try to ask what was bothering her, but ignored it and pretended to be asleep. The last thing she remembered before falling asleep was the loving kiss of her mother on her forehead and a barely heard whisper:

"Be safe, for I love you more than anything."

AN: By the way, random fact. Lyan's name is pronounced very closely to "lion", not "lían". Sooo, I hope you all liked it. There will probably be an update soon enough, but till then R&R (I'd really appreciate the reviews, feedback and such, you know it) and till next time!