Lexiana Acosta: Chapter Four

Lexiana's Story has entirely changed from what it once was. I realized that her being wealthy is not as interesting or as motivational. So I changed her backstory.

Five years ago I remember like it was yesterday. It was a beautiful sunny day in Vulkania the people are out and about doing their shopping or whatever business they need to do. But many people are celebrating because today is the day for the peace treaty to be signed between the Red Draconium Empire and the Green Draconium Empire. The two nations who have always fought each other for the superiority of land and power. My land is the Red Draconium Empire and we were the ones to put our hands out for peace. But over hearing some people and even dragons some do not sound so confident. Many proclaim that our Empress should be there, but she could not attend due to her being heavy with child. The peace treaty was being hosted at Mille Voix the Turquoises capital City. A place where both nations can go without fearing the other.

I realized I was distracted and quickly started to head to Lord Pohzars mansion to apply for a job as a handmaiden. I have just turned fifteen years old and my mother says it is time for me to get a job to help sustain the family. I hoped to work in the dragon racing stables but the uprising and delicate nature of human and dragon relations here stopped the sport. My older sister Plamya is a trained handmaiden and works for Princess Regina the eldest daughter of Empress Vatra. Plamya asked the royal advisors but unfortunately, they did not need any more handmaidens or they desired people with actual experience.

But fortunately, they did mention a few nobles who are looking for help. So my sister wrote a small list so I can visit them to ask if they will take me. We are lucky to receive an education since our mother is a teacher. Across the city near the ocean is Lord Pohzars mansion. Lord Pohzar owns the larger dragon fruit, lemons, bananas and pineapple plantations across the nation. Obscenely wealthy and are known to be close and good friends to the royal family.

I started to rush through the city, the mansion is so far away from my home. We live in an area called Volcanic Run. It is the middle-class part of the city and is known not to be safest naturally considering that it is the closest area to the volcano. The large wall edge surrounding my home section is made out of volcanic rock and the wall sits at two hundred feet high. It has been there for thousands of years and was built to protect us from the lava that sometimes seeps from the volcano. The volcano is very much alive but it has never erupted as our ancestors have lived here for thousands of years and there is no record of such an event.

Through the twists and turns of the busy streets, I finally approached the Pohzar mansion. It was built out of volcanic rock with carvings with fire signatures and as you get closer it looks like the carvings look like they contain flowing lava. I see the guards walking up to me they wear bright read armour made out of iron and red draconium. The armour plating is bright red and under armour is maroon coloured. It looked amazing as it had immense fire details all over it. The queens' guard has similar armour sets but they are so much more elaborate.

They immediately asked me in a defensive tone as to why I am here. I explained my reasoning and I gave them a piece of paper that my sister had written with the advisors. They looked at each other and then looked at me. They agreed to take me in.

Being inside the mansion was something else the volcanic rocks look like it has been polished like it was marble. It shined when the sun hit it and when I walked past the massive pillars they glowed red like the ones outside. I followed close behind the guards and I see a small feeble man walk out of a study that looks like a throne room. The guards stopped and looked up. The little man walked with a limp and he had a cane to balance. He slowly headed towards me and I smiled with a nod.

"We have someone here to see if you have a position as handmaiden". One of the guards said. He had such a commanding voice it was hard not to be turned on by it. "Hello," I said sheepishly I was so nervous I almost couldn't contain it. I held my bag tightly as I grinned. It was very awkward since I also just interrupted the guard.

"Hello" he replied back with a stern confidence. "A handmaiden, eh?" He looks up at me and grinned. I admit it was hard to look at his face considering his hair is bright red and orange and shaped like a flame. "Um…Yes, my sister and the royal advisors said you were looking for help." I replied trying my hardest to look confident. This is very clearly my first interview for a job. But my family is depending on it. He looks at me up and down and even walks around me. I had no idea why he would walk around me but I did not like the feeling that I had at the time. Now I realise he was probably just an old pervert. He was just silent as he was thinking as he was stroking his fiery red beard.

"Sadly you seem like a nice girl but I have no more need of handmaidens as my daughters already have new trained appointed ones." He looks at me and then frowns. "I am sorry girl but I have no need for you here."

I frowned as the guards turned around to escort me out of the building. "Will you please give me a chance my lord?" I screamed out. He then quickly turned around and told me no and not to push anymore. I realized I pushed my limits so I turned around and walked with the guards to exit the place.

I exited the property and started to walk through the city. It is now late afternoon as the heat and humidity is now at its peak. Good thing I wore my light orange and yellow dress which helps with the heat. I slowed down my pace deliberately as I didn't want to reveal to my family that I failed to get the job. I know there will be others but it still it is no fun to tell them of my failures.

I finally reached home when the sun looks like its beginning to set and I knocked on my front door. My mother answered and tried greeted me happily. However, when she saw my face she toned down her happiness trying to hide her disappointment. She knew I was unsuccessful. She lets me inside and I talked about my day and meeting Lord Pohzar. She sighed and looked at me as she is not sure of what to do.

"Hows daddy?" I asked. Mum looked at me and sighed again. He has been bedridden for the past few months after an accident in the mines. Since then mum has been a bit distant from me and my sisters. Sometimes talking to her it seems she's not even there or she is just not listening to us.

"He is slowly getting better… He will never be able to work in the mines again". Those words she said made my heart sink. But it made me feel a bit relieved because working in the Red Draconium mines is incredibly dangerous. All it took was a spark of unbalanced raw energy and fire to cause an explosion that killed ten dragons, seven people and injured many others including dad. We use the draconium to make gear, gadgets and weapons but before then it has to go through a process of stabilization before use and rarely it's unsuccessful. After all, we are playing with fire and terrible things can happen…

"LEXI!" As I hear a shout bursting inside the house. It is my little sister Jamil. She runs to me with open arms and I pick her up spinning her around and she laughs with complete joy. Jamil is the joy of our family at the age of ten years old she is very bright and dreams to be a teacher like mum. She always tries to cheer everyone up even through tough times.

My mother is an amazing teacher but she was the only one able to take care of father after the accident. I tried but I do not have great healing hands or have knowledge of applying medicine and bandages. I accidentally hurt him at one point and caused an inflammation on the burns on his left arm. He was at the hospital for a while but they said he could go home and we can afford only so many home doctor visits. So it is time for me to work and my mother stay at home for dad and Jamil. I miss Plamya but the perks of being a handmaiden they live at the place they work for. So my sister lives in the palace. She sends us money in support in which we are very grateful for. But I do sorely miss the times that we are together when we used to play cards and be a family.

Once mum and Jamil started to cook dinner I walked into my father's room. We had a one level house made out of volcanic bricks so at least we didn't have to haul him up and down stairs. He was lying in bed covered with bandages and his right leg was lifted in the air by pillows because it was broken. He was burned everywhere and his skin needed to be constantly oiled. I sat next to him on his bed and held his hand, I said hello to him and discussed my day. I tried my hardest not to cry, it was so difficult seeing him like this. I know he is conscious because he opens his eyes and groans as if he is trying to reply. I oiled some parts of his body and headed to the kitchen when mum said dinner is ready.

Delicious tomato cold soup and bread which does wonders for a warm night. I ate all of my fill and thanked my sister and mother for the great meal. Afterwards mum took the soup to dad so he could have dinner. I helped Jamil clean up and put all the dishes away.

Once we were finished mum, Jamil and I sat and played cards for a little while. It was fun, it really felt a bit like old times when we were all together as a family. However, our enjoyment was short lived when the town crier rang his bell announced news, which we hoped would never happen.

Our Emperor has been murdered…

Everyone ran outside their homes and ran to the crier. Mum, Jamil and I ran out as quick as we could as everyone else. Dragons also huddled to see what was going on. The crier suddenly had a massive crowd in front him shouting at him in fear and hysteria. He had no choice but ask his dragon to mag him onto the houses nearby roof and waved his hands to signal to silence everyone.

"ALL THOSE WHO HEAR ME! TONIGHT IS A SAD NIGHT! FOR OUR EMPEROR CONSORT DAXIAN PAVUS HAS BEEN MURDERED BY NONE OTHER THAN THE GREEN EMPIRES LEADER ARMAN KAISER! THE SO-CALLED PEACE TREATY CEREMONY IS INCOMPLETE DISARRAY! MOST RED DRACONIUM ASSOCIATES WILL HEAD HOME IMMEDIATELY FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY! THE EMPRESS AND HER FAMILY IS IN MOURNING. THERE WILL BE UPDATES TOMORROW!"

Everyone surrounding me including my mother started to cry and roar to respect the Emperor. Even though dragons are fighting for their plight, they had no hatred for their Emperor. He was known to everyone as a kind man and he had hope for many as he did not come from wealth. He created his own wealth and became something of himself. He married an Empress who loves and respects him. She is now a widow with three children and another is on the way.

But this is why I remembered this day so well from five years ago… This is the night that war is going to begin again.