Kylaia al Jmaa
A.k.a. the Unicorn
NOTE: I don't own most of the characters, and Gareth Weldon (who will be a more prominent character later) will become the Griffin which is mentioned on page 112, again, I gave the Griffin a name.
2ND NOTE: I don't think this will be a romance, it may have a romantic thread, but I'm having trouble picturing Kylaia fall in love with anyone, even Liam. Little characters (Gareth) may fall in love, but that's minor. The cloth of this story is action (?) or drama (?).
PART 7-The Ball
Kylaia was sitting eating dinner, and reading, The History of the Order of Shang. The founder, Lynka Shang, was born in a few days.
"There will be a ball, to celebrate the quadcentennial of the founding of the Order of Shang," the Boar yelled. Kylaia raised her head to look at the Boar. "We will celebrate Lynka Shang's birthday. It will be in three days, at eight o'clock. There will be a notice." Kylaia groaned, and stood, and walked to leave the room, but was stopped be the Wildcat.
"Kylaia, I haven't seen you eat anything all night. Eat, not practice," the Wildcat ordered.
"But-," started Kylaia.
"Now," sternly added the Wildcat. Kylaia reluctantly sat back down. She never ate anymore. She remembered saying that anger kept her alive. That must be the only way she was alive then. She barely ate, when she did it were only a few bites of rice, or meat, and a sip of tea. Then she ate her whole plate of food, and drank her tea. She then left, with a smile from the Wildcat to mark her departure. Her bedroom was empty since Aliya left. Kylaia had found a quill, and the margins of the book Aliya gave her were covered in her tiny writing. The leather cover even had notes on it, in a few short weeks the book was in a pitiful state. She picked up her glaive, did a few easy strokes to warm up, and then preformed advanced, more complex swings. She was left alone all night, much to her pleasure. Kylaia drank in the quiet, peacefulness. She heard nothing but the song of a mountain bird. Kylaia watched the bird preen its beautiful silky black-blue feathers. Moonlight reflected off its wings.
"You are beautiful," Kylaia whispered in awe. The bird sang an eerie, depressing song, and flew off, its steady wing beats, getting it farther and farther from Kylaia. She then stood, and practiced a bit more before going to bed. The next day they were learning glaive fighting for the first time. Most of the Shang Warriors didn't know how to fight with a glaive because they didn't stay.
"Kylaia?" the Wolf asked.
"Yes," Kylaia answered.
"Do you know the basics of glaive fighting?" The Boar gave her a glaive.
"Yes, and, well, can I get my own glaive?" said Kylaia.
"Yes." Kylaia ran off to get her own glaive, while they gave everyone a glaive, and were showing then basic swings. Kylaia copied them like they all did, going at a snail's pace for an hour before they went of to lunch.
"Kylaia," someone behind her called. She turned around, meeting the speaker's eyes with a level gaze, hinting neglect and insecurity.
"Hello, you probably know me, I'm Gareth Weldon," Gareth said. She nodded as he spoke. "I was wondering if you-."
"No," said Kylaia. She walked away leaving Gareth opened-mouthed in shock. In the next few days the halls were abuzz with chatter about the upcoming ball. Girls talked about what to wear, boys wanted to fight each other. Everyone was talking, except Kylaia. She stayed silent. The night of the ball Kylaia changed into a black silk dress, with loose sleeves, fitted bodice and loose skirt. She wore no petticoats, and she let her long midnight hair down, falling to her hips. She looked like the bird she admired. Kylaia sat down on a bench at the edge of the room, watching other girls dance. One girl she didn't know asked why Kylaia wasn't dancing, and Kylaia shook her head. She walked out to the patio, and stared into the mountains, outlined in thick coniferous trees. She was a shadow in the ghostly murk.
3RD NOTE: This chapter really shouldn't be called the ball.