I never saw it coming,
Then one day, all of the sudden:
There was you.
I don't have to live without you anymore.
Adira didn't necessarily like the position she was in now.
She'd rather listen to Lance's nightly stories.
Instead she is overseeing the training of Coronan soldiers for potential crisis.
Problems at home? Again.
Hector's voice ever present in her mind.
She sighs.
Not that they have much of a choice apparently, either that or run away. But where? And even if they knew, they won't be let go without a fight.
Not that she has anywhere else to go... not anymore...
Officer Bernhard was giving instructions this time in Ryder's place.
"ALRIGHT EVERYONE IN LINE! AS WE PRACTICED, TAKE UP YOUR ARMOURY!"
Soldiers take up swords, shields spears.
"FORM A LINE!"
They stood together in a defensive position. Some stumbled and got in late.
"DON'T LET IT COLLAPSE OR THE ENTIRE LINE WILL FALL!"
At that they were sweating, struggling to lift the armour, which was heavier than they thought.
Officer Bernhard – When you are on active duty on the best fight is the one you prevent and avoid. However there are times when you must fight.
He motions them to lift the shields up.
Officer Bernhard – You'll have to take tougher measures! Target only arms legs, never the head unless needed!
The last line had a serious weight. It would require them to injure and even kill someone...
Definitely above their pay grade.
Bernhard – Next, on with the guns!
The soldiers pick the firearms nervously.
Bernhard – Charge them, hold them tight, don't shoot early and don't point it at anyone unless there's an order!
The circumstances were not desirable ones, with all this weather and a rare disease rampant in the region causing sleeplessness and death... it'll make many explode on one another.
Bernhard – Alright, you may take a break for now before we resume with marksmanship.
Adira didn't like the sight to be clear, with all the weapons... and what they are trained for...
Hector would've been more suitable to oversee this, he was much more radical.
I am gone, and there's nothing you can do about it.
Adira sighs before noticing one particular soldier, panting heavily.
One of their newest guests Jane Porter from the centre of the world...
In her defence, Knighthood is for men... physically cases like yours are rare.
Adira didn't appreciate the reminder.
Jane could feel sweating under her clothes, she really hopes she won't get a fever.
She can tell the weather is troublesome, they are not Russia/Rusland where "general Frost" is on their side.
Adira decided to approach her, perhaps to distract from unpleasant thoughts.
Adira – Maybe you should rest for now, Red Flower?
Jane looks up to see Adira, who was pretty tall.
"Red Flower?... doesn't feel like resting..."
Stress also grew, she couldn't get much of a sleep in past days. Like at all.
Adira – That I see. You've been training non stop whenever you not long after arriving here. Your resolve is admirable but it won't happen in a week.
Jane tries to breathe in and out before her heart bursts out instead.
Jane – I... I know. I get it, but I just don't feel sage anymore... I keep pushing myself because all I do is meddling, AND... because I don't know what happens next...
From simple poachers, to armed invaders, snow monsters to elemental spirits...
Jane was out of her debt more than ever.
That reality sinks in after her failure with Bron.
Adira sighs, not surprised.
There are many out here and out there that know not the true level of the world.
Those who read them in books may struggle to face it in practice.
Then again , even books can be misunderstood.
Adira herself sometimes wonders how history will remember them for centuries to come.
Adira – Life can be stranger than fiction, it can be tougher as well.
For some reason Jane remembered once reading a historical record about one King Arthur with her cousin Gwendolyn.
It caused much thought.
Was he real? Did he fight the Saxons and when did he do that? Did he meet with Highlands Princess Merida of Dunbroch in his late life?
Those were logical questions at least but then came ones over the controversial parts... which involved magical Merlin, Bermuda Triangle and a lake nymph Nimue, a lady of the lake who made the Excalibur... And whicked witches try usurping the throne of England by trying to kill Arthur.
Quite harder to believe especially with folklore on weapon-forging mermaids being mixed in.
Her young self would or wouldn't believe her current self after everything she seen especially in that secret passage.
Jane – Even history may lie, hide secrets... it can't be relied on either...
Finally someone you can relate to, Adira...
Adira's eyes narrowed as they then looked at the comet shaped mark on her hand...
An emblem of the old Dark Kingdom Luna Royaume, our home now gone... Ingvarr felt comparably better didn't it?
She didn't let her inner demon get to her.
Adira then carefully holds Jane up.
Breathing in Adira tries to give her a valuable lesson.
"Red flower, stop your self-belittling"
Jane only watched as Adira tries reminding a young explorer not to conflate self pity to self improvement.
Adira – Sundrop (Rapunzel) Earrings (Lance) tell me at times that miracles do happen to those who never give up... If you wish to protect your family like your husband, you'll have to project same level of determination as he did.
She places Jane back on ground.
Adira - If you can't go through something, go over it... I was once just like you, like our daughters... so naive for a successful marriage yet also curious by what the bigger world could offer. As my life gone on, I grew to learn that for me to see it all... I need courage and strength to live another day.
Nice speech, just a bit out of character really.
Adira closed her eyes, mentally holding herself before looking Jane in the eyes.
To Jane, her eyes were like that of a general... very stoic.
Adira – If my daughters could become capable fighters so can you... but not like this.
Some guards were overhearing.
They were either impressed, confused or intimidated... imagining her going go off the chains.
Adira – So what do you choose?
Jane – I... I... fine. But only tonight, I'll be back to it first-hand tomorrow.
Adira – That good. Now be on your way.
She had a commanding tone there.
Jane – Oh yes m'am yes mam!
Jane did as advised, leaving the scene.
Adira noticed guards watching.
Adira – I think you have training of your own to do, now.
The volunteers then gone back to work.
"You're lovely even when you're angry, Adra"
Adira rolls her eyes though she offered a small smile.
Adira – And you noticed...
Lance – Well, spend years of living with an interesting natural like yourself and you'll see the signs, my fiery enchantress.
Adira flustered a bit
Adira – Lance I'm way too old for such a nickname, even older than you...
Ever since moonstone opal was sent to infinite space... her body over years shown signs of aging.
Don't pretend you feel sad here sister, or you wished to see your new family be buried too?
Lance - And still looking great... but that didn't seem like you.
Adira sighs "I just wanted to elevate that young flower's morale... you'll have to show strength in these days of war"
Lance – Ah yeah, you have to fight like hell or lose it all down the well? Well then, Corona has tough ones like you here so that Sunshine is here to stay.
His words warmed her up a bit, not that she'll admit it.
He loves you sister, just like I did. Be careful he won't end like I did.
Adira could feel her chest tighten at that thought.
Lance caressed her cheek
Lance – Hold it there, I'm not pressuring you...
Looks like she still has it bad. Pain can warp one's personality the wrong way.
Not long after Zhan Tiri's defeat, Hector passed away due to his weakened state... he was not as he used to be, but he was still her brother and oldest friend...
A year or two after that, the Dark Kingdom was destroyed. They can thank that wannabe dictator Trevor for that and also inciting various groups to recreate it.
She was lost, and guilt ridden... she was supposed to protect and save it. She failed.
Her newfound family in Lance, Kiera and Catalina... helped her to cope and get her through it, make it easier.
The Brotherhood is gone, accept it. It sickens me that my voice still has to guide you after all these years... I want you to live happily.
She tries. She really, really tries. Perhaps now it is Corona's fate, what happens to her new home may decide where her mind will take her.
Adira – I lost one home, I don't want to lose another...
Lance – Yeah, totally like Varian... he was not the same ever since losing his eye to Andrew. Building walls around yourself is safe and all but you can become jaded.
Adira - ... I am just careful who I let inside... young alchemist from Old Corona and his father are wise in doing the same...
She knows Quirin better than that, he is smart enough to know.
Lance – True on that... my point still stands.
Adira sometimes likes his constructive thinking, but sometimes she also needs to sober him up as he puts it.
Adira – Look around Lance, untimely virus indiscriminately killing people in their sleep who knows when... Kaiser aiming to expand the nation through war... young coronians looking at one another with contempt... worrying about potential criminal infiltration is the last thing we need.
At the moment of crisis, gotta face it together... that is put to the test.
Not all agree, some differ in goals, some too stubborn to go along willingly instead cause nothing but trouble.
When such trouble piles up, measures of security has to strengthened accordingly... which can scare the people who value their freedom more than anything, when they see heavily armed guards patrol the streets like crazy... they feel like an occupying army, which is made worse by the fact that many of them are ethnic Saporians.
And they all see it, the knights can feel animosity, bitterness and distrust aimed at them already, now adding that they're being viewed like pro-Andrew Saporian extremists... and also that Saporian culture get even less and less recognition by Coronian people, it's no wonder that officers start viewing their fellow citizens not as beloved neighbours in need of protection but like bullies who can be hostile after even a little slip up.
Incidents of overreaction tend to happen which is only sowing more division to the point Rapunzel and Cassandra are questioned more than they already were due to Cassandra once betraying Corona long ago and Rapunzel's monstrous transformation.
Lance remembered Rapunzel was telling him "If Corona falls, so does the world... I was scared of that line back then and even more so now... as if there's not enough going on"
The calls of demonstrators are heard from afar.
"I AM WILHELM! I AM WILHELM ! I AM WILHELM! I AM WILHELM!"
Their yells echoing throughout the place .
Just a spiral to madness, trust me I know, sister Adira...
Adira can still remember how her life started and how it gone...
Her parents' look of disapproval at her "boy-like" non-elegant behaviour...
Her principle's words when her days in school were numbered...
If you want to act like a boy, you will be treated as an animal. You will join the boy's military wagon tomorrow morning to be sent off to military school.
Adira – There's only so much a person and a nation can take...
Lance holds her hand, doing all he can to be by her side... looking forward for a better tomorrow wherever that will be.
Adira Lance relationship kinda remind me of Milo Kida in Atlantis, I recommend watch it.
As for Adira's background, I like on from Seize My Tomorrow by Adirastts, I recommend read it.
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