Zaria Dove

The Truth

In the stillness of the night, I find solace and freedom. With each daring move, my creativity and courage shine through. The sword becomes an extension of my being, a vessel for my strength and power.

As I gracefully land from a complex maneuver, I whisper to myself, "I am prepared. Prepared to face any obstacle, ready to confront anyone who stands in my way!" On this rooftop, under the setting sun, I embody strength and resilience.

My spirit burns brightly, a guiding light in the darkness, as I prepare myself for the battles that await.

After my training, I take a moment to close my eyes and breathe deeply, savoring the freedom that only the open sky can offer.

The gentle breeze dances with my hair, reminding me of the last remnants of nature in this world. Lost in the tranquility, something brushes against my arm, causing me to gasp and turn around.

A soft and gentle voice, belonging to a man, whispers in my ear, "Did I startle you?" Startled, I take a step back, scanning my surroundings for any signs of life, but find none.

The voice whispers again, pleadingly, "Please, don't go!" Fear grips me, pushing me to the edge of the building without even realizing it. Just as I am about to fall, a hand grabs my forearm and pulls me back.

"I didn't mean to startle you," the voice whispered, genuine concern evident in its tone. I found myself on my knees, the fear of falling overpowering the fear of facing the presence of an unseen.

"Are you planning to harm me?" I managed to stammer, looking up at where I anticipated him to be.

"What? No!" he chuckled softly.

Before I could utter another word, my mother's voice called out to me, snapping me back to reality. I quickly made my way back to the pipe I had used to climb up to the rooftop.

"Please, just talk to me when you're ready," he whispered, his voice filled with longing.

"Or maybe I'll gather an army to find you!" I muttered, wanting to prove that I wasn't afraid.

"You would never do that, your father never did," he replied.

Taking a deep breath, I let go of the pipe and descended down, only to be met with shock.

My mother caught me off guard; she expected me to be unprepared, so she began bombarding me with questions.

"Who were you talking to?" she asked as soon as I leaped in through the window.

I swiftly thought of a response, "You! I often picture you as my rival. It actually improves my sword fighting skills!" Suddenly, I dramatically covered my mouth and exclaimed, "Oops!" She shot me a menacing look.

"I came here to give you a fair warning: never again shall you dare to disrespect me in front of my students!" Her words were firm and resolute.

"Is this your idea of respect, commander? By trying to instill fear in me? Instead of being called 'mother' or 'mom'?" I dusted off my pants, watching her hesitate with her hand still on the doorknob.

"Because, if I remember correctly, you believe that women are nothing more than vessels for giving birth!" I continued.

"I'm only doing what I think is best for you!" she muttered quietly.

"If you truly want what's best for me, then enroll me in the Vice Chalice!" I eagerly awaited her response, but she simply turned and walked away.

What exactly is the Vice Chalice? We'll explore that later.

I resisted going back to the rooftop out of fear, but sleep eluded me all night. I tossed and turned, desperately trying to find a comfortable position, but it was no use.

The next day unfolded like any other, except for one thing - my mind wasn't functioning as it normally did. Curiosity consumed me, and a flood of questions overwhelmed my thoughts.

We never paid much attention to the clock, as there was nothing to look forward to. However, there were a few girls who reveled in their beauty, seeking attention and maybe someone to come back to. But for most of us girls, there was only fear and uncertainty about the future, with no comfort waiting for us in our so-called homes.

But that day, I couldn't help but keep glancing at the clock, eagerly waiting for the moment when I could finally go home and uncover the mystery of the actual unseen on my rooftop. Above all else, I wanted to know how this guy or whatever it was how he knew about my father.

Finally, the longest day of my life came to an end, just like any other day. I can only imagine the shock he must have felt when he saw me emerging from the very pipe I used to climb. "You made it!" His voice greeted me warmly.

I was filled with anticipation, desperate for answers to the countless questions swirling in my mind. There were so many uncertainties that needed to be cleared up.

"I understand that it must have been hard for you to trust me. It's not your fault for doubting; it's their fault for deceiving you with lies," he sighed with disappointment. "Please, take a seat. This is going to be a long night."

I found a place to sit wherever I could. Deep down, I knew that the story he was about to tell would change everything. A mix of fear and curiosity churned in my stomach. I wanted to run away from him, yet at the same time, I longed to uncover the truth.

"Many years ago, when we were just like you, Type C lived in a land similar to the one you used to call home. However, their mindset was much more outdated, especially when it came to women. Like in your world, they had separate villages but no united country.

Among those villages was one village called Sprite Harbor. We were just regular folks, but to them, it was like a bustling market where they would trade money for women.

They claimed they needed them for their armies, but my great-great-grandfather suspected there was something more sinister going on behind those Grand doors," he told me.

Grand doors?" I interrupted, curious for more details.

"There's this incredible city called Ferric Burg, the Grand Doors are the only way to enter into the Ferric Burg, it is a city of the elite.

To get in, you either have to be born into the high-ranking Type C families or win the Vice Chalice, a rare event that only happens every five years. And even then, only a chosen few come out as winners. I wouldn't be surprised if there's some favoritism involved," he explained.