Chapter 1: Your Average Morning

Dawn breaks as a lone bird flies through the skies of Dresil. Soaring past the massive wall surrounding the kingdom’s land, past the vast valleys that extend beyond that wall, all the way to a large forest separating the kingdom from the mountains beyond.

The bird lands on what seems to be a quiet tree within the forest.

Suddenly, a panther emerges from the branches of the tree, devouring the bird and pouncing back down to the ground. Its fur as black as night, and its eyes as gentle as the valley wind.

A 17-year-old girl, wearing a hooded cloak, runs past the panther, and the feline follows.

Scampering past the fallen branches of the forest, the brisk wind blows the hood from her neck, revealing her caramel skin that glows in the sun, her rare green eyes filled with determination, and her long white hair that enjoys the breeze. Emilia turns to the panther.

“Hurry, Lira! We need to get there! Fast!”

Lira roars in agreement, transforming into a cheetah. Emilia hops on his back, and the two take off, running through the forest.

Moments later, Emilia enters an area of the forest with a small bridge in the center. She sees two groups of people fighting.

On one side are the knights, dressed in silver armor, with no capes. Their fighting style is refined, with each movement looking more elegant than the last. Depending on the knight, they are either fighting with swords or spears.

On the other side, there is a group of people wearing the same hooded cloak as Emilia. Tattoo-like markings fill their faces and arms, but most peculiar are the tattooed circles around their fingers. They are all fighting with two twin swords. These people are known as the Kiri.

Of the Kiri, Joen, 44, a tall, warrior-like man with tattoos covering his entire body, clashes with Darius, 23, of the knights, a young man with pitch-black hair and red eyes filled with anger.

Darius swings his lance at Joen’s vitals, taunting him as Joen dodges and counters every strike.

“What's wrong, Chief of Peasants? Is your God not here to save you?!”

Joen ignores Darius's taunts and proceeds to fight. Two other fights are happening around them. One in the trees and one on the ground.

Adal, 23, a Kiri elite with tattoos covering her right arm, fights Claudius, 24, a knight who fights with a sword and shield.

Niro,25, a Kiri elite with tattoos covering his right arm, fights Henry, 24, a knight who fights with a bow and arrow. Henry is shooting down at Niro from atop a tree.

Emilia and Lira rush in to stop the battle. Lira rushes past Niro, catching him off guard and knocking him off his feet. He climbs the tree, allowing Emilia to grab Henry.

The two then pounce down from the tree with Henry in hand. Emilia throws Henry at Claudius, causing him to fall and break up Adal's fight. Lira then runs in front of Adal and growls at her. Adal, shocked, backs away.

Emilia jumps off Lira's back and rushes towards Joen and Darius's battle. She jumps in between the two, using her twin swords to push their weapons away from one another. The knights are now on one side of the bridge, while the Kiri are on the other. Claudius and Henry get back on their feet.

Darius yells at Emilia, “Savage bitch!”

Joen's calm demeanor quickly changes to that of a concerned one as he questions Emilia. “Emilia, what in the world are you doing here?!”

Darius looks towards Joen. “Is this your doing?! Too scared to fight me on your own?”

Adal cuts into the conversation, “No one here is scared of Dresil. We'll gladly finish the fight you started.”

The knights scoff at Adal’s threat. Joen steps in front of Emilia, blocking her from the knights, and speaks sternly. “Young knight, before you attacked us, I asked you why you entered the forest. Answer me.”

Darius answers with a smug look on his face. “The forest? Do you mean our land? Dog of Brahara.”

Joen’s tone does not waver. “The forest belongs to no man. That is the first of Brahara's teachings.”

Darius scoffs at the chief. “You and your fake God.”

“Teacher, not God. Brahara merely guides us. That aside, answer the question.”

“As if I would tell you.”

Adal, angry that her previous threats were ignored, interjects again. “You dare disrespect our chief in our territory?”

Darius sarcastically replies, “I thought this land belongs to no one?” He turns to Henry and Claudius. “See! Nothing but hypocritical fools!”

The knights laugh as the Kiri behind Joen grab their swords. Adal, on the verge of breaking, utters one last statement: “We'll show you who the fools really are.”

Darius turns back around with a smug smile. “Be my guest, forest bitch.”

The groups stare each other down with weapons in hand, ready to attack. But before they can restart the fight, Emilia runs around Joen and stands in front of Darius.

Joen's stern expression once again turns to concern. “Emilia?!”

Darius walks closer to her, trying to intimidate her. Emilia looks Darius in the eyes, unmoved. “How can I help you?”

Joen yells out again, “Emilia, what are you doing?! Come back here!”

Emilia continues to look Darius directly in the eyes and repeats herself. “How can I help you?”

Darius scoffs, impressed yet slightly annoyed at Emilia’s stubbornness. “You have guts, standing in front of me like this.”

Emilia smiles, confident in her de-escalation skills. She positions herself as if she is inviting a guest into her home. “If you are looking for something, no one knows the forest better than the Kiri.”

Darius snickers in response and looks into Emilia's eyes. The two stare at each other for what seems like a long time. Darius knows if he were to attack now, he and his men would seem like the savages, and so he halts his anger and gives in. “Come on, let's go.”

Darius turns back to his men, and they walk away. However, Darius can not resist the urge to let out one final taunt. “Consider yourself lucky. I'll spare you this time out of respect for that woman's courage.”

Adal, refusing to let the knight have the last word, begins to retort, but Emilia quickly puts her hand in front of her mouth and speaks first. “Sounds good. Good luck on your travels.”

The knights leave the bridge, crossing back to their side. The Kiri are left alone. Adal slaps Emilia's hands away. Angered that Emilia was so kind to the ones she considered their enemy, she yells at the young Kiri, mocking her kindness. "Sounds good?" Do you have no pride as a warrior?!”

Joen interjects, “Please! Let me handle this one.” Adal listens to her chief, shrugging Emilia out of her way and walking off. Niro side-eyes Emilia as he walks past her, rolling his eyes and following Adal.

During this, Emilia turns her head away, trying her best to ignore their animosity. She locks eyes with Joen, then immediately looks away, accepting her inevitable punishment. “Go on and get it over with.”

Joen walks past her without shoving her. He notices Emilia isn't following him and turns his head back towards her, speaking gently. “Come, Emilia, let's go for a walk.”

Lira turns into a tiny house cat and climbs up on Emilia's shoulders. Emilia sighs, knowing there is trouble behind Joen’s gentle nature. Whispering to Lira, to prepare herself for the upcoming lecture. “This can't be good.”