Chapter 2:

A Curious Princess

The Guardian of Hope (Sigma Version)


Gray clouds parted over the city, high noon basking its warmth. Enne set out for the day, reflecting on the night before. She wondered what became of Alejandro. Her ears perked to the white mare’s neigh, drawing a smile as she turned; Her hands clenched the brilliant cyan pendant. Her navy blue dress was a snug fit in typical style and comfort. Seeing the dark clouds beyond the mountains, she hopped onto the saddle to race off to the day’s tasks.

It was business as usual when she entered the bustling central plaza. Dwarven merchants mingled amongst the crowds, fiercely contended with hagglers. The city guardsmen patrolled the wide street, armed with archaic swords and chain mail-like vests. Their worn uniforms gave the impression of a ragtag militia. She felt the generations of those who long past live through their descendants. Their families grew and died out over several centuries.

Yet, she had the appearance of a woman in her mid-20s. It was all part of the vicious cycle of life she’d grown used to. Such feelings often left her nostalgic, often confusing names with one of their ancestors. In some sense, the citizens were like her children, and she was their matriarch. Kids were at play when she approached the bar. She posted her horse nearby, mentally preparing herself for a long talk.

“Miss Bouvire!” a little boy startled the half-elf.

“W—What?” she trembled, glancing over to find a few rough and tumbled children.

“Oh, sorry—”

“No, it’s fine. Just a lot on my mind. What can I help you with?”

“This dumb-dumb kicked the ball onto the roof!” a little girl pointed to the top of the bar.

“I said I was sorry,” he blurted out.

“Eh,” she sighed, seeing the boy’s frown. “That’s not a nice thing to say. He probably didn’t mean to do it.”

Enne quickly caught his shoulder, holding him in place when he tried to run away. Her grip was firm but gentle as it kept him in place. The boy’s watery brown eyes met her softened gaze. Her cold, gray eyes projected a mother’s warmth, easing his tension. She wasn’t sure why his expression reminded her so much of the wanderer, finally letting go.

“I’ll get it,” she smiled before seamlessly hopping onto the roof.

The children awed at the ball rocketing into the air, wondering how far up it went. Alejandro watched from a distance with his head held low, his stomach full of butterflies. A smile crept beneath a teary eye while keeping a low profile. He heard the brief conversation between them, reminiscing about someone he once knew. A smile crept beneath a teary eye while maintaining a low profile. For that reason, he couldn’t face her, not without a proper way of thanking her.

Enne hurled herself like a dancer to intercept the plummeting ball. Her twists and turns sent her aflutter while she descended. The children cheered, drawing the attention of nearby onlookers. She handed the ball to the boy when she landed, his smile prompting the enthused applause.

“See?” she looked toward everyone. “Just because something goes wrong doesn’t mean nothing good can’t come from it.”

She redirected her attention toward the point of interest after they began dispersing. Enne glimpsed the turbulent scene through the cracked door. Smashed tables, broken pool sticks, and crippled chairs were scattered throughout the clustered establishment. Much to her fortune, the alcohol remained untouched by last night’s destruction. Her attention trailed toward the other end, finding Derek sweeping debris.

“Wow,” she remarked. “You really fucked with the wrong guy last night.”

“E-Enne,” he stuttered, clutching the broom. “Eh, what can I get you?”

She hopped onto a barstool that somehow remained undamaged, resting an arm on the clear counter. Derek waited for her to speak as she looked around. Her annoyed sigh sent shivers throughout his body.

“Everything you said was right,” he admitted.

“No kidding.” She shot an icy glance.

“Freddy and Joe messed with that wanderer. H—he asked them to stop… Politely.”

“So—Why didn’t you stop them?”

“Well—”

“Are you open?” a young man poked his head from the entrance. The half-elf’s scowl provided a simple answer as he bowed out without a fuss.

“You’re lucky I’m in the ethics committee,” she continued. “My brother would’ve hung you and everyone involved. But he thinks social affairs are beneath him, so we should keep it that way.”

She expected an answer from him, but the silence lingered longer than she hoped. A wanderer killed his father in cold blood when Derek was a child. Understandably, the experience led to a longstanding resentment toward them. She found nothing but conflicted anger in his eyes.

“Not all wanderers are alike, Derek,” she reminded. “Just like not all elves are alike. If he really wanted to, he could’ve killed you all easily.”

“But elves aren’t like wanderers.”

The half-elf raised an eyebrow.

“They’re cold-blooded bastards. They only care about themselves and nothing else.”

Spoken with fear-mongering talking points, she thought.

“Well, this one is different,” she said, looking toward the scattered glass shards. “Elves have done more than enough to warrant your hatred toward them.”

The bar owner seemed baffled while struggling to make a coherent response.

“Your father protected this city for as long as he stayed with us. And your brother strived to make a standing army to protect us from outsiders. Without you, Gardenia would be nothing.”

“Sometimes, truth just gets muddled in history,” she muttered.

“What was that?” he asked.

“No, nothing. Just rambling.”

Enne reflected on her lineage. Elves, or Ethoxians, were amongst the many races that emerged from the portals during the Collapse. Centuries after Gardenia’s inception, her father gave the people a fighting chance. However, she knew the truth behind the legend. Her father’s rule didn’t differ from the average lord who oversaw territory. It was a dynamic she hoped to change one day. She cleared her throat while brushing her hair away from her protruding ear.

“Just remember,” she said. “Your families accepted us, and we expect you to do the same for everyone. We need to stop treating those different from ourselves as potential enemies. You should apologize to Alejandro whenever you see him.”

“Alejandro?” he repeated as acknowledgment. She hopped off the barstool, ready to leave. “That’s his name?”

“Yes. Were you expecting him to be nameless?”

“No, not all. Thank you, Enne.”

She looked around, gauging the mess once more.

“Where are your boys?” she asked.

“They should be back in an hour,” he answered. “Out hunting for the feast next week. It’s gonna take all day to clean this up, even with them around.”

“Weren’t their reports of necrobytes in the area?”

“I think nothing came of it.”

“All right… I’ll see if I can contract someone to spruce up the place. Maybe the dwarves can lend a hand. Take care, Derek.”

“Likewise,” he waved as she exited. “And, thanks again.”

* *

The gray clouds gradually darkened over the mountain, ushering the coming storm. Enne raced to the other end of the library, glimpsing the well-fortified street closures at each street end. Guardsmen actively patrolled the city’s perimeter. She thought about her family’s reign, embracing the relative peace lasting a hundred years. But she knew peace only lasted for so long.

As the oceans claimed the land throughout the centuries, the displaced found their way: destabilizing or thriving in places like Gardenia. Overpopulation led to the inevitable clash between cultures and beliefs; the deep fear of altering the social fabric drove the sentiment. How would they integrate in uncertain times? It remained to be seen as even Gardenia’s outlook grew increasingly tribalistic.

“Oh, wanderer,” she uttered. “What drew you to this place?”

The silence amplified the echo of her footsteps when she entered the dreary interior. The face of the building comprised hazy glass panels, which still allowed light to shine within. The caved-in ceiling reminded her of an old monastery as it cast rays of light into the top floor. It was a sight to behold as she looked up to see parting clouds. Vines invaded the edges of the openings, spreading out majestically into the contemporary walls.

The books were virtually untouched by nature except for a few areas where the ceiling collapsed. She hoped to provide a home closer to the center of the city to preserve the remaining books. However, their preservation remained of little interest to the current administration.

“Look at all these books just waiting to be read,” she thought aloud.

Upon walking up the flimsy stairs, a sea of worn tables greeted her with withered books scattered throughout. She scanned for anything of interest amongst the stacks, seeing cookbooks, gardening tips, close-quarter combat instructions. All her time wandering the aisles of the massive library, she rarely found anything that could quench her curiosity.

The inquisitive belle took a wild guess after entering one of the many aisles. The weak floors creaked loudly, signaling an overdue collapse. The section contained topics about the occult and spirituality. While versed in the matter, wanderers typically dismissed it.

“Pfft, nope,” she thought, flipping through the book disappointingly. She nearly conceded, but a book stuck out at the center of the bookshelf. “Oh, that’s it!” she gasped excitedly.

“You don’t want something thicker than that?” a tall, broad-shouldered man emerged. “I have one that’s a bit thicker.”

Enne glimpsed the long beard he had. His brown eyes examined her as she stood still. His bald head shone against the sunlight. He was muscular for someone who had little to eat, which is all he had going for him since he didn’t seem too intelligent. The half-elf wasn’t concerned about her safety, considering she could kill them with ease. She looked at the book she held, forgetting how excitement dulls her senses.

Looking over her shoulder, a scrawny man stood at the other end. He gave a ratty smile with his visible buck teeth. His greasy hair went well with the imperfections on his face. Enne turned away, closing her eyes after meeting his sickening grimace. This wasn’t what she was expecting in her personal sanctuary.

“We aren’t talking about books now, are we?” she asked. Her voice coated her easy-going voice. “What do you want?”

“Well,” The big oaf inched closer. “Davis, I never thought we’d come across an elf.”

“Nah, Buck,” his accomplice said, inching closer in unison. “All the ones we saw have been on the skinny side, and all the girls in town are so plain. This one is just right.”

“We always thought you were ugly monsters, but you… My, you are something else.”

“And the girls in town are so plain,” the accomplice added.

“Have you considered that squatting here doesn’t help your chances?” she asked teasingly.

“You think you’re clever, huh?” Buck commented on her creeping smirk. “Because you think of highly yourself? You elves are nothing but lowly animals that deserve to be put in their place!”

“You really don’t understand the situation you’re in?” Davis seemed surprised by her smarminess as she rolled her eyes.

“Look… Not here.”

“Oh, we’ll go easy on you,” Buck replied.

“No, it’s not that. I don’t want to damage these books.”

“What?” both exclaimed.

Enne slammed her foot onto the weak floor, collapsing the surrounding aisles. The men fell through as bookcases, and heavy books toppled upon them. She clutched the book in her arms, descending like a flower petal onto the wreckage. They crawled from beneath the wreckage. After destroying a part of the library, her stern gaze cast upon the slow-recovering men.

“Get the hell out of here,” she demanded. They responded to her cold demand with laughter.

“You find this funny?”

“You think that’s going to scare us?” Buck laughed boisterously. “These floors are practically ancient. You ain’t nothing but hot air.”

Enne sidestepped as Davis tried to tackle her. She stomped onto the pile of wood under her feet, flinging a few into the air as he stumbled forward. She flicked a piece at the back of his head; He floundered forward before passing out without much of a whimper.

Enne turned her attention to Buck, who struggled to stand. He trembled upon looking into her expressionless eyes. He swung at her when she got close, missing her by inches before falling face-first into the splintered debris. He grunted while trying to straighten out his leg.

“Gee,” she mocked coldly. “All that talk, but can’t put out?”

“Fuck you, you pointy ear bitch!” He bared his bloodied teeth. “You’ll never be accepted.”

“Yeah, I know. But fret not, my dear imbecile, I accept you for your stupidity.”

“Bitch!”

With a gentle tap of the back of her hand, his splintered face slammed into the ground. She checked his pulse, confirming his unconscious state. Enne dusted off her dress before looking at the book’s cover: The Multiverse and Other Peculiar Phenomena. She flipped through the pages while making her way toward the entrance.

“Why was this put in the occult section?” she whispered to herself.

Enne questioned whether she picked the right book at all. But the only way to confirm was by asking the reclusive wanderer himself. The more she thought about it, the more disparaged she felt he hadn’t sought her out. She left the premises when she heard the galloping horses near. Enne stood outside, thinking of excuses, while two guardsmen approached. The young guard arrived first, his horse coming to a halt.

“Enne, is everything okay?” he asked.

“Billy? Everything is fine,” she assured.

He was yet to be 18 before becoming a full-fledged guardsman. He was scrawnier than most of his peers. His blue eyes and lack of facial hair gave him an innocent look. The dirty blonde hair was reminiscent of his mother’s; Billy looked nothing like his father.

“Oh, is it father and son time?” she continued.

The seasoned guard next to him was Kenneth Striker, observing their surroundings. His grizzled appearance overshadowed his diligent nature. The sunglasses hid his baggy brown eyes. He was built for the job, often fighting off the creatures that wandered away from the occasional portals scattered around the area. Having served the city guard for over 20 years, he was well-respected. Recently, he was handpicked by Enne to be part of the city council. Nothing got past him, and Enne knew Kenneth would have a barrage of questions about why she was in this part of the city.

“Mr. Striker, how are you?” she greeted with a wide smile. “Nice shades you got there.”

“Probably the only time I’ll wear them too,” he sighed. “Enne, what are you doing around here?”

“Just looking for a cookbook!”

“Let’s not be coy. You know there’ve been reports of suspicious folks around these parts.”

“And I—Did not know that, actually. That would explain a lot.”

“Eh? And the noise?”

“See for yourself.”

The father-son pair peeked into the building, seeing a pile of wood and books. And beneath the mess, they saw two men among the rubble. Billy walked into the building to see who the two men were while the old guard found a sly smile on the half-elf.

“May I ask what exactly happened?” Kenneth lowered his sunglasses. “I doubt you were holding a book club meeting.”

“Those two goons tried to attack me. But, I—Caved-in part of the second-floor.”

“What?” Billy’s face contorted.

“Hey, I’m fine,” she insisted, waving her hand while his father looked at them.

“Davis and Buck?” Kenneth said disappointingly. “We took these two in months ago.”

“They don’t like elves very much.”

“That’s unfortunate,” Billy sympathized.

“When your brother finds out—” Kenneth continued.

“See to it he doesn’t,” Enne’s tone grew cold. Kenneth nodded without question.

“What, why?” the young man protested, ignoring his father’s visible disapproval.

“There are some things worse than death, kid,” she spoke. “Banish them or do whatever you think is appropriate. Just make sure this doesn’t go in the books. He isn’t big on justice, just corrections.”

“All right,” the old guard agreed. “C’mon, kiddo, let’s get them in the saddles.”

“Thanks, you two,” she waved while walking away. “I’ll see you around.”

“Why go so far to protect people that tried to harm you?” the young man continued.

Enne stopped in her tracks, glimpsing the dark clouds overhead. The breeze signaled the coming rain as a droplet ran against her skin. She looked over her shoulder with little emotion. Distant yet sympathetic to a fault, they disgusted her. The human world was already full of monsters well before the arrival of the Ethoxians.

“It just seems to come full circle. I pity their ignorance, but I abhor what my ancestors have done to countless others, including yours. I may be part Ethoxian, but you are my equals, my peers. I can’t allow myself to stoop to their level with everything I know. That’s why….”

Answered by his silence, her ears perked to another approaching horse. The panicked expression of the guard was more than enough to inform her of the nature of the news he had.

“Enne? Is Lieutenant Striker here?” the guardsmen asked.

“Uh—” she pointed at Kenneth, who emerged with the bodies in tow.

“What’s going on?” Kenneth asked.

“We’ve received reports on necrobytes near the fields,” the messenger informed. “Ol’ Derek said his boys were hunting in the area and hadn’t returned yet.”

“Aw, hell.”

“Hey, Kenny,” Enne patted his shoulder. “I’ve got this.”

“I can’t have you doing—”

“You got to take care of those two, remember? That’s just as important.”

“Yeah, but—”

“This isn’t up for discussion. Necrobytes are too dangerous for you to handle.”

Kenneth nodded respectfully upon seeing the resolve in her eyes. He went back to carry out his task as the half-elf quickly hopped on her horse.

“Make sure no one leaves town until this is handled!” she ordered the guards before racing away.

Enne found the darkened clouds over the mountain ridge. She charged into the battle ahead with a grimace creeping along her face. The thunder rumbled on.



I remember the initial premise of this chapter being a massive info dump!
Again, I had to see what I had to wane out to tell a cohesive story.
Worldbuilding is important, but the heart of the story is in the characters we follow.
Enne is an interesting one, naive yet grounded in her affairs. She was a joy to write.
I'm a bit wary of making characters too powerful; She is certainly, but she lacks in other areas.
I hope you'll grow to appreciate her character through the story.
Leave a like and comment! How do you feel about the heroine of GoH?
Thanks for reading! :3

N. D. Skordilis
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