The Empire of Keywater was home to one of the most beautiful cities in the world. That city, of course, was the beautiful capital Keyya. It was home to many people and the imperial castle, which was aptly nicknamed the Silver Monument because it was surrounded by giant silver walls from all sides. In its many years of standing, not once had an enemy soldier ever managed to penetrate its walls and sully the castle.  

On a bright sunny day in the early reaches of spring, two children were playing with wooden swords in the courtyard of the castle. One a young boy and the other a young girl. They shared the same birthday and were of the same age. The boy, named Claus, had bright blond hair that came to just above his eyes.  His eyes were as blue as the sky, and his body still had traces of baby fat.  The girl, named Qina, also had blond hair, but hers was much longer, reaching the middle of her back. A black bow was tied in her hair. It swayed with every movement. Her eyes, still the same color and intensity as the breathtaking sky, matched perfectly with her brother’s.  

These two children had just experienced their tenth birthday a few days prior, and now they were unwinding by pretending to be soldiers. With a sword in their tiny hands, the two siblings matched blows and dodged strikes the best their ten-year-old bodies could. After a few minutes of swinging, their arms were so sore they couldn’t lift them, not to mention the aggressive act of moving and dodging.

The two collapsed to the ground next to each other and breathed hard, trying to catch their breath.  

“I win, sister. I managed to get that last hit,” Claus said in between breaths.  

“I admit defeat. What’s the record?” Qina managed to say after gasping for air.  Her little lungs did all they could to pump air through her body.

Claus slowly got to his legs and held out his arm. His sister’s delicate hand grabbed it, and he helped her up.  

She dusted her emerald green dress off while Claus spoke.  

“Right now, that’s ten wins for me and ten wins for you.  We’re tied.” 

“The next match will determine the winner?” 

“Yes. I can’t wait!” Claus exclaimed.  

The life of the son of the emperor was boring. He was the second son, and his brother, Parrel, had been born five years ahead of him. For him, life was life. It was something that he had to live through. He would not inherit the throne, and he had no real commitments.  

His sister, Qina, on the other hand, had her life ahead of her. Being the only princess, she was vastly more important than Claus, but she never showed it. Right now, she would usually be in class learning about proper etiquette, but she decided to skip it to be with her brother. Being with him made the stresses of a royal education disappear like a feather in the wind.  

“Say, should we return the swords? I don’t want the Quartermaster to get upset,” Qina asked. She picked up the wooden sword from the luscious green grass and ran her hand over it. Stains from the dirt browned the shiny polish, and that dirt rubbed off on Qina’s hand. She didn’t care, though.   

“I guess we should. If we hurry, we won’t get caught,” the two siblings giggled and made their way from the courtyard into the spacious and elegant halls of the castle.  

Paintings hung on the walls as their footsteps echoed in sync. In this castle, one would not find painted landscapes. For in this country, the emperor monopolized the wall décor. Or rather, the emperor of that time period. The Empire of Keywater was one of the oldest countries in the world. That much was certain by just looking at the sheer number of paintings occupying the halls.

Once an heir was at the proper age and he takes the throne, it was an imperial tradition that a painter was to come and etch the moment in whatever form the emperor wanted. It could be a stone tablet that has been weathered by time, like some of the earlier emperors had chosen, or it could be a scroll created by weaving the hair of different unicorns together. 

“Claus, do you think we’ll ever be painted like that?” Qina asked as she skipped alongside her brother, forcing their footsteps to echo out of sync. She had always admired the paintings and tablets that included the emperor's wife. To her, they always looked so regal and beautiful looking. She could only hope that she would be that pretty and dignified when she grew up.  

“I do hope so,” Claus replied. “But you have a better chance than me.” He looked down as he spoke, and Qina knew what he was thinking of. Because he was the second prince, he would not inherit anything. At least, that was the case if his brother was alive. But to kill family? Claus and Qina would never fathom that, not even in a million years.  

“Claus, if you want, we can go and beg father directly.” 

“Thanks for the offer, but no. Father has been very stressed lately, and I don’t want to make him angry.” 

“…..” Qina didn’t know what to say. Out of all of their family and retainers, she was closest to her twin. Her father was a stern and strict man who did not give off a fatherly aurora. His hair, blacker than night and eyes as brown as mud, did little to suggest that he was their biological father. This fact had often been a topic of teasing for Qina. It would be a lie to say she hadn't thought about telling her father, but Qina didn’t want to be responsible for anyone’s death.

Their mother was the complete opposite in nearly every way. The affection she gave was near infinite like she was born with the blessing of a Goddess of Love and Caring.  However, the chance to meet her had been few and far between lately. It had been a few months since Qina last saw her, but even now, when she closed her eyes, she pictured her perfectly. She had blond hair that slowly turned into a whimsical white, gorgeous yellow eyes, and skin so smooth to the touch that it felt like silk. It would be accurate to say that Qina and Claus loved their mother way more than their father. She tried her hardest to remember a time when her father played with her, but it didn't exist in her memory.  

It was different when it came to their mother.  When Claus and Qina finally had the chance to spend time with their mother, she did everything they wanted. Whether it was playing house, having a tea party, or playing soldier, their dear mother was always willing to spend time with them.

Their brother Parrel was the same way. He was heavier and huskier than what a normal boy his age should be, but he had a handsome face.  But with his time so consumed by his wife, it was no wonder he was absent from the recent birthday party.

Parrel is only five years older than us, but he’s already going to be a father. His wife is so pretty, though, but she’s younger than him. Is that going to be me in a few years? I’m a bit scared.  

“..na.”  

Does it hurt to give birth? Mother always told me that a woman must produce a successor, but I’m scared.  

“Qina!”  

A sudden loud voice brought Qina back to her senses. Without her knowing, they had stopped in front of a scary-looking metal door that had ‘Armory’ written on it.  

“I’m sorry for being loud, but you didn’t answer. We’re here.” 

Qina looked at the door, then her stained wooden sword, and finally at her brother. The emotions of a young girl were quite complicated and abstract. Even the most harmless word, phrase, or action could open up a dam of tears. Her face scrunched up, and tears flowed from her blue eyes. They ran down her face and dripped onto a pair of shaky hands.

“Wa! Qina, I’m sorry for yelling.” Claus panicked and dropped his wooden sword. He took the few steps over to his sister and hugged her tight. This sudden feeling of someone holding her scared her a little, but she could not say that she didn’t enjoy the warmth of being embraced. It made her remember the days when her mother used to hold her. 

It was but a short cry, only lasting a few seconds.  

“Claus…?”  

“My instructor told me that it is a man’s duty to help those in need,” he pulled back from the hug and straightened his silk shirt. It was slightly damp around the chest area.

“That’s why you hugged me?” Qina giggled as she spoke.  

“Yes, that’s all I can do now. I’m not strong enough to do anything else,” Claus looked down at his tiny hands that couldn’t even hold the weight of a small sword and gripped tightly. He let loose his grip and looked back at his sister.  “Why were you crying?” 

“Do you promise not to laugh?”  

“Of course,” he said with pride in his heart. According to his instructor, a man should not laugh or tease others over their misfortunes, no matter how small they should be. What was minor to someone could be extreme to others.  

“I’m crying because I’m scared. We’re ten years old now, and Parrel’s wife is four years older than us. I overheard the maids say I should be preparing myself to give birth in a few years.  I also heard that they are already picking suitable candidates!  And I’m scared of all that. I don’t want to be pushed off to an unknown man.” 

Qina spoke words that no child should ever have to utter. But for royalty and nobility, that was how life worked for them. Very rarely does a noblewoman fall in love with her assigned husband. Her only role in life was to establish or strengthen relations between two families and provide an heir. That was it. No more, no less. 

“….” Claus thought long and hard on how to reply. He didn’t have any relevant experience in this subject, and anything he could think up was related to his instructor, who was not royalty. Eventually, he managed to formulate a plan after picking up his dropped weapon.

“Say, if I were with you, would you still be scared? I’m going to ask my instructor and see if there is any way for me to help. It’s always been a dream of mine to be a member of the Imperial Guard, and if I’m lucky and do well enough, I might be assigned to you. That way, I can protect you from anything that might make you cry or hurt you,” Claus smiled as he puffed his chest out and performed the imperial salute. Hand across the chest, closed fist with his wooden sword raised high in the sky. 

Qina brightly smiled at her hero as she spoke. “I would not be scared,” she held her hand out, and her brother gripped it tightly before opening the door to the armory with his free hand. He had his wooden sword sheathed inside his belt loop on his trousers. It wasn’t a look becoming of someone who wished to enter the Imperial Guard, but he could still work on that.

The metallic door creaked open as the two walked inside, allowing them to take in the lustrous armory in its entirety. Countless swords, axes, bows, spears, and shields were meticulously placed in the perfect spots. There were racks and racks of wooden, iron, steel, and even mythril armor just waiting to be equipped.

“Qina, I got the swords from over here,” he let go of her hand as he pulled his wooden from his belt loop. He walked over to a section of the wall which had one-handed armaments of all kinds hanging by their handle. Beautiful silver swords that were a symbol of the Imperial Guard, to a villainous broadsword with a blade as black as night with a handle  red with rust, the armory was home to a variety of battle-ready weaponry.

I need to prove myself if I want to have one of these swords. Claus thought as he put his wooden sword back. He ran his finger along the flat end of a nearby silver sword. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t hear Qina talking to him. She lifted her sword and lightly bonked him on the head.

“Ouch!” he rubbed his head as he turned back to face his attacker. Qina laughed. 

“If that hurt, then you have a long way to go,” she teasingly said as she handed her sword to him. He grabbed it and put it back on the wall.  

“Now, let’s get out of here,” Claus said. Qina nodded, and the two retraced their steps.  

Once out, Claus closed the door, and the two started walking back towards the courtyard.  

The courtyard is always my favorite. I loved it when mother read to us out here, Qina thought, her head filled with memories. For some reason, she started to feel dread, like something unsettling and annoying was about to happen.  

I’m just feeling sick or something, right?  

She shook her head, her bow flapping elegantly, and removed those thoughts from her head. All she wanted to do right now was spend time with her brother.  

The two reached the courtyard and made their way towards a stone bench. Just when they were about to sit, two voices sounded out.  

“My Lady?! My Lady?! Please, answer me!” a tearful and panicked voice echoed throughout the halls, and Qina frowned in annoyance. 

“My Lord?! My Lord?! Answer me, please!” at the same time, a stern voice bounced throughout the halls, and Claus smiled in excitement.  

It was the voices of their instructors, Veris and Trerk, respectively.  

Veris was a Demi-Human, meaning she was non-human. She was a Dryad, to be specific.  Dryads were a type of spirit that lived inside of trees, that itself has lived for a long time. Veris’s tree was one of the biggest in Keyya, having been here since the empire’s founding. Her skin was a beautiful light green, and she wore clothes carved from wood.  A small brown ornament in the shape of a tree was clipped on to her green hair.  She never left her tree without it, and it was her most prized treasure.  It was a gift from the first emperor. In other words, Veris is, has, was, and will always be a lifelong treasured friend of the Keywater Empire. Because of that, she offered her services in educating and teaching the daughters of the imperial bloodline. 

Trerk was also a non-human, but he was a Kobold, meaning he stood far taller and heavier than the average man. With bodies covered in a mix of fur, scales, skin, and head and tails similar to an alligator, Kobolds were absolute physical powerhouses.

Most Kobolds were war-loving and bloodthirsty, always trying to find the next fight like they had something to prove, but Trerk was different. He valued one thing above all else: training.  He loved to train, day and night, always trying to improve his body and mind.  Such mindset forced the other Kobolds to consider him a failure of their race, allowing them to kick him out of his village with a clear conscience and no regrets.

“Instructor Trerk's calling for me.  Sorry, but it’s time for my class.  I’ll see you later, Qina!” Claus hopped off of the stone bench and made a beeline for the voice calling for him.  It was most unbecoming of a son of the emperor.  From the courtyard, Qina saw Trerk scold Claus, and she laughed. When the two started walking away, Claus turned around and offered a smile to Qina.  She smiled back and internally debated on what to do.   

It’s not as if I don’t like Veris, and I know she means well, but I don’t know.  GAH!! I can’t explain it.   

Qina clawed at her hair in frustration.  She was unable to put her feelings into words, and that made her angry.  

“OW!” Qina stopped clawing and rubbed her head. She looked at her finger and saw a small amount of blood.  

I clawed too hard and hurt myself.  I’m glad no one was around to see it. 

Still feeling the pain, Qina saw Veris approaching from a distance.  She knew it was no use to hide, so she got up off the bench and made her way over to her.    

Best to get this out of the way, she thought. Veris heard the sound of approaching steps and turned towards the source. Anger swirled throughout her body. She wanted to be angry, but she couldn’t bring to harbor that emotion at this moment. 

“Young lady! Why did you skip our class?” the Dryad spoke in such a worrying tone. Sweat poured down her green skin, evidence that she was trying her hardest to find the Imperial Princess.  

“I’m sorry, Veris,” Qina said in her best apologetic tone.  

“Being sorry isn’t going to cut it, young lady. I’m responsible for educating you. Tell me, how can I do that when you never show up?” the Dryad scolded Qina and looked around the courtyard.  

She saw the bits of ground with flattened grass. Then she looked over at Qina’s outfit and grabbed hold of her hands. They still had dirt on them from the wooden sword.  

Veris sighed and put her hand to her green head.

“Qina, we’ve talked about this already. Getting dirty and playing with swords are things a lady isn't supposed to do.” 

“I know, but it’s fun. And I like spending time with Claus,” Qina protested.  

“That may be so, but it is still unladylike. Follow me.” 

Veris reached down and took Qina by the hand as the two walked over to the stone bench in the courtyard.  

I never realized it, but her hand sure is warm, Qina thought as she squeezed her instructor’s hand.  Maybe if it’s her, I can talk about it.  

The two reached the bench and sat down.  Veris raised her hand, meaning she was about to use a skill.

Skills were invoked by chanting words of power. It wasn't just humans who could be blessed. Dryads, like Veris and other Demi-Humans, were eligible as well. In her case, specifically, Veris was one of the strongest beings in the Empire of Keywater.  

A warm and gentle green light illuminated her green hand as she brought it down to Qina’s head. The moment it made contact, that same green light enveloped Qina’s body, and she felt the slight pain in her head fade away. When she looked at her hands, she realized the dirty stain had also faded away.

“H-How did you know I hurt my head?” Qina asked, alarmed and full of surprise. It wasn’t the first time she had seen a skill in action, but it still amazed her, satisfying her child-like wonder.

Veris smiled gently like a mother would at her newborn daughter. “My Lady, there is not a single thing that I don’t know about you. Not to mention that I have been educating the imperial family for thousands of years.” 

Qina blinked in bewilderment.  

“And I might not know what is bothering you,” she continued. “But I know that something is troubling you. If it pleases you, you can tell me.” 

Qina bit her lip slightly.  

Should I tell her? I haven’t even told Claus.  

“Do you promise not to be mad?” 

“Of course, child. Whatever is bothering you, I will not laugh, nor will I be angry,” Veris spoke with a loving tone that could have only been mastered by a thousand years of patience. 

“I overheard the maids talking about how I need to start preparing myself for marriage and giving birth. I’m scared, Veris. I don’t want to marry some unknown man who I might not even love.” Qina teared up slightly as she was speaking. Veris became quiet for a moment before hugging her.  

“Is this what has been bothering you lately?” Veris said. 

“Yes.” 

“A question. Have you started bleeding?” 

Qina’s face went red with embarrassment as she nodded her head.  

“That blood means that you are becoming a woman. The maids must have seen that when they did your laundry. Qina, it is your duty to give birth to an heir.” 

Qina opened her mouth to protest, but Veris held her hand up.

“But I can see that this isn’t what you want. Why don’t you tell me what exactly you desire?” 

I know what I want to do, but I don’t want to upset Claus.  

With strength surging in her heart, Qina told her mentor about her dream.