Not So Heavenly

Keep getting stronger and persevere, if you are to survive in this world. Oh! Are you waking up? Do you remember your dream? It's fine if you don't. Just go back to sleep... Close your eyes, and forget everything... I will watch over you... after all, I gave you your name. But a warning, one day, Death will be knocking at your door. Like last time... like that time... at Zero Hour.

    Hearing this voice, you awoke with a fright, gasping and breathing for air. You have no idea why you were having a nightmare... you had awoke to your bedroom in Aethra, the vast Kingdom which spread over the entire world known to you as Gaia. You awoke in the middle of night, looking over at the clean transparent autumn red drapes of the curtain, and the old-fashioned clock sitting on the wall above the dresser which read half-past three, The walls were supposed to have change colors in accordance with how you were feeling. Today, they were gray, for you felt confused. "My head... who was calling out to me?" You ask yourself, stretching your arms into the air. You look around at the cloudy gray walls and mutter to yourself, "Great, why didn't I choose a happier color?"

    You jump up and go out to explore the castle walls, knowing that your curfew would not sit right with Princess Oriana's doting, yet stern attendant, Charngael. You aren't usually the type to go snooping around, but you are not in the mood to sleep, since the strange voice kept waking you up with its cryptic rambles. Suddenly you hear a strange sound, which sounds like a soft swishing, so you go after it. You follow it but it moves just out of your reach. "What is this?" You wonder aloud, pursuing it rather unceremoniously.

    You're awake I see. That's good Savage... keep searching. Ignorance isn't fun...

    "Ignorance? Just what are you talking about? Who are you?"

Me? I'm the one who knows you best. The one who holds you in the palm of my hands. I am God. I am Freedom, I am Captivity, I am Truth, I am Deceit, I am Heaven, I am this World. I am one, I am All. I am the Light, I am the Dark... I am... The Path you will choose. The Power you will either accept or reject.

    You stop and freeze, and almost instantly, the shadow stops as well. "Stop the riddles!" You shout with an anger to your voice, as if throwing all caution to the wind. The shadow shows a red eye and runs off and the chase resumes. "I'm asking you to explain! OOF!" You smack into someone and fall back onto your butt.

    Looking up, it's a tall well built woman with soft brown eyes, contradicting her figure which was strong and fierce look. She had a very motherly like smile to her, even now when you were in serious trouble for getting out of bed. "Vincent, care to explain why you are out of bed at three in the morning dear?" It was the princess's attendant, Charngael. Her smile was still very warm, but she pulled you by your wrist rather forcefully and walked you back to your room. "It is not time to be out and about yet." She briefly stops by the bathroom to get you a small amount of water, making sure you go before hand, before giving you a brief lecture about your bed-wetting issues. She then ushers you back to your room before quickly shutting the door. "Good night Vincent. Please try to stay in bed this time."

    You get into your bed sitting the water on the nightstand next to you, not feeling thirsty or sleepy. You had so many questions rumaging through your mind. Who was that voice? Why did it wake you up? What did it want from you? Somewhere in your mind, you also noticed how Charngael was in such a rush to get you back to bed. It seemed like she was her usual doting, nagging, motherly self, but she seemed off. Scared and afraid, as if something was coming. Something bad... You looked out the window over the kingdom. Most of the people were all asleep, presumably Princess Oriana as well. You looked up at the full moon, it's bright and soothing light comforting your troubled mind. It wasn't a question solver but it did help ease your worries.

    Tomorrow morning, you wake up and look out at the horizon, the sun shining through your window. You yawn tiredly and rub your eyes. You then run to the bathroom to shower and get dressed. You look in the mirror as you start to get ready for the day. Long white bangs from your scruffy snow white hair covers your red eyes. You take a big toothed comb and try to run through it, but it ends up getting stuck somewhat and you have to force it. After fiddling with your hair, you get dressed and put on your suit, which is silvery blue pants and a matching coat with golden buttons. You brush your hair out of your face and sigh a bit.

    As you head out the door, you smack heads with none other than the princess herself. She is wearing a light red dress, her gold crown shining radiantly. Her dark blonde hair resting on her shoulders, draping her back elegantly. She is holding her royal scepter in her right, keeping her hand firmly on the rapier which is tucked away on her left hip. She gives you a warm and soft smile. "Your Highness, please excuse my rudeness." You say bowing quickly.

    "You need not apologize Sir Vincent. It is quite alright." She says with a very dignified yet soft tone of voice. "My attendant informs me, you were up late last night out of bed. Was there something wrong?"

    "No Princess, everything was quite alright. I couldn't sleep is all." You say, knowing that you only are telling half the truth.

    "Vincent please. If there is anything you need to tell me, don't hesitate to hide it from me." Oriana said, worriedly. She really wanted to make sure you were comfortable. 

    You smile and nod, bowing politely at her. "You don't need to worry Princess. I am doing okay, and if I need anything, I will be sure to inform you. Okay?"

    Princess Oriana looks at you with a discerning stare, but smiles, assuring you she believes you. To be honest, part of her didn't feel you were telling her the entire story, but she was confident enough that it wasn't anything you could not handle. She walks on your right side, gingerly slipping you a kiss on the cheek as she walks by. 

    Your face turns red for just a minute and your heart skips a few beats. You were puzzled as to how come the Princess did this. Maybe it was just something teenagers do, you thought. You proceed to follow her, since you are a member of her guard, entrusted with protecting her. Part of you hears a rather annoying airy yet sinister giggle. You know something is there, and you are starting to worry, yet you don't want to trouble the princess. Part of you is considering to just leave, so as not to be the cause of strife should something terrifying arrive.

    The giggles soon turn to a humming sound, as if a young girl is merrily serenading herself out of boredom, or just because she was happy. You don't know why, but to you, it felt very uncomfortable, even terrifying. You were the only one capable of hearing this voice. You didn't know what it means, but you were really hoping you were just going insane, and that it wasn't a sign of things to come.

    "Excuse me! Peasant!" Suddenly, a dark tanned girl with light brown hair and brown eyes, grabs you from behind and spins you around and around. "There you are, I been looking everywhere for you! If you're going to be part of the Princess's Royal Guard, you're going to have to be more alert! So quit spacing and stand at attention when I speak to you!" She was shorter than you by a few inches, embroidered in metal plating and gold that looked exceptionally uncomfortable. She had her hands on her hips in a rather commanding matter. She was named Ferox, self-appointed female head of the Royal Guard of Aethra. Though she wasn't, in fact it was Oriana's own sister Emlyn that was the true head of the royal guard. She was eager for the next spot though. To be honest, compared to you, she seemed like another hot tempered child, but her fighting spirit was unparalleled. She was actually a year younger than you. "I said, 'Attention!' 

    You stand up straight immediately, as if she were holding a riding crop. Instead she pointed the sheath of her sword at your chin to keep you in line, since you (at least to her), had the attention span of a walnut and the courage of a pillow. "Yes sir! Ma'am!"

    "See? That wasn't so hard, was it? You respect me when I talk to you while you're under my watch, is that clear?"

    You nodded fearfully and replied with a hearty, "Yes ma'am!"

    She smiled a bit. "There you go! That's it! That's the attentiveness that will move you up in the ranks soldier!

    Princess Oriana couldn't help but laugh at the two of you. You were cute together, if not a pair of oddballs. She watched as you would force to carry the young lass on your back through the hallway as she yelled "Onward soldier!" Somehow, even with the rather strange behavior, Oriana put her utmost trust in the Royal Guard and her servants.

    You suddenly, see a girl with dark blonde hair coming over. "Ferox! Get over here!" She commanded. She was taller than Oriana, and far more muscular, wearing a golden band on her ponytail. She was 5 years older than Oriana, and in her prime, in both beauty and prowess. You even wondered if she were more beautiful than the princess.

    Ferox immediately, went white as a sheet. She grinned nervously, but tried to feel more excited. "Let's go! This time, I will become the Head of the Royal Guard Emlyn!"

    Emlyn simply laughed and waved her off. "You will not prevail over me, you're just a childo."

    Ferox growled and ran at her, trying to land punches on her. "I'll show you I am not a kid!"

    You and Oriana watch as the two girls wrestle with each other. At one point, Ferox was caught in a head lock, with Emlyn rubbing a knuckle over her head. "Give up child. Quit fighting!"

    "NEVER!" Ferox squirmed out of her grip and jumped on her back. "You give up!" 

    "No!" 

    Charngael saw the two fighting and went to break it up. "You two, knock it off! You are an adult Emlyn! Rosanne, quit antagonizing her!"

    "It's Ferox!" She shouted.
    
    You and Oriana laughed at the two, loving every minute of the girls' antics.

What will it take for you to understand? Soon this will be sorrow and real anger! Don't forget, eventually you'll have to fight, and when you are ready, is when I will appear. Fight, kill, survive. That is the true nature of our kind... We will keep fighting to preserve our existence. Never ever forget... this is the only thing that is real.