When Azalea heard Nyir's voice, she felt all her panic wash away.
"Nyir," she breathed out in relief. "I… I didn't see you when I woke up, and I thought…" squeezing her eyes shut, Azalea shook her head. "Never mind… I'm glad you're still here…"
Her breathing steady, Azalea turned back to put away the tent. She was no princess, not anymore. That meant she had to work to keep herself alive. Azalea bit her lip.
"Nyir…?" she called out tentatively. "Could you… could you teach me how to fight?"
Nyir regarded her calmly. "That is a wise idea. Take a few days to rest, and I will begin teaching you soon." She headed towards their small fire pit, rekindling the fire and beginning to cook what little they had managed to bring with them. As she poked the fire, her eyes unfocused, the fire turning into a burning castle. Her fiancé's face flashed through her mind. She shook those thoughts away. She needed to focus on the present.
Azalea watched Nyir with sad eyes. She knew how much Nyir had to lose. It all would have been avoided if her father had agreed to the demands of Sebastian, the Emperor who attacked her beloved land and burned it to the ground. Nyir would still be happy. Lives wouldn't have been lost. If only she had been confined to her castle… If only she hadn't been as enchanting and pretty as people claimed her to be.
Silently, Azalea began to put away the tent, lost in thought.
Seven warriors, she heard her father's voice in her head. Seven strong, powerful warriors. Find them. Survive. Then take revenge on that bastard of an emperor. You can do that, can't you, Azalea? Do it for your people. Do it for your family. Do it for yourself.
Azalea shook her head.
"How am I supposed to find them when I have no clue about who they are…?" Azalea whispered to herself, lost. She knew she had heard of those warriors before. But the pain of losing everything in a single day clouded her mind. She had to think. Not for herself, but for her people. Those who sacrificed themselves so their useless princess could escape.
I'll come back home, Azalea vowed to herself. I promise…
Nyir finished breakfast and offered Azalea a plate. "Where to now?" she asked. She knew that Azalea wanted to find the warriors her father had told her about, but Nyir couldn't help but feel that it was a fool's errand. The warriors may have been a myth, and what then? Nyir could only hope the princess wasn't putting all of her faith in the shadowy figures that may or may not exist.
( Hi texting on a bus with free Wifi!!! Question, will the warriors know they are like warriors or like will they find out?)
Azalea thought for a moment, taking the plate Nyir handed her. Azalea didn't wish to eat, but she had no choice if she wanted to regain her strength.
"Let's head out to Luntberg," Azalea finally replied. "If what my father said is true, then we'll find the first warrior there."
Azalea could only hope that they were real. Otherwise, she knew no other methods in which she could save her empire. Save her people.
( Hi texting on a bus with free Wifi!!! Question, will the warriors know they are like warriors or like will they find out?)
(They should know, but they're hiding their true identity.)
( So like do the warriors know each other?)
( So like do the warriors know each other?)
(Eh, I didn't think of that. I guess they've heard of each other, but never met properly.)
( Wouldn't that make it weird?)
Azalea thought for a moment, taking the plate Nyir handed her. Azalea didn't wish to eat, but she had no choice if she wanted to regain her strength.
"Let's head out to Luntberg," Azalea finally replied. "If what my father said is true, then we'll find the first warrior there."
Azalea could only hope that they were real. Otherwise, she knew no other methods in which she could save her empire. Save her people.
"Luntberg," Nyir repeated, nodding slowly. "That's only a day's walk. If we hurry, we can make it before nightfall." She finished her own plate quickly and put out the fire, and then gathered everything they had brought with them. It wasn't much, but at least they had a bit of money. Hopefully it would be enough for a room in a decent inn once they reached the town.
( Ok so whose the first warrior?)
Azalea forced herself to eat and helped Nyir pack their things. They didn't have enough, and while Azalea hated even the thought of it, soon they'd run out of food and it would be hunter for food for them. Thankfully, Azalea had the sense to learn how to cook, even if she knew not so much. The memory of her watching Ella, the head chef, cooking brought a smile to her face.
Shaking her head, Azalea picked up a bag and pulled it over her shoulders, wincing at the weight.
"Let's go," she said, prepared to walk.
Nyir nodded, leading the way through the wooded area. The sun was just peeking over the horizon, sending shattered streams of morning light through the trees. The path they followed was hard to discern, but Nyir had chosen it for that reason. Her hope was that they saw no one and no one saw them. Obscurity was of the utmost importance.
The weather was nice. There was something of a cool breeze blowing through the leaves, and all was quiet and calm. Nyir didn't let her surroundings relax her, however. Every moment she listened intently for any signs of danger.
(Hoi! I'm back! When do you want me to jump in?)
(Hoi! I'm back! When do you want me to jump in?)
(When we reach Luntberg. You could have your character do whatever when Azalea and Nyir run into you. They won't know who you are at first, though, unless you choose to conceal your fighting abilities.)
Azalea had never traveled so far on foot, especially while carrying something, so she found herself tiring after a few hours. Nyir said they were close, but as much as tired Azalea was, she never once complained.
After a while, however, Azalea couldn't carry on walking.
"Nyir," she breathed out. "Could we get a few minutes break to have lunch and some water?"
( Heeylo I managed to connect Wifi from the coach bus. So I had to perform at a concert outside and GOSH IT WAS COLD 15 DEGREEES LIKE CMON!)
(Okay! That works!)
(Great! Sorry for making you wait long, though.)
( Heeylo I managed to connect Wifi from the coach bus. So I had to perform at a concert outside and GOSH IT WAS COLD 15 DEGREEES LIKE CMON!)
(Ah, the cold. I love it <3)
Azalea had never traveled so far on foot, especially while carrying something, so she found herself tiring after a few hours. Nyir said they were close, but as much as tired Azalea was, she never once complained.
After a while, however, Azalea couldn't carry on walking.
"Nyir," she breathed out. "Could we get a few minutes break to have lunch and some water?"
Nyir hardly noticed the passage of time. The day warmed considerably as it neared noonday. Azalea's soft voice brought her out of her thoughts. "Oh, right," she said. "Lunch."
( Zoe shall be watching from a distance……)
( OK GOING ON A FERRY NOW BYEE!)
With a sigh of relief, Azalea let down the bag and pulled out some fruits they had managed to get before their empire burned away. She handed water and some fruits over to Nyir, and started to eat her apple. She tried eating it quickly so they didn't have time to waste.
Nyir ate quickly, consuming the apple as well as the apple core. She didn't want to waste anything. Wiping the juice from her lips, she dropped the apple seeds and stood, ready to leave. "Ready?" She asked.
(OMSHUSH HOW HAVE I NOT SEEN THIS BEFORE??!!?!!??? CAN I JOIN???)
Azalea nodded, getting back on her feet.
"Let's go," she said, grabbing the bag and throwing it over her shoulders. The sun had started to go down, but from what Azalea could tell, they weren't far. Whilst Azalea had never really left the empire, she was excellent at memorizing anything she read as long as she paid attention to it. It wasn't long before the former princess and her bodyguard reached Luntberg, but Azalea realized she couldn't walk into the bustling city wearing anything that resembled of royalty. So she pulled her cloak over her head and took off her earrings and necklace, but kept the bracelet for it contained special memories for herself.
"We should sell those," Azalea said, addressing to the jewelry. "And rent out a room for a day. We'll search for the warrior first thing in the morning."
