Hicia Ansia

198 1 | Death
18 3 | Rebirth

Born as the youngest daughter of the Lord of the largest Tu'leren colony of Svegehold in Yuransia. Lord Ansia, in a marriage that merged together the mingled Yuransic, Hattianian and Qerenian people and the ruling Tu'leren kingdom, bore two daughters with one of the descendants of Ocelaciotl of the Ignatius clan, La Chel. The oldest, Frida, was to become the next heir following Lord Ansia's death, and the youngest, Hicia, was to become a priestess in the royal church, partially in hopes of taming her fiery spirit.
Frida excelled in all things and her training, and absorbed all the interest of her father. Hicia had spent most of her childhood years in the company of the royal guard before her training to become a priestess began when she hit the age of womanhood at 16.
Some members of the royal gaurd who had gained her trust, lured her deep into the underground of Svegehold, and introduced her into the black market, trafficking her to nobles who wished to get their revenge on the Lord. The gaurds faked her disappearance, attempting to flame the conflict between the tribes and the kingdom of Svegehold.

Hicia had escaped the black market, and fled into the commonwealth, where she stayed with an unorthodox Jyotii woman, Aadhya, who cared for her.
Hicia was found, thanks to the loose lips of a pretentious noble.
Although she could not identify those who bought her, she told her father of the gaurds who had sold her, and the entire royal guard was put to death through hanging, giving Hicia the title of the "Knight killer".

The truth of what happened to Hicia remained a secret, knowing the church would have her put to death. She was sent into the care of the church for protection and to begin her training to her dismay. She often snuck out to mingle with the common people, and sought out Aadhya, who took her under her wing, and taught her the ways of the world, and how to dance and sing.
Aadhya was not like other Jyotii, she was exiled for her refusal to be passive, and was rather skilled in fighting. She taught Hicia her ways, and just like song and dance, adapting to a blade too tells a story.
When not with Aadhya, Hicia began working, determined to understand her worth of 530 gold coins, and taught the common folk children how to read.
She dreamed of using her position as high priestess to help the common people, and teach the children how Aadhya had taught her. She brought the idea to the high priest, who scorned her, telling her how if the common people could read the holy texts, they would misunderstand and spread false information. He then alluded to the fact he knew of her excursions, and that she had a secret.

Hicia completely rebelled from the idea of being high priestess, realizing she would be a pawn for the high priests.
One day she met with Aadhya would be their last, and Aadhya hurriedly trusted her with a silver necklace and leatherbound book. Aadhya told her to never put it on, but to give it to someone in her stead, someone she believed to be pure of heart.
When ushered back to the church, a commotion broke out, and Aadhya was accused of witchcraft, and burned at the stake without a trial. All Hicia found was the crispened remains of Aadhya's robe, which she tied around her ankle.

Frida soon fell ill, and died. Lord Ansia now had only choice but to make Hicia the new heir. Frida was betrothed to a man of a neighboring kingdom, unaffiliated with the Tu'leren colonies. Their arranged marriage turned to genuine courtship, and her betrothed refused to marry Hicia to continue the merging of the kingdoms.
Hicia held no power of the throne without marrying a man, who would become the next Lord, so Lord Ansia began to recreate his royal gaurd, to pick a man to marry Hicia, so there will be a new Lord once Lord Ansia dies. Without a male leader, the kingdom would crumble.