Queen Knight Semlina

Temple of the Phoenix

The sky looked as if it were still night with bits of color slowly bleeding in, but the morning dew on the grass seemed to latch onto the group's shoes and pants. Yawning was on the minds of the knights trying not to make too much noise so early in the morning. The group looked to Crown Prince Tub and Princess Mais who were walking ahead with the caretaker. "We must trek carefully. As you can see we are not only protecting our Crown Princess but the Hmong's Crown Prince and their Princess" Bridget said talking to the shadow knights. Fitz, Smith, Ergo, Kamden, and Damien all nodded and followed behind the group. Ergo, a tall broad-shouldered man, the oldest in the group with short dark brown hair scouted all the possible locations on the mountain that the others wouldn't be able to see. His element is air and is known to be one of the strongest and best manipulators when it comes to air. Against Junso who was an advisor, they would be almost head-to-head had he finished his KIT course. Kamden, a man slightly younger than Fitzgerald who is the captain of the Crown Princess' shadow knights, with black raven hair, tanned skin, and around the same height as Ergo. His element is Fire and came from Bridget's family who had been known to be a long line of fire users. Despite his age, he was able to create a new fire move that had him earn his spot among the shadow knights. For Damien, pale with dirty blond hair was a rare one among the group who had dual affinities due to his parents. Wielding both water and earth and becoming one of the first few shadow knights to be able to use two elements at once. Fitzgerald, the captain of the group and a young woman with red fiery hair as well as air for her element, climbed to the ranks for her special force field that she slowly increased in power as she grew older. She was the youngest of the shadow knights when she joined at age 12. Smith being the newest graduate from the previous year's KITs. With Earth as her element, she was the first kind to be able to manipulate the life in the earth, vegetation, and the sort. Around the same height as the Crown Princess but older by a year. She was immediately selected for the shadow knights the moment they showed what type of powers they had. These are the five knights that shadow the Crown Princess at the command of Knight Commander Bridget. Semlina smiled at Ergo. "Did you all get the chance to enjoy the town yesterday? I know we didn't do much but hopefully, you all did enjoy it a bit?" Ergo smiled with wrinkles near his eyes showing his age. "Yes, Crown Princess, it was quite enjoyable being able to see the culture that your mother and Lady Lailuh grew up with." Kamden popped up from behind Ergo and looped his arm around him. "Bit lovely honestly, Princess." He showed a little figure hanging from his sword's hilt. It was a little figure wearing traditional Hmong garb with a hat as well as a little sword. "These are known as charms meant to protect you from evil" He did a bit of wiggling with his hands. "Oh, how wonderful!" Sem looked at it. Smith stopped and looked at the charm Kamden was showing. "I have one too Princess!" She showed off the same charm but with a woman instead. "Oh! How cute! I can't believe I missed it!" Sem said while taking a few steps forward. Damien nudged Kamden a bit. "I don't think we got a chance to meet the woman with peculiar hair." Ergo looked over at Damien. Damien looked off to avoid eye contact. "Her name is Miya. She and her sister are the caretakers of the temple" Sem said in response. Sem recalled the conversation she had previously with her.

Earlier in the Hmong Palace before the departure.

Semlina and Bridget along with the Shadow Knights met with Crown Prince Tub and Princess Mais at the back entrance.

"Are your advisor and friend not joining us?" Tub asked. Bridget shook her head. "They have business with others so they will not be able to join us." They nodded in understanding. Semlina looked at the woman with peculiar hair. She smiled and walked up to her. The young woman seemed a bit rigid for a second but then seemed to relax at the sight of Sem. "Hello! I am Semlina Rhune Thaysa, Crown Princess of Thaysa." Sem stuck her hand out. She looked at the Princess's hand and stood straight. Her shy voice seemed to match her demeanor from earlier. "I am Miya. I am one of the caretakers for Heron" Princess Mais came up from behind them while Sem put her hand down and placed it behind her back. "Her sister Nyaia is the other caretaker. Miya comes to town to replenish their stock. We have always have offered to help but she always refuses." Miya rubs her arm a bit embarrassed. "Princess, you all have been all too kind to us already by having the villagers not fear us. That is all that we ask." Semlina smiled at the interaction between the two. "So, I heard that traveling with you would guarantee that we arrive at the temple ahead of schedule." Miya looked to Sem and nodded. "Because of my connection with Heron, we are able to travel back and forth between the temple quite easily. It is but a few hours trip." Sem nodded. "So, Heron? That is a name I hear quite often. Are they the priest of the temple? I apologize. I don't know quite much." "It is alright Princess. I would prefer it if you were to meet Heron yourself. They would prefer it that way." "Ah, alright. I do understand."