Second Names (Temporarily discontinued)

Chapter 1 -My Lady-in-waiting can't facepalm, oh, also meet Firestorm

Isabelle's POV

A few years into the war, One autumn morning, I opened one of my room's windows. A Rush of clean morning air greeted her, I smiled while watching sunbeams light the gardens of a castle, known as Scepre, the center of Kūmarr, one of the five kingdoms.

It was clear that it was autumn thanks to the Reds, the golds, the yellows, and the oranges that painted the leaves of the trees in the Gardens. 

The sand stone castle was huge, and the gardens stretched around it for several miles, in luscious green expanse. Another gust of wind passed through the window making me shiver, I quickly closed her window before the rooms temperature could drop any lower.

I turned around to see my familiar luxurious room. It had a four poster bed with the white duvet and fluffy silk pillows, it also had a lacquered desk in which I kept my quills, scrolls and papers for study, among other furniture. Several expensive looking paintings of past serious-looking royals decorated the pale blue walls.

I strode across the room stopping in front of my wardrobe and opened its doors, reaching for my a random gown.

Most of the time I didn't like dresses with their corsets and lacy frills, but I liked this one because it was as simple as I was able to get away with. It was a pale blue color with a whole embroidered forest of white thread on it and a scatter of pearls, taking the illusion of small droplets of morning dew, crystallizing with the cold.

When worn, the skirt of this dress took the form of a dome, its sleeves puffed out a bit, but weren't too long, like some sleeves which would trail on the ground, as a result this gown was infinitely easier to move.

'Thank the goodness of the goddess Artemise for this dress' I thought referring to the Alantian goddess of art, which technically included sewing.

I Exchanged my white nightgown in favor of the blue gown, and put on my white stockings and black shoes. Placed a tiara atop my auburn curls, I did a quick check in the mirror: the tiara was crafted similar to a headband but not quite, it was silver and decorated by sculpted flowers with gems inlaid into it. 

The jewels were the type of color were people would argue whether it was pale green or pastel blue; I thought back to court to when the ladies, had gossiped about this matter, which, when they asked her opinion (Miss Perfect), and she'd answer in the most profoundly annoying way of what is considered perfection in this day and age. 

I sighed.

To make myself feel better, I did a bit of footwork I'd seen the soldiers do thousands of times.

I fancied myself pretty good, I'd been practicing for a while now. All starting with the gleaming balde I called my own.

Pyrkaya, that's what the sword was named.

The translation being 'Firestorm'. 

A beautiful weapon, really.

Deadly too.

You could tell it was of very high grade.

Legendary for all the enemies it ever defeated, always described that its curved blade was a swirling arc of golden destruction when in battle.

But most people thought it was just a legend, since it had, supposedly been lost for thousands of years.

Legend has it, that it changes for every wielder, and I can agree, when I first started fighting, I went with my brother...

I was so excited! Christopher, my older brother was bringing me to a forge specialized in armory! To get me a weapon! And I got to choose! Of course father didn't know anything about this, he didn't even know Christopher was teaching me to fight... But Christopher didn't care, he was always the rebellious type...

We were dressed as lowly knights, though, I seemed more like a squire. I felt a little bad for escaping the palace for a few hours, but we would be back.

''Ready  Ise'' Christopher asked, smiling at my joy.

''YES!'' I almost squealed, not registering the fact that he called me that weird nickname again, even if I kept demanding him to stop.

He laughed, and pulled me into the forgery.

The pounding of a hammer on metal became louder and I barely kept under control, my bouncing.

''Welcom Sir, What ca' a do for yah?'' A Mister greeted us with an interesting accent.

''Good day, we're here looking for a weapon'' Cristopher answered.

''Well then, hav a loookaroun' '' The Mister said gesturing around.

I looked around, gazing through the racks and racks of weaponry. After a few minutes of wandering, I lost sight of Christopher, and was about to look for him, but a glint of gold caught my eye.

I turned to face something shining in a shadowy corner.

I squinted.

Something was drawing me to it.

I didn't realize I walked over to it, until it stood in front of me, It was a golden longsword. I knew it wasn't the type of weapon I could wield, and that caused me to almost turn away, but instead, I took it by the handle, not really expecting to be able to lift it.

Then there was a flash of bright light, then there in my hand was a... Dao sword. My young self looked at its curved blade in awe, and I spotted an inscription in Ancient Alantian runes. I thought hard for a moment, searching through all my memories of ancient Alantian reading. What did it say?

Then it clicked, It said 'Pyrkaya' or 'firestorm' then again, I was bad at ancient Alantian, and it could say 'Shkulikilire' or 'Lireworm' but I was pretty sure it was the first.

I ran to Christopher, sure of my choice.

I sighed, blocking out the memory, 'don't think about him' I told myself.

Now ready, I left my room making my way down to the gardens, I liked to be there because it made me feel free from all the fancy life of frills and appearances of makeup masks.

Suddenly my lady-in-waiting appeared around the corner, she was a girl named Amira, a few years older than me, her long black hair set intricately on her head and blue eyes staring at me disapprovingly contrasted my loose blonde hair and green eyes. Today Amira wore her usual: a totally different outfit from what ever she wore before, which was a lacy red dress which flowed around in a fluffy poof.

"Have you been sneaking around to the garden again Isabelle?" She asked.

when I didn't answer, she added

"you know you aren't supposed to go there without at least two guards!"

I had tried to explain to Amira how she felt but the other girl didn't understand. Amira was the perfect Lady for Court, she was beautiful, elegant, graceful, proper, everything! She had even dozens of suitors! After all she was nearly marrying age.

"Umm..." I began at last "Whatever do you mean?" I asked as innocently as possible with a grin.

I could see that if Amira hadn't been so proper, she would have definitely face-palmed, there and then.