ENCHANTED: Guardian Series #1 {COMPLETED, UNDER REVISION}

CHAPTER 21: Bloodshed

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
I'LL PROTECT YOU
 
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ETHERION REALM 
 

-Ered Village-
/a flashback/
Kaira's childhood was not as sweet as any child's. Instead of leisurely humming while skipping with a basket of roses, she was locked in her room as she tried to be the perfect daughter that anyone could ever wish for. However, before she can even speak a word, her pure existence was already an utterly disappointment for her father.

At an early age, her mother left without leaving a clue—not even a letter to bid her farewell or an heirloom to keep Kaira in company. Being the only child of the chief, who happened to be born as a girl, Chief Eureka was devastated. Although their village was a nest of warriors, his head grumbled thoughts that other kingdoms would only mock them for having a daughter as an heir with a generational curse. A wolf-like trait that was supposed to be a blessing became a great inconvenience to women in their bloodline.

Chief Eureka had no idea what to do with his daughter. He already had the idea of selling her once, but he barely stopped himself from doing that. Because this Ered Chief knew that taking that action would taint his reputation. He cared about his fragrant name more than his own daughter's well-being.
 
'What am I going to do?' he anxiously bit his fingernails as he paced back and forth his room with his feet thudding the bambooed floor. 'Oh, wait. That would work,' he muttered with a smug on the face after having a plan that would eventually taint Kaira's reputation instead of his.
 
"My wife and my daughter have this curse!" he acted all devastated that the members of the council actually pitied his situation. "I don't know what to do!" he cried to the council.

They felt sympathy to him for having a daughter with a 'curse' that seemed to be a burden. Yet none of them had even thought about his daughter's young heart, peeking behind the thin curtains of an open frame.
 
"Oh, what should I do?" his trickling tears made the men and the elders in the room be moved, feeling concerned about the future of the Ered Village.
 
"Sell her; the chief goes to the dungeon," claimed one.
 
"Lock her; the princess will rebel," stated another.
 
They went on until someone proposed what Eureka wanted to hear. "What if we strain the princess' actions?"
 
"Yes!" They've agreed in chorus , thinking that that's the best way. The council nodded to the idea, as did the chief.
 
As they've discussed, they strained Kaira's actions. Every single word and movement must be precise and not appear vague. She was not able to wield a sword or at least hold any weapon. They all have expectations that Kaira will grow up to be a refined lady and marry a powerful man.

Her people were brainwashed and have completely forgotten about what their princess should be—bold, brave, and strong. The wild, growling Alpha female was nothing but a whimpering dog.
 
The young, ten-year-old Kaira had enough of her father that she tried escaping several times. But her stealthiness was not yet polished. After trials and errors, she finally broke free of their mansion.
 
Seeing those green leaves and tall trees, she instantly fell in love with nature. How could one scene be as lovely as this? Grass caressing each strand as the leaves filter the stroking sun rays. With the tapping sounds of the clear stream, schools of fish swam around along the chirping songs of the birds.

Kaira played with animals that day, forgetting her duties as an Ered Princess. She felt connected from the very tip of the soil to the towering trees above her head. Soon, the animals taught her survival skills—learning from experience was her best teacher. At first, she was hesitant to climb trees for it was rough and tall.

She saw how squirrels cunningly climb fast against the racing wild boar. Seeing their small figure even made her compare what she's capable of.