Dawn Of Jaide

The Heirloom Blade

The soft amber glow of lanterns lit the opulent hallways of the Manor, casting elongated shadows of sculptures and vases. Ancient legends adorned the walls, each weaving a tale more mesmerizing than the last. As Jaide strolled down the corridor, the subtle fragrance of roses and aged wood enveloped her.

Guiding her steps were two guards, their silvery armor gleaming under the soft light. Every step they took resonated a sense of purpose and duty. No helmets obscured their visages, revealing youthful faces that mirrored Jaide's own in age. Their expressions were stoic, but their eyes, full of untold stories, shimmered with a blend of awe and respect as they occasionally darted their eyes to Jaide.

Realizing the walk to the assembly room was going to be longer than she anticipated, Jaide decided to bridge the silence. "How long have you been solider?" she inquired, addressing both guards. After a brief pause, one hesitantly replied, "Only a year so far, Your Majesty." "How did you end up joining?" Jaide responds. The other guard responds quickly, "General Alik saved us when obsidian forces attacked our villages, we owe him our lives your majesty."

"Please, just call me Jaide, I might be some lost heir but for now I am just a friend united by the same cause, freedom." Jaide says gently.

As they neared the grand doors of the assembly room, the other guard, visibly touched by Jaide's humility, mustered the courage to speak, "To serve under a leader like you is an honor." With synchronized grace, they halted at the entrance, crossing an arm over their hearts in a salute reserved for the highest of nobility. Their gesture, heartfelt and deep, elicited a gentle smile from Jaide as she stepped into the room.

Inside, the chamber buzzed with anticipation. Gwen, Natalie, Diane, Quentin, Ezra, Captain Sol, General Alik, and Commander Grey were all in attendance. Captain Sol, his features softening with concern, stepped forward. "Quentin mentioned your summons was urgent. How do you fare?"

She paused, searching for the right words, "I am fine all things considering. But there's far more important things we have to talk about." Diane's eyebrows knitted with curiosity. "What could be more important than your health?"

Jaide paused, a weightiness clouding her usually bright eyes. The room seemed to hang on the precipice of her words, the very air thickening with anticipation. "I have seen...spoken to even with the gods," she began, her voice tinged with awe, "It sounds impossible but Caelus and Arthur they've given me...us a task. There's a weapon, forged in ancient times, meant solely for my hands. But its retrieval comes with a quest." Her gaze intensified, locking onto those around her. "They gave some sort of riddle but is nonsense to a untrained ear like mine."

Diane's face drained of color, her eyes widening in disbelief. In a voice that was barely audible, quivering with awe, she whispered, "Please share it with us, if we work united it might be easier to solve."

Jaide begins to recite Arthur's words, " In the heart where greenest life does dwell, Seek the stone where secrets swell. In hidden glades where shadows play, Find the gem to light your way. When verdant prize is in your keep, To where the land and waters meet. There the heirloom's might you'll see,

With a sense of urgency, she approached, her eyes gleaming with a scholar's hunger. "I've come across fragments, cryptic mentions of this very weapon in ancient scripts. Allow me to plunge into our vast archives; there's more to unearth, more secrets the scrolls might reveal."

Commander Grey, with a gaze that had seen countless battles, he locked eyes with Ezra. "Ezra," his voice resonated with the gravitas of a seasoned warrior, "In many moons of war, few have shown the innate grasp of battle as you. It would be my honor if you sided with me and allowed me to train you personally."

Ezra was more than thrilled to accept this role, " it would be my honor to train under you commander."

General Alik, whose very presence was a call of sagacity, gently raised his hand. "Before we tread the path of destiny, let us not forget the present. This evening, the town square will shimmer with lanterns, echoing with laughter and song. A festival to honor our unwavering spirit against the Obsidian Order's fury. Our future queen," he said, looking intently at Jaide, "must not remain a distant figure. Tonight, she will stand amidst her people."

The depth of the impending challenges cast shadows in Jaide's soul, yet the allure of tonight's promise—a brief respite filled with the warmth of her people—ignited a spark within. The room was charged with anticipation, with the beats of countless hearts, each yearning for a dawn that heralded both freedom and peace.

***

In the regal confines of the palace, Jaide's chamber was an embodiment of beauty. The room's atmosphere, bathed in the amber radiance of the setting sun, was further enhanced by the intricate mosaics that played with fleeting golden shadows. As enticing as the aesthetics were, Jaide found herself drawn to the bath infused with the soothing aroma of sandalwood and cedar.

Submerged in the water, she let the gentle ripples cascade over her dreadlocks, providing her a momentary respite from her tumultuous thoughts. The weight of her recently discovered power consumed her contemplation.

Her moment of solitude was punctuated by the voice of Milo, shielded from view by the bath screen. "Your highness," he began with his characteristic respect, "For this evening, I have prepared two garments. One mirrors the night with its black velvet cloak adorned with golden touches, complemented by a silk tunic. The other, light-blue, with gold hints and paired with a radiant white tunic."

Acknowledging his choices with a nod, Jaide expected to lose herself once more in her thoughts once Milo departed. However, another presence made itself known. "I was just coming to see how you were faring," came Gwen's voice, filled with a mix of curiosity and concern.

Still protected by the bath screen, Jaide responded, "I'm doing alright. Still getting use to all this."

Emerging wrapped in a towel, she was met with Gwen's earnest gaze. The two, though having known each other for a mere day, shared an understanding that transcended the confines of time.

Gwen, taking a moment to find the right words, ventured, "This must all be overwhelming for you."

Jaide's face was mixed with emotions, "It's more than just the power. It's the weight of its importance, its origin, it's very essence. It's all of this really."

Sensing Jaide's turmoil, Gwen gently offered, "New paths are always daunting, but you're not treading them alone. Remember that."

Pausing for a moment, she added with a twinkle in her eye, "And for tonight? I suggest the blue and gold. It's reminiscent of the vast sky, symbolizing endless possibilities. I must leave but we can talk more later."

As Gwen quietly exited the room, Jaide, left to herself, chose the blue and gold attire. Once dressed, she approached a mirror. The reflection staring back was not the Jaide of yesterday, but a regal figure of authority, power, and grace. Her eyes were drawn to a familiar object on the table beside her, her father's ring. Without a word, she slid it onto her finger, taking a deep breath before stepping out of her chamber, ready for whatever awaited her.