Of Plays & Ploys

1. Then: Lost and Found

Ilsea is a child full of love, joy and sunshine. A child wrapped in cotton; a delicate childhood standing against time. So little she was, so much she loved.

She loved her brother Leordak the most. She wanted to see the world through his eyes and to be as he was. Leordak was talented in swordsmanship. Ilsea decided she'd be great at it too. One day, Ilsea's dream was to find a swordsmanship instructor.

By midday, she was the only touch of color in the 30,000 foot wide training barracks - other than a few fresh strokes of red on the ground. The brick wall was a sad shade of grey, and the ground was a sadder shade of brown. Ilsea thought that the smell of the place was even sadder.

Compared to her surroundings, Ilsea felt like a too-bright rainbow. Her brown hair turned yellow under the sun, and her pink dress suddenly felt too bright.

She started regretting fleeing away from her guards: everything was smelly, she felt stuffy, and most importantly - she was lost. Within minutes, Ilsea was lost in one of the too-many-to-count hallways.

Suddenly, Ilsea felt goosebumps slithering up her body. She heard slow, careful footsteps - like a cat sneaking up on a mouse. She was about to cry. But she held her tears - she was Leordak's sister after all.

But her determination was faltering - there was nobody she nearby to ask for help. To make matters worse, every path she took seemed to lead her into another empty one. That is until was backed into a corner.

———

Joden was exploring the barracks, his silent footsteps making him go unnoticed. The small sounds and he made covered up by a boisterous competition taking part in the barracks. As expected, the hallways were empty - He was free to explore.

Everything was going according to plan until he spotted a girl frantically striding through. She was adorned in accessories and her rose pink dress easily caught attention - she might as well hold a banner asking to get robbed.

She could cry any moment. Joden wanted to help her but if she starts bawling someone might come. He couldn't risk it.

I'll just follow her. If someone attempts to harm her I'll jump in.

Within a few minutes, Joden found the girl becoming more and more scared, her speed increasing by the minute and her breaths becoming louder.

Is someone following her? Joden thought, scanning the surroundings. He realized the obvious once he found no one else.

Oh, it's me. I'm following her.
Before he could think it through, he blurted: "Hello."

Ilsea froze. It's a boy'a voice. Without thinking, she turned around.

I can't be afraid of a boy my age! Ilsea thought.

He didn't appear to be any older than she was and he didn't look too scary, nor too kind. His eyes were inquisitive, making Ilsea feel uneasy. His hair was a shade of black she'd never seen before; it was almost the color of ink. Like the deepest and purest shade of black. His eyes were nearly the same color.

"Are you lost?" He asked.
"Am not." She countered far too defensively.
"...I'll help you if you are."
She responds with the fiercest glare she could muster.

Ilsea might've felt that she looked intimidating at the moment; however, her "fierce" glare made her look comedic when paired with her small stature and bouncy pink dress. She sparkled too.

Joden could only choke to stop himself from laughing. Ilsea felt embarrassed, Joden felt bad, and the mood felt awkward.

"I'm sorry for scaring you kid. I thought you might be lost, and you are alone and it's dangerous."
"I'm not lost. I told you two times now."
"Okay-"
"And you can't call me kid. You're no adult either." She argued.
"...Okay."
"Okay."
"I know you're scared, I will -"
"I'm not scared." She stated.
"Oh. Sorry." He stated.
"Also, you didn't introduce yourself. That is rude too, you know. Men should introduce themselves first." She raised an eyebrow.