The fearsome Junailijia warriors aren't just trained to keep their villages safe from neighboring threats; they are brought up in combat, hand selected at birth, not by blood relation, by status or even gender. They are more than defenders; they are...
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Time passed slowly for the Kaån family, having their only child taken away from them; and that on the day of her birth. It broke the new mother and father's hearts, if they would not die of some natural act, then their hearts would no longer function as it ought to. The slow and steady thumps of Evangeline's heart made her feel and act as though she was an insane person. Her madness made her do unexplainable things. She was living a dazed life, and her husband became a stranger to her. She would never utter the words but she silently blamed him.
She blamed Cederick for allowing that dreadful man to perform that idiotic test. Foolish man! She thought and shook her head. It has been fourteen years since that tragic day; and everyday she would wonder what her daughter's life is like, living the life of a Junailijia Warrior was dangerous and filled with death and blood spilling battles. The thought of Cynthia made her stomach turn; what if she never made it through the training? What if they threw her off the nearest cliff the first time she failed?
"Oh, Gods and ancestors; please watch over my baby." She fell to the floor and prayed through sobs. This is how Cederick would find her almost every day for the past month. It was a sight that broke his heart, it would break his heart everyday a little more. She was once the most beautiful, kind hearted woman he knew. He now thought of her as broken; and as she blamed him; his blame went her way; for if she had just been honest with him and told him about her brother, he would probably never have even tried to conceive a child. Some days his mind would tell him that he only blames her because then he could be a little more forgiving towards his own actions; but he was miserable and downhearted. Cederick and his Evangeline were undeniably heartbroken.
Evangeline completed her usual tasks for the day which consisted of cleaning and attending household needs, mending clothes and watering the flowers. This evening however as she was preparing dinner; she had a moment of madness and the unexplainable came forth again. She reached for the mortar that stood in the window, plush full of wild berries; it was such a distraction in their house, people thought there was life and happiness; when there were naught but sorrow. She plucked a few berries, and added them to the brew on the fire. This will make them forget, this will make them sleep an undisturbed, dreamless, deep sleep.
It was such a harrowing act, but for the first time in fourteen years she smiled a sincere smile.
^*^*^
Cynthia ducked just in time for her head to miss the hanging branch on their path. This was the first time she was allowed to accompany the delegation. Her excitement was evident on her face for them all to see, she smiled at everything and the forest looked magical to her.
The Junailijia was not permitted to wander about as they please, they were to stay inside the barriers of their walls; until they were seen fit to travel with the qualified warriors. This was for their own wellbeing.
The elders of the Junailijian Warriors would tutor the young ones on theories as well as battle. They were taught the histories of the different realms and the signs of different species and their preferable habitats. They trained everyday from the age of two; first it would be mental training, they would be given drawings and items from different species, and learned to fear them, and ultimately defeat them.
