Junailijia -ON HOLD-

Chapter Three - Feeding on the innocent

The sunlight crept through the crack of the window, illuminating Cynthia's face and waking her from her slumber. She was still dazed from the long sleep, waking after two days of rest had its own effects. She sat up and thought it odd; being in her own room, own clothing and own bed. She was just about to set foot out of bed when the door screeched open and Cynthia moved back towards the comfort of her bed, she took the linen and draped it around her front, concealing herself from the intruder. In walked one of the chamber maids, and had a surprised expression on her face as her eyes met Cynthia's.

"Milady, you're awake?" she chimed. Cynthia nodded in response and smiled sweetly at the girl who was clearly older than her, still she treated the young Junailijia warrior with respect. Without as much as another glance the maid left the room in a hurry.

The young warrior did not waist much thought on the actions of the maid who left, Cynthia merely thought to herself that she must have had some other task that was of more importance. Stepping out of the bed without any further interruptions, she thought it fit to rid herself of her dirty clothing, and wash herself in the bowl of water that stood on the table in the far corner of the room. She walked on her toes closer to the water, and stepped out of her dirty night robe which was moist and clammy from sleeping. She dipped her hands in the water and was surprised to find it tepid; she was expecting it to be cold. The water droplets fell through her fingers as she swirled her hands in the water; she cleaned her face with the cloth she dampened and a few escaped water droplets slid down her arms to the tips of her elbows.

Washing the rest of her body, she noticed a bruise on the side of her hip, the skin wasn't ripped or lacerated, it was just a large mark, the skin discoloration clearly visible, and as she trailed her hands over the soft flesh, Cynthia winched at the tenderness and the small jolt of pain the light touch caused. She wiped gently over the bruise, wondering what caused it.

The attire she wrapped around herself was fairly simple, the same grey blouse the other warriors received to wear and the same black trousers the females received, not that they differ a great deal from the appearance of the men's clothing, but they had different functionality aspects than those of the male warriors.

The door flew open and Cynthia's heart pounded loudly in her ears; she held her hand to her chest as to slow the drumming rhythm. In stormed two of the elders along with the village healer Lääkitå, Almeric and Lord Dryden.

"We are so glad to see that you're awake. You gave us quite the freight there young lady." The Elder Vashti said, giving Cynthia a warm motherly embrace. Cynthia smiled an innocent smile, not really understanding what was going on.

Lord Dryden spoke in a taut voice, "Cynthia, did you know that you're a terra liege?" and looked at her with his light brown eyes, that seemed angry and tensed at the same time.

"No." she said in almost a whisper, lines formed between her brows in a questioning manner. Almeric noticed the uneasiness that Lord Dryden was causing Cynthia and moved closer to her. Lääkitå held his hand in front of Almeric's chest, not letting him get to close to the girl.

"So you had no knowledge of this?" Lord Dryden asked Cynthia, edging closer again. Cynthia opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.

"Speak girl!"The male Elder voiced.

"I...I have no abilities, I never had." She said quickly in a shaky voice laced with fear.

"Who conducted her tests?" Lord Dryden questioned the group.

"It was Elder Vitruvius, I believed he went alone. But the memory is vague, I could be wrong. It was a long time ago" Vashti answered

"How old are you?" Lord Dryden inquired towards Cynthia.