Tales of the Broken: Roses in the Wind

Chapter One: A New Story

"What do humans do when they're afraid?"

Rose opened her mouth to answer her father, speaking with care, "They turn to violence."

Her father nodded, and raised his left hand, the one made of mechanical cogs and gears, "That's right, though some flee. But what I'm trying to say is this; before we embark on this... adventure, I want you to remember something. Never result to violence unless it's absolutely necessary. Don't become a person who takes others' lives without a second thought, as I had become so many years ago."

Her father's words rung through Roses's head, she nodded at him, "I'll do just that."

"Oh, and one more thing." Father said, Rose just hummed inquisitively at him, he eyed her for a second, then continued on,
"Promise me that you don't fail as miserably as I did." He said, removing the cigar from his mouth before going on again, "Keep your light kindled, don't ever let it go out. Don't let someone else rain on you and snuff it out." As he said the last words, he shoved the point of his cigar into the snow that has accumulated on the stone fence.

Rose smirked, nodding at him, "I can try."

Thalian looked sidelong at her again, "Don't try. I'm counting on you here."

"What exactly am I doing?" She asked.

Father pulled a slip of paper from his pocket, giving it to her. "Take a look."

Rose opened the paper, seeing a large, bipedal creature on a chart with a small representation of an average human standing next to him. "The hell is this?" She asked

Father moved a large stone from the ground back onto the fence, mumbling to himself about repairing it later. When he heard her question he snorted, "Language, girl."

Rose shuffled her feet slightly, "Sorry."

Father continued walking, surveying the fence for dilapidation. "You are going to kill several colossi. It's a hefty task, I know. But I'm too damned old to do this-"

"Language!" Rose said with mock surprise and astonishment.

Her father playfully punched Rose on the arm, "I can swear you little shit, you're too young, too innocent and inexperienced."

Rose took a step back, "Innocent?" She said, "I am not innocent!"

Her father chuckled, "Of course you are. You are innocent until you look up... ah never mind."

Rose looked at her father rolling her eyes, "Whatever... going off this whole colossus thing, how in the hel-world am I going to slay them? I don't have any special abilities like Reyka or Natalie." Reyka and Natalie were her siblings, Rose being the oldest.

Her father looked side long at her for a third time, "You don't need a special power or natural gift to reach great heights. Just look at your mother, she accompanied me on my journey and she survived, even though she has no special powers."

Rose snorted, devoid of belief, "Yeah right. That's mom we're talking about, Father. She's an entirely different bucket of bolts."

Father once again raised a massive stone from the ground, laying it atop the fence, "Of course your mother is special. But who's to say you are not?"

Rose gave a short, sarcastic laugh, "Me? Special? You must have me mixed up with another child, dear father. Your age must really be getting to you these days."

Father gave a short growl of disgust, "You know, if you weren't my daughter I'd be less harsh on you. Hell, if you weren't my oldest child, I'd be softer. But you are my child. And you are the oldest. So, you gotta learn to be strong and confident in yourself."

Rose rolled her eyes, "I'm confident in myse-" she said before tripping over a stone hidden in the snow. Rose toppled gave first into the snow, the frost rushing onto her like a blizzard. Her father grabbed her by her shirt's collar and pulled her up, brushing her off.

"You are such a klutz, y'know that?" He said

Rose crossed her arms, half shivering to death, "I know, I know... I'm workin on it."

Rose and her father had finished their daily rounds of the fence, so they started their way back home. They walked on in silence for awhile, which Rose appreciated. She loved the sound of snow crunching beneath her boots, although you'd think she'd be sick of it, as she'd listened to it for nearly sixteen years for every day. Rose took a deep breath, she enjoyed the country side, but sometimes she wished she lived in the Cove. The Cove was the last big city that existed in the Thread. Ever since her Father's escapade ended, ancient colossi awakened and started ravaging the worlds, turning them into wastelands. Her father and her mother had already slain the colossus on Polaris, with the help of a strange reptilian, who they refused to talk about. All Rose knew about that reptilian was that after the battle, they had never seen the man. Rose always kept an eye out for him, as she was convinced that she had spotted him watching over her silently. Though sometimes she felt like he was watching over Rose and her siblings so he could keep tabs on them, not so that he could protect them, if the need arose.

A robotic voice rang out, "GOOd eveNING ROse."

Rose turned, seeing the old automaton called Commodore. Rose gave a simple wave to it, then continued on. It seemed like Commodore only ever talked to Rose and her mother. Speaking of which, when Rose's mother spotted them, she quickly ran over, giving them a warm greeting. Her mother hugged Rose, who felt like she was being strangled, and leaned in to kiss her Father,

"How were the rounds today, Thalian?" She asked.

Thalian smiled at her, he only ever seemed to smile in her presence, "Just fine. There are three segments that need mending."

Alexis gave a warm smile, she was always able to project a smile as warm as a furnace in the coldest of nights, "That's great. Reyka and Natalie are doing about as you'd expect with their training."

Thalian shook his head, "Natalie is still losing on purpose?"

Alexis nodded, "She straight up threw her sword into the ground today. Sometimes I worry for her.. what if she ever got in a life threatening situation?"

Rose stepped in, "I'd be there to protect her."

Alexis eyed Rose, "I know you would, " she said softly, "but what if she was alone?"

Rose shook her head, "She won't be."

Thalian walked to the cabin and opened the door, "Enough with this dreary talk. Let's go eat, hmm?"