The Lost Restorer

Chpt 1:Training

Mist had enveloped the sky.  The rain had finally let up and the lingering water trickled down the rooftops of the palace grounds.  The morning dew had already set over the grass. A beam of the daybreak light had managed to seep through the curtains of a young girl’s room. It shone stubbornly on her face forcing the reluctant girl to wake. She sluggishly arose and pulled the curtains aside, running her fingers through her long straight black hair.

“Another morning,” Sefia sighed as she turned to get dressed and grabbed her sheathed sword. She hooked the sword on to her belt and headed to the breakfast hall.

On her way, she was constantly greeted by the servants and soldiers posted throughout the corridors. She strode through the corridors, occasionally returning the gestures with a nod.

“It’s always the same. Hardly anything ever happens here.”

The breakfast hall was probably one the largest rooms in the palace. It was completely furnished. There were small tables located at the corners of the rooms, all covered with laced clothes and colorful flower bouquets placed upon them. The walls were coated a pale blue shade and the large windows shielded with navy blue curtains. At the center of the room, below the sparkling chandelier, a grand table stood with a banquet laid across. This would generally be a usual sight for Sefia, but what startled her was the woman seated at one of the ends of the table. She wore an exquisite gown and held a high posture. Her gorgeous, long, black hair was loosely wrapped in a braid that rested on her shoulder and her glimmering black eyes fixed on the motionless little girl.

“Good morning Sefia”, she spoke, her voice calm and smooth.

“Ah!” Sefia said alarmed. “Uh …yeah... Good morning mom.”

“Why don’t you have a seat?” she said with a gentle smile.

Sefia nodded and nervously walked toward the table. Having breakfast with her mother was an extremely rare opportunity for her. Let alone meeting her at all in the mornings. She was always preoccupied with her position as queen. The “queen”…… every day, some or the other job needed her presence or approval. It was always either something to do with foreign affairs or military defense training or something else. It was something new every day. She hardly ever had had any time to devote to herself or her daughter. Conversations that were normally meant to be casual and friendly became awkward and strange. Though lately, she’s been mostly required in the research chambers. Apparently the researchers were following a lead they had on something and were developing something that would supposedly be huge asset to the nation’s defense. Sefia didn’t know much of the details herself and if the topic ever came up, it was shot down just as soon.

Sefia sat down and flicked her long bangs away so she could see the food on her plate.

“Were you heading out for training again?”

“Huh? Oh…Yeah.” she said shortly

She smiled. “With all the training you’ve been doing, you must be getting pretty strong now, huh?”

Sefia paused, shocked by her statement. “Well, not quite just yet….”

“How’s Lance doing by the way?” she asked stirring her tea.

“He’s alright.” She said after swallowing a large gulp of milk.

“Oh…That’s right… I’m supposed to be meeting his father today to discuss the military artillery issue.” she mumbled to herself and sipped her tea.

Suddenly a young woman dressed in uniform came hastily into the room. Sefia recognized the uniform. It belonged to the assistants of the research chambers. “Please forgive me for interrupting!” she said out of breath.

The queen turned toward her and nodded, permitting her to come over.

The young woman rushed over to the queen. She spoke quickly and quietly, and then backed away two steps. Sefia watched her mother’s expression become serious all of a sudden. Sefia couldn’t quite make out what they were saying after that.

Her mother stood up. “I’m sorry Sefia. I’ll have to take my leave now.” Her eyes were now looking somewhere else. She seemed to be lost in thought and much more. “I’ll see you later.” With that, she was gone.

Sefia sighed and stared at the piles of food on the table.

 ‘There she goes again…

Just what is going on in that lab?!’ she continued to stare at the food, reviewing whatever had happened since she entered the breakfast hall, this morning in her mind, when she suddenly remembered,

‘Oh crap! I forgot I was supposed to meet Lance!!’

She grabbed a slice of toast and skidded out of the room. She accelerated her pace, remembering the last time she was late.

‘Ugh…don’t want that happening again…’ she shuddered and shook her head, the slice of bread dangling from her mouth.

Exiting the palace grounds, she ran towards the meadows, just beyond the south gate. Her legs felt cold running through the damp grass. Bustling through the meadow, the cloaking mist had just about cleared up. Her training ground was now in sight. Seeing what was ahead, she halted. A young man stood ahead, his dark brown hair drenched in rainwater.

She sighed. “Just like I thought…”

He glared at her with his dark brown eyes, “Sefia. You’re late.”

She paced over to the man. “Who told you to come here so early, Lance?”

He scowled. “If I recall correctly, you were the one pleading for special early morning training.”

“Ermm...” Sefia nervously fidgeted with her hands, trying to avoid eye contact, “What’re you talking about? I never said that….”

He sighed. “Nonetheless, I’ve wasted enough time standing around here.” He unsheathed his rapier “Let’s start your training.”

He jolted forward with tremendous speed, barely giving Sefia enough time to dodge. She quickly drew her blade and sprang away from the attack. He spun to strike once more. She dove to dodge again.

“Jeez! Someone’s in a bad mood today, aren’t they?”

Lance grinned. “I’m not letting you off easy for being late.”

‘Something tells me he isn’t kidding…’

Sefia leapt back and recollected herself, preparing for a counterattack.

Raising her blade up, she charged forward. Her moves were swift.

In an instant their blades clashed. Sparks flew as their sharp edges skinned each other.

‘There! An opening! Now’s my chance’. She drove her sword toward his waist but his response was just as quick.

“Is that all you’ve got?” he sneered.

Their blades clashed for a second time. He plunged forward and sent her blade soaring out of her hands. It sunk deep into the ground behind her and she fell back, defenseless, the rapier’s blade pointing at her throat.

He smirked. “I win.”

Sefia frowned and muttered a few words under her breath.

He pulled his blade away a held out a hand. Grabbing hold of it, Sefia stood up.

“That was nothing. We’re only getting started!”

She walked over to her sword and hauled it out of the ground.