Arch of the Lost Ruin

Lady Lessons

My father loved me and my sister since we were fetuses. He was also creative, with a little world going on in his head, where us Dhoenixian demons could flourish. That was back when his memory was intact. He named us, and our mother agreed to his suggestions; it was surprising because she had every right to name us instead of him. I guess that’s real love.

He named me “Elixa,” meaning “elixir of strength,” because I was quite the loud and obnoxious pup ever since I was born. I was his favorite, although he said he doesn’t play favorites. He named my sister “Raevyn,” meaning “raven of the wyvern,” because she was the younger twin and had a much more calmer personality.

I don’t know where he gets his creativeness from: his name or his rank. His name, Rynoarc, meant “arch of the ruin” in our language. As for his rank, he was the top fighter of our pack, training all the others to be as powerful as him. He could beat the Primal Emmanations or even the Overlord easily. He could’ve been promoted to a Big Interference Guard but he denied, wanting to protect no one but his mate, which was my mother: Evalyn. BIG for short, I found it weird that the abbreviation spells out BIG and the first word of that rank was Big. My mom wasn’t as powerful as my dad, but she was a decent scout.

We live alone now, in the middle of wilderness in a kingdom called Sakazae. Well, not technically alone. My godmother, Tessalyn, also went with us, along with my two older godsisters Delphyra and Mynona. Tessalyn also had a history behind her, having mated with a husky dog, and the results were my godsisters. Tessalyn was shunned by the pack. I felt sympathy for her.

To get to the point, the Dhoenixian pack my parents were in collapsed. Chaos, murder, treason, all the possible crime. Rynoarc was wrongly accused of betrayal, because him fighting Primal Emmanations and Overlord was considered an act of disrespect. I hated people who accused Rynoarc of anything, my father is a well respected and refined demon, a gentleman. So, Rynoarc led my mom and my godmother away from the pack, and here we are, living the life.

“Chin up, Elixa.” Growled my mother, as I sat in front of her, forced to train with her.

I sighed, reluctantly obeying. I love my mother and all, but her “lady lessons” are ticking me off. She’s been trying to teach me the concept of being polite for a few weeks now, and I don’t seem to have learned anything. I’m not made for being courteous or amiable, I’m made for battle, honor, and everything my father is. I would love to say that in front of my mother, but I probably would get punished with more lady lessons than I already have.

My mom says that I have to be ladylike and have manners for other people to like me. What's the point in teaching me all of that if we're not going to be meeting anyone at all? My father says to stay away from everyone because they would do horrible things to us, but what they were my father didn't say. But I obeyed. He teaches all the combat skills we need, and his lessons were my favorite. My mom teaches skills on how to avoid being detected by others: evasion. My godmother teaches us morals, legends, and basic healing herbs, just in case.

“I can’t believe you,” Evalyn sighed as well, shaking her head slightly, “Weeks of training and you can’t even grasp the chin rule. It’s very simple, Elixa, just keep your head up.”

“Sorry, mum.” I looked down at my paws, pretending to be ashamed while on the inside, I’m glad to have not soften up.

Evalyn sighed again, this time, more frustrated, “We’re done for today, Elixa.”

Wonderful! “Alright, thanks mum!” I instantly leap up from my sitting position, ready to leave the sandy clearing we’ve been settling on.

“One moment, Elixa.” Evalyn stopped me, before I could get completely out of the place.

I groaned inwards, not wanting to be kept in the lady jail any longer, “Yes, mum?”

“You were daydreaming the whole lesson, weren’t you?”

“No, mum.” I quickly flicked my eyes to my right, then back at my mom again.

Evalyn frowned, her crimson eyes seem to be fueled with fire. She knew I was lying, and when I’m lying, I’m busted.

“May I go now?” I asked, holding my breath.

Evalyn paused, then gave up, “...Yes.”

That was enough to get me bolting right through the green foliage of the forest, trying to catch the scent of my father. But instead of catching my father’s scent, I bumped into my eldest godsister, Delphyra. Head-on.

Of course, being almost four months younger than Delphyra, the impact sent me skidding across the ground. Delphyra wasn’t affected by the interference, she stood like a stone in the middle of a road.

“Well, excuse you!” I snarled, sitting on my rump, trying to message my damaged nose.

“Excuse me?” Delphyra mocked, her deep blue mane seemed to mock me as well, for whatever reason, “I was on my way for an important meeting, already late, and I’m here wasting my time bumping into you!”

That was rude. Why can’t Delphyra have lady lessons? “Wow, what a coincidence, miss angry-paws, but I was on my way to have an important meeting with my father so I could train and beat your butt!” I retaliated, sticking my tongue out, “Besides, what’s so important that you have to attend, anyway?”

“I’m going to a━” Delphyra started, but clamped her mouth shut, as if the words that she was going to say was forbidden, locked away by a key, “Nothing.” She sighed and started to run, but I threw myself in her course, halting the hybrid.

“What do you want?!” Delphyra raised her tone, almost screaming in my face. She snapped her mouth around an empty space in front of my face, purposely missing so that I knew how close she was to actually snapping my face.

“I want to know where you’re going,” I grinned, leaning my head closer to hers, challenging her to make a move, “or else I will tell.”

Delphyra started to snarl even louder. Her electric blue eyes seemed to out-fire my crimson red ones, “You wouldn’t dare.”

Okay, at that point, I was stubborn, and I admit, if Delphyra killed me then and there, I would deserved it, “Try me.”