Stolen Spirit

Spirits in the Keep

The ruins of Soficy stood tall and silent, towering over the nearby fields and forest. The rising sun filtered through the forest's trees, creating beautiful angelic patterns on the ground. The good rain in the winter had caused a wonderous display of flowers across the once well-maintained fields, exhibiting a glorious display of colour.

Phoenix couldn't help but feel awe at the gorgeous display as she sat atop one of the last remaining walls. Her legs hung, swinging freely over the twenty-foot drop into the cities once envied sewer systems. Her green eyes sparkled as she observed the morning birds flying into the fields for their morning snacks, calling out at each other in conversation. Her brown locks of hair fell down her back, messy and unruly. Her tanned skin showed her time living in the ruins like a storybook, with each freckle and scar holding their own story. She was dressed in a patched dress that only just fit her, clumsily sewn together.

"Phoenix? Time to tend the garden dear." The warm voice floated across the ruins clearly. Phoenix swung back onto the wall's walkway, allowing herself one last look at the fields as she ran towards the crumbled tower. She sat at the edge of the broken walkway, lowering her feet onto the crumbled bricks below. She let go, allowing herself to slide down for a couple of seconds, before grabbing onto the wooden stake jammed into the brick on the side of the wall. It was a well-practiced fluid action, that had taken her years to perfect.

She then made her way down on the multiple wooden stakes, all strategically placed in the wall just for this reason. Finally, she made her way to the bottom of the wall, flipping off onto the ground. As she stood up, Wanda apparated in front of her, hands crossed and foot tapping. Phoenix stood, looking at her sheepishly. Wanda grabbed onto her ear, pulling her towards the middle of the bailey.

"I have told you countless times that the walls are out of bounds in the morning. And yet, every morning I find you recklessly flinging yourself across your stakes. What if you fell? You know Morty and Trevor are restricted to the great hall in the morning and can't be there to supervise you..." Wanda continued on her long rant, tugging especially hard on Phoenix's ear. Phoenix decided it was better off to stay silent during Wanda's continuous speech, only hissing in pain occasionally.

The bailey was scattered with the different life imprints of those who had died on the "worst morning in history" as Tamora had once described it to Phoenix. The grass in the bailey where covered in their skeleton's, turned a bright white by the elements. Many life imprints were hovering over their previous bodies, mourning them sorrowfully. Phoenix made sure to avoid the skeletons to the best of her ability, dancing around them as Wanda pulled her by the ear. The citizens of the keep did not appreciate it when Phoenix accidently destroyed parts of their previous bodies. The once well-kept gravel paths of the keep were now remnants of their former selves, broken up by more skeletons.

Finally, after a partially long leap over Jasmine's body, they made it to the relative centre of the bailey, were Jasmine's life imprint was hovering, smiling at Phoenix's predicament. Wanda was still on her rant, but Phoenix had not caught any words in a while.

"Wanda, if your not careful you will actually take her ear off." Jasmine's warm voice interrupted Wanda. Wanda scoffed, letting go of Phoenix's ear, who rubbed it, sulking. Wanda and Jasmine shared a moment of silent friendship with eyes. According to others in the keep, Wanda and Jasmine had been best of friends since the moment they born and it was clear to see from the obvious love they had for each other. Wanda with her fiery temper and strong stance, and Jasmine with her compassion and frail form. In their life they had made a formidable team when it came to the keep of the keep's gardens.

"Well, onto business then." Jasmine motioned to Phoenix smiling. Phoenix sighed, before picking up the heavy watering pot, walking towards the well.
"You know this is for your own good as much as ours?" Jasmine sighed as she noticed Phoenix's sour expression. Phoenix nodded.
"Doesn't mean I have to like doing it." She muttered.
"Don't be ungrateful. We could let you starve." Wanda began to fire up. Phoenix quickly apologised, beginning to pull on the heavy rope for the well.