Evmor: The Calling

Chapter 10

Hey guys! I couldn't sleep for some reason so decided to get some writing done and here's chapter 10. Aviara is getting settled in Leseros and let's hope she gets some training in before she has to face more of those creepy demons. Enjoy!

Chapter 10

Breakfast was brought to me in my room, like I had always dreamed of when I had fantasized about being a princess. I was slightly uncomfortable with the idea of Adalia and Harriet bursting into my room every morning, but decided it was worth it when I took a bite of my breakfast.

It consisted of all kinds of fruits, many of them unfamiliar, as well as something that resembled a pancake, cooked so that it was golden and a little crispy on the edges. When I bit into it, something sweet and thick spilled out onto my tongue, and I rolled it around in my mouth and savored the sweetness.

Then I was dragged into the chaos of finding the appropriate outfit for the day. Apparently Killian had—and here I quote Adalia directly—requested my attendance in the training grounds. I knew it was where all the soldiers were trained, especially now more than ever since there was always the threat of an attack.

After some time of rummaging through the endless collections of dresses, Adalia and Harriet emerged triumphant with a pair of pants made of tough material and a plain white shirt. I pulled these on and was pleasantly surprised at how well they suit me. The pants hugged my legs and despite its sturdy material, it allowed me to move around comfortably. Harriet explained that it was the material that was used to make many of the soldier’s uniforms. I pulled on leather boots over it and appraised myself in the mirror.

“I look like people from movies.” I mumbled, admiring every angle. Satisfied with my outfit, Adalia and Harriet ushered me out of the room and down numerous hallways. I was grateful for their assistance for I would surely have been lost in this palace if I had been alone. The hallways were cool, although nowhere near as frigid as it was outside. I wondered how the soldiers trained in the harsh weather, and my question was answered when I arrived.

One hallway opened up to a wide field, and surprisingly, the field was green with lush grass. As I stepped out, I was met with a cool breeze that swept through the field but the temperature here was almost warm. I realized it must be magic that was maintaining this comfortable temperature.

Rows upon rows of soldiers stood facing their partner, sparring with their swords, daggers, and axes, anything that could be considered a weapon. Another group was working on hand-to-hand combat, and I winced every time someone was thrown onto the ground. I had known Killian was going easy on me, but seeing the soldiers train, it hit me just how gentle he was when training me. My gratitude was short-lived as I realized that I might not have been ready for any sort of combat if that had been the case. I had improved, even Erebus had said so, but that didn’t necessarily mean I was good enough to defend myself. And I only knew too well what kind of enemies I was up against.

Killian was striding through the rows of soldiers with another man at his side. I could only assume the other man was the captain of the guards in Leseros. They seemed to be deep in conversation, their heads bent together, and I was astonished how young Killian was compared to the other captain.

The captain was dressed in the dark green uniform of the guards, although the subtle difference in the design as well as the intricately woven white embroidery distinguished him as someone of higher class. He was a man who seemed to be in his mid forties, the hair around his temples graying, the edges of his eyes lined with small delicate wrinkles. Despite the fact that he was much older than Killian, they exuded the same air of confidence and discipline, key characteristics of a captain.