Sora jolted awake another time, the memories of her lethal attack on the defenseless woman became more like a thing of the past. She brushed away the small locks of hair that blocked her sight as she finally caught a glimpse of the same room she had woken up from.
Taking the covers draped over her legs, she stepped down—her feet brushing against the aftermath of her attack when she tried to strike the lady with her blade. But these were the least of her thoughts as the memories of how she came about in such a place.
Her head ached as short memories of her battle with the Scourge emerged in her thoughts in the form of clicks and flashes. Sora was forced on one knee as the pain forbade her from moving further.
"Tch!"
Sora winced in pain, her eyes closed shut, her forehead creased and her teeth clenched—the look on her face showing an expression of the pain she felt as her fingers on her lobe as she battled with the growing pain.
'What manner of sorcery is this? It feels like my head is about to burst from within'
Gathering her resolve and finally finding the strength to raise herself up, Sora moved to the door, stumbling as her vision began to deteriorate. She felt her mind grow weaker, her body not being compatible with her thoughts and before she knew it, her toes had come in contact with a wedge on the wooden floors—causing her to fall to the ground, her body being flung past the door.
Sora groaned in exhaustion as she raised herself up from her slouched position, her breath still heavy and her head spun like a wagon's wheel moving on a narrow path.
Suddenly, Sora picked up sounds of footsteps outside the room and it began to get closer—it had to be the elf lady again. Seeing that she had found herself in an unfamiliar place, she was certain that whoever was arriving at the door was none other than the elf she was close to killing before landing herself in this situation.
'I have to hide,' Sora muttered, glancing around, the footsteps had already reached the door as Sora quickly rushed to the side.
The door creaked open slowly as somebody she couldn't see and was sure couldn't see her, stepped inside, the sound of their high heels clicking on the wooden floor, "Where could she have wondered too?," the voice of this person echoed softly in a sweet and motherly tone, matured but light.
Sora who was still under the impression that it was the so-called, dark elf lady forged a weapon from her inventory, a one-handed blade which she readied to strike her down with. Finding the right time to execute her attack, Sora gathered all her strength and every bit of resolve she had left and went straight in for the kill.
Charging full force at the one who she thought was the mythic, Sora was only greeted with the sight of a tall woman, dressed in white rich gown and long goldi-lock hair in the form of curls and spring-rolls.
This person was Sorelia Bryndal III, the woman who was responsible for recruiting Sora into the esteemed Bureau of Knights standing as the high guards of Eldermere. Sora stopped in her tracks as Sorelia quickly noticed her, turning to face the young lady with a sight that displayed a high level of shock.
Sora who had her blade raised in the air to strike forced her hand to stop, her hand tightly gripping the hilt of her weapon.
"Sora may I ask why you are out of bed? And what in the heavens name are you doing with a sword? Put it down," Sora commanded and Sorelia, who shared the same amount of bewilderment, lowered her blade.
Staring into her ocean blue gaze, Sora couldn't help but display the relief and joy she had gotten just by seeing her before her eyes. Though she had been wary of this strange woman who's age didn't match her description, all that suspicion had died, in that very moment and the young lady reached in as she embraced Sorelia tightly as if they were long, lost relatives who had reunited.
"Oh, my," Sorelia muttered, overwhelmed by the soft embrace, the scent of lavender filling the air as Sora connected arms with her.
What was this scent? The questions remained engraved in Sorelia's mind filling her with a sense of familiarity, something she had never felt before. Sora quickly realized the weight of her actions and immediately backed away from the hug.
Chuckling with an embarrassed demeanor, Sora spoke, "Apologies, Lady Sorelia," she muttered, now releasing a soft and respectful aura.
Sorelia smiled warmly, her blue eyes filled with a motherly demeanor that reverberated through the entire being. She could feel like she was standing and speaking with her own mother at that very moment.
Suddenly the light knock on the door alerted the two, taking their gazes away from each other and to where the sound was coming from. Rolling towards them was a wooden dummy in the shape of a female structure, adorned in a black armored crop top, having forged from what seemed to be enchanted steel.
Sora's eyes sparkled, taking in the attire, Sorelia smiled proudly. Golden accents curled along its edges like captured flames, and on the right shoulder bore the weight of a lion-shaped pauldron, its snarling visage cast in burnished gold, eyes hollow, yet somehow watchful—almost like it could lunge out of its stationary form.
The left shoulder bore a leather strap and iron-fastened bracer. A wide, rune-etched belt encircled the waist, holding tight a deep crimson sash that fell in torn, flowing folds that resembled dried blood silk. It trailed to one side with the Bureau of Knights' symbol engraved in white.
The gauntlets clasped around the mannequin's wooden hands, shimmering with worn enchantments, layered with gold and shaped for beauty and brutality. Draped around the neck and falling down its back was a scarlet scarf, woven from phoenix-feather thread, once a gift from a dying mage in the final days of the Skarval War.
Sora had heard stories of the Skarval War, with two opposing parties engaging in a very brutal battle. The Crimson Forge Legion who rained steel upon the rebel mountain against the Wolves of Skarnheim who rose—wild warriors clad in furs and rage.
Seeing one of the stories come to life was something that piqued her interest even more, "Amazing. Marvelous," she remarked, her eyes sparkling like twin stars as she scanned through like a research expert trying to gather information from an object.
"I see you have a fine taste for Skarfal attire. Only a few younglings recognize its legacy and fewer still survive to speak of it," said Sorelia with voice tone filled with poetic carnage as Sora nodded, making her knowledge known to "It seems I made the right choice giving it to you as a gift"
Sora's eyes remained shocked as she listened to Sorelia's words—she had promised herself not to touch something so sacred, but the thought of it clinging to her skin was just something she didn't want to accept. She had grown up in a common family with no value for gold coins or rich fabric.
"I apologize to Lady Sorelia, but I cannot accept it," she said in a low tone. These words shocked Sorelia, filling her with a sense of concern and dread as Sora showed no interest towards the design.
Sorelia sighed, smiling softly as she had thought of a way to persuade the little girl, "I understand," she said with a soft tone, "You didn't have the chance to grow in a family full of riches and a comfortable life, that is something that I can understand since I was also lived the same life as yours"
Sora was immediately taken aback by Sorelia's words, what shook her the most was the thought of her living a life much like hers, full of hardships and simplicity. Seeing that someone who had faced hardships like her existed, there was no harm in following in their footsteps.
Sorelia smiled brightly, it was almost like she had read through Sora's mind in that very instant, but something filled her with a deeper concern. The door had been knocked, but the person who did this was nowhere to be seen.
"Now hold on," she muttered, turning the attention of Sora towards the door. She too had noticed the off feeling but she couldn't have a full understanding, "Whoever is at the door, reveal yourself this instant" She commanded.
In that instant, a hand reached out, dark and creamy—then fluffy hair white hair. Sora watched as this figure emerged from behind the mannequin and as their full figure was displayed, Sora stood defensively, drawing out her weapon from the system.
The scene shook Sorelia who was a witness to what was happening before her. Sora gazed into the eyes of the individual who was thought to be her enemy and opponent.