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Just a few more steps... The girl thought to herself, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Her bare feet moved effortlessly across the broken leaves and twigs scattered across the ground.
Drawing her bow as slow as she could, taking a deep breath in, readying her arrow.
Crouching behind a tree, Morgana licked her lips and bit down on her lower lip in concentration. Her right eye squinted as she set her sight. Leaning forward, a branch snapped under her weight and the elk's gaze shot up towards her. As soon as they made eye contact, the elk bolted away.
"Dammit!" Morgana cried out and stood, shoving the arrow back in it's quiver.
It was the third hunt she had missed in a month, she was starting to doubt her abilities. Disgruntled, Morgana slumped against the tree, letting out a groan.
Nothing made the young blonde more angry than messing up a hunt with such a stupid mistake. Closing her eyes for a moment, she attempted to relax, taking deep breaths in through her nose and out through her mouth.
With a heavy heart, Morgana grabs a rumpled scroll from her belt and unravels it, revealing a map. Taking a look around, she began to draw in a blank spot of what she had just traveled. Father, being as protective as he was, rarely let her go out, and when he did, he always tried to send guards to watch her to make sure she wouldnt get in trouble. Of course, Morgana always found a way to get what she wanted, and often sneaked out of the Serion town to map out the woods around the mountains in hopes of finding something new and exciting.
Illumina continued to wander, she walked closer to the border, the light seemed to... follow her, without her even attempting to control it. She just sorta... glowed under the light.
Morgana's eyes fluttered as the land panned out behind her eyelids; she noticed a white aura moving not too far from her. It didn't seem dangerous, but it didn't ease her to know the presence was there either.
Intruiged and slightly over confident, Morgana stood up, rolling up the scroll and placing it back in the small satchel attached to her belt.
With a strong, demanding voice she finally spoke, "Who's there." This being more of a demand, than a question, Morgana waits for an answer.
"Illumina." The girl stared at Morgana and Morgana let out a laugh.
"State your business... Illumina." Morgana spat out the words as she crossed her arms across her chest.
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Morgana's eyes widen, a bit in shock that someone would talk to her in such a blunt manner. Morgana's eyes squint and she steps forward towards the girl. She wanted to tell Illumina to watch her tongue, but something compelled Morgana to keep her mouth shut for once. Morgana shook her head for a moment.
"My name is Morgana..." For once in her life, the goddess felt speechless. Unable to think of anything witty to say, unable to react at all to this girl.
Her energies seemed to silence Morgana, and it made her uncomfortable.
Morgana watched as Illumina's eyes flashed towards her barren feet. Had she really made it to the border already? She was going to have to mark that in her map...
"Yes..." Morgana answered hesitantly, if this girl was a spy she was in for a hell of a fight. Morgana's eyes narrowed, "And you must be a Rideon."
Morgana had heard about Rideons, but never actually met one. She just assumed they were a bunch of tree-hugging fairies.
"What brings you so close to the border? Do you have a notice from your council seeking to submit over to us?" Morgana sneered, attempting to intimidate the girl even in the slightest, maybe even push her buttons. Morgana wanted to see if Illumina would get aggressive with her.
The Serion couldn't risk it, if she let this Rideon slip past her, this could be a tremendous gain on their side. Being born and raised by royal blood, Morgana took her citizenship as a Serion more seriously than anyone. She was sworn by the Knights of Serion to protect the land from any devastation, or outsiders.
"I don't know what brings me here, I followed that which led me. Maybe it was to meet you."
The fact that Morgana's button-pushing had no affect on Illumina, almost seemed to make Morgana twitch with angst. Did anything get to this girl?
Yet, despite her eagerness to really chew at Illumina's core, the Rideon's answer stunned her... Maybe she was right... Maybe their paths had crossed for a reason... For a moment, the girl pondered reasons why... Could it have been possible that a force beyond Alliora had placed the two at the same place for something to happen.
Maybe they were here to make peace between the kingdoms... or maybe they were here to battle it out... See which kingdom is more fit to rule the land.
The thought passed quickly though, Morgana didn't believe in fate, or coincidence. To her it was a bunch of nonsense. Her father had ingrained the thought into her head that nothing was coincidental, and nothing was fateful. Her eyes squinted as she stepped forward towards Illumina.
"Perhaps." She finally answered, deciding to take the bait of Illumina's statement, "But for what reason? Why would we both be here at the same time?" Morgana felt like she was prying teeth from Illumina as she continually spat out questions.
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Illumina stared into her eyes and Morgana felt a zap of attraction for a moment... Something about this girl was different... Morgana had never expected her first experience with a Rideon to be so.... mild...
She had expected intensity and a fueled argument.
"You're on our side." Illumina pointed out gently and Morgana's eyes widened a bit as she stumbled backwards.
"So it seems..." Morgana muttered, running a hand through her thick blonde hair. Her eyes flickered up towards the sun as it began to set and cast eerie shadows upon the land.
"It's getting late... Father is probably wondering where I am..." She stuttered, attempting to rid herself of the mix of emotions she was feeling.
The Serion couldn't tell though if she wanted to meet up with this girl again; something about Illumina intrigued her though, but her father had always said not to make peace with a Rideon... The conflicting emotions rattled Morgana's bones in an uncomfortable way.
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Illumina stated, and Morgana nodded, turning away from the girl.
With a smug smile slipping into the corners of her mouth, Morgana began to trudge her way back home. The encounter was short, but something about the girl stuck in her mind. She wasn't sure what to make of it all. Chewing on her lower lip, she met back with her horse, Arthur, who was drinking water from a nearby creek.
"C'mon..." She mumbled, grabbing his reigns and shoving her foot in the saddle as she swung her other leg over. Arthur neighed and shook his head vigorously, and they began a light trot towards the Serion Kingdom.
The ride back always seemed to be shorter than the rides there. As Morgana exited the forest, the kingdom began to fade into her vision. The mountains loomed over the city, as if it were a wall of protection. Morgana watched as smoke billowed from the main town in the basin between all the mountains as the towns people prepared for nightfall. Stars began to come out and play hide and seek between the clouds as the sun set behind the mountains.
Morgana took a deep breath of fresh air and nudged Arthur a bit as they began to ride faster and faster down the small hill towards the main village.
Illumina arrived at the castle and she walked inside, not greeting the guards, who stepped to the side to let her pass, though she wasn't being rude, she just rarely talked. She made her way up the wooden staircase and was greeted by her father. "Illumina, where have you been!?"
"Taking a walk father." She said simply.
"WHAT!? You know it's dangerous to be out and about unprotected. What should I have done if a Serion found you?"
"I did meet a Serion." She said simply.
"Go to your room, you are not to leave there! I won't have you going anywhere near the Serion border again do you hear me!?"
Illumina only nodded and went up to her room.
"Lady Morgana.." The blacksmith's daughter looked up and Morgana gave a smug smile.
"Good evening, Valerie." Morgana dismounted Arthur, and patted him on the side of his strong neck.
"Your father has been looking for you.." Valerie stated, her dark brown eyes following Morgana.
"Oh?" Morgana rolled her eyes as she took the saddle off of Arthur.
"You're not worried?" Valerie asked as she took the saddle from Morgana.
"Not necessarily, where did you tell him I was?" Morgana's eyes flickered over to Valerie as she grabbed a brush.
"No... I told him you were practicing your hunting in the southern forest."
Morgana smiled, "Thank you, Valerie."
Morgana brushed off Arthur and then turned to Valerie, "Have a good evening."
"You too, Lady Morgana... Stay safe.." Valerie stared at Morgana for a moment and then returned to her job.
Morgana flipped the hood on her cape and began to walk towards the castle.
The town was buzzing with activity as the night owls began to come out to play. The tavern was lit up as the town folks began to forget about the troubles of work. The lanterns lit up the street and casted a beautiful orange glow against the dark night.
Morgana climbed up the stairs to the castle and was greeted with two Serion guards, who nodded to her and opened the door.
Morgana was immediately greeted with her father waiting for her behind the oak doors.
"Morgana, where on earth have you been?" Her father's stoic features were quite clear in the light of the candles.
Morgana put down her hood and her blonde hair falls gently around her shoulders.
"I was out hunting."
Her father stared her down for a moment, "Oh? Is that so?"
Morgana laughed, "yes, father." She walked over and kissed him on the cheek.
"Just.. Be careful, Morgana. We are in dangerous times."
Morgana smiled, "Of course, father."
Morgana turned and began to walk up to her room.
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