Midnight came earlier than Ashwa thought, and yet she had no sleep at all. But when Kayla prepared to go, she groaned and clung onto the soft warm pillows and the huge bed, along with a few blankets Kayla had made herself.

But she knew in the end she would have to leave to get to Kayla’s “master”, and not get caught by the Black Guards of the King.

So, at last Ashwa and Kayla set off, towards north, where cities of Elvendore was. Ashwa had never been to a city before, so it was new surroundings that kept her curiosity. Kayla of course, had went to the cities many times, as she travelled back and forth. But they were not to be caught in the city at the dead of the night but wandering through the thick wood that goes up north, then through River Elor then to the “school” which Kayla talked about.

Walking behind Kayla, and sweating from head to toe, Ashwa panted and puffed. Long walks were not for her, especially these two nights’ walk till five o’clock in the morning.

They had planned to skip away like a rabbit, entering winding paths and into the middle of the woods. The woods were going to be dangerous, especially while walking at night. But Kayla insisted not to be seen by anybody, and must get to the “master” at the same time.

Jumping across an old rotten trunk, Kayla whipped her clocked hood towards a new sound. The crickets at night had grown silent and she heard another being’s voice.

“Should’ve bought thousands of beers when we had a chance, Asco,” a familiar voice said.

“I don’t care about the beer, Manly! We must help our family!”

“Beer, Asco! Beer!”

“No!”

“I am the oldest and you cannot deny what I tell you to do!”

“I’m old enough, big brother! I don’t need you anymore!”

Then there was groaning and moaning sounds. Asco and Manly were fighting each other with large sticks and yelling insults at each other while they fought. Then Asco delivered a sickening crack on Manly’s stomach, and he sank onto the ground, unconscious.

Ashwa had been horrified by much more cruel acts but this had been enough for her, to see families killing and whacking each other. Sure, the village she came from had not been catching the King Ian’s eye at all but these few days had made her want to yell and shout.

“Stop! You are supposed to be helping each other, not using sticks to send your brother off to some headache, while the stupid king rules? He made me burn my village down, controlling me and—,” she paused. She had said too much than what she had intended to. But what difference does it make now?

“Who are you?” Asco trembled.

She walked out off the bushes, despite Kayla trying to stop her. Her new tunic and shirt hid under the dark moonlight, and the torch Asco had been holding almost fell to the grass below. He gasped.

“Y-you are the girl the lady brought!” he exclaimed, blinking his eyes.

“I am. Let go of your big brother, please. There are other things you should be worrying about, not whacking your brother unconscious. For example, the King himself is causing us pain, and we should act. Now.”

She felt her words were way far too confident than what she expected, and sighed. “Never mind. No one cares,” she said, when Asco, still staring open-mouthed, didn’t say anything.

“Er—erm, of course,” he bit his lip. She knew he didn’t know how to answer to that. But it was soon forgotten, as Ashwa got a spark in mind.

An idea surged through her. She didn’t think it was possible but she said it anyway.

An unknown voice, which was hers but clear and compelling, said, “Before you go, do listen to me. You can go under your free will, of course, but do you want some adventure? Perhaps act as the strong one, and save Elvendore from peril? You are young, ten, perhaps. But your mind with its wisdom is true. Do you want to be a rebel, Asco?”

~