Her eyes were as dull as the room she was in. Motionless they gazed down into the endless darkness that filled both the room and her world. She was silent in her efforts to escape the troubles that had befell her as she crouched alone in a corner.
Her arms wrapped around her legs with slight shivers now and then. Her face remained hidden from the dim light that filtered through the ceiling, and from the soft green glow pulsing beside her. Her wood brown hair flowed down her knees covering all the way to her ankles.
To her side was an old wooden chair. The chair rocked side to side, slowly losing its momentum. Though small, she could still feel the latent warmth from the seat. It was the last thing the elder had left before fading away. The other thing was the short blade that lied beneath the wooden chair. Its was still glowing green illuminating the dark room in subsequent periods.
The light annoyed her.
Liora wanted to stay in the dark until the guild members came to handle the mess in the village. To her the darkness was serene. No sounds, no laughs, no external expectations. That's all she wanted… to fade to sleep in the embrace of the quiet and chilly darkness.
Well that's how she felt ever since that day. The day when all the things she thought to be light in the world turned and left her to the comfort of the dark.
" Make way, make way for the child prodigy of house Vane. " a jovial voice echoed her back to her past.
" Stop. Um…no need for introduction. " a gentle voice answered shyly.
" Oh come on Liora. You've just completed a mission only a pledged grown up gentry could have managed. " another voice said.
" Yeah we should celebrate. "
" Not even Jaron could do that. "
The voices took form settling to her old friends.
They were in a banquet. Everything sparkled and shone in the golden crystal lighting. There was a gentle piano in the background. It was settling, serene and nostalgic.
Most importantly it sickened her.
Admits a crowd of other well-dressed girls, Liora's silky brown hair stood out the most. Her gentle eyes hazily moved from one compliment to another.
" Wow look. Its Liora Vane. "
" Yeaah she so beautiful. "
" And did you hear ? "
" Yes I heard. She could took on an A tier mission and came back unscathed. "
Liora's head had never spun so fast.
The banquet was a small celebration of achievements. It was dedicated to the younger generation of the nobility recognizing their abilities and achievements. It was both a pride and joy for the families and houses for their children to be honored at the event.
" Cheers to the future nobility. "
" Cheers, "
Bright smiles arrayed across the large banquet hall. Glasses clang from both young and old as they celebrated the joy and pleasures of the banquet.
At the center of it all was Liora. The dress she wore was adorned with a crimson ribbon and a shiny bronze star. Envy of the party she was radiated with praise and congratulations from both sides of the age spectrum. But no matter how many Liora didn't care about their praises. She only looked up to one person and her opinion was the only one that mattered.
The banquet continued in the ball room. A humming violin soothed the hall with tunes. It was slow but kept the party going. The nobles inside engaged in chatter but many of them were just gossiping.
Liora had managed to escape they grasp of the relentless older noble ladies and was now strolling outside. A beautiful garden bloomed with flowers on the well kept lawn. Due to her height it felt like a maze trying to walk around the garden, so she decided to look at it from the side.
" There she is, " a voice called out. It was familiar. Annoyingly familiar.
She turned to face who had found her.
" Come here you. " Nexa said as she pulled the little Liora into her arms.
Liora barely felt the hug. She was annoyed by the many strands of purple dyed hair flying into her mouth.
" Look at you, " Nexa said.
" You're adorable in that little dress and ribbon.. "
Liora was still spitting some hair.
" Lori, Lori, " Nexa called out waving her hand.
The figure turned towards Nexa's call.
" Here she is. " Nexa added.
The figure approached them. She was imposing confident beautiful and with every step respect came. She was everything Liora wanted to be.
" Big sister. " Liora called out excited.
Lori walked slowly towards them. As she got closer Liora's heart pounded. Her breathing hitched. She couldn't tell if she was excited or nervous.
But something was odd. No matter how much she tried she could make out Lori's figure. She was like a walking blur admits the clear picture around her. The more she narrowed her eyes the more Lori's form got obscured.
" Sister ? What's going on ? " she thought.
Lori stood before her. Her imposing stance and unwavering nature was now like an immovable pressure on Liora.
" Looks like you've gotten stronger. " Lori said.
Liora only nodded her head. She was overjoyed. She had finally gotten what she had always wanted.
A smile from her elder sister.
" Strongest amongst your peers and some of your seniors at such a young age. "
" Congra— "
Suddenly Lori stopped.
The cheery and jovial environment suddenly started to change. One by one water droplets fell from the sky as a gloomy day unfolded. Liora remembered this day too well. It was the day her world flipped into the dark and cold place she was currently living in.
" You can't go on missions anymore. " those few words blew out any candle of hope that was still flickering within her.
" Sister. What does he mean ? " she asked her voice shaky.
" Big sister, Big sister. "
But no matter how many times she called unto her, Lori just kept on walking away.
" Did you here what happened in house Vane. " an obscured voice asked.
" Yes. I can't believe they'd do that to their own daughter. "
" That's what you get for being too greedy and power hungry. "
" I guess their child prodigy was nothing but a fake. "
Liora covered her ears.
" No shut up. None of you people matter. "
" Huh ?! You still think you're better than us ? " a new voice said. It was young ,about the same age as her.
" Make way, make way, the child prodigy of house Vane is coming through. " the voice said.
" None of you matter… none of you matter. " Liora said repeatedly trying her best to drown out the insipid laughs.
But no matter how much she tried, they kept increasing. They grew louder, more haunting and most of all annoying.
"Shut up ! " Liora screamed.
Her world was slowly swirling down to a bottomless abyss. And no matter how many times she called out,
" Big sister ? "
" Big sister ? where are you ? "
She never answered. Only the laughs and curses of those around her answered. Over and over again until finally they stopped.
" Shut up! "she said to herself still crouching her the corner
" None of you matter. "