Ingrid was the oldest of five. Two sisters and two brothers. Her mother and father adored her and the neighbours often commented on what a kind and responsible girl she is.
So what went wrong?
Well It all happened when she was six years old. She was skipping through the town happily, proud of herself for doing the shopping all by herself when-
"Give your belongings to me little girl" a knife was pointed at the small girl's throat. She trembled violently under his gaze, unsure of what to do. She didn't want to die but disappointing her parents seemed just as bad.
"Are you deaf kid!" He grabbed her roughly by the arm "drop the ba-" he was cut off by a strike to the chest. Standing in front of her was her father, the current sword hero.
"You alright sweetheart?" His stern face turned soft as he faced his child.
"Yes father" she whispered. Seeing her father's heroic silloete struck something deep within her.
Becoming the sword hero was all she could think of.
"Hah!" The younger siblings watched as she swung her wooden sword. Sweat poured down her forehead.
"Sissy" the baby of the family Sirius held up a towel for her.
"Thank you" she wiped her forehead with a smile.
"Sissy play with me" Emma hugged her sister's waist.
"You never stop working" Alex whined.
"Enough you two" her twin sister Isabelle, younger by one minute spoke up "Ingrid is training to become the new sword hero. This is important to her, so it should be important to us"
Ingrid smiled at her sister's words. She was a frail yet gentle girl. She was born with a weak heart so she had no hope of becoming a holy knight like many of their family had. Still her support for her sister was more than enough for Ingrid.
"Isa you should be resting" Ingrid scolded her lightly.
"I know but I couldn't help myself. You have no idea how depressing it is being stuck in my room this whole time" she sighed dramatically. Sirius ran up and hugged the girl "there's my sweet little boy" she picked the toddler up. Isabelle has always been like the mother Sirius never had. After all, she died just before he was born.
"Anyway dinner's ready. Think you could take a break for a bit ini?" she smiled at her.
"Sure" she nodded as she laid her sword down.
Years passed and she had just turned twelve. She was now old enough to take the holy knights exams. She had fought hard and her family cheered her on all the way. She was now at the finals. Only the elite were permitted to enter so for the first time she was without her family by her side.
Her opponent was tough. Too tough. She was losing and badly. If only she had the hero's sword. She knows she could beat him then-
She couldn't believe her eyes. Appearing in her hand was the hero's sword. Whispers rang across the crowd.
"Is that the hero's sword?"
"To be chosen at such a young age. Just who is this girl?"
Electricity tingled at her fingertips as she raised her weapon high, striking down her opponent. Cheers erupted from the stadium. In a beam of light an elderly man appeared. That man was the king, the strongest amongst the Kingdom.
"In all my years of spectating I've never seen anything like this before" his eyes twinkled wisely "we'll have to consider a special position for you"
"Thank you my king" she bowed to him before staring at her sword with pure joy. She's done it. After training so long she was finally the owner of the masters sword. She couldn't wait to show her par-
All of it was gone.
A dragon had attacked while she was away. Without the master sword the Astor people were completely at his mercy. She took the master sword when they needed it the most.
Under the rubble she heard quiet sobbing. She dug under the rubble to find little Sirius with a cut on his forehead but otherwise alright.
"It's okay Sirius" she held her brother close, trying hard not to cry "your big sister's got you. You're going to be okay now"
....................
"After that the village blamed her for the attack, claimed she killed her own family. She was kicked out of the holy knights straight after" Sirius finished, his fists clenched tightly by his side.
"But that wasn't teaches fault. It was just bad timing" krispin argued.
"I wish others saw it that way" he walked up and placed a hand on his shoulder "thank you krispin. I feel like I can count on you now"
"No problem dude. We're friends after all" he winked at him "now come on. I want to finish teaches awesome food!"