The summit

We were transported by our wagon and arrived in front of the palace gate. A wall surrounded the palace with only one iron gate as its entrance. It was strategically built for if there was an attack, everyone inside the wall would be safe. The summit will be held in front of the palace.

We entered the palace grounds and when the wagon stopped, we headed straight for our positions. Most of us was situated on the wall and others were at the foot of the stairs, where the king will give his speech. On the top stairs, a podium stood, used when given a speech. Behind the podium, by the palace door, was two of the king's own guards posted.

I could see many of the girls was alert, but I don't think it had anything to do with the fact that they were looking for danger. I am so glad I didn't have a fear of hights. I peered down the wall and swallowed hard. If any of us were to fall, it would be a long way down, an immediate death, even with our special training. To be a guardian is a big honour, everyone treats you with respect, but it also comes with a huge responsibility, like everything else in this world.

The people began streaming in the gates, most was reporters. Only a few people were allowed in as an audience.

The king was going to give a speech about a deal he made with the Empire about peace, after fifty years of war. Many believed that there would never come piece between the two lands and that it is a trap.

The king and his son, prince Noctis arrived. The King's root hair was staring to go white and was cut short with a black beard on his face. He wore the traditional grey and red robe, the colours of our kingdom. Our emblem on his right shoulder. A red flame with two swords cris-crossing it, and a grey crown hovering above it. Prince Noctis didn't bother to dress properly. Typical. He wore navy blue trousers, with boots to match. He wears a black shirt with a black leather jacket. From where I stood his hair looked black, but I heard many people say that his hair is naturally navy blue.

When the girls saw him, I could see they were trying very hard to restrain themselves and show professionalism, but that flew out the window when the prince winked at one of them. I was waiting for the moment that she would faint, but when that didn't happen, I settled for an eye role. I surveyed the crowd and saw that the prince was standing on the King's right side and saw that his eyes were on... me.

I did a dubble take and felt my own eyes widen. I immediately narrowed them. This can't be right, but sure enough, his attention were on me. He looked curious. He cocked his head to the one side, and when he was sure he had my attention, he gave a slow, flirty smile, that would make any girl weak in her knees. I clenched my hands into fists. I can't believe this. A Cocky thing, aren't you? I thought. I felt a familier tingle in my veins, therefore I flexed my fingers and rested my one hand on the hilt of my sword, I looked once more at the prince before clenching my jaw in determination and looked away from him. After waiting a few minutes, I looked back at him and saw he was still looking at me, but the curiosity was replaced by a stony expression. I couldn't stop the small victory smile that appeared on my face. Prince Noctis narrowed his eyes and a laugh almost bubbled out of me, but I quickly stifled it. Guess he isn't use to this kind of behaviour from a girl. Serves him right. I bow my head in his direction before turning my attention to the king. He was already busy with his speech.

"... the treaty between the two lands will benefit all of us. After 50 years of war, we finally achieved peace." The King continued on about how all the lives that was lost to achieve this piece, was worthwhile, and that we will never forget them and their sacrifices. I immediately thought about my parents. They died in this war. My father was a soldier and my mother was a Guardian, since women are the only ones who can be one. My father died first on the battlefield and then my mother died a year after that, when they attacked this city. I was three when that happened, so I don't really remember it.

I don't know much about them. Grandmother never wanted to talk about them. Only here and there she would say something, and when I begged her to tell me more, she would always say: 'One day' I gave up after a few years, since I began to notice things. Sometimes when she thinks I'm not watching, she would look at me and get this sad look in her eyes. I also noticed that she never had any photos of my parents put up on the walls. I always assumed it was maybe to painful for her.

Suddenly the king was interrupted by someone standing on the roof. He wore tattered clothes, with two swords strapped against his back. He looked young, about the prince's age. So that would make him roughly about 20 years old, maybe older. He had earthly brown hair, with green eyes. He is well built with a piece of cloth covering the lower half of his face.

"Do you really think they want peace? They want to destroy us! Are you really such a fool that you can't see that? This will be the downfall of us, you, will be the downfall of us!"

Why does the king just stand there? Why doesn't he silence him? Why doesn't he talk some sence into the guy? Make him see reason. When I looked around I saw we were surounded by these rebels, all of their faces covered. So I couldn't tell if they were part of the crowd or not. They didn't wear an emblem, so they might be rogue rebels.

"Damn it!" I hissed. I was so caught up thinking about my parents, I didn't stay focused and watched out for this sort of thing. The guy who spoke lifted something in his hand. Only then did I realise he had something at all. It was round and... mother above. Is he crazy? He is going to be responsible for a mass grave.

"Grenade! Guardians, protect the king and prince!" Cid suddenly yelled.

All of us snapped out of our shock and into action. I leapt of the building in a flash, then everything felt like it was in slow motion.

When I landed on the ground, something didn't feel right. I didn't feel anything, none of the electric shock that would ripple through my feet from jumping from such a height. I felt a rush of power flow through my body, like it's awakening from a long sleep. At first I thought it was an adrenalin rush, but this tingling sensation was familiar. I tried not to panic. Cid always told us, fear is like a sead, once planted, it only grows, and in this line of work you don't have time to panic but my body felt weird. So off. I can't explain. I put my hand above my chest. It feels like a bubble is rising inside of me, but it won't pop and go away.

A movement on the side caught my eye. When my eyes shifted to the side, I was met with a pair of dark eyes. The prince's eyes. In the sun his hair looked like the blue everybody is always talking about. He had a sword in his hand, bursting with blue electrisity. His power. All the royals have one, or sometimes two, if they're powerful enough. When his eyes met mine, they widend with shock. He took a step back. Well, he obviously saw my eyes. Hopefully that will get him off my back, if earlier wasn't enough. I shook off the weird the sensation and moved to stand in formation, but the world began to blur. What is going on? We took our fighting stance in front of the king and prince, while their personal guards tried to escort them to safety. Just as the first grenades flew at us, the tingling sensation began to feel more real. I felt that same power rush that I felt earlier. Instincts made me throw my hands up. It felt like the power rushed out of my hands, leaving me hallow and weak. I felt myself flying, feeling weightless. Like the power consumed me, or whatever it was, and left nothing behind. I suddendly felt a sharp pain shoot through my whole body and my head connecting with something solid. Then everything went dark.