History (Part 1 of 2)

(Lillian's thoughts) 'Liana might not be able to take in the whole thing at once either. I'll tell them I'll split it into sections. But I'll tell them what I can today. I might not get another chance.'

Lillian thought to herself. Liana noticed her hesitation and asked,

(Liana) "What's wrong, Lillian? Are you all right?"

(Lillian) "I'm fine. I was just thinking we should take breaks in between sections, so it'll be easier for you. But don't worry, I'll be sure to tell you what I can today. There are still some things that would be best if I don't tell you now."

(Liana) "Whatever you think is best."

Lillian nodded.

(Lillian) "Okay then."

She took a deep breath and started.

(Lillian) "Long ago, two people ruled the village of Riverdale. It was a small village, but a prosperous one. All the people liked the leaders and respected as well as honoured them. The village leaders and the village were on good terms with the King and Queen of the Adrenian Empire. They were also very good friends of the neighbouring Empire, the Vayithen Empire. The two Empires were very good friends too."

As she said this, both Liz and Liana wondered why she mentioned the neighbouring Empire but assumed there was a good reason and decided to let Lillian finish.

(Lillian) "One day, there was an uprising against the leaders of Riverdale. Apparently, there were many who liked them, but there were just as many who didn't. The King sent some men to help out, and in the end, they managed to push back the uprising and arrest those who were responsible for it. As a result of the uprising, the village was left very small and damaged. The King decided to give them a hand in building up their village again, so he asked for volunteers to go and help. There were many volunteers, and after they finished the construction works, a lot of them found the atmosphere there very friendly, so they moved in, making the village twice its size from before the uprising. There were so many people, that they had to elect more village leaders to help the original two. As a tribute to the King and Queen, they renamed the village from Riverdale to become The Loyal Eagle Clan. The eagle was because there were many in the village, and most of the village leaders had one. The Clan, as it was now known as, grew and grew as time passed. About five years later, the Clan was the third biggest Clan, or village. They were a close-knit village, now even more. They were a happy village, but they didn't take their joy from the size. The whole village had a sense of familial closeness, which was the source of their happiness. All of them were loyal to the pledge and oath that they made when they renamed the village, that they will be loyal to the Empire and the village, now known as a Clan."

She paused, thinking.

(Lillian) "I think we will stop here for now. I'll continue later, but for now, just think about what I've told you."

(Liana) "Okay."

(Liz) "How is this related to well, anything that's going on right now?"

(Lillian) "Liana needs to know the history if she intends to understand the present."

(Liz) "You're starting to sound like an old person."

(Lillian) "Hmm… Liana, how about for now, before I tell you the rest, you ask what you want to know?"

She said, turning to Liana.

(Liana) "Sure."

(Lillian) "Okay. What do you want to know?"

Liana considered asking about the other kingdom but decided against it as she trusted Lillian mentioned it for a good reason and if she were going to explain she would. So instead she said,

(Liana) "Actually all I really want to know now is how you ended up as the village chief, but seeing that the position is probably passed down, that seems like a very insensitive thing to ask right now."

Liz looked at Liana, then at Lillian, then said,

(Liz) "Well, I have a feeling it's included in the history lesson. Also, I'm hungry, do you want something to eat?"

(Lillian) "Why are you always hungry."

(Liz) "I haven't eaten since before you came back! And Liana should be hungry too. She hasn't eaten for a while too."

Liana blushed and responded,

(Liana) "Yeah… I could do with something to eat."

Lillian looked at the two of them then laughed.

(Lillian) "Okay, then, we'll go get something to eat. Liana, what do you want to eat?"

(Liana) "Hmm… Anything's fine."

*

When they had finished eating, they went back to the hidden room. They all sat down again and talked for a while.

(Liana) "So what do you do for fun?"

Liana turned to Liz and asked.

(Liz) "Hmm… I play with my friends sometimes, but I prefer riding and training."

(Liana) "Training?"

(Lillian) "Oh right, I forgot to ask earlier, how's your training coming along?"

(Liz) "It's fine, but I really would prefer if you taught me."

Lillian nodded slowly but didn't give a solid response. Liana had a confused expression as she asked,

(Liana) "Wait, what are you two even talking about?"

(Lillian) "Oh. She didn't tell you?"

(Liana) "Tell me what?"

(Lillian) "About her training."

(Liana) "Nope. This is the first time I'm hearing of it."

(Lillian) "Okay then, I guess we'd better tell you now or we'll forget to tell you later."

(Liz) "It's my training. I'm learning more magic, trying to max out my level. I am also learning to use normal weapons. And move without being seen, and without making noise."

(Lillian) "Essentially, she is training through the same training as our soldiers who can do magic. But the moving without noise and being seen is mandatory for all soldiers. They need to know at least how to sneak up on people."

(Liana) "Oh wow. So, you're training to become one of the warriors?"

(Liz) "On a higher level."

(Liana) "Oh…kay…"

(Lillian) "Are you confused?"

(Liana) "Yeah. Kind of."

(Lillian) "Well I would explain it to you…"

She broke off, turning to the wall where the door was supposed to be. Liz saw her movement and fired a spell in that direction. In the split second after she fired the spell, Liana wondered why Liz did that. In the next fraction of a second, she found out. Liz's spell didn't hit the wall, it went right through. Shortly after, a girl about their age or younger was dragged in through the wall, by what seemed like an invisible hand.

(Liana) "How…"

Hunter scrambled to his feet in shock when he saw the person and drew his sword.

(Hunter) "Who are you and what do you want!"

Lillian waved a hand and Hunter reluctantly sheathed his sword. He walked back to where he was sitting earlier but kept his eyes on the girl and stayed standing.

(Liz) "Who are you?"

(Girl) "Please, I have a message for Liana."

(Lillian) "From whom?"

(Girl) "The person didn't say."

Lillian turned to Liana. Liana nodded. Liz created a new chair, and they let the person sit down.

(Liz) "How about you start with who you are, then you can explain to us why you're here."

(Girl) "My name is Emma. Like I was saying, I have a message for Liana."

She looked around at the three of them.

(Emma) "Which one of you is Liana?"

(Lillian) "Tell us the message first."

(Emma) "Ok… His exact words were: 'Deliver a message to Liana for me. The message is: 'I know about Drew. He is not the only one out there. You should be more careful.' Then he told me where to find you."

(Liz) "Did you see the guys face?"

(Emma) "No. He was wearing a mask."

(Lillian) "One more question. How did you know we were here?"

(Emma) "The guy told me. He gave me directions on how to get here after threatening to kill my family if I didn't deliver his message."

(Liz) "So you actually don't know who Liana is, do you?"

(Emma) "I actually don't have a clue about who Liana is. Or Drew. Or anything."

(Lillian) "Which Clan are you from?"

(Emma) "The Copper Blades."

(Lillian) "What are you doing all the way here?"

(Liz) "Yeah. That's like, a three days ride from here."

(Emma) "I came to visit a friend and he stopped me on the way here. How do you know how long it takes to get to my Clan?"

Liz shrugged in response. Emma frowned but turned back to Lillian and asked,

(Emma) "Can I go now? I delivered the message."

(Lillian) "How did you know we were in this room?"

(Emma) "He told me to find a secret room somewhere and that it's hidden by a wall. So, I was looking at all the walls in this building until, well, you found me."

(Liana) "You actually don't know who I am right? Or for that matter, who they are?"

Liana said, gesturing to Lillian and Liz.

(Emma) "No. You didn't tell me who you all are anyway. All I know is that one of you is Liana."

(Lillian) "How many times have you visited here?"

(Emma) "This is my first time here. It's too far away to visit often."

(Lillian) "Who do you think we are?"

(Emma) "I have no idea."

Liz smirked.

(Liz) "Your friend should have told you something very unique about this Clan."

(Emma) "Wha… How do you know? Actually, yes, she did tell me something unique about this Clan, actually saying it's one of this Clan's unique factors."

(Lillian) "And what was that?"

(Emma) "She said the chief is very young as well as being a girl… No, you can't mean…"

(Lillian) "So, who do you think we are now?"

(Emma) "No. No. You can't be saying… You're the chief??"

Lillian raised an eyebrow as she pointed to herself.

(Lillian) "Who, me?"

Her face turned hard.

(Lillian) "Yes, I am the chief and I do not appreciate being lied to."

Emma gaped, but quickly stood up and bowed as she said,

(Emma) "I'm so sorry… I didn't know… Please forgive me."

(Lillian) "How did you not guess when we are inside a hidden room that no one has access to but the chief and whoever she allows? Plus, we are inside the great hall. And in a hidden corridor."

Emma didn't dare to stand up.

(Emma) "I'm sorry…"

(Lillian) "Are you going to tell the truth now?"

Emma lifted her body in shock.

(Emma) "How… How did you know?"

(Lillian) "Why should I tell you?"

(Emma) "I suppose there's no reason to tell me is there? Okay. I will answer all your questions truthfully. I think I'm already in enough trouble without lying to the chief. Twice."

Lillian gestured for her to sit back down and she did, not wanting to anger her further.

(Liz) "Okay, then. First off, do you know who exactly Liana is? Even if you don't know her face?"

(Emma) "No. I was only told by the guy how to get here, and when I did, I was to deliver the message."

Liz looked at Liana, then at Lillian. Lillian turned to Liana for a few seconds, then nodded to Liz.

(Liz) "Okay. She's Liana."

She said, gesturing at Liana.

(Emma) "Oh…"

(Liz) "Next, why did you even agree to deliver the message? Now, no lying. We'll know."

Emma paled slightly as she hesitated before replying,

(Emma) "He… He blackmailed me."

(Liz) "That's nice. So, he blackmailed you, then gave you direct instructions on how to find us. No one knows where this room is. Is that even possible?"

She glanced at Lillian.

(Lillian) "Hunter? Would you come here a moment?"

Hunter walked over to where they were sitting.

(Hunter) "Yes, Chief?"

(Lillian) "Did you tell anyone about this room?"

(Hunter) "No, I didn't. I am unable to, and even if I were, I would never betray you."

Liana noticed a strange tone in Hunter's voice as he said this but didn't show it.

(Liana's thoughts) 'Is he…'

(Lillian) "Thank you Hunter."

Hunter bowed slightly, then went back to where he was standing.

(Liz) "You didn't…"

Liz said, but broke off when she saw that Lillian was staring at Emma. Emma's face was a mix of emotions: Anger, guilt, surprise, recognition.

(Lillian) "You recognize his voice, don't you?"

(Emma) "Yes… Yes, I do."