Under the moonlight

Calm before the storm

An exaggerated war cry envelops the air of a warm peaceful afternoon. For an infamous warrior, he can be such a dramatic. Alexandria thought as she gave him an unimpressed look. Beads of sweat runs down her head as they continue to clash swords under the sunlight.

“What?” Riven asked, “It is only befitting when I am on spar with you.”

“The war cry of a young prodigy as he finally, finally­ defeated the greatest fighter of all time”, Riven sing-songs, intonating highly on the word finally. His pace became quicker after he was done with his theatrics, moving fiercely and swinging his wooden sword at different angles in lightning speed. 

Riven is a good-looking young man with sandy blonde hair and light blue eyes. He’s got luscious plump natural red lips and a jawline that could cut through paper. All of these coupled with his capability in battle made him extremely, as he likes to say, popular with the ladies.

Riven continued with the fast-paced attacks, not letting Alexandria have the room to strike back. Although, she had no trouble keeping up at all. Repelling all of his attacks at no minimal effort yet not enough to tire her either. Her seemingly petite feminine figure is truly, undoubtedly, devastatingly deceiving. Sure, Riven was more muscular and taller, but he has yet to beat Alexandria’s swift movements, skills, aleck, and her gifted natural instincts in battle. 

She uses her opponents’ weight against themselves, and had an eye for their weaknesses and even, patterns. A truly astonishing feat, and if one hears from outside rumors, they’d say that Alexandria of Caellum can predict the enemies’ movements, but that, of course, was only an exaggeration. She reads their movements, studies their patterns, and memorizes them in a split second. A skill that is truly astounding as much as it is frightening.

“You know, that means you have to defeat me first before that cry thing”, Alexandria playfully said, raising a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. She twirls her wooden sword on her left hand as a space between them emerged in the middle of the fight. Alexandria lunges at Riven with a rapid succession of blows, swinging her sword alternately and repeatedly at Riven’s weakest spot of defense. 

His stance and backhand at this certain angle from the left had always been weak and even when he’s trying to show no indication of it, her keen eyes saw through- like it always does. The extra effort it took for him to defend drained his energy rapidly.

He let out a grunt when he found a seemingly perfect opportunity to strike lower, targeting Alexandria’s knees- a swing that missed as she took a step back. She mockingly smiled at him, a fuel to the fire that is his determination, but with every failed attempts to turn the tables, it inevitably turned into frustration that made his movements reckless and thoughtless. To the point where he could have never anticipated the feet swiftly swiping down his legs, making him lose his balance and fall into the ground. Riven looks up to see Alexandria’s sword pointed at him.

“You let your emotions control you”

“Not all of us are like machines…” Riven grumbled as he stood up and dusted off the back of his pants.

“Shut up”, Alexandria swiped her feet at his legs again making him fall back into the floor.

Riven’s jaw dropped in disbelief, “You…”

“Stand up, let’s spar again”

“No, I’m staying here. Who’s to say you won’t do that again? These butts are precious.”

She gave him an exasperated look, “I won’t. Now stand up already.”

“You did this. Dust off my precious behind.”

“If I kill you, it would be on your hands” I’m dealing with a child- A 5yr old child, Alexandria thought as she crossed her arms.

“How would that even work…” Riven dusted off his own behind knowing Alexandria would never. In all honesty, he was only teasing, well kind of... He picked up the wooden sword on the ground that was dropped out of his hand and raised it in his fighting stance with his feet apart.

“If you kill me, that would make me the victim. I can’t be a suspect at the same time… Can I?” He continuously murmurs to himself as they started to spar again. Being childhood friends for so long, the two are practically siblings, if not by the blood that reins on their veins. 

Young Riven suffered a poor hand-eye coordination, it is horrible how something so simple- how something that shouldn’t be expected from a child, had affected him greatly. Once when children would play catching, no one would be willing to take Riven on their side because that meant losing.

He would try to prove them wrong of course, determination written all over his face just for it to end up in humiliation once the ball would hit his face. Though for him that was okay. What was worse was the discrimination from your own blood, from someone you look up to, and from someone whose opinion you value. Riven’s father was one of the most respected garrison sworn to protect the king. A title so honorable in contrast to Riven’s little faggot and weakling, titles he earned from the kids on the streets.

 So naturally, Riven could only ever receive a glance from his father unlike his achieving older brother who would have received all the praise and affections Riven wished.

And then one day, when he was the age of 10, he met a girl just about his age. At the moment he was leading his father’s horse into their stable when he saw the girl just across the streets, curiosity perched upon her face. Peculiar, he thought at the time as he watched the girl’s fiery red luscious big waves envelop her small face. She had eyes the color of the sea, which resembled someone familiar at the back of his mind. 

The peculiar part is how her face and hair, and the peeking clothes beneath was free of any dirt or dust unlike any commoners’ clothes, like it was given the finest of care, in contrast to the humble robe she was wearing. That is a poor excuse of a disguise, Riven scrunched his face, as he was one with a rare interest for style. After a moment, Riven lost interest in the peculiar girl as he absentmindedly closed the fence gate for the horse.

Truthfully, Riven rarely sees his father because of his profession that demands presence at all times with the kings’ affiliations. A moment ago he saw his father still wearing his armor with a sword sheathed on his hip, clearly having no intention to change into casual clothes. Perhaps, the king truly is at their town like what was rumored on the streets.

In his 10 years of life, Riven have only seen king Azar of Avalair in person once, a distant memory from 5 years ago that only leaves him with a faint recollection of a strong-looking dark haired man. Personally, he thought the king was pretentious, always in the fancy seats and rarely interacts with the commoners, though he’d never voice out such in front of his father. 

Pretty sure that would be considered as blasphemy, Riven rolled his eyes at the thought. His ponderings then were interrupted by a poke on his elbow. He turned around to see the auburn haired girl now in front of him with a questioning gaze as she spoke, “Hey, do you want to play with us?”.

“My name is Alexandria, they told me we’re low on numbers to play ball dodging, or whatever it was…” The moment the girl mentioned ‘they’, Riven’s eyes immediately went to the couple of inquisitive gazes directed at him from across the street. Of course, they’d invite her… The girl didn’t even know the game. It was clear though that she was excited with her big blue eyes glinting, and clearer now that wherever this girl was from, this was all new experience to her. He might have an inkling to who this girl is. 

“Riven” he surprised himself when he nodded, perhaps all this time, he’d craved people’s kindness and friendship, that when he’s presented with such, he’s rendered unable to reject. Alexandria grinned and dragged him by the hand across the street to the kids waiting.

“Are you sure you want him on your team, Alexa?” A lanky brown haired boy named Darren asked mockingly. Alexandria’s eyes furrowed in confusion as she couldn’t understand the question.

“I think it would be kind of me to let you know… he’s combined wimp and faggot” Darren added, looking pleased with himself after garnering chuckles from the kids around them. At this point, Riven’s eyes are fixated on the floor. You’re supposed to be used to this bigoted treatment already, he scolds himself after feeling those words still prick his heart like thorns. The young Riven regretted even agreeing to the girl’s invitation.

“I’d rather have him on my team than a rude dim-wit like you.”

The snarky remark was something Riven have never expected from the girl nor have Darren and his peers. Not for a moment was he ever defended by people, nonetheless by a complete stranger. Onlookers would just simply not bother. Name-calling and teasing, after all, was just a part of children’s language.

“And my name’s Alexandria” she corrected, looking up to the speechless boy with a fierce glare as she took the ball from his hand and walked past him to the open field where they would play the game. Riven followed suit not without smirking at the boy, who can’t seem to comprehend being the receiving end of an insult. The smirk has not gone unnoticed by Darren making him extremely furious by the start of the game.

In the end, they still lost.

Alexandria is now relentlessly pouting. Riven amusingly watched the girl walking by his side as he chuckled, “Stop grumbling”.

“That was unfair”

“I know”

 Riven was surprised by the girl’s athletic movements, even with one less player and her lack of experience with the game, they were able to play equally with the other team. She kept hurdling the ball aimed at Riven’s direction and precisely hitting the kids from earlier. In the end, given their lack of numbers and skills, they still inevitably lost. Although, Riven felt far from disappointed, on the other hand, he’s laughing aloud.

“Remember Darren’s face when we kept on targeting his face”, the game became personal to say the least. Maybe they lost because they were more focused on hitting the poor boy in the face than winning the game really. Riven landed a lot of hits on the boy’s face and It was truthfully worth it.

Young Alexandria’s pouting transformed into a wide grin in a matter of seconds as she recalled Darren’s humiliation written all over his face. “He looked like he was about call his mom” she snickered, sharing a look with Riven before they burst into fits of laughter. After the game, Riven took Alexandria for a tour around the town while getting to know each other, though he doesn’t know where she’s from still.

Just as he was about to ask, he heard a deep voice calling out from a distance.

“Alexandria!”

At the sound, the girl immediately jogged over to the tall dark haired man wearing a finely tailored suit and surrounded by guards, recognizing one as his own father staring disappointedly at him. The sun was already setting when they arrived and Riven realized they were probably looking for Alexandria, the king’s daughter, he deduced.

“Come here, you reckless boy” his father snarled at him when he got closer to them

“I’m sorry your majes-“

“No, he’s a friend” Alexandria cut in. “I was lost, and Riven safely accompanied me back here”

“Is that true?” King Azar directed at him. Now he knows why Alexandria looked familiar. Though the auburn hair of Alexandria differs from her father’s charcoal ones, both still looked strikingly familiar with their almond-shaped azure eyes and refined straight nose.

“Yes,” young Riven all but answered anxiously. The lack of formality prompted a disappointing glance from his father on the corner of his eye, one Riven haven’t even noticed.  The king is intimidating to say the least. Well-built posture and chin held high as if he was on the balcony of his palace overlooking the entirety of the kingdom

“Well then… you have my gratitude, little kid. It must be a family trait of the Miller’s.” At the mention of their family name, garnered a proud smile from Riven’s father. Riven had never gotten to have that smile directed at him and albeit the seemingly pleasant praise, it was nowhere as gratifying. After all, he did not even do a thing nor did he knew Alexandria was a royalty.

A few moments later, it was time to bid farewell as the horse-drawn carriage arrived.

“Goodbye Alexandria!” Riven waved relentlessly at his new friend.

“It’s Alexa to you.”

After that eventful day, by the request of his daughter, King Azar suggested Riven to accompany general Miller of the Garrison, Riven’s own father, in his duty trips to the kingdom. Reasoned that he can stay at the palace with Alexandria while the general is on guard duty and even learn a thing or two from the warriors if maybe he wishes to become one. Young Riven was ecstatic of course, and over the time through his own extreme efforts and sweat, his body coordination and reflexes grew significantly for the voices on his head to be silenced.

Since then, they were both inseparable and treats the other like they are of the same blood. Even confiding deepest secrets with immense trust, all free of judgement.

Now at the age of 22, the duo is as tight as ever. Even swore to protect all of mankind from the mystical creatures on the woods, chosen it as their craft, being huntsmen- the best of the lot.

“Princess, baldy at five o’clock.” Riven kept swiping his wooden sword, continuously sparring with Alexa as he looked over her shoulder in a cryptic manner. The bald man dressed in fine garments fitting his wide figure kept walking towards them unsuspicious of Riven’s remarks.

“Don’t call me that,” Alexa sneered at him.

“I bet you could slip on top of his head,” He added, “like look at that, it’s shining…”

At the first name calling, she already knew who it was. Alexa who is now fighting back a laughter of her own, honestly detest the man in question. She’s never pegged herself to be someone who ridicules other’s appearances, but when it was a certified scumbag, Alexa would always find herself snickering at Riven’s insults. Arturo is one of the Lords of Avalair, currently in possession of the Haran port, a main trade route between the merchants of Avalair and Marmoris on the East. 

One might say that the Lord is the perfect fit of the clichés worn by his own title. Unhealthy appetite for eating contributing to his already large figure whilst some people’s skeletal anatomy is visible. His blatant disgusting objectification and disrespect of women, frequenting brothels whilst his wife and children are at home. The man reeks of sexism and homophobia too, never fails to question Alexa’s skills based on the lack of male genitalia and Riven’s preference for men.

“Princess Alexandria,” the bald man in middle 30s called out to which a begrudging Alexandria turned around, momentarily halting the spar with Riven.

“Lord Arturito of Haran,” A sickeningly wide tight lip smile on her face as she acknowledged him. At the corner of her eye, she can see Riven stifling a laugh at the truly unintentional, incorrect call of the Lord’s name. 

“It’s Arturo”

“What can I help you with, Lord Arturito?”

Annoyance seep through the Lord’s face, “the King requests of your presence at the council’s chamber.”