[center][b][u]Sophia Skyheart & Neva
Lugere - Skyheart Estate[/u][/b][/center]

A jumble of ever-revolving emotions festered at Sophia's core and she couldn't stop herself from pacing the length of her stately dining hall. Every step was accentuated by a sharp clicking sound as the butt of her crystalline cane hit the marble flooring. Silvery blonde hair spilled out behind her and swayed with her movement, not yet braided in her rush to hear what her father had to tell her after summoning her from a dead-sleep.

[b]"Lady Sophia, please sit and rest, you will tire yourself out before your morning meal even comes from the kitchens."[/b] One of the usually demure maids lining the walls of the dining room spoke up, and Sophia turned to look. It was Evangeline, a woman with quite a curvaceous form and a motherly aura about her. Evangeline was also one of Sophia's oldest maids, and the one who had begun to bring her books back when all she could do was lay in bed as a child. 

[b]"All but Evangeline please go take a respite before tending to your other chores."[/b] Sophia said with sharp rap of her cane against the ground. One by one the maids poured out with glances back at their lady and their fellow maid. Finally, the doors clicked shut and the room was cascaded in silence. Sophia looked her maid up and down, trying to determine if she trusted the woman with what she had to say. She [i]needed[/i] to speak with someone.

[b]"Evangeline. I... Lugere may go to war with Ayero."[/b] She finally said with a sigh, falling into the high backed chair at the head of the table before continuing, [b]"I am to go to Maccus and attend the court there as a representative from Skyheart, with Neva at my side. To show that we are loyal to the throne. Evangeline... I haven't been beyond the Hoarfrost Temple, nor have I been to the cities that I will someday be the Lady of. How can I just go... all the way to Maccus? Alone?"[/b]

Evangeline strode to Sophia and took her lady's hand without a word. Sophia rose her thin eyebrows a notch, but Evangeline smiled serenely and shook her head, as if to say "all in good time." The maid led her out through the mahogany double doors of the dining hall, through the arched marble hallways with stained glass in the images of articuno, zapidos, moltres and lugia lining the walls, down the grand staircase covered in thick velvet carpet, and past the guards stationed at the impossibly big stained glass double doors that marked the main entrance into the Manor of Skyheart. The guards gave them odd looks, especially at their lady who was wearing not much more than a nightgown under her beartic fur coat and some slippers. Sophia shook her head to stave off their assistance and kept following her maid. 

Suddenly, they stopped at the edge of a railed awning overlooking the nearby lands, with the Hoarfrost Temple in the distance. From here, Sophia could hear the beautiful cries of the ancient pokemon who dwelt in that temple as he started to awaken from his slumber. Evangeline pointed into the distance, towards those cries. [b]"My Lady Sophia, that is the very reason why you must not fall to fear. Do you not hear Articuno's love for you in that song? Articuno comes for you every morning as you even step a foot outside the manor walls, and he protects you each day against inconsequential things. Sometimes, you even have to stop him before he goes too far. He is raw power in a cage, and you must exercise him wisely. To that, I say exercise him in the name of Lugere, of Maccus, and do your family proud."[/b]

[i]'A few wise words from a maid soothed the majority of my doubts.'[/i] The thought made her smile, and she gave Evangeline a quick kiss on her cheek. Before she could thank her maid in words, a gust of wind caught both of them off-balance and they had to grip the rail to stand upright as a large swirl of blue landed in the snow next to them. When the white powder settled, they saw Neva cocking his head this way and that as he regarded Evangeline being so close to Sophia, it was almost as if he inspecting an insect that would have to be gotten rid of either by beak or talon. 

Sophia ran up to to Neva, her arms wide as she hugged the arctic bird pokemon. Neva swirled it's wings and plumes around her with a happy cry. [b]"Neva, you can't eat Evangeline so don't even think it."[/b] She whispered into his ear, and the pokemon gave a disgruntled sound in it's throat as a reply. He wasn't happy about being told what he could and could not do, but he endured it for Sophia's sake. [b]"Neva, how do you feel about taking a trip away from here for awhile?"[/b] She looked up at his eyes and she was met with a fierce gaze. In those eyes, she could tell he was ecstatic about the thought of leaving the area. She gave his beak a stroke before turning around and pushing his wings out of her way gently.

[b]"Alright, Evangeline, it's time to pack up. I leave today if I want to make it there before the great blizzards come down from the mountains."[/b] Sophia announced resolutely. Before she could even blink, she was escorted back inside in a flurry so that she could prepare for her journey, servants seeming to spill out of the woodwork to undress her and dress her. In the same route, an unhappy Neva was also ensconced into preparation, outfitted in his armor and saddles, with supplies for their journey packed in compact and neat into each saddle-pouch. 

It was just hitting noon by the time that Sophia and Neva stood outside of the manor gates, with the entire retinue of the Skyheart servantry lined up behind her parents to give their daughter farewell. Her father, a hard man with white lining his temples, came forward with her mother, a dainty and beautiful lady with an air of grace about her. 

[b]"My daughter,"[/b] He began in a voice low enough that only his wife, his daughter, and the articuno could hear what he was saying, [b]"Go swiftly and carefully. Neva will attract attention at every turn, so make sure to follow the map we drafted. Your first stop is at... the Keirnan estate. The Lord there, Cyrus, is a dubious fellow without a doubt, but he will have heard of the Skyheart family. With this letter, he may let you take refuge there to rest and restock on your supplies. The rest of your journey is detailed on this map, and the next estate after the Keirnan is Umbraisis. I have letters for each of the lords or ladies you may encounter, make sure you do not lose them."[/b]

Sophia nodded obediently throughout the conversation, giving hugs to both her parents when her father finished his instructions. She turned and swung up Neva's saddle, fighting back tears in her eyes. [b]"Sophia, take this."[/b] Her mother tip-toed up to place a small metallic object in her hands. Sophia frowned as she looked at it: it was the signet ring of her family, something she wasn't allowed to have until she turned eighteen. When she opened her mouth to question her mother, the woman had beaten her to the chase. [b]"We may not see you before that day, so wear it proudly through your journey. It is proof of who you are beyond a doubt."[/b]

Sophia felt tears pour down her pale cheeks as she slipped on her ring, and she gave a wave for the rest of the people lined out in the cold snow. [b]"Good bye everyone! Stay warm!"[/b]Before she could say anything else, a great flap of shimmering blue wings and chill wind propelled her away from everything she had ever known.

[center]And so Sophia Skyheart left on her first journey with her pokemon, Neva, as her only companion in the harsh and desolate land of Lugere.[/center]