Thunder rolled off the high cliffs of the Margrail Barrier, heavy rains splattering against the windows of Kerenza’s bedroom. Occasionally, the panes rattled as a harsh wind swept through the estate, before the howls were overcome by the roar of lightning. And yet, despite the violent weather, the silver-haired duchess woke up not to the storm, but to the sounds of clashing steel and war chants. On her grounds, there were already knights sparring against each other, sharpening their skills in preparation for the day the knights of Baelwill will march out of their gates.

Yes, this truly was the one sound she liked to wake up to the most.

Opening her eyes, Kerenza pulled her bedsheets to the side, rang the bell, and allowed her morning ritual to commence. Three minutes after the bell had rang, a squad of maids stepped into the room, bowing once to the duchess before they began to dress her up. The corset, the dress, the sash, everything that she wore for ‘everyday’ circumstances was piled on top of her, until the weight of cloth almost felt like the weight of chainmail. Finally, a white cloak, embroidered with blue satin, was draped onto one of her chairs, and breakfast was presented.

It was an exhausting frenzy, and something that wasn’t wholly necessary, but as the Duchess of Tarconis, it was her duty to present only the best side of herself, after all. Enjoying the weather and the sight of her men down below, Kerenza chewed on a morsel of lamb meat, before enjoying the aroma of freshly brewed tea.

A moment later, something black seeped into the room.

Mud-like ichor rose from the far end of her bedroom, and before she even laid her teacup down, Kerenza was moving. Spectral blades flew out of her body, striking mere milimeters away from the bulbous flesh of that anomaly. Eyes alit with moonfire, she said, [b]“Cease and de-”[/b]

But it was already gone.

Her brows furrowed, before she sat down once more. Breakfast was getting cold, after all, and answers could be sought at a later time.
[hr]
[b]“A Primordial?”[/b] Kerenza repeated, perplexed.
[b]
“Yup. A Primordial that had some disgusting timing,”[/b] Aewill replied, before sliding over a letter. [b]“You know how Primordials are supposed to be harbringers of a violent, adventurous fate?”

“No,” [/b]she replied, [b]“I don’t believe in such legends…and the seal’s broken.”

“Duchess Kerenza Edelwane, with all due respect, maybe it’d be a good idea to expand your knowledge to more…historical and cultural aspects? I mean, Primordials are pretty well known!”

“Knight Aewill Wolfblood, two points. Superstitions are neither historical nor cultural. And the seal’s broken. Why?”

“A broken seal means that the letter has been read already…” [/b]The knight casually slid a letter opener under the table, green eyes still affixed onto Kerenza’s.

The duchess sighed. [b]“Your curiousity is awful, really. One day it’ll lead you to snoop about in the chambers of a maiden, and after that...I’d imagine you’d only have brothers from that day forth. But, seeing how you’ve read it, summarize.”

“Yes ma’am!”[/b] Aewill cleared his throat, before straightening his back and saying, [b]“Signed by the majority of the Council of Ten, with one of the exclusions being that cow Duke Pinzomel, the letter speaks of the Prophecy, and how they believe that you may be one of the ‘children’ who are mentioned in it, no doubt due to your position and your achievements in re-establishing Tarconis’s knight order. Therefore, they’d like you to be part of an organization of like-minded individuals, leading armies in collaboration to take down Baelwill.”[/b]

[b]“Ok. I’ll note that down,” [/b]Kerenza said, [b]“Knight Vaneil’s scouting party arrived last night, yes? Aewill, if you could begin with reporting their findings to me?”[/b]

As the knight began to speak once more, Kerenza’s hands slid underneath the table. Balling up into fists over her thighs, the duchess forced herself to calm down. How exciting! To be at the forefront of an army composed of the populations of all, in a concentrated effort to wipe out Baelwill!

She could wait, but she definitely didn’t want to!
[b]
“Yeah, Kerenza, if you’re not going to listen, I’ll just come back later…”

“No, stay. I fear I may act disgracefully if left to my own devices.”[/b]