[center][color=pink][h2][i]Fiona de Valencourt[/i][/h2][/color][/center][hr] [color=pink][i]Today's the day...[/i][/color] Fiona de Valencourt took a deep, steadying breath. Not the first of the day, and likely not the last. She was eager to put her skill to use, to make the years of difficult training worth something, but that didn't stop the fluttery feeling of butterflies in her stomach. The abyss isn't as it seems, she'd been warned. She'd heard that a few times now, others telling her sister Sophia the same before she took her sword off to Zion, while Fiona still had to finish her training. It was the path that all de Valencourts took now, ever since the fortress on the edge of the abyss had begun. She wished she could spend more time in the city. Fiona visited the de Valencourt house first, seeking out her sister. Her uncle had a fair amount of power in Zion, and commanded troops in defense of the city. Sophia was one of them, long since assigned to combat the flow of demons that tried to emerge from the darkness each and every day. [color=salmon]"I can't believe you're getting to take the fight to them before I do,"[/color] Sophia complained, as they walked the streets together. The first order of business was making sure Fiona was well-stocked for the road ahead, though a bit of sightseeing was in order as well. [color=salmon]"I think I'll be stuck defending the walls of this place forever."[/color] [color=pink]"You'll get your chance,"[/color] Fiona assured her. [color=pink]"Most likely they'll need to send you in next, to rescue me."[/color] She was mostly joking, but Sophia didn't seem to find it amusing. [color=salmon]"You haven't seen what comes out of that place, Fi. People die defending this city each and every day."[/color] She hesitated, noticing Fiona's concern. [color=salmon]"Not me, though, obviously, no demon's going to cut me down, just... look. Watch your back, okay? You can't count on God to do that for you. And don't feel like you have anything to prove, okay?"[/color] [color=pink]"I have to do my part,"[/color] Fiona argued. [color=pink]"It's what I've been training for. I won't let others take all the risk, especially if I can make a real difference."[/color] She got the sense that wasn't what her big sister wanted to hear, so she backpedaled. [color=pink]"But... I'll be careful. Okay? Happy?"[/color] [color=salmon]"Sure. Peachy."[/color] Sophia sighed, and hugged her, before she held her by the shoulders and glanced up and down her length. [color=salmon]"Hey, you make the family colors look pretty good, you know?"[/color] Fiona rolled her eyes and groaned. [color=pink]"Ugh, please, let's just keep going."[/color] The sisters carried on through the city, chattering about lighter things the rest of the way. It was overwhelming in so many ways: the buildings, the people, the heat, the activity. Fiona had never seen anything like it in her journey from the north, from the homeland of the de Valencourts. The sight of the sea had taken her breath away, but nothing compared to this city. If only she had more time... But the call to arms for the recruits put an end to that, and set the butterflies to action yet again. Reluctantly she parted from her sister, and made her way to the imposing castle in the distance: a testament to the strength of those that had come to this place before her. Fiona took another deep breath, and made her way inside, her head held high. Her ancestors were watching her, she knew. She had to make them proud.