Chapter 12: Heart of Tempered Steel

Sena woke up on her bed. She went to the polished mirror in her room. Tracing the scar on her face, she sighs with sadness. No woman would like to see their face scarred. Despite being a noble and knight to be, she was after all a lady who likes the others, love to comb her hair and pretty her face up. Sena can only see this scar as a reminder of her failures.

Her father, grandfather, and relatives probably would praise her for such a scar. Even though it was only a day after the events she already received a letter from a dire raven about her feats. It was from her father, telling her that she did well and made the Saclea proud. Only a few have made the Magus Killer retreat and it can be something to be proud of.

Sena smiled remembering the insides of the letter. She looked at the scar on her face, stood up, went to the door, cross the halls, and descends down the stairs. The maids were properly tying the bow of a little girl. Seeing this little girl all dressed up prettily, she could not help but touch her chin, thinking that even a commoner can be prettied up with the right dress.

“Ah, milady Sena.”

“Going now, Little Annie?”

“Yes, milady...”

She was quite shy; her eyes were lowered to the ground, her tiny feet squirming. The maids around her could not help but looked at the little girl, wondering if the lady would be mad at her behavior. But contrary, Sena wasn’t mad, she was just a little girl so she steps forward, patted her little head.

“Be well Little Annie, may you train well, let not your Sister’s sacrifice be naught.”

“I will...Sister Astra would probably want me to live. So all I can do is lived well!”

“Good, that is the spirit. With my name, no one shall insult you, come back to me after your training, I shall let you serve me!”

“Okay!”

Little Annie smiled with enthusiasm. Really, Sena could not believe that the little girl crying all night at the death of her sister would turn out to be forged into a stronger one. It seems that she wasn’t the only that has tempered herself, making Sena feel a strange feeling of pride when it comes to picking up people.

“Milady, the carriage for Little Annie, is ready.”

Bruno in his uniform tailcoat walked with his hand on his breast. Creased eyebrows and a bit of stoic expression made Bruno look sharp.

“I see, take Little Annie to the carriage, and don’t forget to inform the carriage and the guards to bring the letter that I wrote personally. If they dare to harm the child, or any of the fools dare to do anything to my future maid-in-arms then they shall see my wrath.”

‘Understood, I shall let the takers know.”

Sena pointed her eyes at Annie.

“Be good and trained well.”

“For my sister, and for you milady, I won’t fail!”

Sena smiled at the resolve. She then watches her little feet stride out to the door. Once they were gone, she claps her hands, making the maids go back to their work. Sena stood still for a moment before heading to the garden. There, she looked at the cityscape.

Her thoughts run wild and there was a change in Sena’s mind. She thought of only nobility and becoming that person she admired, never thinking of what actually becoming like that. She was a fool, she knew that the female-knight she admired had many stories, and her stories were that she saved anyone. Never once looking back, treating people with eyes of respect rather than scorn, that person looked at commoners like they were people. Sena missed something, and that was humility.

She was strong indeed. But even with that someone weaker saved her, gave her time to defeat a spectral death knight. It was shameful, yet due to that shame that she realized something. His father, his grandfather, and ancestors may have sometimes looked down on commoners, but they stopped looking at them as something that was irredeemable. Her relatives would recruit those who have a fire in their eyes. No matter what their lineage, her family wouldn’t hesitate to recruit someone that has a valor.

Sena didn’t know why they would that, but now she understood. Even a commoner can become noble; her family was once after all, a family of barbaric people once. Yet through struggling, proving that they are more than that allowed them to become what they are.

Honor, which was something she didn’t have that. Chivalry was something that Sena didn’t fully comprehend. But now, she understood, her heart was tempered. But even so, Sena can admit that nobles like her are pompous, arrogant and self-serving.

The Saclea wasn’t an exception. They would look at some commoners as sub-humans when they recognize their will. Nobles hate commoners indeed, but only because they lack the will to power. But obviously, some hates the commoners, due to vanity.

Sena frowned thinking how she almost became that. A vain knight, only looking like the Knight she admired, not becoming one and acting like the female knight she admired. She could think of himself as a fool. But now, she began to realize her mistakes, and with that mistake, she can temper herself to become a much better person. Sena knew that there will be more times like this. But even so, she will temper her heart, to become someone that could truly be a firm wall for others to look at.

So she prayed, under the light of the sun, that she will become the shield for those who are weak. She admits her mistakes, and the back of that little girl would forever be imprinted on her mind. The scar on her face will serve as a reminder of failure, and she promises that she will become more than she is currently.

...

He has a heart of glass.

She has a heart of tempered steel.

He was like a glass sword.

While, she was like steel that was being refine.

One grew up to become a helpless child lost in someone’s ideal.

While one grew up dreaming to become someone’s light in the darkness.

One dreamed of helping those he could see.

While the other dreamt of being a firm back that could become a shield.

One was born out of flames.

While the other one was shaped with a figure in mind.

One was living on borrowed purpose.

While the other live with obsession to become someone.

One chases a tragic dream.

While the other could reach it with her will.

One was lacking.

While the other one was gifted in all.

One was sturdy, but hollow.

While the other one was bendable solid.

One was stubborn.

While the other one could adapt.

One was a Knight to be.

While the other was deem Condemned to be.

One will be a Light Shining in the Darkness.

While the other, will stained the Light to serve it.