It was seven in the morning. Birds had just begun chirping, but the mansion was already in an uproar.

Or, to be more precise, just managing to get out of it.

The eldest daughter of the family, Guila Cassiana, was about to go on her very first solo trip.

No destination in mind. No time to return in mind. Though, she did have something akin of a side mission, at least.

A trip to Hur'ish. A country, on the other side of the continent.

Then, finally, with the family already outside and by the carriage, waiting for her, Guila walked out of the house.

"Ehehe...!" While sporting a bright, wide smile on her face.

With her golden locks flowing in the breeze. Wearing thin, ornamental golden armor over her black dress which accentuated a lean but voluptuous figure, and her golden heels clacking on the stone pathway.

"I thought I was the one who was supposed to leave, Mother." She giggled, before hugging a woman with silver hair.

But with similar height and similar features, coupled with just the right mixture of innocence and also maturity, the two hugging were more akin to sisters, than mother and daughter.

"Oh, dear. You didn't think we'd just let you leave without a farewell, did you?" Her mother teasingly said, before pinching Guila in the cheek.

Then, she turned to her father, who stood at a head and a half taller than her. She had inherited his golden hair, while inheriting her mother's eyes.

"Indeed. Now, Guila. I'm sure I don't need to tell you about what you should and should not do, while out on your own, right?"

"Yesss...! Father...!" She chuckled, before she jumped and hugged him around the neck. Then, she kissed him on the cheek. "I can take care of myself. I'm more worried about you and mom."

"Ufufu... We can take care of ourselves, dear. Now, come on. Let go of your father." Producing a fan from seemingly nowhere, she used it to tap Guila on the shoulder twice. "It's only a shame that neither of your younger siblings can be here, though."

"Fine..." She obediently did so, before snapping her fingers. Then, her armor liquified, before reforming into something that looked a lot more risque. Combined with the dress underneath though, it became stylish, instead. "It's okay, though. Sylvia is two Kingdoms away. And there's no reason to call back Charles, just to say goodbye."

"I'll probably be back, long before they ever get the chance to return, anyway."

"It doesn't change the fact that it feels wrong, dear..."

"Mom..."

"No..." Wiping a tear, with her lace-gloved hand, her mother forced a quivering, pained, but also proud smile. "My daughter is going out to make a name for herself. Isn't that wonderful, Adam?"

With that said, she coiled her arm around her husband's arm, and laid her head against his shoulder.

"I would still have rather had you take over the family, Guila-"

"Father! Not this again...!"

"Dear, you promised!"

"Let me finish!" He wasn't loud. But it was an authoritative yell, the two were silenced for but a moment. "Guila. Follow your dreams and never give up, understood?"

"You've chosen this route. I expect you to follow it through. No matter what setbacks you might encounter. Is that clear, Guila?"

"Haaaah...! Yes, Father! You can drop the soldier-speak, now. Jeez." With a shy, but also proud grin on her face, Guila crossed her arms, pushed her chest out, and let out an high-pitched laugh. "I'm gonna return, not just as the best Spellsmith in Calimus, or in Helios. But all of Eldingar!"

"Of course. We cannot wait for the day, dear. We do hope you'd learn to be a bit more subdued, though." With that said, Guila kissed her mom and dad on the cheek, one more time, before boarding her loaded carriage.

"Yes, Mother. I'll try to be subdued around potential suitors. I'm only like this around family, anyway. There really nothing to worry about."

Two years. For two years, she'd be away. 6 months to Hur'ish. Another six months back.

No guards. No entourage. Just herself. And the skills that she had learned and mastered along the way.

A trip that she had vehemently pushed for, for the past six years. It was finally happening.

"Let's go, Drako! Goodbye Mother! Father! I'll see you soon!"

With the roar of a land Drake, and the quick creak of her metal-reinforced carriage, she made her way out of her family estate.

A new chapter of her life awaited in the horizon.

***

'How?'

'Why did I wake up here?'

There were so many questions running through her head, at that very moment.

But, no matter how many times she asked, or who she asked, the answer was always the same.

Her hubris, was the answer.

Her arrogance.