One year later...

A servant girl in a white dress tied Saenna's blue gown together on her back. It was adorned with silver thread, and she wore a silver necklace depicting two wings of a griffon. A second servant girl finished the final spiralling lock of her long, blonde hair.

"You look gorgeous today, my Empress," Marlock said, standing in front of her in his steel armour, holding his helmet under his arm.

Saenna glimpsed at the sun rays shining through the windows of the throne room and smiled. "Thank you. Are they ready?"

The commander nodded. "They're all waiting for you. The people are happy to see you talk to them."

The servants were done and stepped back, letting Saenna step off the throne steps. Marlock offered his hand, and she took it.

Marlock smiled too, guiding her to the exit. "You know it's a lot easier now that the throne room is at the bottom of the tower, not at the top. It was always a hassle to climb all those steps."

Saenna chuckled and smiled with her silver eyes. "Well, I don't want to be an Empress that hides from her own people high in the White Tower. I want to be as close to them as possible."

The closer she got to the giant doors, the louder she could hear the faint cheering and yell of thousands of people. Two guards at the gates began pushing them open, revealing a strip of sunlight that expanded as the doors opened. She was also greeted by an ear-deafening cheer of the citizens of the Citadel, praising her name, throwing flowers. She immediately smiled widely at everyone, waving at them. Her blue griffon banners stood proudly, and a flock of birds flew by. Marlock and the royal guards escorted her to the balcony right before the splitting stairs. She could watch over the entire population from here. Her people looked happy. She kept waving and smiling until the trumpets started blazing a victorious tune, turning everyone silent. It was time for the Empress to speak. Saenna cleared her throat.

"People of the Lands of Trinity!" her voice echoed through the city centre, "Only one year ago, the only thing this land knew for years was nothing but suffering and pain. Under the grasp of Areyn the Tyrant, captivity and forced labour was the only thing you and your families knew."

Marlock stared proudly in front of him, caressing the hilt of his blade, standing alongside the royal guard behind her. She continued.

"But those days are done. With this tyrant overthrown, we can live in peace and prosperity once again. One thing is certain. I could not do this all by myself. It was you, that truly shone that day. Together, you revolted against your masters. You fought for your own dignity, took back your lives, and barged through the doors of this very capital. For that, House Valquen will always be grateful. I know Areyn gave my family a bad name, but I am going to prove that we are not like that. I promise you; I will keep the peace, I will rule and cleanse the land the previous Emperor had poisoned. For now, enjoy the markets, enjoy the feasts, and let it be one step closer to a possible alliance with other Houses."

Marlock stepped forward, standing beside her. "Long may she live!"

Then, the entire crowd repeated him altogether in unison. "Long may she live!"

In the middle of the crowd, someone was tugging on Kiera's hand. It was a little girl. "Kiera! Kiera! Come, it's time to teach me how to shoot a bow!"

Kiera giggled and took the girl's hand, wearing a sleeveless steel cuirass with red undergarments and a fur cowl. "Alright, but you'll have to listen carefully, okay?"

"Okay!" the girl exclaimed happily, pulling Kiera out of the plaza into the streets. "Where is Aidan?"

"Aidan is very busy. He is off beating up the bad men!" Kiera said, guiding the little girl through the streams of people roaming the street.

"Oh. Are there bad men in the city?" the girl asked.

"There might be, that is why you always have to be careful when you walk alone. And that is also why I will teach you how to shoot! But first, we need to greet a few people, don't we?" Kiera said, approaching a cosy house made of white bricks. She opened the door and let the girl walk in first. A calm odour of smoke filled the house coming from the lit fireplace.

"I'll pick the flowers!" the girl said, running to the backyard. Kiera smiled and took off her belt and scabbard, placing it down beside a counter of the kitchen. After taking off her fingerless gloves too, she walked into the backyard also, looking at three graves laying next to each other. The first two stones said "Elisabeth Bloodcrest" and "Aldrin Bloodcrest", and the last one said "Areiya". They were already covered in flowers. Areiya's sword lay on the grave as well. The girl gently placed down a rose on top of every tombstone as Kiera gazed at them, her smile slowly fading.

"There, all set!" the girl said, walking up to Kiera. Feeling her hand touch hers cast a faint smile on her face again, but a single tear rolled off her cheeks.

"Was Areiya a good fighter?" the girl asked.

Kiera nodded, rubbing off the tear and sniffing. "Yes, yes, she was."

"I wish I could've met her." the girl said, still holding Kiera's hand.

"You would've liked her," Kiera said, putting herself together and smiled again, "Come, let's shoot some bows!"

"Yay!" the girl beamed as Kiera lead her back inside the house, closing the door behind them.

And so, my journey ends. Though this won't be the last, I have learned great things from it. One of the greatest is the will to survive. No matter what, life will always throw things at you. It is how you deal with it, that alters the true outcome. You can be brave, you can be bold, but none of that matters if you have the determination to strive to your goal. In Areyn's case, he fought for his purpose the wrong way. But if no one were to stop him, he'd still be successful. Anyhow, what is done, is done. And I am a changed woman.

My name is Kiera Bloodcrest, and I send this message to anyone out there who is struggling. Fight, never give up. And one day you will succeed in reaching your goal. Believe not only in the ones who love you but also in yourself.

Follow the example of...

The Flames of Dawn

THE END