Sylvia and her entourage follow behind me. I hardly knew anything about Sylvia except that she had a major brother complex for me. Her attitude toward me was completely different than that of Emily and Sara. She is practically skipping behind me.
"The armory should be somewhere close, right?" I pull up a holo map from my watch. "Looks like I need to take a right."
Sylvia peers at my map. "We can cut through an alley if everyone is down. Jordan, Josie?"
Josie and Jordan are Sylvia's appointed guards.
"It is safe to go down the alleyway Sylvie, we'll follow close behind you. Jordan and I at the back."
The armory is located in the central district of the four city blocks that Midsummer Academy sits on. The city blocks were divided into four districts with the Academy in the central district, the shopping, and food district in the second, student dorms in the third, travel district in the fourth. We are very close to the armory by now.
Sylvia then inquires. "Why a sword? Don't they have good swords in the Battlegrounds?"
"I'm supposed to be a pyro user right?"
"Right. Everyone in the Axia Family and the branches are bound to be pyro users, but like everyone else, we aren't just bound to the fire within us.
"I haven't seen you ignite your flames."
Sylvia smiles and I hear a crackle. A small fire was resting above the palm of her right hand. The flame was a bright pink color.
"The color of the flame sometimes depends on your mood. Sometimes it can even be translucent. If you were wondering, Father's flames were a dark blue."
I sigh. "I wonder what color my flames are."
"It won't be long. You'll be able to ignite them soon. I bet they're as red as our eyes."
"I have a feeling you know what color they are."
"I shouldn't tell you. It would take the surprise out of your first ignites."
"Is it that special? Knowing?"
"It's like a ritual of initiation. None of the other seven categories have their power turn colors. Users of pyro are special in that regard. I can remember your flames vividly. I wanted to be just like you."
I took her other hand while her flame was crackling.
"Don't ever be like me, be yourself."
Sylvia extinguishes her flames and closes her hand."
"I know. At least let me pretend."
"No qualms with that."
***
The Armory was massive. The blacksmith in charge when we walked in was standing beside the forge waiting. I hadn't made an appointment so I wasn't sure why he would be waiting. The blacksmith is sporting a full beard freshly clipped and dressed head to toe in leather.
"Hello Princess Sylvia, thank you for coming."
"Simon, thank you for receiving us. My brother didn't know I had made an appointment while we were coming over."
Simon nods.
"What can I help you all with?"
"Everyone else has gear so it's just me and my brother needing new gear. Charge the Axia family account if you would."
I grab Sylvia's arm in protest. "You don't have to do that."
"You are part of the Axia Family, you have the right to use the money. It's all in my name at the moment so relax." Sylvia removes my hand from her arm.
"I hardly know the Axia family now."
Sylvia tenses up. "Other than Master Flintelan, it's my mission to help you, so you, Emily, and Sara's return to Nansron doesn't have a drastic effect on Nansronian politics. House Griffen has taken over the Mills lineage from the Elda. At least let me do this much to help you fly under the radar."
"Okay then."
"What do you need from my armory, Princess?" Simon looks at Sylvia with dollar sign eyes.
Sylvia ponders for a second.
"Two full-form fits and one blade. I still have my custom blade from the blacksmith in Nansron City. Measurements are already taken for both of us, the academy probably already sent them with the rest."
Simon nods and brings out the custom designs.
The armor was very thin and very flexible, I observe. The Helmet is also made from the same thin metal.
"This is Star metal. The metal is made from the debris of a dead star. It is very flexible and thin so it can be worn under normal clothes. The helmet is optional, but it deconstructs and unequips upon command and so on." Simon then pulls a blade out from under the table. "The blades I make are catered to your fighting style. Now the academy also trains you in marksmanship so you'll have to go to a gunman if you want anything else."
The blade currently shown is made from Star metal as well. The blade is giving off a blue hue from the tip to the end of the blade. The center from the handle to the end was dark red and almost brown.
"The sword just came in yesterday as requested by the capitol. I had completely reformed it to suit your current need."
"Amazing, the sword looks different but contains the same aura as before. It's completely cleansed!" Sylvia grabs the sword and hands it to me. "This is your sword."
As the sword comes into contact with my hands, I could feel a familiar beat. I gasp.
"Why the sword is the beating?" I ask Simon.
Something clicks in Simon's mind. He snaps his fingers. "Ah yes I had forgotten, that sword has dragon metal as well. Dragon metal emits a faint beat when it's with its user. Dragon metal is symbiotic as the more you pour your power into it the more deadly it becomes. This blade contains memories of battle, so I'm sure your training with the blade will not be of naught."
Sylvia takes a hold of my blade and waves it around.
"I once heard that Dragon metal hosts a soul fragment of a dragon. Only the seven leading houses have such blades. To get a dragon's blessing takes a lot of hard work in the Seven Dragon trials. Has the sword matured yet?"
Simon nods.
"The sword looks close to maturing. I'm sure the dragon that shed the scale would be happy to undergo the trials when it's matured."
I'm just gonna pretend that I know what they're talking about.
"This is my sword right?"
They both nod.
"I asked for a second sword for you as well. It's made of Star metal as well but doesn't have dragon metal mixed in. A sword of dragon metal is like a cheat." Sylvia places my sword into a scabbard and hands it to me. "I know you like to train hard, not easy."
She is way too observant of me.
Our matching red amber eyes met and Sylvia smiled faintly. She curls her right fist in front of her chest and then relaxes.
"I used to admire you a lot but you'd rather me be my own person and not follow in your footsteps." Sylvia blushes.
Sigh. Must we get into this in the shop? This is so embarrassing. Sylvie, you are such a bro-con it's obvious to others. Also, she seems too eager to fight in battle. What am I going to do with her?
Sylvia notices my embarrassed face. "Don't worry, I bought myself a sword as well, I know I can't rely on guards forever." She looks down and perks back up. "I'll become powerful as well!" Sylvia becomes fired up.
I place the sword back on the table and step out of the shop to get some air. I decided to leave Sylvia inside so she could put in the last-minute details and choose her new blade since her old one was off-world.
Currently, Sylvia's friends and guards are talking right next to the entrance. I wave to them as I walk past the doorframe. I feel a presence approaching from my right side. It was Jordan; this guy is like a ninja. Somehow my senses are starting to get in tune with everything around me. You could call it situational awareness.
"Arrow, can I talk to you?"
"What is it?"
"It's about Sylvie."
"What about Sylvia?"
I glance at Jordan quickly. Why is he concerned about Sylvia, talking to me about her? He is the one in charge of guarding her for goodness sake. He ponders quietly for a second before speaking. His expression is feeling less cold than before.
"I've never seen her so happy to be around someone. Sure there is another happiness being with us but her smile is much brighter."
I smile faintly. I was wrong about his intentions.
"I don't remember her much but I'm glad to know her."
Jordan swings an arm around my shoulder. "Trust me with this. Her aura affects everyone around her. The Axia Family charisma is evident."
"I'll keep that in mind when I walk the halls with her. I was getting glared at constantly. Not everyone knows who I am." I start to feel nervous.
Sylvia barges out from the Armory. Her eyes are aflame. She overheard us talking.
"Jordan quit it or pay the price."
Jordan stiffens. "I apologize to your highness. I didn't mean to make your brother nervous to be with you."
Sylvia walks and gets in between us. She starts to twirl her hair. "Well no matter, I'm done inside, so let's get to the training grounds." She turns to Jordan and Josie. "My brother and I are going now so everyone else can go do something."
"That is my queue to leave isn't it?" Kaylee whines out to Sylvia.
Sylvia shrugs.
"I want to talk to my brother alone while we walk."
Jordan nods, understanding Sylvia's intent. "As you wish. Josie can leave with Kaylee. I can guard you from afar."
Josie and Jordan both nod to each other.
Josie and Kaylee move to leave. They wave us three goodbye and walk towards the direction of the dormitories. Jordan disappears in a blink leaving Sylvia and me alone.
Sylvia and I begin towards the training center. We were silent awhile, the only sound from each other, was our breathing.
I blink.
I have to get through the fact that she is my sister. This universe keeps throwing me these curveballs.
"I don't know who to call you."
We both smile.
"My name is Will Arrow."
"My name is Sylvia Axia."
"I am your brother."
"I am your sister."
We both laugh. What were we doing?
***
Sylvia
One week before I stand there watching everyone flutter by me. My brother Justin the King and my sister Lacey, his advisor, were slowly going over procedures to prepare for the second year of opening seven new academies on Terra.
I blink. Did someone say something to me? There is too much noise going on around me.
Justin waves his hand in front of my face.
"Syl are you ok? You're blanking out."
I slap my cheeks. "I am fine. What were you just saying?"
Justin rolls his eyes. "I was just saying to Lacey that despite you living here you hardly ever go off the planet to experience things."
Whaaaa?
I frown. "Hold on a second Justin, what are you trying to say to me? That I am inexperienced with diplomacy? Representatives from the alliance like me."
Justin slaps his forehead. "Look Syl, you're doing a good job, but we need you to go live on Terra for a while to establish relationships with Terra. Plus to learn how to defend yourself. Your guards won't be there all the time."
I light a flame over my hand.
"I can generate my flames just fine."
"Barely any heat to it."
I grind my teeth. My flames have an impact.
Lacey moves to place her hands on my shoulders.
"Hey, Justin isn't saying anything bad. We see an opportunity for you to go learn about a culture and to make relations."
"But I can be of help here. You need me here. Don't you two need help with Allison and Thomas?"
Lacey laughs at the question. "We can handle the twins just fine. This trip isn't something you would want to miss."
"Wait, why?"
Lacey smiles and Justin frowns moving away shaking his head.
Lacey rolls her eyes. I tilt my head in confusion.
"We found them on Terra."
I freeze in place.
"You found them? But how? Everyone checked the settlements."
"They hid in the oldest settlement in the universe. There was a meteor shower that sparked changes on the surface that left the world shaken. Three genetic signatures were flagged when their information was placed into the Midsummer Academy's database."
My jaw drops. I had heard a while back from eavesdropping on guards in the palace that an old Nansronian civilization was on the brink of falling apart two years ago. I never had the thought of digging further because I was so busy. Terra was the first Nansronian settlement… Hidden in plain sight.
I just realize something. No way
"They hid on Terra?!"