Rolling hills, sprawling forests, and swooping rivers traced out the lands from the outside walls. Rose sat in wonder, feet dangling off the wall, taking in all of this nature and the smells of the courtyard behind her. She was born and raised in the human city of Anduine, her father was the leader of the city knights, her mother a renowned blacksmith. The knights would do their training in the courtyard, metal clanging, men and women grunting with force and the distinct smell of sweaty knights, she recalled. As she looked out she wondered what kinds of adventures she could have, fighting beasts or saving the defenseless. She dreamed of one day becoming an adventurer, leading a party of ragtag guild members on all sorts of quests. Smiling at this grand fantasy, she didn’t hear her friend, Colby, sneak up on her. He grabbed her, pretending to push her off the wall, “Sebastian’s grace! You frightened me!”, she shouted. “It’s all in good fun, besides, your father wishes to see you”. She hopped off the wall and headed down to see her father, with her friend. Colby recounted his day as her mind raced, what could father want, am I receiving a gift or am I in trouble. “Are you even listening?”, Colby paused. “Huh? Well, I’m just curious about what father wants. Did he tell you why he wanted to see me?”. “He just asked me to get you, no clue why though. Are you in trouble or something?”, he laughed. Rose shrugged and gestured Colby to hurry up, “Let us find out.”

The teenagers reached Rose’s father’s office, she extended her hand to knock, but the door was pulled open before she even could. “Rose, come on in. Thank you for bringing her, Colby.”, the knight captain’s deep voice rang in the cramped room. Colby closed the door, leaving Rose with her father. She made her way over to his desk, where he was sitting, books and papers piled up in massive stacks around the room; father was never very tidy, she thought. His voice shook the silence, “I know you are getting older, and your mother and I know its time for you to get some freedom, but the world is a dangerous place. So we have a gift for you.” He pulled a large box out from behind is desk and placed it before Rose. She studied the outside of it, running her fingers along the wood. He gestured to have her open it, watching her awe as she saw what the box contained. Within was a sword unlike any other: the blade was sleek and sharp, with vines carved into it, the cross-guard were intricate stems woven together and done in gold, the hilt was wrapped in a golden cord and to top it off was the pommel, a single red rose, hand crafted out of ruby. She was blown away by it, utterly speechless she leaped over the desk and wrapped her arms around her father. “I couldn’t be happier! Thank you, father. Where is mother so I can thank her as well?”