Heavy winds buffeted the withered temple, pelting the wooden structure with a fierce rain that grew in intensity by the minute. The hooded occupant ignored the violent weather, even when the wood surrounding them creaked and groaned in protest. At the center of the dimly lit chapel stood the statue of a goddess, the likeness of which had long ago been worn away by the elements. The stone was cracked and rugged due to ages of neglect, but within the hall the last remnants of its power could still be felt. The woman doffed her hood and glanced up at the blank face, peering into the stone void. She took a knee before the blank-faced statue and clasped her gloved hands together, soft purple eyes sliding shut. In her moment of prayer, a crack of thunder punctured the temple, echoing harshly off the stone walls. She could feel her body absorbing the energy, a peculiar warmth spreading throughout her core and to her extremities. The force was overwhelming, and she clenched her teeth just to bare it, but within seconds the sensation subsided. She slowly climbed to her feet and clutched the statue for support, panting for breath. A violent knock upon the heavy wooden door that separated her from the outside world drew her attention, and with a final glance at the empty stone face, she withdrew from chapel.
"What has happened?" she asked loudly over the roaring storm.
"Commander Cid of the Royal Aegis has arrived Princess. He brings news from King Beren," replied one of her Knights, similarly shouting over the harsh conditions battering the temple.
Princess Lia donned her hood once more, more so to conceal the concern that crept into her face than to protect herself from the unrelenting rain. She immediately set down the cliffside path, flanked on both sides by a handful of her most trusted guards from the Royal Aegis. The inky darkness of the night would occasionally be set ablaze by a tendril of lightning that pierced the clouded sky, briefly illuminating the raging sea that crashed upon the cliffs beside them. In one of those brief moments, far below their current position, Lia could make out a royal vessel moored on the beach. Within a few minutes of following the worn path, the entourage eventually plunged into a forest, leaving the derelict temple behind to fend for itself. It didn't take long for the Princess and her group to come upon Cid's makeshift camp, as they spotted the fire from afar. She passed through a platoon of Cid's guards that gave way to her, opening a path to reveal the Commander himself who stood a head taller or more than everyone in the vicinity.
"Greetings Princess," said Cid, his head bowing slightly to acknowledge her.
"Greetings Commander. What business is urgent enough for my father to send you to me personally?"
Cid straightened up, backlit by the crackling campfire, casting his gaze down upon the Princess. Between the imposing height, slick platinum blonde hair pulled into a ponytail and the stones of emerald that served as his eyes, Cid was quite the sight to behold. Even his pointed ears, adorned with muted black piercings, were interesting to study and gaze upon. The ornate plate armor he wore, ashen black and trimmed with gold, clanked as he turned away for a moment to retrieve a scroll of parchment from one of his men. He turned back toward the Princess and extended it toward her, the royal seal unbroken. Lia took it and broke the seal at once, surprised to find her father's familiar handwriting instead of that of the court scribe.
"This can't be," Lia muttered seconds later, looking up at Cid as she absentmindedly closed the scroll.
"I'm afraid it's true Princess, the Orc Warchief sends warning of impending conflict. We have heard whispers that his son already moves against us. I'm to return you safely to Meidell at once," Cid replied.
"But my pilgrimage has only just started! I should see it through before returning to my father's side," Lia shot back while encroaching upon Cid's personal space, her purple hues beginning to glow.
"Were you successful in acquiring the blessing from the temple here, Princess?"
Lia stood down and studied her hands, the gloves soaked through and weighed down by the rain. But behind the fabric she could feel the energy from the temple statue crawling across her flesh, imbuing her with a power that would take time to harness, let alone control. It was important for her, now more than ever, to see this journey through, to find greater strength with which she could defend her father's kingdom. But the risk was too great for her own safety. Cid observed her come to terms with both her newfound gift and the situation at hand, raising a gauntlet into the air for all to see.
"The King will be pleased to hear this my Lady. Let us set sail at once."
As if on cue the small army of men surrounding them jumped into action, breaking down the temporary camp as quickly as it had sprung up during Lia's time sequestered away in the temple. Minutes later their entire force was on the march toward the dark beach, leaving nothing behind on the island but smoldering embers.
---
The vessel shuddered amidst the violent swells of the sea, routinely tossing the ship's crew and the elven army about the decks and cabins. Somewhere up above her Lia imagined Cid was busy setting course for Meidell, capital city of the Ashilan Kingdom. With a sigh of relief, she reclined within the wooden basin, grateful for the peace granted by her private cabin and the steamed water she now resided in. A small, dull mirror was affixed to the rim of the tub opposite of her and she peered into it, searching for answers. The reflection of a fair skinned half-breed looked back, with ears that weren't so pointed as her father's, a slender nose that hung over a pair of delicate lips and a set of purple hued eyes that were as attractive as they were mystifying, all of which was shrouded in a cloak of shoulder length tresses the color of a raven's feather.