Twilah Golden Pt 2
By: Twilah
"Twilah, bring me my sword" Jaiyd's crystal voice came through the wall of Twilah's room where she sat reading. Hopping up quickly as she ran to the corner of the room and carefully lifted her sister's greatsword. It took both hands and all the feeble muscle she had to lift it. How in the world did Jaiyd swing this thing?!
She walked out of the room and saw Jaiyd coming out of the small kitchen, stuffing a pastry into her mouth. "Is it clean and ready for my drills?" Her older sister cocked an eyebrow with her query, though the slight grin on her face gave away that she already knew the answer.
"Aye, ready to go sis." Twilah leaned it against the chair instead of handing it to her sister, giving them both pause.
"Jaiyd, I've made a decision this morning and I need to ask you something." Twilah took a big breath and slowly exhaled before continuing. "The priests who found me - saved me earlier this year. I've been talking to them and it seems they could use some help around the temple. Would it be alright if I started working there?"
Twilah waited as her sister stood still as a stone statue, her usual countenance when she wasn't in battle. Twilah had always admired her sister, before and after her ascension. Even as a child Jaiyd had been slow to temper, always calm and reasonable. But when it was time to fight there were few who were stronger, faster and more resolute. So Twilah knew whatever answer Jaiyd gave now would be her final word on the matter.
After several long minutes Jaiyd spoke very softly. "Twilah, I know you have longed to be a fighter like me, but you are so like our mother. Your body is smaller and you can barely carry a sword! Even though you are much younger than me we both know I was holding a sword and shield by the time I was 15. Here you are at 18 and you can barely carry my weapon!"
Jaiyd stepped closer and looked deep into Twilah's eyes as a deep, red glow began to cinder. Twilah resisted the urge to take a step back and swallowed as her sister continued in a whisper..."I have no doubt you will ascend as I have. Our family has been one of the strongest of all - we could have built our mansion in Pandemonium had we wanted! But father so loved the land that our people scraped thier lives out of long ago when the world was torn. He felt that if we left it to far behind we would grow softer, and no warrior of the Golden family would ever grow soft!"
"I have seen many battles, and the few you have seen have been as a spectator. What you have to understand is that the front lines, the warriors, are only a small part of the army. Your strength is different. You are wiser and keep your head and your temper in the worst of it. Not only that, but you can heal. Don't feel any less because you won't carry a great sword into battle, my sister. Feel more knowing that someday it will be your wisdom and support that will keep our lines strong and our warriors fighting."
"Go to the temple." Jaiyd stood up and walked into her room, returning a few moments later with a golden ribbon in her hand. Twilah gasped as her sister handed her the long ribbon adorned with the family crest.
"You are 18, and it is time. I know father would have done this. You are an adult now Twilah, and you will act on behalf of the Golden family in your actions and deeds. Blood for Blood."
Twilah stood still as her sister grabbed her sword and left the house they shared in Pandemonium. "I will not cry" she told herself. "I will become stronger, and wiser, and I will use my strength to hunt down and destroy the Elyos who killed my family." Twilah tucked the ribbon into her breast pocket and stood up straight, head held proud for the first time in almost a year.
"Time to go to the Temple. I won't be late for my first day."