CHAPTER 8: SPFHERE

If there was anything Maria hated, it was being told what to do. Especially when it went against her better judgment. Sure, her previous mission didn't go so well, and the target almost died, none of that happened. She knew she was going to get scolded; she just didn't expect it from the first seat. Her father. A man strong enough to be king but just sat down at his desk all day.

"Enjoy your free time" he would often say to her. She never listened. Her free time was for her sword and sharpening it.

Maria knew she appeared antisocial. In truth, she liked it that way. She felt she was surrounded by too much attention already, with being related to the monarchs of the southern half. She didn't quite understand the way the country was run. Her dad told her the country was split into northern and southern hemispheres, to stop a war or something like that. She was five. She didn't care about it then. She didn't care now. Probably.

"You will go and think about what you've done" her father ended his reprimanding.

"Yes sir" she bowed before stepping out.

She could hear him mutter something to himself as she stepped out, but she couldn't be bothered. She decided to sharpen her sword before she lost her temper.

She made her way to the castle armory where the official weapons were kept. She couldn't find her favorite sword hanging from where it usually sits. She searched around for a bit before just deciding to get a new one.

"The old one was getting rusty anyway" she muttered to herself while trying to calm down. She asked other knights where the nearest blacksmith was, and they gave her directions to somewhere called 'Gal'dot the Gallsmith'. As she walked past the training grounds slightly hoping to catch whoever stole her previous companion, she watched new recruits being sorted out into the knights' three limbs. Groundhogs, for those who excelled at using broadswords, shields and physical buffing spells. Rangers, for those who had an eye for archery and those who could cast long range spells. Your average mage. And lastly, Infantry, those who were adept with the sword and sometimes had pistols.

She stopped to look around the infantry, hoping to at least see someone with her sword so she could take out a little frustration on them. But to no avail. She continued her merry way with slight disappointment.

"Good day fine lady" was the first greeting she received on getting to the blacksmith. The man who welcomed her had a hammer in his hand, beads of sweat decorating his forehead and a monocle on one eye. In one eye. Literally attached to it. "Might I interest you in my fine establishment."

"I want a sword" she replied, "a simple one".

"Why if you need simple" he said then brought out one from his hidden inventory. It had a fine brown grip and shone so brightly. The cross guard and rain guard were a dull bronze, but it shone as if finely polished. "How about this or would you prefer-"

"I'll take that" Maria said cutting the blacksmith off

"But you haven't even checked the rest of my collection' he said confused "There might be one which suite you more."

"I want that one", She said again while placing about 40 silver coins in his hand. "Do you have a sheath for this, by the way? '' she said, sticking her hand into her inventory and bringing out the dagger she confiscated from Jafaar's man she had taken care of.

"This is …where did you get this" he asked between breaths.

"A friend of mine asked me to find a sheath for him. I could forget about it if you can't make one."

"You should ask your friend to throw that dagger away. It's never a good sign" he said shivering.

"I'll make sure to deliver the message", she said, putting it back in her inventory.

"Thank you for the sword" she picked it up with the sheath and walked out.

"Sorry" a young elven girl said, bumping into Maria as soon as she stepped out. Her sword fell from her hand, clattering and alerting bystanders who were previously minding their business.

"It's fine," she said, picking up her sword and slinging it over her shoulder. "I should have looked at where I was going". She waved the elven girl goodbye and continued her journey back to her dorm.

Maria walked back to her room in silence while looking around. The country was currently at peace with its neighbors, so a variety of folks were everywhere. Humans, elven, even some thorns were around, and they seldom left their countries. Peace. They owed that peace to the current bi-monarchy in place. Two royal families. One governing the north. One, the south. The royal families live in secluded inner circles within each hemisphere, apparently being safeguarded from outside attacks should it happen. This sickened both Maria and her father, who was supposed to be king, but handed down his throne to his younger brother.

"No matter" she said to herself, "The life of a princess would have tarnished my sword" she said happily.

Maria walked past the training ground again on her way back to the dorms. No one was seen spotting her blade. She even checked the armory one last time in hope the culprit would have returned it. Nothing. She walked back to her room in silence and sadness more than anger. She would have to adjust to her new blade in no time she thought to herself. After all, this kind of setback wouldn't delay her from killing her sister. She got to her dorm room, and on her bed lay a letter from Captain Axel, apparently containing her next assignment. As she reached for the letter on her bed, she kicked a familiar piece of steel. Looking down, there her sword was. On the floor. Unsheathed. After a momentary pause, she whispered to herself.

"I might as well learn how to dual wield".