Third Person POV (whole chapter)

Aphmau glanced around, an iron sword strapped to her hip. She gripped the hilt tightly, ready for her first day in the Guard Academy.

Her mother had been ecstatic that Aphmau wanted to be a guard. Her father, on the other hand, wasn't so happy. They were both guards themselves. Her parents had both insisted, though, that she wear a helmet that covered her entire face and used a false name.

Her entry name was Jessica Whitney Lorde. Her real name was Aphmau Jessica Zolir. Not necessarily a lie, since she was introducing herself with her middle name and her grandmother's maiden name.

"Lorde, Jessica. Step forward and get your room number and roommate's name." The person in charge of the academy called.

Aphmau stepped forward and took the small paper. Room number 206, so on the second floor, and she'd be rooming with two other left overs- the people the academy didn't think would go far and so lumped together. Their names were Jeffory Greene and Katelyn Hanson.

Aphmau found her room and grinned nervously at the other two people in there. The only things you could see on Aphmau's face were her mouth and brown eyes.

The other two grinned back at her. "Hi. The name's Jeffory."

"Jessica." Aphmau shook his hand, remembering just in time the false name she'd be using. Jeffory had a green shirt on, had tussled up brown hair, and light green eyes that darkened around the edges.

"Katelyn." The other girl shook her hand. She had powdery blue hair and eyes, and she was wearing the same color.

They both were tall, either that or Aphmau was just short (or both).

"So, we're rooming together for the next few years." Jeffory said, speaking about how guards-in-training spent 3 years at the academy before becoming apprentice guards and being assigned to a village. Their mentoring guard decided whether or not they were ready to be full guards, and then when they were, the Guard went to any village of their choosing.

^°^ ^°^ ^°^ Scene Skip^°^ ^°^ ^°^

Aphmau closed her eyes and smiled. Then she ran to her parent's house. "Mom! Dad! I've been invited to become a Jury of Nine member!" She yelled as she ran inside.

"Really?" Her dad asked. Aphmau handed him the letter, positively bouncing in excitement.

"Oh, Katelyn and Jeffory are too?" Her mom asked, reading over her dad's shoulder.

"Yeah." Aphmau smiled at the thought of her two best friends. They quickly became close at guard academy, as well as the best there, and the two took it well when Aphmau had told them her real name.

"What do you think your title will be?" Her dad asked.

"Seeing as I'm 'Jessica Lorde', then Lady Jessica the something." Aphmau said. "Of course it'll be something to do with my weapon of choice as well." Aphmau preferred a demonic-looking black and purple sword, larger and wider than a regular sword, and yet smaller than a broadsword.

^°^ ^°^ ^°^Scene Skip^°^ ^°^ ^°^

"We welcome you to the Jury of Nine, Jeffory the Golden Heart." A crystal was placed on Jeffory's chest, and it absorbed into him. He stepped into line with the other six Jurors. "We welcome you to the Jury of Nine, Katelyn the Fire Fist." A crystal was also placed on Katelyn's chest, and she absorbed in before stepping into the ranks.

Next it was Aphmau's turn. 'Finally, after all the work I put into this, to be able to guard with the best, I'm here.' She thought.

"We welcome you to the Jury of Nine, Jessica the Demon Sword." Aphmau's lips quirked into a small grin at that as she absorbed her crystal and stepped into line with the others.

The High Priest Zane smirked at them. "Newcomers, your quarters are across the square. Everything within these walls belongs to you Nine, your quarters are yours alone though. This is like your village, except only the other eight live here. Of course, O'khasis is merely an hour's walk East from here. Twenty minutes on horseback. Take care." He said the last part with dripping sarcasm.

"Newbies," one of the members said, "go find your quarters."

Their quarters were right next to each other's. "They don't seem like the revered guards everyone makes them out to be." Jeffory muttered.

Katelyn shrugged. "Oh well. Hey look, our quarters are right next to each other!"

"Sweet. Just like old times." Aphmau grinned.

^°^ ^°^ ^°^Scene Skip^°^ ^°^ ^°^

"Zane is such an annoying, obnoxious, spoiled little brat!" Aphmau complained, flopping onto her couch.

Jeffory and Katelyn sat next to her. "He is." Katelyn agreed.

"Truer words have never been spoken." Jeffory said, shaking his head (an- lol, rhymes).

"So, how is Abby?" Katelyn asked, successfully changing the subject and making everyone happy at the thought of their daughter/best friend's child.

Jeffory smiled. "She's doing great. Turning six tomorrow, wanna come to the party?"

"Yes." Katelyn and Aphmau said immediately.

At the party, Abby immediately ran to Jeffory. "Daddy!" She yelled, running into his arms.

"Aww, she's so cute." Katelyn laughed.

"Aunty Katelyn!" Abby hugged Katelyn. "Aunty Aphmau!" She also hugged Aphmau.

Abby led the three of them all around the place, showing them around, well, showing the girls around since Jeffory already knew his way around.