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◾~Nya's POV~◾

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I emerged from the prayer area after asking my ancestors for help and guidance. The rain was still falling hard and I was soaking wet by the time I had entered the house. Dripping and cold, I shivered but the determined fire inside was strong enough to warm me.

Thankfully, everyone was asleep so the halls were empty. I really had no excuse to reinforce my actions if I came upon anyone.

I proceeded to my parents' room first. I was relieved to see the conscription scroll laying beside my father. I grabbed it and swapped it for my lucky bracelet. I figured it was enough for a proof of the whereabouts of the scroll. I shot one last look at my parents, smiled at their peaceful countenances and left.

I stopped in my tracks. For a brief moment, I heard a creak. I ducked into the hallway, thinking my parents had woken up on account of my intrusion. It turned out to be nothing. Apart from being big, our house was pretty old too. I shrugged it off as mere house sounds.

I tip-toed back to my room and shut myself in. Sighing, I placed the conscription scroll on my bed. I reached down and pulled out a plain old dagger. I had stored the blade for emergencies under my mattress because I didn't believe in screaming and going to fetch a man to deal with the problem.

Tugging on the ribbon, I let it slip through and allowed my long hair to fall freely over my shoulders. I gave my dark tresses a last look in my mirror before tightening my shaking fingers around the dagger's hilt. I lifted the sharp edge to a black lock and shut my eyes.

I hesitated for a few seconds before giving in to the rage and running the blade through the strand. Without a break, I grabbed another fistful of hair and cut it. Then another and another. I felt determined and horrible at the same time as I worked. Curls of ebony fell at my feet, tickling my toes but I didn't stop till I had a satisfactory crop reaching below my jawline.

Without sparing myself a look, I gathered the mess and discarded it. Tucking the scroll inside my undershirt, I crept out of my room and headed straight for the armory. Once there, I yanked on the closet door to reveal my father's armor. Kai's was missing but I figured he probably took it to his room.

I took out the chest plates and helmet and tied the old scrap around my body. Many times it felt like I was being watched but I ignored it. I topped it off with the helmet and inserted my father's sword into the sheath. I provided myself confidence by staring intimidatingly at my new reflection in the armory mirror.

"This is what was meant to be," I whispered at the warrior in the silver before marching out of the room and towards the stables.

Toyo and Fei, our family horses, greeted me with low snorts when I entered the stall. I was surprised to find them awake and alert but quickly assumed they must've heard my heavy footsteps. I had taken care of them since they were both young and they were very attached to me. They'd recognize me just by the sound of my feet.

I approached Toyo, the great black Friesian, and rubbed his nose to calm him. He snorted once more and nuzzled me. I made a gesture to be quiet before saddling him up. All the while, Fei was interested in the far corner of the stall. She kept walking over there, whinnying and returning to me.

I worked on tightening Toyo's reins, trying my best not to get distracted by Fei. Once I was done, I began leading him out of the stall but for some reason, he seemed reluctant to move. I muttered soothing words to him but to no avail.

"Either we both think alike or you didn't want me to go alone."

I jumped, pivoting on my heels and glaring into the dark stall. At first I saw nothing but Fei's white muzzle. Then someone slowly stepped out of the dark; right from the corner where Fei kept wandering off to.

"Skylor?" I exclaimed in disbelief.

My mouth dropped open as I took in her appearance. At least now I knew where my brother's armor had disappeared to. I wordlessly waved my hands at her in an aimless effort to say something.

Finally, I blurted out, "Why do you look better than me?"

I know it wasn't the most pressing concern at the moment. But I was sure I looked like a garden gnome in my father's huge armor.

The serious look on Skylor's face dissolved and she began chuckling. She stepped closer to me and pried off my helmet, exposing my short hair. As she studied the new haircut, I glanced down at my feet, feeling ashamed.

I felt her fingers running through my short locks, settling down the rough bits. She lifted my chin and leaned back as if to observe an abstract painting. Then, she smiled.

"Don't worry. You look beautiful," she whispered, tucking a few strands of my hair behind my ear. "Short hair suit you."

"Really? Thanks," I replied, grinning and consciously touching my hair.

Lightning flashed and thunder soon followed after. That's when I realized what we were both doing here. "You shouldn't come, Skylor. This isn't your fight," I muttered, turning away and moving towards Toyo.

The girl pouted. "What do you mean? This isn't your fight either."

I sighed, playing with the strap of Toyo's saddle. "I'm the one who broke out in front of Hutchins. I stained our family name."

"If requesting for concessions for the safety of your loved ones means staining the family name then maybe I don't want a family," Skylor frowned, folding her arms.

"It's not just that," I argued. "Today might probably be the worst day for my family's honor because now it has two unfit men fighting under its name in the war."

I removed a straw of hay from Toyo's mane and continued. "So to make up for the messes I've made, the least I can do is provide a better pair of arms to the imperial army. I can't watch my father and brother be ridiculed like this."

It was after a few seconds that Skylor answered, advancing towards Fei as she did so. "This isn't just about the honor of your father and brother, Nya. To me, it's about my husband's honor too."

She gave me a look that meant, without a doubt, that she was coming along no matter what I said in return. I inhaled, the air laced with the damp smell of hay. A tear betrayed my resolve and rolled down my cheek.

"I just want to help them," I said in a shaking whisper, wiping the drop away.

Skylor's eyes glistened but didn't spill. "Then, let's go."

We didn't say anything after that. We simply led Toyo and Fei into the steady rain and glanced one last time at the house. I quietly ascended my horse and Skylor did the same. It was a bit difficult with the armor but I managed it. I heard my sister-in-law mutter a quick prayer to the ancestors before she gave me a nod.

I clicked my tongue, jerking the reins. Toyo broke into a run. I could hear Fei's hooves clattering behind me over the thundering rain. Electricity marked the clouds as we bursted through the gates and rode down the street. Water splashed around us as the horses conquered the puddles in the road.

My heart was hammering loudly in my chest as we turned around the bend and set a course for the army camp.

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