Michalla Truesilver - Background Story Episode 2

Another dawn had once again approached Royal Garden. This time, however, there was no young woman swinging her sword in the middle of it. Instead, a woman with blue hair was walking toward the Garden’s exit. A sword with tear-shape hole on its hilt was hanging on her waist, along with a slightly shorter sword.

When she arrived at the exit, a man figure with short blue hair was waiting there. On his waist, a sword with identical appearance with the woman’s was also hanged. The woman stopped while looking at him, and vice versa.

“So, you’re really determined to go, Kayla?”

“...yes, I am already determined to do so,” Kayla paused for a while without letting go her gaze to the man in front of her. “Are you going to stop me, Ephraim?”

“Not at all. I just want to make sure of something,” he replied with a straight look. “I feel disappointed though.”

Kayla couldn’t reply, as her brother’s remark hit her quite hard. The figure of her older brother who always kept her morale high was vanished completely. She already known this, though, as they slowly grew apart when Ephraim officially joined the Purple Dragons’ ranks.

Some murmurs could be heard not far from them. Kayla looked back for a second, and several figures could be seen watching them. Those figures had similar appearances with those who always following Ephraim almost everywhere he went. However, the woman figure with long silver hair was missing from that group. 

Yes, Tanith Crownsilver was no longer belonged at the Royal Garden.

Tanith was another person amongst their great family at the Royal Garden who treated Kayla as a proper ‘family’. She acted as an older sister figure and also a mentor for Kayla. She had countlessly ‘work’ together with Ephraim to keep Kayla’s spirit high, in the midst of insults and taunts from the rest of the House for all of the latter’s shortcomings.

However, several years ago Tanith suddenly left Royal Garden. Ephraim said she left Cormyr for good. It was true that Tanith had bid farewell with Kayla before she left. However, Kayla never thought that would be the last time she met her distant cousin. The reason of Tanith’s departure itself was remained unknown, as the House Crownsilver kept it undisclosed.

As Tanith was no longer around and Ephraim had his hands full at Purple Dragons, there was no one else who will defend Kayla from her own great family. Fortunately, the Tormite Monastery never bothered her with that kind of problem, so do Purple Dragons squires and War Wizards apprentices whom Kayla able made acquintances –and perhaps friends–, especially those who were stationed in same patrol routes around Cormyr.

Therefore, Kayla found a new sanctuary, although it did not last long. Furthermore thinking about that would only bring more bitter memories. Nevertheless, she must not forgot those past events which led her decided to leave Cormyr.

“Take care then, and fare thee well,” said Ephraim while walking past Kayla and headed toward the castle. She only replied with a silent nod. “Send my regard if you met Tanith somewhere out there.”

The last words made Kayla turned toward her brother. “How am I supposed to-“

Ephraim stopped. “I’m *not* asking you to *find* her, but to send her my regard *if* you *met* her,” said him while still showing his back to Kayla. “It’s not like you’ll find her though, as she never like drawing too much attention.”

 “Just try to survive, and don't bring shame upon our nation and family,” said Ephraim as he began walking again toward the castle.

Kayla could only see her brother walking away from her, followed by his ‘loyal followers’. Some of them gave away mocking and condescending gaze at her. Until now, Kayla still wondered why they were doing this, as she already did her best to stay as far as possible from them, and to not bother them at all.

Nevertheless, she must moved on, since the entourage of Torm Paladins and Priests were ready to depart to Athkatla of Amn, and were waiting for her at Suzail’s main gate.

And after Ephraim vanished from her view, Kayla finally left the Royal Garden...