Alter: Lineage

An early rise was always a painful one for me. My eyes stung, my body felt numb in all the wrong places, and I found it nearly impossible to pull myself from the confines of my warm, comfortable bed. Still; I had a job to do. I sat up in bed, the sturdy wooden construction offering no creaks or trembles as I threw my cotton sheets aside. My feet touched down on the carpeted flooring, feeling weak and unsupportive as I dragged myself over to the bathroom.

The wooden room was a masterwork of magic and machinery, using a clever mix of crystals and pipes to draw water from the castle's flowing water channels and then using enchanted crystals to instantly heat or cool the water for a nice, warm shower. I stepped under the large showerhead and used a handle to turn on the spray before twisting a dull red crystal several degrees clockwise. It let out a quiet hum, soon lost under the spray of the shower, and emitted a dull light as it warmed the water.

I entered the spray, letting the warm, soothing water take off the grime and sweat from a night's sleep. I grabbed hold of a bar of soap and began lathering myself up, running the bar through my thick, navy blue hair before rinsing it all away. The bar left a pleasant scent, one of a flower I couldn't name by smell alone, but one that was more than welcome to smell. I shook my head, sweeping my fringe out of my eyes as I remembered that I was on a time limit here, and that I couldn't afford to sit about in the shower for hours.

I hurried out and back into my bedroom, towelling myself off as rapidly as I could before hurrying out to my old oak wardrobe. I opened the towering piece of furniture's heavy-set door, peering inside for something that would be best suited for cold, unforgiving weather. I grabbed a pair of thick, leather boots and tossed them onto the floor beside the wardrobe, then a pair of cotton pants with a fur lining, specifically designed to keep my legs insulated during cold weather.

It was a similar idea with the shirt, get something thick on for a good under-layer and then wear a thicker, heavier cloak of some kind. I found my choices with a thick, hempen shirt and a cloak made from what I remembered being rabbits pelts all stitched together. I slung it over my shoulder, aware that we were still in the height of an Equestrian summer here, so it wouldn't do well to melt within a matter of seconds.

I got a pair of woollen socks over my feet before getting my boots on and lacing them, noting the enormous scuff mark on the front of the brown leather boots. The result of a rather close call between a Wyvern and myself from a few months prior. I prodded at it with a finger, feeling the serrated pattern of the beast's tooth in the scuff, before returning to lacing. Once I was dressed and ready, I ran down a checklist of Luna's 'going out' supplies. I went over to one of my drawers and pulled it open, noting a well-worn leather strap and a just-as-worn black steel hunting dagger sitting snug in a leather scabbard.

I took the seven inch dagger from the drawer and held it against the inside of my wrist, then grabbing the strap and belting it to my arm. I jerked my arm around in a few different motions to make sure the fitting was good and that it didn't slide anywhere. Satisfied with the fit, I quickly pulled my sleeve down over the dagger to conceal it entirely, allowing me to carry a decently-sized hidden weapon, should the need arise.

I patted myself on the sides for a few moments as I looked around the room in thought, wondering if there was anything else I needed. I wasn't going on an actual journey to somewhere, so there was no need to pack supplies or rations, and I wouldn't be going to many other climates, so a change of clothes wasn't entirely necessary...

Moments ticked by before I shrugged by shoulders, positive that if I was forgetting anything, my father probably would've remembered it himself because of how much more experienced he was with this kind of thing than I was. With a mutter, I headed out the doorway and through the castle. Despite still being before dawn, there were quite a lot of staff bustling about the place. It was barren of visitors, of course, as well as scribes, squires, and messengers. But the night staff consisting of the Equestrian Royal Guard and servants were as omnipresent as ever.

I smiled and nodded kindly at the scurrying maids or the near-silent guards as I made my way through the castle, hearing the soothing sound of crickets in the trees as my footfalls kept a quiet rhythm in the halls of the castle. The torch sconces that lined the walls illuminated the polished marble floors and walls beautifully, casting an almost ethereal glow over every step of the way. My eyes fell downwards, staring at the ground and losing myself in thought.

I made my way to the courtyard where I was due to meet with my father and the messengers, seeing the ensemble gathered and speaking amongst themselves. My father was the easiest to make out; a large, broad man with the same navy-coloured hair as myself garbed in a thick, black gambeson, a pair of cotton trousers, and similarly-styled leather boots to my own. His hand rested on the pommel of his sword at his belt, gently drumming his fingers on the cold steel of the arming sword's base while he listened to the messengers speak.

I spotted my mother, dressed down rather considerably from what she usually wore whilst out in public. Gone was the usual extravagant dress and instead she wore a loose-fitting white cotton shirt, a pair of what looked like rough-leather leggings, and simple shoes. Her multi-coloured hair was not in its usual hanging position, instead being tied back into a high ponytail. She was leaning against my father's shoulder, him being the slightly taller out of the two of them as they both stood well over six feet tall.

"-and I assure you, Asta, that so long as the roof isn't caving in and the plumbing in the castle still works, it will be without doubt one of the most comfortable places I've lead a campaign from," Shining said to the elder northerner with a wry smile.

"I simply wish to convey that you and your comforts will be given the utmost attention, your son's included, to make sure that you are performing at your best," Asta said with a polite nod.

"And I'll be sure to thank Juniper for that once we arrive," Shining nodded, snaking a hand around Cadance's hip and squeezing her closer to him.

"You'd do well to listen to every word your father says, Richter," came a voice from literally out of nowhere that nearly made me leap out of my skin.

I whirled around, recognising it instantly as my Aunt Luna. The tall, dark-skinned Alicorn stood with her arms crossed, her eyes focused down on Shining as she spoke to me.

"Be prepared for him to lose his more humorous edge once his combat instincts settle in. Shining Armour takes his command very seriously, and doesn't like to waste or mince words while doing so," Luna said, looking down at me finally with a gentle smile on her sleek face. "And it would do you well to stay safe and alive. I can't fathom what I'd do without my favourite nephew."

I smiled at the larger Alicorn, taking note of the rather heavy amount of equipment she was wearing. Her clothing told me that she would be travelling soon; large leather boots, thick cotton trousers, a white shirt underneath a leather vest, and a large, thick cloak thrown over her shoulders with the hood resting at her back. She wore several belts around her wide hips, one for her sword, one for what appeared to be some kind of... potion satchel, and a third simply for generic storing pouches.

I also noticed the moon-stone ring she wore, the rock carved in the shape of a crescent, set in a black-steel frame. I cocked an eyebrow inquisitively, verbally asking her where she was going.

"A visit to the Blades of Illuminia," Luna answered in a soft whisper. "Nothing too serious, just a simple inspection, especially after the swearing in of the new Knight-Commander."

The Blades of Illuminia were a group named after one half of the pair of goddesses that were responsible for the creation of this realm. The first was Illuminia, Goddess of Light, and the second was Mykuria, the Goddess of Darkness. They were the guardians of this realm until their sudden disappearance many millennia ago, leaving no trace of their existence, only a holy doctrine and a new race, the Alicorn, to watch over the world and act as the protectors of the people.

The Blades were the army that had soon formed around the Alicorn, at their beck and call should they ever need military strength. The second half of the coin was the Church of Mykuria, an order dedicated to the healing and protection of all those that came to them for salvation. They represented the piercing light of Illuminia that would vanquish all foes from this world, and the comforting darkness of Myrkuria that would embrace and soothe their followers.

"And what of the Church?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I spoke to them not more than half a year ago, when they themselves had sworn in a new High Priestess," Luna said with a nod. "They wanted me there as a kind of blessing to the new Priestess. She'd received a lot of criticism and vitriol from other Sisters of the Cloth due to her youth. They believed she wasn't ready for the responsibility."

"And was she?"

"More than anybody could have ever expected," Luna nodded, patting me on the shoulder and giving me a smile. "Now, I must be off, young one. I've a long journey ahead of me."

"You're not teleporting there?" I asked as she walked past me.

"Of course not," she said with a firm shake of her head. "I am a protector of this land, and I must be ever-vigilant for threats and trouble brewing throughout it. How am I to know of the state of the world if I refuse to walk it and see what it holds for myself?"

"I suppose that's fair," I nodded, looking up at the early-morning sky. "How long will you be gone for?"

"A month, maybe two, depending on how many distractions I find along the way," she said, shifting her belts as she spoke. "But I'll not be leaving until I've seen you off."

"Thanks, Aunt Luna," I said with an honest smile, making my way down to the courtyard where the others were.

Asta and Jorunn were wearing thicker clothes than what they'd arrived in, having slung large cloaks of what appeared to be bear hide over their shoulders to help trap the heat.

"Richter, there you are!" my father called out, gesturing for me to come over before looking at Luna. "You off somewhere?"

"Need to see to a matter regarding the Blades," Luna nodded, walking over to my father with me at her side.

"Well, I wish you luck," Shining said, getting a hug from the dark-skinned woman before she turned to Cadance.

"And you'll be down a son and a husband for who knows how long, eh?" she asked with a jesting smile. "It seems you may actually have to do some kind of work about the castle, doesn't it?"

"Not if I can help it," Cadance smirked, hugging her Aunt warmly and exhaling softly. "Look after yourself, Luna. Life would be ever so boring without you nagging the hide off of me."

"And I'd get swiftly bored would I not have an ass to ram my boot into," Luna said, kissing her niece on the forehead before stepping back. "Try not to go stir-crazy, will you?"

"No promises," Cadance winked, watching Luna turn back to me, looking down with kind eyes as she did so.

"And you, young man," Luna said, rolling her eyes for a brief moment with a heavy sigh. "Where to even start with your warnings?"

"I'm not that bad," I said, giving her a playful sideways look.

"I beg to differ. You're the reason safety briefings exist," Luna said, ruffling my hair with her soft fingers before turning to Shining. "Look after him, you hear?"

"I've done it rather successfully so far," he shrugged. "I'm sure I'll manage."

"You damn-well better," Cadance said in a growling tone.

"I will," Shining said with a soft smile, running a hand through his hair before turning to Asta and Jorunn. "I trust you're both ready to set off?"

"Preparations are complete, Your Majesty," the elder northern-realmer nodded with a gentle smile. "We shall depart as soon as the word is given."

Shining nodded quickly, turning his attention to the skyline and noting the lack of dawn's first touches in the sky.

"Now's as good a time as any, I believe," he said firmly. "The city is often empty in the earliest hours, so it'll be a much faster process than riding through the crowds. Ready, Richter?"

"As always," I smiled, looking back at my mother with one last smile before turning back to my father. "Onwards?"

"As ever," he nodded, conjuring a portal with a wave of his hand before gesturing for Jorunn and Asta to lead the way.