Lucia Avarice
This article is a stub
This article is a draft
Currently in review
~ 24 Heart Fire Moon, 1451 AL
~ 25 Years Old
Imagine this:
You live out your early years in the very same castle that your monarchy resides in. You share your tutors with the Prince and Princess. You train with the guards despite your mother's concerns, eager to become a Shield of Yondar and carry on your family’s legacy.
One minute, excelling at your studies and training. The next minute, spending 10 years running from your past. All the while expecting your life to follow a set path, only to be knocked into the river and carried downstream, away from your destiny.
Lucia would call that living a nightmare, though she knows that life during those 10 years would have been much more difficult had her father not been around to help her through it. Had she been alone, perhaps she would not be as hopeful about the future, nor would she have been able to move on as easily as she did. But moving on easily does not mean moving on entirely.
There have been times over the years - ever brief moments - where she has dreamt of facing down Percival for his betrayal. Sometimes, those dreams are steeped so heavily in revenge that she wakes to the ghost of blood on her hands. Were she actually to face him… Lucia is unsure whether she would let those dreaming fantasies become a reality, or if calm and composure would prevail.
"You don't understand. It's not that life in the castle was bad, it's just…” you let the sentence trail off. After spending so long hiding, the idea of letting someone in terrifies you, nerves frayed to the point of you aggressively picking at your fingernails. “It’s difficult to talk so openly about being the captain's daughter when you never know how many of your enemies are lurking around the corner."
Across from you, Sariel’s face softens. "I get it.” She pauses to reach out her hands, slow so as not to spook, and rests them gently over your own. “We all do, Lucia. We all have our fair share of secrets to keep, but you can trust us. You know that, right? You can tell us anything."
You glance away, eyes darting back towards the fire. Flashes of another life creep across your vision; echoes of men and women you knew long ago, dead or injured, missing or serving the pretender king.
A handful of Shields at the training grounds teaching you how to hold a sword at 8 years old, walking you through a couple of simple drills. One eye on you, always, and the other ever vigilant for your mother’s approach.
Or the royal culinarians of Castle Tirav. The ones who, even in your father’s absence, had let you loiter in the kitchen, testing their latest recipes on you, grinning when you smiled around a mouthful of food.
Then another face. One burdened by the weight of a crown never placed upon her head. A girl - woman now, if she’s even alive - you miss so dearly that you struggle to hold back a tidal wave of grief.
"I know, I know…" you reply, smiling through the pain, “maybe someday, Sariel. But today I’m not ready.”
Personal History
Lucia is the only child of Jenna and Trent Avarice. She was adored by both her parents. Whilst she was growing up, Jenna and Trent did their best to spend equal amounts of time with Lucia, despite their respective jobs making it difficult.
Early Life
For the most part, they fell into a routine.
Morning and midday were spent trailing after her mother - as much as she was allowed to, anyway. So long as Jenna wasn’t in an important meeting, or on some assignment from King Ronan, Lucia would be hot on her heels. All the while Lucia would beg her mother to let her begin training as a Shield of Yondar.
The other Shields would keep sweets and treats to give to Lucia on those occasions where she wandered into the training grounds. Jenna had tried, multiple times, to dissuade them from doing so. The warnings never stuck though.
Sometimes, especially when Jenna was called away on important business and was forced to leave Lucia to her own devices, the Shields at the training grounds would keep the young girl entertained with grand and fantastical tales. In a few rare instances, they would even allow Lucia to participate in fake duels.
Afternoons and evenings were spent with her father. During those times, Lucia would make her way down to the kitchens, diligently watching as her father and the other culinarians would cook the finest of meals.
For once, the castle kitchens are quiet. Not really a surprise considering just how late it is; dinner was served a couple of hours ago, so the royal culinarians would have had plenty of time by now to wash up and go home.
Your father had yet to return to your family’s quarters upstairs though, and after an hour alone your curiosity had won out over boredom. The trip to the kitchens wouldn’t take long anyway.
Except your father isn’t in the kitchens. Not that you can see, anyway.
You peek your head around door after door, from the storage rooms to the cooking area, checking twice for good measure. No sign of him. You’re about to leave when you hear the soft, repetitive sound of snoring.
Ears perked, you follow the sound as best you can, back into one of the storage rooms. There, towards the back - no wonder you hadn’t seen him at first - your father has propped himself up against a stack of wooden crates. Eyes closed, mouth agape, chest slowly rising and falling. The sight alone is enough to make you giggle.
She learnt a lot in those hours, even though she wasn’t allowed to help. Any time she requested it, her father would let her observe the meal preparation closely, explaining the process as he or another culinarian stepped through it. So long as she remembered not to disturb the culinarians too much.
It was only when Trent was making meals for himself, Jenna, and Lucia, that Lucia was actually allowed to lend a hand.
Of course, as daughter of the Shield Captain and the king's head chef, she had access to an education worthy of a noble child. Although Lucia found it difficult to stay focused during these lessons. Instead, she would find almost any excuse to leave - and said excuses often came in the form of the princess, Alexandra Greymount. The two were inseparable, causing all sorts of mischief when either decided to skip out on the days lessons.
Shield Training
Shortly after Lucia’s 10th birthday, things began to change.
Years of pestering and following her mother around had forced her mother to relent; finally, Lucia would be able to follow her dream of becoming a Shield of Yondar. For 2 years, she officially trained with the Shields under the watchful eye of Shield Seneschal Arden Jest.
On her 12th birthday, Lucia underwent an informal exam. Impressed by her improvements over those 2 years, Arden recommended to Jenna that Lucia was ready to carry the Blessing of Van-Hael. Though her mother was still reluctant, worried that Lucia’s youth meant she still wasn’t ready, she agreed to the Blessing.
“I know you’re worried–”
“Worried? Arden, worried doesn’t even begin to cut it,” Jenna says, pacing the length of the room. Even in a panic, she retains the staunch stature of an experienced Shield Captain.
“Okay, fine, more than worried,” Arden relents as he leans against the northern wall of the room, head twisting from side to side as he follows Jenna’s pacing. “But she’s ready.”
“Is she?”
Suddenly, Jenna stops. She turns to Arden, brow knit with clear concern and a hint of frustration. At him, at herself, or her daughter, Arden doesn’t know. All that matters is the sudden attention doesn’t stop him from clearing his throat, or offering his Captain a few words of wisdom.
“She’s beating Wards with half a decade more experience. Every training session shows a clear improvement. She’s willing to learn and more than that, she’s willing to listen, which is a great deal more than I can say for some of our recent recruits. She’s ready for this, Jenna, trust me. Holding her back because she’s your daughter is only going to make her resent you for it.”
A mere month and a half later Lucia was proudly bearing the Blessing of Van-Hael, full of determination to fulfil her dreams. All it would take would be 5 years of arduous training.
Although her mother may not have hid her worry, she made sure that the other Shields didn’t go easy on Lucia. It was tough, but everyday saw improvements. As more and more time passed her mother’s worries began to ease, watching with heartfelt pride as Lucia showed that she was just as much of a prodigy as her mother was.
Lucia was one of the first people to find out that Princess Alexandra was to become the heir apparent. On the same day that Ronan was informing Alexandra of his decision, Jenna was telling Lucia that, when the time came for her to undertake the Rite of Aegis, Alexandra - as heir apparent - would be her Sovereign.
Mixed emotions followed. Shock that King Ronan had decided to revoke his son’s status as heir apparent. Delight that Alexandra would be her Sovereign instead. Not that Lucia had anything against Prince Percival (who was originally intended to be her Sovereign he shared his mother’s quiet compassion and gentle understanding, but she had always had a stronger bond with the princess.
Then, slowly, as more time passed and Lucia grew stronger, wiser, she would begin to notice the King's thinly veiled disapproval and the Prince's ever growing jealousy for his sister’s position.
Though not nearly enough to foresee what would come next.
During the Sunfire Festival in 1467 AL, Percival’s jealousy boiled over, and Lucia’s life changed forever. Her family was torn apart. Her dreams left burning in the wake of Percival’s rage. All she had was her father, the weight of an unfulfilled legacy, and the ever present ache of all she had lost.
Love the idea that the MC will be customisable, though I also love the default MC how you have written her. Such a fun idea.
Thanks for leaving a comment!
Amalgia | Ma'rune | Osiron | Summer Camp 2024