The port city of moradale.
An ivory spire reaches up into the sky though dwarfed by its elder brother further into the background.
The lights of zeppelins sparkled against the deep evening sky as they docked for the night.
The carriage arrived at the main hall, pulled by a magnificent white mane. The golden evening sun glitters on its bright purple linings, accentuating its pristine white surface.
Two knights of the Razenheir house lead the carriage, each on their fine horses. Their pristine black uniform, the RazenHeir crest, the symbol of a phoenix, etched onto their breast plates.
Thud! Thud! The sole of Hikari's massive wyvern skin boots knocked against the stone ground.
Her heels were hanging by her side as it was not practical to march in them.
Her deep black silver dress fluttered in the wind.
The blood ruby adornments glowing even brighter as the evening faded.
Ria steps out of the carriage. She was in an elaborate light pinkish silk dress. A fresh white four petaled flower with a subtle fragrance. Along with her scarlet hair and bright blue eyes and fair skin, she was confident she would be melting men's hearts tonight.
A grey haired butler walked up to Hikari. "Hey! giants are not allowed! How did you get into the estate grounds!?" he bellowed.
Hikari turned her gaze downwards towards the butler.
Apologies. The guards let me in."
The butler turned to a guard with an extra strip on his collar compared to the rest. "What are the guards doing?"
The Guard captain back faced him, pretending not to hear. The butler placed his hand on his shoulder and forced him to turn around.
When he realized that the man was sweating in his helmet, his crotch was bulging and wet, he bellowed angrily at him, "What is this disgraceful conduct!? Go fetch your crotch guard if you can't control yourself! The headmaster will hear of this. "
The butler turned back to Ria while bowing slightly. "I deeply apologise for this disgrace."
"You should apologize to my knight whom I have trusted my life to for insulting her size." Ria replied in a stern but calm voice
The old butler straightened his back, looking Hikari in the eye. "Please accept my sincerest apologies. I shall trouble you no more."
The butler made way for Ria.
"I'm afraid you will have to stand guard now. I'll be sure to get some nice food for you afterwards."
"Enjoy yourself."
Ria smiled back and walked into the main hall.
Hikari looked over her tiny lady as she shuffled her way along the carpet into the hall.
"Ahem! Excuse me for the misunderstanding earlier. Would you kindly join the other guardian knights in that area?"
The boot height butler approached her. Despite his apparent age, the force in his voice could be felt.
Hikari checked the area around her. She's tense in tight areas where a slight misstep could crush someone to paste and possibly cause her to be grounded in the estate grounds.
Tiny strides, keeping her boots as close together and to the ground as possible.
The guardian knights on either side of her flinched as she took her position between them.
They wear distinctly different armour, donning the emblems of their own houses.
She could feel their heavy breathing and trembling as they snuck glances at her.
A pair of mages walk past her. The man in bright blue robes turned his head, his eyes glued onto the giantess.
Wham! His partner bashed him across the face. Grumbling as she dragged him away by the ear.
It was Hikari's first time in a while to stand guard outside the Moradale ball hall as heads of the house she served had been gone for a while.
She began circulating her mana. Standing guard in possibly the most secure place in the region has the tendency to be uneventful.
More guardian knights passed her as more guests arrived. They seemed to develop a greater reaction to her than she remembered.
The sound proof walls behind her were completely still.
She glanced at the knight on her right. Lightly armoured but armed with three swords strapped to his back.
He was shivering visibly. His crotch web.
"A spell blade?"
Hikari could sense the residue energy on the runes etched onto each sword.
She peered into the man's eyes as he tried to sneak a glance at her.
She entered her mind space.
It was an empty courtyard.
Opposing her stood the spell blade.
He bowed and drew his swords, the third blade floated out of its scabbard above him. The runes ignited. Arches of energy fizzled from the tip to the handle.
Hikari drew her dagger. One foot in front of the other in a tall relaxed stance.
The floating blade lunged at her.
Clank! She parried. Sparks of energy stung her hand as the metal touched.
In a swinging motion, the spell blade unleashed both of the blades in his hand.
Clank! Clank! Clank! Hikari parried all three blades in quick succession.
The spell blade channeled, pulling the blades back to him.
Hikari opened her eyes. The cool breeze gently nudged her heavy hair.
The knight standing to her right suddenly ran off.
She glanced at the knight on the right. Heavy armour. It looked like steel, but Hikari could tell the texture was very slightly different.
A massive crossbow big enough for her to wield strapped onto his back.
A tower shield by his side.
His physique matched their weight.
He sneaked a glance at her.
Hikari's mind space.
An empty arena.
The heavily armoured knight stood opposite her.
He bowed, drew his cross bow.
It wasn't so much as a draw, a mechanism built into his armour lifted it up, shuffled it to the side and mounted it on his shoulder and the mount to the left of his shield.
Hikari put up her guard.
His heavy suit hummed like a steam engine. Runes glowing all over.
Hikari channeled her mana to match the build up opposing her.
With a burst of energy, the heavily armoured knight suddenly thrust himself backwards with all that built up energy.
Hikari was momentarily startled but she kept her eyes peeled.
Clank! In a split second, a ballista bolt crashed into her dagger and bounced off her back.
The armoured knight took his position on an elevated position and fired again.
A quick side step from Hikari barely dodged the bolt fired at super sonic speed.
Hikari opened her eyes. The cool breeze gently nudged her heavy hair.
She took a glance at the armoured knight on his left.
The muscles on his neck were tight as he forced himself to look forward.
His armour rattled as he adjusted his hip.
Hikari looked down again. An old wizard was standing before her, studying her intently.
Despite his dainty appearance, she could sense a tremendous amount of mana within his misleadingly frail body.
"Ho! Ho! Ho!" he began a laugh, stroking his silver beard that extended down to his legs.
"Ho! Ho! Ho!" he turned and walked away, continuing to stroke his beard.
"Oh, time to change in my heels."
Hikari placed her heels on the ground before her. Her wyvern skin boots broke into pieces.
She stacked them neatly in a pile behind her.
The sound of armour clankering to her left as the stench from her march from the RazenHeir estate was released.
Several exclamations were heard on either side.
"Socks on? Nope, I think my lady says no socks."
Likewise, the pieces of her socks peeled off and were stacked alongside the wyvern skin pieces.
The sun has set.
The bright white lantern light shone on her bare skin as she raised her foot in the air before her and wriggled her toes.
They felt stiff after marching for half a day in her boots.
Beads of sweat on the skin sparkled in the light as her sock as usual was not able to absorb it all.
She slid her foot onto the heels.
It felt good. Though not as absorbent as a pair of fresh socks, the surface felt cool and dry.
She lifted her other foot and did the same.
The straps criss-crossed over her foot.
Tap! Tap! She made sure that they were nice and tight.
She looked up and stood straight.
A small crowd has gathered in the courtyard where she stood guard. Murmurs were heard.