"Papa?"

No response.

I peek into his bedroom, but he's not in there. I climb down the stairs and look around the main room, but he's still nowhere to be found. He's not in the home at all.

It's early in the morning and is has been a week since Cain and Abel left the village. It is getting colder now, and some snow has fallen since. I walk up to the door and peek outside. A fresh small blanket of snow is covering the ground and it sparkles in the rising sunlight streaming through the trees.

I step outside and wonder towards the open field. I run through the gate and I find Papa alone at the end where the rolling hills begin on the other side. You can see the castle from this view.

I start to approach him as my feet crunch with every step over the snow. Papa turns to look at me when I get near, but doesn't respond and turns back around. I slow down when I step by his side and I watch the castle with him for a moment. The sunlight hits the side of the castle just right and the black towers shine brightly with red tops.

The castle is beautiful. I always forget how close we are to it. Papa mentioned King Zeke passed away. So, who is the King now? I hope he is as kind as the one Papa served. Maybe if I go there, to the castle after I learn to fight, I will find Cain and Abel.

"Katarina,"

I turn to look at him, but he does not look back. He just stays looking forward towards the castle with his arms behind his back in a pose I would expect a Knight to stand in, "Y—Yes, Papa?"

"Why do you want to learn the lance,"

My mouth opens slightly but nothing comes out right away. I look at him for another moment, "W—Well, I don't want Cain or Abel to have to keep babying me, Papa..."

He just stands there motionless, without movement at all, "Is that really the reason, Katarina?"

His voice sounds slightly cold, emotionless, but I ignore how that makes me feel, "N—No, not exactly," I pause for a moment and start to play with the edge of my sweater, "I—I wish to find Cain and Abel, Papa... I wish to see them again,"

He continues to stand there motionless for another moment. At first, I don't think he is going to say anything at all. Did I say something wrong? What is it they left for and why am I not allowed to know?

Papa slowly turns to look at me and he studies me for what feels like an eternity. His dull, blue eyes are on mine now and they keep my gaze, "Do you not believe what I said, Katarina? Do you not have faith that you will see them again?"

I am almost too shocked to react at all to his confusing words, "W—What do you mean, Papa? O—Of course I b— "

He spins around abruptly and completely faces me now, "If you believe them, then you would see no need to learn the lance, child! Cain, Abel and I will protect you! There is nothing you need to worry about!"

I am completely speechless to the strange words escaping Papa's mouth as I look back at him. I do not want to argue with him. I do not want to anger him or upset him. He seems to worry about me more than I give him credit for.

I look away, back towards the castle, "I'm sorry, Papa,"

When he does not answer me right away, I think I said the wrong thing again. But I keep looking at the castle, not sure what to think or do now. Does he expect me to sit around here and do nothing?

"Katarina... look at me, child,"

I slowly look up at him and his eyes have softened since the last time I saw them a few moments ago. He reaches down to my hands and grabs both of them in his, "Fight for what you believe in! If that is truly what you wish, then don't let me stop you... please. Show me what my daughter can do. Show me how strong she really is hiding behind those beautiful purple eyes of hers,"

I now see what Papa is doing. He was testing me just then. I narrow my gaze at his and nod. He slowly smiles down at me.

"That's my girl. You have your mother's eyes, you know. Strong and purple hers were too,"

He looks away but continues holding my hands in his. He pulls me close to him and he holds me in an embrace, "Show me how well I have taught you, Katarina..."

Papa's voice lowers to a whisper, "I don't wish to lose you too... how I lost your mother,"

I tighten my grip on him as I focus on the castle in the distance, my voice also lowered to a whisper, "You won't lose me, Papa. But what if I don't see them again. You know this as well as I do that they could be wrong. I have to go to. But I don't know where they went,"

"What if you are wrong too, Katarina?"

"I have to try, Papa. You taught me to fight what I believe in, yes? This is it,"

He pulls away and studies me for a moment, with no emotion showing at all on his face, "I see so much in you that I also saw in him,"

"Him?"

Papa shakes his head and looks away, "Do not mind that, child. It was nothing,"

He stares off at the castle once again. I look at it too, "Papa, why do you not want me to learn the lance,"

"I worry about you, Katarina,"

"But I can do it. Why don't you train me then?"

"I am not training you, Katarina,"

"Then let me leave the village!"

Papa turns his head and looks at me, "You are too young, Katarina!"

I turn and look back at him, "Too young for what, Papa? I am not that much younger than Cain or Abel! Where did they go that I cannot go?"

He looks away again and says nothing.

I place my hands on my hips, "You know where they went, don't you?"

He still says nothing.

I give up and turn away. I cross my arms over my chest and look around the field behind us. This field is the field I grew up in. This village means so much to me. But what will come of me if I stay here and wait? What if those thieves come back again. They will bring more of them if they do. Papa cannot fight forever.

I sigh softly. Maybe when I am older he will let me leave. But that might be too late.

"I'm sorry, my dear," Papa says softly, "That is enough for today,"

Papa goes silent and says no more. He just continues to stare at the castle.

"I'm going home," I say softly as I start to walk away.

I take a good look at the field as I pass through it and slowly approach the home. The sun has risen a bit in the sky since I woke. Before entering the home, I turn around and study the entrance to the village. I quickly turn around and enter the home before the tears start to fall.

I look over Papa's lance hanging up on the wall before climbing the stairs. It must be fate. The daughter of a knight will too become a knight.

Is that what I am meant to be?

What if I don't want to be a knight?