Courage in the Wine

【Beginning】
Geironul and Skogul were the princesses of Baldr, Kingdom of Spring. Geironul, being the elder sister, should be a role model for her younger sister Skogul. However, she always dozed off during class. On the contrary, Skogul was the elegant princess. She was also so intelligent that she learnt very quickly. Thus, their parents were proud of Skogul, but worried about Geironul.
The teachers and servants secretly criticized Geironul for not looking like a princess. Some even mocked her as a ‘wild child’. Geironul was aware of all their criticism, but she couldn't silence their mockery. After all, they weren't wrong. Knowing how people often praise her sister, Geironul was jealous. Later, she knew that an envoy would visit Baldr next week. She was determined to train herself into an elegant princess, hoping to create a new image for herself.
She spent days and nights revising what she had learnt in manner class: walking with a book on her head, using the cutlery in the right order, and practising dancing and greeting skills. Geironul was ready, ready to show everyone how much she had improved after her intense training.

【Before Battles】
The day the envoy arrived finally came. Geironul was so nervous that her whole body felt stiff and tense. She spent so much time practising dancing…
...but at the moment, she could only stand still like a wooden figure.

【Enemy Dialog】
The Royal family held a dinner banquet for the envoy. During her training, Geirunol memorized how to use the cutlery in the right order; however…
...due to nervousness, she forgot them all. When everyone was picking up the soup spoon, she was the only one who picked up the dinner spoon.

【After Battles】
At the end of the banquet, the envoy asked Geironul to dance with him.
Everything was fine at the beginning, but it was until she took the wrong step did she trip and fall.

【End】
Geironul fell onto the floor and tore her dress a bit. The guests around her began to whisper and jeer at her. The envoy walked up to her and helped her up. Mocked by everyone, it became obvious that Geironul was scared. She looked at her parents and sister and saw that her parents looked disgusted…Geironul assumed her parents were wondering why on Earth they gave birth to such a humiliating daughter.
The sound of mockery became louder and louder, as if it was completely echoing around her. She couldn’t help but burst into tears and run to her room.

Geironul: I can never be perfect like Skogul… I can’t even be a proper princess…

Geironul: Well, why bring me into this world then?

【Beginning】
In order to show everyone that she could be an elegant princess like her sister, Geironul deliberately practised everything she learned in manner class. To her surprise, she made a lot of mistakes and everyone laughed at her. She even embarrassed her parents…She couldn’t help but lose confidence in herself.
She even questioned why she was born a princess. She locked herself in her room until she calmed herself down. When everyone stopped talking about her behind her back, she opened the door and stepped out of her room.
Geironul didn’t speak to her parents. The tension in the atmosphere was palpable as the family remained silent throughout the whole meal. As they finished their meal, the King of Baldr said,

King of Baldr: Geironul, I don’t want you to embarrass me ever again.

Geironul remained silent with her head down. The King couldn’t resist but yell at her,

King of Baldr: Geironul! Did you hear what I said?

Geironul: Embarrass, embarrass, embarrass…You always think I’m an embarrassment!

Geironul: Have you ever noticed how hard I’ve tried? Have you ever thought about how I feel?

She slammed the table, stood up, and yelled at her parents. She had always suppressed her anger but now she could hold it in no more. The King and Queen were shocked by her outburst as they'd never seen their daughter behave like this. Geironul tore her dress into a skirt and then strode out of the castle, rode her brown horse, and left the castle without looking back.

【Before Battles】
Geironul wandered around the forest. The cold winter and withered trees were an exact representation of her emotions.
Suddenly, she heard strange noises nearby. She crept around to see what was happening.
An old man was brandishing a spear that had flowers growing on its shaft.

【End】
To Geironul, the old man brandishing a spear looked like a beautiful moving picture. His movement was powerful yet fine and Geironul thought he was mesmerizing. All of a sudden, the old man jumped up and threw his spear to the ground. The leaves on the ground drifted into the air and floated down again. While Geironul was watching the falling leaves, the old man cried,

Old Man: If you want to see it, come over here to see it. Why peep like a thief?

Geironul: Sorry…I don’t want to disturb you, so I peeped from behind…

Knowing that she had already exposed herself, she simply stepped out from the bush and excitingly asked the old man,

Geironul: I've never seen skills like yours nor have I seen a spear this special! Why do flowers grow on the shaft? Why do you brandish your spear differently.

Old Man: The shaft of a spear originates from a piece of wood. So, why is it surprising if flowers grow on it?

Old Man: We develop spear skills to protect people. As everyone wants to protect different people, why are my skills special if it's different from others?

Old Man: Whatever you do, as long as you remember why you started, you will never lose your way. This goes the same for everything.

While the old man spoke, he passed his spear to Geironul. With a smile, he asked,

Old Man: How is it? Want to try it?

Suddenly, Geironul's parents and teachers' teachings and reminders popped into her mind. ‘Princesses should not use weapons. Princesses should not stride. Princesses should not make noises when eating…’
However, at that moment, looking at the spear in front, she just wanted to brandish it. She decided to ignore all those teachings and reminders, she decided to pick the spear up and brandish it. She never thought that playing with spear would be this fun. Looking at her shadow as she brandished the spear, she realized it was a moment without any pressure or comparison. She couldn't help but realize that she had discovered who she was meant to be.
That night, she shared this special experience with Skogul. Until this moment, she still couldn't believe what she was experiencing wasn't a dream.

【Beginning】
Since the day Geironul stormed out of the castle and met the spear brandishing old man, she sneaked out every day after class to learn about the spear with the old man. As she brandished the spear, Geironul started to pick herself up bit by bit. She loved playing with the spear while she spent time figuring out what's the meaning of her life.
One day, the old man was teaching her a new move. It had always been easy for Geinorul to learn new moves in the past, but this time she couldn't master it. She was doing the right moves, but could never hit the ground as powerful as the old man did. Geironul became filled with anxiety…At that moment, the old man took out a strange bottle from his waist and passed it to her.

Old Man: Drink it!

Geironul hesitated for a while, but she still took the bottle and finished the drink. It tasted bitter. Warmth rose from her stomach to her throat, and all the way to her head. She started to feel excited and there was only one thing on her mind: to brandish the spear as much as she wants! Her body felt lighter and became more sensitive, as if she was dancing on clouds.

Geironul: What is this? I've never had a drink this fantastic.

Old Man: This is wine. It’ll help you forget your troubles for the time being, but you shouldn’t drink too much of it.

Since then, Geironul worked even harder on practising the spear. She also became addicted to wine, enjoying the brief silence it brought her. In that world, she was no longer a ‘princess’. She could be herself and do whatever she wanted. She felt like she didn’t belong to the palace and shouldn't attend her usual courses either. She started to rebel…

【Before Battles】
As Geironul knew the palace wasn't the place for her and all those princess lessons weren't for her, she started paying less attention to them.
Geironul's attitude created hostility between her and Skogul. In the end, the sisters argued.

【Enemy Dialog】

Skogul: I know you’re not doing well in these courses, but these are things we as princesses need to know! You can’t be this irresponsible!

Geironul: You really think you're that intelligent? Smart enough to look down upon your own sister?

Geironul: You are nothing but a sheltered child, you can’t even live a day alone outside the palace!

【After Battles】
Geironul knew she said something wrong, but what was done could not be undone.
Upon seeing Skogul cry and leave the room, Geironul was full of regret.

【End】
After Skogul left, Geironul stayed in her room, regretting everything she said to her sister. Filled with anxiety, she rode her horse, left the castle, and headed toward the forest. She brandished her spear for a whole day and drank countless bottles of wine.
However, this time the alcohol couldn't wash away her troubles. When she returned home at night, she saw the King standing in her room. Shattered glass was all over the floor…Just when Geironul wanted to say something, the King raged,

King of Baldr: You disappointed me! You’re not elegant like Skogul and now you’re learning how to use a spear and drinking wine?

Geironul: I know I'm not elegant! All of you don't like me! Why even bother giving birth to me? I'll only embarrass you!

The King of Baldr slapped her. A red palm print appeared on Geironul’s face. Both of them went silent and only the sound of their heavy breathing was heard. After a long period of silence, the King said,

King of Baldr: No more wine and spear practising from now on! Do me a favour and learn how to be an elegant princess!

Geironul: This is my life, my fate. I should be making the decisions!

Geironul reached out her hand, wanting to take back her spear. As the two of them were fighting for the spear, they accidentally broke it. The spear broke in half and the flowers on it withered…Geironul squatted down crying and brought the broken spear close to her chest. The King left her room and ordered the servants to confine her in her room until she had learned from her mistakes…

【Beginning】
Skogul told the King about her sister's love for wine and learning the spear. As a result, Geironul lost everything she loved. The King locked Geironul in her room as punishment for her disobedience. She spent every second staring at her broken spear and after she was locked in her room, her heart felt empty. It was as if she had lost her mind and soul. She no longer knew her life's purpose.
Everything angered her. However, she was angrier at herself, for her inability and cowardice. She did not speak to anyone. She caged herself in her own world and surrounded herself with sadness. Even before the King needed to leave for his military inspection and came to her room to bid her farewell, she didn't care. Even after the King unlocked the door to her room, she still refused to leave her room and locked the door again.
After a while, Skogul told Geironul that their father was surrounded by the Demons. He couldn't escape from the Demons’ encirclement… Looking at her broken spear, Geironul recalled her first encounter with the old man. The old man said taking up the spear is for protecting people. The kingdom Baldr and her irreplaceable family were always the things she wanted to protect. Therefore, she opened her door and led Skogul and the cavalry to save the King.
Since she often came to the forest to learn the spear with the old man, she was familiar with the forest. It did not take her long to find the tunnel that connected to the cave where the King was located. Geironul and the King finally met in the cave, but they weren't happy for long as the Demons realized that they were going to sneak out from the other end of the tunnel and began chasing them.
Fortunately, Skogul thought of a smart strategy to destroy the cave walls by using rainwater. The Demon army could no longer continue their pursuit.

Skogul: It was you, my sister, who saved father…

Geironul: If you weren't here, we couldn’t have stopped the Demons.

Skogul: I’m sorry, my sister…I shouldn’t have told father your secrets.

Geironul: I should also apologize. I shouldn’t have said hurtful things to you.

Just as they thought they were safe, numerous hands broke through the soil! The stone wall collapsing didn't kill all of the Demons. Some Gnomes were lucky to survive…

【Before Battles】

Geironul: Skogul, stay behind me. Those who have weapons, join me at the front!

【Enemy Dialog】

Skogul: Sister! Watch out! Behind you!

【After Battles】

Geironul: So troublesome!

【End】
The Gnomes were still emerging from the soil. Geironul knew everyone was out of energy. It looked like they were at an disadvantage if the battle lasted any longer. She grabbed a soldier's spear from the ground, leaped and flipped in the sky.
Without any hesitation, she then plunged the spear into the ground with all her might. As the spear powerfully hit the ground, cracks formed, while all the Gnomes were severely injured and appeared from the soil. Even the spear in her hand could not withstand the impact and broke into pieces.
The remaining Demons were either scared off or waited for their death in the crater. As they were victorious, Geironul, Skogul, and all the other soldiers were so exhausted that they all sat on the ground. Meanwhile, their backup finally arrived and escorted them back to Baldr…
In this battle, Geironul’s bravery and Skogul’s intelligence rescued the King of Baldr and saved the Kingdom. Everyone looked at Geironul differently. They believed that as long as she could serve the Kingdom and its citizens, she was a competent princess. All those princess manners were just unnecessary customs and restrictions.

Geironul: Father, where are you taking me?

King of Baldr: Just follow me.

The King led Geironul to the secret chamber underground. All of Baldr's good wine were stored there. She was surprised to enter the chamber and see all her wine, initially thinking that her father destroyed them all.

King of Baldr: Wine should be stored this way to maintain its quality. Of course, you cannot drink them until you’re an adult.

Geironul: Thank you father.

When Geironul returned to her room, she noticed her spear wasn't broken! The flowers on the shaft were blooming again! She was so happy that she took the spear to the garden and brandished it. The trees in the garden were full of leaves and grass was growing again. The cold winter went by and spring arrived. It was a new beginning.