Chapter One.

They say a great kingdom is one where the king works arduously, but the people are happy. He works burdensome, during the day, sleeps even lesser by night. All of this efforts, worthy though. Because the people are happy. And the king was fulfilled.

His kingdom, a hearth where there is a steady supply of fire fueled by the breath of relief from the villagers, everyone of them. A stranger who is just new to the land could even say it was a magical city where it's rulers were powerful sorcerers and kind hearted fairies. It's land is peaceful and it's people, happy.

The magical city of incessant happiness, that was what the Central City used to be. That was what King Conrad used to make the Central City be like before. Until darkness swept foot into the peaceful land and bartered it with catastrophes and series of affliction. When he died, the City died along with him. 

Only hope and something even greater than hope, can restore balance into this land once again.

****

"So," Fiora finally came out of the shadows after watching Sif for minutes now. Something was on his mind, she's been watching him up close now for days. She saw him bring his gaze up and stared at her as she advanced forward from the ajar door. "Talk to me." She asked casually. Sif was her other half, if other halves existed. There was a way their souls just intertwined, and she would even say she was in love with him. But unfortunately, he only saw her as his sister.

"For how long have you been standing out there?" Puzzled Sif asked.

"Me? No way. I certainly just arrived, you inquisitive old man." She scoffed. He just rolled his eyes and continued on minding his business. Awkward silence filled the room before Fiora decided to break it. "Gregoria already prepared-"

"I'm quite busy, Fiora. If you don't mind?" Sif interrupted. They weren't always like that before. As kids, they were the best of friends. Although Sif was a few years older than she was, it didn't mattered to them. He always respected her, they had fun together, they even shared their first kiss. But as they grew older, Fiora noticed him with all kinds of complicated behaviors. He became more cold towards her, and things just weren't how they used to be anymore. Especially since the dark tragedy that struck her nine years back, when she had to be away for four years. A couple of years back when she returned, he'd already had a baby sister and life hadn't been so lonely for her anymore.

"You're always busy, you know that." She pointed out, even though she knew that he already knows. It was never easy to accept, the intense feeling of disgust he feels every time she was around him. It was heart aching. "But I can tell something is on your mind this time." She continued after he ignored. "Something sad. Something distressing. Why won't you say something?" 

"Because you are so brainless that you know absolutely nothing that's going on!" He flared out and that was quite unusual. Sif wasn't the type to yell when he was upset. He was hardly even upset. Just cold.

"Then make me understand-"

"You can't. Forget I mentioned anything at all." He rose up and walked out the door. When he got to where she was, he stared directly straight to her, and for a moment, Fiora hoped he would say something, but he just transfer his gaze down to the ground and walked away. 

Happiness is not the absence of problems, it’s the ability to deal with them. Sif was hardly happy, and she just wanted to help. She missed her friend and wanted to save him from the heavy wave of despair that had taken over his heart. Morosely, she sank in misery as she frowned on how helpless she'd become. 

"Fiora dear," Gregoria called from behind and worriedly mentioned she'd been calling out her name for a number of times and heard no replies. "Are you alright?"

"Yes I'm fine, Gregoria. Please don't worry too much." She forced out a cheer smiled.

"If you say so. Have you had breakfast yet? I've been done in the kitchen hours ago." 

"I haven't, but I will soon." Fiora assured. "I was just worried about Sif. He's been acting a bit worrisome." She confessed and watched Gregoria's face change completely to a horror. "Gregoria? Please tell me what is wrong." She rushed down to where Gregoria was standing and held both her hands tight, not taking off her intense worry gaze off her eyes.

"Er- Fiora, n...nothing-"

"Gregoria, you have to trust me. Please." She insisted head on.

"I- I'm, sor... I'm sorry." Gregoria pleaded and begged Fiora not to bring up such question again, but Fiora wouldn't just listen. She was desperately in need of an answer. She wasn't a member of the family. Yes, her father was the late King Conrade. She's the last blood of the Lancasters and these kind people were not here family. But they saved her for a reason. She deserved to know at least when a danger was arriving. It just wasn't her fault her father died. She was still alive and she needed answers. Why was Sif who was one time very close to her, suddenly now cold to her? Why wouldn't he tell her what the trouble was? Why wouldn't Gregoria explain what crises they were facing at hand? 

She needed answers.

Before she could further convince her, Gregoria's husband, the once high and strong Sir Clement walked in to stop her. He was a retired Knight, but he was still everything he used to be years ago— powerful, big, strong, only thing that gave him away to old age were the bit of wrinkles around his handsome well defined face. His once black and shinny hair also for gathered with straps of grey hair. "We need to leave now, my love." His patched lips curled up into a weary smile, then immediately disappeared. He was on his fancy robe, he even smelled nicer and reeked less of sweats and greasy meat. Fiora instantly knew where he would be leaving for. 

"You're heading to the bloody damn palace again, aren't you?" Anger filled up Fiora's face and she wasn't the type that got annoyed so easily.

"Gregoria? Hurry up now." He lashed at her, and she ran towards him. With one aggressive stare as a command, Gregoria rushed outside.

"What is wrong with you-"

"Yes. You might be the Queen of this kingdom, but without me, you'd be long dead." He scolded. Fiora could not help but feel disgusted by his statement. He was always so full of himself that she wondered what her father saw in a person like him. "You will mind your business, and I won't have to mention what happened eleven years ago."

"If you mentioned, you would die in the hands of that evil witch-"

"So would you." He boasted. "Listen here child, you are causing us a lot of trouble just by being here. Don't we deserve at at least some bit of rewards?" He demanded. "We risk our lives every day, just for you to be alive-"

"You treat me like a goddamn prisoner! Why won't you just let me die then, huh!" 

"How can you even say something like that?" He questioned but it only sounded like a whisper. "Listen to me, I don't have time for your bratty behavior this morning." He turned around and began to leave. "And stay out of trouble today!" He warned without even looking back. Fiora watched till he walked out and shut the door.

Just like that, she was all alone again. It was a never ending period of her life that she just wished would stop someday. Sif usually left for combat training, then he wouldn't come back until it was nightfall. Clement would leave for the palace, usually with Gregoria behind him. It used to be just her and Randi before but she'd been with her Aunt for weeks now. The last time Fiora had gotten in trouble with some locals, Clement had punished her by taking Randi away. 

Fiora's been banned from leaving the house. Maybe if she was on her best behavior, she could explore the city at nightfall, when lesser people roamed the village. She would return at dawn break before the hunters and farmers left for their duties. She saw no difference between her and a prisoner. 

"It's for your own protection." Clement had explained millions of times. Although there were quite a number of times when she had disobeyed and went out to relate with people, Clement would threaten to send her out of the Central City to a far away land full of warriors, she'd turn a deaf ear and Clement would threaten again. It went on for two years, then one night, some men abducted her and after journeying for months, she found herself in the midst of warriors just as Clement had promised. She was only fourteen then, and it wasn't until she turned eighteen before Clement took her back in. Four years of horror taught her never to question Clement's authority again. She slept and cowered in the shadows for two whole years. Randi was already three years old by the time she returned, so it was always the two of them. It was also after she'd returned that she noticed Sif's cold behavior towards her. She knew it must have had something to do with Clement.

She was tired of sitting all alone at home in the tiny room. Her whole life was more than running and hiding. She needed to be free. But she just couldn't. She slowly fell to the ground and a tear of disappointment ran down her cheek. "I'm sorry father. I'm a shame to the Lancasters. I should have just died that night." She sobbed and felt her own voice choked her. "I should have just died that night."

****

There were various kinds of people that existed. The ones who had beautiful souls, a heart of steel. Those who were beautiful, but with rotten souls, evil and malicious ones. Some others were diligent and sedulous, and would survive any stormy weather and fed well for themselves and their family. Even the languid feeble men existed. 

And then, there was Aiden, son of Baron Daegal. Aiden was a lot of things; he was physically attractive with a roguish appeal, bold when necessary, a charm speaker to the ladies(sometimes even men) of the city,   he was also one of those sons who were always a disappointment to their fathers. His father always called him a bitter pill. Baron Daegal, when it came to the almighty rulers of the realm, was the second most powerful Nobels that controlled the city. He had lands all around the kingdoms, and local lords with allegiance sworn to him in return for food and lands. He was once a peaceful man, back in the good old days when he had not been betrothed to his wife, and most especially when his affliction of a son hadn't been born. Aiden had once heard him said when he was asked by one of his subjects what his greatest regret was. 

You couldn't blame Aiden him though. It was hard to be this greatness of a son for someone like Daegal, who was never easy to please. Everything he'd ever done had been pronounced as a mistake by his father. So why not start living life to your own potentials instead?

Aiden was missing from home again, and words had been spread on the low by Daegal's men to find him. He knew he was in trouble this time. His father had wanted him to tie the knot with one Chief Makolo's daughter of some village in the opposite end of the Central City. Aiden had seen her some months back when they traveled down to their village after being invited for some important business, and then he had sworn never to get on the wrong side of her table. She was ten times bigger than he was, masculine big that is, that just one of her big hefty hand was about two and half of his. And he was the type that could easily be referred himself to a warrior. A strong healthy one at that. 

Little did he know that they had sealed their married deal for a trade of lands and golds. Chief Makolo had quite a fortune of those.

He made plans to run for his dear life, even though he knew it would not be up to a week before the local guards found him again. But he was not stupid. The Chief was a very impatient man and had asked his father that all arrangements be done under two days.

Aiden would not be found until one week has past.