Ashes and Stardust

Year 1700

With the wheel of fortune moving to weave new life for two divine souls by the will of Gods. However it was up to them to see how they would make good of this boon given to them. 

In the Kingdom of Luminear in the east side of the continent stood a beautiful castle as white as snow that shone under the light of the golden moon, a rare phenomenon almost making the structure look ethereal.

As peaceful as the scenic beauty looked from outside, inside it was filled with the painful screams of a queen who was ready to give birth. Exactly when the clock struck twelve, the scream of the woman died down and soft cries of a baby girl emerged. 

The royal midwife handed the baby to King Solan before hurrying to tend to the queen. The queen looked utterly exhausted, her breathing shallow and uneven. With blurry eyes she glanced towards her baby in her husband's arms, and saw that the child was glowing.

A soft, radiant light surrounded the infant, and despite her weakness, awe filled the queen's heart. A faint smile began to form on her lips as she took in the miraculous sight.

"Look my love, it's our daughter! She is glowing like a star" said King Solan, wide eyed and filled with disbelief.

"Call the priest from the temple right now. I want to know what is going on!" he ordered one of the maids urgently.

After a few minutes the priest entered the chamber dressed in white robe, adorned with a golden crest of a rising phoenix at the collar.. He had long silver hair and wise, silver eyes. He was beautiful and looked not more than his late thirties but in truth, he was seventy years old.

The priest bowed to the king and the queen and said " Your Majesty, may the Goddess of Light bless the birth of the princess in our lands."

"Septimus, my daughter is glowing like a star, do you have any idea what is the meaning of this? Asked Solan.

Septimus raised his head and fixed his wise silver eyes on the child cradled in King's arms.

"I do Your Majesty." He said. "Before you summoned me, I was already on my way here. The Goddess has spoken to me. The birth of the princess is not an ordinary event, as she carries the light of the goddess within her."

He paused, his voice lowering with reverence as he recited,

"When shadow falls and light grows dim,The twin divine flames shall rise again.Born asunder, bound by fate,Heavens shall blaze anew to guide the world once again."

He continued "This means that the princess has a twin flame out there who carries the will of gods. They are destined to meet, for only together can they save the world when darkness threatens to consume us once more."

The King and Queen were astonished to hear what Septimus said.

King Solan exclaimed "We must not let this get out of this room Septimus. If the word gets out that the princess carries the powers of the Goddess and poses a threat to those vile snakes who work in shadow, they will come after her life! No, I cannot let this happen! She must remain hidden till the time comes."

Septimus stated " Your Majesty I heed your words and vow to protect and guide the princess till her time comes."

Though Septimus said this he thought to himself for how long the truth as big as this can remain buried when destiny is at play and this castle had eyes and ears at every corner. He made the princess wear an amber locket blessed by the Goddess of light and told the King and Queen to never remove it in order to conceal the princess's powers from outsiders.

Years passed and the conversation that happened between the King, the Queen and the priest was concealed within the four walls of the chambers on that fateful night when the moon shone golden.

Year 1718

In a beautiful garden of Palace of Light which was surrounded with the snowy peaks sat a breathtaking woman in a flowy white gown with her long dark brown hair cascading down her back. Her blue eyes shone like jewels staring into the surface of water, seemingly in deep thought.

Her porcelain fair skin shone under the soft glow of the morning sun. Her hand played with the water in the pond surrounded by white stone pillars, abundant greenery and colourful flowers. Yet her mind saw nothing but replayed the conversation that took place with King Solan some time ago at the dining hall.

Some time ago..

Princess Evelyn Lumaeth Starforged, sat next to her younger step brother Prince Ryan Lumaeth Starforged, who had a smug look on his face. Her step mother and current queen of the Kingdom of Luminear, Queen Elara sat on her father's right pretending to mind her own business while eating her breakfast.

"Evelyn, you are going to be eighteen in a day and I have already made arrangements to have you sent to the reputed institution for your higher education." King Solan said in a nonchalant way like he was stating the weather report. 

Eve on the other hand stopped eating with the expression of shock on her face. She slowly raised her head and looked at the man who was supposed to be her father "What do you mean your Majesty?" she asked in a low voice but her eyes were full of questions.

The king answered with his unyielding gaze at her "The decision has already been made between me and your mother that it is best for you to experience the world outside and learn things to become a better princess to serve your people when the time comes. No need to look so shocked since this is where most of the royals and nobles children go to. You will be leaving for the Kingdom of Versailles to be enrolled in Blood Moon Academy." 

Hearing the name Blood Moon Academy made her throat dry and her brain started to spiral and she said without thinking "Bl-Blood moon Academy is filled with vampires, how will I survive there?!" she exclaimed in a voice that was in a higher pitch than intended and had an incredulous look on her face. 

This gave an opportunity to the Queen Elara to intervene "Princess Evelyn, where are your manners while speaking to Your Majesty? Is this what your etiquette teacher has been teaching you? This is why you need to go to that academy and learn to conduct yourself as a proper princess should." Elara's cold tone made her wince a little.

Evelyn lowered her gaze at her sharp words as always. She knew no one was going to step in to defend her here. She has been subjected to sharp words and quiet abuse throughout her life and her indifferent father never once stepped in or tried to know how she was treated by her step family in the palace.

Her real mother, the late Queen Selene had passed away after five days of giving birth to her as if her body was not able to sustain itself anymore. As a result her father blamed her for her mothers passing, silently accusing her for sucking all the life force out of her mother.

Since then she has been raised only by her mother's handmaiden Clair and guided by Septimus the high priest in the Temple of Goddess of Light.

Her indifferent father had remarried just a few months after her mother's passing, primarily to appease the public, which was on the verge of civil unrest. Queen Elara, his new wife, was a princess from the neighbouring Kingdom of Roseville. This political alliance only fueled the growing faction within the Kingdom of Luminear that supported Prince Ryan as the sole heir to the throne, even though Evelyn had the rightful first claim.

While the decision of who would inherit the crown had yet to be officially made, Queen Elara had already made up her mind. She had been scheming against Evelyn from the very beginning.

Queen Elara's schemed to send Evelyn away so that she can gain a better stronghold in the kingdom in her absence for her son.

"My apologies, Your Majesty, I didn't mean to raise my voice. I only meant to ask how can I, a Lumen, survive in a kingdom filled with vampires. Since they seek our blood more than a normal human." She asked in a slow careful manner while trying to calm down her erratic heartbeat at the thought of being surrounded by the vampires.

King Solan stared at her and said in a deep voice "The Blood Moon Academy has assured me that no accidents will happen during your period of stay. They have strict laws to regulate that all races stay there in peace and get the best education. This is the opportunity for you to prove to us and your people that you are willing to learn and brave yourself for the future of this Kingdom. I would suggest you start preparing because you will be leaving this afternoon."

Saying this King Solan got up and left without any room for argument. Followed by her step mother and brother who smirked at her plight.