Chapter 1 - Caspia.

As one time fades, another approaches quicker than the last; a golden shower of sunlight washes over the castle of Caspia.

Its navy blue crest flying high in the sky as cooling winds rush down from the crest of the towers spire, rapidly pooling into the peasant town.

A muddy wasteland of an ill and broken people, crushed by their past king and nasty living situation. Barely coping in the summer heat.

Before the cooling winds spread through the bottom ranks, and the flock begins to leave their homes.

All of them in bad shape, but smiles coating their faces regardless, getting on with their daily morning routines, the market place stocking its "fresh" food.

The maidens and mothers hang their clothes from their windows, airing out any laundry they can get their hands on.

Children running amuck through the filthy streets, laughing giddily, stealing mouldy apples and stale pastries.

Rickety wooden homes connecting to each other on ground floor, going up three floors and connecting with drawbridges in-between buildings.

A whole world under the royal eyes of Caspia, which seem to be dropping like flies by the minute, after the king died a year ago, Camilla and Camus Elffire was put in co-leadership roles.

A role neither of them wanted.

As the winds swept through the peasant streets, they continue to fly through the castle gates and over the drawbridge.

Where its journey comes to a close, joining the circulation of the woods outside castle grounds, rustling the bright mahogany trees as the leaves shone bright in the early sun.

A beautiful sight to behold every morning from her garden space, Camilla sat quietly with her roses as she strokes them softly.

A straight face and a lovely tune hummed in her throat with a familiar melody of Caspia, years old but she still remembers.

Even after her mothers death, she still hums the song...her favourite tavern tune to listen to from the towers windows.

One tune Major was familiar with, approaching her with a pleasant smile as he hums along with her...to her surprise.

"You know that tune? I thought you were a nobleman?" She asks him sweetly, an amused smirk curling at her lips.

"I've spent many a night in the towns taverns, the ale is shite but the company isn't terrible" he chuckles to himself as she simply continues gazing out into her kingdom.

A troubled stare bearing down on her as Major places his hand on her petite shoulder.

Her freckles folded as her brows crease in anger.

"I cant believe my father thought he had to right to treat his people this way...its sick"

"The king was a madman, no offence my lady"

"Don't apologise Major, you speak the truth" she whispers, with one last glance towards her kingdom she leaves her garden with Major high on her tail.

His armour rustles as he walks, being much taller than the princess he towered over her by at least 2 feet, her small frame barely made a sound next to him.

"My lady, Prince Camus requested you attend this mornings council meeting...he mentioned a man called Alister"

"Oh hells...why of all the places is that crude man here?"

"I suppose you shall find out soon, my lady"

Camilla's body language took a turn as she takes in a deep breath, straightening her tiara and flattening out her dress.

Major notices this, his brow creasing in concern for her, both of them stopping just outside the council hall.

"Princess...know I am only outside, call if you need my assistance"

"Thank you Major" she puts on a resolute face, hiding her discomfort and walking inside as Major sets up outside the door.

Camus sat in the head seat, staring intently toward Camilla with a silent disgust.

"Ahhhh, Princess Camilla Elffire...a pleasure as always~" Alister crawls from his seat next to Camus and approaches her with open arms.

The princess swiftly ducks under his motion and sits neatly, 3 seats away from her brother.

"There is no time for that, what is this matter about?" She says with a strict tone, Allister's frail figure seeping back into his seat.

His perverted eyes looking at the princess with no shame, cut off by her hand fan, blocking his view.

Camus stands from his seat and approaches the window, the curtain closes as a column of light fades through.

Staring deep into the cities heart.

"Camilla, this meeting is the first of many...now that Alister has arrived, ill let him break the news to you" Camus mutters.

Her head immediately snaps to Alister with a heavy boredom laying in her eyes.

"Um...well princess, the capital said that they expect results from Caspia in the coming months, something two people cant solve-"

She lifts her hand to prevent him from speaking.

"Let me guess, you want one of us to step down and take the crown"

"Y-yes...precisely" He quivers under her mighty gaze, the jewels in her hair lay perfectly as she stands

"How convenient" She bores Camus with her sarcasm, digging his nails into his palms, his knuckles turning white.

"You WILL back down Camilla, Caspia has never had a queen...you'd stick out like a sore thumb" He taunts her as she glides to the opposite side of the table.

"Oh please you've wanted dads crown the moment he died, have you no shame?!"

Her cries go unheard as he gazes down at his palms, the fingernail wounds slowly beginning to close, a green glow surrounding them.

A cunning smile spreading his face.

"I've had to listen to yours and fathers drivel for years, now its my turn sister~"

He proceeds to mutter to Alister as Camilla starts boiling with rage, her ears turning red.

"Major!" She calls as he busts into the room, his stoic face staring into the distance, completely focused on duty.

"Yes my lady?"

"Please escort Alister to his carriage, my brother needs some sense before he gets himself killed" she hisses as Major approaches Alister.

The smaller man breaking a sweat, leaving his seat and following the commander.

The siblings stood in silence until their footsteps fade out, allowing Camus to get in his sisters face. A scary look on his face that sent shivers up her spine.

But she stood her ground.

"You are playing with fire Camilla, and you can guess what'll happen if you continue to press me"

"Is that a threat? You really are an Elffire, maybe you should consider your words Cam"

"Hypocrite, just like mom, you never saw it from mine and dads view"

"That's because you were both sycophantic idiots! mad with the power and you encouraged it!" Camilla's last word sends her fleeing for the door.

But using magic he hasn't shown before, he shifts into a plume of green smoke...aparating right in front of her, shock painted her face.

Backing away slowly from her brother in fear.

"You...you're a mage..." he mutterings send him into a fit of laughter.

"You idiot, I'm no mage...just a very big reader~" he says floating over to her on his smoke clouds.

"So this is what you hope for Caspia? That's black magic Camus!"

"I know, and its positively delightful~"

With her eyes alight with fear, she pushes past her brother and escapes into the hallway away from him.

Lifting up her dress to run up the stairs, tripping up on her heels, looking behind her to see her brother slowly making his way to her. Raging black magic firing up in his hands, intimidating his sister with a sinister smile as a snake shoots from his hand.

Slithering in her direction chasing after her.

"Stop it!" Her screams go unheard, her hands trembling as she looks back once more. The snake was changing as it followed its prey.

Slowly getting bigger than before, its hiss echoed after the fleeing princess.

Gaining speed as she takes off her heels, sprinting in her bare feet towards the nearest room approaching a hallway of doors.

Going for safety, the doors all close one after another as Camilla reaches them, Camus laughs triumphant.

"You cant escape my basilisk Sister!!" He projects his voice all around her, disorienting her just as the basilisk approaches.

Opening its mouth as its huge fangs drip with venom.

"Princess!!"

Out of nowhere, Major runs into the corridor, drawing his sword bravely against the snake.

He swings at it with all his might, slashing at its fang, chopping one off cleanly.

It roars upwards in the air in pain, exposing it weak spot for Major to cut down, its fabricated body bursting into a black fire, its body turning to ash.

Camilla clutches her chest, panting for air as Major sheaths his sword checking in on her.

His face calm and collected.

"Did it hurt you? How did it get in the castle?"

"Its my brother, he's learned black magic!"

Majors face turns pale with grief, bring his hand to stroke his own chin.

"My lady, we must leave the castle at once"

"But this is my home?!".

"It'll be your grave if we don't, your brother fabricated an entire basilisk out of nothing, he'll kill you and anyone else who stands against him" Major speaks in a tone the princess hadn't heard before.

Giving her an order like one of his soldiers.

"I...alright-"

"Good, and I have the perfect distraction to help us escape unseen"

She looks at him doubtful, before thinking the same.

"The raid...of course" she says with a mischievous grin.

"When Stoxwoods creatures attack it'll be the perfect time to escape."

They both nod to each other, going over the plan two to three times. Knowing if they fail, they die.

.

.

.

In a lowly tavern early in the evening, the bright gold fading into a gorgeous purple sky, stars slowly beginning to form.

The drunks sweep out of the bar with swaying grace, some falling flat into the shit on the floor, and some made it farther than two feet.

Which is a record in this city.

But one man was on his way towards the out of bounds area around the city walls. Generously singing aloud for his patrons to hear.

Most of them shutting their windows and doors, exiling him from attention.

Getting bored he proceeds to a hole in the gate, falling through as he yells in pain, bashing his head on the floor along with the bottle in his hand.

An upset whimper coming from his mouth as he cries, speaking his native tongue in a drunken rage, throwing the broken bottle deep into the Stoxwood.

Hearing a pained scream from inside, a woman's scream.

In his dull mind, he gets an idea and walks into the pitch black forest alone as a distant horn sounds in Caspia.

After a small amount of wandering, he comes across a woman laying on the floor, clutching her hand as blood dripped on the forest floor.

The broken bottle shard laying nearby.

"You alright love?" The man asks as he approaches, the woman wore a lace dress in full white...her entire naked body could be seen.

The man hesitated before looking around, then kneeling down beside her, her crying stops as she looks at the drunken fool.

Her eyes are like planets inside a cosmic universe, twinkling colours and shines that it distracted him for what seemed like hours.

"Maaaaaaaaaaan~" her voice was silk as her wound completely disappeared into thin air, climbing atop the mans lap as he gulps in anticipation.

Her mouth nearing close to his ear.

"Take it off~" she whispers as he obeys, taking off his shirt, exposing his matted hairy chest...the woman's hair floating in the air like its in water.

The woman grabs his hands placing them on her supple breasts, the man closing his eyes as he gives in to his temptation as she pins his other hand down.

Touching her all over her body as she kisses him with a gentle peck, he moans before opening his eyes to see her true form, his eyes widening in fear as he attempts to separate.

His mouth stretching beyond its limits, breaking at the seams, his muffled cries unheard as her figure changes rapidly.

Her eyes graying as the skin hardened into scales, her jaw unlocking as her sharp fangs bite into his skull...crushing his head in one swift crunch.

Standing from the body with a hideous screech.

His dead body feasted on by the monster as several more flock towards Caspia.

The lanterns on top of the wall shine bright as thousands of castle guards rally at the top, their bows drawn at the charging horde of monsters.

Second in command, Charles Accrington, holds his fist up in the air as he waits for the perfect timing.

More and more of the creatures swarm the wall pounding on the cobblestone as a few begin climbing it.

"Fire!" Charles bellows as the archers let loose a rain of arrows on the creatures, few falling from the weak shots as a couple break through.

Slashing razor claws through multiple soldiers as the surrounding stab their swords into them, ash flying through the night air.

Creatures bursting into colorful flames of red orange and green.

Human blood coated the walls of Caspia like spilt wine, and amidst their chaotic battle against the creatures of Stoxwood.

Princess Camilla and three other royal guards leave through a dangerous secret entrance in the side of the castle wall, just over the cliff side Caspia sat on.

Cornered by the dead wood.

"Where are we to go now?" She asks with uncertainty, Major standing close to her.

"Through the Stoxwood, the creatures will be occupied with their assault on Caspia" he admits as her eyes flit to the carnage by the gate.

"I do hope they manage this raid without you Major"

"Charles is a fine soldier, he'll lead my men to glory..." he said with a confident tone, but inside he was worried for the city.

But his only priority was Camilla, escorting her into the woods...fading into the darkness with her and his men.

Heading straight into the unknown.

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