Chapter 1: The Sky-Lover

Chapter One: The Sky-Lover

Montreal, Canada — Late Autumn

In the quiet neighborhood at the edge of the forest, where golden leaves covered the garden path and chimneys breathed smoke into the cold, my sister and I played behind the house.

Ellyn sat in her wooden chair, swinging her legs, her silver-white hair glowing in the late afternoon sun. Her cheeks were rosy from the cold, but her smile was all spring. She held three candies in her hand, shining like little jewels.

"One... Two... Three! I have three candies. How about you, Al?" she asked, bright-eyed.

I sat cross-legged on the grass. My fingers were small, and I counted carefully. "I have three too," I said after comparing.

We had gotten them from Dad after helping with the leaves. Or, mostly Ellyn helped. I just followed her around with the rake, and she said that counted.

She lifted her hand suddenly, pointing to a shiny striped one I hadn't noticed before. "But Al, what about this extra candy? Hmm… I know!" She jumped to her feet, her eyes twinkling. "Let's do a race! The finish line is that tree over there!" She pointed to the old maple by the fence. "First one to touch it wins-y!"

Before I could nod, she dashed off across the courtyard, giggling. That was Ellyn—faster than her words, lighter than the wind.

I stood and ran after her. My laughter bubbled up, warm in my chest. I knew I couldn't win, but I wanted to try.

Then—

My foot hit something hard beneath the grass.

A stone.

Pain shot through my knee as I stumbled forward, landing awkwardly with both knees smacking the ground.

I froze.

For a moment, the pain throbbed quietly.

Then… the tears came.

Not loudly. Not like Ellyn cried, with hiccups and noise. I cried the way I always did—silently. My lips didn't move. My shoulders didn't shake. But tears welled up in my eyes and spilled down anyway.

"El?" I heard Ellyn's voice behind me, softer now.

I didn't answer. I didn't want her to see.

She stopped next to me, crouched down, and peered under my hair. "Al… are you okay?"

Still, no answer.

I didn't know what to say. The pain wasn't that bad now. But something inside me felt heavier than just a bruise.

Suddenly, Ellyn stood and turned. "Mom! Al's crying!" she yelled toward the house.

I heard her footsteps running away.

I didn't want her to call Mom. But at the same time… I kind of did.

=====

Flora's Point of View

I was folding the twins' laundry when I heard Ellyn's voice. The sound of urgency in it made my heart leap.

I dropped the cloth and ran out the door barefoot.

Ellan sat in the middle of the garden, knees bent, face lowered.

"El?" I knelt beside him and gently placed my arms around his small shoulders.

He leaned into me without a word.

"Ellan, what happened?" I asked, brushing the hair from his eyes.

"My knees hurt," he whispered.

The scrapes were small, but I knew this wasn't only about scraped knees.

I scooped him into my arms and brought him inside.

=====

Ellan's Point of View

The warmth of the kitchen made the sting worse at first. But Mom's arms felt safe. She sat me on the counter and cleaned my knees with a cloth dipped in warm water.

The liquid smelled like herbs—minty and floral, like her garden teas. It tingled as she pressed it gently against the bruises.

Ellyn stood on the porch, watching with her rabbit in her arms. She looked sad. I didn't want her to feel bad. I looked up at her and gave a tiny nod.

Mom put a bandage over the worst scrape and kissed the top of my head. "There. My brave boy."

I didn't feel very brave. But I smiled anyway.

=====

That Night

The stars came out while the house settled into silence.

Ellyn had fallen asleep quickly, her rabbit tucked beneath her chin. Dad had turned off the lights and gone to bed, but I stayed awake, listening to the quiet.

I tiptoed up to the attic and climbed through the hatch onto the flat rooftop.

The cold air kissed my cheeks, and the wind tugged gently at my hair.

Above me, the sky stretched wide and dark, dotted with stars. Some were pale silver. Some flickered faint red.

I sat with my knees pulled to my chest, just watching. I liked the sky more than anything. It made me feel small in a way that didn't hurt.

I didn't know why, but I felt like the sky remembered me.

People might call me strange. Or shy. Or even weak.

One day, they might call me something else.

But for now… I gave myself a name, the only name that made sense.

Sky-lover.

=====

Drevara – Far Beyond the Sky

Flora's Dream

I don't know how I saw it.

Maybe it was Mom's dream.

Maybe it was mine.

A grand palace stood in shadow. Its five towers stretched into a sky of twilight and stars. The world was dark, but it wasn't night.

Inside, a tall man with crimson eyes stared at a map of the land.

Mom stood across from him, dressed in black and silver.

"When do you intend to bring your family here?" the man asked.

"When the children turn four," she replied.

"So… the end of this year."

Then she asked him something quietly. "Are you truly certain about naming my son as heir?"

His reply was cold and sure. "If not him, then who, Flora? He carries our blood… and the power to match it."

=====

The Next Morning

I woke before the sun.

The rooftops outside were dusted with a layer of snow.

Downstairs, I heard Mom moving in the kitchen. Dad joined her soon after. Their voices were soft, but I heard enough.

"Wil… do you want to meet my father?"

"Your father?" Dad asked.

"Yes."

"I don't mind."

"We'll go at the end of the year."

There was a pause. Then Dad chuckled softly. "Guess I'd better pack something formal."

They smiled at each other, but I could feel something more behind it.

Something big.

Something changing.

=====

Back at the Window

I sat at the windowsill wrapped in my blanket, watching the wind play with the snowflakes.

Ellyn stirred in her bed. Dad was humming softly while making breakfast.

Everything looked normal.

But I knew it wouldn't stay that way.

Something in the stars last night told me that.

And deep inside, I felt the pull again—like the sky wanted me to remember something I had forgotten.

I didn't know what was coming.

But I knew the world was bigger than this.

And I knew… my real story hadn't even started yet.