Prologue: The Pink Omen
20 Years Ago
The King and Queen of Aethera were expecting their first child. King Kaith waited nervously, his back pressed against the heavy doors of the birthing chamber. Inside, he could hear the frantic movements of nurses trying to keep the situation stable. The Queen’s pained groans echoed down the hallway, making him pace back and forth across the cold stone corridor, his heart racing.
Suddenly, the King stopped mid-stride. A strange, vibrant pink light began to bleed out from under the door, illuminating the floor of the hallway. That was all it took for the King to burst inside.
The nurses looked up, faces pale with horror. In the center of the room, the Queen held the newborn baby tightly against her chest, her knuckles white as she braced herself, afraid the King would snatch the child away.
The King paused for a long minute, staring at the infant—the girl who was supposed to be his royal heir. The silence stretched until he finally snapped. He slammed his hand against a nearby table, breathing rapidly as he struggled to maintain control. His wife looked on in terror, clutching the baby even closer. Unable to contain his rage, the King began to break everything in his sight, the sound of shattering glass filling the room.
A young, new nurse watched the destruction in confusion. She leaned toward the older nurse next to her and whispered, "What does pink mean?"
The older nurse took a deep shaking breath and replied, "She is the only pink-eyed child born in the universe. She is the only one who can bring an end to Aethera and all the whole kingdom its a prophecy ."
"Kill her," the King ordered, his voice cold and final. "This is no child of mine. And don't you dare let word of this get outside the castle."
The Queen looked at her husband, her eyes hardening with a desperate resolve. "I'll do it myself," she said.
Without another word, she stood up and walked out of the palace, the King’s angry shouts echoing behind her. But the Queen never did what he asked. She disappeared into the night, protecting the child the universe feared most.
