Prologue
“No, no, no!” She screamed, her eyes fluttered wide open as she saw her book in front of her on the desk rising up in flames. Everything slowly blurred and darkened, the wall fading out of view.
There was a loud banging on the door, “Adelina, is all well in there?” a soft voice cried. A few moments of silence passed before there was a loud BOOM, crashing down the door. Smoke rose from the desk as the young woman rushed in, frantically looking for her daughter. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a crumpled figure, collapsed on the floor. She rushed over to her side as a couple soldiers come in with buckets of water.
They splashed the desk and eradicated the flames. They turned towards the older lady, waiting for orders.
“Send for the court physician and quick!” she said breathily.
They nodded and marched quickly off.
“It’s going to be okay sweetie. Mommy’s got you.” She placed her kind, soft hand on Adelina’s cheek, rubbing it softly with her trembling thumb as tears slowly fell, rolling off of her cheeks.
It all began nine years ago, prior to this event. Adelina was the daughter of Lord Albrecht and Lady Gerwyn, The King and Queen of Fel’aros. When Lady Gerwyn was pregnant with Adelina, Lord Albrecht was ecstatically anticipating for a son to become heir to the throne so he may teach him many ways in politics, swordsmanship, and become an excellent tactician like himself. The time came around and a baby girl is born; the king was agitated and slowly becomes vexed about it. But Gerwyn assured him that it can work out in the end, mentioning of the fact that they could betroth her to the neighboring kingdom’s son, Prince Deogol, who was born just a few months prior to Adelina. The Queen’s words soothed the troubled King’s mind, putting it at ease knowing that he will have a successor after all.
A few days later, however, something unpredictable had occurred.
During the night there was a wailing that echoed throughout the stone walls of the castle, coming from the infant’s room. The handmaid went to go check on the infant. She saw her wrapped up in a cradle screaming. The handmaid gently picked her up, gradually cradling her and hushing her softly. The infant gradually quieted down. Looking up, she started giggling. The handmaid screamed, nearly dropping the baby, as she saw the infant was starting to give off a faint glow.
The guards rushed in to see what had happened. Seeing the baby radiating softly, they rush off to the King and Queen, urgently awakening them and bringing them to the infant’s room.
Shocked and frantic they called for the court physician. The Physician Asa enters in, bag in hand, he briskly walked over to the nearest table and placed down his bag. He opened it and then beckoned the baby to be set down on the table. The handmaid did so and Asa gets to work. Minutes pass that feel like an eternity till he set down his equipment. Shaking his head he stated “There is no scientific method to this. I have tried everything and it only leads back to one thing-” he hesitated, thinking of the right words to say, he hoarsely spoke “Witchcraft.”
Everyone in the room gasped.
Asa looked towards the King.
He looked back at the Physician gravely. “Are you certain?” Asa nodded solemnly.
Lord Albrecht trembled with just the thought of it, ’My Daughter a witch? No, this can’t be true. What sort of sick game are the Gods playing at?’ he slowly sat down, burying his face in his hands, uncertain what to do.
“It is as I have foretold, your Highness.” a hooded figure approached, staff in hand.
“No, no, no, what did I tell you about keeping this...this madman out of here! Guards!”
“Touch me not,” the figure stated. “For if you dare try to lay a finger on me you shall perish.” The guards stopped in their tracks. Uncertain if the figure was bluffing or not they backed away. “Now will you hear me Oh Great King?”
“It seems I have no other choice here but to listen, so tell me Durgadutt..tell me about this Prophecy of yours.” he bitterly inquired.
“The girl is the one to stop the great evil that is to come, my King,” he softly spoke, solemnly looking at the King. “Even though you do not want to admit to it, he is returni-”
“No! That...that is impossible he was defeated long ago,” the king replied aggressively. “I was a little boy when it happened but I know what I saw. He was slain, his followers scattered. He has been gone for 50 years. There is no way he can return.”
“Oh, but he is returning,” Durgadutt replied coldly. “By the time it is her 18th birthday, he will return. He will take residence in Doth’armil and he will raise his follower and bring this land into a war the likes of which no one has seen since the dark days…”
The room tensed up as he uttered the last few words. A cold breeze lightly blew as the moon shone down in the room, giving it an eerie feel.
“I wanted nothing of this...I..I….” He hesitated, glancing down towards the ground. Moments passed where there was nothing uttered or said. Then he spoke very softly, “No, I won’t let this….this absurd prophecy control me nor my family!” He looked up, fire and rage were in his eyes. “She will never know about this….she will live a normal life and will stay far away from those cursed lands,” repeating it softly once more to himself as if to convince himself. “Get this Madman out of here!” He rose up from his seat, pointing sharply and coldly at the Prophet.
The guards tried to place their hands on him but he stepped back.
“Mark my words,” Durgadutt coldly cautioned. “As you keep her from her destiny, you are forestalling the inevitable and killing your own people.” He bowed his head. The guards lunged at him but it was too late. Durgadutt vanished before their eyes.
All was quiet except the breeze softly blowing through the nearby window.
Asa broke the silence, “What is thy will, your highness? Should we le-”
He was cut off, “We will act like this never happened. No prophecy foretold by a madman is going to control my thoughts nor change anything.” Lord Albrecht hissed. “My daughter will have a normal life. This will not go anywhere out of this room. And if it does…” he coldly cautioned. “Well…let’s just say it won’t be pleasant.”
A few muttered to each other and concurred not to say a word.
“What shall you name the child my lord?” Asa asked, interjecting the silence.
A few moments passed, considering the options and ideas.
“Adelina,” Lady Gerwyn replied kindly.
“Yes….Adelina I think would be a wonderful name for our little daughter.” The king agreed.
And so with that, the baby girl was named Adelina and for many years the kingdom flourished. There were no more incidents of magic for many years. Until one day all of that changed and things will never be the same again. That is where our story begins.
