Prologue
Everyone has a place in the world, there since the day they are born. Everyone has a part to play in keeping the balance, and even if one person, no matter how small, moves from their part the balance can be tipped. The world of Aura is a world whose balance has been tipped and mixed, balance is an illusion to those who seek it. The people of Light were at war with the people of dark, a war that had so far spanned 17 years with no end in sight. Both sides were being worn down, the hope they had at the start, nothing more than dying embers of a burning home.
Princess Scarlet of the people of light would pace her room daily, waiting for the news of the battles that day, her father and brothers were on the front line after all. If ever a message was late, she would take her pacing to the gardens in the hope the fresh air would calm her nerves. Her dreams did not help during these days, she feared speaking out about them. But the war ran deeper than the lakes of the Raftlow Coasts, but she had yet to see how deep.
“Scarlet, my dear child.” Her mother, the queen found her staring blankly out over the kingdom. Scarlet turned to her quickly, slightly flustered.
“Sorry Mother, you were looking for me?” She questioned.
“It’s okay my dear. These are hard times for us all, I can only imagine how many times the guards have found me in a likewise state on the study balcony.” Her mother smiled. Queen Kesuda was known through-out the lands for her empathy and understanding. At the start of the war, she had tried to calm both sides, only to end in failure, she was forced to retreat to the castle, and wait for it to end.
“Does it get better?” Scarlet asked, Kesuda sighed sadly.
“I cannot say it does when it does not. “ She hugged her. “We can only remain strong and face what may come. It will never be easy, but we must overcome this.”
“To be brave for our kingdom?” Scarlet asked, Kesuda smiled at her daughter. Scarlet only 14 years of age, was much wiser then those around her could ever believe.
“Yes, we stand as symbols and if we are strong and hopeful…” Kesuda began
“They will be strong and hopeful.” Scarlets smiled lightly. “I shall continue to be strong, mother, for the kingdom, for my brothers, and for father.”
“That’s my girl.” Kesuda smiled, “Oh dear, seems I am needed. Stand strong, we’ll get through this.” She headed back towards the palace, Scarlet looked back over the kingdom. She could not remember the time before the war, she had been raised during this time. Scarlet silently turned and returned to the palace herself.
It had been 8 years since she had come to live in the palace, yet she was nearing 17 years of age. It was a fact known by all, that Scarlet was not of the royal blood. But a child once lost, left wondering the battlefields of the Naezai Pass. Only 8 at the time, with no memories of her birth family, or where she had come from. It was King Adden who first found her, that was the first face she could recall. Scarlet stopped before a family painting, the rest of her family all hair fair hair and eyes of the brightest blue, and at the center, there she stood with hair of the deepest red and eyes of green. She frowned, no matter how far they went to include her, she knew she could never truly be one of them, maybe one day, she could be of true use to them.
Miles away, at Or’ssico crossing, a deal was struck upon the blood-stained field. A deal to end the war, a deal that would return what was lost to the rightful place.
