Chapter 1
Our story begins in a village in the kingdom of Koda, on a small family farm just outside the main village centre. Where a girl is sleeping peacefully on her bed. She doesn’t know it yet but she’s about to get woken up for some serious shit.
[Main character : Sarah]
“Sarah!”
“Sarah!!”
“Huh?” I say as I rub my eyes from just being woken up. My mother is standing in front of me. She doesn’t look very happy.
[Mother of MC : Elith]
“Sarah, you’re still asleep? What are you doing? Get up, lazy girl!”
“Ugh...I slept way too late...what time is it?”
“It’s almost noon! You left your sister and I to do all the housework and prepare breakfast on our own. Don’t you have any respect for your family?”
I blink and see that my sister Brianna is standing beside our mother.
[Older sister of MC : Brianna]
“Honestly. I had to do most of your morning chores.” she says with an annoying tone.
“I didn’t mean to, I’m sorry. If you had woken me up, I could have-”
“It doesn’t matter! Why are you so tired?” my mother asks.
I can’t let her know I snuck out last night, she’d have my head! “Uhh...I don’t know.”
“Oh, you don’t know? Your memory must be truly awful.” She looks at me with a smug grin, arms crossed. “How handy that you just happen to forget sneaking out! You try my nerves, Sarah, you really do.”
I look over to my sister with rage because she was the only person who I told that I was going to go last night. “Brianna, you told her? How could you!”
“It’s because Brianna is a good daughter, unlike someone. She is helpful and doesn’t keep secrets from her dear mother.”
“Brianna, you promised you wouldn’t tell. What sort of sister does that?”
“Sorry Sarah, I was just so worried about you. Sneaking out to see the Starfall at night like that...” she says with an obvious sarcastic tone as she does not care at all.
“Maybe if you focused on your chores and your family instead of running off to watch some stars you wouldn’t sleep in like this.”
“I’m sorry mother, but you know how rare it is. I had to see it.”
“No, you just wanted to. You’re so selfish, Sarah. I’m disappointed. Your sister and I are going out, you are to stay home and clean. I want this house spick and span before we get back, understood?”
“Byeeee Sarah!” my sister waves as she and my mother leave my room through the door.
She is way too happy for having just betrayed a sisterly bond of trust. I’ll have to think of a way to get back at her.
As I flop back onto my bed, I start to remember last night. I don’t care if I was caught, it was definitely worth it.
***
[LAST NIGHT]
“Sarah, over here!”
“Hannah!” I run over and join her where she sits on a blanket, spread out beneath the tree.
[Best friend of MC : Hannah]
“You made it! I almost thought you wouldn’t. I can’t believe your parents forbid you from coming out tonight!”
“I know! They never let me do anything.” It was upsetting when they said no to me, but I realized that I needed to see this. I needed to experience this. I needed to be free of my family for at least one night.
“At least you managed to get out! I was worried you wouldn’t make it.” She gives me a hug as I sit next to her.
“Yeah, it was a close call getting out of the house. The dogs nearly gave me away.” I say.
“Ooh, that wouldn’t have been good. I’m really glad you’re here. The Starfall is rumored to be the most stunning natural event to ever occur, and I’ve only heard stories. Now we get to see it for ourselves.”
I look into the sky, where the twinkling stars hang against a velvet backdrop. One by one, they appear to begin to streak across the sky, trailing wisps of white light behind them.
“Wow...” Hannah began to say slowly.
“It’s incredible...”
“It almost feels like it’s calling to me.”
“It makes sense. You’re beautiful, and so is this. It would make sense you’re drawn to it.” I say to her.
Hannah looks at me with a smile on her face and then pushes my arm. “Oh hush, you. You’re always teasing me.”
“It is exquisite though, I can’t remember the last time I saw something like this.”
“Do you perhaps remember our favorite story?” Hannah asks.
“The legend of Princess Liana.” How could I forget? We’ve both loved it since we were children.
“Haha, yes. I told my sister about the tragic story a few days ago, and I can’t stop thinking about it” she says.
“Well, it is wonderfully tragic. The story of a royal family, set to sail across the sea, but their journey cut short by a raging storm. Both parents dying, and the young princess washed ashore all alone.”
“-And, since the sweet princess was picked up by ordinary townsfolk who had no idea who she was, she could be any one of us!” Hannah continues.
“A princess raised by her people, who doesn’t know of her station. How sad.”
“I wish I were Princess Liana. Just imagine, growing up in our little village, then suddenly being swept away by brave knights and taken to the royal court” Hannah says.
“Taken away from everything you know...that wouldn’t be too bad.” I say.
“But it’s just a story. You and I must make our own brave, lonely ways in this cruel world.”
Hannah always was a bit over dramatic, though she never fails to make me smile. “You deserve more than this little village tucked away in a corner of the kingdom, Hannah.”
“Perhaps. Lucky you, though. You get to go study in the town soon. My family can’t afford to send me.” She says with a sigh.
“I’m sorry, Hannah. I’ll make sure to write you lots, okay?”
“Of course silly! Couldn’t have you forgetting about your best friend, now could we? And don’t apologize, it’s not your fault I’m one of six children.”
Hannah is looking at me with admiration, if a little sadness. She keeps a smile fixed firmly on her face. “Hey! I have an idea” she says.
“Oh?”
“The festival of Spring is coming up! Dancing, music, good food, cute boys. Let’s go together, one last hurrah before you leave.”
“That’s a fantastic idea, Hannah!” I’ve always wanted to go to the Festival of Spring ever since I caught a peak of what took place while I was helping my father in his shop, but my parents would never let me attend.
“I know, I’m full of them.” she says with a grin on her face, while also flipping her hair over her shoulder.
“You have to promise to not leave me alone though, I’ve never been a good dancer” I say with a laugh.
“Don’t worry! I’ll have your back, no matter what.”
