Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/pCmYRbK
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It had been over six months since Lora left her kingdom for a visit to the Sardinia empire, where she would see her dear friend. As the third princess of Kederawen and adopted granddaughter of Eldric Julius, a renowned magic researcher, Lora didn't get to leave for many places. She spent almost all her life in the kingdom's capital.
While travelling through the forest, her shoulder-length red hair glowed like fire in the sunlight, matching her deep orange eyes. She wore a full silver plate armor with intricate designs, paired with a brown skirt and a vibrant red cape attached to her left shoulder.
Always at her side was a double-edged rapier with a golden guard adorned with delicate vines, but Lora's story was not one of royal blood, as she was brought into the family by Eldric, an old member of the royal family, who found her abandoned in the Kanay forest 20 years ago during his travels for magical research. He took her under his wing and convinced the current king to give her a noble title, thus making her the beloved third princess of Kederawen kingdom.
AN: [A picture of her can be found on my Discord channel, as I do not own any of the images.]
At the tender age of 8, Lorra's natural talent for sword fighting was discovered by Eldric. He brought different instructors and sword masters to train her, pushing her to become a formidable swordsman in the brutal world.
It was around the time Lora reached 16 that she had met the 7th princess of the Sardinia Empire, Sophia Kelhammer. The encounter had taken place at a grand ball in the Kederawen Kingdom, where dignitaries from all over the continent had gathered. The 7th princess had accompanied her uncle, the emperor's brother, on a diplomatic visit to see the king.
When Lora and Sophia met, they instantly became best friends. Sophia had stayed in the Kederawen Kingdom for nearly two years, serving alongside her uncle as ambassadors for the Sardinia Empire. During that time, Everyone noticed both of them become inseparable. The two young women, both strong-willed and determined, shared both dreams, and adventures, until the day came when Sophia had to leave.
When Sophia departed from the kingdom two years ago, Lora became alone again. The royal family of Kederawen, while polite, had never fully embraced Lora as one of their own. Most of them kept their distance, and few even bullied her, making her feel like an outsider in the only home she had ever known.
The only exceptions were the King, one of her older brothers, and Eldric. They treated her with kindness and respect, but even their support couldn't fill the emptiness Sophia's absence had left behind. She and Sophia used to sneak out of the palace to explore the city or spend hours talking about everything and nothing at all.
Lora had repeatedly asked Eldric for permission to visit Sophia in the Sardinia Empire. But Eldric, always cautious, had refused her requests. He was deeply engrossed in a critical magic research project and was concerned about the dangers that might befall Lora on such a long journey.
Time passed slowly for Lora, each day dragging on without dear friend. But finally, after a year and a half, Eldric relented. He understood how much Lora missed Sophia and how important it was for her to reconnect with her friend. So, he granted her permission to make the journey.
However, Eldric's concern for Lora's safety meant that she would not be traveling alone. He arranged for a formidable escort to accompany her—500 of the kingdom's most elite guards. Most of them were at Low Stage Rank-1 Master Warrior, while the strongest reached the Initial Stage Martial Monarch level. In addition to this, Eldric also sent 100 mages, all of whom were at the Earth Mage level. Even the crown prince of the kingdom didn't travel with such a powerful retinue.
The journey to the Sardinia Empire was not a short one. They traveled through the Elaris Central Lake, a vast body of water that allowed them to reach the empire's lands more quickly. From there, they passed through various portals in different cities of the empire, to reach their their destination. It took them a month to reach the capital.
During this month, Lorra enjoyed the different cities and different cultures of the empire of demi-humans. After all, the Sardinia empire was an empire mostly populated by Demi-humans and was also the biggest empire on all the continent.
This also showed how big is the western continent and that even after using multiple portals, it would take at least some months to reach the other end of the continent.
After traveling, she reached the flying capital city of the Sardinia empire, Arcadia city. Overall, it took them two months to travel from the Capital of Kederawen to the capital of Sardinia. She then reunited with princess Sophia and even met the Emperor of the Sardinia empire and other members of the royal family.
She discovered there that just like back in her kingdom, all the royal families have scheming behind each other back and plotting against each other parts. All coveting the throne and wanting to become either King or emperor.
Lorra also visited some famous Milestones that represent the history of the capital and demi-humans in general. Lorra stayed in the capital city for 5 months living together with Sophia in the royal palace.
After that, Lorra decided to go back so she can prepare to join the best swords and magic academy in the western continent, Madoken Academy.
She and Sophia promised to meet each other on the day of the Entry exam of the academy. What she didn't know is that an unfortunate accident will happen to her.
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In their two months-long journey to the Sardinia Empire, Lora found herself fascinated by the richness of the different cities she passed through. The empire, known as the largest on the entire continent, was predominantly populated by demi-humans, each region teeming with its unique culture, traditions, and customs. For Lora, who had spent most of her life in the Kederawen Kingdom's capital, this experience was nothing short of eye opening.
This journey also made Lora realize the vastness of the Western Continent. Despite using multiple portals, it still took a full month to traverse all the distance through the Sardinia Empire. The sheer scale of the continent was awe-inspiring, and it filled Lora with a sense of wonder at the world beyond her kingdom's borders.
Finally, Lora arrived at Arcadia, the flying capital city of the Sardinia Empire. Arcadia was a city unlike any she had ever seen. Suspended high above the ground, it floated among the clouds, its gleaming towers reaching towards the heavens.
Upon her arrival in Arcadia, Lora was greeted with the joyous reunion she had been waiting for. Sophia welcomed her with open arms, and the two friends embraced as if no time had passed at all. Their laughter echoed through the halls of the royal palace as they caught up on all they had missed during their time apart.
During her stay, she had the honor of meeting the Emperor of the Sardinia Empire and several other members of the royal family. These interactions, however, opened her eyes to a harsh reality just like in her own kingdom, the royal family of Sardinia was rife with ambition and plots. Every member of the royal family vying for power, the throne, and seeking to rule over the others.
She couldn't help but wonder about the price of power and what it truly meant to be part of a royal family. Despite these unsettling insights, Lora made the most of her time in Arcadia. She visited famous landmarks of the capital and the demi-humans in general. From ancient battlefields to towering monuments dedicated to legendary heroes, each place showed glimpses into the past of the empire.
Lora spent five memorable months in Arcadia, living alongside Sophia in the royal palace. But as the months passed, Lora knew she couldn't stay in Arcadia forever. She had to prepare to join the best sword and magic academy on the Western Continent, Madoken Academy. The academy was renowned for producing the finest warriors and mages, and Lora was determined to prove herself among them.
Lora and Sophia made a promise to each other. They would meet again on the day of the entry exam at Madoken Academy. It was a promise that filled them both with excitement and anticipation for the future.
However, what Lora didn't know was that fate had a cruel twist in store for her. The journey back to Kederawen would not be as smooth as her journey to Sardinia. An unfortunate accident awaited her, one that would change the course of her life in ways she could never have imagined.
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It had been ten days since Lora left Arcadia City, and now she and her guards were making their way toward the Levans Fortress. This stronghold, a military fortress of the Sardinia Empire, was built on their side of Elaris Lake as an impregnable defense, it stood ready to repel any invasion from the three neighboring countries.
Lora and her elite escort had covered most of the distance swiftly, thanks to the use of portals, and now they were just a day away from their destination. However, the final leg of the journey had to be made on horseback. The portal within the fortress could only be used by the military, ensuring that no one could breach the fortress through magical means. This left them no choice but to ride to the fortress and then cross the lake to return to her kingdom.
"Sigh, I'm bored now," Lora complained, her voice tinged with frustration. "We've had to pass through so many towns and cities without staying at all, and I couldn't do anything."
Riding beside her, one of the guard captains, Eric, turned to her with a sympathetic but firm expression. "Princess, we need to hurry," he explained. "The Ancestor instructed us to take the shortest path possible so that we can reach the capital quickly."
Eric was one of fifty guard captains tasked with protecting the royal palace and the royal family. Each guard captain had to be at least at the peak of the Martial King level, a testament to their talent and power. Hearing Eric's words, Lora pouted, her frustration clear on her face.
"Grandpa is always so protective and paranoid about my safety. I know he does all of this for my protection, but he also needs to understand that I need some freedom. I want to enjoy the world, to see it for myself.", she said, her voice sounding irritated.
Eric sighed, his thoughts drifting back to the conversation he'd had with Eldric before they left the castle to go to Arcadia City.
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[Flashback]
Eric was right now standing in front of Eldric in his solar. His expression had both concern and regret as he said, "Eric, I know that Lora wants some freedom, to explore the world. It's partially my fault. I've always told her stories about the places I visited, about how beautiful and fascinating they are."
Eric nodded,"Sir Eldric, I know how much you love your granddaughter. But I must tell you, the princess adores adventure. She wants to be like you were in your younger days, when you were known as the greatest adventurer who traveled throughout the continent."
Eldric sighed deeply, his eyes reflecting the burden of his past. "I know, Eric. But after all these years, my enemies and those who seek revenge on me know about Lora. I can't let her be harmed because of me. That's why I'm counting on you to protect her, to bring her back here safe and sound."
Eric had felt the responsibility that had been placed on his shoulders. "Sir Eldric, you can count on me. I will do everything in my power to protect the princess, even if it costs me my life.", he replied with determination.
Eldric had smiled, though it was a sad smile. "I'm counting on you, then."
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As Eric and Lora rode together, the memory of that conversation weighed heavily on Eric's mind. He was determined to fulfill his promise to Eldric, no matter what it took.
Suddenly, Some of the knights at the front of the group noticed a figure blocking the road ahead. It was a demi-human with wolf ears, dressed in a sharp blue tuxedo with an orange tie. His presence was immediately unsettling, "Hey, Who are you?! Move aside immediately.", one of the guards called out, warning him to move aside.
The demi-human didn't budge. Instead, lightning sparks crackled around his right hand. Eric's instincts kicked in, and he shouted, "Prepare for an attack!", he commanded, drawing his sword as the other knights and mages followed suit.
Woosh
The demi-human's speed was beyond anything they could have anticipated. In the blink of an eye, he moved through the ranks, electrocuting the knights before they could even react. Cries of pain echoed through the forest as the guards fell, one by one, struck down by the lightning-wielding assailant.
"Arrgghhhh!" The knights collapsed, their bodies convulsing from the electric shock.
Only Eric and a few mages managed to resist the initial assault, Eric using mana to shield himself while the mages conjured protective barriers. Lora, stunned by the sudden attack, could only watch in horror as her guards fell around her.
The demi-human with the wolf ears was no ordinary foe he was Seath, the powerful magic beast who was in his demi-human form. This was one of the missions assigned to him before his future task in Alcos City.
Seath sighed, his expression one of disdain as he looked around, "The client wants leverage over the old man by threatening his granddaughter. I hate these kinds of people, but a mission is still a mission."
Eric quickly realized what Seath's true objective was—Lora. He turned to the two surviving mages and barked out new orders. "You two, go! Try to stop him and buy us some time!"
The mages nodded, fear and determination in their eyes as they advanced toward Seath, casting their spells.
"Fire spell, Fireball!" one of them chanted, launching a blazing orb of fire toward Seath.
"Wind spell, Wind Tornado!" the other mage shouted, summoning a swirling vortex of wind.
The two mages uniting their voices in a synchronized incantation. "Combined spell, Fire Tornado!" The fiery tornado roared to life, hurtling toward Seath with deadly intent.
Boooommmm
The explosion rocked the forest, sending shockwaves through the trees. But as the smoke cleared, Seath emerged unscathed, his expression unimpressed. He had simply stood there, letting the combined spell hit him without even flinching.
Lora, desperate to help, drew her rapier and took a battle stance. She wasn't going to stand by and let her guards fight alone. But Eric tried to stop her.
"No, Princess! You need to escape!" he pleaded, his eyes wide with fear. "The enemy is too strong for any of us. I'll try to buy you some time with the mages, but you must use the magic scroll to escape to the fortress!"
Lora shook her head, her grip on her rapier tightening. "No! I can't leave you all here. If I do that, I'll never be able to forgive myself."
"PRINCESS!!" Eric's voice was filled with desperation, but Lora remained resolute.
"...."
Finally, after a tense moment, Eric spoke again, "You will hear me right now! I and the Mages will buy you some time and you will escape now."
Another long silence followed, and then Lora finally nodded, ".... Okay."
"Good," Eric said, relieved. "Go now. I'll buy you the time needed to activate the magic scroll. Start now."
Lora reached into her spatial ring and retrieved the magic scroll. But before she could activate it, Seath appeared before her in a flash, his hand snatching the scroll from her grasp.
Wooosshhhh
"I can't let you use that," Seath said, his tone cold and unyielding. "It would make it more difficult to capture you."
"Princess! No!" Eric shouted, rushing toward Seath with his sword raised. He slashed at Seath's head, but before he could make contact, Seath struck him in the waist, sending him flying into the forest.
Boooooooommmmmmm
Eric crashed into the trees, the impact forming a deep crater. He coughed up blood, his vision blurring as he struggled to stay conscious. "Cough.....cough.....No prin....princess," he murmured weakly, his strength fading as darkness closed in.
Seath turned his attention back to the remaining mages. "Now, to deal with the annoying flies," he said with a sneer. "Lightning Claw!"
With a swift motion, Seath swung his hand, and a massive claw made of pure lightning shot toward the mages who had survived the initial attack.
"Noooo!!" Lora cried out, her voice filled with despair. But her pleas fell on deaf ears as Seath's attack obliterated the mages, leaving nothing but scorched earth in its wake.
Lora was the only one left standing. She looked around at the destruction, at the bodies of her fallen guards and mages, her heart filled with rage and sorrow.
"Arrgghhh. You evildoer, I will kill you!" Lora screamed, charging at Seath with her rapier.
Swoosh Slash
But Seath effortlessly evaded her attack, his movements fluid and precise. He struck her in the stomach, and the world began to spin as she started loosing consciousness.
As she fell to her knees, her vision blurred, and she could barely make out Seath's figure looming over her. His voice tone devoid of any emotion as he said, "Blame yourself for being weak. If you were strong enough, none of this would've happened. The Alliance would never have come after you."
Lora's heart burned with anger and helplessness. She wanted to scream, to fight back, but her body refused to obey. Her vision dimmed further, and the last thing she saw before succumbing to unconsciousness was Seath's impassive face.
'You bastard,' she thought bitterly as darkness finally overtook her.
Seath caught Lora before she could hit the ground, lifting her limp form onto his shoulder. He glanced around at the devastation he had wrought—scorched earth, fallen knights, and mages, the once-strong escort now reduced to nothing.
"Sigh," Seath muttered to himself, his thoughts drifting as he began walking westward toward the Adratram Empire. "I wonder how Lyna is doing. I left without saying goodbye last time. I'm sure she's okay."
AN: [The Name rings a bell, right?😉😉]
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Back in the clearing, the aftermath of the attack was grim. Bodies lay scattered across the ground, their lifeless forms all over the place. Among them, Eric lay in the crater where he had fallen, blood pooling around him, his breaths shallow and labored.
Despite the severity of his injuries, Eric's survival instinct was strong. As he drifted in and out of consciousness, his mind clung to a single thought—he had to protect the princess. His vision was hazy, his body battered, but the image of Lora in danger fueled his resolve. With a supreme effort, Eric forced his eyes open, groaning as pain shot through his torso.
"Cough... cough... P-princess..." he rasped, trying to push himself up, but his body refused to cooperate, his strength failing him.
Suddenly, a faint rustle of leaves nearby signaled the approach of someone, or something. Eric was not alone, His heart pounded in his chest, a mix of hope and fear. Was it an enemy coming to finish the job? Or was it help?
"Well, well, what do we have here, huh", Eric heard the voice but he couldn't get to see the appearance of this figure as he immediately lost consciousness.