My beloved son,
You always learned fast, even when you were young. I am glad that you were able to remember that lesson. Even though it was so many years ago. My boy, if you are reading this then we are no longer together. I am either dead or was taken from you. Either way, there is much I need to tell you and only so much parchment. To start off with, my full name is Anessa Thereassa Yggdrasil; I am the first princess of the Nylym kingdom. The legend that made up your bedtime story was about our family.
After I fell pregnant out of wedlock from my mate, I left that life behind. My mate was a prince from an allied nation but I couldn't bring shame to him either. So, I ran away and our family became my life. Even though I tried to keep Galick out of it, your father found us four years later. By then, I had married a simple Nymph that had land and money.
I never told him the truth, even after I fell pregnant a second time with his child. I knew he was suspicious but I couldn't pull my children away from the only life they had ever known.
By now, I am sure that you understand Galick Donavan Slivet fathered both you and your sister. As the heir to his own kingdom, there was always the possibility he would have to go back. Because of you, my children, I never regretted meeting him. You, along with Cora, were my pride and joy the moment I laid eyes on you. The moment I held you, I wished for you to remain children.
Your destiny will drag you down a cruel path. One so brutal that you may want to turn back. However, there is no turning away from destiny. You see, My mother was a Queen of foresight and could see the future. Her last prediction was about a boy who would hold his emotions in his eyes and have the pointed ears of the elves. According to her prophecy, that child is meant to save the world from the return of the deviants. Though, one can't be sure if this prophecy was true or if it was a nightmare she had. It was often hard to differentiate between the two.
The day you were born, I knew the prophecy would be about you. You had the the eyes, the ears, and more power than any child could control. So, I both cursed and bless you that day. I stripped you of more than half of your power and bless you with protection. On your twentieth birthday, the spells will break and you will gain your full powers. However, anyone looking for the savior will be able to sense you as well. As your parent, I was the only one able to cast it on you. You will have to flee this village and probably never return. I know this is a heavy burden but I prepared for it as best I could.
The trunk you found should hold everything that you should need for a couple of years if you are careful. I tried to pack enough for you and your sister. Clothes, sleeping bags, tents, compasses, and more. Among the things I packed, there are four things that are meant for you alone. The first is my spellbook that holds all the spells I used or created. It also holds knowledge most humans do not know of herbology and potions. The second item is a silver pocket watch that holds the crest of our family. It has a spell that will heal the bearer who matches the blood spilled over the crest. When you were young, I smeared some of your blood onto the crest so you are its master. The third item is a letter of introduction from me to my brother. Someday, you should go there and introduce your sister as she is first in line for the throne. The last is a small money pouch, it is made of black leather and is filled with almost all of the money and jewels I took from the castle when I left. Please use it well in your travels my dear children.
Last but not least, Cora inherited the gift of her grandmother. She is blessed by both prophecy and lady luck: a luck prophet. Her eyes will turn black when the prophecy will bring bad luck and white when it brings good luck. If one eye is white and the other black, it is a gamble of luck. Either good or bad could win out. However, she is much stronger than her grandmother ever was. She will need to be trained in magic as soon as possible. I have to trust your judgment on this but please, take care of her in my stead?
I love you both with all of my heart,
Your mother
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Finnick stared at the letter for a long time. The words rang through his mind, leaving it reeling from the information overload. His mother was a princess, the heir to be precise. Galick was their father but his mother didn't want to tell him? Not to mention that Finnick was already powerful for an eighteen-year-old but his mother said he would be even more powerful. To top it all off, he was born to save the world. Then there was his sister, Coridella. She was a luck prophet and a powerful one at that.
His mind was such a mess that he didn't realize a tear had escaped until small hands wiped it away. Finnick looked away from the offending piece of parchment. In front of him, Cora stood with an odd look on her delicate face. She had always been small for her age; even though she ate as well as anyone else. Her brown eyes held so many emotions but Finnick could see her determination. Finnick, for only a moment, wondered what her letter had said but they both knew the letters were meant to be kept private.
Finnick offered the brunette a small smile and patted her cheek. Cora recognized the action and knew that he was fine. The two sat in comfortable silence for several minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. That was until the chest caught Finnick's attention once more. Curious, he pulled it over to him. The lid was still open with things sticking out in various directions. Amused by his mother's packing system, Finnick started with the clothes.
There were at least three sets of clothes for him and another couple for Cora. However, all the clothes that were meant for him were much too small. It was obvious that his mother expected Finnick to have a Nymph's stature. Yet, the boy ended up with the height and bulk of his father.
Finnick found each of the things his mother specified was his alone and put them aside. Then he sorted out everything else his mother had packed. It was a mix of things that one would need to rough it in the wild and some other odds and ends.
While Finnick picked through the various objects, Cora found the world map their mother specified was for her. Her small fingers traced over the two kingdoms she learned she was a part of. Yet, all of her thoughts lingered on the letter her mother had left her. Cora had never felt normal or, like she belonged somewhere. To learn that it was true, that she was not only royalty but a magical entity was something else. The girl felt overwhelmed but, at the same time, she felt relieved. To know the truth, it brought its own sense of calm; and the fact her mother loved her regardless did miracles for her soul.
"Holy hell skins…" Finnick mumbled and Cora looked over at him. In his hand was a simple Veski bag. It was similar to his but, instead of leather, it was made of beige cloth. The pouch seemed to hold jewels, coins, and other funds enough to build three kingdoms from the ground up. Cora snickered at her brother's reaction to the amount of money before she told him to finish up. Finnick was quick to oblige and placed the pouch with his in the Vox bag.
"I am going to check around the house for things we might need," Cora said and walked off with Finn's approval. She knew exactly where she wanted to check and headed straight for the first floor of the house.
It didn't take long for Finnick to finish going through everything his mother had packed for them. All of the camping gear was left in the trunk and everything else had been separated into his three Torba's. Then he turned his attention to the objects his mother left to him and his sister. Cora had abandoned the map with his inheritance.
Finnick held the purple leather book in his hands and ran his fingers over the cover. On the front of the book was their last name, Yggdrasil, in black curling letters. A thin black leather string was wrapped around the book. Finnick unwound the string and flipped open the book. To say he was shocked was an understatement as he stared at the blank pages. Without a second thought, Finnick reopened the wound on his hand and allowed several drops of his blood to fall into the book.
Seconds passed slowly but Finnick had been correct. The book had yet another blood-bound spell on it. There were spells upon spells in the book. Most of which he had never seen before. Every now and then, he would come across a new recipe for a cure, hex, or tonic. He had never seen anything like it and he felt even more proud to have Anna as his mother; despite her lies.
Suddenly, the sound of glass shattering rang through the house. It was followed by a larger crashing sound that had Finnick on his feet in seconds. Finnick shoved everything into his Vox bag and raced to where the sound was heard from. It leads him to the first floor where Cora should have been. However, Finn saw no sign of the brunette as he looked around the bare rooms. That was until he walked into the empty pantry.
A trap door laid open with no light except for what came from the hatchway. Finnick flicked his wrist with a quick incantation and a small blue flame flickered into being in his palm. Finnick swallowed thickly as memories of the place attacked his mind. The place Shetter would 'train' him as a child, away from his mother's prying eyes. Fear pumped through his veins as he carefully entered the hatch. Shetter being dead and no longer strong enough to take him on gave him the strength. Once inside, Finnick called out to his sister. Finn nearly fell on his ass while his flames flared wildly at his sister's sudden appearance. His empty hand flew to his racing heart while he glared at his sibling.
"Lords of Creation! Don't do that! What are you even doing down here? Better yet, how did you know this was down here?" Finnick rambled as he steadied himself and looked around. A new fear tore at him, did Shetter bring Cora down her to 'train' as well? Finnick prayed that was not the case.
"It is Shetter's lab, where he made some of the drugs he took," Cora replied as she pointed out the various glass's that held an array of colored liquids. Finnick quickly put out the fire in his hand and pulled his sister from the cellar. Relief filled Finnick when he realized she had not had the same experience.
"What were you doing down there?" Finnick asked sternly and Cora held up a small sack similar to the one that hung on the teen's waist. It was a light tan-colored leather pouch. The only difference from the one on Finnick's belt was it held actual money. The one on Finnick's waist was linked to his Veski pouch and, it would only produce a small amount of money at a time. All of which came from his Veski pouch.
"It's the money he earned from selling those drugs to various addicts that passed through. I happened to follow him down there once and saw where he hid it. So, I thought it would be of help to us later." Cora answered with a look too evil for an eleven-year-old girl. Finnick only laughed because it was something he would never have considered.
When Finnick recovered from his laughter, he looked inside the pouch. It was not even halfway full with silver being the majority of the coins. There were a few golds and twice as many copper pieces. With that in mind, he knew what he wanted to do.
"Cora, we have enough money to live off of. Why don't you use the money to get yourself a Torba? I wanted to teach you how to make one but, with things as they are, I don't have time. You can use whatever is left as spending money during the trip. It's only fair since you found it." Finnick suggested with a smile and the brunette's face lit up. Cora had always wanted a bag like her brothers. One that could hold anything, a Vox bag.