Trigger Warning: Slight depictions of blood, death
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This story begins with a 'Once Upon a Time'. There was another universe that lived on magic, it aligned so perfectly with the world we live in. In that universe, Nover, there was once born an only child; a girl, who was meant to be a Queen. She was said to live and serve her kingdom well, bringing it nothing but greatness and prosperity, as blessed by the royal sorcerer. Others being others, said otherwise.
The five kingdoms of that world was at peace, at that time. Nedir, Cildra, Veera, Aquileis and Lectris were those five kingdoms. The girl was hereby meant to rule the superior kingdom, Nedir.
Her parents died early, and she, having left no choice, had to grow up. So she grew to become a young warrior, cultivating her magic while ruling a capital nation. She was wise, thankfully, and built a reputation on that. She had so many followers to help her, yet there were ones who spat at the girl.
The Queen was stripped of her childhood and freedom when she had to face her inevitable life, as it was already her fate before she was born.
The girl would always opt for peace among the nations. She was once generous, graceful and kind- and still knew so much. She was too wise for her age.
The world was spawned by deities who breathed magical life on what was now called Nover. They left the responsibilities of keeping the planet alive to those they called the immortals, who were powerful sorcerers. They lived for so long, people no longer knew the difference between their lifespan and immortality. It was said in the books that the immortals could appoint one from the next generation to have their place; that meant that they were capable of dying.
As thousands of years went by, more generations came. They were secluded, and because they were worshipped, they became self-centered, and blind.
When the young Queen came along, the worship drifted to her. The immortals didn't like that, and didn't want to just remove her from her place on the throne. They wanted her to be rid of.
So they formed an army of demons and demon creatures, and gave them a leader.
No one knew that the demons' true leaders were those immortals.
They would then bring chaos onto the kingdoms, and bring a war into Nedir.
That Queen would lead her army into the battlefield, only to be betrayed by the sorcerer that raised her, for he sided with the immortals.
In return, he was given immortality too, and he became the ruler of the land.
The truth about that story was never revealed.
But the prophets had come to light with a message.
There was a prophecy that spread throughout the kingdoms of Nover, that spoke of a Majesty who shall die in battle and return for her throne, but consequences would fall with her actions. They also didn't know that she was driven by betrayal, greed, and vengeance.
That Queen would die, her soul would be cursed, and she would be born again into a hero blessed with heaven's kiss, said more powerful than before.
What would she do?
Would she risk it?
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"Ma?" I called.
I stood before the bodies of my parents in disbelief and denial. My jaw hung as I stared at my beloveds as they lay on the cold, tiled ground, drowning in their very own blood. I happened to walk into my abode, awaiting the embrace of my ma and pa, only to be shown that of a newfound memory; the memory of they who meant more then everything to me.
Death; the result of life that couldn't be manipulated in the slightest. Nothing destroyed me more than the harsh truth when I crawled towards her, caressing mama's cold cheeks so tenderly, almost as if she could've just woken up.
My tears fell in silence, but were the loudest I've drawn.
At the age of 17, I never expected in my days to find myself on my knees, wailing unsoundly before my late parents, losing everything I had to lose, or so I thought.
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I sat in that one spot, when my knees gave away, till dawn came, unmoved from the spot where I first implanted myself. My face shone disorder, my eyes bloodshot, my nose running snot with tears stained dry upon my cheeks. I hadn't noticed, but someone else did. Too busy blanking out numbly and dividing my attention, I was disrupted.
"Ruvelia-" he was in disbelief. "Rue- what is this?"
I could hear the voice crack.
To my right my brother stood. Trembling silence chased him and dragged time along. I had been there, mourning for hours upon hours, my parents' curse etched onto me, to my conscience. I sat there in grief, everything about me miserable, and yet he wasn't to be seen for any of it.
"You couldn't have been later," I muttered bitterly, finding sight of anything ahead of me.
"What the hell happened here?"
I stayed silent. I brought my sore knees together, struggling to stand. I walked towards the boy, staring at his hurting face, those tears that painted his cheeks glossy.
"You're too late." My whispers left me, lined with rasp. "Look at them," a scoff escaped me again, traced by my very pained laughter. "They're dead- gods-" I croaked with tears clouding my sight, I glared at him. "I waited and you just didn't show up."
There was no sound then.
"I'm so sorry."
"Don't bother, Emmanuel. You've couldn't have been a better son today." I graze his shoulder in tiredness, leaving.
As I got to fresh air, I sat wearily. I sighed from my numbness while gazing about the yard from the back porch.
Thinking of my 18 year old brother, I shivered.
I look down towards my legs. They were sore purple, blood both dry and fresh blotched upon the bruised skin above my kneecap as Emmanuel had said. It hurt, that didn't matter. The only ones which kept me together, that had my life revolving around, were simply gone. Unending questions flooded my head. I had no money nor anyone else to be with but my brother. I had no friends. I was left alone with the empty hopes of having somewhere reasonable to stay in a place in this cruel world. This is what we're given when our parents were government agents and had too many thugs wanting their heads.
But, at the same time, something felt off. I touched my mother's hand, it was warm. My grief, overcame that suspicious part of me.
Before I had more time to think, my silent moment was interrupted again with his presence, him crouching behind me. It hadn't even been five minutes.
"Where were you?" I asked with a fragile rasp.
I heard a sniff. "My friend's house."
I scoffed. "Great."
"I'm sorry-"
"Call the ambulance." I look ahead, blinking with stoic eyes.
"I don't think that's a good idea-"
"How is it not?"
"Listen, shouldn't we investigate who was responsible for this?"
My eyes travel to his.
"You just found out that your parents died. What do you think that we can do? Just let the FBI, CIA or whoever is responsible for them do that." A noise escaped me as I stretched, lying straight on the dusty wood.
"I don't think this is a normal case."
"Yeah, obviously. The one who's able to kill my dear parents ain't normal at all."
"I don't see any punctures in their bodies, Rue."
"That's not possible," I catch his eyes again and hold it. "What could they have died from then?"
"I don't know. Something's weird about this. If you don't believe me, come see for yourself."
A scornful groan left my lips, "You're being unbelievable. Have you been watching any Avenger movies recently? Do I need to remind you that you were the one that wasn't here for your parents and now you decide to care for them? Call the ambulance. Enough with the fairy tales and act like a decent son for once."
"Ruvelia, you're not listening, I want to get revenge for them. I'm hurting that they died yes, and I love them, but there's something off about this."
I, foolishly, remained stubborn. "If you're not calling the ambulance, then I'll do it myself."
I lash forwards, reaching into his jacket's pocket and fumbling for his phone as he grabs my hand and tries to free it. As soon as I grab the item, I pull with all of my remaining strength, yanking Emmanuel's pocket along to make him unbalanced. Though it felt like my knee was being stripped of flesh, I scramble to my feet and run, run like I was imperiled to a raging bull that trailed me close.
I barely unlock his contacts when he jumps forth, tackling me as we fall with forceful impact. Trying to get him off me, it takes ages to fight my brother off as he continuously attempts to lock my arms in place. It was different to when we usually wrestled, he pushed more, determined to ruin my intentions of calling medical assistance. Was he that desperate?
"Stop."
"What the hell bothers you so mu-"
Then it sounded.
It was the noise of an ear splitting boom that stood nowhere further than our front door.
Emmanuel was quick to cover me as he already had the upper hand from our tackle. We both flinched as we heard another blasting noise from within the house.