(Panalangin- meaning; Request, dreaming of)
The three princes,
First prince, Alejandro Lacan Endora; Second Prince Alain Lenardo Endora and third prince, Asterio Lance Endora were racing to whoever gets to Atherina's chambers first.
"Whoever gets to Athy's room first gets to be her first dance partner on her birthday!" Alain, the second prince announced just a few seconds ago as he overtook Alejandro, his eldest brother in their sprint.
'Athy' is the nickname they've given to their youngest and most precious little sister. Over the years, they have become more obsessed with Atherina. To the point that almost every single day after their classes, they would see her and spend time playing with her.
The three princes were neck and neck in their race, but in the very end, Alejandro was the one to win.
"That's not fair! You have longer legs than us!" Asterio, the third prince complaints. "I shouldn't have said that earlier." A regretting tone coming from Alain.
"Too bad. I'll be the one who'll be Athy's first dance to her birthday and the two of you squirts cannot do nothing about it." Alejandro says proudly.
"Your highness, your brothers, the princes are here to see you." the head maid, Digna announces smiling in amusement.
"Let them in." A calm voice responds from the other side of the door. The maids opened the doors to Atherina's chambers, and the three princes went in.
"Athy!" the three princes called with adoration.
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{Atherina's POV}
As soon as my three brothers went in, they all seemed out of breath. 'I guess they raced here again and bet on something that involves me in it.' I said in thought.
The three of them will have to go back to the Academy soon as summer break is almost over, and I will have to do the entrance examination process for me to attend right before my 12th birthday.
"You three raced to my chambers again, didn't you?" I laughed at the three of them. "What did you the three of you bet on this time?" I asked curiously as I ordered one of the maids to prepare some refreshments for them.
"The first person to get here gets to be your first dance." My brother, Alain says in a disappointing tone. "I kind of regret saying it though." Alain says again while scratching his head. I laughed.
"And I won." Alejandro, my eldest brother announces proudly.
"As you should." I snickered. As I expected my eldest brother won the race, again. He is the best in anything that involves physical work. While my two other brothers, Alain and Asterio are equal in magic performance, and intelligence. But I don't actually know what I'm good at.
I'm kind of good in terms of studying, I get compliments about me being able to learn things faster from my teachers and I'm also good at my swordsmanship and in magic,
I can't control my own mana flow.
"Have you thought about what you want for your birthday Athy?" Asterio asks. "Oh yes, you do only have less than a week left before your birthday." Alain followed.
'I don't know yet.'
"To be honest, I don't really know what I want for my birthday." I said in honesty.
"Last year, when you said that, mother and father gave you your own land and residence in a tropical country outside the Empire." Alejandro said.
The three of them laughed, "Oh, and we gave you a horse even though you have never ridden one!" Alain said.
Every single time I say 'I don't know' or 'I am not sure' my family just goes on lengths to give me anything or even everything even if they are totally unnecessary. Sometimes, I get too overwhelmed with the amount of attention I'm given.
But maybe because I'm constantly isolated in the palace and have never really met anyone besides the staffs and my own family. Ah! I know what I want.
"I want to go outside the palace and explore the empire." I said eagerly. The three of them were surprised by my request. In my past birthdays, I have never asked for anything and was always unsure of what I have wanted.
'I doubt they'll listen.' I said in thought.
"I also want to conceal my identity as an Imperial Princess of the Empire when I take the exams for the Academy. I don't want anyone to know I'm the princess and have some sort of 'benefit' for being a noble." I also followed.
"Athy, it's dangerous for a person like you of high noble status to go outside the palace." Alejandro says in concern.
"-And also Athy, how would you transport yourself to the Academy without the Carriage? or even any carriage of some sort if you want to conceal yourself before your birthday? You do know if you don't want to portray youself as a noble, you have to walk towards the academy on your own without escorts?" Alain also said.
'I knew it.'
"Can you at least try and ask father and mother about it? I really want to go out. Maybe even occasionally going outside the palace to shop for clothes, even make friends!" I reasoned more.
"Athy-"
"I can try and ask father and mother about it and even accompany you along with a maid and a guard on standby to keep you safe." Alain says cutting off Alejandro's sentence.
My eyes widened and I smiled. Alain is only a year younger than Alejandro. Alejandro is 17, Alain is 16 and Asterio was 15. So, somehow, Alain still has an influence towards mother and father.
"Thank you, Alain!!!" I said in excitement and immediately got up and hugged him. But I then immediately controlled my excitement.
"Oh, come on, you're not a hugger anymore Athy?" Alain says as he still held his arms out for a hug. I laughed at him, "'Tis not very lady-like, your highness." I fooled around and hugged him more.
"So, your two brothers aren't getting a hug?" Asterio complaints referring to him and Alejandro. Even if Alejandro is against my request, I knew it was for the sake of my own safety. I won't deny him caring for me and throw a tantrum.
"I'm Sorry if I refused your request. But maybe I can accompany you too along with Asterio if father and mother allow it." Alejandro says.
"It's fine brother and thank you. You don't have to worry about it as you thought of my safety." I said to him.
"You really are mature for your own age. How did you get so understanding and never thrown a tantrum even once?" Alejandro says and disbelief and smiling once again.
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Atherina has been having dreams, as if they were some sort of 'oracle', or a vision of the future ever since she was two. She just never spoke about her experience in these dreams as she thought it was something normal within her.
But every single time she wakes up from her dreams, she'll feel like she has exerted all of her energy and begin feeling ill within the next few hours.
This was why she was isolated in the palace. The emperor and the empress thought their daughter was born sickly, weak, and so, to protect their youngest child and their only princess, they've kept her inside for as long as she remembers never meeting anyone besides her own brothers.
Doctors can never explain her illness. Almost every single passing doctor who has encountered Atherina, has thought she was healthy and always wondered why she was falling ill frequently.
Until the very year she turned 11, she suddenly burst an overwhelming surge of mana flow, the power of darkness gushing outside of her and then turning into a beam of light, something divine.
After a few moments, the Hulahina, who has control of this unknown source of power, suppressed Atherina's mana flow, keeping it inside of her temporarily. She's still unconscious, and sweating, even murmuring something they cannot understand.
"She has an immense power for both light and darkness. Maybe this is what's causing her to fall ill." The Hulahina says.
"If she cannot control her own power, darkness will consume her light."
The empress and emperor worried for their daughter's immense uncontrollable p ower.
"Is there anything that can help her control her own power? Until she has discovered to learn it on her own?" The emperor, Artheous asks in worry.
The Hulahina hands them a necklace, in shape of a teardrop, "That is the Goddess' Gracious Teardrop held by a golden chain." She says, "That has helped several Hulahinas to control their power and I believe it will help her highness, the princess."
"She has to wear it at all times, especially when she's asleep." The Hulahina advised carefully.
"Once she has worn the necklace, it will connect with her body. The gem itself will change color depending on how its carrier's feeling. The only colors you have to watch out are, black and white."
"What will those mean?" the empress, Kathiris asks.
"If the gem turns black, it means she's completely consumed with dark power and can no longer be brought back to the light." The Hulahina answers.
"What about white? What will that mean?" Kathiris asks again.
"It means she's dead."