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Chapter 2 - Chapter 1

Aria's first line of thinking when she woke up in the morning was how she would acquire food for her family. Her mind was constantly on survival mode. The last of their rations would run out soon, and she was not sure if they could make it if they continued to live like this.

Their quaint, little village was on the outskirts of the kingdom on this side of the realm, known as West Lake. Aria and her family, who included an older sister, Emma, and her father, Christopher, were a part of the lower class in their community. Aria and her sister grew up that way, however they learned to adapt.

The Centennial was coming up, so more travelers were passing through the land. It made essentials such as food hard to come by these days.

Aria sat up, careful not to wake her sleeping sister who lay beside her. Although Emma was the eldest child, she was much more timid than Aria. She had to take on a role as caregiver for her older sister sometimes, even when they were young.

Their father wasn't much help. Whatever money he was able to get his hands on, he gambled away. It used to upset his daughters, but they're far too used to it now. At least he wasn't home often enough to eat all of their left over food.

"Time to get dressed," Aria thought to herself. She had an odd feeling, as if something out of the ordinary was going to occur today. As a result, she would wear her best garments, just in case. She knew better than to brush a feeling like that away. Usually those gut feelings end up being accurate.

"Aria? The sun's barely even risen, stop squirming," Emma muttered, half asleep. Her tone made Aria chuckle.

"Sorry. I'm headed to the market today, maybe they will have some food left over to share with us like before. Did father come home last night?"

"No. Now stop talking, you're far too loud." Emma turned her head towards the wall.

"Sorry, again". Aria whispered, slipping out of the room, now fully dressed.

She doubted there would be anything available at the market. The people traveling to the Centennial are running their village dry. Why couldn't they just travel through another town?

Truthfully, maybe Aria was just jealous. Before her mother passed, she used to read her and Emma stories about Isule Centennial. Even though the purpose of the ceremony was quite devastating, the rest of the festivities sounded rather exciting. Dancing, fancy dresses, dinners, parties, shows, what's not to love? Other than the execution, of course.

Aria and Emma have always wanted to visit the Centennial, as only a few have happened in their lifetime. Only royalty and other nobles could attend. The ceremony and most activities in the Denonian Castle were invite only. People still liked going to the kingdom during the time around it, though. Locals would usually throw their own kinds of celebrations. Just about anyone could take part in it.

Unfortunately, they simply can't afford. Well, there's always the next centennial.

While Aria was getting ready to walk out the front door, she heard a knock?

"Who could that possibly be?" She wondered. Her father would never knock on their own front door.

This must explain the weird feeling that overcame her when she awoke this morning.

They knocked again.

Of course, she had to open the door. Hopefully Emma was still asleep.

Aria walked to the door and opened it, being met with a nobleman who's hand was up as if he were about to knock again. Upon seeing her, slightly taken aback, he pulled his hand away to dust off his suit. He cleared his throat before he spoke.

"Hello. I'm looking for a woman by the name of Aria Madden. Is she here?"

What is going on?

"Um, yes, that's me. And you are?"

"Oh, wonderful. Ah yes, I'm an assistant of the King of Denonia. I've come to collect you. You've been invited to the Isule Centennial."