The twins stood frozen in disbelief, their eyes wide with shock as the words sank in. "Prince and Princess?" they echoed, their voices barely above a whisper.
For years, they had grown up as a normal family with a single mother in London. Just like every other kid in the neighbourhood they never believed in magic either.
"Brother, is magic real?" Five-year-old Casey asked while she was swinging in a swing.
Lane turned his head towards her from the other swing he was sitting on and said loudly, "Of course not, idiot." He showed her his tongue. "You can never be a princess either. All those fairy tales are lies."
Casey whispered, "After ten years," looking proudly towards Lane as she reminisced.
Eyeing him, "I am a princess, you idiot."
Lane raises his eyebrows. "So? I am a prince!"
They had known nothing of their true heritage, save for the strange flower enamel pendant Casey wore around her neck, passed down from her mother. They had always assumed they were nothing more than simple humans, living out their days peacefully.
But now, the truth has been revealed. They were of royal blood, heirs to the throne of the kingdom.
As the weight of the news hit them, they stumbled back, their heads spinning with confusion. The idea of being royalty was as foreign to them as distant lands beyond this world.
Slowly, their shock gave way to an overwhelming sense of wonder. Could it be true? Could they really be the prince and princess?
Their eyes met, and at that moment, they knew. They knew that their lives would never be the same, that their destinies had been forever altered. They were no longer mere mortals, but something more, something greater.
Casey cleared her throat and said, "Please get up now, I think you have made a mistake. We cannot possibly be the prince and princess." She shrugged, "We are not who you claim us to be."
"No! Her Royal Highness!" Serenya's father said respectfully as he got up. "There's no mistake, those eyes, that hair and especially that auspicious flower enamel pendant you are wearing. It all symbolizes the Royal family." He looks at them, "Are you on a run away from the palace?"
"The palace?" Lane asked. "We followed the golden shining butterfly that Casey saw and it brought us here from our human or mortal whatever you call us world to here."
Serenya looked at her father. "Does that mean our Queen is not in the underground dungeon?"
"Queen?" Casey asked, "Do you mean Ysabel Rothania?"
Serenya's father nodded, "Yes! Is she still alive? Is she here with you?" he asked in a solemn voice.
"Yes, she is alive and well. She takes care of us, but sadly she isn't here with us."
He nodded, "I understand. That's actually better." trying his best not to cry.
Serenya hugged her father to comfort him. He patted her head, "Thank you, my little girl."
"May I ask, what actually happened? Why was my mother supposed to be in a dungeon? Rather than in the palace? I mean, she is the queen right?" Casey asked with curiosity in her voice and mischievousness in her eyes.
His face grew darker. "My deepest apologies, Her Highness! I don't know what exactly happened either. The villagers know only some of it and I wouldn't wanna give you half-baked information about our queen."
Lane asked abruptly, "Then is there someone who can tell us everything we need to know?"
He nodded, "Yes, His Highness! There is one person who knows everything about it as he was a close acquittal with Queen Helena, your grandmother. He might be able to tell you the exact details."
"Grandma?" both of them said in unison.
They never knew they had a grandma. Their mother never talked about it, so they stopped asking at some point. To think they are actually from a royal family. Their father is the king and their mother is the queen. Their grandmother was the previous queen. This was a bit too much to swallow down at once. In the corner of their hearts, they were happy they were royals. Though they were so set on revealing the truth, why did their mother run away? Why was she locked? Is our grandma still alive? If so, then where is she? So many questions flooded their brains. But the biggest of them was:
"Where could we possibly find that person?"
"We need to travel to the town of Ivors. If we start off in the morning we will reach there in a few days." He looked out of the window. "It's already evening, it won't be a good time for us to travel. I will advise you to avoid meeting elves and Ivors for now. Even if you stumble upon one, never ever tell them your real identity."
"Why? Do they hate the royal family?" Casey asked.
"Not the royal family but The King, It's a long story please rest for today. Her Highness please follow Serenya, she will guide you around the house. You can clean yourself and change. His Highness, kindly follow me for the same."
As the first rays of sunlight peeked over the treetops, the forest village of the elves began to stir. The gentle rustle of leaves and the soft chirping of birds served as a sweet symphony to start their day.
In the heart of the village, the houses of the elves stood tall and proud, surrounded by lush greenery and blooming flowers. Inside, they were already awake, attending to their morning rituals, as they listened to the whispers of the forest.
Meanwhile, in the nearby treehouses, the families of elves began to wake up to the familiar sound of the river flowing by. Mothers and fathers prepared breakfast for their little ones, while older children helped with chores around the house. The air was filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread, honey, and herbs.
Casey watched all this from the top of Serenya's house. It was a beautiful view. The morning breeze carried the sound of their voices, as the young elves bustled around the moss rocks that paved the way, laughing cheerfully around the village. They ran through the dense foliage, chasing each other, and giggling in delight. The forest was their playground, and they revelled in its beauty and magic.
As the sun rose higher in the sky, the village returned to a quiet calm, and the elves settled into their daily routine. The forest village was a place of peace, tranquillity, and harmony with nature, and the morning was just the beginning of another beautiful day in the enchanted realm of the Elves.
"Should we get moving, Your Highnesses?" Serenya's father asked. "We have done the necessary arrangement."
Serenya's family, a few trusted Elves of Serenya's father and the twins were embarking on a journey to the neighbouring town of Ivors, the Dwarves, a land of sturdy mountains and vast underground tunnels. They had prepared for this journey very well, packing their carts with provisions, blankets, and tools, for they knew that the road ahead was long and treacherous.
As they set out on their journey, the elves climbed aboard their wooden carts as everyone followed them, drawn by majestic horses with sleek coats of brown and black. The wheels of the carts creaked as they rolled over the bumpy dirt path, and the horses snorted as they stepped into the unknown.
"Serenya" Casey called out, "I have a question for you?"
"Yes, Her Highness!" She said, sitting upright.
"Ugh, first of all, can you just drop the title?"
"No, Her Highness that would be very rude of me. Please go ahead with your question."
"Okay. So when we first met in the forest, you mentioned something that I can't even control. What was it?"
"Oh. Astralite. In simple words, it's our magic energy. The magic energy in this world is an invisible force, yet it can be sensed by those who possess the ability to harness it. It is a powerful energy that can be channelled and manipulated, allowing the wielder to shape and transform reality to their will."
Casey looked at her hand and said, "So, is my magic energy lightning?"
"Exactly! Her Highness, however, magic energy is not infinite. It is a finite resource that must be replenished, either through meditation, rituals, or other means. Overuse of magic energy can lead to physical and mental exhaustion, and even death."
"Ever happened?" Casey asked.
"It never happened to us Elves as we possess the power to heal. We can heal a person as long as they are not dead."
"I see, that's how it is. It never happened to me back when I was in my mortal world. I never ever felt that type of energy within me or Astralite you call it"
"Her Highness that must be because the mortal world doesn't allow the laws of magic there, yet. In this world, Astralite is not just a tool or a weapon. It is a way of life, a part of the very essence of existence. It is the source of wonder and mystery, and the catalyst for adventure and discovery. It is the energy that brings the fantastical world to life, and the force that makes it all possible."
Casey nodded, trying her cram to grasp every last word of what Sereyna said.
The forest soon gave way to rolling hills, and the elves felt the wind pick up, whipping through their hair and robes. They passed fields of wheat, corn, and barley, and the sweet scent of wildflowers filled the air. Birds flew overhead, chirping merrily, and the elves laughed and sang in unison as they journeyed forth.
"In the forest deep and old,
Where the trees are tall and bold.
Where the river flows so clear,
And the flowers bloom all year."
Casey and Lane both in their carts were smiling and swaying to their melody and trying to match their wordings.
"There, the elves dance in the night,
Beneath the stars so bright,
Their laughter filled the air.
As they sing without a care.
So if you wander through the woods,
And hear a melody so good.
Follow the sound and you'll see.
The elves dancing free."