***In some kingdom, far into the past…***
The smoldering ruins of a mountainside castle complex was still burning when its defenders and occupants raised the banner of surrender after a prolonged siege. Watching them pass on the sidelines were the warriors that captured the place. Knights, and levy footmen filed past their victorious foes, defeated but proud of their final struggle. As they came to the range of enemy archers, the leader of their captors—a huge man with clothes made from wild animals—spoke…
"Rejoice, brave warriors of Feldmor. We, the Ghrus, salute your courage and steadfast defense of your lands. Be glad then, for we will offer you to our gods!"
Once the man lowered his raised arm, his archers let loose their deadly projectiles, peppering the surrendered men with arrows. The other side proudly stood and received their deaths until the lethal missiles filled their bodies heavy enough for them to fall. Once the warriors of the castle were dead or dying, the enemy magicians cast flame magic on the corpses as a final salute.
What was left were the unarmed castle occupants, mostly women and children. While they cowered and huddled in one spot in fear, the enemy that captured them did nothing; their leader did command them not to show barbarism, after all.
The lady leading that group stepped forward, tearing off her regal robes and throwing herself before the barbarian king. "I am at your mercy, barbarian," she said. "You may do as you please to me, but I implore you to show mercy to my kin."
"You cannot give what you don't have," he replied. "You are indeed a queen, but of what? Your realms are now burning, destroyed by my hand. And you, you are at my mercy. If your foolish king had only permitted us to settle in your lands; we have no other desire except a corner in which we can live in peace."
"I humbly ask for your forgiveness. We have been proud."
There was a tense silence, as the enemy stared at their opponents with contempt. Likewise, the defeated side braced for the worse; they wrapped their children in their arms, and tried to stop the baby within their group from crying.
"Who is that child?" the barbarian king asked, hearing the cries of the baby.
"She's my daughter, brave king," the queen answered, her voice quivering. "She has just been born to me, and I plead for her life."
Another moment of silence. The barbarian forces taunted their foes of murder by making obscene gestures. The ladies silently cried as desperation took over them. However…
"I shall show mercy!" the king declared. "If that foolish king has been unkind to us, then I shall do the opposite!"
His warriors were bewildered at him; they threw a confused stare at their king, hoping that they misheard his words. Likewise, the queen and her companions were similarly shocked.
"Forgiveness you shall receive," the barbarian king reiterated. "As long as I live, your kin will not be harmed. Anyone of the Ghrus who do so shall face my wrath."
The queen stood up, and bowed in gratitude. However, the barbarian wasn't finished yet…
"But you, queen of that foolish king and your daughters and sons, you shall be banished from our lands forever. From the moment you lost, you already have lost the mandate of the gods. Begone! I'll have some of your captured warriors escort you out to the borders of your fallen realm."
Well, it was certainly a generous arrangement, even though the queen had expected the worse. They could always rebuild their forces and return to the throne, but what was important was they get to keep their lives for now.
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And so, having been banished outside their kingdom, the queen and her daughter—along with their servants and a few warriors—set out for the borders. The barbarian king, ironically for his 'culture,' allowed the disgraced royal family to take one of their prized carriages, and a few of their valuable belongings, as well as a solemn promise never to return. Having grabbed her chance, the queen swore to herself, and into a few loyal retainers that she or her descendants would retake their throne.
"My daughter will be my house's lifeline," she declared as their carriage crossed the countryside. "The princess shall come after me, and I task everyone of you to train her to become a proper queen like me, ambitious and powerful."
Her servants bowed in agreement, having received the task of rearing the child. However, their talk was interrupted when they heard a knock on the carriage door.
"Your Majesty!" the soldier on the other side spoke. A servant unlocked it for him. The knight then never waited for the queen to acknowledge his presence and delivered his message. "Your Majesty, please be prepared. We are about to cross the border."
"Prepared?" though she received the warning, the queen seemed unalarmed by the news. She continued to attend to her child, not even looking at the knight. "Why?"
"The fall of our kingdom brought chaos and disorder to the countryside. The town militias are gone, cities destroyed, and people are suffering from repeated barbarian raids," he explained. "As such, let us beware of the bandits that might be roaming around. There have been multiple signs of their presence in the area; burned villages, corpses on the road, and destroyed stores and granaries."
"I'll leave it to you to prepare," the queen decided.
At once, the knight gave his salute and went back to his unit. And the journey continued. The next thing that happened, the disgraced queen's entourage was waylaid on their way to the border, with everyone killed by the bands of highwaymen they were warned about. And the bandits also dead from an unknown cause.
Except for the queen's daughter…according to a peasant who was the first to the scene when the 'massacre' reached their village, a beautiful lady with long, flowing dark hair walked with a baby in her arms, before vanishing altogether.
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**Gaius**
That dream once again. It played into my thoughts…
"…"
I wonder if Kuro could even see it, considering that I lived inside his mind nowadays. But, lately, I always dreamed of that queen…Seirna's real mother…and how Arame took her. And really, it was a tragic story; nevertheless, it was even more heartbreaking to know that my stepdaughter could not even visit her mother's grave, for that Void monster already devoured that world. I only remember it because I was a god…a former one, though still accorded some privileges of the deities.
"…"
In any case, that dream reminded me of Seirna. That child was hardworking, and she devoted her time doing her saintly duties…so she could help me. However, what I did to her in the end was unacceptable. Not only did I take her for granted, I even told her she was useless. And I guess, that's the last straw for her.
Ah, where is that child now?
Well, it was not like I could do something about her situation. If anything, I should help Kuro become god as soon as possible, and then, we could help her. She was the Overseer Saint; the one voice of reason to the five saints, and her loss would be a big blow against our cause.
"…"
And, I don't want to lose her. Seirna, though she's my stepdaughter, is someone I loved…just like my own children.