When the Kingdom of Northern Luxon fell, the freezing winter morning of 1374 was tainted with the scent of blood and soot. As the armies of Southern Novastrum laid waste to the city, King Andre had already perished on the battlefield. Queen Beatrice's lifeless body lay upon the cold marble of the palace gates, where she had once walked in splendor. The sole remaining hope of a massive kingdom was swaddled tightly in the arms of a sixteen-year-old palace servant, Emily: Crown Prince Hyoga.
Emily's hands trembled, yet her steps were unhesitating. Her lungs burned from the cold as she sprinted toward the stables, where plumes of smoke were rising. Mounting a horse in a swift motion, she cast one final glance at her collapsing kingdom and looted home, then drove her steed toward the endless, snow-covered plains.
"Do not fear, little prince," she whispered through the howling wind, pulling the baby closer to her chest. "I will protect you."
A pouch of gold she had snatched from the palace vaults at the last moment was now her only security in this world. After hours of a freezing journey that chilled her to the bone, she reached a small village buried in snow. Utterly exhausted, she knocked on the door of the local guild hall and rented a modest room for a single night.
The silence of the room was broken only by the crackling wood in the fireplace. Emily's mind, however, was in turmoil. She felt crushed beneath the weight of this colossal responsibility thrust upon her in the prime of her youth, questioning every step she had taken. The last surviving member of the royal bloodline slept entirely defenseless in her arms.
She wiped away her tears with trembling hands. A bittersweet smile appeared on her lips as she gazed at Prince Hyoga's oblivious, innocent face. "It seems difficult times await us, little one," she whispered. After gently placing the baby onto the soft bed, she prayed for this nightmarish day to end and, yielding to her exhaustion, fell into a deep sleep.
By the time the first rays of sunlight seeped into the room, Emily was already awake. Like every palace servant who had served the king and queen, her life had been shaped by strict rules and discipline. The very first thing she did upon opening her eyes was check on Prince Hyoga.
She quickly grabbed a few bites to eat for herself, but the true dilemma gnawing at her mind was something else entirely. How was a newborn baby going to be fed? The answer was simple, yet impossible for Emily.
In despair, she looked first at her own chest, then at the baby stirring in the bed. She bowed her head in shame. "I am so sorry, Prince Hyoga. How I wish I could give you the milk you need myself... Please forgive me for being so useless."
But this was no time for weeping and despair. She was no longer just a servant; she was a protector. Taking a deep breath, she gathered herself. Lifting the baby into her arms, she left the inn.
Following a long and arduous walk, she arrived at a neighboring village that appeared much quieter. As her eyes scanned the surroundings, she spotted a young woman holding a baby. It was evident she had recently given birth. Knowing she had to conceal the child's true identity, Emily bowed respectfully before her.
"Please, my lady," she said, her voice trembling. "This poor infant is the last keepsake of my older sister, who was killed by raiders. He has been starving for days; I beg of you, give him just a little milk."
The woman smiled with compassion. "Of course, young girl. I would gladly nurse this little one."
Just then, several children gathered around them, asking excitedly, "Hey, what do you want from Archmage Lola?"
When the woman raised her hand to calm the children, Emily froze in place. She stared at the woman in sheer shock. "You... You are an Archmage?"
The woman nodded slightly. "Yes, dear. I am Archmage Lola."
Trying to comprehend where fate had dragged her, Emily stammered, "W-where exactly are we?"
Lola let out a soft laugh. "It seems your sense of direction is a bit lacking, child. You are currently in the Kingdom of Aethelgrad. The lands where magical power takes root and flourishes most fiercely."
Shortly after, they arrived at a peaceful wooden cabin on the edge of the forest. Once Lola made sure her own baby was asleep, she gently took the small prince from Emily's arms. But the moment her hands touched the baby's skin, the air in the cabin suddenly grew heavy. An indescribable wave of power surged through Lola's veins.
Her eyes widened in astonishment as she turned to Emily. "This is truly incredible... There is a deep, ancient, and dormant power within this child. Tell me, were your sister or her husband gifted in the magical arts?"
Emily hesitated for a moment. The majestic and fearsome figures of King Andre and Queen Beatrice on the battlefield flashed before her eyes. She swallowed hard. "Yes," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "My sister wielded the water element. Her husband possessed the ability to control fire."
Lola was shaken by what she heard. She looked down at the baby she was nursing with absolute awe, as if gazing upon a priceless treasure. "So you come from a lineage that carries both water and fire in its veins... You are a miraculous child."
After gently stroking the baby's cheek, she finished feeding him and handed him back to Emily. Then, looking straight into the young girl's eyes, she made an offer that was impossible to refuse.
"Listen to me, child. I will be honest with you. It is obvious you have nowhere left to go, and this baby needs nourishment. A young girl like you cannot survive carrying such a burden alone. Therefore... you and this little one will stay with me." Lola's voice was both compassionate and authoritative. "This cabin will be a home to you both. And when the time comes, I will personally teach this child how to wield the massive magical power sleeping within him."
Emily knew this was the most critical turning point of her life. Since the terrifying moment she fled the palace, she had had only one goal: to keep Prince Hyoga safe.
Taking a deep breath, she nodded. "I accept," she said, her voice full of gratitude. "I have no other choice, and I cannot thank you enough, Archmage Lola. I promise I will help you with every chore around the house."
Lola smiled warmly. "I am glad to hear that. I am certain this little one will get along perfectly with my daughter."
Just then, Lola's baby woke up and began to cry. Hearing the sound, Hyoga immediately joined in, and the sharp cries of the two infants echoed in every corner of the small cabin. With utter calm, Lola snapped her fingers. A faint shimmer drifted through the air, and within seconds, both babies fell into a deep sleep. When they gently laid them down in the same bed, a peaceful silence finally settled over the home.
Seeing Hyoga sleeping so securely, Emily felt the immense weight lift from her shoulders. She collapsed into an empty chair. The relentless flight of the past few days and the horrifying stress she had endured had entirely depleted her body. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she fell into a deep sleep right where she sat.
Noticing the young girl's exhausted state, Lola picked up a blanket from beside the fireplace and gently draped it over Emily. "After all, she is still just a child herself," she murmured. "The things she has endured at this age are truly horrific. It seems I now have three little children to look after."