HEARTS
Chapter one
In the ancient tradition of the Heartian myth, a majestic rose blooms at the birth of an individual with pure royal blood. As the keeper of this floral symbol grows, the rose develops forming an unbreakable bond with its guardian upon reaching adulthood. This mystical flower is respectedfor its connection to the life force of royalty, a testament to the powerful mysteries of creation.
Queen Rose, a beacon of unadulterated authority, led a life marked by unwavering respect and incredible power. Her rose, the most powerful of its kind, possessed the extraordinary ability to heal and nourish, ensuring the ever garden's eternal flourishing and safeguarding it against external threats. The idea that the queen's decision to bring forth another being of comparable power would destroy her physical form would have been deemed unthinkable by those who knew her.
As the embodiment of hope for the Heartian clan, Queen Rose had secured countless victories in battle, her name etched forever in Heartian history as the greatest ruler of all time. Yet, the prophecy threatened to ruin this legacy.
When the blood moon reaches its peak, a monumental pillar shall fall, and within the fiery, scarlet radiance that follows, a tower of unadulterated power shall emerge. Beware, for the balance between good and evil hangs, and the slightest disturbance of the celestial scales shall unleash a fury beyond imagination, leaving a bitter taste in its wake.
Queen Rose understood the prophecy's significance, but chose to conceal it's meaning, believing secrecy would ensure a lasting, intriguing legacy.
On the night of the solstice, beneath the crimson glow of the red moon, a newborn's cry pierced the dawn's stillness, shattering the peace of the Heart Tower. The queen's face, illuminated by a faint and weak smile, reflected her deep affection for the wondrous being she had brought into the world.
The infant's hair blazed with fiery intensity, its eyes glowed with the promise of untold tales and a beauty transcending mortal existence. As the queen's life force waned, her crown, surrounded by loyal retainers, seemed to symbolize the transfer of her sovereignty to the child. With her final breath, the queen's life force dissipated along with the withering of her bonded rose. Her form transformed into delicate rose petals, carried by the wind, their ultimate fate a mystery that has endured to this day.
---
Twenty years have passed since that night.
And in the heart of the Evergarden, where time folds in petals and whispers, a young woman stands.
Her hair, a cascade of flame, dances with the wind.
Her eyes search the sky like they've done a thousand times before.
She is clothed in silence, in memory, in the ache of something lost but never forgotten.
She kneels before the roses.
Her voice trembles, but her spirit does not.
"Mother... it's me again.
It's Ravenna."
A pause. The garden holds its breath.
"I've done terrible things. I've become the very storm they feared... and worse. But do you know what frightens me more than that?"
She places a hand on the soil. "I don't regret it."
Above her, the moon hides behind a cloud.
Below, the roses bloom brighter-almost listening.
"I will burn this kingdom down before I ever bow.
And when they speak of queens... they will speak my name in fire."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------