Chapter 1: Morning in the Village

Trinity lay across her unmade bed flipping through her large book of legends.  The early morning sun peeked through her curtains as she stopped on a crumpled page, and she traced the words that she could recite in her sleep.

> Long ago, there was a heroic young woman known as the Protector of Light.

It was how Trinity’s mother would always begin the tale as well.  She still remembered sitting under the shade of the oak trees with her siblings for the first time.  Huddled together on the cold New Year’s night, they listened as Mama told the story of the girl with amazing lightning magic who traveled across the kingdom protecting people from monsters.  Trinity had asked for the story every year until Mama eventually bought her The Legends of Astellaca.  It was the greatest gift she had ever received in her twelve years of life, even if a page was clearly missing.

The page detailing how the Protector of Light disappeared.

Bang!

Trinity jumped, her book falling onto the wood floor.  “Hello?” she said.  It became quiet save for singing birds and the quiet breaths from outside her room.  Standing, she opened her door, finding her twin sister there, dark brown eyes wide and pink nightgown clenched in her shaking hands.  “What the…was that you, Oriana?”

“Did I wake you?” she said before shaking her head.  “Sorry, you can go back—”

“I was already awake.  Are you okay?”

“Um, yes.”  Oriana shuffled her feet.  “Just…checking on you.”

Trinity frowned.  Her sister never just “checked” on her unless something was up.  And since it was too early for her to had embarrassed herself while out,

“There’s a spider on your ceiling.”  Oriana squeaked, confirming Trinity’s guess.  Chuckling, she leaned against her door frame.  “Want me to take care of it?”  After a second, Oriana nodded, and Trinity went down to her sister’s room.  The spider, no bigger than her thumb, hung above Oriana’s pillow.  Rolling her eyes, Trinity spread her hands out and

Slap!

squished the spider.  Oriana grimaced as Trinity brushed what was left of her foe onto the floor.  “And a monster is vanquished,” she said with a grin.  “Oh, what would you do without me, dear sister?”

“Shut it,” Oriana muttered.

Trinity laughed when her stomach grumbled.  “All that monster slaying has worked up an appetite.  Let’s whip up some breakfast before Mama wakes up.”  Giggling, Oriana followed Trinity as they tiptoed out of her room and past their parents’ bedroom.  Trinity could faintly hear her baby brother snoring, making her move slower as they approached the kitchen.  The girls then got right to work, the clink and clank of pans filling the room.  Trinity smiled as the smell of hot cakes and bacon filled her nose.

“Extra, extra!  Important news regarding Her Majesty!”

“Right on time,” Trinity said, dropping her plate on the table.  She grabbed her father’s paper money pouch and went down to the first floor.  Opening the bakery door, she flicked the paperboy two gold coins plus a silver as he handed her the weekly paper.  “Keep the silver for yourself.”

“Are you sure?” the paperboy said with a wide smile.  “Thank you, Trinity!  You’re so generous.”

It was really Papa’s generosity along with wanting to help his old students, but Trinity dared not mention this as she went back upstairs.  Oriana was already eating as Trinity laid the paper out between them.

> A ball!

>

> The extravagant ball of Her Majesty, Queen Elysia, is fast approaching.  Her adviser announced last night that the event is slated for Gemimay 1 at the beautiful Starr Palace.

>

> Although only the most noble of nobility will be invited, be sure that I, dear reader, will be there for commentary outside.

“I wonder what it’s like?” Oriana said.

“What?  Attending the queen’s ball?” Trinity said with a laugh.  “You would want to attend something like that.”

Oriana frowned.  “I meant living in the palace.”

“Oh.”  Trinity bit into a piece of bacon and gulped some orange juice.  “Probably big, filled with lots of rooms, maybe even a gaming…why are you looking at me like that?”  She pouted.  “What did you want me to say?”  Sighing, Oriana turned to the next page of the paper.

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> Strange Attacks

>

> The most recent of strange attacks has reached popular vacation spot, Cali Heights.  Victims report feeling as if they are drowning and on fire at the same time.  Her Majesty has yet to make a comment.

“Another one,” Oriana said with a shudder.

“Exciting, isn’t it?” Trinity said.

“I suppose…did you say exciting?”

“Imagine all the adventurers chasing down the enemy since the Astellacan Guard can’t catch them.”  Trinity leaned forward, stars in her eyes.  “And when the battle seems dim, the Protector of Light appears and saves the day.”

Oriana stared, fork still while her mouth hung.  After what felt like an eternity, she said, “You still believe that fairy tale?”

“Legend, and of course!  Because one day, I’m going to be just like her.”  Trinity punched her arm into the air.  “Especially after I turn sixteen and join the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“Especially when you join what?”

Flinching, Trinity turned towards the kitchen entrance.  Standing there in her brown apron and with a twitching smile was her mother, her brother giggling behind her legs.  “Good morning, Mama,” Trinity said with a small smile.

“Good morning, starlight,” she said, the twitch getting faster.  “You two seem nice and awake, meaning you can get to work.”  Groaning, the girls stood and began cleaning up their breakfast.  “Once you’re done, Oriana, I want you to walk Skyler to school.”

“Yes, Mama,” Oriana said quietly.

“And Trinity, I need you to head to the general goods shop and pick up ingredients for my Starbolt Blueberry Chocolate Muffins.  Make sure you get—”

“Blueberries, chocolate chips, flour, and eggs.  Got it!” Trinity said, dashing past her mother to the washroom.  Once clean, she went up to her room and pulled on a plain blue shirt and black pants, tying a belt around her waist.  Brushing her black curls into a ponytail, Trinity opened her window.  A rush of spring air blew in, and she smiled.

Atland Village was awake.

Putting a small cloak on, Trinity grabbed a leather satchel and jumped down to the first floor.  Mama, who was at the oven, pointed at a small bag of money on the counter.  “Come right back, you hear,” she called.

Nodding, Trinity tossed the money bag into her satchel and left her home.  She slipped a bit on the cobblestone before walking down the streets that never changed.  Horses trotted past her, neighbors hanging up their laundry to dry.  A few people said good morning to Trinity who returned the gesture.  After making two turns, she reached the village square.  People walked around the center fountain, a few sitting in the shade of the looming Council of Leaders building.  According to Trinity’s father, the adults who worked there were in charge of the village and reported to The Countess of The Council who worked directly for Her Majesty.  In Papa’s eyes, to work there would be a great honor.

In Trinity’s eyes, it was the most boring job in the world.

Going to the west side of the square, Trinity arrived at the general goods shop.  The shopkeeper smiled as she approached the stand.  “Good morning, Trinity,” she said.  “What would you like?”

“Blueberries, chocolate chips, flour, and eggs please,” Trinity said.

“Sounds like your mother is making her famous muffins,” the shopkeeper said, taking out a sack of flour and a basket of eggs.  “Unfortunately, we are out of blueberries and chocolate chips.  We sold out our stock yesterday, and the next shipment is not for two weeks.”

“Two weeks?” Trinity said before sighing and paying for what she could get.  “I’ll let my mother know.  Thank you.”

Trinity turned to leave.  “Trinity!”  She glanced back.  “If your mother really needs it, I hear that Southern Bridge has both.”

Southern Bridge was the neighboring village, and despite being in a different region of the kingdom, it was only a half-day’s journey.  It would be faster sending someone, like Trinity, there to get the ingredients instead of sending an order out.

Mama would never agree to let her leave the village even for two minutes.

“Thank you,” Trinity said, hurrying home.  Rounding the corners as her excitement died, she froze.  Before her was a blue orb.  However, it was unlike any orb Trinity had ever seen.  It glowed like the sun, and it floated before her.  “What is this?” she muttered, walking up to it.  The closer she got, the more her stomach twisted.  At the same time, a warm feeling spread through her body.  She placed her groceries on her house’s step and reached her hand out to the orb.

In a flash, it flew away.

Without another thought, Trinity chased after it.  It zoomed through the buildings and people, no one but Trinity noticing it.  It led her back to the square and to the village’s eastern exit before making a sharp left into the woods.  Trinity knew Mama would kill her if she knew where she was, a rush of excitement filling her as she entered the trees.  Reaching a clearing, the orb stopped.  “Got you!”  Spreading her arms, she slapped her hand on the orb.  It vanished with a Pop!

It was then that Trinity noticed a girl across from her holding a boy by the hair.

Neither were of Atland Village, that Trinity was sure of.  While the girl looked the same age as her, the boy couldn’t had been much older than Skyler.  Tears streamed from his eyes as the girl squeezed, and Trinity stomped forward.  “Stop!” she shouted, the girl freezing.  “Leave him alone.  You’re hurting him!”  The girl stared at Trinity with a frown.  A frown that slowly changed to a smirk.  Letting the boy go, she walked towards Trinity who stood her ground.  The girl took two steps before snapping her fingers.

In a flash of light, she disappeared, a pink gem left in her place.

“Where did she—?” Trinity began to say when there was a thud, the little boy sitting on the ground rubbing his head.  “Are you okay?”  She rushed over to him and knelt down as he looked up with teary orange eyes.  On his head were pointy dog ears as brown as his hair, a furry tail trembling behind him.

Trinity was sure her day could not get stranger.

“I’m alright, but thank you for helping me,” the boy said softly.

He stood and wiped away any remaining tears.  Wondering if there was anything else she could do, Trinity flinched as the bells of the schoolhouse began to ring.  “How about I walk you to school?” she said, holding her hand out.  “My father is a teacher, so he’ll be able to put in a word with the headmaster about your tardiness.”

“Trinity?”

She glanced back, Oriana walking towards her with a frown.  “What are you doing back here?” she asked.

“Oh, I’m helping—”  Trinity gasped, the dog boy gone.  “Where did he go?”