The Rising Sun

Amethiea prepared in her chamber as her mother placed a pin in her silvery white hair, a family heirloom passed down for generations. Her dress was the purest white, and her chest felt tight with sorrow for the freedom she was about to lose. Her mother kissed her brow before leading her out of the room. It was tradition for all weddings to be held in the keep of Drakoria Castle at sunrise, secluded to only royal members of each house. The Emperor, Amethiea's father, walked her down the hall and handed her off to Prince Kael. As they said their vows and sealed their union with a band, Amethiea couldn't help but notice the dark clouds that seemed to fog the prince's blue eyes. Their union was briefly celebrated over breakfast before preparing for the sacred ritual.

The Sun meets the Moon

Haimanyx always mesmerizing event, located within the Upala Forest, where the guardian gems powered protective wards near the borders of Drakoria. Laughter, music, and drinks filled the air, celebrating the realm's safety and royal lineage. Ametheia sat atop a raised platform on a dias, her new husband noticeably distant, his features masked in ia cold expression to the festivities. As the night progressed, the time for the ritual arrived. Ametheia paled as they brought forth the sacrificial dragon, a runt from its litter. Its throat slit to fill a large cup with its blood. Its haunting cry echoed, and as the blood spilled, blue flames ignited. Townsfolk danced and praised the creature, marking the newlyweds in its blood before they shared a drink from the cup. The taste of sulfur and the grit of ash lingered in Ametheia's mouth.

The previous sacrifice concluded, and now it was time for the final ritual of the night, Ametheia's virtue. A special tent awaited the newlyweds within the circled guardian gems. According to tradition, they were to enter and consummate their union, then emerge to share their sacrifice by spilling their own blood onto the central guardian gem just outside the tent as the sun kissed the moon in an eclipse. But the ritual took a dark turn. As Ametheia laid back, exposed, prepared to fulfill her part, the prince, pulled a dagger to her throat. Its handle was etched with ancient runes, all happening too quickly for her to struggle as he slit her throat. Blood gushed as she choked in shock. Her vision blurred at the corners, witnessing the prince, as if possessed, turn the knife on himself. His blood spilled over her staining her white hair with red, his body collapsing and going limp upon hers. 

Panic surged as she struggled to scream, realizing his wound was not fatal. Desperately, she summoned her healing powers, focusing to save herself. Outside, screams pierced the air as her brother burst in. Wide eyed, he saw his twin fighting for her life. Placing his hands over hers, he channeled his own magic, to ensure her survival. She gasped, filling her lungs with air, as Daemon draped his cape over her and led her from the tent. Chaos erupted as soulstalkers breached the wards and began slaughtering innocents. How they breached the defenses remained a mystery. Daemon guided his sister through the chaos, racing past their mother's lifeless body, a slit to her throat. Ametheia stifled a heart wrenching scream, her eyes scanning for their father who battled to seal the breach in the ward. It would be later that Ametheia learned of his death that night, sacrificing everything to close the gap and protect their people.