The Rise of a Hero & The Garnet Nightshade: A Violet Rose (Book 2)

Chapter XI: Arsidian's Wish

Lis'ra Castle

Courtyard

POV: Alyssa Saura'Latia

I stand on the balcony that overlooks the courtyard and announce to everyone who's in attendance.

"For those of you who don't know who I am, I am Alyssa Marie Lis'ra Saura'Latia, daughter to Elise Lis'ra Saura'Latia and Mira Saura'Latia Lis'ra. I stand here before you to inform you that my brother Arsidian has lost the ability to walk with one of his legs and that his wife Amber Lis'ra has died. I know most of you feel a certain way towards the elves as well as us demi-humans, but right now is not the time to have prejudice or malice towards each other. Now is the time we need to stand together as a unified people.

The beast-folk have killed many of our countrymen and will continue to do so until the second prince is silenced. I don't want us to fight out of anger or hatred, but to fight for those of us that still live. I lost my sister-in-law over what she felt was right, and my brother lost the use of his leg. Many of you have lost someone close to you, whether it be a wife, husband, child, brother, or sister.

I am telling you all now, my goal is to end this war before it can take any more from us than it already has. I am going to the beast-folk continent to kill the second-born prince and bring an end to this. I want you all to fight with your minds and hearts in the right place and not for revenge or vengeance. I know I'm asking a lot of you, but in doing so, you will have a clear and clean conscience."

As I walked away from the balcony everything stayed quiet. I didn't want to hear cheers or applause. I wasn't my brother. I told the people what they needed to hear, not what they wanted to hear. I myself was still angry over Amber's death, but I knew if I held onto that I would hate myself even more. Once I had calmed down I apologized to Sidora for snapping at her.

All Sidora did was hold onto me tightly as we both cried. Sidora no longer had anyone of her kind left. She was in the same boat my mother was until I was born. My parents had a monument of Amber placed in the courtyard. Once my brother had finally come to, the first thing he asked was if Amber made it out alive. I couldn't bring myself to tell him his wife was dead, Sidora had to leave the room, and our mother Mira couldn't face him either. So, our mother Elise sat down next to him and relayed her last words to him as well as her wedding ring.

In all my life, I had never heard my brother cry like he did that day. In the days since then, he's kept himself locked in his room. Like anyone who's mourning, he wouldn't eat. All the maids were told to stay away from him for their safety. The only people allowed in his room were me, Sidora, and our parents. During all of this, reports came in from every part of the domain as well as the others.

It seemed a large number of their soldiers had been pulled out of our continent. Meaning the second prince was inviting us to challenge him on his own turf. Which I had already planned on. Each domain sent supplies to areas that required them and so on, so the relief effort moved quickly and easily. Before I was going to leave, a guard told me my brother wished to speak with me privately.

Arsidian's Room

"What is it you wanted to talk to me about?" I ask once the door closes.

"The Supreme Commander of the beast-folk is a bear variation. You won't be able to kill him yourself. Sidora will have to help you. Don't let your guard down around him, or else you will die. He paralyzed me so I could watch my wife die and then laughed. I don't think I could live with myself if something happened to you or Sidora."

"I understand, and thank you for worrying."

"Before either of you leave, how are the children?"