The Legend of Sariolla

Kresera

Jolting around like a popcorn kernel, causes unbearable, searing pain to erupt on my back, finally awakening me from a deep, dreamless sleep. Opening my eyes slowly, I want to cry out to my mother to take the carriage to the hospital, but my throat feels too sore to speak. Forcing my eyes to stay open, I notice I am indeed in my carriage and a feeling of comfort strikes momentarily. Before it is once again shattered by the incessant, searing pain of my back as I attempt to sit up. The pain forces unwanted memories to crash to the forefront of my brain. The invasion, my parent's escape, the fires, soldiers, him and the brand he burned into my back. Immediately, my body racks with sobs, overwhelmed by the vileness of it all.

How could everything change overnight, how could it all be destroyed so easily? My entire life, completely shattered in a mere few hours. My beautiful Kingdom. What's left of it now? The Town Square, the Music Hall, the Academy, the Science Centre, the Grand Gardens, the Animal and Produce Farms, the Homes and the Lives of my people. Did they destroy it all? I cry out as the intensity of my emotions begs to be unleashed.

My parents have always informed me of Callaya's history. My father wanted to prepare me for the responsibilities that came with our bloodline, my mother wanted to protect my innocence above all. Because of this, I was more sheltered than I wanted to be. Maybe if I had taken more of an interest in my father's affairs, if I had been more prepared for a situation like this, I might've actually been of some use. I understand why my parents had to leave, the survival of my kingdom depends on their survival, but a part of me doesn't understand how they could have possibly left when Callaya needed them most, when our people did, when I did?

I wonder if they know I've been taken, I'm sure that if they do they are grief and guilt stricken. They certainly wouldn't expect me to have disobeyed a direct order and gone back to help my friends. There is a lot they don't know about me. Will they come to rescue me? Is that for the best? What was the point of this all if it ends in their surrender?

Rubbing my sore wrists and ankles, I note that my restraints were removed before noticing the light blue blanket wrapped around me. It's mine from when I was a baby. Crushing it in my hands, I eagerly inhale the blanket, wanting to feel a moment of safety. It still carries the familiar scent of berries and orchids. My mom used to surround me with them as I slept, saying they were apart of my essence so they'd help balance the energies inside me. Although, the scent is now tainted by a harsh aroma of smoke and destruction. Who put this around me? After destroying everything dear to me and branding my skin, was this supposed to comfort me?

Thoughts I'd been avoiding start to creep in as my mind can no longer escape the intense memory of obsidian eyes filled with rage. I'd been told horror stories of the Northern Kingdom Sariolla since I was born. They were our sworn enemy, engulfed in darkness, hell-bent on Callaya's destruction because of their greed for power. My parents would use Sariolla as a threat to scare me into obedience and it worked for years. Even now, there was a chill of fear that ran up my back whenever it was mentioned. As though I'd always sensed the doom Sariolla would bring. When I was just a baby, my father killed Argon, Sariolla's old King, in battle. Afterwards, he warned me of the young prince, Hadeon. He warned me that his eventual thirst for revenge would lead to an attack on our Kingdom, and that when that day came, we needed to be prepared. His words always scared me, but I certainly never understand the gravity of the situation, until now.

Never in my life have I seen such anger in a person's eyes, have I been so utterly terrified and completely helpless. I'd been around knights and royals my entire life, but I'd never before seen such intense resolution to destroy. As though he was born for it. He didn't seem human. His size and demeanor alone seem supernatural, his dark features eerily demonic. There was a brutality about him that could only be gained through years of ruthless murder. I was certain I'd be dead soon.