The Princess of MioFabia ( Book One)

Into the Thick of Paula Forrest

Aurora took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh, cool air as she rode on Iceberg's back. The ride was peaceful, but she knew they weren't on a joyride. The group was traveling for justice, heading into the heart of Paula Forrest to avenge her father.

As they rode for hours, Rain pulled up alongside Aurora. "Chief, we need to rest. The horses need a break, and we should make camp."

Aurora nodded in agreement. "Very well. The next river we find, we'll set up camp there." 

A half hour later, the group found a river and, as promised, made camp. The fire crackled as they ate, but Aurora wasn't hungry. She sat with her knees to her chest, staring into the flames as memories of her father danced in her mind. She thought of everything he had taught her, all the wisdom he had shared with his "piccolo erede"—his little heir. He had called her that since she was a small child. But when she won the warrior tournament and became the first woman to do so, he started calling her his "principessa coraggioso"—his brave princess. She never knew why he changed the name, but she had grown used to it.

While Aurora was lost in her memories, the rest of the group was busy setting up camp. It was a long-standing tradition for the chieftain's tent—the largest of them all—to be set up first, and never by the chieftain themselves. After a short while, Aurora looked up from the fire, her mind returning to the present, and surveyed her people, ensuring they were all safe. 

After confirming everyone was safe, Aurora decided to take a walk alone to clear her head. Her thoughts wandered with every step, and soon, each footfall felt more painful than the last. Eventually, the black-haired chieftain fell to her knees, then lay down on the forest floor, her long hair blanketing her. This is when the dreams began, a terrifying cascade of her worst fears. In her dream, she wandered through her now-abandoned village. "Hello? Mother? Lionheart?" she called out. "Lionheart, I swear if you are—" Aurora's voice caught in her throat. The village was eerily silent, the air thick with the smell of smoke, but no flames. She saw her home, its doors and windows splintered open, and the scattered personal belongings of her people—a child's lost toy, a half-finished basket, a family quilt torn to shreds. There was no one here, only the chilling emptiness of total abandonment. "No," she whispered, her voice cracking. The silence was louder than any scream, a crushing testament to her failure to protect them. "You have ended my legacy, mio adorabile erede." Her father's voice, not angry but cold and full of disappointment, echoed behind her. She turned to see his form, a shadow made of moonlight and mist, his eyes hollow and lifeless.

Aurora stumbled back, her hand flying to her mouth to stifle a scream. Her mother was a statue of ice, her father's eyes were hollow voids, and her friends were nothing but memories frozen in time. This wasn't just a dream; this was her worst fear made real. The emptiness was a physical weight, a crushing failure she couldn't escape. "No," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. "I failed you. All of you."

Suddenly, a warm hand was on her shoulder, shaking her gently. "Chief! Wake up!" a voice called out, pulling her from the nightmare.

Aurora's eyes shot open. The chilling emptiness was gone, replaced by the warmth of a fire and the concerned face of Rain. "We were looking for you," Rain said softly. "Are you okay? You were crying in your sleep." 

"I'm fine, Rain. Just a bad dream," Aurora said calmly, her voice belying the terror that still lingered. She pushed herself to a sitting position and quickly wiped away the tears. "I wasn't crying," she added, her tone firm.

Rain, however, didn't seem convinced. She gave Aurora a knowing look, but didn't press the matter further. "We should get back to camp. The others are worried."

Aurora nodded and stood up. She felt a sense of urgency now, an undeniable need to get her group out of this forest. The dream felt too real, a warning she couldn't ignore. "Let's break camp now," she announced, her voice ringing with newfound authority. "We're leaving."

Her order was met with confused glances, but no one questioned their chieftain. In minutes, the camp was packed, and the group mounted their horses, ready to ride. As they reached the edge of the forest, a figure in a black mask stepped into their path, followed by a small group of armed people. It was the same person who had injured Kevin.

"Going somewhere, Chief?" the masked figure taunted.

Aurora's hand instinctively went to Spada, the magic sword that was now her birthright. The sight of the masked figure reignited the rage she felt toward the one who had killed her father. She met their gaze, her expression hardening.

"You're not going anywhere until you face me," the figure declared.

"I don't have time for this," Aurora said. "Get out of my way."

"Oh, but you do," the figure chuckled. "Unless you want me to bring my army to your little village again."

That was enough. Aurora dismounted Iceberg, pulling Spada from its sheath. "You and your friends against us," she said, her voice a low growl. "Let's finish this." The figure and their group charged, and the battle began. The battle erupted in a flurry of steel and magic. The masked figure and their small group were fast, but Aurora's team was a well-oiled machine. Rain and Storm moved like a single, devastating unit, their bows and daggers striking with lethal precision. Kevin unleashed bolts of arcane energy, his magic a vibrant shield that deflected attacks and sent enemies reeling. Ethen and the other Lionhearts fought with raw, brute force, their swords a blur of motion.

But the masked figure only had eyes for Aurora. They were a formidable opponent, their swordplay a dark, fluid dance that mirrored her own. As they fought, their movements felt familiar, a chilling echo of her own training. They clashed in the center of the clearing, their blades singing against each other while the fighting raged around them. With every parry and strike, Aurora's fury grew. She fought with the weight of her father's memory and the terror of her nightmare, each swing of Spada fueled by a righteous rage.

Suddenly, Aurora saw her opening. The masked figure's foot slipped on a patch of loose dirt. In that split second, Aurora disarmed them, sending their sword flying. She kicked them to the ground and held Spada to their throat. The battle around them stopped. Her team had won.

"Who are you?" Aurora demanded, her voice shaking with a mix of exhaustion and fury. "Why did you attack my village? Why did you kill my father?"

The figure remained silent, their face still hidden behind the black mask. Aurora, her patience gone, ripped the mask off.

What she saw made her gasp. The face was her own, but twisted by a wicked smile. It was a reflection, but not a mirror. This was someone she knew, a face that haunted her dreams. "No... it can't be," she whispered, her hands trembling.

The figure laughed—a high, manic sound that made Aurora's blood run cold. "Did you really think I would let you have it all, sister?"

"Daisy," Aurora choked out, her voice barely a whisper. Her own sister, the one she had sworn to protect, was the mastermind behind the attack.

"It should have been me," Daisy sneered, her eyes gleaming with a dark, jealous fire. "The village, the power, the glory... it was all supposed to be mine."

Aurora stumbled back, Spada falling from her hand. The betrayal was a deeper cut than any sword. "But... why?"

Daisy just laughed, the sound echoing through the suddenly silent forest. "You will pay for taking what was rightfully mine. "Aurora stumbles back from Daisy, her mind reeling. The betrayal is a deeper wound than any sword could inflict. She drops Spada, the sword clattering to the ground, a symbolic sound of her world shattering. Kevin rushes to her side, but she barely notices him. Her focus is solely on her sister, a person she had sworn to protect, now revealed as the source of her deepest pain. She might try to rationalize Daisy's actions, to find some way to understand the jealousy and hatred. However, as Daisy escapes with her group, the full weight of the situation crushes Aurora. Her sister is not just an enemy; she is a traitor to their family and their people.