Write your own story

1. A fallen star

Once upon a time there was a particular belief that accompanied the citizens of Ratcar throughout their life's. It was the superstition that every person was born under the protection of a star which would guide them on their path to eternity. Every star was known to have one true meaning and on every child's fifth birthday a priest would come to their homes to reveal to them their destiny.

But with time people started to believe in different deities which, in exchange, graced them with their power until the legend of the stars was forgotten and only a small group of believers remained, true to their faith, and carried its legacy trough the ages.
With a new era new power rose and people with all different kinds of talents tried to solidify their standing in the world.
One blessing in particular was especially sought after. The spirit of the desert, that allowed its strongest bearers to drown the world in a sea of fire, as bright as the desert sun itself.
Not long after its first blessings the deity which passed down such miracles seemed to have found a strong liking to Ratcars second prince. This resulted in only those of his direct bloodline ever receiving its attention. The royal family decided to assign the role of the emperor to their second child as recognition of his accomplishments. Thereafter, it became a tradition to entrust the crown only to the favored descendants to secure the prosperity of the empire. Red hair became the most prominent trademark of the rulers of Ratcar which were now known as the children of the sun.

Hundreds of years later

It was dark the night he was born. Not a single light could be seen in the sky and an uneasy silence lay over the land. Despite this ominous atmosphere outside their walls the royal couple welcomed their first son with open arms and named him heir to the throne.
The following four years were quite peaceful and happy. The young prince enjoyed the love and care of the whole palace and had everyone wrapped around his little finger. His parents adored him as much as his nannies and no day went by where the couple didn't visit him. Everyone eagerly awaited him to receive his blessing and no one doubted that he would become the next light of the empire.

But the years went by and he showed no signs of being favoured by any deity. Although he never lost his cheerful spirit and grew up to be an exceptionally smart child everyone started to worry.
Even if someone didn't receive any blessing in his younger years they would still show an aptitude for magic or at least a mark of confirmation of a specific deity that showed interest in the young one.
The occasions where the royal couple would visit their first born, grew fewer and fewer and the attitude of the attendants slowly changed as well. Nevertheless, he was still of royal blood and the only heir to the throne and subsequently treated appropriately, but not with the same enthusiasm as before.
He was fast in picking up these signs and adapted to the new situation, never complaining, only growing quieter and distant by the day.

It could have stayed that way and maybe he would have received his blessing sooner or later, but it just so happened that around the time of his fifth birthday the empress once again carried a child under her heart.
The celebrations were postponed due to the empresses unstable health and the boy continued to live on in his new found solitude, making the library his favourite hiding spot.
Time flew and the crucial date came closer and closer. When the day finally arrived the sun stood high in the sky and the air was overflowing with heat.
To everyone's surprise it were two children, not one, that saw the light and to his disaster it were a boy and a girl. The former one bearing the mark of fire on his forehead.
He was in the library when he heard the news. Two maids hurried past the door and congratulated the empire for its fortune while thanking the deity's for their grace. He just sat still in his chair and listened to the silence, wondering what his future would bring.

The second prince, named Korus, received his blessing shortly after his second birthday and almost burned down half the royal garden. His sister Siena, although not as grand, followed soon after.
It was on the next day that the first prince was officially stripped off of his position as heir and moved to an older side building of the palace. Barely anyone saw him anymore and even the staff assign to him occasionally forgot his existence.
His younger siblings now possessed the sole attention of the royal household. Due to their circumstances the twins rarely ever met their older brother and everyone made sure to keep them away from the abandoned palace. They only once came across him while exploring.
He had come to pick up books from the library when the three encountered each other.
Prince Korus bumped into him as he tried to escape his sisters teasing. It was only a brief moment in which watery green orbs met ice blue ones before attendants hurried to the twins' side and guided them back to their living quarters.
Afterwards he was forbidden to ever enter the central palace again. It proved to be not much of an inconvenience since the head librarian had always found his thirst for knowledge quite intriguing and made sure to equip him with everything he needed. He did not set foot outside his palace again.

It wasn't until the day of his disappearance that he once again became more than just a passing thought in the minds of his parents but that would proof to already be far too late.

————————————————————

Just a little warning: I'm literally inventing the story as I write it and only have a few vague ideas on where it will go. I won't be able to promise any regular updates.