The Revolution (WMMAP reader insert/OC)

Part 21

A gentle breeze swept through the landscape, carrying with it the crisp, soothing breath of morning. The earth, cloaked in shades of emerald, sparkled beneath a delicate veil of dew. Leaves whispered their secrets to one another, while birds offered a chorus of melodious notes—a natural symphony welcoming the new day.

On the edge of Green Ever Forest, a meadow unfurled like a vibrant canvas, painted with wildflowers and dotted with delicate dandelions. It was a morning meant to be savored by any soul lucky enough to witness its splendor.

On this particular day, one such soul—none other than a princess of Obelia—set off on a joyful journey, determined to greet the day with delight.

With exhilaration in her chest and wind rushing past her ears, she galloped across the meadow on her loyal steed. The horse, a striking creature with legs like coiled springs, moved with fluid grace. Its mane, dark as raven's wings, danced freely in the wind, and its sleek, obsidian coat shimmered in the golden light of dawn.

The princess, her hair tied in a ponytail that fluttered behind her, could no longer contain her joy. With a burst of laughter, she threw her hands skyward and cried, "WOOOOH!"

Her eyes sparkled—gems of a rare kind, a family legacy. Deep blue with a whisper of pink at their core, they shimmered like morning light on polished stone, a gift from her late mother.

"You're doing splendidly, Toshi!" she called, her voice full of affection. The horse neighed in response, proud and pleased beneath her praise. Anastasia's laughter rang like silver bells across the open field as she gently brought her hands back down to grasp the reins, her heart light and brimming with joy.

Suddenly, a distinct squawk pierced the harmonious melody of nature. The thirteen-year-old princess lifted her gaze to the sky, where her magical avian companion, Aoki, soared gracefully beside them. With wings that shimmered faintly in the sunlight, the mystical bird circled overhead, a loyal presence that had been by her side for years. Their bond had long since deepened into something rare and irreplaceable.

It was Lucas, the princess's trusted advisor, who first recognized the true nature of Aoki. With his deep well of knowledge and intuition, he had uncovered the truth behind the bird's origins—Aoki had been born from Anastasia's very own mana.

The revelation had baffled the young princess at first. She hadn't even known such a thing was possible. According to Lucas, creatures like Aoki could only manifest when someone's mana reached extraordinary levels, so abundant that it would overflow unless channeled.

But in Anastasia's case, the magic didn't burst forth uncontrollably. Instead, it released Aoki preemptively, almost like a self-regulating mechanism, clearing space within her internal reservoir of mana before it became dangerously full. It was as though her magic had instinctively summoned the bird to maintain balance, much like a crystal processor managing storage before reaching capacity.

Does that make sense?

Anyways, as they continued to go forward, the princess turned to the bird, asking, "Anything interesting can be seen?"

One squawk for yes, squawk twice if no.

It squawked once and soared ahead. Ana grinned and urged her horse to go faster, which it did with an eager huff.

The pair arrived, and the bird tilted its head, patiently awaiting their arrival.

Ana's breath caught in her throat, an enamored gasp escaping her lips as her eyes locked onto a vision she had only ever seen in the emperor's palace—a perfect replica of one of its most treasured paintings, long thought to depict a place lost to time.