The Forgotten Crown

Chapter 1: The Weight of Normal

6:30 AM. Alarm blaring. Mara Blackwood groaned, fumbling for her phone.

One more day. Just get through one more day.

Sunlight peeked through curtains, painting her small bedroom in soft hues. Mara blinked, forcing herself awake. The day awaited, whether she wanted it or not.

Routine. Shower, dress, breakfast. Normal stuff. Nothing special.

But normalcy felt... heavy. Like a coat that didn't quite fit.

7:15 AM. Kitchen. Toast popped up, slightly burnt. Whatever.

Mara's gaze drifted to the family photo on the fridge. Mom, Dad, little brother Tim. And her. All smiles. Before... everything.

Lump in throat. Push it down. No time for that now.

Backpack. Keys. Phone. Daily mantra: Just another normal day.

Outside, crisp autumn air nipped at her cheeks. Ravenwood stirred to life around her. People hurrying to work, kids to school. Everyone with a purpose.

What's mine?

The thought nagged as Mara walked the familiar route to Ravenwood Community College. Fallen leaves crunched underfoot. The old clocktower chimed in the distance.

8:00 AM. Campus bustling. Students chattering, comparing notes, complaining about assignments. Normal college stuff.

Mara slipped into the crowd, another face in the sea of young adults chasing futures they weren't sure they wanted.

"Mara! Hey, Mara!"

She turned. Jenny Chen waved, jogging to catch up. All smiles and boundless energy. How does she do it?

"Ready for Professor Thorne's history exam?" Jenny asked, falling into step beside Mara.

Thorne. The name sent a shiver down Mara's spine. Why?

"As ready as I'll ever be," Mara replied, mustering a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Jenny chatted away as they walked to class. Mara nodded, made appropriate noises. But her mind wandered.

Family legacy. Secrets whispered late at night. Grandma's stories that felt too real to be fairy tales.

"Earth to Mara!" Jenny's voice cut through the fog. "You okay? You seem... I don't know, distracted lately."

Mara blinked. "Yeah, sorry. Just... stuff at home, you know?"

Jenny's face softened. "Your dad again?"

A nod. Half-truth. Easier than explaining the inexplicable.

"If you need to talk..." Jenny began.

"Thanks," Mara cut her off. Guilt gnawed at her. Jenny meant well. But some burdens couldn't be shared.

9:00 AM. History class. Professor Thorne at the front, command ing attention without effort.

Salt-and-pepper beard. Eyes that seemed to hold centuries of secrets. Or was that just Mara's imagination?

"Today," Thorne's voice filled the room, "we delve into local history. The founding of Ravenwood and the legends that shaped it."

Mara's pulse quickened. Pen poised over notebook. This was it. This had to be more than coincidence.

"Among the most persistent tales," Thorne continued, "is that of the Forgotten Crown."

The class tittered. Just another fairy story to most of them.