The World She Wished For

Chapter 1

As Daphne ventured deeper into the lush evergreen forest of Terrestria, her spirits began to lift. The vibrant greenery and the gentle rustling of leaves were a welcome change from the opulence and whispers of the castle.

She marveled at the delicate fluttering of butterflies, their colorful wings catching the sunlight. In Parasia, she had never experienced such simple, natural beauty - the creatures there were all magical and otherworldly.

Soon, she came across a crystal-blue lake. Its surface mirrored the sky above, creating a mesmerizing view. Daphne knelt by the water's edge, watching as a tiny fish darted beneath the surface.

She suddenly recounted what had compelled her to come here, the one place she was forbidden from. She came from the kingdom of Parasia situated far above the clouds.

Born to the loving king and queen of Parasia, seventeen-year old Daphne was the youngest of her family which was made up of five children. Among them were two sets of twins each consisting of a boy and a girl, hence, making her the odd one out. They however considered her unique.

Unlike them, she possessed a rare combination of celestial and evil blood due to an ancestral union between the two forces.

While her parents and siblings adored her unconditionally, some inhabitants of Parasia were not as accepting of her breed.

Daphne's heart ached with loneliness, as even her parents' love couldn't shield her from the judgement of others.

Amidst often being ridiculed as "mixed-blood girl," by folks, Daphne found solace in the quiet sanctuary of the castle library.

It was her refuge, where she could lose herself in stories of enchanting worlds and mythical beings. The kingdom of Terrestria, a land located beneath Parasia, had always captured her imagination. She longed to visit, but her parents forbade it, fearing that some evil forces who sought refuge there might corrupt her.

It was one day at a ball that she stumbled upon a conversation that caused a significant shift in her perspective.

The information she chanced upon led her to question the true motives behind her parents' actions, forcing her to re-evaluate everything she had once believed.

***Flashback****

As Daphne mingled with the crowd at the ball, she couldn't help but feel uneasy. Strange stares and whispers seemed to follow her wherever she went.

Trying to ignore them, she continued walking, only to freeze in place when she overheard a conversation behind her.

"Did you hear about the peace treaty with the evil forces?" a haughty voice asked.

"Yes, I did," another replied conspiratorially. "And I heard that the king and queen plan to use their youngest daughter as a bargaining chip."

Daphne's heart raced as she realized they were talking about her. She gripped the edge of a table, her knuckles turning white. "No wonder they keep her around although she's a mixed blood," the first person continued. "Well who can blame them they're only doing this for the greater good."

Hurt and anger welled up inside Daphne as she fought back tears. Was this what everyone thought of her? Was her own family planning to betray her? The hurtful comments continued echoing in her mind.

Overwhelmed, she knew she couldn't stay at the ball any longer thus she fled the ballroom unnoticed, tears streaming down her face. As she ran through the castle halls, she knew she had to get away from this place, at least for a while.

She sat alone in a secluded courtyard and wept. Suddenly, a small, pangolin-like creature named Kye rolled to her side. It had attractive gold and blue scales which slightly glowed.