The Princess of MioFabia ( Book One)

A Prince of the Prophecy

The revelation of Aurora's true identity, far from being a simple truth, had fractured the group's reality. The journey toward Cattivo was now more than a quest for revenge; it was a pilgrimage. They moved with a newfound purpose, yet the silence between them was heavy. Rain and Storm, always Aurora's equals, now held a visible deference. Ethen, ever the pragmatic warrior, struggled to reconcile his chieftain with the idea of a princess. Aurora, in turn, felt the immense weight of her new title. The trees that once felt like home now seemed to whisper not just with magic, but with the secrets of a life stolen. She was a Chieftain, a warrior, and now, a Princess—a heavy mantle for an eighteen-year-old.

A few weeks into their travels, the landscape began to change. The lush forests of Terraportare gave way to a harsher, rockier terrain. The air grew thin as they ascended a mountain pass, a direct route to the kingdom of Cattivo. They came upon a small, isolated village nestled in the foothills, its homes nothing more than charred remains and its fields scorched. The few villagers who remained were starving, their faces gaunt with fear.

"King Killing Eagle's army passed through here," a weary elder explained, his voice hollow. "They take everything, leave nothing behind. They call it 'purification.' "

Aurora's resolve hardened. This was the true face of her enemy, a monster who feasted on the innocent. Without hesitation, she began to organize her group. "Ethen, take the Lionhearts and help with the defenses. Rain, Storm, gather whatever food you can find that hasn't spoiled. We'll set up a perimeter."

While her friends worked, Aurora used her hunting skills to track and take down a large stag. It was an act of grace and power, a silent testament to her strength. As the villagers watched her butcher the meat and distribute it, a flicker of hope returned to their eyes. For the first time, Aurora felt the burden of her title not as a weight, but as a purpose.

Just as the sun began to set, a new group of riders appeared on the horizon. They were clad in dark, imposing armor with the sigil of a coiled serpent—the Blackwoods. Their leader, a handsome young man with a cruel smile, rode forward, his eyes fixed on Aurora. It was Jake Blackwood, the very person her sister Daisy was fated to marry.

"Well, well. Look what we have here," Jake said, his voice laced with mocking amusement. "The mighty chieftain of a backwater village playing hero." He gestured to the villagers. "These people are weak. They deserve their fate. My father says true power is forged through suffering, not kindness."

Aurora stepped forward, her hand on the hilt of Spada. "Your father is a coward, and so are you. True power is used to protect those who cannot protect themselves."

Jake's smile widened. "A pretty speech. I can see why Daisy was so jealous of you. But you're in over your head, little chieftain. The path to King Killing Eagle is my father's path, and I'm here to ensure no one travels it."

He drew his own sword, a blade that pulsed with a dark, sinister energy. The air grew cold. "I could kill you right here and now, a small act of vengeance for my family's stolen prophecy. But my father wants to see your spirit broken first. I'll let you go for now, but know this: your end is coming, and it will not be an honorable one."

As Jake and his guards disappeared into the twilight, a heavy silence fell over the village. The villagers, who had watched the exchange with terrified eyes, were too stunned to speak. Aurora, however, didn't notice them. She stood perfectly still, her hand still resting on the hilt of Spada, the cold metal a small comfort against the chilling reality of Jake's words.

This wasn't just some rival general. This was the man who was meant to marry her sister, a man who spoke of prophecy and family legacies with a casual cruelty that made her blood run cold. He was the physical embodiment of the prophecy that had upended her life. The prophecy that had cost her a father and a sister.

Rain was the first to approach her, her expression a mix of awe and concern. "Chief... he knew your name. He knew who you were."

"Not just who I was," Aurora said, her voice hollow. "He knew my family. He was part of the very prophecy my sister was obsessed with. This isn't just a war; it's a family feud, a game being played out for a crown." She looked at the smoldering remains of the village and the terrified faces of the villagers. "And we are caught right in the middle of it."

A cold, hard resolve settled over Aurora. She had been a chieftain, a grieving daughter, and a newly crowned princess. But now, she was something more: a guardian of a kingdom, a shield for the innocent. Jake's mocking words about her power being nothing more than "pretty speeches" had ignited a fire in her spirit. She was no longer fighting for a village or to avenge a man; she was fighting for the very soul of her kingdom. She would face the Blackwoods and King Killing Eagle, and she would win.

"We move at first light," she announced to her group, her voice ringing with newfound authority. "We're going to that kingdom, and we're taking back what's ours."