Harmonic Sync

Chapter 1: The Light of the Heavens

Another boring day in the wondrous city of Grand Chokmah, home to the kingdom of Maluth and His Royal Majesty, Emperor Peony the Ninth. How do I know all of this? Well I'm the emperor's daughter, my name is Zora. My name means the light of the heavens, however even though it's said I'll be this worlds savior in the Score I really don't think so. I think that because I can't really leave Grand Chokmah very often what with my father trying to get me to choose someone to marry soon. But the thing is I don't really want to be attached to someone like that, well not since my mother and sister died in Hod. See a long time ago Hod was destroy and my mother and sister happened to be there to discuss the engagement to someone there from their royal family.

"Hey Zora, what are you doing up there?" Someone called out to me and I looked down from my place on top of the castle's roof to see my adopted sister Arietta standing there on top of her liger. You see Arietta is one of the Six God-Generals of the Oracle Knights, but she's really young to be one, I mean she's only 16 for Yulia's sake. So I asked my father if we could invite her into the family and he agreed right away.

"Hey Arietta, did you need me for something?" I called back to her.

"I think father is looking for you, something about another suitor." I sighed and jumped down, landing next to her lightly.

"Why must he insist on this?" I muttered to myself and headed towards the entrance to the castle.

"You know father just wants you to be happy..." Arietta stated from beside me.

"I know, but still...he knows my dislike for this..." I pushed open the door and walked inside the audience hall to see my father, several guards and finally a man in his late 30s standing there talking.

"Ah thank you Arietta darling. Now Zora it's time for you to meet- "I cut my father off.

"Father, you know how much I dislike this. So stop." I demanded and he sighed.

"Could you escort him outside?" He asked one of the guards, who bowed in return and escorted the man out of the audience hall.

"Father, how can you keep doing things like this? You know I will not take a husband." My hands shook when I thought about the idea of someone being forced into a marriage they don't want.

"Zora, we can't keep doing this. You need to marry soon, there needs to be a successor to the throne." I rolled my eyes.

"There is, but you think we need a king, why can't there just be a queen without a husband?" I stated.

"You're so stubborn." I turned and started heading towards my room. "You will have to marry eventually, Zora." He called after me. I flicked my hand as a response and opened the door to my room.

"Why can't father see? I'm happy like this...ever since mother and Lily died he barely acknowledges my feelings." I muttered to myself and plopped on to my bed face first and hugged my pillow.

"Your Highness, may I come in?" Someone said after a knock.

"Yes." The door opened and I saw the man who had been my caretaker since I was an infant standing there. "Jade Curtis, it's been quite some time Necromancer." He chuckled slightly and then looked at my position.

"Is something wrong, Your Highness?" He asked.

"How many times have I told you call me Zora?" I asked.

"About a million, but as your caretaker I will always call you Your Highness. Now what is the matter?" I sighed and sat up.

"Guess I can't hide anything from you. It's this whole thing about marriage. I can't marry any of these men, they are only going to do away with me and then seize the throne for themselves and my father can't even see it. Ever since mother and Lily died..." I muttered and looked towards the window thinking about the last time I had spoken to them.

Hey Lily, where are you and mother going?

We're going to Hod to see my future husband.

I'm so jealous, I wish I was engaged to someone like you.

One day you will be too, just be patient.

Lily, come dear.

Yes, mother! Bye Zora, see you in a few days.

That was the last conversation I had had with my sister and mother and my mother never even said goodbye to me, because it was just another day to them. But that will forever be the worst day of my life.

"I understand how you feel, but you know your father just wants you to be happy and safe. I know Lily and Her Highness's deaths were traumatic for him and all he wants is to find a way to make up for it with fulfilling what was happening when they died." Jade explained.

"But I'm not Lily, I'm not my mother. All I want is to live a normal life. I want to be free. To roam and do as I please, but I'll always be trapped in Grand Chokmah..." I claimed and rose from the bed, walking to the balcony slowly. I loved Grand Chokmah, it was beautiful, but this wasn't a life I could live forever.

"Zora..." I heard Jade mutter before leaving the room.

I smiled slightly.

"Only when you know I'm upset do you do that, Necromancer." I whispered into the wind.

~

Later that evening, after a very awkward dinner with Arietta, Jade and my father, I went out to the garden for a walk. The moon was full tonight and it was like a spotlight shining down from the heavens directly on me. The guards looked at me as I headed towards the railing that led to the sea.

"Your Highness, don't you think you should be heading to your chambers now?" One of them asked me as I passed.

"Your concern is unnecessary, but I will return to my chambers in a few minutes." I said back and looked out at the sea. The moonlight made it look like a million diamonds were shining out across the water.

One of Arietta's ligers came out of nowhere and laid down next to me.

"Arietta sent you didn't she?" It nodded once and I sighed. I sat down next to it and gently pet its head. "Well thank you, I was kind of lonely out here."

"You should know better than to stay out past your bedtime, Your Highness." I turned my head and saw Jade come out of the shadows of the hedges.

"Aren't I a little too old for a curfew?" He chuckled and the liger rose and jumped up to Arietta's room.

"I see your sister is protecting you again." Jade stated looking at Arietta's room.

"Why do you not like her?" I asked.

"I just don't like the Six God-Generals, no offense for your friendship with Sync." I sighed.

"So out of the Six God-Generals there's, Largo, the Black Lion, Sync the Tempest, Arietta, the Wild, Asch, the Bloody, Dist the Reaper, and Legretta, the Quick." I muttered lightly.

"I see you've been doing your homework." Jade mocked and I glared at him.

"Don't tease me, Jade. But I have to wonder why Sync was so intent on becoming one...I haven't seen him since he was made into a God-General..." I looked back out at the sea once more before rising and following Jade back to my chambers. "You know you didn't have to walk me back." He put a hand on my shoulder.

"Zora, please don't get too close to the God-Generals. They have a plan all their own I fear." With that he disappeared down the corridor we had just come from.

"Jade..." I sighed and walked into my room. "Maybe a good night's rest will get my head screwed on right for tomorrow." I changed and curled up in bed, falling asleep almost instantly.