Riddles of Lenia

Chapter 2

King Albinus Grant Lenia was flustered as he read the two letters delivered to him from his closest retainers.

Your Majesty King Albinus Grant Lenia,

The child protected by the dark fairy king was born.

Duke Bruce Canmore

Your most esteemed Highness, the King Albinus Grant Lenia,

I have the honor to inform you that on this day, my wife has given birth to the child gifted with the protection of the light fairy king.

We will continue to serve the crown faithfully while raising our newborn daughter, Julia.

With most pleasure,

Duke Horus Burke

For the weary king, this was quite a headache.

On one hand, his two most trusted aides both successfully had two healthy daughters.

On the other, the two fairy kings who had never gifted their protection before, suddenly gifted it on the same day, to his right and left hand men. 

In a way, it was very problematic.

The daughter of Duke Canmore is doomed to have a life instilling fear in to all whom she meets, but if she learned to overcome that cursed fate, she could unite the dark fairies whom had been ostracized from society and strengthen the country. She'll live a lonely life, but if she exhibits the strength so prevalent in her family, she could become a true asset to the crown.

The daughter of Duke Burke, however, will be blessed with endless love and praise. She will never learn of pain or rejection, and become a light of hope to all the people of Lenia. But pain is a part of living. Without ever being rejected, she'll learn to rely solely on others and never strengthen her own talents. She'll be happy, but that bliss can only be superficial.

It's been more than eleven years since the day he received these letters, but his puzzlement has never lessened. And after enquiring with the two dukes, it seems that, as he feared, Viola and Julia are headed towards their worst fates.

Viola Canmore had become isolated, not unlike the fairies her king ruled over. She barely spoke to humans, and knew nothing of the world, nor did she seem to have any desire to. She made an effort to study the necessary prerequisites of noble society, but she spent her personal time away from humans, unable to build a true connection.

Julia Burke was lavished in presents and praise. She grew to stop caring about the duties of a noble, and left her responsibilities, though few, to others and spent her days playing in the sun. She didn't care for studying or developing interpersonal skills, and had grown quite haughty. To allow her to continue this way would be to allow her to be raised to be a foolish, easily manipulated doll that knows nothing but arrogance.

Truly, these two children were polar opposites. One being intelligent and humble, but prone to isolating herself. The other was loved and cherished, but believed her stone floor to be made of marble and gold. If they were to give each other even the slightest amount of their best qualities, the future of the two girls would be warm and bright.