Book 1: Learning to survive Chapter 1: Rathbarrow's orphanage

The sun was starting to rise in the city of Rathbarrow. The morning light falling over the town was slowly revealing it's medium sized figure with an octogonal shape. It had large stone paved roads flanked by white washed houses made of wood and stone, that lead to its heart. The baron's house, close to the edge, was a rather old structure, now an orphanage with a few decades of history.

This orphanage was already half enveloped in poison ivy. Inside there was a little boy, not much older than fourteen in his bedroom sleeping, in what no longer seemed like a bed.

His name was Raphael Aldwin he had brown caramel eyes, short undercut brown hair, plump lips, his height was around four and half feet tall and had light tanned skin. He had an average bulk for his age. He also seemed to be having a nightmare, when he suddenly woke up in a heartbeat.

"Are you okay? ''. Said a voice that he recognized almost immediately.

"Yes, I am! Thank you for asking Ember". Ember R'ea was an elf of the same age as him, with red hair and soft purple eyes, her skin was snowy white and she had almost the same height of Raphael, just a few centimeters shorter.

"I saw you sleeping in an agitated state and I was worried". She said with a soft look on her face

"You can stop worrying now, it's all okay". Raphael tried to reassure her because he didn't want her to worry about his nightmares, she already had her own problems, let alone mind his too.

The two of them didn't have a happy past, Raphael's parents were two of the many victims in a war that devastated his hometown, he had to roam unknown lands for weeks where he had only drank river water, his only food supplies were berries and being exposed to any creature that could possibly harm him.That was before finding Rathbarrow and dropping unconscious from exhaustion in front of a tavern.

Ember, on the other hand, was from the previous elven royal family that ruled Eonythill. Her family was overthrown by the corrupted noble families. Her family was banished to the most dangerous part of the elven forest. Ember couldn't defend herself because of her young age, so her family while fighting the monsters, had to pay attention if some of them didn't attack her, this situation left her parents and brother exhausted from fighting monsters.

When they were already at the edge of the elven forest, they were already celebrating their survival, when a Greenwood dragon appeared.

The dragon had blue glowing eyes, a skin that could camouflage and a scar on his chest, her father knew that dragon, it was the one that her father told her about, in the past that dragon slaughtered one hundred elf soldiers before being defeated by her father.

After so many perils, her dad and her whole family was exhausted, and didn't have the strength to fight it off, so they reached the conclusion that it was the end for them, but not for Ember, so they told her to run.

"My precious daughter, please I beg, run and don't come back until you are strong enough".

"Remember your family will always love you, now go".

Sadly her family couldn't survive.

"And you Ember did you sleep well?". She nodded as they left the room. Taking the old wooden stairs, they proceeded to enter a large division, the kitchen and lunch rooms. This was a modestly decorated rectangular area, featuring large windows, with glass, already broken in some places and still burning torches fixated on the walls. A small wooden door led to the cook's study which was much smaller and with only a window to let fresh air into the room.

Various round tables were placed across the recently swept floor, each with four wooden seats. They sat in the corner of the room. Raphael could already smell the beautiful scent of fresh bread, the sweet scent of honey and also the perfume of some flowers from the orphanage's garden. They had a breakfast of fruit covered in honey, a glass full of milk and some bread with cheese. This orphanage wasn't much but Raphael was thankful to have found this place that he could call home.

Raphael was a kind-hearted person, hard-working and courageous, strong-willed and passionate, he always seeked to help others and that's the reason he started working at the age of seven, to improve the lives of the children in the orphanage. Occasionally he worked at The Blue Lily tavern, sometimes trying to help the merchants sell their products and also cleaning the streets. Some of the city residents looked at him with affection and respect. Some of them gave him some extra gold when he finished the tasks they gave him.

Ember instead of being spoiled, rude and thinking that she is above others like most royal blood childs in the world, she was a rather shy, but empathic person, she was also kind-hearted.

She was the one who gave the idea of working to help the orphanage, she helped the chefs in the kitchen so meals didn't need to have such a long wait. Ember and Raphel were the ones that helped cleaning the dishes and doing everybody's laundry, she was Raphael's only friend in the orphanage, all his other friends died because of the war.

" I have a question?". Ember said while walking to their room.

"Ok, go for it". He said while walking at the same pace as the elf girl.

"When you leave this orphanage what will you do?".

"I don't know yet, but it will be a long time before we get out of this place". Raphael said while he tried to open the old door.

"Why do you ask?". The boy who was curious asked.

"Because when I grow older I will restore my family as the ruler of Eonythill". She said with a hopeful look on her face, while she stood up in the bed and Raphael on her side said.

"I will help you with that".

"Really". The elf said with a surprised look on her face.

"I will and that's a promise". He said while they crossed their little fingers to symbolize their promise