Chapter 3: Goodbye, Crystalia

Eternia, Aurelius' beloved daughter, was woken at dawn to prepare for their departure. The child was no doubt depressed about their family reunion and the sudden decision to leave the palace she recognizes as "home." This, to her, was obviously a banishment from her cruel mother. The mother she longed for wished to love her just as she loved her other sisters. 

Lady Jessica, the woman who practically raised her, dressed her in the royal family colors—crystal blue and white. This day she truly looked the part as the heir to the Crystalian Throne. She brushed the princess' long locks of straight hair and styled it in two pigtail buns. She placed crystal hairpins on both sides of her head and for the finishing touch, pinned a silk ribbon over her chest. Despite what Aurelius thought, Jessica truly cared for the child. She loved Eternia as though she was her own. 

"Will I ever see you again, Lady Jessica?" sniffled Eternia. She clutched the stuffed fox that was given to her on her first-name day. 

Jessica embraced the child. "My sweet Princess Eternia," she says, "I believe it will take a long time before we meet again. But do not fret. Sapphire is a beautiful realm and you will be loved. I shall write to you often and will wait for your return as the heir and future queen of the Crystalian Empire."

"Mother won't miss me, will she?" asked the child, "She ever wanted me in the first place."

"Your mother loves you, Eternia. The feeling is just buried deep within her that she cannot reach it," she lied. 

Eternia was smart beyond her years. Lies, to her, are like windows—she could see past them. And though she knows that Jessica said that to comfort her, she only felt worse. "You don't have to lie, Lady Jessica. I know my mother loathes my existence. She said it herself."

Jessica shook her head and changed the subject. "Look on the bright side, Princess. Your father loves you," she says, "The King came all the way here to find you."

"And yet I will never be enough because I am not the son he craves to have," she replied, eyes losing their light. "It's alright, Lady Jessica. You don't need to say things to make me feel better."

Before Jessica could respond, the doors flung open and the King entered. "Your royal Highness," she bowed, presenting the princess. "She's ready."

Aurelius gave a nod of approval. "How is your neck, Lady Jessica?" asked the King. 

"T'is fine, your majesty," she replied, "May the heavens grant you safe travels as you set forth for Sapphire."

Aurelius looked at his child. She looked like him, yes, but the sadness in her eyes was the very sadness he saw in her mother's all those years ago. He knelt down and held her hand. "We'll be going to Sapphire now, Princess. It will be your new home."

"What about my friend, Adrian?" she asked, "and Whisper?"

"They can come along too," he said carelessly. 

"Really?" a boy appeared out of nowhere. He was small and about just a few inches taller than his daughter. He had curly brown hair and a pair of red, ruby-like eyes. He was handsome and adorable like a young prince. The boy held the spirit fox in his arms with a bored expression all over his face.

"What the," the King gasped, hiding his shock almost instantly. 

Eternia grinned. "Adrian!" she hugged him. 

The boy struggled to escape her grasp. "My name is Adrian," he introduced himself, "We met before."

"Have we?" asked Aurelius, trying his best to recall. 

"You were just a boy then," replied Adrian, "You came to visit with your family."

Then it hit him. The boy's voice did sound familiar. But if he was the same person he met all those years ago, how is he still a child? "How old are you?" he asked, "And what is it that you want exactly?"

The boy's eyes darkened. "I'm much older than you; that's for sure," he says, "I'm a warlock. However, I've been trapped in the tower for quite some time. I've lost all my strength therefore I'm trapped in a child-like form until I regain all my power."

"He's my friend," said Eternia. "Can we please bring him?"

"Warlocks are dangerous!" said Lady Jessica, "And if he is the spirit trapped in the tower, all the more reason to stay away from him."

"I'm indebted to Her Majesty, the princess," said the boy, "I can't harm her even if I wanted to."

Eternia grabbed the boy's wrist and showed him the bracelet. It was an ancient artifact made to keep monsters from harming the giver. "He can't hurt me," she grinned, "Besides, he's my friend. Please, your majesty… Let Adrian and Whisper join us."

Aurelius had no choice but to agree in order to ease the pain his daughter was feeling. He nodded and the rest was history. The carriage was grand, unlike any other carriage the princess had seen before. She, Adrian, and the spirit fox along with Theodore sat in it. Meanwhile, Aurelius and Magnus rode on horseback along with the other knights. He still felt disbelief that the Queen didn't bother to see them off. 

Inside the carriage, Theodore watched the two kids chatter away. He felt absolutely stunned at how the tiny child in front of him was actually much older than he was. Another thing that shocked him was how easily the King agreed to bring the warlock along. 

Eternia peered through the window, watching as the palace slowly became smaller and smaller. "Goodbye, mother," she muttered sadly. 

"Will you really miss the queen?" asked Adrian who seemed bored. 

Eternia blinked, thinking hard. What kind of question was that? Of course, she'd miss her mother. They're bound by blood. But then again, Adrian had a point. How could she miss someone she never knew? 

Theodore answered in her stead, "Of course, the princess would miss her mother. But she'll be fine. She has the love of the King, my friend. She also has us as well."

"Thank you for your kind words, sir Theodore," she grinned, "Say, are you married?"

Theodore blushed a deep shade of crimson, making the princess giggle. "W-what kind of question is that your grace?" he stuttered in disbelief. 

"A simple one," said the warlock. 

Theodore glared at the young boy. How he'd like to hit him knowing that he's actually a man trapped in a kid's body. 

"So, are you?" Eternia asked again. 

"Let me ask you this," said Adrian, "Does he even look like the type of person who'd be married?"

"Annoying brat," glared Theodore. He then looked at the princess, saying, "What made you ask that, your grace?"

"Well," she grinned, "You look absolutely beautiful! I wanted to know if someone already has your heart!"

Eternia made Theodore's heart melt. "Oh dear princess," he says, "I swear I'll be loyal to you until my dying breath!"

Adrian rolled his eyes, muttering, "Still didn't answer the question."

"The answer is no, I'm not married," said Theodore, "But that's absolutely fine as I'm always occupied by my work. Being his majesty's secretary and friend is hard work." He then looked at the other kid and said, "What about you? Were you married?"

Adrian stuck his tongue out. "My beauty and power is too grand to be tied down by marriage," he said arrogantly. He then peered through the window and watched the tower fade from his sight. 

Long ago, during the formative years of the Crystalian Empire, Adrian emerged as a prodigious talent in the magical arts. His unmatched skill and dedication propelled him to the prestigious position of Royal Magician at an unprecedentedly young age, earning him the distinction of being the youngest ever in all realms.

Adrian's prowess extended beyond magic; he also donned the mantle of a knight, becoming the valiant protector of Crystalia alongside the reigning monarch, King Endymion. Together, they safeguarded the realm against threats both mundane and arcane, forging a legacy of bravery and loyalty.

For centuries, Adrian faithfully served as Crystalia's sworn protector, his name becoming synonymous with the empire's strength and resilience. However, as time passed, the new monarch grew wary of Adrian's immense power and influence. Fearing a potential challenge to his authority, the king issued a decree to curb Adrian's might.

In a swift and decisive move, the king summoned a legion of magicians from distant lands to neutralize Adrian's power. Despite his formidable abilities, Adrian was overwhelmed by the sheer numbers arrayed against him. The once-great Royal Magician and knight fell from grace, his legacy tarnished by betrayal and treachery. 

No one knows the story of what happened that dreadful night. The many deaths that occurred. The innocent people that paid the price for the betrayal they made… It was as if Adrian was erased from history itself. He became nothing but a "ghost" wandering around the Tower of Crystalia that was once his home. Still, despite his enemies' best efforts, they couldn't destroy him completely. Only a true Royal Crystalia with immense power could break the curse that befell him and exactly that happened. 

Princess Eternia, a girl of mere five years of age, broke the curse and awoken the sleeping demon that is Adrian Shadowbane, the former Crystal Guardian known as Arcane Sentinel, who was later feared as the Abyssal Dread. The story could only end in two ways: he'd be her destruction, or, hero.