Chapter One

I died on my throne. I watched as the prophesized calamity struck my country and the subjects that I protected and loved. It was a price that the Pariah Kingdom had to pay because of one elf's betrayal.

I could not do anything. As the Queen, I was bounded on my seat. My ears could hear the cries of my people and the madness of the tragedy. I was powerful, but nature itself is not an enemy. It is our God.

If only I knew that your soul was corroded with pain and darkness, I could have saved you. We share the same blood as our father's, but we do not have the greatest filial attachment. We have different mothers and I was always favored by father. I was in denial when he said that evil resided within you. It was Nature that made you one. I did not believe it. I tried to reason with the mind. I tried to reason with the environment.

You did not overthrew the kingdom. You destroyed it. Before the Pariah King died, the wife took over. It was your mother. She was wicked. She subjugated the country and did not lead. She discreetly had plans to sell one of the people outside of Pariah. She said the country wanted exposure. The late King loved my people and the people loved him. I did not want to destroy what he had cared and protected for hundreds of years.

I formed an alliance with the Pariah heads and overthrew your mother. I thought you could understand the deeds your mother did. Somehow, you betrayed us.

In the end, it was you all along. You drove your mother into becoming your puppet. Nature claimed your sins as if it concerns the whole country. Nature decided to punish us because of your doing.

"The country of Pariah will become a myth, my Queen."

My lifeless eyes met yours.

We had a different view of nature. My reflection was never seen in your eyes.

"All hail the fallen Kingdom."

~

FIVE HUNDRED YEARS LATER - 750 IMPERIAL CALENDER

"Your King, we have found a survivor amidst the territorial war."

"Kill it." The Warlock King, Sir Marcus I, waved his hand to his royal supervisor.

"But sir.." Mister Van gulped, "it's still an infant."

"That would grow up with hatred and grudge against the Imperial Kingdom. As the Warlock King under the orders of the Imperial Majesty, it is my duty to eliminate all threats. The infant you mention right now.. Is it of elven blood?"

"Your King, it is. However.." Mister Van was a bit anxious in front of the king. He began to mentally fidget with his fingers.

"Speak up. Those who have elven blood in their veins is an extreme danger to this country. We know what they are made of. They possess immense magic. They have a history of meddling with human affairs using what humans cannot do. Treacherous beings!" Sir Marcus pounded the arm of his throne, "do not be swayed by its state! The future is decided by our own choices!"

"It's not an elf, but is an elf.."

Sir Marcus was baffled by this response. An elf, but is not an elf?

"Are you trying to reason me with nonsense, Van?"

"We have been studying and researching about the elves ever since the first Imperial family line came to be. This infant.. It has a mysterious aura to it." Sir Van finally found his voice, "as a High Mage and as your personal supervisor, she possesses the bloodline of an unknown origin."

Bloodline is a trademark. It is your pride. It's been like that for the hundreds of years. Your pride in your own race is your core and foundation.

"Are you sure?"

"I swear on my bloodline."

"Bloodline is also like aura. They cannot be seen with the naked eyes alone. A trained mage can. If what you say is true, then it could only mean one thing." Sir Marcus stood up from his throne and stepped down from it, "I want to see this infant. Bring it to my quarters."

"Right away, sir."

~

King Marcus just stared at the sleeping infant on his bed. He felt intense pressure and tension. The feeling was so concentrated and condensed, he almost felt like kneeling down in front of it.

"A Pariah elf.. It's of the elven race, but it's really different.. So I was the chosen one." King Marcus chuckled at himself and regained his composure after a few seconds, "the Pariah Elf race perished hundreds of years ago. However, their existence would not have been known by external forces. The first Warlock whose grandson became the first Warlock King who served under the first Imperial family line was the only one they trusted. A confidential information of the Pariah Elf Queen being reincarnated had been passed down by one Warlock King to another."

King Marcus picked up the little Pariah left and carried it in his arms, "the Queen of the most powerful and ancient race is nothing but a tiny baby in this human's arms. The first Warlock was extremely loyal and dedicated to you. He sacrificed his existence as a Warlock for your reincarnation. He is indeed the epitome of what loyalty should be."

He placed the infant back to its original spot in the bed. It was wrapped with a fine peach blanket. It never cried and it never fidgeted. It was almost as if it was dead. However, her aura indicated that she is alive and well.

"However, the first Warlock never mentioned about why the great fall of the Pariah country happened. For that reason, it must have been dreadful."

The door of the King's bedroom quarters started to creak. He sensed that the person entering was his first-born son, Prince Dilliam I. He is a four-year old boy who never really showed interest in anything in his life. The King sighed at the thought of his son not usually acting like his age. After all, Prince Dilliam is indeed a prodigy in his time.

"Is she here?"

King Marcus was confused, "what do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, father, is Jwendoline here?"