The Blooming Seed

In a world guided by the power of bloodlines, your worth is determined at birth. This was much the case for young Lady Belladonna. Fate however, decided that Lady Belladonna would not get to bloom into the flower she deserved to be for she was born with the ghost blue diamond shaped Crest of the Flower Seed.

The Flower Crested have never amounted to anything more than courtesans. Normally Crest determines the magic cultivation of a person. For example the Dragon Crested gain the abilities of dragons with the strongest cultivators manifesting wings, special enhanced vision or infusing them with the strength to perform magnificent awe inspiring feats of physical prowess.

The color was even more of an abnormality, normally a red seed may blossom into a beautiful rose, allowing for the Flower user to become a genuine heart stopping beauty. The magical medical practitioner at her birth had never seen such a color like this before and did quite a bit of research upon it.

Unfortunately for little Belladonna, it seemed that her Crest bared little to no magical prowess. Her father upon being delivered this news while holding the sickly girl in his hands saw only pain filled disgust. Belladonna was the sole heir to the budding lesser noble family of The Soltaria Kingdom by the name Alteria.

Alteria was a previously unknown family name that rapidly pushed the boundaries of their growth for Belladonna's mother and father were masterful cultivators to the point they were herald as the best of their generation. In her father's eyes how could two such fine cultivators give birth to something so useless.

With years going by, the seed of pain of disappointment her father bore grew. Belladonna's only ally from her father's wrath was her mother, her early years were filled with love and growth for she was her mother's cherished little flower. Belladonna's mother had hoped that with time, love and care her little flower would blossom into something truly inspirational.

As Belladonna went through her carefree toddler years she, though slower than others, began to grow into a lovely little beauty. However around her sixth birthday her mother's flickering flame finally was reduced to embers. Belladonna's mother had slowly begun deteriorating ever since the child's birth and despite her best efforts the toll eventually claimed her.

Only upon Belladonna's mother's passing did her father's ire finally reach her. Belladonna's sunlight began to fade as her father blamed little Belladonna for her mother's weakness, not to mention the outward eyes that had begun to look into their assets like vultures to a dying animal.

Belladonna's father however was a cold and logical man so he was determined to find a use for this weed of a daughter. However the wonder filled lively blossoming flower began to wilt after losing the love of her sunlight. With time all Belladonna came to know was shadows. The memories of her past faded as the years began to fill her.

Her father had found at least some use for the weed that had grown in his yard. Belladonna's beauty became known to everyone throughout the realm as she had a face delicate and fair like a flower. Pristine, smooth pale skin like silk and dark brown hair like delicately crafted milk chocolate that matches her delicately slender fox ears and a tail so plush it looks like it would feel like a fluffy cloud.

The greatest use of Belladonna though was her ability to be used as a pawn. Belladonna had been nurtured and groomed by her father very carefully so she was nothing more than his puppet to the point that she would not spare a moment in ending her useless existence if her father commanded it.

Then came her eighteenth birthday and her simple useless existence would finally have some meaning for her father's work would hopefully begin to bear fruit. Belladonna's reputation as an legible bride who was completely submissive to her partner when coupled with her beauty began to flutter all through the realm.

These rumors were only further amplified by the fact that her father had openly announced his willingness to part with his treasured Belladonna under the right circumstances. As the whispers on the winds spread through the realm that this beauty was so desirable, many suitors came bearing gifts for Belladonna's father in hope of gathering enough favor to lay claim to such a beauty.

Despite the many suitors one stood above all others, High Prince Ishara. The prince hailed from the kingdom of Valaresh that presided over the perilous mountainous region that formed Soltaria's northern boundaries. Soltaria, over the many centuries of shared borders, had tried to conquer Valaresh, but the terrain coupled with their large mineral wealth and ruthless fighters made the venture less than profitable.

The Kingdom of Valaresh was seen as a kingdom of savages, but the airship filled with jewels offered to the Belladonna's father for his daughter's hand was enough for the man to consider the risk. Despite his homeland's hate for Valaresh, with the backing of Valaresh and his combat prowess ranked among the highest in Soltaria, anyone who would actively try and oppose him would either be too foolish or would be a shadow pawn of the crown of Soltaria.

With his daughter's grooming he might even be able to utilize this to open up trade agreements that would benefit him for many years. Also the greatest thing about this arrangement was that his useless daughter would be in a kingdom far away from him so he would not have to see her despicable visage or hear her screeching wails. Belladonna's father began to believe deep down in his heart that this deal was god sent.

With a smile he looked over to the caramel skin of the muscular framed visitor who had brought him such a wonderful deal. After closer inspection of the gems he shook the hand of the female knight and told the hand maids to go prepare his daughter for the journey ahead. Of course Belladonna was not aware of her fate as she was still locked away in her bedroom. It had been years since Belladonna had left her little bubble, but it seems it was finally time for change.

As the various suitors left the Alteria family manor, many held pity for the poor girl. Firstly she would have to leave her childhood home to travel to a distant and far away kingdom not to mention the harsh mountain lifestyle that awaited her versus the cozy life here in Soltaria

The change in scenery was only a small part of the iceberg for the high prince reputation was even worse. The prince was seen as a vicious and ruthless villain who happily culled many smaller clans in their goal of conquest and unification of Valaresh back when it was nothing more than scattered clans.

Even his actions today did him no favors. He himself did not visit the prized treasure but instead sent a lowly servant to buy the girl like a prized doll. The cruelty and uncaring nature of the individual had left many to expect many dark days for the Belladonna not knowing the abyss she had dwelled in for many years.