The Storyteller!

~The world wants to touch me

As if I am all theirs...

The world looks at my beauty

but no one knows how wretched I am...

I am completely broken

I have become homeless in your love...~

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Present-day

A girl was sitting on a white, fluffy cloud and was looking down from there. She was gazing at the group of people who seems to be listening to an old man. He was old enough to be called grandpa.

He was the famous storyteller of the village. He was reciting tales since childhood. From his experience, he knows that this story intrigues the people most, and it's the tale of The Princess Of Andrea.

A live reflection of the story can be seen, in the rippling water of the lake, just behind the grandpa.

The girl was wearing a pink blouse with a green dhoti along with a green dupatta. She had her hair tied in a beautiful bun decorated with a flower garland. She was wearing lots of jewelry like armlets in both arms, necklaces, a waistband, beautiful golden bangles in both hands, and anklets on both legs. She is looking just like an Indian fairy.

Suddenly a figure flashed with the speed of light and sat beside the girl on the cloud.

"Am I too late?" he asks.

The girl looks at the extraordinarily charming boy beside her. He was wearing a black below-knee-length coat with white churidar pants and a deep blue turban on his head. He had golden ring-shaped earrings in both ears, armlets in both arms, a simple yet elegant gold chain along with a pure red stone in its center, in his neck. He was showing his blue eyes and white teeth.

"No, your favorite part of the story is about to start," she says with a smile.

"Great!" he beams happily.

Then they both started to focus on the storyteller. Even if they are up in the clouds, they can still hear and see everything so clearly as the people next to the grandpa can do.

The storyteller started the tale from where he left yesterday-

After receiving the King's order, everyone starts making arrangements to follow it. Soon, the rumor of The Prophecy and The Princess got spread in the entire Kingdom.

The King himself assured that everyone in his reign knows his great decision of choosing the empire over his daughter. Afterall, he wants to be a live example of a great ruler.

Dhriti, the Head Witch, was watching these scenes unfolding from the side.

She was the one who elicited the Prophecy but what she told wasn't the whole truth.

The Prophecy did say that the Royals of Andrea will die in the chaos, but by the Royals, it means only the Evil Royals and not all. But she doesn't dare to mention the word 'Evil' as this will only mean that the King will be the first to die then.

If she told it, then the Princess won't be the only one going to the Cursed Forest, she would be joining her too. So she let it be a secret for her own good.

Today again, the Royals were assembled in the Grand Hall. They were here to witness Shivanshi getting punished for her crimes. The 5-yr old culprit Shivanshi was standing in an alone corner, looking nervously at everyone.

"Dhriti, let's start," ordered the King.

"Yes, your Highness," she replied, and with that, she started chanting some spells. Suddenly, a purple light engulfed the whole hall. Everyone closed their eyes due to this sudden brightness. When they opened their eyes, they saw the Queen crying her eyes out due to the loss of her dear daughter. The King had a satisfied look on his face.

"Everyone shall leave now. Pranam.*" He started walking towards the exit of the hall with great strides.

When the purple light shone so brightly, the Princess too closed her eyes, the light devoured her, and when she felt her surroundings to be unnaturally quiet, she slowly opened her eyes.

When she looked at what was in front of her, she gasped loudly. It was clearly daytime, but due to the tall trees standing everywhere, sunlight wasn't able to spread.

Only a few rays of sunlight were able to touch the ground which managed to escape the tall trees. The trees were very grand as if they are standing there for centuries.

It looks like ...a beautiful painting, so mesmerizing. If it had been any other day or any other place, anyone would fall in love with its beauty. But right now, the Princess is standing in the center of this deep forest with no one around. It was too quiet. Even the sound of air, randomly whistling with leaves, could be heard.

She was feeling afraid...so afraid. One thing she fears the most was being alone. She took a step backward, ready to run out of the forest. But just as she stepped back, she fell..." ahh!" Shivanshi cried.

Her voice echoed in the forest. Her fear rose, and she was trembling in fear.

Then suddenly she heard some movements. When she tried to hear clearly, there were many sounds of running during stepping on the dry leaves.

She became alert. Despite the pain in her ankle, she stood straight and picked up a dry branch from the ground, in the position of ready to attack.

Slowly slowly, a black figure emerged from somewhere. It has pitch black shining fur and purple shining cat eyes. Its mouth was wide open, and you can see its two canines.

It was...a panther, a big one.

She had never seen any animal so big before, and it wasn't alone. It has companions with him.

A big blue Bird flew towards her. It has a crown of feathers on its forehead, a large beak, large blue feathers, and a big feathery blue tail. It made Shivanshi retreat two steps.

A prominent white figure landed swiftly from the sky on her paws without making any noise while purring loudly. If one doesn't look carefully, one must think, it's a cloud coming down from the sky. She was a cat, a big white cat.

A great eagle with sharp blade-like eyes, more than 2-feet-large wings landed from the sky.

Similarly, so many animals appeared one by one, and soon Shivanshi found herself surrounded by those overbearing creatures.

They were glaring accusingly at her for disturbing their peace.

~This will be tough

but time will heal

perhaps a new life

will then reveal ~

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