Thornwood Academy: The Witch Princess’ Revenge

Tell me, what do you do when your teacher keeps yapping the same thing repeatedly?

A. - You listen.

B. - You try to listen.

C. - You think you're a princess, so you pretend to listen.

For the princess, it was none of the choices above. 

All she could ever think about was that the lecture was boring!

For a fact, Raena barely understood what the governess was teaching her. Either it was about how to properly break your limbs and transform them into wings or whisper to house rats and scheme with their dirty little games. 

Probably something decent, such as making a small, black fireball that can burn a hole through the door.

Whichever it was, the eleven-year-old Princess of the Ravenscroft family could only care less.

"Raena..."

She was only looking outside the window, watching over the long array of dead trees, when a particular voice reached her head out of nowhere. 

"Come here.. my little raven."

Much to your surprise, no matter how eerie the call was, the princess immediately knew who was distracting her from learning from her tutor.

She stole a glance over the governess, and when the governess took its graceful turn as it wrote something on the board, a little smirk etched on the princess' small cheeks. 

If there was anything Raena learned when studying, it was how to master the art of sneaking. 

And boy, she did not need any lectures from anyone. 

As soon as her frail hands carefully closed the doorknob, she hurriedly tiptoed across the quiet corridors of the Ravenscroft castle. It wasn't as huge as most of the castles that stood high within the Kingdom of Elaria, but it was big enough to call it a castle.

The barren bricks covered in ashes and weeds stretched on its walls, following Raena's small footprints as they made their way to a chamber barely visited by the maids. 

Excited as she was, Raena, with her silver hair flowing behind her like a cascade of reversed shadows, scampered to her grandmother's side, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"Yes, Grandmother?" she asked, settling into the old woman's lap.

Long before it became a shadow of its former self, the Ravenscroft Castle was filled with warmth and laughter, especially whenever Raena's grandmother, Lady Rosaria Ravenscroft, was around.

Raena, as a child, would often escape the stern gazes of her tutors and the oppressive aura of her father's study to find solace in her grandmother's company. Lady Rosaria's room, located at the highest point of the castle's tallest tower, was a haven of magic and mystery.

It was in this room, filled with the scent of dried herbs and the soft glow of enchanted lanterns, that Raena learned the most important lessons of her life.

Despite her frailty, her grandmother had a spirit that shone brightly, illuminating the darkest corners of the castle with her wisdom and love.

After all, Lady Rosaria was well-known in the villages! When she still had the strength to roam around, she would always find herself on the busy outskirts of the Shadowlands.

The villagers would wait for her arrival, as she is known to buy from every store found within their family's extent.

She spends time talking with the laborers' wives, aiding the children, and focusing on their welfare despite how the villagers are treated in the Kingdom. Because of that, her Granddaughter looked up to her reign and wanted to do the same good things as her. 

Lady Rosaria smiled, her wrinkled face softening as she looked at her beloved granddaughter. "Before the skies fall upon me, Raena, I want to tell you a story. Is that okay?"

Raena's eyes sparkled with interest as she leaned in closer. "Tell me, Grandmother."

Lady Rosaria began, her voice weaving words that painted vivid images in Raena's mind. "Once, long ago, our family was known far and wide for our strength and wisdom. We were not the wealthiest nor the most powerful, but we had something special: our unyielding spirit."

Raena listened intently, her small hands clutching her grandmother's as she continued. "But over time, the noble families turned their backs against us. When the Solarion took over the royal throne, we were banished away from the kingdom's heart and stationed in this place where the kingdom laborers thrive. Here, we learned from our people."

"Perseverance, my dear, is the key to unlocking our true potential. It is the strength to keep moving forward, even when the path is dark and treacherous. It is the courage to stand up after every fall and to face each challenge with unwavering resolve."

The princess smiled softly. After all, she has heard of this story a thousand times!

Every day, Lady Rosaria would chant spells that translated into everyday words when they reached her granddaughter's mind, calling her to her chambers and telling the same story since immemorial. 

As the days turned into months, Lady Rosaria's health declined. The vibrancy in her eyes dimmed, and her strength waned. The crows that always lingered on her chambers' window grew restless as nights passed, and the villagers fond of the Lady were worried sick. 

Raena, now a year older, watched helplessly as her beloved grandmother grew weaker with each passing day.

She would not always wait for Lady Rosaria to chant the spells that whispered to her ears, as she knew better than her grandmother could barely do so.

Every visit became as gloomy as ever.

The once lively room now felt heavy with the weight of impending loss.

Until one evening, Raena found her grandmother struggling to sit up in bed, her breaths shallow and labored.

"Grandmother," Raena whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. "Please, let me get Father. He can help."

Lady Rosaria shook her head, her frail hand reaching out to grasp Raena's. "No, my dear. There is nothing more that can be done."

The helpers looked at the princess, and one of them stood up and said, "The royal family has denied us the magical medicine our Lady needs, and our black magic is powerless against this illness, my princess."

Raena's heart ached with helplessness and anger at the royal family's indifference.

Her teeth were all gritted as if every second raced on a fast-paced beat from her chest that was somehow blurring her mind.

Yet, she thought hard. 'Why.. why... why?!' 

"But why, Grandmother? Why won't they help us?"

Lady Rosaria's eyes softened with sadness. "My little raven... I think you know why."

Raena stood up in an instant, her palms all closed to show the knuckles that had been shivering since she entered the room.

"Why? Just because we are not as powerful or as influential as the other noble families? Just because we are lesser doesn't mean our pleas should go unheard, Grandmother!" 

"Dear, that is just the way of the world."

Tears streamed down Raena's cheeks as she clutched her grandmother's hand. "Please, Grandmother, don't leave me."

With her last remaining strength, Lady Rosaria cupped Raena's face in her hands, her eyes filled with a fierce, unwavering determination. "Raena, listen to me. You must be strong. You must persevere, no matter what."

Raena nodded, her sobs quieting as she listened to her grandmother's final words.

"There is something you must find. A hidden power, long forgotten. It is called the Black Rose. It holds the key to our family's true strength. Promise me, Raena, that you will find it."

Raena barely understood what she meant, but at that time, the princess could only care less about powers and inheritance! She could barely breathe from the fact that this might be the last night that she would be in her Grandmother's warm arms.

"Grandmother..."

And she wasn't wrong. 

With a final, loving smile, Lady Rosaria closed her eyes, her hand slipping from Raena's grasp as she took her last breath.

The room fell silent, the weight of loss settling heavily on Raena's small shoulders. Nothing was heard other than the poor princess' cry. As the helpers began to wrap Lady Rosaria, the princess looked helpless as she fell to the floor.

Breathe in, breathe out... and as minutes passed, she sniffed as much as she could, trying to recollect herself with the one thing her grandmother taught her to do most: perseverance. 

"Princess..." The voice of her governess loomed over the room. 

Raena looked up to her teacher, her eyes all fueled with grit. 

"If you want to honor your Grandmother's wishes, we must train as soon as possible. The only place for us to climb the ranks and claim power is to enter the gates of Thornwood."