Balwar Kingdom was one of the greatest kingdoms in the realms of Algosun with walls of hardened stone that surrounded their borders. For centuries no enemy had ever managed to break these walls, until the war between Balwar Kingdom and Chuluan Kingdom happened.

Chuluan Kingdom took pride in their mines of salt and diamonds, but the lands of Balwar Kingdom were filled with precious resources that could be used to advance their kingdom like the Piertho stones used for gunpowder, but King Alistair Castleheart refused to make exchanges with the Kingdom and as a result, war broke loose.

The walls of Balwar Kingdom were impenetrable, but a thirteen-year-old genius scholar of Chuluan Kingdom named Nigam Obi created a device using the Piertho powder in his possession plus the lightning that struck his field every storm. This device was stronger than any bomb ever created in the realms and the force was so strong that it seemed that the walls were made of nothing, but sand as the walls of Balwar Kingdom came crashing down.  

With the walls destroyed, Balwar Kingdom had no way to protect its people from the trained soldiers of Chuluan Kingdom. Many villages near the wall were destroyed and the people were slaughtered by the soldiers, even the women and children. Supplies meant for Balwar Kingdom’s troops were taken from the destroyed villages. Fires, blood, and screams filled the air of Balwar Kingdom, which was slowly losing the war and King Alistair Castleheart had no doubt that when the enemy reached the castle him, his beautiful wife, Queen Irina Castleheart; and his children would be slaughtered.

For now, he could only hope that help would come or a miracle would happen to save his Kingdom and his family.

Even though the Kingdom was beginning to fall, Yanira Castleheart, age ten, was able to find peace exploring the market at the base of the castle that seemed untouched by the turmoil of war.

Yanira’s red hair was still cut short revealing her ears. The clothes she wore were not that of a royal, but of a commoner. Green loose pants that were cut just above her ankles; a long sleeved white blouse that dangled from her arms, but was rolled up to her wrist; leather black shoes that fit her small feet; and a black cap that covered the top half of her red hair. The way she dressed resembled that of a boy, but all knew that she was female and that she was the youngest princess by the color of her unique red hair, but they also wondered why she was the only royal that ever ventured out of the castle walls for most royals remained within the castle since the war began, except for the eldest son that led the troops. 

Yanira ran down the dusty path of the market with a smile sending dust flying around her feet. Yanira stopped in front of a bread stand with eyes sparkling with excitement. The bread stand had regular loaves of wheat bread, but her focus landed on the sugar bread that was filled with lemon custard and grape jelly. Yanira tipped toed reaching out to the tasty treat. She managed to grab it and looked at the owner with a bright smile.

“Can I please buy this?” asked Yanira. The owner of the stand nodded as he took the payment from Yanira’s other hand. Yanira cheered as she began to munch on the tasty treat with bliss on her face.

As she continued to walk nibbling on the tasty bread, she noticed a few soldiers gathering supplies from a single stand that sold rations. Yanira stopped momentarily to stare at the soldiers she usually saw guarding the castle. She remembered that most of the soldiers left to fight in the war and some male friends in the market had also joined the army. It made her depressed to see them leave, but she told herself that it was to keep the people remaining safe.

With those thoughts, she ran pass the guards, finishing the last of her treat, and into another part of the market. This part of the market sold weapons and most blacksmiths lived in this area. Ignoring the other stands that had smoke escaping from the forging areas, she approached a stand that only had bows and arrows hanging from a pole suspended in front of the stand.

Yanira peeked around the stand toward a black-haired boy one year older than her named Pyralis Banhi. He wore a black loose shirt revealing his right shoulder; a brown stained bandage around each of his wrists; black pants held up by a thick rope; and straw sandals on his feet. He was using a rock to sharpen an arrow head with his full focus on it. He was so focused that he didn’t notice Yanira creeping up toward him with a smile on her lips. Just as he was about to press the arrow head to the stone again, Yanira sprung up and wrapped her arms around Pyralis’s shoulder exclaiming, “Pyralis!”

Pyralis stumbled dropping the arrow head and stone to the straw covered ground. Pyralis sighed glancing at Yanira over his shoulder.

“Can’t you ever greet me normally?” asked Pyralis in an exasperated tone. Yanira puffed her cheeks with a pout stating, “When I greet you normally, you don’t look up.” Pyralis chuckled admitting that Yanira had a point. Yanira giggled in reply peeling herself away from Pyralis.

Yanira folded her arms behind her leaning toward Pyralis with expectation in her eyes asking, “Is my order ready?” Pyralis nodded and approached a cabinet in the corner of his stand. He opened the cabinet and pulled out a bow lined with silver feathers, a quiver with the same colored feathers, but with traces of gold; and within the quiver were ten arrows with limestone arrowheads sharpened to perfection. Pyralis held the bow and quiver to Yanira saying, “You’re lucky I had extra time to make this.” Yanira clapped in delight taking the bow and arrow filled quiver from Pyralis.

“This is perfect,” stated Yanira running her fingers along the bow and arrows.

Pyralis smiled placing his hands to his hip.

“I should hope so. You found some pretty unique ingredients for this weapon. Where’d you find them anyway?” asked Pyralis. Yanira smiled brightly at Pyralis as she placed the bow in the quiver and stated, “I found them near the Chestnut tree.”

“The one from the royal garden, right?” asked Pyralis. Yanira nodded placing the strap of the quiver over her shoulder.

Pyralis placed a hand to his chin stating, “It’s kind of funny that good things always happen to you when you visit the Chestnut Tree.” Yanira nodded with a smile.

“There was this one time I hoped to find an ingredient to help make a special sword for my big brother and then there was this Pulado stone at the base of the chestnut tree.”

“The strongest stone that could be made into metal and be forged into a strong sword. It would never break,” noted Pyralis

Yanira nodded and added, “I just wish it and then it is around the tree.” Yanira suddenly looked saddened adding, “Too bad my wish for the war to end hasn’t come true yet.”

Pyralis smiled placing his hand on Yanira’s shoulder saying, “We’ll survive this war and it will end in our favor, so have faith in your wish.” Yanira nodded with a bright smile.

Yanira adjusted the strap of the quiver on her shoulder and then stated, “I want to test this out before the day ends.” Pyralis nodded saying, “Just be careful.” Yanira nodded.

Yanira pressed her lips lightly against Pyralis’s cheek making him freeze. She pulled away with a smile saying, “Let’s play again sometime.” With that she walked off not noticing Pyralis’s face turning redder as he pressed his right hand to his kissed cheek.

Yanira ran back to the castle sliding pass the guards who failed to notice her and entered the empty training grounds of the castle. These training grounds were used for the soldiers to get stronger, but since the war started the training ground had remained empty for years. It was one of the places that Yanira could let herself loose, in this case, a place where she could practice her archery skills.

Yanira secured five practice dummies on the surrounding poles and then went to the center of the ground. She drew her bow and five arrows and took a few deep breathes as she focused on the practice dummies. She loaded her bow with the arrows and began to fire at each dummy within seconds of each other. Each arrow impaled a dummy, sending strips of straw flying out. When the last arrow connected to the remaining dummy, Yanira cheered placing her bow back in the quiver.

Yanira yanked the arrows from the dummies and placed the arrows back in the quiver.

“Pyralis’s weaponry knowledge is just as good as his father’s,” stated Yanira happily.

Yanira was about to get ready to practice more of her archery skills, but paused when she heard an elderly woman call her name. Yanira glanced over her shoulder and saw an older woman wearing a red robe with gold lining running toward her.

This woman was named Lucina Shree, age fifty-five. She was the priestess of Balwar Kingdom, who made predictions for the Royal family and on rare occasions would tell the fortunes of the people of Balwar Kingdom. Her predictions were very accurate since the war began like how she predicted that the walls would fall to the enemy. King Alistair trusted her words. He trusted her words so much that when she claimed that Yanira had the qualifications to be her successor, he allowed Yanira to be trained under her.

Yanira stood still as Lucina finally reached her panting. She glared at Yanira saying, “I told you so many times not to wander off from your room, until I come to claim you.” Yanira puffed her cheeks crossing her arms.

“But you take so long and I can’t stay cooped up in my room till night fall,” stated Yanira. Lucina sighed placing a wrinkled hand to her forehead.

“I would appreciate it if you would just at least read the books I gave you, while you wait,” stated Lucina. Yanira smiled placing her hands on her hips proudly.

“I already read them all from the deviation of the constellations to the history books of all the Kingdoms within Algosun. I even read about the other dimensions that might exist around Algosun.”

Lucina stared in silence and then smiled saying, “You are very intelligent young lady, but I must ask why, even though you read the books, you still like to wander off into the market and learn archery.”

“It’s fun to mingle and archery is also fun. I know my father and mother don’t like me doing it since I am supposed to be a lady, but that’s who I am,” stated Yanira proudly. Lucina chuckled, but suddenly plucked Yanira’s hat off her head revealing the shortness of her red hair.

“You are a young lady, so why do you cut your hair to this length, even though I told you multiple times not to cut it?” asked Lucina. Yanira gulped running her hand through her short red hair.

“Well I like it short and it is easier to clean,” stated Yanira. Lucina frowned stuffing the hat in her sleeve.

“I’ll let it pass, but at least try to let it grow for a woman’s hair is her life,” stated Lucina making Yanira giggle.

Lucina brushed the dirt off of Yanira’s clothes and stated, “You’ll need to change into your robe before we go into your dance lesson.” Yanira nodded and ran pass Lucina toward the inside of the castle walls.

Lucina watched Yanira’s retreating back and sighed looking up at the darkening sky.

“I hope this student of mine will continue my work on the right path.”

Yanira ran down the hall of the castle toward her chambers, but slid to a stop when she saw Xema, age twenty, leaving her room wearing a pink gold lining dress with an excited look. Yanira approached Xema and asked, “Hear something good, big sister?” Xema nodded looking at her younger sister.

“Shuyu is coming to the castle this night to have an audience with father,” stated Xema excitedly. Yanira tilted her head.

“Shuyu?” muttered Yanira. She went into deep thought and then smiled saying, “I remember him. He visited six years ago and if I remember right he is king of Azseldo Kingdom now.” Xema nodded clutching her hands to her chest in bliss.

“He’s such a wise king and I hope that father will think of marrying me to Shuyu,” stated Xema. Yanira puffed her cheeks crossing her arms.

“But that would mean that you would leave Balwar Kingdom,” stated Yanira with a pout. Xema giggled and patted Yanira’s head.

“I would need to eventually be married off to another kingdom since Zuriel will be king of Balwar, but I won’t forget my dear little sister,” stated Xema. Yanira giggled wrapping her arms around Xema’s waist. Xema giggled prying Yanira off her saying, “Come on now Yanira, you’re getting my dress dirty.”

Yanira smiled at Xema saying, “When I become a priestess I will bless your marriage.” Xema nodded saying, “I look forward to it.” Yanira nodded and then ran off saying, “I better hurry before Lucina gets angry again.” Xema nodded and then walked in the opposite direction filled with excitement.