As night approaches, the group, having calmed down from yesterday's events, has yet to stop for camp. Arjana observes Birger whispering to Avvian, who appears upset, but continues on. Meanwhile, Arjana assists Frigg in tending to Izzimar's wounds.

"Are you feeling better now?" she asks while wrapping his head.

"You know you don't really have to do this, right?" he responds.

"I know, but I feel bad that you got hurt, so I want to repay you.," Arjana confesses.

The young boy emits a peculiar trilling sound, prompting a chuckle from Frigg. "How much longer will we be on the move?" Arjana inquires, noting the encroaching darkness. Frigg, visibly anxious, replies, "We're still looking for a safe place to shelter for the night."

“It's not safe to camp out in the open as elves.”, Frigg adds. Arjana was kind of puzzled but didn't argue. “So what are we doing till then?”, She asked

“Well, I guess we just wait tight.”, Izzimar sighed. 

"Oh..." Arjana murmured.

In the quiet, Izzimar inquired, "So, how did you become a princess? You're very young."

"I was made a princess when my father established his kingdom," she explained.

"How did he manage that?", Izzimar asked, tilting his head.

Arjana pondered deeply about her homeland. The kingdom's founding happened when she was only four, so her memories of the events were vague. She was very young then...Still, she wants people to know her father’s feats. She can't do him a disservice and let the story of her proud kingdom fade away. Thinking back, she remembered the days her father would tell her about the birth of their kingdom. Using those memories, she decided to give it a try. 

"I'll attempt to tell you what papa told me. I'm sorry if you find any parts that aren't clear."

"Alright, we're listening, youngin' ." Birger responds, reclining in the passenger seat of the wagon.Arjana, surrounded by expectant faces, inhales deeply.

"Papa was a builder, and although the kingdom was poor, the nobles somehow always had wealth."

"That's hardly surprising...", Izzimar snorts

"Silence, let her speak. Continue.", Frigg shushes Izzimar before returning her attention to Arjana.

"He tirelessly worked to support mom and Monoko; I wasn't born yet. Eventually, the king allowed barbarians to enter.", Arjana explained. "Who are barbarians?", Izzimar interrupts again earning stern glances from the other adults. However, Arjana was unbothered, and didn't mind answering his questions. Afterall, he's a kid like her, so thats to be expected.

"They are outsiders from a ruined kingdom. Papa mentioned that the king allowed them to 'govern' us.", She explained

"But why?"

"I'm getting to that..., may I continue?", Arjana giggles.

"S-sorry...", Izzimar stammers

"Anyway, the barbarians were like monsters. They invaded homes, looting and destroying everything. What worsened the situation was their lawlessness. The locals felt so threatened that they stayed together for safety. However, this enraged the King. Without the locals, there would be no tribute for the barbarians. He relied on them for his wars, but... there was no conflict at the time. Despite this, the people coexisted with the barbarians, until the King passed a scary law.

The law granted barbarians unrestricted access to the homes and possessions of the locals, including their women and children. This time, however, they had the support of the king. Frustrated, my papa rallied his neighbors, family, and the remaining citizens of our kingdom, and they stealthily left the territory at dawn."

"How did your father convince people to follow him?", It was Frigg who interrupted this time.

"Papa believed that family was important, no matter what, and he was determined to protect us. At that time, my mother was expecting me. He refused to let his daughter be sacrificed to the barbarians. Seeing his determination to flee, others were inspired to join him.", Arjana explained proudly.

"Was he aware of where they were headed?", Avvian asked.

"No, his sole focus was to get far away from the kingdom.", She replied before continuing.

"After leading the people out of the kingdom, they halted at a neighboring realm. Papa spoke of it as a kingdom encircled by towering walls. It was named...", Arjana stopped, trying to remember the name of that Kingdom. She had visited only once, and never again joined her father on his diplomatic journeys there. It was something about the smoke... And then, it came back to her.

"Bronzaria kingdom! It had steam-powered metal towers and even had... metal objects known as muskets."

"They must've been quite advanced. Muskets are firearms that launch projectiles.", Birger turned to face her from his seat as he explained. Seeing Birger get invested, fills her with joy, so she continues.

"Yes, and... oddly, father didn't wish for us to take refuge in Bronzaria. Instead, he wanted their muskets... lots and lots of them... Our people agreed to fortify Bronzaria's walls in return for these muskets. It was a lengthy challenge, but eventually, papa and our people aided the Bronzaria kingdom and acquired the needed muskets. In the process, he forged an agreement with the kingdom for provisions. Things... appeared okay, but everyone was tired.

Still, they continued on their journey...moving... in search of a new homeland until at last, they discovered it. Encircled by plateaus was a lush, dense jungle. Lots of fresh water, wildlife for hunting, a waterfall, and numerous trees. Papa and the rest wasted no time and quickly settled there. I was two years old at that time. My memories are faint, but... when I turned three... mama vanished..."

"Do you... suspect something dire befell her?", Avvian asked

"Papa said she passed away, but he didn't explain how... Monoko knew how she died, but when I asked him...he refused to tell me...". Arjana explained as she looked down in sadness. She doesn't have any memories of her mother. It had been so long since she lost her, she can't even remember what she looked like. What's more, is that her brother and father kept quiet about her passing, ever since... Sensing her distress, Izzimar tries to change the subject.

"Can we hear more about your papa?"

"Oh, sorry! I was....lost in thought again.", snapping out of her sad spell, she continues.

"For a year, we lived independently, many children were born, and life was good... until the barbarians appeared. It seems that when our people left the kingdom, the King had no funds from our taxes to pay the barbarians. In their anger, they killed the king and moved on. They attempted to breach the Bronzaria Kingdom but failed to penetrate its walls, so they turned toward our lands."

"They intended to invade?", Birger inquired, clearly invested in the story.

"Oddly, no... it turns out, the land we settled on was once the homeland of the barbarians."

"How could it be theirs? If it was thriving, why did the barbarians leave to torment your people?"

"I was getting to the best part, Mister Birger!" Arjana whined.

"....My..apologies..please...proceed.", he submitted. With an excited air about her, Arjana continues,

"Papa explained that the barbarians had exhausted the resources of their homeland and, rather than doing something about it, they abandoned it. However, when we discovered the land, it was thriving because it had time to recover in their absence.

The barbarians wanted it back, but Papa refused to let them destroy the sanctuary he created for us. He waged war and led a massive battle against the barbarians. They swarmed to take over our home, intent on pillaging it. But Papa was prepared; with muskets from the Bronzaria kingdom, he and his new army almost completely eradicated the barbarians. They were exiled to unknown parts, and Papa hoisted his banner, proclaiming the new land as the Paria kingdom. The people adored him; he was a beacon of hope in dark times, and they crowned him king. He was called, the King of the Light, and under his rule, Paria flourished..."

It was Avvian who spoke up upon hearing her father's title. "Did you say... your father was... The King of Light?" Avvian inquired. "That's what people called him," Arjana replied.

"What happened to your kingdom?", Frigg asked as she cradled her baby.

"The barbarians came back, armed with muskets, and soldiers unlike any we had seen before.", Arjana explained sadly.

"Do you think your father is still alive? Is your kingdom still standing?", Birger asked, a bit insistently. "Do you...think you have a home to return to?"

"If the barbarians have taken over, then no... I remember my father sending me away. He and Monoko stayed behind to fight. The Brymshire Kingdom wanted to send help, but they too were attacked by the barbarians...I...I don't know what's happening there now..."

The wagon is filled with silence and the only sound is the horses' hooves trotting along. Izzimar cranes his neck, listening for any reaction, but there is none.It appears that the adults are attempting to process the story within the privacy of their own thoughts. Eager to break the silence, he applauds Arjana as she recounts her father's journey.

"Your father is a very brave man.", Izzimar praises

"...My head hurts... I need to lie down.", Arjana whimpers. She moves to the edge of the wagon to cover herself with a fur blanket. That's enough remembering for today... Izzimar joins her, laying next to her.

"Arjana, I wish I had a father like yours... I would love to meet him someday.", he admits before nestling his head against hers as he dozes off.

"I'm sure he would like that too.", she whispers before drifting off to sleep.