-•-

Icycilis was peaceful yet bustling with life, it was a change of atmosphere to the young royals as they scoured the place their horses could take them before the sun sets. Nighttime where no crickets lulled the sleep-addled people but the near-quiet zooms of alustasses became the background accompaniment of the country with dozens of city lights open signifying its still lively atmosphere.

But ...

Lively couldn't be an appropriate term to define the present situation of Icycilis as the Underworld suddenly emerged without any signs of warning together with small minions from the Dark Arc in separate sections of the country which held all citizens in a state of calamity. All efforts were made to stabilize and secure the protection from the invading fiends that the movement spearheaded by the Sciath (Guards of Icycilis equipped with electro staffs and shield) and the Aureole lasted three week until they successfully eradicated the foul monstrosities and the rebellion that came with them.

Other lands fared no better, both eastern and western lands were attacked by the Dark Arc and its affiliates as if they're gatekeeping something towards the sole remaining country containing mixed blood of all powerful members of The Favoured Ones.

Sun finally shone behind dark tainted clouds, illuminating the bodies of both demons and humans scattered around the plaza of Icycilis with other individuals already hauling some to a cart to be given proper burial. As the most advanced country, the attack was suppressed immediately within 4 days while others took weeks.

"What's the status, soldier?" A Sciath general asked one of his subordinates as he ran toward him.

"The villages have been stabilized sir!"The guard gave a salute before his report.

"Good, go back to your post and wait for further orders." With that, the guard sprinted back to the village he's stationed.

"General?" The man turned towards the voice. A child with bruises and cuts holding her teddy stood steps away from him, "I can't find my mommy and daddy" She said tearfully as the general approached her and scooped her in his arms.

"We'll look for her together young one" He gave a tired smile before her big brown eyes which lit up upon his promise. He walked away with the child in tow as soon as he gave an order to stand guard while a team of cleaners and medical personnel entered the scene to aid with the cleanup and medication.

"Open the evacuation center doors! Icycilis is now safe!"

-•-

"What have we here?" Princess Linthea rummaged through her belongings and spotted an aquamarine necklace shaped like a yinghua flower from the once serene lakes of Sanaari encased inside a silver jewelry box—it was one of her favourite flora.

The princess' face brightened upon such beautiful jewelry she assumed her mother had hidden before they left.

Oh, her beloved country..amidst the chaotic commotion, she hoped everyone was safe there.

"Māma...thank you, I'll wear this always" Linthea held the necklace close to her heart with a bright smile before she shakily stood up to present the newfound gift to her siblings.

"The kingdom of Samaari has fallen as a result of an attack from the divine-"

The moment the young princess heard the name of her country all seemed to fall apart as she lost sight of the surroundings and only focus on the news that ceaselessly knocked in her brain.

The flower necklace fell from her hands as liquid would from a high altitude. The clanging sounds of the gemstone coming in contact to the floor became mere echoes to her ears as the necklace splits into two. The princess' body shook as the pang in her heart worsened, accompanied by the crumbling pain from the back of her head, her legs trembled as she staggered back, eyes bloodshot from the news.

"No-! That cannot be.."and she fainted to the cold hard floor.

-•-

3 days later

"The Queen of Jadetown expressed her sadness over the passing of King Shu-"

The television was cut as Carmilla sighed. Her mind still can't process what had occurred, more so, she could hardly believe the news.. it all went too fast for her to grasp. It's all implausible that she still looks forward to going back to Samaari to her Queen, to be welcomed by her gentle smile with the King by her side.

The downfall of Samaari shook the whole continent as a divine judgement was imposed for the first time among humans, one of the favoured clans at that and along the devastating assault of the Dark Arc, the ten kingdoms are left to pick themselves up.

"I hope you had a plan in this my Queen Qingshan...your children are hopeless without you" A lone tear fell from her eyes after has been three days since the catastrophe but the Seiju mansion was akin to that of a post-apocalyptic town accompanied with deafening silence and an atmosphere of melancholy.

Carmilla wept bitterly—out of all places, why must Samaari accept such hardships. Her twin island's populace was almost struck down to its knees with the loss of their regent and now, both of them were at the divine's bitter gaze.

Soren fared slightly better than his sisters—or so she thought. He always stays in the training simulation facility of the Stellarium. Xiuying...that poor girl was devastated, cried herself to sleep and continuously asked if all that was their fault for leaving. The heavy regret of not having proper goodbyes left the young princess on her bed all day with her food intake slowly decreasing that left Carmilla in tears just to convince the girl to take her sustenance.

The young maid would stroke the little princess' head lovingly until she falls asleep and stays by her side until morning in fear she would have nightmares that'll leave her dead in her sleep just like the first night where Xiuying almost lost her breath if not for the efforts of her siblings to wake her up.

Princess Linthea took the most out of everything. The girl would lock herself leaving no one to reach out to her, prompting Carmilla to sometimes threaten to bust the door open. Lack of sleep as eyebags are present under her lids with an apathetic expression—Carmilla is sure she's holding a lot in because out of all three, Linthea's the most secretive. Her room in shambles with the curtains torn as shreds of it lay waste on the floor. The middle princess deprived herself of Carmilla's comfort and presence that made her worry of her sanity and well being.

Carmilla felt helpless, very very helpless. She doesn't know what to do, what to say...or what to think but she made a promise to her queen to take care of the young royals as if they're her children, and so the green haired maid set off to Linthea's room and knocked gently.

"Princess? I came here for some breakfast" she inquired.

"Go away! I don't need it!" A voice replied inside aggressively. Carmilla scrunched her face but fell to the young princess' harsh words, she gave it a go but maybe for another day again.

Her heels spun as she was about to walk away when she heard something static from the inside and her instincts flared up; After all, it wouldn't be a surprise to scrutinize everything after her years of training as a royal handmaiden.

"Princess?" She knocked again.

No reply.

Carmilla shook her head at the upcoming thoughts of anxiousness.

'Princess Linthea wouldn't do that? Right?' her inner thoughts rammed from the back of her mind. Her heart pounding from the possibilities and anticipation.

Whatever will she do if one of them goes missing.

Please, the universe must prove her wrong with this.

"Princess Linthea if you don't open the door this instant-!" Her threats fell empty in the air before the young maid took a few steps back and with all her might rammed the door consecutively to force it open.

A light from the broken door shone to grace the room full of wrecked belongings. Cabinets fell over with their wood broken with the bed's insides thrown out as if a leviathan beast threw rage inside. Carmilla looked over to the open window abstained from its vibrant curtains that lay shredded and torn, distances beside the bed.

Without a second thought, the green haired woman took off to alert the Princess's brother and the officials.

-•-

Soon, news of Samaari's downfall and cause became known to the public by the media's influence that aggregated the negative emotions of the people and points the blame of genocide to the remaining line of the throne.

Linthea trudged across the outskirts of town met by the scornful look of the villagers when a ripe tomato was thrown at her but she didn't evade as if it posed a difference to her wellbeing.

"Because of you my mother died!" A young voice somehow reached her ears as a kid was held by an elderly woman in tears across her left.

"It's all your fault!" Another one said. She paid no heed and continued walking.

"Why are you alive but they weren't!?" Her heart ached upon hearing such condemnation. Linthea too wanted to die even if it meant bringing her parents back.

Klang!

The sound of metal broke through her trance and the princess turned to see a long strand of dark violet behind her, a boy who deflected something towards the princess' being.

"Pray tell what has she done to deserve your cruelty! The princess and her siblings are also victims of this war just like all of us! Cease these trivial actions or I'll notify the court of Queen Izstahra." Right. Her aunt, her aunt who wasn't there to help her sister from the war. Her aunt who left them to die. Her aunt who was the confidant of her mother....and yet—she doesn't need the help of this Mylinggrian. Linthea doesn't need the help of everyone.

"Leave me alone, I don't care if they clobber me with an axe, if I die..so what? Will it make a difference?" Linthea spat back instead of thanking her saviour who, because of him, the remaining townspeople returned to their homes grumbling and muttering in spite.

"Hey! I'm just trying to help you...is this the thanks I'm expecting?" She groans. She hates these kinds of people, they who always expect something in return. Linthea turned to the boy. Her eyes darkened due to lack of sleep with her face sullen from hunger and sadness. She looked at him from head to toe and realized her 'saviour' was a royal confidant of the court: House Von Vyrien.

Princess Linthea scoffed.

"My deepest gratitude for your valiant and righteous act. How can I ever repay you" the dark brown haired girl said with a sardonic smile.

"Oh that is simpl-" her eyebrow twitched upward upon hearing him speak.

"We seem to have a little misunderstanding... von Vyrien" Linthea smiled sweetly at him, masking the immense anger she's about to let go.

"I owe you nothing" She whispered the last part, her voice laced with venom, "What you did was your choice and it was never my pleasure to ask for help from people like you"

The young man gulped but maintained his arrogant face.

"I have a name for your information...Princess Linthea Guiying Seiju" He drawled the last part that made her hand itching to punch him.

"I am Calyx Von Vyrien...at your service... Princess" He gave her a taunting salute and turned with his head held high as he walked away from her.

Linthea watched his retreating back with amusement, the first one she's ever felt after four devastating days.

"I guess I won't worry much about transportation then"

—

Archive Log: Favorite Child

Xiuying is spoiled too much by her mother and father while Linthea is a mommy's girl and Soren is a daddy's boy.