The breeze, clouds, the streets. Snow covered the bustling city square of Myrindel—the capital of the Pyralis Empire. Surely merchants and high class men and women roamed the streets, dressed in expensive fabric and thick clothing.

Auretta thought she might bump into the imperial family, though there was a low chance of seeing them herself. However, the thought excited her—actually meeting a princess who wasn’t from those novels she would read as a child.

“What’s with that paper you’re carrying, young child?” shouted a merchant, sitting on a stall near a fountain.

Auretta beamed at the woman, quickening her pace as she showed old photos—photos of her parents which she had found in the office of the matron. “Rufina and Andreas Prudentia. This is a photo of them almost twenty years ago.” she stated as the merchant glanced at them, studying the features of their faces.

“Do you know them perhaps?” she asked, tilting her head. The merchant shook her head, earning a sigh from Auretta. “Thank you however.” she said, running into the streets.

Gruntings of horses tingled Auretta’s ears, the sounds of children screaming filled the atmosphere too. No wonder this was the capital of Pyralis.

“Hello!” she grinned at the children, waving with so much enthusiasm just to earn a frown. “Of course…” Auretta mumbled, shifting her cheerful expression to a deadpan. “Everywhere and then… adults and kids think I’m weird.”

Holding the last missing poster signs, Auretta hung it on a nearby poster, hoping people would at least bait an eye at the poster.

A carriage passed by in haste, splattering snow from the hair of Auretta and down to her booths. Clenching her jaw, Auretta balled her hands into a fist and stomped on her foot. “I just want to find my parents. Why is life against me so much?!” she screamed, ignoring the weird stares people gave her in that moment.

Her hand made an impact on her face. She’s been travelling from city to city, earning money, just to survive and find her parents—why is it so impossible for her to just finally see them.

“It’s whatever,” she muttered, shrugging her arms as her eyes laid on a figure, covered up with a cloak, speaking with one of the merchants. Auretta kind of wished it was the same young man who she met in the ruins, but she could tell it was a lady underneath that cloak.

Without a care, Auretta slowly took a few steps, getting a better view of the person. A part of her was hopping and wishing it was him, maybe a miracle would happen and he’d magically appear.

She froze, watching a young boy slip his hands into the lady’s pockets, quickening his footsteps as he got the moneybag. “Hey! You can’t take that!” Auretta screamed, kicking her boots as her feet carried the weight, running through the snow and pushing people away as she chased the young boy.

He glanced at Auretta, glaring daggers at him.

Auretta quickly yanked a net from a stall selling fish, “I’ll return it no worries!” she yelled, gaining on the boy.

With all her strength, she threw the net, slowing down the boy’s steps. “Gotcha,” Auretta muttered, slipping the money pouch away from the boy’s hands as she knelt down. “Hey—I really don’t mean to hurt you, but stealing is wrong.”

An eye roll was given to Auretta instead, infuriating her. “We don’t really get to see people like you everyday.” Auretta jolted forward, perking her head to see the same lady underneath the cloak.

Auretta grinned, handing back the pouch as her eyes lingered on the imperial soldiers behind the lady. “Sorry for the trouble young lady, this boy is known for stealing a lot.” said a guard, dragging him away.

To Auretta’s surprise, the lady slipped her hood off, revealing a crimson like hair, elegantly fixed into a bun and eyes, rare and precious like amber. She gaped, stepping backwards on the snow ground.

“Y-Your highness!” Auretta curtsied, shaking from shock.

“What’s your name?” she asked. Auretta could barely bait an eye at her—it felt as if she was staring directly into the sun. “Auretta, but people prefer to call me Arya.” she replied. “Thank you for saving me my pouch. I hope to come across you again.” the princess stated, earning a quick nod from Auretta.

Bowing her head, Auretta glanced at her, saying, “I’m honored. Thank you for this opportunity!”

The princess seemed rather amused, yawning as she slipped her hood back on. “You may carry on, I have other duties to handle.” she added, dismissing Auretta.

Auretta took one more glance at the princess, beaming as she went on, quickening the pace of her feet.

As the figure of Auretta faded into a distance, the princess slipped away into the crowds, stepping foot into a narrow alleyway. “Truce, Darkin.” she muttered as if it was urgent. In a snap, a young man her age and a middle aged man stepped foot into the alleyway.

They bowed their heads, glancing at the princess. “Yes your highness?” “I want you both to bring this commoner to me. Pink hair and blue eyes, keep that in mind.” “Yes your highness!”

The snow has stopped, giving Auretta inner peace from her cloak getting soaked from melting snow.

The streets have been livelier than usual. Was it because of the snow? If that was so, she could not blame the people.

Her inn was nearby, Auretta felt her head yearning for the bed already. She could barely get enough sleep the past few days. All she's been thinking about was the Revelation Stone. Questions keep popping up in her mind.

She was drowning in her thoughts, until some familiar murmuring drew Auretta’s attention.

Turning her head around, her eyes flew open, seeing the matron—speaking with a guard.

Auretta quickly pulled her hood, running to a different direction. She didn’t think that the matron would head this far searching for her.

She stepped into an alleyway, stepping backwards slowly as she felt her heart beating faster.

Auretta wasn’t willing to go back. She felt stupid but she was wishing for another stranger to save her.

“There you are!” Auretta jolted forward. She turned around seeing a young man aorund her age.

Stepping backwards slowly, Auretta feigned a smile, waving gently at him. “Hello-” she freezed, stepping onto someone’s foot.

Hands rested on her shoulder. She pulled away, running towards the other end of the alleyway. There’s no time to even look at the face of the man behind her.

Quickening her pace, Auretta lost her balance, tripping and falling face first onto the floor. She groaned, punching the ground.

“Gotcha,” a voice muttered, sounding like it could cut through anything like a blade. Auretta looked up, seeing a cloaked man. He grabbed Auretta’s arm forcefully, pulling her to stand up.

She tried to pull away but his grip was too strong on her. “Good job Truce.” Auretta glared at the man who rested his arm on this so-called man, Truce.

“If you’re sending me back to the orphanage—I refuse to come back!” Auretta yelled, pulling her arm away with full strength.

“Not so fast,” hissed the cloaked man grabbing her again. “No intentions of sending you to whoever. There’s something else we want from you.”

Letting out muffled noises, the cloaked man grabbed Auretta underneath her arms, carrying her like a load of barley.

She tried to free herself—she couldn’t.

Someone help me please!