"...I don't remember picking a romance novel up last night." Ellowyn absentmindedly closed the hardbound book that she found herself randomly hugging on this day's morning. After reading the first few sentences, she could not in all accounts recall why she had it in the first place. Sure, she was aware of the romance genre's existence because of her younger sister, but she herself was not one to indulge in it. She was much too preoccupied with her sword training. The only conclusion she could think of was that her sister had come into her room last night without waking her up, accidentally leaving the book here somehow. Well, I'll ask her about it later, she thought as she set the book down on her nightstand.

A few seconds later, as if on queue, a series of knocks resounded from the other side of the door. "My Lady, are you awake?"'

"Come in," she answered before her maid could open the door herself thinking she was still asleep.

Ellowyn slid her feet into slippers as the doors creaked open. In walked a couple maids, one quickly coming towards her with a basin full of crystal clear water in her arms. As she splashed her face with it, another maid drew open the curtains. Her bedroom instantly became enveloped in a dewy yellow glow. Soon, after drying herself, she was handed her training garb which she promptly changed into.

It was the usual calm, static morning she was used to.

Yet just as she was about to head out the door, she found herself glancing back at her nightstand. She peered more closely at the words etched across the cover.

'The End of Serenity.'

What a cryptic title. She wondered once again what exactly her sister was reading. And then she recalled the name of the empress character she saw. Florencia is also my sister's name. Was that why she woke up holding the book? Because she wanted Ellowyn to read something with her name in it? It was an absurd notion, but her sister did have some eccentric tendences to come up with the most questionable of reasonings.

She shook her head, not wanting to disturb the maids tidying up her room any longer. It was decided in her mind that she would ask Florencia about it after finishing her morning routine.

The rusted cogs of Ellowyn's fate were beginning to spin ever so slowly.