There is a legend that is passed down through the royal family of Arzenya. A story lost to time, but not to memory.
When darkness engulfs the land,
The seven rainbow crystals shall awaken
And take on the forms of knights
And so, drive out the darkness.
A legend told time and time again, when all seemed bleak, and people were in need of color.
And yet, even as times seemed dull...
The true darkness had yet to arrive.
Until one fateful night....
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Arzenya Palace Courtyard
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"Toketsu-sama!"
The guard, dressed in the white tunic and armor of the Pale Kingdom, came to a halt before the young prince. The boy, worry in his stormy blue eyes, bade him rise with a gesture.
"I already know what has happened, Xuê," he says, his tone too serious for one so young. "Are the crystals still safe?"
Xuê nods his blond head.
"Yes, Toketsu-sama, but we must ensure that Yîngzi-sama does not touch them!"
Prince Toketsu closes his eyes.
"I see. Hurry and bring the box to me. I can use the ice shard now that my father is dead, but to ensure the crystals are safe, I will use also that spell."
Xuê nods his head.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
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"With this shard of ice, granted by the winter spirits and awakened by my father's death!"
Prince Toketsu stands before the throne, unwilling to let the dark Lord Yîngzi take it and, thus, the crystals. Clutched within his gloved hand is a shard of ice, eternally frozen. The dark lord looks on with fear, just now realizing what he's gotten himself into.
"I call upon the great White Dragon! Bái Lóng! Descend like the freshly fallen snow and cleanse my home of darkness!"
And thus, with a mighty draconic roar and a blinding white light, the battle is over. The castle is fallen, crumbled, though by the grace of the White Dragon, no one is harmed. The enemy soldiers, and most importantly, Yîngzi, are gone.
Toketsu falls back into the throne that was once his father's, but is now his.
As if on cue, Xuê enters his line of sight, bearing a simple wooden box.
"...Your Majesty."
Toketsu nods and accepts the box, his posture weary.
"Summoning Bái Lóng used more magic than I'd anticipated," he admits tiredly. "But the crystals which Yîngzi wanted so badly to destroy must be secured. So I will use the last of my magic to ensure their safety."
For a moment, the guard captain looks ready to protest. He relents.
"Very well, Your Majesty. I shall ensure no one interrupts you."
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Arzenya Palace Infirmary
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Low on magic as he is, the spell takes a full day to finish casting, but Toketsu insists it's worth it, even if it means his magic is completely drained- though it isn't- not quite.
The crystals have been scattered all through the four kingdoms of the Caetha continent- Arzenya, the Pale Kingdom; Temno, the Dark Kingdom; Calidus, the Warm Kingdom, and Strom, the Cool Kingdom.
"They will awaken on their own in time," Toketsu explains, "when they are truly needed. In this way, legend will become prophecy."
"But when they awaken, how will you know, Your Majesty? Moreover, how will you collect them all?" Xuê asks.
From his place on the cot, the young boy-king smiles.
"When my magic is restored, I will use the White Crystal. It will not awaken like its colored brethren, but will serve as a guide and a heart to the knight I shall create for this purpose."
Xuê bows his head.
"I shall, as always, trust your judgement, Your Majesty."
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