Chapter 1: Youth Dreams

The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the sprawling forests of Iskaar Reaches. The trees stood tall and ancient, their gnarled roots curling into the soft, mossy earth, while the thick canopy above filtered the fading daylight into specks of warm amber. The air was alive with the hum of insects and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures stirring for the evening. To most, this forest was a sanctuary of peace, a refuge untouched by the chaos of the larger world. To Sienna Ardyn, it had become a suffocating prison.

Sienna stood on the porch of her family’s wooden home, her slender arms wrapped around herself as she gazed out into the endless green. Her long, chestnut hair shimmered in the fading light, cascading over her shoulders in loose waves that seemed almost too perfect to belong to someone who had just spent hours traipsing through the woods. Her pale skin, kissed by the faintest hint of freckles, contrasted with the intensity of her emerald eyes, which were fixed on the distant horizon as if searching for something unseen.

The house behind her was a modest but lovingly built structure. Its wooden beams had been carefully sanded and treated by Calen, her father, who had insisted on crafting their home himself when they moved here years ago. Flower boxes hung under the windows, overgrown with bright, trailing blooms that Livra, her mother, tended with meticulous care. Smoke curled lazily from the chimney, promising the warmth of dinner and family waiting inside.

But Sienna lingered on the porch, her heart heavy with thoughts that had grown too large for her quiet life in the forest.

“Sienna! Dinner’s ready!”

The voice of her younger brother, Leo, rang out from inside, pulling her from her reverie. Sienna turned, a faint smile tugging at her lips despite the turmoil brewing within her. At ten years old, Leo was a whirlwind of energy and mischief, his black hair perpetually tousled and his dark eyes wide with curiosity. He stood in the doorway now, balancing on one foot and waving her inside with exaggerated urgency.

“I’m coming, I’m coming,” she called, stepping inside and closing the door behind her.

The interior of their home was as warm and inviting as the forest outside. The walls were lined with shelves filled with books, trinkets, and framed sketches, most of them Livra’s handiwork, her mother, from her younger days. A woven rug covered the wooden floor with intricate patterns. In the center of the room stood the dinner table, already set with steaming bowls of stew and fresh-baked bread.

Calen sat at the head of the table, his strong, weathered hands resting on either side of his bowl. His shoulder-length hair, once a rich chestnut like Sienna’s, was now a little bit painted with silver, though his green eyes retained a youthful spark. Livra sat across from him, her raven-black hair pulled into a loose braid that trailed over her shoulder. Despite the simplicity of her dress, there was an elegance about her that seemed unshakable, as if she belonged to a world far removed from their rustic surroundings.

Leo had already climbed into his chair and was eagerly forking stew into his mouth, oblivious to the bits that dribbled down his chin.

“Sit down, Sienna,” Livra said with a smile, motioning to the empty chair beside her. “Before your brother eats everything.”

Sienna chuckled, sliding into her seat and picking up her fork. The aroma of the stew was comforting, a blend of herbs and fresh vegetables that spoke of the care Livra put into every meal. But tonight, the familiar comfort of dinner with her family wasn’t enough to settle the unease in Sienna’s chest.

For a while, the conversation was light, Leo chattering about the adventures he’d had in the woods that day, Calen teasing Livra about her overabundance of flowerpots, and Livra rolling her eyes good-naturedly. But Sienna was quiet, her mind racing as she tried to find the right words for what she needed to say.

Finally, she cleared her throat while looked to her parents

“Mom, Dad,” she began, her voice steady but filled with purpose. “I need to talk to you about something.”

The table fell silent, all eyes turning to her. Even Leo paused mid-bite as he looked at his sister with wide eyes.

Calen leaned back in his chair, his expression shifting from playful to serious. “What is it, Sienna?”

Sienna hesitated, gripping the edge of the table as if it might anchor her. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately,” she said carefully. “And I’ve decided... I want to go to school in Cala Veil next year.”

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap.

“Cala Veil?” Livra echoed, her brows knitting together in surprise.

“That’s a big leap,” Calen said, his tone cautious. “Why Cala Veil, of all places?”

Sienna took a deep breath, meeting their gazes one by one. “Because I need more than this,” she said. “I love it here, but it’s... small. I want to see what’s out there, meet new people, experience life in a real city. The College of Aeris Studies is one of the best schools in Operientes Solem, and Mrs. Vennard says I have a good chance of getting in if I apply when I’m old enough, but for that first of all I need to go to a bigger highscool. Cala Veil is close enough to this island and has a lot of big cities, that’s why I thought going there.”

Calen’s brows furrowed, and he exchanged a glance with Livra. “Sienna, you know Cala Veil isn’t like Iskaar Reaches,” he said. “It’s crowded, noisy, and dangerous in ways this forest could never be. Are you sure you’re ready for that?”

“I’m not a child anymore,” Sienna said, her voice firm. “I can handle it. And I won’t be alone, Aunt Sienna always said I could stay with her if I wanted to.”

At the mention of Sienna Veilore, Calen’s expression shifted, a flicker of something unreadable passing over his face. Livra’s lips pressed into a thin line, her dark eyes searching her daughter’s face.

“Sienna Veilore?” Livra said. “It’s been years since we last saw her. Are you sure she’ll agree to take you in?”

“She will,” Sienna said confidently. “I know she will.”

Calen leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Even if she agrees, this isn’t just about logistics, Sienna. You’d be leaving your family behind, leaving everything you’ve ever known.”

“I know,” Sienna said softly. “But I need this. I need to find out who I am, and I can’t do that here.”

Livra reached out, placing a hand over her daughter’s. Her touch was warm, steadying. “We’ll think about it,” she said gently.

Calen nodded, though there was a note of reluctance in his voice. “I’ll contact Sienna. If she’s willing to take you in, we’ll discuss it further. But no promises, alright?”

Relief flooded Sienna’s face, and she couldn’t help the smile that spread across her lips. “Thank you,” she said, her voice filled with gratitude.

The conversation drifted to lighter topics after that, but Sienna’s thoughts were already soaring toward the future. The idea of Cala Veil, with its towering spires and bustling streets, filled her with both excitement and trepidation. Somewhere out there, beyond the familiar embrace of the forest, lay the world she had always dreamed of exploring.

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The moonlight spilled gently through the wooden shutters of the bedroom, illuminating the rustic warmth of Calen and Livra’s sanctuary. The soft creak of the floorboards beneath Calen's pacing steps filled the room, punctuating their conversation like a metronome. Livra sat on the edge of the bed, her arms crossed and her brows furrowed in contemplation. Her dark hair, loosely cascading down her back, shimmered faintly in the silvery light, and her black eyes glimmered with a mixture of worry and frustration.

“I just don’t like it,” Livra finally said, her voice low but firm. “She’s too young to leave. The city is too big, too dangerous.”

Calen paused, running a hand through his own chestnut hair, now speckled with traces of gray. His green eyes softened as he approached Livra and knelt in front of her. “She’s not a child anymore,” he said gently, placing a hand on her knee. “She’s fifteen, Livra. She’s growing up, and she’s longing for something more. Can we really deny her that?”

Livra’s expression hardened briefly before melting into a pained look. “I just… I can’t shake this feeling, Calen. What if something happens to her? You’ve seen how turbulent things have been these past two decades. The Earthlands are a mess. They’ve been without stable leadership for years. And if anyone were to discover who Sienna really is—”

“She’s safe,” Calen interrupted, his tone more resolute now. “Cala Veil isn’t just any city. It’s under the protection of Sienna Veilore. You know how much she means to both of us. She would never let anything happen to our daughter.”

Livra stood and began to pace the room herself, the hem of her long nightgown brushing against the floor. “It’s not just about Cala Veil,” she admitted, stopping to gaze out of the window at the dense forest bathed in moonlight. “You know as well as I do that my father’s enemies didn’t just disappeared when he died. Aelith Shore was a land of power, and power attracts vultures. If anyone finds out who I am, if they trace me back here—”

“They won’t,” Calen said, standing and placing his hands firmly on her shoulders. His voice carried a calm conviction. “We’ve spent nearly twenty years keeping this quiet life, away from all of that. No one knows you’re here, Livra. No one even knows you’re alive.”

Livra turned to face him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “But what if they find out? What if they hurt her to get to me? Or Leo?” Her voice broke slightly at the mention of their young son.

Calen pulled her into his arms, resting his chin atop her head. “You’ve raised her well. She’s smart, stronger than you give her credit for. And she’ll be under the watchful eye of someone we trust completely.”

Livra hesitated, pulling back slightly to look up at him. “Do you really trust her, Calen?” she asked, a flicker of doubt in her voice.

“Sienna?” Calen asked, his lips twitching into a small, nostalgic smile. “Yes, I do. More than anyone else outside of this family. You know how close we were. She’s been like a sister to me—well, maybe not a sister, exactly, but you understand what I mean.”

Livra raised an eyebrow at him. “A sister,” she repeated dryly, though there was a hint of a smirk playing at the corners of her lips.

“Alright, poor choice of words,” Calen admitted, chuckling. “But I trust her with my life. And with Sienna’s. She’s got influence, resources, and most importantly, she cares about us. About our family.”

Livra sighed and returned to her seat on the bed, resting her chin on her hands. The weight of the conversation was evident in her posture. “You’re right about one thing,” she said softly. “I can’t keep Sienna here forever. I’ve always known she was meant for bigger things. She’s too much like… well, like me.”

Calen knelt in front of her again, taking her hands in his. “Exactly. And you remember how it felt, don’t you? To be trapped, suffocated by expectations, by a life you didn’t choose? You ran, Livra. You found your freedom. How can we deny her the same chance?”

Livra closed her eyes, and for a moment, memories of her younger self flashed behind her eyelids. She saw the grand halls of Aelith Shore, the endless political meetings, the weight of her father’s expectations. And then she saw Calen, the bright-eyed boy who had been her escape, her salvation.

“She deserves her freedom,” Livra whispered, her voice trembling.

Calen nodded, squeezing her hands gently. “She does. And she’ll be okay, Livra. She’s got your fire, your determination. And she’ll have House Veilore looking out for her.”

Livra opened her eyes, gazing into Calen’s with a mixture of fear and hope. “Promise me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Promise me she’ll be safe.”

“I promise,” Calen said without hesitation.

For a moment, the room fell silent except for the distant rustling of the trees outside. Livra leaned forward, resting her forehead against Calen’s. “I’m holding you to that,” she murmured.

Calen smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

As the night wore on, Livra and Calen continued to talk, their voices low but filled with resolve. By the time they finally drifted off to sleep, a plan had been set in motion. The next day, Calen would call his old friend Sienna and ask her if his daughter could go live with her while she studied in Cala Veil Academy the next theree years. His daughter would leave Iskaar Reaches at the end of the season, embarking on a journey to the city to chase her dreams.

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That very same night, Sienna lay curled beneath the hand-stitched quilt her mother had made years ago, the fabric soft with age and care.

Sienna’s thoughts swirled in the quiet. Her heart beat with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation, each thud reverberating in her chest like a drum heralding a change she had long craved. For years, her life had been bound to the familiar paths of Iskaar Reaches, to the dense forests that framed her world like an impenetrable wall. She loved her family, of course, and the comfort of her childhood home, but that love did little to quench the growing thirst for something more.

She traced her fingers along the edge of the quilt, her gaze unfocused. The city loomed in her imagination like a glittering promise, its streets bustling with energy, its people a kaleidoscope of stories and possibilities. She imagined towering buildings of glass and steel, far removed from the rustic charm of her wooden home. She pictured airships gliding through the skies above, their levicita cores glowing faintly, casting an ethereal light on the streets below.

More than anything, Sienna yearned for connection. In Iskaar Reaches, the world felt small, insular, as though every path eventually looped back to where it started. The sparse villages were filled with familiar faces, kind but predictable. She dreamed of meeting people her age who didn’t already know her every quirk, people who might surprise her, challenge her, become friends in ways she had only read about in books.

Friends. The word lingered in her mind, filling her with both hope and uncertainty. What would it be like to sit in a bustling classroom, surrounded by strangers who could one day become companions? To share laughter over things her family wouldn’t understand, to create memories that belonged solely to her? The thought made her smile, a small, private expression that lit up her pale features in the dim light.

Yet beneath the excitement lurked the shadows of doubt. Would she fit in? The city was a place of innovation and sophistication, a far cry from the quiet simplicity of her life in the forest. She imagined the polished girls of Cala Veil, with their sleek uniforms and confident strides. What if she stood out in the wrong way? What if she wasn’t enough?

She pushed the doubts aside, inhaling deeply the crisp night air that carried with it the scent of pine and distant rain. The city represented more than just new faces and grand structures. It was freedom, a chance to carve out a space in the world that was truly hers.

Sienna’s gaze drifted back to the ceiling beams, their dark wood gleaming faintly in the moonlight. In that moment, her thoughts crystallized into her happy expectations. It was a fragile thing, delicate and shimmering like the first frost of winter, but it was enough to fill her chest with warmth.

Her journey was just beginning, a path stretching out before her like the faint light of dawn over the horizon. She didn’t know what awaited her in Cala Veil, whether it would bring joy or heartbreak, triumph or struggle, but for the first time in years, she felt alive with the possibility of it all.

“I’m ready,” she whispered to the quiet room, her voice barely more than a breath.

With that, she closed her eyes, her dreams filled with visions of her new life.