Chapter 1: The Precipice of Dawn

Ulric stood in open field. Rain pelted his armor. Blood pooled at his feet. Cold steel rested in his hands. Dozens of bodies were strewn across the ground, about a handful were slain by his own hand. He breathed out. It was over in a matter of minutes. They didn’t even know they were approaching. They were just walking. To where? Back to their camp? Back to their homes? To their friends? Their families? Ulric tried not to think about those questions. A good soldier wouldn’t. And he was a good soldier. At least that’s what he was told. But damnit, it was too hard not to ask those questions. Those lives were snuffed out like candles, quick and easy. He and his battalion ambushed them and slaughtered them like livestock. Like they didn’t matter. Like they weren’t people. Weren’t they supposed to be protecting lives? This was a hunt, sport, a game. What was the point in all of this? What were they even fighting for anymore?

“Hi dad!” A sweet, feminine voice called out. Ulric blinked. That’s right. He wasn’t on the battlefield anymore. He was picking his daughter up from school. The rain was still there, but the muddied ground was cobblestone. The bodies on the ground were the other students, who were giving the weird man standing silently in the street a wide berth . The cold steel in his hands was… well it was his hands. Ulric flexed the hands of his prosthetic arms. Three years. It had been three years since he lost them. Surely he would’ve been used to the sensation, or lack of sensation, by now. But how could anyone get used to the knowledge that you could no longer feel your loved ones? Miryam ran up and gave Ulric a hug. “Where’s mom?” Ulric blinked again, trying to ground himself. Eventually he reciprocated his daughter’s hug with a chuckle and a pat on the head.

“She’s waiting in the carriage.” He smiled. Miryam smiled back, twice as wide. “How was your first day of university?” Miryam scoffed and pulled herself away from her father.

“It was just orientation, nothing special.” She began to hurriedly walk towards their carriage. She then moved her bag above her head. Right, Ulric thought, the rain. He moved to keep pace with her. “Classes don’t officially start in a week or so.”

“That’ll give you time to move in and get settled.” Ulric said. Miryam quickly threw open the carriage door and jumped inside. Ulric could hear Lilith shout in surprise. “Good to know she’s awake now.” He said to himself.

“Master Ursine!” A decrepit, portly man called from the driver’s seat. “The young master is still unnerved by me it seems.”

“Hello Ygor, just continue on to Helson Keep please.” Ulric quickly said as he climbed in after Miryam. He didn’t want to acknowledge his other comment. Truth be told he was unnerved by him still as well, and with his almost rat-like appearance it was no wonder why Miryam was scared of him. He could take comfort, however, in the fact that the carriage was closed off from the driver’s seat. He could also take comfort in how agreeable the man was, because despite the rudeness he did as told. The horses attached to the carriage whinnied and pulled the family towards their destination.

Aurora gasped as she took a step. Her leg buckled beneath her and she stumbled. Her advisor, Marinus, moved to catch her, however Aurora caught herself before he could. She took in a few deep breaths and steadied herself. Three years. Three years of having to relearn how to walk. Maybe if she had something to help ease the pain then maybe she could’ve recovered quicker. But nooo! She had to get clean! She had to get healthy! She was so-called drinking herself to death and was addicted. Aurora rolled her eyes. Not that that wasn’t true, it very much was. Her eye roll was more for her own stubborn nature. Get a grip, she told herself. Ulric recovered just fine, and that was with you tormenting him during physical therapy. Maybe if you didn’t avoid the issue entirely you wouldn’t be in this mess! She also rolled her eyes at Marinus, who was still standing in the motion to catch her.

“Oh! So sorry your majesty!” He said with a quick jump back, finally noticing her glare. Aurora sighed. You would think after being in court for three years he would stop calling her that.

“Aurora. You call me Aurora.” She reminded him, again. Marinus’s face turned red.

“Yes yes! My apologies your maje- I mean Miss Hels- Miss Vale!” He blurted out. Better, somewhat, Aurora thought. She sighed again.

“You know you don’t have to try so hard.”

“Well, actually technically, your Vale…ness… I do.” How could a man in such a high position of power be so nervous all the time? There’s no way Hawthorn and Eclipse were like this when they severed as royal advisors. Aurora raised an eyebrow. That made Marinus chuckle nervously, which was still normal for him. He eventually swallowed his nerves. “You’ve just seemed so… gloomy for the past… three years. I just want to make sure I’m doing everything in my power to support you!”

“I’m not gloomy because of you or your work, Marinus.” Aurora sighed. I’m gloomy because I’m in this position in the first place, she thought to herself. “That’s just… who I am. As a person, you know?”

“It doesn’t seem that way when you’re with your family.” Aurora blinked. Her family. How could she be gloomy around them? They meant everything to her. For the gods sake, she sawed off her own leg for them! They had died! How was she not supposed to get excited seeing them? But they were all so busy nowadays. She got so used to being with them for every waking moment. Now she counted down the seconds until she’d see them again. Luckily for her however…

“Your highness?” A woman timidly peaked into the room; her diplomat, Ralyni. “You have some people waiting for you, your family I mean.” Aurora’s scowl immediately disappeared. She sprinted towards the door and out of the room, grabbing her dress to ensure she didn’t trip and fall. The pain in her leg didn’t matter anymore. Nothing else mattered. She raced through the halls. She couldn’t wait to see them! Aurora burst into her throne room.

“And here I was thinking you wouldn’t be happy to see us!” An older gentleman said. Aurora’s face dropped. Standing in the room wasn’t who she expected, wasn’t who she wanted. It was her family, but it was the wrong family. The Helson family.