Prologue

"Daaaad!!" Ikora rushed down the stairs, swinging on the railing and narrowly avoiding hitting her father, Dalben Blackhart.

"Woah! What's up, my little mage?" Dalben chuckled, ruffling Ikora's blue hair.

"The show is about to start! Can we go? Please, I want to see the great Esmeralda!!" Ikora exclaimed while bouncing up and down.

"Okay, okay. How about we check in with your mother first, maybe she'll want to go?" He smiled, took his daughter's hand, and led her into another room where Ikora's mother, Elaine Blackhart, stood before leaving the two to speak.

Ikora ran over and jumped into her mother's arms, nearly knocking the wind out of Elaine as she hugged her tightly. "Oof! What got you excited today?" Elaine asked.

"Esmeralda! She's having a show downtown today, remember?"

"Why of course, how could I forget?"

"I want you to come with me and Dad, pleaseee!"

Elaine chuckled. "Sorry, love, but I have work. Your father should be able to take you today, though."

"Aw, but he always takes me. Why can't we go out as a family for once?"

"Don't be like that. I promise I can make it up to you, okay?" Elaine knelt and kissed Ikora on the forehead. "Now you should get going. I wouldn't want to be the reason you miss her show. That would make me feel awful!"

"Oh, right! Love you, mom!" After giving Elaine another hug, Ikora quickly darted out of the house.

Dalben met Ikora outside and started walking as Ikora followed. "So, are you excited to see Esmeralda's show?" Dalben asked, slipping his hand into Ikora's smaller one.

"Yeah, Dad! I heard she can do cool magic, like making things disappear and reappear!"

He smiled. "Well, magic is a very interesting thing. Esmeralda has a way of making even the simplest of things feel magical."

As they walked down the neighborhood street, the distant sounds of the city began filling the air. Ikora's steps got faster and faster until she was the one leading her father.

"So, what's the most exciting part you're looking forward to?" Dalben asked, glancing down at Ikora while keeping pace.

"Oh, oh! Definitely when she created those stars that light the sky! Oh, maybe when she casts her famous magic missile!" Grabbing her father's arm, Ikora dragged him behind her.

Dalben nodded. "I see. Amazing tricks are always captivating. Esmeralda has always been an extraordinary person." He smiled. "And beautiful."

As they approached the downtown area, the city lights began to shine. The stage for Esmeralda's show was just around the corner, and the crowd's voice could be heard from the streets away.

"You hear that, Ikora? The crowd is already going crazy!" Dalben picked up his daughter and sat her on his shoulders.

Ikora grinned, her eyes fixated on the stage, which was glowing brightly with the colors of the rainbow. "Dad, look! It's starting!" she said while tapping her father's shoulder.

The crowd fell silent as the entire area went dark. The stage lights shut off, and no light in the sky was visible.

A bright green star glinted in the air, flying down to the world as a black trail of stardust followed. The light darted and swirled around in the air, making elegant patterns around the crowd as they all let out a loud cheer.

Flying back into the air, the star fell to the stage with a bright poof, and a tall woman dressed in green and black appeared in front of everyone. "Greetings to Wallowden!" Esmeralda yelled out, holding her hand out to the crowd of civilians in front of her."

"Who's ready to get this show started?" Holding her staff tightly, she spun it around at a high speed, tossing it into the air as she disappeared in a puff of smoke before reappearing mid-air, staff in hand.

The crowd roared as Esmeralda's staff began to shine like the sun. Her staff glowed and released small, bullet-shaped blasts that shot into the air and burst into a range of creatures, floating throughout the air, and the audience gasped and cheered.

Ikora's eyes widened, and her grip tightened on her father's shoulders as she watched Esmeralda with a smile. The city once again faded into darkness as Esmeralda's green eyes pierced through the night. She landed back on the ground and held out her hands as two magic glyphs appeared in her hands, releasing two balls of light that began orbiting around her. The crowd fell silent, holding their breath.

The orbs rose and split into four, then eight, and continued splitting, forming patterns in the air, leaving trails of stardust behind.

Like an artist at work, Esmeralda pointed her staff into the air and began tracing lines of light, connecting the orbs and creating countless constellations, causing the crowd to cry out and chant her name.

The once starless sky had transformed into a breathtaking show of stars.

Ikora gasped as she watched the colors in the air. Blue, purple, orange, and red. Esmeralda's eyes met Ikora's, and she smiled.

"And for my final act..." Esmeralda grabbed her staff and danced across the stage, spinning it as a trail shined from the tip.

"I leave you all with my special gift!" She stuck her staff on the ground, and the constellations exploded into thousands of tiny stars that fell into the crowd.

Ikora watched the stars fall into the crowd. Without a second thought, she reached out and caught one, a twinkling blue star in her hands.

Esmeralda's voice echoed through the night as she tossed her hat into the sky. "And thank you, Wallowden! But alas, the time has come for me to bid you all farewell." She twirled her staff, and a burst of fireworks exploded in the sky, showering the audience with colorful sparks.

Ikora clutched the star in her hand, listening as Esmeralda continued, "May I live in your hearts for all eternity. Until we meet again!" With a flash, Esmeralda vanished before appearing in the air and grabbing her hat, leaving the crowd in awe. "I love you all!" She exclaimed, her voice fading into the night as she flew off in a bright green flash.

The crowd let out applause while Ikora and Dalben turned to make their way home. "Dad, did you see how she made the stars?" Ikora said.

"Absolutely. Esmeralda's magic is something special, huh?" Dalben replied with a smile on his face.

The night air was cool as they strolled down the street, the noise of distant chatter and vehicles could be heard. "I wish Mom could have been there," Ikora sighed.

Dalben patted her head. "Your mother has her responsibilities, but we can tell her all about it when we get home."

"Yeah! Dad, quick question."

"Might have an answer."

"Do you think I'll ever be like Esmeralda when I grow up?" Ikora asked.

Dalben smiled as he heard these words. "Maybe, just maybe. I think it's possible."

"That would be so cool! I bet she'd be so proud of me!"

Arriving at their house, Dalben sat down as his daughter lay on his lap. Shortly after, the two fell asleep as Ikora wrapped her hands around her father.

Minutes later, the door creaked open. The two shot up, and Elaine greeted them with a warm smile. "Hey, you two! How was the show?"

Ikora beamed, still holding the star. "Esmeralda was amazing, Mom! You won't believe it. She made the stars move!"

Elaine chuckled. "Sounds wonderful, love. I'm sorry I missed it."

"No worries. You'll make it up, right?" Dalben asked, exchanging a glance with Ikora.

Elaine smiled and nodded.

"Mom! Esmeralda gave me this star. Look at it!"

"Oh really? I remember hearing something about Esmeralda's stars before." Taking her daughter's hand, Elaine took the star and looked at it. "Did you know it's possible to wear them?"

"Wear her stars?!"

Elaine nodded. "Yeah. Let me show you." She held Ikora's arm and lifted her sleeve before gently putting the blue star on Ikora's shoulder. It continued to shine bright as it stuck to her.

"Woah! Where did you learn that?"

"Well..." Elaine looked at her husband, who smiled at her, then back at her daughter. "It was just something I heard before."

"Anyway, you need to get ready for bed! You have school in the morning, remember?" Dalben said.

"Okay! Thanks for taking me to the show today, Dad!" Ikora hugged him, "You're the best!" She said before skipping away to her bedroom for the night.

"She really is like you, huh?" Dalben said, wrapping his arms around his wife's shoulders.

"I suppose so; she reminds me of myself when I was younger..."

"You should check if she's sleeping."

"Way ahead of you," Elaine said before going to her daughter's room.

She arrived at the door and gently knocked before poking her head inside. "Hellooooo, is anyone awake in here?"

No response.

Elaine stepped inside her daughter's room and heard a small giggle.

Smiling, she went over to the bed, sat down, and said. "Have I ever told you the tale of the King's Maw?"