2. The Untold Prophecy
2
The Untold Prophecy
A storia banged on the door of her father’s study. She heard him grumble from inside before he called out for her to enter. She lifted her chin and pushed open the door.
The sight that welcomed her was very much what she expected. Her father sat behind his large mahogany desk that nearly obscured him. Across from him, with his back to her, Wizard Orion sat on a chair.
There is no need to fear him, Astoria assured herself, recalling Skylar’s words. She trusted her best friend.
The wizard looked over his shoulder, straightened his already straight posture, and rose to his feet. He had to be at least twice her age. She couldn’t believe her father was about to demand she marry him.
If she were to marry at all, she’d rather marry a beggar—a younger one, at that.
I very much agree with you, Princess. Skylar patted her arm, where he was huddled against her chest.
Astoria averted her gaze to her father, lifting her chin higher with a tilt. “You called for me, Father?”
“Yes, Astoria.” The king’s previous annoyance over her banging faded from his face, replaced by the same ugly smile she’d seen through Skylar’s mind earlier. He motioned towards the wizard. “I would like you to meet Wizard Orion of Arden.”
Astoria turned her stoic face towards the wizard who smiled as their eyes met.
“Pleasure,” she said stiffly.
The wizard kept smiling despite her bitter and disrespectful response. “Likewise, Princess. The rumors are true about your beauty. You are the most beautiful thing I have seen in all my years.” He looked her up and down with a strange glint in his eyes that suddenly made her feel exposed.
Perhaps it hadn’t been wise to come alone. She should have waited until Emmett returned.
Skylar seethed at the wizard and put his paw out, clawing the air, as though he wanted to tear him apart.
I am aiming at his dirty eyes, actually, Skylar corrected her thoughts. But tearing him apart would be much better.
The wizard’s gaze dropped to Skylar and his smile fell. His eyes widened. “Is that a mystical red panda?”
“Yes.” Astoria held Skylar protectively to her.
“Where did you get it from?” The wizard met her gaze, astonished.
“From my garden.”
The wizard looked both bewildered and amused. “The last time I checked, Princess, red pandas don’t sprout from mud.”
“Maybe they fall from the skies when it rains,” she retorted.
The wizard turned to the king. “Your Majesty?”
The king nodded solemnly, as though sympathizing with the other man’s disbelief. “We have no idea how he ended up in our garden. Astoria found him after a heavy rain almost twelve years ago, soaked in mud and water, and brought him in. They have been the best of friends since day one.”
The wizard returned his disbelieving gaze to Astoria. “Can you telepath with him?”
“Is this why you called for me, Father?” Astoria ignored him and turned to her father. “To discuss Skylar? If so, please excuse me. I have more important things to do than discussing my pet, as much as I love him.”
The wizard cleared his throat and spoke before her father could respond. “Forgive me, Princess. I was merely curious. I apologize for taking us away from the intended conversation. Perhaps we can carry on this one some other time?”
“I make no such promise.” Astoria didn’t even glance at him as she replied, too busy returning her father’s glare. He didn’t reprimand her for her attitude, though he was likely itching to. They both knew provoking her would get them nowhere. Nowhere good.
“Sit down, Astoria.”
Astoria set Skylar on the desk, dragged a chair away from the wizard, and sat down. Skylar held his stance protectively in front of her, placing himself between her father and the wizard, his gaze darting between the two men in awareness. If either of them made a wrong move, he looked ready to pounce.
Wizard Orion sat down again. “Your Majesty, I have a hunch that the one who left the prophecy is also the one who dropped the mystical panda in the garden for the princess to find.”
“Prophecy?” Astoria prompted the only word that her mind caught on, glancing at her father. “What prophecy?”
Her father looked suddenly enthusiastic. “That is why you were called here, my dear.”
We did not overhear anything about a prophecy, did we, Sky?
No, Princess. Perhaps it came after we took off.
“I am listening.”
“After you were born,” her father began wistfully, “when you were only two weeks old, one morning, your nurse found this letter in your crib. Why don’t you read it yourself?”
He slid a folded, yellow-tinted parchment across the table. Skylar caught it and passed it to her. She unfolded it. The writing looked a little ancient but neat, in black ink.
This child is not ordinary.
As she grows up, she shall reveal the signs of her powers.
She, of her bloodline, shall bring the Angel of Destruction to his knees.
Astoria read the last line over and over again until it clicked.
Angel of Destruction… Emperor Cyrus?
Her eyes shot up to her father’s gleeful face.
“Well?”
“Well, this is ridiculous.” She gave a hollow laugh and tossed the letter onto the table. “Who am I to bring Cyrus the Great to his knees? ” The thought made her laugh harder, and she wanted to slap her knees too.
“Because, according to Wizard Orion here, you are the third most powerful person after Emperor Cyrus himself,” her father said, slightly irritated by her reaction.
She stopped laughing and held back a snort. “And who is the second most powerful?”
“I am,” the wizard said.
Astoria turned to him, barely concealing another snort at the prideful way he held himself. “You?” She laughed again.
“Yes, me,” he grumbled.
“Oh, then, what is taking you so long? Go on and bring the Angel of Destruction to his knees already. There is no need for me, after all, is there? I am only the third .”
Skylar let out a series of soft chuffing sounds, his body shaking with each breath as he laughed with her.
“But the prophecy specifically mentions you being the one to bring him down, Astoria,” her father interjected and shot her a warning glance as she turned towards him. But it failed to deter her amusement. “Though, you cannot do it yourself, for you are a woman.”
That stopped her amusement. “For I am a woman? ” Her eyes narrowed on him. “So what if I am a woman?”
“There is only so much a woman can do, especially to bring down a great empire. You need help. And Wizard Orion is here for you.”
“I don’t need a tutor. ” She huffed.
Nice act, Princess. Keep it up.
“Actually,” her father began, looking nervous for the first time since the meeting started, “he is here to be your husband.”
Ah, time’s up!
“My husband? ” Astoria shot to her feet and turned her glaring eyes on the wizard, who looked taken aback by her reaction. Didn’t he expect it at all? Such a dumb dimbo. “How old are you?”
The wizard blinked, and then said, “Age is merely a number.”
“Not to me!” She threw her hands in the air. “Age is something that tells me how old I am. How many years I have aged ! And what are you, fifty? I think so.”
“I am forty-three!” he defended.
“ Oh, I beg your pardon, sir. I am only seventeen!”
He glared at her for a moment and then took a deep breath to compose himself. “Princess Astoria,” he began, leaning forward in his chair, his face somber. “Our union in marriage is the only way to bring the Emperor down.”
“That is not what the prophecy says,” she bit back.
“Prophecies always leave out specific details. You cannot do this alone. But together, we can do it, because by such union, our powers will magnify and Emperor Cyrus won’t stand a chance against us. We can not only keep the seven unconquered kingdoms out of his reach but save the conquered ones as well.”
Astoria turned her scowl to her father. “You believe this rubbish?”
He looked fascinated by Wizard Orion’s explanation, but at her question, his face turned grim. “That rubbish is what is going to save us from the Emperor’s invasion, so yes.”
She huffed and crossed her arms. “I refuse to marry this old man.”
The king rose to his feet and slammed a fist on the desk. “Astoria! You have a duty to your kingdom and you will do it!”
“My duty does not involve a union with a man. When Emmett rises to the throne, I will have everyone know how dutiful I can be,” she said, lifting her chin defiantly.
“Astoria…” her father warned, but there was an unsurprisingly anxious edge in his eyes. “You will marry Wizard Orion and keep Emperor Cyrus away from the unconquered kingdoms.”
Astoria held his gaze for a moment, then dropped her arms. “Fine.”
Her father blinked, taken aback. Before he could compose himself and find his voice, she continued, “But on one condition.”
He clenched his jaw, as though steeling himself for whatever she was going to say. “What condition?”
Astoria crossed her arms again and turned to Wizard Orion, who was watching her expectantly. “I challenge you to a magical duel, Wizard. If you win, fine, I shall marry you. But if you lose, there won’t be a union between you and me.”
The wizard rose to his feet and turned to the king. “Your Majesty, I must decline!”
“Why? Are you afraid you will lose a duel to a woman? ” she teased with a smirk.
“Astoria, this is madness,” her father interjected firmly. “There will not be a duel between you and Wizard Orion. You will marry him.”
Astoria placed her hands on the desk and leaned forward, glaring back at him. “If I am to marry him, I will not go down without a fight. If you cannot agree with my condition, forget about the union. You will not force me.”
She let the silent threat hang in the air between them. Her father slowly sank back into his seat and gulped. He knew what she was capable of if provoked. The last time he did, she gave him a memorable reward, thanks to the Prince of Lark.
Astoria leaned away from the desk, satisfied, and hoisted Skylar into her arms. “So, do we have a deal?”
The king exchanged a glance with the wizard, and the wizard opened his mouth to protest, but her father beat him to it. “You shall compete for my daughter’s hand, Wizard Orion. You will duel with her.”
“Brilliant.” Astoria grinned and turned to the wizard who appeared truly displeased with the agreement. “Do not pout, Wizard. You cannot show up in a girl’s palace and ask for her hand in marriage as simple as that. You have to prove yourself and even pay a small price—”
A knock at the door interrupted her words. She turned towards it just as her father called the person to enter. The door opened, revealing a grave-looking Emmett. However, as soon as his eyes fell on her, his stoic expression cracked with a mixture of disbelief and surprise.
“Stor.” He marched towards her. “What are you doing here?”
“Not to worry, my brother.” She smiled and patted his jacket with her free hand. “Everything has been taken care of.” She turned to their father. “Shall I be excused, Father? I believe I have things to prepare.”
The king waved his hand dismissively and fixed his eyes on his eldest son. “What brings you here, Emmett?”
Astoria pivoted back to her brother and inclined her head pointedly towards the door.
“Uh…” Emmett hesitated. “I came looking for her, actually. We are leaving.”
The king let out an exasperated sigh. “Emmett,” he said wearily. “You don’t have to follow her everywhere she goes. Your sister is capable of taking care of herself.”
“Don’t talk to him like that,” Astoria snapped. “He cares for me, unlike you.” She tugged on Emmett’s arm and turned towards the door. Before stepping out, she called over her shoulder, “I will soon send you details about the duel, Wizard.”
“The duel?” Emmett asked the moment they stepped into the hallway.
“Not here, Emmett.” She led him away and stopped only when they reached an alcove. She turned to him and took a deep breath before blurting out, “I agreed to the union.”
“You what ?” Emmett looked thunderstruck. “Storie! Have you lost your mind?”
“I believe I have. But, Emmett, don’t fret. Sky and I have a plan.”
“ Sky and you?”
Do not underestimate me, Prince, Skylar grumbled.
Astoria chuckled. “Sky says not to underestimate him.”
Emmett glared down at Skylar, and Skylar’s eyes sharpened in return. “Pardon me, but this is my sister’s future we are talking about, so I have every right to underestimate every creature in the universe!” He brought his gaze back to Astoria and clasped her shoulders. “I would rather have Emperor Cyrus invade our kingdom than sell you to a bidder in the form of a union for some mystical magnification of powers.”
“Oh, Emmett.” Astoria gave him a fond smile. “That is so sweet and fierce of you, but you cannot do that. I cannot let you do that. We must protect our people.” He opened his mouth to interrupt, but she held up her hand. “Do you know about the prophecy?”
Emmett’s eyebrows furrowed. “What prophecy?”
“Someone left a letter in my crib two weeks after I was born. It said that I was not an ordinary child, that I would reveal the signs of my powers as I grew up, and that I would bring down the angel of destruction in the future.” She paused before saying, “There is only one person who goes by that title.”
“Emperor Cyrus…” Emmett whispered in realization. He dropped his hands from her and began to pace back and forth, stroking his chin. “But Emperor Cyrus only usurped the throne five years ago.”
“Brother, it is a prophecy . Whoever left the letter has to be a seer.”
Emmett stopped and turned to her. “But why the marriage?”
Astoria rolled her eyes. “It’s pathetic, really. Father and Wizard Orion think I couldn’t do it alone, that I need a husband who is as powerful as me so our union will magnify our powers, and then we can keep Cyrus away.” She paused as something clicked in her mind. “ Keep Cyrus away … But the prophecy says I will bring him to his knees, not just keep him away .”
“And you agreed to the marriage,” Emmett groaned.
“Relax, Brother. We have a plan, remember?”
He let out a weary sigh and ran a hand over his face. “Please enlighten me.”
* * *
Emmett wasn’t happy about the duel. He begged her to call it off, concerned she would get hurt. But Astoria didn’t relent. She assured him with Skylar’s words about her powers, but he refused to accept it.
There was only one way to get him to accept it. She had to show him what she could do.
Astoria asked him to help her construct the rules and stipulations for the duel. Realizing she couldn’t be swayed, he sighed in defeat and agreed. So, they sat in her parlor that evening, planning the duel over tea and cakes.
Astoria also sent for her grandfather on the outskirts of the capital. No one would know better about constructing a duel—magical or not—than him. He was the late king’s first knight, after all.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Come in.”
Astoria, anticipating her grandfather, nearly rose from the sofa to run into his arms when the person who entered—burst in, rather—was Silas.
She slumped back into her seat with a scowl. “I thought you were Grandfather.”
“I heard you are getting married?” Silas glanced from her to the parchments on the coffee table to Emmett, bewildered. His curly brown hair was tousled, a clear sign he had been horseback riding.
Astoria lifted her chin and crossed her arms. “Are you here to congratulate me? Get on with it, then. I bet you are overjoyed that you will finally be rid of your mother’s murderer.”
Silas flinched, and remorse crossed his face. “Astoria, I—”
“I don’t want to hear a word from your mouth.” Astoria stood and glared at him, their argument from two days prior surging into her mind. A battle of emotions swelled within her, but she put on an indifferent mask.
“What did I ever do to you that you hate me so much?”
“Need I remind you?” Silas’ eyes flared at her, brimming with accusation and loathing. She shouldn’t be deterred—this wasn’t the first time he had looked at her that way—but she was. This time, unlike the others, his eyes pierced into her soul with hatred, and so did the words he next said. “You murdered our mother!”
It was then she realized the extent of his hatred towards her, why he never loved her as Emmett did, why he had only accusatory and loathsome eyes for her. And it was what started their fight this time; her questioning him why he was so mean to her. Now she understood why. He hated her. Her own brother believed she killed their mother.
“Storie—” Emmett began.
“No, Emmett! I will not be persuaded, not even by you!”
“I said I am sorry, alright?” Silas threw his hands in the air, his blue eyes wide with exasperation.
“Like your apology can fix anything!” Astoria shot back.
“I am trying!”
“Oh, you are trying?” She scoffed humorlessly. “ I have tried, so many times, to earn your favor! To have you love me like Emmett does, for you to be my best friend, my brother ! But no, all you did was hate me, for something that was not even my fault. Did I know our mother would die giving birth to me? You act like I used my tiny hands to choke her the moment I was out of the womb!”
Remorse consumed Silas’ face, as though he didn’t realize the venom of his own words until then. “As—”
“Save it,” she spat. “I don’t wish to speak with you again.”
“Ast—”
“Get lost, Silas!”
Silas’ face turned grim, and there it was again—that accusatory stare. “I pity Wizard Orion if it’s true you are going to marry him.”
“And I pity the girl you will marry in the future! Really, Illara should count herself fortunate our father called off your engagement when Emperor Cyrus invaded their kingdom; she is saved from you! Tell me, Silas, would you call your child a murderer if her mother died in childbirth?” she asked and answered herself with a snort, “Oh, you will. You are truly a monster behind all your charms.”
Emmett shot to his feet. “That is enough, both of you!”
“Oh, so what do you think you are?” Silas’ eyes darkened and he took a menacing step forward that did little to intimidate her. “I know what you hide behind your charms. You are nothing but a scared, na?ve child trapped in the body of a seventeen-year-old—”
“I said, enough !” Emmett’s deep voice rang with the authority of the Crown Prince. “Astoria, sit. Silas, leave.”
They refused to relent and held their ground, glaring at each other.
“ Now !” Emmett thundered. That was the second time he had lost his cool today.
Silas broke the glare first and turned for the door in a swish of his travelling cloak. He slammed the door behind him with a loud bang that nearly shook the parlor.
Astoria collapsed into her seat and stole a glance at Emmett. His frown was enough to tell her how disappointed he was.
She hated disappointing him.
“Emmett, I—”
He took a deep breath to compose himself. “Forget it,” he said with a wave of his hand and sat back. “Now, where were we?”
Astoria swallowed the hardness from her throat and tried to pretend the last few minutes hadn’t happened. “Uh… you were saying I needed to sharpen my dueling skills.”
“Precisely.” Emmett nodded, with a serious look. “And I just happen to know the perfect man to train you.”
* * *
Astoria squinted at the tall figure silhouetted against the rising sun in the middle of the training ground. She would recognize that platinum blond hair anywhere.
“Jasper?” She turned to Emmett, who grinned and waved at his best friend as they crossed the lawn towards him. “You asked Jasper to train me?”
Emmett met her astonished gaze. “There is no one else I would rather trust with the task and you. Not only because he is a Mage and an excellent fighter, but also someone I know you will be comfortable around. It will make your training much easier.”
Astoria averted her gaze and bit her tongue from blurting out that Jasper was the last person she was comfortable around. Alright, not the last , but still, he made her feel uneasy.
Ever since Skylar told her that Jasper had romantic feelings for her, she had been uncomfortable around him. Being a mystical creature, Skylar had a handful of abilities, and smelling the emotions of Mages who weren’t powerful was one of them.
Factually, Astoria was the only Mage Skylar couldn’t smell the emotions of, until Wizard Orion.
Jasper was a good person, her brother’s best friend from childhood and the man he trusted the most. He was the only man in her father’s court Astoria was friends with and the one spared from her insults.
Astoria had a reputation for making men nervous. She openly insulted anyone who attempted to woo her, whether foreign dignitaries or citizens. It was also why she was still not spoken for. Most princesses and noblewomen her age were either married or betrothed, while Astoria took pleasure in driving every eligible man away.
Marriage was the last thing she wanted.
She was aware that, despite her reputation, men were still hopelessly in love with her. She had laughed, thinking how pathetic they were. But it hadn’t been the same upon discovering Jasper’s feelings. It bothered her a great deal. Jasper was her friend, and she only ever saw him as a friend. Since then, she had avoided him as much as possible.
However, it seemed she stood no chance now.
“I see… Emmett dragged you out of bed?” Jasper called out to her with a dimpled grin as they reached him.
“Good morning to you, too, Jasper,” she said with a sarcastic eye roll.
“Likewise.” Jasper chuckled and shared a brotherly embrace with Emmett. He then stepped back and assessed her with admiration; though, it wasn’t the first time he had seen her in her training attire. They had trained together countless times over the years, whether it was archery, swordplay, fencing, or magical duels. “My, my, don’t you look every bit the princess warrior, Storie?”
Choosing to ignore his comment, she tossed her long braid behind her and flexed her fingers. “I am ready when you are.”
“Already? Come on, Stor, I haven’t seen you in a while. I was hoping we could catch up a little before we start training.” Jasper frowned, but his eyes were smiling.
“Dawn is the best time for training. Why else do you think I let Emmett drag me out of bed this early?” She prepared her stance. “I am sure we will have plenty of time after training.”
Emmett chuckled fondly and clapped Jasper on the back. “There is no swaying my sister once she is set on something.” He turned to Astoria and hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “I will be right there if you need me.”
He jogged off, and Jasper turned to her with a twinkle in his green eyes. “I see you are determined to win that duel.”
“I will win the duel,” she said, not even caring to return his smile. She knew it was so unlike her, but the fact that he was romantically interested in her left her with no other choice.
She wasn’t interested in romance.
“Are you alright, Stor?” he asked gently, before correcting himself, “What a stupid question. I am so sorry that your father has put you in this situation. I promise I will do my best to prepare you to emerge as the victor.”
“Thank you, Jasper.” Astoria finally managed a small smile. He looked so genuine it was hard to ignore.
“My pleasure. I don’t know what I would have done if Meren were in your situation; I’d probably fight in her place.” He chuckled, but a sad glint entered his eyes like every other time he mentioned her. “But what is the point of wondering?”
Her heart thawed a little more. Though she never had the chance to meet the girl before she fell off a tree and died years ago, Astoria had always admired how Jasper loved his childhood nanny’s daughter as his blood sister. They grew up together, and he had been crushed after her death.
“I am so sorry, Jas.”
“It has been eleven years.” Jasper shook his head ruefully and forced a smile. “I apologize for bringing it up now. Let’s get on with the training.”
They began with defenses, blocking and dodging unexpected attacks.
Jasper launched a barrage of spells at her, as weak as they were in contrast to hers, but since they didn’t have someone equally powerful to train her, it had to do. Astoria twisted and turned, deflecting the spells with precise gestures of her hands, all while keeping her movements fluid.
All mages projected their energy in the same colour—smoky-grey. But Astoria could summon her magic in any colour she desired; it would burst from her fingertips like radiant threads of light, shimmering as it spilled outward in waves. However, her signature colour had always been molten gold.
During her research in the library, following Skylar’s words from the day before, Astoria discovered that colourful magic projection was a trait found only in Purebloods and Half-bloods.
While Astoria was neither, at least now she knew that her powers were a gift. She was destined to bring Emperor Cyrus down—however that was supposed to be done.
Jasper moved them onto offense. After all, the stipulation of the duel, to win, was weakening her opponent and bringing him to the ground.
“You have quite the flair to your moves,” Jasper complimented, bending over to catch his breath. Fighting him was as easy as batting away a fly, and he seemed exhausted after trying to maintain a powerful opponent for her. “Where did you learn that?”
“From my grandpa, who else?” she said with a laugh, not as half tired as he was.
“Dear old Cassius.” He laughed with her. “I forgot he is not only a retired knight but an excellent dancer, too.”
Astoria was indeed trained by her maternal grandfather in her fighting stances and moves as a child. But the credit for her magic skills belonged to Prince of Lark, the storybook she discovered in the library as a child.
Prince of Lark was a textbook for Mage children—undoubtedly from the Mage realm, Windlewade. At least, that was what was written in the preface. How it ended up in their royal library, Astoria still had no idea. Whoever put it there—probably a Mage ancestor—she was grateful to them. Without it, she wouldn’t have discovered half of her abilities.
Each chapter told the story of an unnamed, chivalrous prince who was faced with different obstacles and how he dealt with each one using his powers. Every trick she knew was from Prince of Lark, and her first experiment had been at Father and Marcia’s wedding.
“Perhaps we should call this off for now. You need to rest,” Astoria said, watching Jasper.
Jasper straightened himself. “No, no. I just needed a moment to catch my breath. I am ready, let’s continue.”
“Are you sure?”
Jasper answered by unleashing an energy bolt towards her. Astoria dodged the unexpected attack. He gave her an impressed smile. “I pity your opponent, Stor.”
Astoria smiled back, unable to fight it. “Me too.”