FLASH! A bright lightning struck near the Dalia Kingdom. A roaring thunder accompanied it that was capable of awakening a person even in deep slumber. The whole Kingdom suddenly got silent as the last sound of the thunder disappeared. This strange lightning probably puzzled the minds of almost every person in the Kingdom. The people, however, did not show much signs of surprise. They believed that the lightning, accompanied by that extremely loud thunder, could have been a natural occurrence. The King, however, had a strong gut feeling that this was not caused by nature. In fact, the more he pondered, the more he believed that this was not natural. KNOCK! KNOCK! The king’s deep thinking was abruptly ceased by this sound. Although the knocks on the door were gentle, they sounded as if they were loud as the room was silent due to the king’s deep thinking. 

“My King, may I come in?” said the person responsible for the knocking. “Yes Faron, you may come in,” responded the King. Faron, dressed in his elegant uniform, gently entered the King’s private room. He bowed before the King, and said, 

“You have been in here for a while now my king. Would you like me to get you something?” 

“I currently do not need anything Faron, but thank you for asking.”

“Are you sure my king?”

“You don’t need to be worried. I am fine.”

“Alright my king, I will be-”

“I have a question for you.” The King interrupted.

“What is it my king?”

“What do you suppose was the cause of that sudden lightning?”

“As spontaneous as it was and as violent as it’s accompanying thunder sounded, I assume that it was not caused by nature. It may have been caused by something else?” said Faron. “It might have been caused by magic or-”

“Magic you say?” The King interjected again.

“It was just a random assumption my king, my immature mind could not have thought of anything logical.” Faron explained nervously. “I shall leave you my King. You may send the maid outside to call for me, that is, if you are in need of anything my king.”

“I will,” the King gently replied.

Faron left the King’s room. “Magic?” the King questioned in thought. “I’ll have to ask the Mage about this.”

    Later in the day, the King called for the Royal Mage. The youthful Aelis entered the throne room and kneeled before the King.

        “I am here, my king”

        “You may stand up. I have a question to ask you.”

        “What is the matter, my king?”

        “Do you think that magic could’ve been the cause of the strange lightning.”

        “Although I am not absolutely sure, my king, I strongly believe that magical energy was the likely cause of the lightning. It was no ordinary lightning at all.”

        “Well then-”

        “My King, I have a request for you!.” Aelis broke in. “May I go to the area where the lightning struck. I may be able to find some answers to it… that is, if you do not mind.”

        “I do not mind at all Aelis. However, I shall send some of my knights to go with you. Although I am aware that you are capable of taking care of yourself, I still want some of my men to ensure that you are safe.”

        “Alright my king. I shall go with few of your men.”

    Aelis, along with five knights and six horses, went to the forest in which the thunder struck.

        “Everyone, look around. Search for anything that might look strange or unique,” she said. “The cause of that lightning could be found here somewhere!” she said inwardly.

        “Yes ma’am,” the knights responded.

They searched tirelessly, in hopes of finding anything that might provide answers for them. They found nothing that proved to be worthy of their interest. At night time, they decided to saddle up their horses. Aelis was disappointed in herself, as she felt that she wasted the time of these knights. Just as she was about to sit on her horse and ride it, she felt a massive surge of magic flowing through her. She began to scream. The knights quickly turned to her. Her face suddenly turned upward, and her arms and legs were wide apart. The words she uttered in a loud voice did not seem to be hers.

        “ONE OF THE KING’S CHILDREN SHALL BE BESTOWED WITH PURE MAGICAL ENERGY IN THE SUCCEEDING DAYS. THE CHOSEN ONE SHALL BE THE SAVIOR OF THIS LAND OR THE CAUSE OF IT’S DEMISE!”

After she spoke those words, Aelis fainted. Her body was weak from the absurd amount of magical energy that had flowed in her. The guards decided to go with her back to the castle. They also reported what happened to the King. 

“Mmm, interesting,” said the King. “So that is what she said.”

“Yes, my king,” responded one of the guards. “It was all so sudden. She immediately screamed and spoke those words. However, she spoke as if she was not the one that was speaking.”

“Are you implying that she was under the control of someone or something else?”

“Yes, my king. I am only insinuating that.”

“Thank you for letting me know this,” the King replied. “I shall speak with her after she wakes up,” he said to himself. “You may leave.”

“Thank you, my king.” The guards bowed to the King and left. The King also left for his private room.

The King started to deeply reflect on what he was told. “So one of my children shall be able to use magic soon. But who will it be? How will I be able to explain it to them? Should I let them succeed me as the next ruler after I die? What will-”

“KNOCK! KNOCK!” His pondering was ceased again by a familiar knock. “You may enter,” he responded. Faron entered the King’s private room.

    “My guess is that you have come to ask me if I need anything, am I right?”

    “Indeed you are, my king.”

    “Sigh. Why do you always worry about me Faron.”

    “It is simple, my king. If I do not check on you then no one else would. Even you wouldn’t check on yourself. You’re always worried about the Kingdom that you forget about your own wellbeing.”

    “I don’t even know what to say.”

    “You do not need to say anything, my king. I shall always be concerned about your wellbeing. I guess I should be leaving the-”

“Wait! I need your advice on something.”

“What is it, my king?”

 The King explained the whole situation to Faron. Faron thought deeply for a moment.

“Well then, my king,” he began. “I suggest that you let the Royal Mage spend some time with your children. Since she was the one who made this prophecy. She might be able to predict the one who will be granted this pure magical energy”

    “Thank you Faron,” the King said. “Your advice and knowledge always helps me.”

    “You are welcome, my king. Apparently, the more you age, the wiser you beco-.”

    “I guess you are pretty old,” the King interjected.

    “What is that supposed to mean, my king.”

    “I was only joking.”

    “I know you were”

The two of them burst into laughter.

    “It is very late now, Faron. You should probably be on your way.”

    “Before I leave, my king. I hope you remember that your children are coming back tomorrow. That means that this place is going to be as lively and rowdy as it used to be prior to their departure.”

    “You’re right, Faron.”

    “Anyway, good night, my king.” the butler left the King’s private room.

    The King smiled.

        “Looks like I get to see my children tomorrow. Finally, after two months.” He went to bed in a happy mood.

    The next day, a few hours after sunrise, the King went to the gates of his castle. He awaited the arrival of his children. After waiting for a while, he began to hear sounds of carriages approaching. He looked out and saw four carriages; the occupants of these were his five children, some guards, and of course, the drivers of these carriages. The carriages stopped at the castle gate. The king’s children got out of the carriages and the King rushed to them.

        The King said, “Welcome back my children! So-”

        “Thank you father. The voyage back here was long so we’d like to rest up a bit,” said Aubrey, the eldest prince. 

        “Okay then, you all can rest up in the castle.”

    The King and his children went into the castle. Not long after, the King summoned the Royal Mage.

        While bowing down, Aelis said, “You called for me, my king.”

        “Indeed I did,” the King replied. “I have a request for you.”

        “What do you need my king?”

“First of all, you should rise up. You do not need to be very formal with me.”

She stopped bowing and looked directly at the King.

“I need you to spend some time with my children. Maybe, just maybe, you might be able to figure out the one who would be granted magical energy.”

“That is a very smart idea, my king. I would be happy to do this.”

“Thank you, Aelis.”

“You do not need to thank me, my king. For the future of the kingdom, it is crucial that we know who would end up being able to use magic. And, I would also get to know your children more.”

“Alright then, I shall tell them after they are done resting up.”

“I would be back in about two hours then. See you soon my king.” Aelis left after bowing down once more.

“She reminds me of both of you,” the King thought to himself.

Two hours later, Aelis returned and the King had met up with her and his children in his throne room. 

 “I have a very important announcement to make!” The King yelled. “For the next two days, Mistress Aelis, the Royal Mage, would spend some time with each of you.”

“Why is that so?” Questioned Azel, the fourth born, and the King’s notoriously deviant child.

“One of you would soon be able to use magic! That person shall be the one to forge the path to the future of this Kingdom, or maybe of the world!” The King responded.

Four of the King’s five children looked astonished.

The King continued, “Since the day is far from ending, this plan can commence today! Aelis would spend some time with each one of you from the oldest of you to the youngest. Aubrey, Adrian, Archer, Azel, Annet, your series of hangouts with Aelis starts now!”

Aubrey said politely, “Well then, could you please come with me, Madam Aelis.”

Aubrey and Aelis left the castle. As they were walking out, Aelis, the young Royal Mage, wondered where they were going. She, however, did not know how to question the princess. Just when she was about to break the silence between her and Princess Aubrey, the princess spoke:

        “So Madam Aelis, how do you think our time together is going to be like?” the princess said gently.

    “I’m not really good at guessing, Princess.” Aelis responded

    “You don’t need to be formal with me Madam Aelis.”

    “The same goes for you as well, Princess.”

    “Alright then, we shall interact with each other on a first name basis.”

    “Okay, A-Aubrey.” The Mage stuttered a little bit.

    “Well then Aelis, answer my question, how do you think our time is going to be like.”

    “From the direction that we are currently headed, it seems to me that we are going to have a somewhat lively time at the Kingdom’s local marketplace. If I were to be exact, we might be going to purchase some items.”

        “You are partially correct Aelis. However, my question was somewhat broad so it was highly unlikely for you to guess the full answer correctly. Ah, here we are!”

        “The marketplace,” Aelis whispered to herself. “It seems very busy today,” she said to the princess.

        “Yes it does. I have a list of items for us to buy. I want you to take a look at them and take a guess as to who these are for.”

        “Okay. Let me see.” She began to read; “Potatoes, eggs, meat, vegetables, bananas, a bunch of toys…” She started to read the rest of the items in her head. “My guess is that we are mainly going grocery shopping for the king. But we are also buying a bunch of toys. Does the king secretly play with toys and dolls?”

        Princess Aubrey giggled. “You’ll find out at the latter part of our day. Let’s start purchasi- Oh no!” she said worriedly.

        “What’s the matter Aubrey?”

        “It seems that I forgot to bring a basket or something that we could put these items in. Forgive me for forgetting something as simple as this.”

        “Don't worry,” Aelis said. She used her magic to create a large basket suspended in the air. “We could place whatever we purchase into this basket.

        “Thank you so much Aelis,” the princess smiled.

        “You don’t need to mention it,” Aelis responded. She also smiled.

    The two of them went together to many vendors at the marketplace and began to purchase the items that were on the list. They were greeted with respect by every vendor they went to. They were also constantly conversing with each other along the way. They seemed to have bonded with each other like sisters do. After they purchased every item that they needed, they left the marketplace.

        “Are we going back to the castle to give these items to the king?” Aelis asked.

“You’ll see where we’re going to,” Princess Aubery said with a smile on her face. 

Aelis noticed that the path they were on led to the opposite direction of the castle. She started to think of where they could be going. Due to being lost in thought, she hit her head on a small wall by accident.

        “Are you okay, Aelis?”

        “I am, I was just concentrating on my thoughts instead of concentrating on where we are.” Aelis said nervously.

        “We’re here.”

When Aelis turned her head forward, she saw very young children of different ages rush out from an orphanage.

        “Ohh, so these things were for orphanage children.”

Aubrey responded with a giggle. The princess started to give the orphanage children some of the things they bought for them. After a short while, a child along with the orphanage mother walked out of the orphanage. Aelis noticed that the last child who was approaching them was wearing royal clothes. She realized that it was Prince Adrian, the King’s second child.

        Prince Adrian said to Aelis, “Oftentimes Aubrey and I help out with the orphanage. We buy stuff for the kids and help out mother here if she needs it.”

        “The prince and princess are of great help to us.” Mother said.

        “That is so kind of you and Aubrey,” Aelis said. “The king should be really proud of you guys.

        Adrian started blushing. “We just like helping out. Plus the kids here are our friends so we always have fun.”

        “You shouldn’t be so modest Prince,” Mother said. “Life would have been rough for us without you and Princess Aubrey. Because of you the orphanage always gets funding and you always buy things for us. We are all indebted to the both of you.” Adrian’s face became redder.

        “It would be nice if you guys could help me out,” Aubrey said.

        “C-C-Coming.” Adrian replied quickly.

The orphanage mother and the Mage laughed as they went to help out. After giving everything out, Aelis, Aubrey and Adrian spent some time at the orphanage. They helped Mother out, played and had conversations with the orphanage kids. This went on till a little after sunset. The three of them looked like they enjoyed the best time of their life.

        After realizing it was late, Aelis said, “We’ll have to go back to the castle, Aubrey, Adrian.” They waved the kids and Mother goodbye, and were on their way to the castle.

        “Today was really fun you guys,” Aelis said.

        “It was,” Aubrey and Adrian said on their way to the castle.

As they got to the castle’s gate, the royal siblings started to cry and Aelis noticed it. 

        “What’s the matter? D-Did I do anything wrong? I’m so sorry if I did!” Aelis said worriedly.

        “You haven’t done anything wrong,” Adrian said.

        “You just remind us of her,” Aubrey added.

They both stopped walking and proceeded to hug Aelis tightly. The young mage did not ask questions anymore. With her eyes closed and a smile on her face, she received their hug.