Episode 1: The Rebellius Princess of Lunaris

Disclaimer: this is the translation of my story in English, there may be mistakes!

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...At the edge of Lunaris, where trees stand tall like ancient guardians and stars weave threads of fate, there exists a magical forest. Its leaves whisper secrets to the wind, and its roots intertwine with forgotten legends. It was a living tapestry of intense greens and earthy browns, a place where magic was not just a possibility, but a palpable certainty. The tree trunks, thick and twisted, reached towards the sky, their barks engraved with ancient symbols that told stories of times long past....

In this enchanted place was Mallory, an 8-year-old girl, wearing an elegant yet somewhat disheveled long white dress. Around her waist, she wore a silver brooch in the shape of a moon. Her knees displayed bandages from recent scrapes caused by her restless nature, and her feet were bare.

Mallory's long blonde hair framed a face with delicate features, highlighting her huge and expressive amber eyes. There was a pure innocence in her, reflected in her curious gaze and serene expression.

However, beneath that ethereal appearance, a strong and adventurous character could be glimpsed. A girl with a wild spirit and a restless heart, defying the rules established by her mother, Queen Eupheria of Lunaris. Her bare feet sunk into the damp earth as she ventured among the trees that seemed to hold up the sky. Birds of vivid colors greeted her with cheerful chirps, recognizing her as part of the realm, while butterflies danced around her in a display of pure magic, the night air glowing with bioluminescent lights and mythical insects emitting the same blue and purple glow.

Zio, a mythical creature, grumpy-looking combining the appearance of an owl and a cat, fulfilling his role as protector and winged companion with silver-white feathers gleaming in the moonlight, flew in circles above her, his gaze attentive and protective against the young one's antics.

His loyal guardian with shining fur searched fervently among the branches. A warm smile spread across her face when a diminutive and radiant figure appeared amid the treetops.

"I have been looking for you everywhere!" Zio said with palpable concern in his voice. "You should not be here at this hour of the night. Have you escaped again? You are so stubborn."

"You are so boring!" Mallory retorted, teasingly sticking out her tongue. "I just wanted to take a nocturnal walk! And who knows, maybe we could... visit the forbidden portal?"

The mischievous Mallory grinned as she balanced effortlessly on the tree branches, the moonlight illuminating her playful face, revealing the spark of adventure that burned in her eyes.

"Perhaps it is time to disobey mother and explore what awaits us beyond the portal," Mallory said excitedly, her eyes gleaming with a spark of adventure. "Don't you think, Zio? "

Zio, Mallory's royal protector since her childhood, fidgeted nervously at the young princess’s proposal, hiding his fear behind a theatrical and dramatic pose.

"Disobey the queen!?" exclaimed Zio, spreading his wings in an exaggerated and dramatic gesture. "That would be madness! The forbidden portal is an abyss of unknown dangers. You are the heiress to the throne; your safety is paramount for the entire kingdom! I am so nervous that all my feathers will fall off due to the anxiety you provoke, young princess! I could never forgive myself if something happened to you because of my carelessness!"

Despite his occasional clumsiness and obsession with protocol, Zio could not help but feel an unbreakable bond with Mallory. His loyalty to her and the kingdom was unwavering, even if his overprotectiveness sometimes clashed with the bold desires of the intrepid Mallory.

Zio knew that Mallory was the heir to the throne, and that her safety was crucial for the entire kingdom. Thus, he made it his mission to protect her and keep her safe, even if it meant reigning in her adventurous spirit. Nonetheless, deep down, he understood that Mallory needed some freedom to grow and explore the world around her.

Mallory gazed at Zio with a challenging smirk, fully aware of how to play on his emotions.

“Although… Are you sure you can keep up, Zio?” she taunted, tilting her head to the side. “I don’t want you to get lost along the way.” She chuckled mischievously. “…Or perhaps you are afraid to venture with me?”

Her amber eyes sparkled with a challenge, daring Zio to show his courage. Mallory knew her guardian cared deeply for her, but that didn't stop her from wanting to break the rules occasionally.

Zio tried to grab Mallory with his talons, but the young princess gracefully evaded him, descending from the tree branch with natural agility.

“Come back here, you little troublemaker!” Zio exclaimed, flapping his wings as he chased her through the trees. “What you are proposing is too dangerous! You could get hurt, or worse, lost in the forbidden portal!”

Mallory giggled mischievously, elegantly dodging Zio's clumsy attempts to capture her, gracefully leaping from branch to branch.

“You need to be quicker than that, Zio!” she teased, sticking out her tongue playfully as she somersaulted through the air. “Have your feathers become heavier with age?”

Zio, frantically trying to maintain balance as he flew from branch to branch, stumbling now and then, displayed a comical mix of concern and frustration.

“Mallory, please stop!” he pleaded, almost breathless. “I cannot allow you to risk yourself like this!”

Nevertheless, with her spirited and adventurous nature, Mallory had no intention of heeding her guardian’s pleas.

“You're not listening to me!” exclaimed Zio in desperation. “It's strictly forbidden to go to the portal, you know that!” Sweat poured down his feathery face as he temperately begged, "The forbidden portal leads to dangerous lands... a dark and perilous world full of indescribable beings, beasts, and...

He stopped abruptly, nervously scanning his surroundings, "Men." He swallowed hard, "It is said that only the finest warriors cross the portal to combat invaders seeking our kingdom for the wealth of ‘unobtanium,' a valuable mineral and our realm’s life source containing the energy of our land."

He stared at Mallory intensely before continuing with horror in his eyes, "And I repeat... men reside there. Do you know what men are, Mallory?”

Mallory paused, contemplative.

"Yes, of course..." she said, pausing. "No, not exactly," she continued, making a grimace. "Here, we are only women, created from the earth by our deity Lorelei. Mother told me the whole story." She furrowed her brow slightly. "But that only increases my curiosity about them. I want to know if they are as terrible as everyone says." Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Besides, isn’t it boring to follow all these rules without questioning them?” She tilted her head, a nearly innocent expression on her face, “Who knows what we might find on the other side.”

Mallory appeared genuinely intrigued by what lay beyond the forbidden portal, despite Zio's warnings. Her childlike curiosity and adventurous spirit seemed to outweigh her caution.

Zio, with a tremulous voice, attempted to convey the severity of the legends surrounding men. On the brink of hysteria, he grasped Mallory firmly, his feathers trembling uncontrollably as his eyes reflected deep terror.

“Mallory, for all the ancient gods' sake, you must listen to me!” he exclaimed, shaking the young princess lightly. “Can't you hear the legends? What the oldest Valkirias tell? Those creatures are unimaginable monsters!" He gulped with difficulty. "Huge beasts, with twisted and deformed bodies, covered in pustules and sharp claws!"

"Their skin rough like rock, their colors dark as night, with eyes burning in fury and cruel expressions freezing blood in veins," he whispered dramatically, his voice almost a murmur. "Their eyes fixated on Mallory with despair. They devour mercilessly if dared to cross the threshold into the unexplored world!"

Zio anxiously awaited some reaction from Mallory, thinking he had succeeded in scaring her. However, the young princess merely frowned and cocked her head.

“Why are you spewing at me, Zio?” asked Mallory, gently freeing herself from his grip and wiping her face. “And what if they’re just spinning tales to frighten us and keep us here?” Her eyes sparkled with a determination. “Let us see what lies beyond the portal!” she exclaimed, completely disregarding everything Zio had said.

Zio blinked, astonished by Mallory's reaction. He had hoped his terrifying words would have an effect, yet the young princess appeared more interested than frightened.

“But haven’t you heard me?” Zio said exasperatedly. “They are terrible creatures, Mallory! You must understand how dangerous it is!”

Mallory simply gazed at him with a mischievous smile, her eyes innocently brilliant

Zio, exhausted, dramatically dropped from the tree branch, his voice laden with concern and challenge.

"Just tell me!" he exclaimed, approaching Mallory, almost theatrically. "How do you plan to defend yourself if you enter that portal, child? Do you know how to fight? Do you intend to scare those monsters with your acrobatics in the trees?" He snorted in frustration, “What would happen if something befell you?” His voice cracked slightly, and his wings fluttered nervously. "I couldn't forgive myself. I would be the worst guardian in history!"

Mallory, with agile precision, leaped down from the tree, quickly righting herself with an air of nonchalance, and flicked off a few stray leaves from her dress.

“I can fight, you know,” she said, pouting. “If any humans dare to challenge us, I will show them the power of the Valkirias!” Her eyes sparkled with a rebellious spirit

“The best warriors cross the portal to protect our kingdom from would-be invaders,” she resumed, her voice firm. “Why can't I go as well? Perhaps it's my turn to show my worth.” A mischievous smile crept onto her lips. “And if we discover something out there, we can share it with everyone in Lunaris! Wouldn’t it be great to learn more about that mysterious world?”

Zio, exasperated, exclaimed:

“You are the future queen, not a reckless adventurer!” He shook his head disapprovingly. “Where do you get these ideas, child?”

Mallory, determined and defiant, crossed her arms proudly and furrowed her brow.

“I’m not a child, Zio!” she exclaimed. “I am a warrior! I want to climb trees, fight with swords, and feel the wind in my hair.” Her eyes glittered with defiance. “Isn’t there more to life than being a queen?”

Zio looked at Mallory and sighed with resignation at the princess's rebellious nature. Silently imploring the goddess Lorelei for patience and wisdom, he approached Mallory.

“May goddess Lorelei grant me strength to endure your innocent rebellion, Mallory,” he said, patting her head lightly with his wings. “Let's return home now, forget this idea.” Pausing for a moment, he furrowed his brow slightly. “Moreover, you've escaped your royal tutor... Don’t you think they’re searching for us?”

Sighing heavily, he extended one of his wings, signaling to Mallory that it was time to head back to the castle. Reluctantly, he hoped that reason would finally prevail over the adventurous desires of the spirited princess.

Mallory, audacious and defiant, shrugged off Zio's warning with a mischievous grin.

“I doubt my royal tutors can catch up with me, Zio,” she remarked with a sly wink. “I’m pretty good at hiding!” She chuckled to herself. “And if they pursue us, we’ll give them a surprise!” Putting a hand to her chin, she imagined the scene. “Imagine their faces when they find us here!” She released a melodious laugh. “It will be epic!”

Zio stared at her with a mix of exasperation and admiration. Reluctantly acknowledging, Mallory possessed a natural talent for mischief that at times left him speechless.

“Mallory, for all the gods’ sake!” he exclaimed, placing his claws to his head in a dramatic gesture. “Do you not understand the danger you’re putting us in?” Horror flashed in his eyes. “Picture the queen’s face when she discovers I allowed you to escape!” Anxiously pacing, he muttered to himself. “Surely, she’ll banish me to the dark forest… Or worse, turn me into a frog!”

Mallory couldn't help but burst into laughter at her guardian's dramatic expression. It was clear that Zio was on the verge of losing his nerves due to her escapades.

However, in the midst of their conversation, an authoritative voice resonated through the forest, interrupting their dialogue with its imposing and confident tone.

"Hmm, I cannot imagine the queen's reaction upon seeing this situation, can you, my daughter?" said the voice.

Mallory and Zio turned surprised to recognize the familiar voice, finding themselves face to face with the imposing figure of Queen Eupheria. The sovereign of the Lunaris realm stood majestically amidst the trees, accompanied by two Valkiria guardians who were subtly amused by the scene.

Eupheria’s long platinum hair shimmered with golden highlights in the faint light filtering through the leaves. Her intense, perceptive yellow eyes seemed to pierce through the young princess and her hapless guardian. Despite the severity of her countenance, there was a glint of complicity in her gaze that did not go unnoticed.

Mallory and Zio stood frozen, aware they had been caught in the midst of their little forbidden escapade. The presence of the queen commanded respect and fear, but also hinted at an understanding that piqued the interest of both.

Eupheria advanced with elegant and measured steps, presenting herself grandly wrapped in attire fitting of her position. Her garment, made of fine and glossy silk, appeared to float around her like an ethereal cloud. The fabric folds cascaded gracefully, emphasizing the elegance of her movements.

Every gesture and motion she made conveyed grace and dignity worthy of her station but also an authority that brooked no challenge.

“Y-Your Highness…” stammered Zio, bowing respectfully

Eupheria regarded Mallory with a blend of affection and concern. Calmly, she approached her daughter.

"Bravery and audacity characterize you, my daughter," her eyes twinkled with pride. "But remember that your path as a queen also requires responsibility and commitment." She paused, seeking Mallory’s gaze. “Are you ready to face both challenges, Mallory?”

Eupheria's voice sounded firm, yet there was a touch of tenderness in it. She knew Mallory had inherited her indomitable spirit and that deep down, she hoped her daughter would find the equilibrium between her thirst for adventure and the responsibilities that came with her impending role as a sovereign.

Mallory lifted her gaze, meeting her mother's eyes. For a moment, the rebellion and determination that usually shone in her eyes softened, giving way to a shadow of doubt, and perhaps even a glimmer of understanding.

The tension between Mallory's desires and Eupheria's concerns hung in the air as they awaited the young girl's response.

The night in the enchanted forest of Lunaris hummed with conflicting emotions and pivotal decisions on the horizon as Mallory, Zio, and the queen prepared for a new chapter in their lives full of challenges and discoveries...

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