Chapter 1

| Chapter 1: "Alleia is Awakened in Askyeruz"

...⚔️...

In the quiet town of Saxordis lived a girl named Alleia Lystaria Zoaria Morafel. At fourteen, she was a ninth-grade student at Vintage Elixiere Academy—a dreamer with a head full of wonder and a heart tethered to mystery.

...__________...

..."Alleia~ Alleia~ You are a Royal knight. You must rise and fulfill your duty- to bring peace to the broken realms of Askyeruz. Gather the Divine Armour and come to El's Paradise. There, the Divine Deity waits to grant your people's deepest desire: freedom.”...

...__________...

The voice echoed in her mind like the lingering scent of a forgotten memory. With a gasp, Alleia jolted awake.

Blinding sunlight poured in through her bedroom window. Rubbing her eyes, she turned to check her clock—and screamed.

“Eh!?”

The digits read 8:05 AM.

Panicking, Alleia launched herself from the bed and dashed to the bathroom. After a record-speed shower, she realized with horror that her school uniform was still un-ironed. She scrambled to fix it, hair dripping, hands shaking.

Downstairs in the kitchen, two girls were already up. Cami, the third eldest, stirred a pot of breakfast porridge, while Clime sipped her coffee and took a bite of toast.

“What’s going on in Al’s room?” Clime asked, hearing the chaos upstairs.

“Did she forget it’s a holiday today?” Cami replied, a knowing smile on her face.

“Girls! Breakfast is ready!” Cami called.

Soon, the rest of the Morafel sisters—six in total—gathered around the table. But one chair remained empty. They all turned their heads toward the staircase.

“Al! Breakfast is ready, girl!” Rhyme, the most vocal among them, shouted. When Alleia didn’t respond, all six sisters called out at once.

Finally, Alleia burst into the kitchen—breathless, sweaty, in full uniform, and utterly distressed.

“Why didn’t anyone wake me?! I’m so late! And why aren’t you all dressed yet?!”

There was a pause. Then, laughter erupted.

“Al,” Yajna said between chuckles, “did you forget today’s a holiday?”

Alleia froze. Her face turned blank. Then she slumped into a chair, defeated.

“No way...”

“Don’t worry,” Marina said gently, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “At least you got to wake up early as usual, My Allei... And also-"

Alleia twitched when Marina whispered to her ear that made her blush in the faintest red cheeks.

"Happy birthday~" And Marina smiled sweetly to her little sister before the others exploded their greetings.

Each sister were smiling and holding onto something to celebrate the day - Cami who already held the cake, Rhyme next to her with a lighter flickering. Yajna now wearing a birthday cap, Clime with the coffee cupcakes, and Yajna with the balloons.

"Wha~ I totally forgot about-"

"Haha~ I knew it would turn out like this. Especially since you were all normal yesterday. I was sure you forgot today's your birthday, little sis." Clime teased and began squeezing Alleia's cheeks like a cute puffball.

"Ah~ Ouch~ I totally forgot, ow-kay~"

The six sisters laughed and sat down together.

“Tch~ I panicked for nothing...” Alleia muttered, putting down her bag.

Cami passed her a bowl of cereal.

The sisters enjoyed a cheerful breakfast filled with laughter, stories, and love. Afterward, Alleia, as usual, took care of the dishes. While cleaning, she got a call from a friend.

“Al! Happy birthday! Wanna hang out at Nature Park?”

Alleia didn’t hesitate. “Yeah! I’ll be there!”

She changed into casual clothes and bolted downstairs. “I’m heading out!”

“Be back before sunset, okay?” Emery reminded.

“I will!” Alleia smiled, giving her a quick wave before stepping out.

Alleia ran into her eldest sister, Marina, upon stepping out of th door and closing it behind her.

"Going out, are you?" She walked towards Alleia and drew her face closer to hers with that signature sweet smile before she fixed Alleia's hair and clothes.

"Ah~ Yeah~ Sis, you don't have to do that~ I'm older now, okay?" Alleia's muttered out getting all flustered again.

The look on her face only made Marina to giggle before she patted Alleia's head without messing up her hairdo.

"I know. I know, my Allei. You just turned fifteen today. And I'm just being sentimental."

Marina grabbed Alleia by the hand and locked her in a caring embrace.

"You've grown so fast, my little sister. It makes me happy and anxious at the same time. Please come home safe and early today, okay?"

She let her go before kissing her forehead that made the younger one turned cherry girl again. She knew very well how close Marina is as her eldest sister and how she spoils her rotten.

"I'll be fine! I promise! And I'll even buy you something when I get back! Okay, bye then, Sis Mari!"

Alleia's big smile was as bright as daylight becoming a silhouette with a backdrop of the sky and the earth. She waved with utter joy and excitement at Marina as she pedaled her way farther from their home and vanished from sight.

The wind lifted Marina’s hair, carrying her whispered words after Alleia.

"Alleia~ Come back and take care. My dearest little sister..." Were the words that escaped the mouth of Marina watching the younger one disappear from her line of sight.

And as the lens of the scene shifted, Marina's smile turned to different expression something more than concern and worry. It was as if anticipation was biding inside her and yet she couldn't wish it to be something that would really come true.

...~•~...

Alleia pedaled to Nature Park and parked her bike at the parking area.

As she waited for her friends, something unusual caught her eye—a rose-arched pathway she’d never noticed before. Though she had visited this park countless times, this path felt... new.

Drawn by curiosity, she walked through it slowly, marveling at the blooming roses overhead.

As she neared the end, sounds of distant chimes lingered like melodious hums right before a familiar voice rang out:

“Alleia, you are needed in Askyeruz—the realm of your ancestors. The kingdoms have fallen under the rule of Thanthorus, the Phantom of Old. He has deceived the people and turned them away from the Divine Deity. Hope is fading, but you are one of the chosen, the symbol of hope to lead that path for the redemption of Askyeruz. Leave this world for but a moment and step forward into your destiny. The world that long awaited your return...”

A blinding light enveloped her.

That light swallowed her.

Air vanished.

Then — silence.

Alleia’s eyes flew open.

But she wasn’t in the park anymore.

Lost in confusion and wonder upon seeing the unfamiliar surroundings she had found herself in upon waking up, she consciously roamed her sight around her.

Everything glowed — dreamlike, yet real, as if her fantasies had taken form before her eyes.

"Where am I?" Goes the uncertain thought resounding at the back of Alleia's mind.

She looked around her beholding these glowing trees, their leaves and branches, and the shrubs and bushes all over the place.

The whole place felt so magical that she could only close her eyes standing up and stretching out her arms as the breeze embraced her with its solace.

"Oh no! Am I already in paradise? The place I was taught about as the hope of all mankind beyond the deathbed? What had just happened?" Were the instant whispers that resonated with the questions in her thoughts.

Alleia is now in a mysterious, glowing place which is like a garden where she wandered to satisfy her curiosity and the wonder of her whereabouts thinking whether she was in one of her dreams or whatever this is.

And there, in the midst of the garden, Alleia found this big tree with its branches spreading over a kilometer or two and under its shade were flowers of myriad kinds resting under its comfort.

The tree was abundant with strange fruits of different shapes, sizes, and colours that made Alleia get mesmerized with its beauty and mystery.

When she was about to come closer for a better look at it, suddenly, Alleia was brought down to fall on her buttocks because a gleaming sword was wielded before her out of the blue by a mysterious person with a glowing robe and had wings as such that she had never seen before but it gave an impression of an angel.

His gaze was enough to make Alleia tremble and unable to act immediately nor was she able to think of escaping from the ignited blade held by his hand.

"Who goes here in a manner of youth? What brings you into this garden and dares to come close to the Great Tree of Askyeruz?!"

Alleia’s lips parted to answer — but no sound came.

Only the whisper of the glowing leaves replied.

...⚔️...

...~•AerixielDaiminse•~...

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