Episode 1 : The Quiet Before the Storm

The morning sun spilled gold across the spires of Tharith, glinting off the polished banners that fluttered lazily in the gentle breeze. Kaelen Tharith adjusted the strap of her practice sword, her fingers brushing against the worn leather. Today, like every day, began with training. Yet something in the air felt heavier, as if the kingdom itself was holding its breath.

Kaelen’s gaze swept across the courtyard. The cobblestones were polished to a shine, and the training dummies stood like silent sentinels, waiting for her strikes. She had grown up here, adopted by the royal family of Tharith, and yet, there was a sense that she did not fully belong—like a note that didn’t quite fit in a song. Her adoptive parents loved her, truly, but Kaelen had always felt the tug of something greater calling her from afar, though she could not yet name it.

“Kaelen!” called a familiar voice, playful yet sharp. The Tharith prince, her adopted brother in all but blood, jogged toward her, his dark hair catching the sunlight. “Still daydreaming, or planning your next stunt?”

Kaelen smirked. “Perhaps both. Care to join me? Or are you afraid I might outmaneuver you today?”

He grinned. “We’ll see.” Their sparring was more than practice—it was ritual, a bond forged through laughter, competition, and the quiet comfort of knowing someone would always have your back. Their blades clashed rhythmically, sparks flying, echoing through the courtyard. The Tharith prince was skilled, but Kaelen was quicker, anticipating his movements with uncanny precision. She felt the rhythm settle her nerves, clearing her mind, even if only for a few moments.

Then, the horizon shifted. An approaching escort rode with banners unfamiliar to Tharith, their colors bold and bright against the morning sky. Among them, a single figure stood taller than the rest, her bearing regal and commanding, though the sunlight softened her edges. Selene Veyra, princess of Veyra, had arrived.

Kaelen’s pulse quickened. She had heard of the foreign princess—a diplomat, strategist, and rumored to be as clever with words as she was with a blade. Kaelen’s fingers tightened around her sword hilt, a mixture of curiosity and caution prickling her senses.

“Princess Selene,” Kaelen greeted as the entourage entered the courtyard. Bowing was customary, but she kept her eyes steady, assessing every movement, every expression.

Selene’s violet eyes swept over Kaelen, briefly narrowing, then softened with a hint of curiosity. “Kaelen Tharith,” she said, her voice calm yet firm. “I’ve heard much about you.”

“Flattery or warning?” Kaelen replied lightly, keeping her tone even.

A small smile tugged at Selene’s lips, almost imperceptible. “Perhaps both.”

The Tharith prince clapped Kaelen on the shoulder. “Don’t let her words distract you. Today’s training still stands.”

Kaelen let out a laugh, tension easing, but her gaze flickered back to Selene. Something about the princess unsettled her—an elegance that carried authority, and yet a sharpness that reminded her of the political games Tharith was only beginning to glimpse.

The two continued their sparring, though Kaelen found her focus divided. Selene moved gracefully through the courtyard, observing the training with the precision of someone used to reading people, reading situations, and always calculating the next move. Kaelen wondered what Selene thought of her—ally, rival, curiosity? That question, unanswered, made her chest tighten.

As the afternoon sunlight waned, shadows lengthening across the courtyard, Kaelen felt a strange mix of anticipation and unease. Today had begun like any other, with the rhythm of training and familiar laughter, yet it had shifted—subtly, inexorably—toward something unknown. And somewhere deep inside, she sensed that the arrival of Selene Veyra would change everything: her world, her bonds, and perhaps even her heart.

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