AMETHYST: The rise of Tetra

    ‘Over here!’ he whispered at the figure walking by, grabbing her attention almost instantly as he hid in the darkness of the passage that led to the one place they would be left alone. Cassandra looked left, right and center trying to identify where the voice she knew belonged to her beloved, was coming from. It wasn’t until a hand grabbed hers, and she squealed as she got pulled into the darkness herself, and suddenly, she was wrapped into the warmth of her lover.      ‘Leopold, what are you doing here? If my father-’     ‘It doesn’t matter. I had to come see you before I left’ interrupted the man, holding his woman close into his chest. Cassandra’s breath left her mouth at the news, and she looked with confusion at the man.      ‘Leave? Leave for what?’ she questioned with a fear in her tone. Cassandra was sick and tired of living in the shadows, and wished for once she could accompany her man on his travels, but fate had been cruel to them and had stripped them completely of the opportunity of being with each other without the barriers their kingdoms had created.      Both Cassandra and Leopold had been the heirs of royal families. Though they were families of kingdoms that despised each other from the very start. The world of Boraq was a world for Gods, a world in a dimension exactly parallel to that of the human planet: Earth. Boraq had been home to Gods and Goddesses, and had a history richer than anyone could ever imagine. On this planet of power resided the only two kingdoms that could never merge to become one, or rule side by side in harmony. The conflicts had been endless, and the chaos had been relentless. The planet had shown every sign of being a clear parallel of Earth.      Within the walls of these kingdoms existed the only kids that happen to make the biggest mistake they could on a planet where such a mistake could not be afforded: to fall in love. Though they hadn’t just fallen in love with members of their own kingdoms to facilitate their own lives, they fell in love with the kind they were strictly forbidden to mingle with. Though growing up in royal households had naturally ensured rebellion into the minds of kids who had so strictly been taught to only think and feel as the kingdom demanded it. A way of life had been instilled into their minds by a certain subtle dictatorship that neither could escape. Falling in love had been perhaps the only freeing thing in their lives that had brought the couple joy, and it was a feeling they did not intend on letting go of just yet.      Sneaking around and experiencing those few moments of bliss had become a purpose for heirs that one day would have to become rulers, people of power that would have to take upon new husbands and wives, though that was a thought best left untouched.      ‘My father is taking me on another quest. Another round of matches I will have to reject’ he revealed reluctantly, knowing how much the topic had affected the two every time it came up. Three years they had battled and tackled the issue of their marriage, though it seemed that by some blessing of the universe, they had managed to block out that event from happening. Noticing the sorrow on the face of the only woman he ever loved, Leopold grasped her chin with the tip of his fingers, and lifted it up only slightly to look into the depths of her soul. ‘You know I hate this as much as you do, princess, but you do know I’m not going anywhere’ he whispered to her, bringing an immediate smile to her face. She kept her hands on his chest, holding the fabric of his clothes as tightly as she could.      ‘I know, I just wish we could find a way out of this. All I want is to be with you, I don’t care about the throne, or royalty or the kingdom. I never asked for any of it’ she stated, exhausted of the act they had been putting up with for the past 6 years of their lives. Her face dropped once again at the acknowledgement of it all, and like she had done several times in the past 6 years, she allowed the tears to stream down her face helplessly. A hand reached up immediately to wipe them as he had always done, and Leopold found no better way to show his woman how much faith he had in them than by connecting his lips to hers for a long moment.      ‘Hey, there’s no one else I want to spend my life with but you. You know that right?’ He questioned, bending down to look at her properly. The woman nodded, her hands reaching up to cup the cheek of the man she loved so dearly.      ‘I know, but we can’t ever get married. If our parents ever found out, they’d have our heads!’ exclaimed Cassandra, knowing just how tense the situation had been between kingdoms for centuries. The war between the kingdoms had lasted since the beginning of its creation, and battles between leaders had been constant to decide who should be the one and only ruler of Boraq. They have yet to arrive at a conclusion on who would be the almighty ruler, and amongst the world of discoveries they had yet to uncover the secret affair that the heirs of the kingdoms had been maintaining for so long behind the backs of the monarchy,  though it was a secret that one day would perhaps cost them their lives. It was certainly a risk they were willing to take, though was there really a meaning in taking a chance so large that it may not have the happy ending they expected? The young couple had yet to figure out how they would escape the lives that they had unfortunately been born into to achieve the liberty they craved.     Leopold halted for the longest time, thinking of exactly what the couple had planned to achieve if not marriage. Why stretch the love if no happy ending was in sight? What had the pair been doing together for so long if the idea was to depart in the end? It had certainly not been the Prince’s intention to part ways with a woman who would forever remain in his heart, and hearing her say the harsh words had only been a reminder of what he had to do. Grabbing onto the hand that held his face, he dragged her along the dark passage until they arrived at the sacred chambers that had been saved for the royal guests, and stumbled in, giving Leopold the space and light to do what he thought was best for the pair.      ‘Leo, what are we-’     ‘Let’s get married’ he blurted as the door shut behind them. Leopold turned on the lights with a haste, before returning to his confused woman who simply did not understand the seriousness of his words.      ‘What? Leo, but we can’t’ she responded, watching as he returned to her side and bent down on one knee, pulling out the ring he carried with him at all times, that belonged to his mother. It had always been his intention to propose to the woman of his dreams with the ring he carried around, though the man had never quite found the right moment to propose in a way he thought suitable. However, the mere realisation that there would never be an appropriate time for a couple so scandalous and treasonous, caused the man to stick to his instinct and allowed him to do the one thing he had wished to do for so long.     ‘Yes we can, Cassie. We have spent every minute in love since the moment we were 14 and we bumped into each other on war lands. That day was supposed to be the day I killed you, or harmed you, for you are the daughter of our enemy, but I fell in love with you and you with me. Tell me, my love, why shouldn’t we get married? Marriage is for people who love each other, and we are in love!’ he explained, his emotions completely taking over and blinding the logic that seemed to have been concealed by his illusions.      ‘And where would we go, Leo? This entire planet is either covered on your lands or on mine. If we both abandon our places and disappear, anyone and everyone would know, we don’t have a chance of surviving my love. As much as I love you and want to marry you, there’s no future for us’ she responded, getting the man off his feet, though holding him close with the very fear that she would soon lose him. That was the image she feared the most, and one that haunted her in her nightmares.      ‘Then why have we loved, Cassie? Have we loved just to part ways? To marry other people and have a secret affair? Is that what you wish to do my dear?’ he asked, closing the gap between them once again. The physicality of their relationship had made it unbearable for either to consider their lives without one another, and after 6 years of feelings so strong, it was evident that this relationship had only two endings: ending up together, or dying together. Cassandra pondered upon the questions her loved one posed, and the truth had hit her as much as it had hit him, leaving both in a position to consider what their options for togetherness could be.      ‘What do you suggest we do?’ The words had been enough to demonstrate to the brave Leopold that his love was ready to take on the challenges that would ensure their escape, and that was all the hope he needed to construct a plan for his happiness.     ‘Marry me, escape with me. We could live deep in the forest, where no one would find us, have children, watch them grow and die side by side with grey hair and a litter of grandchildren’ he suggested excitedly, holding her head to his own, feeling her breath on his face. The vision had been clear to Cassandra, and it was one that pleased the woman. In their moment of weakness, their gaze had said it all, and her smile had served as a yes to the man who returned the grin and placed the ring on his beloved’s finger.      ‘Meet me by the entrance of the woods at nightfall. It’s time to begin our lives together my love’ finished Leopold, with a bright smile and a final passionate kiss, before escaping the way he normally did, through the secret passages that had been installed within the castle since its creation.      The content woman had been so entranced by the desperation and excitement to finally be reunited with her loved one, that she had forgotten to hide the ring that definitely stood out on any figure that wore it, and as a result attracted the eye of many maids, who never before had seen the ring where it had been laying.      It was a mistake that seemed as harmless as it could be, but one that cost them their entire relationship as the events unfolded. That night the woman kept her promise, and escaped with the little she valued in her grand castle, meeting her loved one by the entrance of the forest as discussed, grabbing onto his hand eagerly before venturing forth into a world unknown to both heirs of the throne of Gods.      The God of water, Voltor, father of Cassandra, and the God of fire, Alek, father of Leopold had yet to piece together the story that for years had been obscured from their vision, though the time was not far. It just so happened that the maids in these castles had been the best of spies for the rulers that wished to receive every bit of inside news on their people, and a certain appearance of a fancy ring on the finger of a woman who -to her mothers knowledge- had never even been with a man, was a bit of information that raised more questions than the Queen of Water could imagine. Though a mother will always be a mother, and when the Queen found no sign of her daughter in her chambers, at a time where she should be nowhere else, it was with great transparency that Queen Emilda had figured out the secret that for 6 years had successfully remained under the covers.      The kingdoms needed not an excuse to initiate wars with each other, but a cause this grand called for a massive battle, one that began with the intrusion of the enemy leaders upon enemy grounds.      King Voltor and King Alek came face to face spooner than ever, and when secrets were revealed and light had been shed upon the inside story of their kids, no sympathy had come upon either of these leaders.      ‘Your son has seduced my daughter and taken her away from me. I will have your sons head for this!’ Yelled Voltor with great pride, knowing not the extensive feelings his daughter had, in fact, felt for the son of his enemy.      ‘My son would never be interested in your filthy daughter. He is a dashing man and the heir to the most powerful throne in Boraq, I think it’s your daughter that has seduced my son and taken him away from me. I will not spare her Voltor’ spat back Alek, contributing to the useless quarrel between King’s that ended the only way it could: sending combined search parties to find the children that would soon be facing the consequences they never saw coming.      It just so happened that the pair had decided to celebrate their new beginning in a way they would forever regret, lying together under the covers in a tent in the middle of the forest, mating like there was no tomorrow. They certainly had not expected their parents to be so quick to locate them that far into the forest. Though as the eyes of the Kings dropped upon their almost naked figures in the forest, the two had finally decided to admit to themselves that their kid had done the one thing they wished they would have not. It was common for many Kings and Queens on Boraq to marry individuals they most certainly did not love, and therefore hold romances behind the curtain for the rest of their existence, though running away this boldly was a move very few dared to do, and only a few survived the consequences.      Being the children of leaders had only added to the scandal, and made it even more treasonous that it would have been if anyone else would have done so.      ‘Cassandra, what is the meaning of this? Get off her you vulture, how dare you-’     ‘Father, I love him, please’ the words of the young girl paralysed both leaders who looked upon their children with rage and disappointment, and with the mere expression it had been clear to the two that their escape from their fate would now not have the ending they thought it would.      ‘Boy, what are you doing? What is she saying?’ Spoke Alek, not believing his eyes or ears.     ‘It’s true father, we love each other. We don’t want the throne or anything else. We just want to be together’ pleaded Leopold, covering his woman with a large blanket while placing his shirt back on his half naked body.      ‘Never, you both have committed treason, and you both shall hang for it!’ responded Alek, looking back at his soldiers. The look had been enough instruction for the soldiers who knew what they had to do next: capture the Prince of fire and Princess of water. Though Cassandra knew she wouldn’t be one to go without a fight, and using the powers she had inherited from her parents, she pushed the guards back, grabbing onto the hand that belonged to her beloved before creating the grand escape tha she had been blessed to know. Within seconds the water had transferred the couple to the most sacred grounds of all Boraq, but knowing this fact meant that it was only a matter of time before their fathers made an appearance.      ‘You can’t stay here, you have to go’ suggested Cassadra in panic, tears flooding her face at the painful thought of letting go of her love.     ‘What do you mean? I am not going-’     ‘They’re going to kill you, Leopold, I won’t let that happen’ responded the brave woman.      ‘I am not leaving you. They will kill you too, and if you die I die, I love you’ he responded firmly, having made his mind up and readying himself for a death next to the only woman he would ever love.      ‘I love you too, and I am not letting you die. I have an idea, one that comes with a cost, but I’m willing to pay the price just to save you. You have to live my love, you have to keep going’ she responded, speaking riddles to the man who understood not a word of what his woman had been saying.      ‘Cassandra, what are you talking about?’ His questions had been cut short when a pair of lips connected desperately with his, clinging onto his soul for as long as she could afford.      ‘I’m sorry, they’ll be here any minute now. I love you, always remember that’ her words had given the man no consolation as he attempted to figure out exactly what she had meant. Though at her incantations he had pieced together her plan, and it was too late to turn back.      All at once the image of the King’s of Boraq returned to the scene, and from there the spell the woman had used was put to use, and the planet that had existed for centuries upon centuries found itself blasting into an explosion, destroying itself, saving only the one soul the woman had decided and could afford to spare: Leopold.      His body exploded away from the scene, and the man found himself thrown into a universe unlike his own. The fury of losing the woman he loved had been greater than he had imagined, and before he knew it, the fire that lived within him from his birth had taken over his entire physical being, and the angry man one day decided to change his fate, spitting out from within it a planet he would make his own, creating a system that would exist in the only way he knew: with a hierarchy. The one thing it had ensured was that individuals got their happy ending with the people they loved, and it found only one way of creating a scheme so perfect: destined soul mates.     He loved the planet like he loved his Cassandra, and so gave it a name that would one day come to achieve greatness, and make the woman who sacrificed everything for her man proud: Zaleon.      The story had been buried in the back of the flame’s mind for so long, that it often lost itself in the drama of the planet, so much so it forgot the intention it had been created with. Though when the almighty Leopold had realised the spiteful hierarchy it had created, it had only reminded him of the monarchy that had taken everything away from him, including his Cassandra. Scheming and plotting had taken the flame a while before he discovered the only way to end the hierarchy in the best way possible. The creation of the only two people that would have a chance at bridging it down, the ride for these individuals would not be as simple as the lives of the rest, but it would be a task that would connect them to the core of Zaleon as it did with the flame itself, for the flame has instilled a part of himself within the couple that was born for greatness.     Eliana Genova and Razaar Solonov were no ordinary couple, and that much was clear to anyone who came across them, whether that was a member of the hierarchy or a Galoness. They were a couple that were about to embark on a mission they believed was for their own greater good, but in fact was a mission so close to the heart of their foundation, that it would shock them to one day discover the whole truth. The identity of the flame for members of Zaleon had remained as only that, a powerful flame that was strong enough to create a planet, though the backstory had yet to be revealed to the members it had so dearly created. Though would it be a story that the flame shared with the planet it created and pushed into chaos? Only time would tell.