Prologue 2 :Angel Maiden
1219 Words
Royal Palace
The moon hung majestically above the kingdom, bathing the land in a soft silver glow.
Far below, rivers shimmered like liquid diamonds while gentle winds danced across the valleys and forests surrounding the capital city.
At the center of the kingdom stood the Royal Palace.
Magnificent.
Ancient.
Unmatched in beauty.
Its towering white spires touched the heavens, while golden domes reflected the moonlight like stars fallen upon the earth. Hundreds of crystal lanterns illuminated the palace grounds, casting warm golden light across marble pathways and blooming royal gardens.
To the people of the kingdom, the palace represented strength, prosperity, and hope.
But tonight, behind its magnificent walls, an atmosphere of mystery and anticipation lingered.
Deep within the palace stood the Grand Council Chamber.
The chamber was enormous.
Massive pillars carved with ancient symbols lined the walls. Golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling, illuminating the room with a soft glow. At the center stood a long marble table surrounded by some of the most powerful individuals in the kingdom.
Their expressions were serious.
Their eyes carried expectation.
And their hearts waited for something that had been foretold long before any of them were born.
Silence dominated the chamber.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Then finally, a graceful woman dressed in elegant royal attire slowly rose from her seat.
Her silver robes flowed behind her as she stepped toward the center of the room.
The symbol of a golden wing was embroidered upon her chest.
The mark of the Royal Guardians.
Everyone's attention immediately shifted toward her.
She looked around the chamber before speaking.
"The time has come."
Her calm voice echoed through the hall.
The words seemed simple.
Yet their impact was immediate.
One of the council members instantly straightened in his chair.
A smile appeared upon his face.
For years he had waited to hear those words.
"Our twenty-three years of waiting are finally coming to an end."
Excitement gleamed in his eyes.
Another council member sitting nearby frowned.
Unlike the others, he didn't share their confidence.
Instead, uncertainty clouded his face.
"Are you certain?" he asked quietly.
The first man looked at him.
"You still doubt?"
The second man folded his hands.
"I question because I seek truth."
A third council member leaned back in his chair.
He was older than the others and carried the wisdom of many years.
"You know the prophecy."
His voice was steady.
"Every twenty-three years, on the death anniversary of the previous Angel Maiden, another is born."
The second man sighed.
"Yes, I know the prophecy."
"Then why do you doubt it?"
"Because no one has seen her."
The room fell silent.
The third man exchanged a glance with the lady before speaking.
"That is because her guardians have protected her."
The second man looked up.
"For twenty-three years?"
The lady nodded.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"To keep her safe."
The answer only created more questions.
Safe from whom?
Safe from what?
The second council member rose from his chair and slowly walked toward one of the ancient pillars.
"The previous Angel Maiden died despite all her powers."
His voice echoed softly.
"If this girl truly exists, then hiding her must mean someone fears history repeating itself."
No one answered.
Because everyone knew he was right.
The death of the previous Angel Maiden remained one of the kingdom's greatest tragedies.
Even after twenty-three years, the wound had never fully healed.
The old council member finally broke the silence.
"The darkness that hunted her has never truly disappeared."
Several faces darkened.
The second man felt a chill travel down his spine.
He had spent years studying ancient records.
Stories.
Legends.
Forbidden texts.
Again and again, they spoke of the same thing.
Whenever an Angel Maiden appeared, darkness followed.
As though fate itself demanded balance.
Light and shadow.
Creation and destruction.
Hope and despair.
The two forces had battled each other since the beginning of time.
And every Angel Maiden stood at the center of that conflict.
The lady walked toward a massive stained-glass window overlooking the kingdom.
The moonlight illuminated her face.
"The prophecy has never failed."
Her voice remained calm.
"For centuries, every Angel Maiden has appeared exactly as foretold."
She gazed toward the distant horizon.
"This one will be no different."
The first council member nodded immediately.
"The signs have already begun."
The second man looked at him.
"What signs?"
The man smiled.
"The sacred temple bells rang on their own three nights ago."
Several members exchanged surprised glances.
"The holy flames have been burning brighter each day."
"The ancient scriptures have begun glowing again."
The second man's eyes widened.
Those signs had not appeared for centuries.
According to legend, they only occurred when an Angel Maiden reached the age at which her powers would awaken.
His heartbeat quickened.
Could the prophecy truly be unfolding?
The third council member spoke again.
"And when her powers awaken completely, the entire world will know who she is."
The room grew silent once more.
Because everyone understood what that meant.
Not only would allies find her.
Enemies would too.
Dangerous enemies.
Ancient enemies.
Enemies who had been waiting twenty-three years for this exact moment.
The second man clenched his fists.
Something about all of this disturbed him.
The prophecy spoke of destiny.
The others spoke of hope.
Yet all he could think about was the girl herself.
A young woman.
Completely unaware of the burden fate had placed upon her shoulders.
Did she know who she was?
Did she know what awaited her?
Did she even have a choice?
The questions refused to leave his mind.
Finally, the lady turned away from the window.
"The hour grows late."
She looked around the council table.
"We will continue this discussion tomorrow."
The members slowly stood.
Chairs scraped against the marble floor.
One by one they left the chamber.
Some looked hopeful.
Some looked excited.
Some looked fearful.
Within minutes the massive room stood nearly empty.
Nearly.
One person remained behind.
The second council member.
He slowly approached the stained-glass window.
Below him stretched the sleeping kingdom.
Thousands of lights sparkled throughout the city.
Ordinary people living ordinary lives.
Completely unaware of the events unfolding around them.
He stared at the moon.
Questions filled his mind.
Questions no prophecy could answer.
Far away from the palace...
Beyond the city...
Beyond the mountains...
A young woman laughed as she marked another day on her calendar.
Only a few days remained until her twenty-third birthday.
She smiled brightly, completely unaware of the destiny waiting for her.
She had no idea that ancient forces were already searching for her.
She had no idea that powerful individuals discussed her existence behind palace walls.
She had no idea that hidden enemies had begun moving in the shadows.
And she certainly had no idea that the man standing beneath the moonlit window would soon become one of the most important people in her life.
As the wind howled softly around the palace towers, the council member whispered to himself.
"Who are you?"
The night offered no answer.
Only silence.
Yet somewhere in the darkness, destiny had already begun moving its pieces.
The Angel Maiden's awakening was near.
And once it began...
Nothing in the kingdom would ever be the same again.
The story of Sanyukta Aggrawal was about to truly begin.
- Writer
