Finding Strength

Sunlight filtered through the bright green leaves, dappling the earth with dancing shadows and light as a soft melody drifted with the wind. This is Asmeiria; a kingdom that rested by the sea and was the seat of magic. The people in this place wielded an extraordinary talent, they controlled the very elements themselves! Before you start to think of it as world breaking, it really wasn't. People only controlled a single element and maybe a sub-element that belonged to it when their parents had different powers. Not everyone could part the waters of a river, some could only really manage simple parlor tricks at best. At the age of 5 years, children get a small dose of their power. The candle fire might suddenly jump at the sneeze of a child who would control fire, random soft breezes might fill a closed off hall for one who would control wind and so on. Based on what the adults observed, they would begin teaching those children about their element and the best ways of controlling them so that when they unlocked their full power during puberty they don't accidentally hurt someone. The royal family were the most powerful among their subjects, capable of truly incredible feats. Naturally, it would be shameful if a child born of royal blood doesn't show much promise. Jessica Cloudsinger was one such child. While her brother, the crown prince, showed promise in the element of water, she showed no signs of magic whatsoever. Nathaniel never gave her any troubles about it, though. If anything, he was very protective of his baby sister and hoped that having no powers wouldn't make her life too difficult. At 15, he was already aware that the only way a woman could climb the ladder to power was through marriage to a good husband and having heirs. Women didn't hold land, jobs, or titles when their husbands passed. They certainly didn't fight, no matter how powerful they were. Instead, women channeled their powers for more domestic things like gardening or enchanted embroidery. Hey knew his sister's only hope was to marry well, but her lack in power made her worthless in many eyes. That was why he suggested she marry Ritter Pierce when they were of marrying age. They were close friends and their unity would bring the two nations closer together. Not only that, but he wouldn't judge her based on her lack of magical prowess. His parents agreed, so they sent letters to Donagon and the negotiations were underway. In two weeks, their betrothal would be announced and he could rest assured knowing his sister wouldn't be married off to someone that wouldn't treat her right. And so, laying under the canopy of dancing leaves, Jessica laid unaware of the bombshell that was to be dropped on her 12th birthday. Jessica is a lovely girl, with raven hair that trailed to her hips and pale blue eyes like the sky above her. Her beauty was pure and unrivaled, but it still couldn't hold a candle to the kindness within. She was the kind of girl who would rather carry a bug over to the window and release it back into the wild rather than squish it. She didn't like violence and would offer a helping hand to anyone who needed it. Despite being raised a princess, she would sneak out and go play with the children in the marketplace and come home covered in mud because they had a mud ball fight. She didn't think of herself as better than anyone, so that was what likely made the prince of Donagon so eager to befriend her even though she was a girl and unable to spar with him like her brother, Nathaniel, could. The leaves rustled as the wind picked up their strength, just as a pair of armored boots stopped just short of the princess laying in the dirt. "Jessy, dear, its time to return to the castle." The male spoke as her eyes drifted over to him before her cute little face spread into a wide smile. It was General Envar Lovell; the man who was like a godfather to her ever since he moved here from Donagon to be with his wife. They had a son, Mortis, who was only 5 years old and practically nothing like his father. Envar was often the one who found Jessica in all of her hiding places when she snuck away from all the pressures of palace life. "Already...? can't I stay and watch the fairies and the leaves a little longer?" She pleaded as she frowned a little, not wanting to leave such a peaceful place. Envar gave her a pitied look as he knelt down. The sun made his polished armor shine almost blindingly bright at times, with his red cape billowing softly behind him. He had a few battle scars, but not many, he was a hard man to beat when you consider his strength of himself and his dragon. Yes. His Dragon. The people of Donagon had a strong connection with dragons. Some say they were part dragons themselves, because the day they are born a dragon will lay its egg and the egg will only hatch for its intended master. These dragons ranged in size, from the size of a squirrel to the size of a mammoth. Envar's was one such Dragon that was the size of a great white shark, so it was something you could ride. It had scales that were green like the lush trees around them and a rounded snout and only friendly to those that Envar was close with. "I'm afraid not. Your parents have to have a very important discussion with you about your upcoming birthday." He stated gently, tucking a strand of his greying dark hair behind his ear. His hair came to his shoulders and he often didn't shave for a few days. His dark blue eyes were stern and full of experience, but ever kind. Jessica huffed in defiance as she sat up reluctantly, smoothing out the lavender colored dress her ladies in waiting insisted in dressing her in today. "Fiiiine, but can we fly there?" She asked with hope flooding her innocent eyes, earning a chuckle from the general as he helped her up. "Sure, but only because its faster and not because it's entertaining to see your mother throw a fit over your hair being all wind-blown." If only she knew how numbered her days of happiness were...