Arista : The Girl With Silver Hair

Once, the country of Carston lived peacefully as the great king Ozan reigned. Everything was perfect until the king died and his son, Ozan II, sat on the throne. Political issues arose and conflicts between nobles piled up but the son was a mere fool who was easily manipulated by the selfish politicians. Far away from the capital where the city of Hendel stood, the Duchess of the dukedom has just given birth to a healthy baby girl. And, just like any ancestor that carried the blood of the Yoldis, she had silver hair and red eyes. This was the happiest time for the Duke and Duchess. -- "Mommy! Daddy!" Arista said, giggling while waving her small little hands. "Arista, dear! Be careful!" The Duchess called out with a worried look on her face. "It's gonna be fine, love. Arista is a very strong child." The duke assured his wife. They lived a very happy life as a family for five years since Arista was born. The city of Hendel had never flourished so much since the young heir of the house came. As soon as she started talking, she uttered words that were very complicated. At first, the duke and duchess were very confused as to how the young daughter of theirs could understand the political issues they were talking about. But they later believed every suggestion she made on how to handle the city, as well as economical improvements that shocked the duke for they have never thought about it before. It was later found out that in an old prophecy, an heir of the silver heads will have a mind far beyond the greatness of the world. And before she turns twenty, the empire will kneel down on their knees for her. "Bella! Hey, wait! Bella!" Arista ran towards a young girl with dark hair in a commoner's outfit. Arista held the girl's hand to stop her for running away. "Why are you running away from me?" Arista asked with a bright smile on her face. "But, Aris- I mean, Lady Arista, you will become emperor when you grow up and it will be impossible for us to become friends by then." Bella said, shaking. T-This nonsense, seriously. Even my mom and dad kept praising me for the little bits of suggestion I made to them about the city. Well, the prophecy is much more believable than telling them I actually reincarnated from another world. Nevertheless.. Arista rubbed Bella's head softly, making her stop shaking and look at Arista in the eyes. "Bella, friendship isn't built to separate people. Even if I become goddess one day, for sure, you will always be my friend!" Arista smiled at the young girl who looked like she was about to cry. "H-Hey, don't cry!" Arista panicked. "Oh, I know! Why don't you sing that song to me again? The one you sang last time!" Arista said enthusiastically. "B-Baby bird?" Bella asked. "Yeah! I love hearing you sing that song!" Arista smiled as she held both of Bella's hands. "Okay." Bella said with a smile on her face. "The wind blows From far away The nest be build to shelter him his loved ones flew but he shall stay In a nest for birds To come back one day La~ La La~ Lala~ Lala~ La~ Lala~ Lala~ La.. La~" Life was all Arista could have asked for. Born as an heir to the dukedom, she wanted equity and justice for both nobles and commoners. But all of that peaceful fantasy came to an end when empire soldiers marched into their territories. Arista woke up to the lights that flickered around their house. Her parents went to her bedroom and pulled her to go with them. Still confused and a bit dazed, she followed them as they hid her in the kitchen cabinet. W-What is going on!? She peeked through a small gap of the cabinet door and found imperial soldiers walking around. "Search every nook and cranny of the house! That girl, couldn't have gone far!" A soldier shouted to his men. "Sir!" Another soldier came and whispered to him. "Even when we cut his wife's head off, he still wouldn't talk. Just take out his life!" Arista let out a small gasp and immediately covered her mouth but the guard heard it and decided to look around the kitchen. He gave out a grin and walked towards Arista. Arista's face became pale and horrified. "There you are." The soldier said opening one of the cabinets. "Arista Yoldi." Arista closed her eyes, but to her surprise, she was still in the cabinet. She peeked through the gap again and saw he was pulling another girl about her age and had silver hair. "Come!" The soldier forcefully pulled the girl out of the kitchen. Who...? The silver haired girl looked back to where Arista was, shocking Arista. 'It's-gonna-be-okay.' Bella's mouth opened without sound as she smiled at Arista who was still hiding. What do I do? Do I come out? If I do, they'll take out my life for sure. I was given this life and how could I die- Arista flinched. She realized something that she couldn't let go of. She got out of the cabinet and took out a knife from one of the drawers then ran towards the living room. I can't. I can't leave them. No matter what.. I have to save them even if it means dying again. As she entered the room, Arista froze. Pale down to her toes as the dead bodies of everyone piled up in the center of the room. It was a living nightmare. She saw the guards were already outside starting a fire. She ran towards the pile of bodies to see if atleast one survived. No. No, this can't happen. They can't do this. She saw her mother's silver hair and immediately ran towards it only to find it without a body. Her tears flowing nonstop as she caressed her mother's severed head. "Yeah, I forgot my pouch in the living room. I'll get out as soon as I get it." "Alright, man. Just don't stay there long because the fire is spreading like wildfire right now." "Yeah, yeah. My wife's gonna kill me if I told her I lost the gold coins for groceries." Voices from behind the door chuckled while getting near. Arista ran to hide with her mother's head. The doors swung open as the soldier mindlessly looked around and immediately went for his pouch which was on the table near the dead bodies. His face disgusted as he went near the corpses. "You wouldn't have all died if you just gave up your daughter. Man, is it so much to sacrifice a small girl. Tsk.... wait. Wasn't the Duchess' head over here?" He said as he found blood stains from where the head was. Suddenly, he felt a painfully sharp sensation in his chest as he coghed up blood. He saw a knife pierce right through his heart as he turned around with all his energy left. The young soldier gasped at the b****y red eyes and silver hair of the girl that was meant to be dead. Arista stood in front of him with her mother's head carefully carried as the soldier's body collapsed. By dawn, the mansion had already burned to crisp. The soldiers has heades back without knowing one of their men were missing. Arista started to dig holes on the ground and pulled the bodies of her beloveds to each one. When Arista finished covering them, she placed tombs with their names and flowers on each grave. She stared at Bella's tomb with her name written in it. Her heart still pouding fast from the sudden events that happened. "The wind blows From far away" I was wrong.. This is no different from my past life. "The nest be build to shelter him" The burnt down orphanage.. "his loved ones flew but he shall stay" The effort I did to survive.. The endless humiliation just to live another day. "In a nest for birds" But this time will be different. "To come back one day" Your deaths will not be in vain, my beloved family. This empire will crumble in the name of our family. And I will do so that they may not forget the name, Arista Yoldi. "La La La Lala Lala La Lala Lala La.. La..."