The Crown's Rebel

The first thing Seraya Elvaris smelled was smoke. Not the comforting smoke from the palace kitchens. This smelled different. This smelled like burning wood. Burning silk. Burning flesh. And then someone screamed her name. "Seraya!" Her mother's voice. Queen Isadora appeared through the chaos and grabbed her hand. "Come with me," Her voice was firm, but Seraya saw the uncertainty in her mother's eyes. Something was wrong. The atmosphere had changed. The palace that had always felt warm and safe now seemed to tremble around them. Across the disordered hallway, servants ran for their lives. Aelorian guards fought desperately against an unseen force, some falling beneath burning arrows that tore through the corridor. And in the middle of it all stood her father. King Alaric. He moved with his ancient sword raised, deflecting one flaming arrow after another. His movements were still powerful, but Seraya noticed something she'd never seen before. He was tired. Terrified. Her gaze remained fixed on him. As if sensing it, Alaric looked toward her. Their eyes met. For a moment, the chaos seemed to disappear. Her father stared at her and then at Isadora. Something changed in his expression. There was regret. Fear. Love. It all broke across his face. Seraya didn't move. "Father—" "Go with your mother, I'll be right behind you…" Alaric yelled. A soldier rushed towards Alaric. Isadora's hand flew to her mouth. Alaric turned to her one last time. He smiled. Not the smile he gave her when she had done something clever. Not the one he wore during royal ceremonies. This one was softer and sad. He mouthed three words. "I love you." Seraya's breath caught, an arrow flew. It grazed her father's cheek, leaving a bloody line beneath his eye. "Father!" He staggered. Before Seraya could move, a figure in a red cloak stepped between them. A Valtherian soldier. She knew the colors too well. She had seen them in books. The soldier raised his sword. Isadora seized Seraya by the wrist. "Come!" "But Father!" her daughter protested. "Seraya, now!" Her mother dragged her down the corridor. Seraya twisted around. For one last second, she saw her father behind them. His sword was still raised. Then the flames swallowed the view. *** They reached the king's private chambers. Seraya stumbled inside, struggling to catch her breath. "Mother..." Her voice trembled. "Is Father hurt?" Isadora didn't answer. She couldn't. She simply kept moving. "Mother!" The queen stopped. For a moment, her shoulders shook. Then she turned and knelt before Seraya. "Do not worry, my dear." Her voice was barely steady. "You will be safe." But Seraya knew that wasn't true. Not from the way her mother looked at her. Not from the way she kept glancing toward the door. Not from the screams outside. The king and queen had known this day would come. They had known their kingdom would eventually burn. They had simply hoped Seraya would never have to see it. A heavy crash echoed through the chamber. Isadora immediately stood. "Come." She rushed toward a large portrait hanging against the wall and shoved it aside. Behind it was a narrow door hidden within the stone. She yanked at the handle yet it wouldn't move. "Mother..." Seraya whispered. Isadora pulled again. Nothing. Behind them came the sound of footsteps. Heavy. Several of them. Seraya's eyes widened. "They're coming." "I know." Isadora pulled harder. The door finally gave way with a groan. Seraya stared into the dark passage beyond. It smelled damp and old. Another crash shook the chamber. The footsteps were closer now. And beneath them, Seraya could hear voices. Not cries of fear. They were cheering. They were celebrating. Whoever had invaded the palace wasn't afraid. They had already won. Seraya tightened her grip on her mother's hand. "Why are they attacking us?" Isadora looked at her. For a moment, she said nothing. Then her eyes filled with something Seraya couldn't understand. Pain. Fear. Perhaps even guilt. "I will explain everything one day." A loud BANG shook the door. Seraya flinched. Another BANG. The wood cracked. Then another BANG. Isadora's face went pale. She reached beneath her glove. When her hand emerged, something blue rested in her palm. A stone. Seraya had seen it before but never this close. It was small enough to fit inside her mother's hand, smooth and strangely beautiful. Faint blue light seemed to move beneath its surface. "Mother?" Isadora took Seraya's hand. She placed the stone inside it. The moment their palms touched, Seraya felt warmth spread through her fingers. She stared at it. "What is it?" Her mother's eyes softened. "It will guide you." Another blow struck the door. The walls trembled. Dust fell from the ceiling. Isadora brushed Seraya's hair away from her face. Her fingers were trembling. "Mother..." "Listen to me." Seraya looked up. Isadora cupped her daughter's cheek. Whatever she saw in her mother's eyes made Seraya's chest tighten. "Whatever happens tonight, you must remember this." "Remember what?" The door shook violently. A crack splintered across its surface. Isadora swallowed. "We did not betray Valtheris." Seraya frowned. She didn't understand. "Mother, what does that—" "Run." Isadora pushed her into the passage. Seraya stumbled backward. "No!" "Run, Seraya." Her mother's voice cracked. Seraya shook her head fiercely. "No. I'm not leaving you." Isadora smiled. It was faint. Tired. But it was still her mother's smile. "Go." Isadora pushed the door closed. "Mother!" Seraya lunged forward as the door slammed shut between them. Isadora dragged the portrait back into place. Seraya pressed both hands against the cold stone. "Mother!" There was silence at first then heavy footsteps burst into the chamber. Seraya froze. A man's voice rang through the other side. "Where is she?" Her mother's voice answered. "You don't need her." "Where is the princess?" Seraya's heart stopped. Princess? They were looking for her? "I said you don't need her." she paused. "Kill me." Seraya's lips parted. "Mother..." A scream tore through the chamber. Seraya covered her mouth. She wanted to run back. She wanted to break through the door but her mother's last command echoed in her mind. Run. There was another scream then silence. Seraya's body went rigid. For one heartbeat, the world stopped. The stone in her palm grew warm. And warmer. A faint blue light pulsed beneath her fingers. She looked down. "What...?" The passage behind her suddenly filled with smoke. Then the hidden door burst open. The same soldier. The one who had attacked her father. He stepped through the flames. His sword was stained with blood. Her mother's blood. His eyes found Seraya. "There." He raised his sword. Seraya stumbled backward. The stone burned against her palm when she squeezed it. The world disappeared. That night, every Aelorian in the palace burned to the ground. And Aeloria died. *** Years later… For nearly an hour, she had stood beneath the scorching sun without shelter, watching one applicant after another disappear through the towering gates of Crownspire Academy. Finally the last person before was cleared. She hesitantly took a step forward, tightly clutching her fingers around the strap of her small sack hanging over her shoulder. The registrar studied her. From her messy brunette hair down to her worn-out sandals that had started to outgrow her feet. She looked nothing like the noble students that lined up before her. The registrar lifted a brow, assessing her again. "Name?" She stared at the academy's registrar. Nothing came. Her real name rose instinctively to her lips. Seraya Elvaris. She swallowed. "Violet." The registrar scribbled something into his book and then waited. "Surname?" Violet looked past him. Staring up at the towering gates of Crownspire Academy that was heavily guarded by Valtherian soldiers. Then she looked back at the registrar. "Noctis." she said. And just like that, Seraya Elvaris ceased to exist.