Flaming Tales - 0

Prologue

Ten years ago in the royal city named Alerea.

"Light and dark are the main elements of this world; as light and dark, species are divided as their countries. A long time ago, these species tried to live together but as result of light and dark, they finished divided by war and ideology. The land of Zurophia shelters the light species known as the elves, the celestials and also shapeshifters and humans. The land of Pratch houses the dark species known as dark elves, vampires and runaways. As the attitude of light and dark, these countries are involved in war. The war became fiercer a few years ago by the birth of twins. One has dark hair and red eyes on a white pure skin; the other has light hair and blue eyes on a dark strong skin. The two of them were destined to become the next king of the land of Pratch but the first, Eusebio, decided to leave his land and came to Alerea. His twin brother became the Evil King Daron. Eusebio met a beautiful woman and get married with her. He became our Light King. He reigns with his wife, the Light Queen, Isabella. They had a son called Sonny but that year, something terrible happened ..."

"And...? Please keep going on dad... I want to know the end..."

"Go to bed, you've already heard it hundreds of time."

"But...I want the end of the story!"

"You're such a pain in the neck when you want something."

"But it's the better part. It's the battle of Neyade where you were protecting the Light King with your own life and..."

"I've said that I won't continue tonight. Hop! You're gonna sleep now..."

"But it's...it's..."

"Stop crying, men don't cry! If I was crying on the battlefield that day, I won't be here to tell that story to you!"

"I'm not a man, I'm a girl..."

"You know, Grandine, tomorrow you're leaving with the king. I want you to have some rest. The journey will be exhausting."

"That isn't fair. I don't want to train."

"You have no choices; you're the next sky guardian, the one who will give his life to protect the next king. You must be prepared for your destiny."

The palace was a beautiful piece of white marble; towers were growing up in the sky. The palace was overhanging on the city of Alerea. The throne room was even more exceptional than the outside. The king was waiting his guest on his throne, his wife and his son on the side. Grandine hide behind her father knees.

"It's good to see you, Edgard, Argentine." the king said. "Where's Grandine? Is she ill?" he said pretending he had seen the child behind her father knees. "Or maybe...She's just there!" he said while catching her.

"Ah! Daddy! Help..." Grandine said .

"Don't worry, I won't bite you"

"Your majesty, it's the first time, Grandine will go out of the town without us" Argentine said. "And I'm a bit..."

"Like I said to Grandine, don't worry. If something must happen, then I'll protect your child as you were protecting me on the battlefield. Then, I think we should go... Is your package ready, Grandine?"

"Here is." Edgard said taking a bunch of full of clothes and food on the ground.

"Father! I want to go with you!"

"You can't, Sonny. I'm counting on you to be with your mother when she will be giving birth to your sister. I'm counting on you for being the man of the family during my absence."

"But that creepy boy switching to girl and so on doesn't merit your teaching. He doesn't even have name for his species...Aren't we even sure that they aren't with Uncle?"

"Sonny, shut up! Their family are protecting yours for several centuries, how can you doubt of them? Grandine is going to be your Sky Guardian, so be respectful!"

"Then, if Grandine wants to become my guardian, he must always stay as man, when he's with me."

"Understood, my prince" Grandine answered. "Daddies, you'll see. I'm gonna be stronger than you and..."

"When you come back home, I'll teach you everything you need. So come back safe and strong" Argentine said hugging his child. "I'll teach you everything about our genderbending abilities."

A few months later, all the streets of the royal city were covered by black sheets, the royal army was on their guards fearing an enemy attack, the population was crying the lost life of their king. As the rumour was spreading in the town and the country, it was said the king had been killed by his twin brother in the Spirits' Forest. The squad which was following him was annihilated. There were no survivors. The throne room of the palace was full of subjects. Grandine and Edgard were on the side of the Light Queen trying to speak with her.

"We will go there to see if it's true. No one has gone to this forest since we learnt it." Argentine said. "They're maybe still alive; they're maybe hiding them from the enemy..."

"The only thing I can do is leading this country and hoping they're alive from you and for us." the queen answered.

"Your majesty, I'll go there to see if they're hiding and if I don't find them, I will look over the entire world to find proof of their life...or death. I won't come back before I've got that proof... Please, give me your approval." Edgard proposed with tenacity.

"Edgard, you don't have to..."

"I'm giving you my approval. Don't come back here before you have the proof for the two of them."

"Your majesty!" Argentine said with anger.

"Understood"