NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 2: Episode 2- "Sakura's Light"
The sun bathed the Kingdom of Ethril in golden hues as the castle courtyard came alive with activity. The chirping of sparrows harmonized with the distant hum of merchants in the bustling city below. Ethril's majestic castle, adorned with intricate carvings of ancient heroes, stood tall, a beacon of strength and prosperity. Inside the royal garden, a serene oasis filled with blooming lilies and jasmine, Sakura Ethril, the firstborn of the royal family, stood amidst a cascade of light filtering through the vines of a pergola.
At only eight years old, Sakura possessed a radiance unmatched in the kingdom. Her silver hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her eyes, pools of pure azure, glowed with an ethereal brilliance. She was already hailed as a prodigy, her mastery over light magic earning her the reverent title of "The Kingdom's Hope."
Today, the air was charged with anticipation. A grand ceremony awaited Sakura, one that would mark her as the youngest candidate to be trained for the prestigious title of "Light Knight Highness." In the castle's great hall, nobles and scholars gathered, their whispers mingling with the echo of footsteps on the marble floor.
As the ceremony approached, Sakura stood alone in the garden, her fingers brushing against a blooming white rose. Despite the accolades and admiration showered upon her, her heart carried a weight she could not shake—a sense of foreboding tied to her newborn brother, Ikaru.
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The scene shifted to the royal nursery, where Ikaru lay swaddled in fine silks. The room was warm, lit by a hearth that crackled softly. A maid cooed gently, but the baby's eyes, dark as the abyss, stared blankly into the ceiling. Sakura entered, her light footsteps silencing the room.
The contrast between them was stark. Where Sakura radiated light, Ikaru seemed to absorb it, his very presence dimming the warmth of the room. She leaned over his crib, her hand hesitating before brushing against his small, cold fingers. A sudden shiver ran through her, a strange sensation she could not name.
"Lady Sakura," a voice called gently from the doorway. It was her tutor, Elder Finian, an aged scholar with a long, flowing beard. "It is time."
Sakura turned, her expression calm but her heart heavy. With one last glance at Ikaru, she left the nursery, the door closing behind her with an almost ominous finality.
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The ceremony began in the Hall of Luminescence, a grand chamber filled with glowing crystals that reflected rainbows across its polished walls. Sakura stepped forward, her light magic illuminating her path as she approached the Crystal of Purity, an ancient relic said to resonate with the soul of the chosen.
The crowd watched in awe as she placed her hand on the crystal, which immediately burst into a dazzling light, enveloping her in an aura of pure gold. Gasps filled the hall as the crystal pulsed, signifying her unparalleled potential.
"From this day forth," announced the king, his voice filled with pride, "Sakura Ethril is named the heir to the Light Knight Highness. May her light guide our kingdom."
The hall erupted in cheers, yet amidst the celebration, Sakura's thoughts wandered back to Ikaru. She felt an inexplicable connection to him, one that neither the light nor the crystal could explain.
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Later that evening, as the stars blanketed the night sky, Sakura stood on the balcony of her chamber, gazing at the distant horizon. The moon's silver light bathed the land, but her thoughts lingered on the growing darkness she had sensed in the nursery.
"Why do I feel this way about you, Ikaru?" she whispered to the night, her voice carried away by the soft breeze.
Unbeknownst to her, in the nursery, Ikaru's tiny fingers twitched. The shadows in the corners of the room seemed to move of their own accord, inching closer to the crib as if drawn to the boy. The light of the hearth flickered and dimmed, leaving the room shrouded in a cold, unsettling silence.
For the first time in centuries, Ethril's light was threatened—not from an external enemy, but from within its own bloodline. The seeds of a great and terrible destiny had begun to sprout.
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The castle was quiet as the night deepened, save for the soft rustle of leaves in the gardens below and the faint creaks of the stone walls settling into their ancient grooves. In her room, Sakura sat on her bed, the golden light of a single orb floating above her palm. Its warm glow reflected on her face as she concentrated, weaving the light into delicate patterns. Her mastery of light magic was a marvel even to her tutors, but tonight, her focus wavered.
Her thoughts were drawn to the unsettling stillness she had felt in the nursery. Ikaru's tiny form, shrouded in an aura of shadow, had lingered in her mind like a phantom. The bond she felt with him was undeniable, yet its nature eluded her. Was it love for her newborn brother? Or was it fear of the unknown?
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Meanwhile, in the royal nursery, the air was colder than it should have been. The flickering flame of the hearth struggled against an unnatural chill. Ikaru, swaddled tightly in soft silks, lay still, his small chest rising and falling in an even rhythm. Yet, the shadows in the room seemed to gather, moving with a life of their own, creeping along the walls and ceiling like dark tendrils.
The nursemaid sitting beside the crib shivered, pulling her shawl tighter. She cast a nervous glance at the infant, her instincts telling her something was amiss.
Suddenly, a faint whisper echoed in the room—a sound so soft it could have been the wind. The maid's eyes darted around, her heart pounding. "Who's there?" she called, her voice trembling.
But the shadows offered no answer. Instead, they retreated as the door creaked open, revealing Queen Eleana, her regal form silhouetted against the soft glow of the hallway.
"Leave us," she commanded gently, her voice firm yet kind. The nursemaid nodded quickly and hurried out, her footsteps fading into the silence.
Eleana approached the crib, her gaze softening as she looked at Ikaru. For a moment, the cold seemed to dissipate, replaced by a warmth that only a mother's love could bring. Yet, as she reached out to touch him, a flicker of hesitation crossed her face.
"You are my son," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But why do you feel so… distant?"
The baby stirred slightly, his tiny hand reaching out as if in response to her words. Eleana smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. Deep within, an unease festered, but she pushed it aside. "You will grow strong," she said, as much to herself as to Ikaru. "Strong enough to protect this kingdom."
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The next morning, the castle awoke to the sound of bells ringing, signaling the dawn. The gardens, dewy and fragrant, were alive with chirping birds and the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze. In the training grounds, young knights-in-training sparred with wooden swords under the watchful eyes of their instructors.
Sakura, now dressed in her ceremonial robes, walked past the grounds, her head held high. Her aura of light drew the attention of everyone she passed, their faces lighting up with admiration.
"Lady Sakura!" called out Elder Finian, who hurried to her side. His robes billowed behind him as he adjusted his spectacles. "Your training for the Light Knight Highness begins today. Are you prepared?"
"I am," Sakura replied with a confident smile, though the weight of her responsibilities loomed heavy in her heart.
They entered the Hall of Radiance, a grand training chamber bathed in perpetual golden light. Rows of glowing runes lined the walls, and the air hummed with energy. Here, Sakura would begin her rigorous training in light magic, a path that would one day make her the kingdom's strongest protector.
But as Finian guided her through the exercises, her concentration faltered. The memory of Ikaru's dark aura lingered in her mind, a shadow that refused to be banished by the light.
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Elsewhere, in the quiet of the nursery, King Aldemar stood silently by the crib, gazing down at his son. Unlike Eleana, Aldemar's unease was not tempered by love. He was a man burdened by the weight of the crown, and the whispers of his advisors about the boy's unnatural aura had only deepened his anxiety.
"He is too quiet," Aldemar muttered under his breath. "No child should be this still."
From the corner of the room, a shadow shifted slightly, unnoticed by the king. A faint, almost imperceptible pulse of energy emanated from Ikaru, as if the darkness itself was reacting to Aldemar's presence.
The king turned abruptly and left the nursery, his expression grim. "We must consult the seers," he told a waiting guard. "I need to know what kind of future this child will bring."
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As the day passed, the castle remained unaware of the silent storm brewing within its walls. In the garden, Sakura knelt by the fountain, her hands clasped as if in prayer.
"Ikaru," she murmured, gazing at her reflection in the water. "You're different. I don't know why, but I feel it. And somehow, I know you'll change everything."
Above her, the sky began to darken, clouds gathering in an unseasonable storm. The first drops of rain fell, mingling with the ripples in the fountain.
In the nursery, Ikaru opened his eyes for the first time that day. They glowed faintly, like the distant light of stars in a void. A strange, otherworldly smile curled his lips as the shadows around him deepened.
The storm outside grew stronger, as if answering his silent call. The Kingdom of Ethril, bathed in light for centuries, was now unknowingly cradling the birth of its greatest shadow.