In that enchanted land, the Kingdom of Evok, the rivers had turned a pale, polluted violet—as if nature itself had suddenly fallen ill. A mysterious substance tainted the once-pure waters that nourished the realm, and no one could identify it. Those who drank from them experienced nausea, dizziness, and fatigue, but no deaths were reported.
King Harold issued an official decree, forbidding the use of water from the rivers and streams. In an emergency address, he declared:
"These waters shall not be used until they are purified... this is a royal order."
Only a day before Princess Adara's sixth birthday, the atmosphere in the kingdom shifted from joyous to grim. The celebration, once anticipated with delight, was now overshadowed by a sense of panic. Even the generous gifts Queen Victoria had arranged for the poor in honor of her daughter's birthday were now forgotten under the weight of darker news.
Inside the castle, King Harold sat in a tense council with Orin and a group of alchemists and antidote experts. No one could determine the nature of the toxin. The king paced restlessly, clutching his head, pounding the table, and finally shouting:
"What we are facing is worse than nightmares. I will not forgive anyone if this crisis is not resolved by tomorrow. No one leaves this chamber until I know: what is this substance? Where did it come from? And how do we eliminate it?"
He turned to Orin with eyes full of pressure and trust.
"I'm counting on you more than anyone, Orin."
Orin rubbed his head with frustration but nodded firmly.
"I will not disappoint you, Your Majesty."
As the king exited the tense meeting, Princess Adara came hurrying toward him in the corridor.
"Greetings, Father!"
"Hello, Adara. How are you?"
"I'm fine, but there's a problem with tomorrow's celebration..."
The king looked at her with slight confusion.
"What problem? Preparations are going well."
She sighed dramatically.
"The jewels I ordered for my gown haven't arrived, and the chefs aren't meeting my standards! Some dishes—"
She didn't finish. The king, visibly worn out, interrupted her.
"I'm sorry, Adara. I have urgent matters to handle. Do what you think is best."
He turned and walked away without another word.
Adara stood frozen, staring at his back as it disappeared down the corridor. A heavy sadness pressed on her chest. She wanted to scream:
"Why do you ignore me? Why don't you love me?"
But no words escaped her lips. She returned to her chambers in silence, dragging disappointment behind her like a long shadow.
In another part of the kingdom, in a humble cottage nestled in the trees, Luna was playing with Belos and their new friend Zoe, the young falcon chick who had been recovering well.
She ran to her father, beaming with joy.
"Papa! Look! Zoe can walk now! He follows me everywhere—he thinks I'm his mother!"
Kyle laughed heartily.
"And you named him Zoe?"
"Yes! It suits him. He's adorable. I want him to live with us forever—you, Belos, the chickens, the goats... this is our home, and we're a family."
Kyle smiled warmly.
"That we are, my little heart."
Luna told him she was going out to train a little. She stood atop a rock near the river, trying to balance with her eyes closed, focusing her breathing. But something caught her attention...
"Papa! Come quickly! Look at the water!"
Kyle rushed out, alarmed. Luna pointed to the stream.
"Papa, it wasn't like this before. The water... it's turned violet!"
He observed it, his face darkening.
"Don't go near it, sweetheart. That's not normal pollution... it might be poison."
But before he could react further, Luna slipped—falling into the river!
He dashed forward in panic, but what happened next stunned him:
The water around Luna began to clear. Its murky violet hue faded, returning to its original crystalline purity as if her body had purified it.
Kyle helped her out of the water. Luna laughed, shaking her wet hair.
"Papa, look! The violet color is gone! Isn't that strange?"
Kyle stared at the river, his mind swirling with questions he couldn't answer. He turned to Luna and smiled gently.
"Don't worry, dear. It's probably just a natural phenomenon. Nothing more, nothing less."
But deep down, he didn't believe his own words.
He knew something else was at work, something hidden within Luna. Something pure, ancient, and powerful.Something like the energy of a dragon.
As Luna entered the cottage, chased by Belos and the little falcon Zoe, Kyle turned once more to the River of Tearlight. It shimmered once again with its old, untainted glow.He narrowed his eyes.
"There's a secret behind that water… and I think it lives in her."
Victoria burst into the King's office. Piles of documents covered his desk, and his weary eyes revealed sleepless nights. He looked up, surprised by her sudden entrance. She stood firmly before him, her gaze sharp and unwavering.
"Harold," she began, her voice steady but laced with emotion, "how can we possibly celebrate our daughter's birthday when our people are sick, worn out by this poisoned water crisis? How can you pretend all is well?"
Harold rose from his chair abruptly, his frustration boiling to the surface. "I can't cancel the celebration, Victoria! This is more than a birthday party. I've invited nobles from other kingdoms—this is about diplomacy, about securing investment and stability for Evok. Canceling now would damage everything we've worked for. And the rumors about the poisoned rivers must not spread. I'm doing everything I can to fix this."
Victoria's expression darkened. She stepped closer, her voice sharp."Is that all that matters to you, Harold? I wasn't just speaking of politics! I was speaking of Adara—how she might feel if the celebration were canceled. I was speaking of our suffering people, who deserve our sorrow, not the sound of drums and feasts!"
Harold met her gaze, his own eyes clouded."No one has died, Victoria. The poison causes nausea, and weakness—yes—but people recover. That's the reality."
Her face twisted in disbelief, and she raised her voice slightly:"Do you think I'm blind, Harold? I have loyal eyes and ears in this kingdom. I know what's happening far more than you think. But I will not accept this celebration. And what hurts me most is that throughout this conversation, you haven't once mentioned Adara's feelings. Not once. You already abandoned one daughter—my soul, my Luna—and now you pretend Adara's feelings don't matter either?"
At the mention of Luna's name, Harold winced as if struck in the chest. His mind screamed with truths he could not say. How he longed to shout that Adara was not his daughter, that the only true love in his heart belonged to Luna. That he hadn't abandoned her—but hidden her, to protect her.
But instead, he swallowed the words like bitter medicine and replied coldly,"The celebration will proceed. For political reasons. I have no time for more debate, Victoria. I must return to my work."
Victoria looked at him, her eyes heavy with disappointment and quiet sorrow. Then, she spoke with a voice that trembled not from weakness, but from heartbreak:
"You will never change, Harold... never."
And with that, she turned and left the room, leaving behind silence heavier than any argument.