In Eddleguard's commercial district, Ryan's Merchant Hall stood as a three-story monument to wealth and extravagance. Its polished wooden panels gleamed under the morning sun, while intricate ironwork balconies offered both elegance and a subtle display of power. Inside, the hall was filled with customers moving deliberately from shelf to shelf, carefully inspecting merchandise and engaging in hushed negotiations. Clerks moved efficiently, tallying accounts, arranging goods, and answering questions with polite smiles. The atmosphere was orderly, almost serene… until the front doors burst open with a violent crash.
The sudden intrusion startled everyone. Customers froze mid-step, a merchant dropped a bag of coins, and a clerk's quill rattled against the counter. Even the shop assistants, previously immersed in their work, jumped back, hands clutching the nearest shelf for support. All eyes turned toward the source of the disturbance. And then they saw it: a small army of fully armored knights and soldiers storming in, their polished armor clanking, their expressions grim and determined. The sound of heavy boots echoed through the hall, drowning out murmurs of confusion.
A tall knight approached the clerk, his voice low, controlled, but sharp with authority. "Where is Rayan?"
The young woman's voice quivered as she answered, "T…to the second floor… in the main office."
Rayan, seated behind a mahogany desk stacked with ledgers and correspondence, already knew the reason for the intrusion. The accident earlier that day in the bustling market—the reckless driving through crowded streets, the chaos, the injured children—had not escaped the attention of the authorities. Yet, despite the looming threat, he forced a calm smile. "Mr. Captain," he greeted, though the words felt hollow even to his own ears.
The knight captain's expression was unreadable, a mask of disciplined authority. "Rayan, it has come to my attention that you caused a major incident in the market today. Reckless driving, injuries sustained, and public disorder are not matters that can be ignored. As a guard captain, I cannot simply overlook such events."
Rayan's face twisted in forced contrition. "Captain, you are correct. While my driver was at fault, I am responsible for the actions of my subordinate. I accept accountability and hope this explanation suffices."
He pushed a heavy bag of coins toward the captain. The knight's lips curved slightly in satisfaction; the situation seemed resolved. But then —
BOOM!
The office door slammed open violently. Rayan instinctively recoiled, a sharp "What—?" escaping his lips.
Both his and the captain's faces turned pale.
"Rayan! You are hereby arrested for reckless driving, causing injuries, and attempting to flee the scene," announced a knight, holding a sealed parchment with official markings. "You are also charged with bribery and obstruction of justice. Soldiers, take him into custody immediately."
Rayan fell to his knees, crawling forward in desperation. "Sir! Please, this is a misunderstanding! My driver caused the accident, I had nothing to do with this, I was merely fetching a healer! Please! I… I am not attempting to escape, I—"
His pleas were cut short as the soldiers firmly restrained him. The captain, realizing the futility of resistance, allowed himself to be handcuffed with quiet acceptance. Outside, the knights announced the charges to the employees and declared the building temporarily closed for investigation. Any attempt to leave the city before the inquiry concluded would result in a kingdom-wide bounty.
Meanwhile, far from the chaos of Eddleguard's market, at the heart of Luminous City—the gleaming capital of the Lionheart Kingdom—the royal palace stood like a monument of polished white stone. Its towering walls, ornate carvings, and encircling defensive towers projected both majesty and authority. Inside, a quiet study overflowed with papers and ledgers. A middle-aged man, the King of Lionheart, Richard Maximilian Lionheart, sat hunched over his desk, meticulously reviewing correspondence.
Knock. Knock.
"You may enter," the King called without looking up.
"Forgive the intrusion, Your Majesty," said Wilhelm, the King's head butler. His hair and beard were silver, but his posture radiated enduring strength. Even in his later years, his eyes held a commanding wisdom that could pierce through deception.
King Richard himself was a man carved from resolve. Years of campaigns and council meetings had honed his youthfully lean frame into broad shoulders and a chest that radiated authority. His hair, wheat-colored with streaks of frost along the temples, framed a face marked by discipline and resolve. A neatly trimmed beard emphasized a square jawline, and his glacial blue eyes, sharp and penetrating, missed nothing. They could blaze with anger, twinkle with rare amusement, or maintain a serene command, capable of holding the attention of any room.
"Your Majesty," Wilhelm said, placing a parchment atop the King's desk, "this is the latest report from Astley County."
Richard waved the parchment aside. "Summarize it for me."
"As you command. The youngest daughter of Count Astley has already displayed the ability to wield magic."
Richard's attention snapped to full alert. "How old?"
"Not yet five, Your Majesty."
Richard's expression shifted from casual focus to incredulous shock. "What? She can use magic even before her awakening?"
Wilhelm continued, speaking in a measured, deliberate tone. "Her awakening ceremony is scheduled in two weeks. Current intelligence confirms she can wield both Water and Light Magic. Earlier today, during a supervised stroll through Eddleguard's market, she encountered two severely injured orphaned children. Despite her age, she healed them fully. One of her accompanying knights tried to prevent her from using magic publicly, suggesting that the children be taken to a healer instead. However, the young lady refused, stating that her magic was a gift from the Heavens, and Heaven's gifts were meant to be shared."
Richard's glacial blue eyes widened, the weight of the news settling in. "She is not just talented; she possesses charisma and compassion beyond her years. Qualities even my own children have yet to exhibit. Summon Robert immediately."
"As you command, Your Majesty," Wilhelm replied, bowing before swiftly leaving the room.
Back in Eddleguard, the consequences of the market incident continued to unfold. News of the accident had spread quickly, and whispers of the Young Lady of Astley's miraculous intervention circulated among merchants, townsfolk, and visiting nobles. Many were awestruck by the story: a child, barely five, with the ability to heal grievous injuries with nothing but her innate magic. The incident not only saved the lives of the orphaned children but also left an indelible mark of the Astley family's power, influence, and benevolence.
In the aftermath, Rayan's fate became a cautionary tale. Business owners who once sought to exploit loopholes and bend the law now approached their operations with far more care, aware that reckless behavior, even by the wealthy, would not go unpunished. The arrests sent ripples of fear and respect throughout Eddleguard, demonstrating that justice, tempered by skill and backed by the nobility's influence, would be enforced rigorously.
Meanwhile, the King of Lionheart contemplated the political ramifications. A child capable of pre-awakening magic was not merely a curiosity; she was a potential fulcrum of power. Her presence could affect alliances, influence trade decisions, and even sway public opinion. The Lionheart Kingdom's bureaucracy, long accustomed to careful control and hierarchical order, suddenly faced a variable it had not accounted for: the extraordinary, compassionate genius of a young noble girl who could command magic beyond her years.
Richard's mind raced as he considered Astley County's position. The Astleys had remained discreet, letting only their closest allies witness her abilities, avoiding any public display that might trigger envy or political maneuvering. Yet, now the tale had spread in whispers through the market districts. Other nobles would inevitably notice, and tensions could rise if this young prodigy became a focal point of both awe and fear.
"Robert," the King commanded once again, speaking into the air as his trusted aide entered the room, "assemble the council. We must discuss the implications of Little Astley's abilities and ensure that her family remains under our guidance. She is a remarkable child, but her potential… if unchecked, could create unforeseen shifts in power."
Robert bowed. "Understood, Your Majesty. I will summon the council immediately."
As the sun climbed higher over Luminous City, the wheels of political intrigue, justice, and destiny began to turn in tandem. The extraordinary child of the Astley family had not only healed the wounds of two children but had also awakened the awareness of a kingdom. Her existence, her compassion, and her astonishing magical talent had become a catalyst for events that would ripple far beyond the streets of Eddleguard, touching even the inner chambers of the Lionheart palace.
In this moment, a five-year-old girl, unaware of the storm she had stirred, walked quietly through a busy market, her eyes alight with curiosity, her hands eager to explore the world. And in her wake, the threads of fate began weaving a story that none, not even the King, could have predicted.