Timeline: 14 Years Earlier
Location: Emberfell Manor, in the Verdant Kingdom of Eldoria in the world of Aethalgard.
Three years after Vivian met Ben on Earth, Duke and Duchess Emberfell were readying their home to host very important guests in the Kingdom of Eldoria. The Emberfell family had always been the guardians of the royal family, but the Duke and King became fast friends while sparring as they grew up together. The friendship was cemented later when both served as part of the Eldorian military.
They were so close, in fact, that when Alura was born, King "Luc" Lucien and Queen "Nia" Lavinia named Alura and proclaimed that—for one day—Alura "Ally" Emberfell would be the royal "Infant of the Realm." It came with absolutely no perks, and only the two families were even aware. But Alura's parents, Duchess Valeria (Ria) and Duke Aegis (Gis, like Jess) retold the story to Alura as much as possible.
Ally was a pleasant child who was always curious and eager to learn. Her older brothers, Evander and Trevelyan were all too happy to teach their little sister both good and (mildly) naughty things. The only oddity was that occasionally, little Lady Ally's eyes turned from red to green, which was a rare eye color in Eldoria. When her eyes turned green, she went quiet while staying attentive and taking in her surroundings. After consulting some specialists about it, the Duke and Duchess were told that eye color change was rare but not unheard of for young children, and might even indicate a strong affinity in magic. Additionally, the Duke and Duchess felt some comfort in Ally's calm demeanor and observation skills when faced with a crisis. They had great expectations for their little girl.
In the early morning, the Emberfell's had a hardy breakfast in their modest dining hall while waiting for a herald announcing the arrival of their royal guests. Outside the tall, arched windows of the hall, the sun rose slowly and cast growing peaceful shadows wherever it could peek through the leafy canopy across the rocky and forest-embedded estate. Inside, the group chatted around a long table carved from a single, massive slab of petrified ironwood that had given permission to be used after it fell ill, honored to be a part of a growing family. The remaining gifted wood provided matched seating.
"… And then the food comes out of the small box with the window, and it is hot," Ally explained excitedly, her small hands gesturing wildly. Duke Gis leaned back in his chair, a warm, amused smile on his face. Duchess Ria rested her chin on her hand, her expression a fond mixture of love and gentle skepticism. Trev exchanged a look of shared amusement with their parents over their empty plates.
Evan, Ally's oldest brother, walked into the room and returned to his breakfast seat. "Are you telling stories from your dreams again, Ally?"
"Yeah, it is another weird one. There were magical boxes. One makes food. Another has dolls inside performing a play, but there are lots of them everywhere," said Trev, her second brother.
"You have always had an active imagination, Ally. I do not know where you get these ideas." Ally's mother was to the right of her husband at the breakfast table, and the attendants were clearing the dishes.
"Still, what five-year-old suggests the concepts of shared workspaces and hot-stalling just from what she remembers puppets talking about in a dream? And trial-periods practically saved the kingdom's economy, starting a trend." Gis was the ever-doting father. "So, when they get here, Ally, make sure to share this newest one. Luc already asked for any new stories."
"I cannot be the only one who remembers how the Market District would change its shape every day," Trev cautioned his parents. But in a playful conspiratorial whisper he added, "They say some people even got so lost that they were never heard from again."
"That is…" Gis stumbled as he tried not to laugh. "That is just a silly story. We found almost everyone."
"Almost?" Evan asked both curiously and in the conspiratorial tone of his younger brother.
"Nia?" Gis asked with a speck of hope. "Help?"
But Duchess Nia simply drank from a blown glass tumbler and shrugged her shoulders while Evan and Trev enjoyed the sight of their father squirming.
Then Evan reprieved his father and switched the target. "I am sure little Callum will enjoy this latest tale, too. He never leaves Ally's side if he does not have to, hanging on every word," Evan teased.
"He is my best friend. Why would he need to listen to anyone else?" Ally insisted, making everyone laugh, including her parents, who looked at each other with a "too cute" exchange.
In the Eldorian aesthetic, Emberfell Manor was not a structure imposed upon the landscape, but one that had grown from it. It was cradled by a gentle valley carved by a tributary of the Silvermarc River. The manor itself was a sprawling edifice of pale, river-smoothed stone and living wood much as if it were a misplaced annex of the Eldorian palace. Ancient, towering trees were incorporated into its very structure, their massive branches forming natural archways and supporting balconies draped in flowering vines. The roof was a mosaic of leaf-shaped tiles that shimmered in the sun, and a gentle waterfall, diverted from the nearby river, cascaded down a terraced rock face into a series of clear pools in the main courtyard. It was a place of serene, organic beauty, a perfect reflection of the sylvan-verdant pact of Eldoria.
Close to noon, the tranquil air of the manor was stirred by the arrival of the royal advance party. A small contingent of Barklars in teal tunics and balaclavas with maroon leather armor, arrived with the royal herald and an aide. The herald, whose voice was a booming counterpoint to the gentle sounds of the countryside, announced that the royal family would be arriving soon. Gis tapped the King's aide on the back with assurance and said, "He may not tell you guys enough, but he really appreciates all that you do."
"That is my husband," added Ria. "Ever the liaison of peace." She leaned in to peck Gis on the cheek, demonstrating how comfortable everyone was with these visits by now.
However, the formal proceedings were shattered when an eight-year-old boy with silver hair burst from the approaching royal procession, bounding toward the door ahead of everyone. It was Callum, with two leather-armored Barklars and an older brother yelling and chasing after him. But the silver-haired boy kept his eye on the goal. At the same time, a barefoot eight-year-old Ally squeezed through the ducal household and ran toward the boy at comparable speed.
The Duke and Duchess sighed in unison while Ally's older brothers stifled laughter. In response, the Duchess glared at her snickering sons and quietly said to them, "Off you go." Evan bowed to Trevor, who copied his parents' sigh and chased after his little sister.
Just before Callum and Ally were to collide in what turned into a game of "Chicken," an arm wrapped around Ally's torso, lifting her off of the ground. A similar spectacle was seen with Callum dangling under Trev's arm.
"Prince Cass," Trev acknowledged.
"Sir Trev," Cass responded.
Then, in unison, "Shall we trade?"
With that, another pleasant afternoon began with the Duke and King; the Duchess and Queen; and Evan, Trev, the second prince Hadrian, and the third prince Cass, visiting with their counterparts. A retinue of royal Barklars coordinated with the ducal Barklars to keep a watchful eye as the members of the two families reunited again for a brief respite.
But none of that mattered to Cal and Ally, who had other plans.
"Cal... look!" Ally surprised her friend, opening her cupped hands to reveal a stone sleeper. The small lizard, no bigger than her palm, shimmered with iridescent scales that shifted from gold to green in the sunlight. It blinked its tiny, jewel-like eyes and flicked a small, forked tongue, tasting the air. She had found it sunning itself on a warm stone at the river's edge, hidden amongst the tall, whispering grasses.
"Yuck. So gross, Ally…" Cal grinned. "Help me catch one, too."
"Of course," Ally proclaimed proudly. "I will teach you my secret technique."
After a while, the two friends collapsed for a break and looked up at the sky. "You are really lucky, Ally," said Cal. "I never get to do this stuff at home. Everyone is too busy or 'That is not a proper way to behave, Prince Callum.' 'Your mother will get very upset with us, Prince Callum.' 'You have to always present yourself as a member of the royal family, Prince Callum.' I only ever get to be myself when we visit you."
Suddenly aware that Ally was not responding, he turned his head toward her and found her staring back at him. Ally gasped and quickly sat up so quickly that it startled Callum into doing the same. "What is it?! A Grave-Moss Crawler? An Aurelian Pouncer? A Nebula-cervid?!" Callum was filled with exciting possibilities.
Ally blinked her eyes and pointed at Callum awkwardly. "You're here again?"
"What?"
"The boy. The silver-haired boy." Then Ally tilted her head quizzically as she lowered her pointed arm. "Did you always go to this school, too?"
"Is this another one of your pretend games?"
Ally suddenly seemed more animated. "Oh! Maybe you can meet my friend Ben this time." Ally gave a small, comforting smile. "He talks a lot— like you. But his mom makes the best snacks. We should go find him." Ally grabbed Callum's hand and pulled him to his feet. Without letting go, she looked all around her and then asked, "Uhm... where are we?"
Callum looked at his friend in confusion. With the bright sun behind her, he almost did not recognize her. Callum shielded his eyes with his other hand to try to see her more clearly. As his friend searched his face for answers to their location, Callum could have sworn that her normal red eyes were a bright green.
------------------------------------------------
King Luc and Duke Gis walked along a secluded path that wound through the Emberfell estate's gardens. Here, the wildness of the surrounding forest was gently tamed, with beds of vibrant, magical flora lining the leaf-covered path and ancient, moss-covered statues made from twisted branches peeking from behind curtains of ivy. The branch-statues were an agreement—a promise—between the land and the Emberfells made by the Emberfell descendants when they were exiled from The Crimson Coast of Pyrrhia and found refuge in The Verdant Kingdom of Eldoria.
The shimmering, almost invisible sphere of privacy Gis had created muffled the sounds of the nearby river, encasing the two men in a bubble of absolute confidence. King Luc's handsome face was etched with a worry that he only ever showed to Gis.
"Valerius has always been ambitious, Gis, but this is different," Luc began, his voice a low, troubled murmur. "The whispers from court are… unsettling. This new backer of his, they might as well be phantom. No name, no face, but their influence spreads like a shadow."
"Shadows are my domain, old friend," Gis replied, his own expression grim. He had never liked Luc's cousin, a man whose envy was a palpable thing. "And you are right to be concerned."
Luc shook his head. "Though Valerius is predictable, this time… Well, it feels cold, calculated. What is in it for them to back Valerius, I wonder? Is it just because my throne is not so easily bought."
Gis stopped walking and turned to face his king. "Perhaps it is not about buying it, Luc. Perhaps it is about breaking it. This is not the clumsy plotting of a jealous cousin anymore. The precision, the subtlety… it has the feel of a much larger game. I cannot say that I have ever been your cousin's favorite. And I like him about just as much," Gis gave a humorless chuckle. "But my sources confirm the rumors. Valerius has new resources he did not have before—gold that appears from nowhere, agents who are unnervingly loyal. Whoever this patron is, they are as powerful as they are anonymous."
"You understand why it worries me," Luc admitted, resuming their slow pace along the path. "I must play the part of the untroubled king, host feasts, and listen to the drivel of the overprivileged, all while this black flicker dances in the shadows. It is maddening. I need your eyes and ears where mine cannot go."
"And you have them always, my King" Gis affirmed, his voice resonating with unwavering loyalty. "I will share whatever we find out."
"Good," replied Luc. "I will do the same. I would rather be wrong than unprepared."
"You know we are always on your side, Luc," declared Gis. "Valerius and his faction will make a mistake. His pride makes him sloppy. And when he messes up, my people will be there to catch it."
A rare, genuine smile touched the King's lips. "Yes, yes. Unless I am the one to do something stupid, when you will be the first one to tell me. Right?"
"I am glad you understand," Gis said as he gave the king a friendly pat on the back.
---------------------------------------------------------------
"Ally?" asked Prince Callum as he studied his best friend. She tilted her head like it was the weirdest question in the world.
"I'm Vivian. Let's go look for Ben."
"Who is Ben?" This had been going on for several minutes and Callum could not hide his worry much longer.
"Ben is... Ben. You will get it when we find him." She continued to look around as if this 'Ben' would suddenly spring out from nowhere, and Callum was beginning to think that 'Ben' just might. "Do you also go to this school? I don't think you're in our class or you'd know Ben already. So, what should I call you?"
Callum began to respond automatically as if meeting this person for the first time. Then he smirked. "Is this another game, Ally? Fine." He stepped back, did a perfect courtly bow and said confidently, "I am the great Prince Callum Velorian Argentis, fourth prince of the realm and best friend to the mighty mage Ally."
Her mouth hung open in wonder, her green eyes so large that Callum thought they might roll out of her head. "A real prince? But Ben says they don't really exist, except for the ones that can't do anything except 'get in trouble in the tabloids.'"
"What is a 'tabload'?" Callum queried.
"I think I know what a tabloid is, but you can ask Ben. He is full of big words. It's fun to try to guess what they mean with him. And," she grinned naughtily, "I can finally prove HIM wrong for a change. You really do exist!"
"Ally, this game is kind of boring. Let us catch my stone sleeper and throw it at Evan to make him run away, screaming." Callum was ready to turn around when he noticed her eyes flutter and roll back. Callum could almost make out something like, "Does Evan go to this school, too?" But when her eyes stopped twitching, they had returned to their normal red.
"Cal? Did you fall asleep, too? I had the weirdest dream. What was yours about?"
Cal, looking confused, responded, "You—but not you."