SOLUS

Prologue

My life changed the second I stepped in that room. While I hoped that
my life could be normal, like how it used to be, I do know that my life
would never revert to how it was before, yet I hoped that at least, it
would resemble the past, in some way.
I had hoped too much.

Now, I sit in the room, staring at my reflections, bearing the

symbol,with a duty to perform. I wonder which Me is the real me.
Now I have too many strings, too many roles to play, and many more
decisions to make, holding the hands of someone I didn’t expect by
my side. And the ones that I expected…well, I’ll tell you soon.

I am Valencia Dean, the daughter of the country of Eternaflame, and a

Mage by blood.
Let me tell you my story, as I reminisce, how my life was, and how it
changed in an instant.

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 CHAPTER 1
It was during lunch time at our academy, where all the people who
study, right from the child mages, who learn their first spells, to the
scholars , who research and write about the various subjects, along
with students, like me, from the entire country of Eternaflame study.

Once again, I scanned the surroundings, and I saw no sign of them,

which was good. I was relaxed and happy at the thought of peacefully
eating my lunch as I watched the fishes and the merfolk swim lazily in
the pond in the forest clearing, near the academy. Where usually,
there would be a lot of people near that pond, it was serenely nearly
empty. Merfolk usually like the quiet, and don't usually interfere in our
lives, so I didn’t mind their silent company.
But they weren’t there today.
I was lucky…or, so I thought.

When I opened my lunch, I was repulsed by the sight of Mould

growing on my sandwich, and maggots infested in my rice. The
disgusting sight made my appetite vanish.

As if on cue, I heard that voice, calling out my name in a singsong

voice, and I recognized who it was - Mark Aquis. If the voice was here,
then…
And then flew my spectacles. I recognized that feel too - Celine
Sanguis.

“ Hey loser!! How was lunch? Did you enjoy your food? Because that
is what you are, a trashcan, and a trashcan eats trash.”

Just because Marcian Terra was the only prince of the Mighty
Eternaflame Kingdom, he and his group of friends made it a point to
pick on me, every single day, because I was not like them, A mage
with magic .
I wished that I, too, possessed Magic like them.

It took all my strength to not get angry, because of the blue stone
bracelet that my mom gave me, and her words
“ With this bracelet, I am with you always. So, don't get scared, and
don’t ever let any emotion or feelings take control over you, or this
bracelet will break, and so will my presence.”
It was the symbol of a promise that I made to my mother, seven years
ago, when she died. I had to keep up that promise.

Rose slapped me, with a loud crack, which felt like a thousand cold
knives sliced through my skin.
“ Speak up Loser! Open your mouth.”

I refused, and closed them as tightly as possible

Then I got thrown into the lake, while Lucas broke my glasses.
Marcian laughed- “ Unless you want to freeze and die, which our Rose
can help to quicken up, pledge yourself as my eternal slave, and I’ll
gladly help you up to shore, or I shall ask our dearest Rose to send
some Icy winds to freeze you up”
“ But, brother, water is, kind of, my territory!”
“Exactly,Mark, Which is why you’ll send strong currents to hold our
dear Valencia in the water.”

I hated how he spoke my name with the most wicked undertone to it,
as if he was planning something more sinister with me.
Yet, I refused his offer.
Rose then sent out the most icy winds towards me, freezing me and
making me shiver. They left, laughing at the spectacular show they
created,for everyone.

They didn’t know much about me. One of which was that I could easily
swim in battle armour. Academy Uniforms were way too easy for me.
I swam to the banks, and rushed to my home, in my dripping wet
clothes. I was worried that dad would be extremely upset to see me in
that state.

I had a feeling then, that day was about to get more eventful than I
could ever expect. I had a gut feeling that those events were going to
be for the worse, and I felt reluctant to attend that night’s lessons, but I
had to tell Hardan about everything.
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I found Lily on my way, with a cloak, standing under a copse, eyeing

me with concern.
“ How on earth did you know I was coming this way?”
“Zhang saw you swimming to the surface and ran away this way. But
why were you swimming in your uniform?”
“It was a hot day, and I was too shy to remove my clothes.” I lied.
So she held my hand, and saw my memories of Trashed Lunch, to my
Free Fall into the lake, which meant that I got busted.

My friend, Lillian Luna can see what other people can't see, can
easily read minds, and manipulate others feelings and emotions, so
she totally saw that I lied through my teeth.
She huffed in anger.
“What on earth was Marcian doing there? Didn’t he graduate last
year?” She said while handing me the cloak.

“ His friends did. He is studying for his Special Position, the Crown
Prince title that he has to assume in 6 months”
 “ I have no idea what will happen to the kingdom, if he becomes
the king. Speaking of which, The Crowning has been announced,
because our Queen wanted to retire.”
“ Yeah…The kids at our Academy were going crazy about it. It
looks like only a selective handful get the invitation to participate in it.
Maybe, one of them will get to be our Queen one day.”

“ It could be you too,” She suggested.

“ Did you remember the part where I am a Loser, with no Magic?

Besides, I wear spectacles and am round. I don’t think I would look
like a Queen.”

“ You do not have to be insecure about that, Valencia!! You know a

lot of things and can fight pretty well. Nobody is sketching you!! Your
Looks and Features do not define you. Have pride, Valencia, because
nobody can even reach your heights of worth.”
After she reassured me, I ran home, with even less time in my
hands, now.
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 CHAPTER 2

I reached home, and as usual, Dad was working in the Greenhouse.

My Dad, Victor Dean, is the Head Mage of the Healer Coven, and he
deals with Herbs and Magical Medicine.

Before meeting him, I quickly changed into dry clothes, and looked for
some food in the kitchen, and Dad came in with a bunch of letters.

“Hi Val! How was school? Wait-” and he suddenly stopped.

“What happened to your cheeks and lips?”

Rose had slapped me with Icicles, and Dad had noticed it.

“Who slapped you Val?? Look, Your blood here is frozen!”

He thought for a second

“Was it Rose Iaecia?”

All I could do was nod. Nothing like this can get past my Dad, as
healers can detect ailments of the body and the mind, as if they are
Energies.

“ Why won’t you fight back,Valencia? I can’t bear to see my Only,

Lovely daughter get bullied so horribly!”
“ You know why Dad! Prince Marcian and his gang are all Nobles.
They all are the children of the Heads of their Houses! How am I
supposed to Report on them?”

“Noble or not, if they commit a mistake, or harm people, they have to

be punished,Child. That is the law of Nature. You have all the rights,
and the duty to fight for yourself, for the good, even if it means fighting
someone close to you. Even if it means fighting me!”

“ No Dad!! That will never happen! Don't even speak of something like
that! If it comes to that, I would gladly give up my life.”

“ My sweet, brave Valencia. You are a daughter of Eternaflame, the

country that stands for valour and bravery, and devotion towards
protecting the righteous. It is your duty to fight for what is right.”

“Anyway, Val! Let’s leave this Topic right here, and here, take this
letter. This came for you this afternoon.”

The moment he handed me that letter, my life changed.

I couldn't believe what I saw before my eyes!
An Invite to the event that selects the next Queen of the Kingdom!
“Dad! What is this! I- I can’t go to the Palace. How can I possibly
become the next potential Queen? I have No Magic, the Skills or the
Charm to be one!”
“ Calm Down Val! I believe in you. You can do everything, other than
magic. You know the Art of Healing without Magic and-”
There was a sudden Clamour, and a loud Crash, and a volley of
arrows showered upon us. A literal army of men barged into our
house, threatening my dad to give up a certain “Secret Weapon”, and
ravaging our home in that process.

Giving in to my impulses, I took out my sword from my room.

I could only see red, and went on a rampage, slashing and hacking
every single one of the intruders. I could see the slashes on me, and
the blood oozing out, but adrenaline had taken over my pain. All I
cared about then, was driving out the intruders.

Then I realised that my Dad was badly injured by the intruders’

arrows, and was bleeding rapidly.
Driving out the Intruders wasn’t enough. I needed to kill them, and so I
did. Their bodies writhed on the floor, howling in pain, while I drove the
sword through their torso and heart.

In no time, all, except one member of that army, were wiped out. He
was on the floor, with blood flowing out of him, while he beckoned for
me to come. I was in anger, but I felt for him,as he, in his last
moments, wanted to talk to me. He Said-
“Blood of Dianne Ferro, the greatest blade from the House of Ferro,
we finally meet. Do you even know who, or what you are?? You are
sought by many, most of them wanting you dead. If you want to live,
you have to-”
Then he Died.
I removed his headband, to observe it. There was a sigil of a burning
arrow, which was the symbol of the FLAMMAS, a group notorious for
their way of living, and rebels to the Crown.

Then, I heard the voice of my dad feebly calling out to me. He was
bleeding profusely, and required immediate attention of the Healer’s
Coven. But, I went to listen to him.

“Val, you have to promise me one thing. You HAVE to attend The
Crowning, and NO MATTER WHAT, never escape from the palace,
until the ceremony is over.
Also, when the right time comes, you need to let go of the bracelet
your mother forged for you.”
“But Dad! I want you to live. Don’t say such things. I promise to do
everything you ask of me, but please stay with me for a while. I will go
ask for help!” I muffled, as tears streamed, and I let out choked sobs.
“Val, I am proud of you. You really are Dianne’s daughter. The
Sword suits you well.”
I gently placed a pillow under his head, and called for the Healer’s
Coven, but I had to send him to the Coven House, for proper
treatment, and so, a prompt recovery.

I bid him a teary farewell, and went inside to try and clean the mess.
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