Chapter Text
A kingdom filled with song and smiles, ruled by the Ravencroft family. A powerful name the was well know throughout the country.
From a distance, the castle looked that of a movie, its towers carved from obsidian dark stone, banners of royal blue and black hanging heavy against the sky, a symbol of a raven’s wing. At night its silhouette cut sharply against the moon, earning whispers from travelers who mistook it for a vampire’s keep, a place that most people thought that only blood shade and cruelty was in order.
But the people who lived beneath its shadow knew better. The kingdom thrived, laughter filled its streets, music drifted from open windows. Even if the so called demons ruled them, the townsfolk lived peacefully protected by the very beings outsiders feared.
It was a calm day, no different from any other.
Nerissa Ravencroft, the youngest of the three royal daughters, had ventured into the city under the pretense of getting some fresh air or at least, that was how she explained it. In truth, she adored the streets. She loved seeing her people up close, their adoration pleased her, yes, but more than that, she delighted in the music drifting through the city. Music flowed through the city like a living thing. For Nerissa, a demon of sound, it was nourishment. Every melody brushed against her senses, every rhythm made her wings itch with excitement.
There was also another reason for her outing.
A gala approached in just a few weeks, her family said it was important many kings and queens would show up and most of all they needed to make a good impression on the new kingdom that has been pushing more and more on the territory of the other kingdoms.
To many people that meant war but something like that hasn’t happened in centuries, nobody wanted to lose a home that the fought so hard for or the loss of a loved one, so she herself needed to look dazzling not too much though, she loves being the center of attention but in an occasion like this something more professional was ideal.
She walked through the streets with unhurried grace, long black hair catching the wind as it flowed down her back like ink. Her crimson eyes met those of passersby, offering warm smiles and gentle greetings.
Today she wore a modest gown of black and deep blue, the fabric soft and flowing, trimmed with subtle silver stitching that caught the light when she moved. It wasn’t extravagant but it didn’t need to be.
People bowed as she passed.
The Ravencroft family was deeply respected. Few would dare approach the royal children not only the mere presence of the king was enough to make even hardened warriors tremble before him. But because each one was protected but a royal knight.
At Nerissa’s side walked her assigned knight.
Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame.
Her presence was unmistakable. Tall and solid, she moved with the quiet confidence of someone always prepared for danger. Her long red hair was tied back into a practical ponytail, a sleek visor rested over her eyes, its metal curved and sharp, shadowing her gaze without hiding it completely. Faint blue light pulsed along its edges, reflecting off the fire that burned with pride on her chest. Beneath it, her scarlet eyes watched everything, every passerby, every movement in the crowd unblinking and alert. The rest of her face remained uncovered.
Her jaw was set, expression controlled, though a pale scar traced its way along her cheekbone and down her neck, disappearing beneath her armor. A great sword rested against her back secured with ease despite its size.
Elizabeth was well known throughout the kingdom. A commoner who had risen through the ranks through discipline and relentless effort. Some admired her others whispered bitterly, claiming her power came not from skill but from the glowing blue fire at her chest something no human should possess.
Elizabeth did not look at them.
She walked beside the princess every instinct bent toward protection.
Duty first.
Always
Or at least that is what she always wanted to believe
Their walk was interrupted when Nerissa slowed, her attention to something to her left as she came to a stop.
“My lady?”
Elizabeth asked, slowly stopping next to her to see what she had seen.
The town square was before them, wide and sunlit. Musicians had gathered at its center strings instruments, drums, flutes while townsfolk danced freely, laughter ringing out in time with the music. The air itself seemed to vibrate with joy.
Elizabeth sighed softly, glancing up at the clock tower that was in the middle of the town square.
“We have some time if you wish to join them.”
She said with a soft tone
Nerissa’s head snapped toward her so fast it nearly startled the knight. Her face lit up as she grabbed Elizabeth’s wrist and pulled her forward without hesitation. As they drew closer, the music grew louder. The rhythm thrummed through Nerissa’s body, her wings fluttering instinctively in time with the beat.
Elizabeth couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped her.
Still the same as ever.
Near the edge of the crowd, Nerissa slowed until they walked side by side.
“Care to dance,” she asked lightly, “or are you going to use the same excuse as always?”
She turned those wide, pleading eyes on Elizabeth.
Elizabeth immediately looked away knowing what Nerissa was trying to do.
“You know I can’t, I am still on duty”
“Well,” Nerissa replied, lips forming a small pout as she stepped away, «Your loss.”
She slipped into the circle of dancers, laughter blooming around her like a spell. Elizabeth remained at the edge, arms crossed at first until she found herself clapping along without realizing it.
She loved music too. Always had, when she was younger she would sing songs for her mother when she was sick or even out in the streets to earn some money for her family, at the age she was it was the only thing she could do, that how it all started how scarlet eyes met crimson ones, who knew that the voice of a cute little girl would attract a literal princess.
At first the little red head had no idea who the other kid was, their family had found a home in this kingdom not so long ago. She was older maybe 4 – 5 years older but she was beaming with enthusiasm, that’s how a small bond started and grew into something more. Imagine the face on Elizabeth’s mother when her daughter brought her new friend to their home, a memory that makes them both laugh when they talk about it.
She always loved that comfortable place they had built together but as they grew and Elizabeth had to have a more knightly role she lost some of her passion but nerissa always knew how to find that little kid again.
In the quiet halls of the castle, when it was just the two of them, Nerissa’s voice would fill the space soft, warm some could say haunting like a sirens call. It wrapped around Elizabeth’s heart and loosened knots she didn’t know she carried. Sometimes she hummed along unconsciously, only to be caught and teased mercilessly.
They were close. Closer than she ever allowed herself to acknowledge.
Elizabeth’s gaze followed Nerissa’s movements.
She danced as though the music lived inside her. Every step fluid, every turn effortless. For a fleeting moment, the world seemed to still her smile slowly fading
Elizabeth’s hands slowly curled into fists.
For a heartbeat just one the music faded the colors dulled and the world shattered.
Blood stained pale stone.
The memory crashed into her without mercy.
Nerissa smaller then, layed crumpled against the cold ground. Her hands trembled as she tried to clutch at her head, fingers slick and red.
Blood streamed down her face, soaking into her hair, dripping from the broken curve where her horn had been torn away.
Her scream, her cries tore through Elizabeth’s chest. It wasn’t loud at first it was raw.
The sound of someone who didn’t yet understand what had been taken from them only that it hurt too much to breathe.
She remembered the way her legs refused to move, how the ground felt like it had swallowed her feet whole. She had tried to step forward tried but her body betrayed her, frozen in terror and disbelief.
Too young.
Too weak.
Too late.
The figure that had done it stood over Nerissa, tall and unmoved not a single sight of hesitation, no remorse for the literal torture of a small child. Elizabeth remembered the way their shadow stretched across Nerissa’s broken form, swallowing her whole.
“ Get away from me!”
The words had come out broken, choked by sobs.
Elizabeth had screamed then. She remembered that part clearly. She had screamed Nerissa’s name until her throat burned, until her voice cracked and failed her entirely.
Coward.
The word echoed endlessly in her mind, even now it still haunted her.
She failed herself
She failed her
She had reached out desperate finally being able to move, she didn’t think, how could she, she was a Child, she wanted to protect her friend. Grabbing the cloth that was covering most of the body of the unknown figure, she tried pulling but nothing they didn’t even move, then she felt a strong push she manged to hold herself up but before she could look at the figure
Steel flashed.
Pain exploded across her face.
The present rushed back all at once.
Music surged, laughter rang out and there she was Nerissa alive, smiling, dancing as though the world had never hurt her.
How she wished to be as care free as her, even when death came so close she still thrives.
Elizabeth swallowed hard, her chest felt too tight to breathe.
Why again, why has this memory been so frequent, she thought to herself .Fear coiled in her chest. Even now standing only a short distance away, Elizabeth felt the urge to move closer
She couldn’t let that happen again.
She wouldn’t.
Even if it meant standing in fear forever.
Even if it meant never resting.
Even if it meant breaking herself piece by piece.
When their eyes met, Elizabeth knew Nerissa felt it the shift, the sudden heaviness. Nerissa couldn’t see her face beneath the helmet, but she didn’t need to.
She never did.
The music came to a gentle close as the final crowd erupted in applause. Nerissa gave a small, graceful bow, her wings fluttering lightly behind her. She glanced back at Elizabeth, who was clapping along with the townspeople, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Even beneath the weight of her armor, she couldn’t help but be drawn to the joy radiating from her princess.
Even now seeing Nerissa so alive and full of happiness, Elizabeth allowed herself a brief reprieve from her worry. Nerissa excused herself gracefully from the circle, weaving through the cheering crowd. Reaching Elizabeth, she took her hand in hers, warmth spreading through the knight’s fingers and bringing a faint tint of pink to her cheeks.
“I’m fine,” Nerissa said softly, her smile a gentle curve of reassurance. Together, they stepped away from the festivities, leaving the music and laughter behind.