Timeline-1026 (Future)

  They called her many things. A thief. A liar. A shadow born of chaos.

  But none of them ever saw the truth behind her silence.

  She was not made for peace. Even when she smiled, there was war in her eyes-the kind that no blade could ever win.

  She carried her scars like they were medals, and her guilt like it was her armour. I met her when the world was already breaking. And though she stood at its edge, she never looked away from the fall. There was something beautiful in that-something that terrified me.

  They said she brought ruin wherever she went. But ruin does not choose where it blooms; it only grows where betrayal first takes root.

  If fate had been kind, perhaps she would have lived a quieter life-one where her hands weren't stained by survival, and my name didn't sound like a confession. But fate was never kind to her. Nor to those who dared to love her.

  Now, the world remembers her as the storm that swallowed kingdoms. I remember her as the girl who once looked at the stars and swore she'll never kneel to anyone-not even destiny.

  (Timeline-year 960)

  "Father… are you leaving me because I have not been a good girl?" I said; my sob was louder than it has ever been, "If it is the reason…then please don't go, I promise I will be a good girl" I grab my father's-blood stained clothes in my fist as tears run down my cheeks.

  "Stella-no, Elicia..." he whispered, his voice was weak, weaker than it had ever been but loud enough to be heard in the dead silence. "You have to go from here... fast…and remember, you are a good girl. Take good care of your mother and your little sister" He paused, "Now, run-" he coughs blood. "Run away from here. Never come here again. You have to survive."

  His voice weakens every second. "Remember everything I taught you and use them. Take…good care of yourself, my lovely daughter." He bleeds, "Promise me you will live, promise me you will take care of your sister, never let her feel the absence of a father." He pause to smile, "Live happily, even in the darkest times remember yourself, be cheerful..." And then he's serious, "...even if something happens to your mother or sister, don't blame yourself. Just make sure to take revenge, because revenge is not an option, it's necessary, this is my last order to you."

  He smiled. Strands of his blond hairs fell on his forehead. His blue eyes looked at my face; his gaze was full of love and the next second-they closed. The world went silent.

  That was the day when everything started.

  "Father!" I shouted; while shaking his body as much as I could.

  "Please. Please. I beg you, please don't go." I cried, only for it to go unheard. Not heard by a single soul. I knew it, but still begged, hoping it would somehow work-but it didn't. It never did.

  My vision became blur from the tears I found hard to wipe out. His back was pressed against the wall. Many dead bodies covered the floor, but his was the one that mattered to me the most. He killed all of them for me.

  He's gone. He left me alone. He promised me that he will always be with me, but he broke it.

  I guess I am not worthy of such promises after all.

  I wiped my tears but they were nonstop.

  He's gone.

  Does that mean I will never be able to meet him?

  It can't be.

  How can I live without him?

  He's gone.

  I stare at his body. The body that once was full of life. I kept staring. Taking in the moment. I just can't. I can't. I would never be. Never be able to live without him. Why was it all so sudden?

  After 4 years. (Timeline-year 964)

  I still remember the night everything changed.

  I was only nine — too young to understand the world, but old enough to remember the way my father's voice cracked when he said,

  "They know."

  He came home late that evening — his cloak soaked from rain, his face pale like he'd seen a ghost.

  "Pack your things," he told my mother. "Now. We must leave. The king knows."

  I didn't understand what he meant. Not then.

  I only knew fear had taken hold of our house like a shadow that wouldn't let go.

  My father — Lord Emrick Valen — was a Marquess. A noble. One of the king's closest allies.

  Some nobles are born with supernatural powers. Most are not.

  I was one of the rare ones. So was he.

  That night, he discovered a secret.

  A truth the king had buried deep.

  By morning, our house was burning.

  King Matthew — praised as just and merciful — sent his assassins to erase us.

  Servants. Guards. Cousins. Friends.

  Slaughtered without hesitation.

  Only my mother, my little sister, and I survived.

  We fled in darkness, hiding our names, my magic… and our past.

  We lost everything.

  Now, people call him the greatest ruler in history.

  But I know the truth.

  He is clever. Cruel. And worst of all — loved by those too blind to see the blood on his hands.

  The empire of Havelardo is ruled by a golden lie.

  Its people are divided into three classes: the royals, the nobles, and the commoners.

  I was born noble. Born powerful.

  But power makes you a target in a kingdom built on fear.

  With no home, no gold, and no one left to trust…

  I did the only thing I could.

  I became a thief.

  "Stop right there, you little thief!"

  That voice had become too familiar.

  Boots thundered behind me as I bolted up the stairs of a four-story sweets shop, breath tight in my throat. My pocket still had the warmth of the silver coins I took yesterday – no, stole yesterday.

  The shop had four floors — too many for a place that sold sweets. I didn't care. I just ran. My heart betted that there will be surely an escape while my mind betted there soon will be a new scar joining the club. The sweet smell of sweets anchored in the shop, making my mouth full of saliva, but it wasn't the time, I kept running. As I ran, the silver coins bounced off in my pockets making me worried. But then I saw it

  A gate covered with brown boundaries.

  A gate that joins the roof to the staircase, a gate that may save me. I rushed for the gate with my hands forward, as I came close enough my fingers along with my palm brushed of the gate making it wide open, the night was beautiful but my situation was surely not, but I managed to have a glance of the full moon visible tonight, it really is beautiful, leave the moon, but how I am going to escape? I was too busy thinking how to escape to even notice the texture of the walls, that the gate was attached to, and almost believed.

  I have been caught but then I spotted a second staircase leading down the shop. I spun and rushed for it. My leg hurts as I run as all the bruises start screaming at the same time, well it's good that I have to run by legs not my back, because if I had to, I would be done for by the pain. The thud of guards chasing me could be heard clearly. My messy bun accepts its fate and lets its wings spread across my shoulders making me regret for choosing to make a bun.

  By the time I reached down the second floor, my breath became uncatchable, and a thought found its way to crash my mind that this wasn't my battlefield. It was theirs. The guards knew the shop's layout far better than I do. They could trap me from below.

  Then I saw it — a window with painted roses as its boundary, probably for decoration.

  Narrow. Open. Dangerous.

  I didn't even pause to think. I jumped. After this stupid thing out of instincts, I couldn't help but blame my stupid brain for my upcoming injury. It would have been better to have a scar than a broken bone, but the problem was my ego.

  For a moment, there was nothing but wind and the roar of my heartbeat. My body is trained but no training lessens falling damage - I shattered my eyes in agitation.

  Creak.

  I hit something rough and soft. It didn't hurt as much it should have; I opened my eyes in curiosity.

  Hay.

  I'd landed in an abandoned animal cart. Pure luck — or maybe something more.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "Thank you, reckless cart driver," I muttered, and forced myself up.

  I didn't stop running even though my running was more like walking thanks to the fall. Through narrow alleys and twisting lanes, I cut across the shadows of Havelardo, making my way towards Bruen Verle, the kingdom's famous trade road, it is also known for its security among the tourists, but I don't really believe it as it is my favourite spot to rob but it was once hard for me to don't get caught – and it still is.

  The Bruen Verle is loud as usual, people are giggling, running, shouting and cursing, no one could have possibly told if it was almost midnight if it wasn't for the moon. Due to the walking style of the people whose parents did not trouble teaching them walking properly, the air is filled with mud making it nearly impossible to breath. After some time, the mud in the air vanished, making it feel so dreamlike to breathe, as I happened to catch up my breathe, a sweet aroma filled the air

  Apple pie.

  It is the sweet scent of apple pie, Anna would have loved to eat one, as it is her favourite. Maybe, I can buy her one, can't I? But it is already midnight, I wonder if she would be still awake?

  Despite being the famous Bruen Verle, the lane is filthy – not because of its condition but, the hearts of devils it covers by, making the pure ones dark as well, it is not a big deal to see it around here, and I am the perfect example of it.

  As I continued to walk, the mansions turned into houses and houses changed into tents and soon, the condition of the lane became worse and by the time I reached home — a tent hidden near the edge of the merchant district — my legs burned, but I was used to that.

  Anna, my dear sister ran to me the moment I arrived at the entrance. Her hazel eyes sparkled like midday sunlight, under the street lamp, and her straight blond hair bounced as she hurried to hug me.

  "You're back!" She said with her smile as big as ever.

  "You're still awake?", said I trying to look as a good big sister.

  "I waited for you. Mother said I could."

  A little smile escaped my face by seeing her cuteness, "Then I suppose it's okay,"

  Inside, our mother was waiting too — as she always did. She was heavy-eyed, quiet, but somehow still graceful, even here.

  I sat down with my back against the wall, catching my breath, as I stretched my arms a little. The walls surrounding the three sides of our house are grey and pointy, the entrance is covered with a dark blue fabric.

  "Sister, I have made something for you, do you want to see it?" asked Anna with joy in her eyes, I couldn't refuse.

  "Yes of course, I want to see it!" I forced a smile while my lids became too heavy to open.

  Anna ran outside and came with her hands behind her back, I wonder what she has made for me?

  "Surprise! I have stitched a handkerchief for you with mother's help", she said, the glory in her voice was so bright unaware of the world's cruelness, her arms stretched towards me, offering me the handkerchief.

  "Oh, thank you so much!" I picked up the handkerchief from her hands gracefully while fighting my instincts to not snatch it away. I take a look at the handkerchief. "You have made it really nice Anna, you really have talent for it!", I said while knowing she had made mother to make it, but a smile escaped my face to know that she thought to make something for me.

  "Welcome, sister"

  Anna turns her back towards me heading towards a corner giggling, still happy with the appreciation, she sat down in another corner, but for some reasons mother looked tired.

  She studied me for a moment. Then finally asked,

  "You're only thirteen, Elicia. Do you really think this is the life you should be living?" she said her face filled with worries for me.

  I couldn't help but sigh, "Looks like you haven't let it go well, it's not about what should be," I said softly. "It's about what is. If I don't do this… who will?"

  "I could try to find work." She looked disturbingly serious.

  My hands find way to my chest, "And who would hire a widow with no name? Father left this family in my hands, and I won't fail him."

  She sighed, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "Then I trust you. Goodnight." She said with a frustrated voice but still, I didn't expect her to give up so easily, I think she is finally starting to understand the living in the streets.

  "Goodnight." I said with a small smile.

  Anna turned off the small lamp on the corner of the room, although the most of the light was provided by the street light in the corner. Darkness filled the tent.

  I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. I hope I don't find my way to that dream today.

  It didn't take me long to fall asleep.

  I'd escape the guards, outrun the streets – but not the truth. And it was coming for me.

  The next day.

  A voice of a child found its way to my not so conscious ears as I slept. The voice was so bothersome to ignore, I wonder if the child that this voice belongs to is trying to be acting like a chicken- well, it’d be cute if it was someone as adorable as Anna. The side of lips turned upwards as I drowned deep into the thought of Anna’s cuteness. I was too heavy-eyed and delusional to notice when that laughing voice had turned into a scream.

  Scream.

  My heart jolted. My eyes wide open. I sat up instantly, scanning the room — empty.

  Where were they?

  My mother. My sister.

  I bolted outside, instincts flaring, my hairs tangled badly but bouncing as I jolted — only to stop short as my mind caught up with my eyes.

  It wasn’t screaming. It was still laughter- the problem was my mind.

  Children played in the street, chasing each other, voices sharp and bright in the morning air. Relief crashed over me like a wave I hadn’t seen coming.

  I spotted Anna, spinning in the middle of it all, her laughter carrying above the others.

  Her hazel eyes caught the light, her hair bouncing in golden waves — so full of life.

  So unaware of how fragile it all was.

  I stood there, just watching.

  Some part of me wanted to bottle that joy, protect it, keep it untouched by the truth. Have it.

  But I knew better.

  Soon enough, Anna noticed me and ran over, her face covered with a wide smile.

  "Good morning, Sister!"

  "Good morning, Anna." I forced a smile. "Looks like you're enjoying yourself."

  "I am! Oh — Mother left early. She went to sell the sweets you brought yesterday at the Saturday market.", her smile became even wider.

  I froze.

  Saturday.

  I’d forgotten.

  "You didn’t wake me? You know I never miss Saturday market!", the words rushed to launch from my mouth.

  She blinked. "I’m sorry… I didn’t want to disturb you."

  I sighed, softening. "It’s fine. I need to go now, though."

  I ducked inside, washed quickly, pulled my hood up, tied my hairs in a messy bun, and headed out.

  Saturday market

  The Saturday market was chaos wrapped in colour. A tide of people moved between stalls, bartering, laughing, shouting. The market street was a riot of items covered by colours— oranges stacked like tiny suns, bolts of dyed cloth flapping in the wind like restless flags, and glass bottles lined on a wooden cart catching the sunlight in sharp, glinting shards of blue and green. Spices scented the air, rich and sharp making me sneeze. Cloth banners fluttered overhead like they belonged to another world — a better one. My boots already sucked multiple printed small shoes as I noticed, looks like I would have to wash it soon, I sighed out of indolence. The stalls were all full of colours- and the treasure I am the pirate for.

  But I wasn’t here to admire beauty.

  I was hungry.

  I hadn’t eaten since yesterday, and my stomach growled like a caged animal while my brain was even wilder.

  After the stunt I pulled last night, the streets were crawling with extra guards. I couldn’t risk stealing from a shop. Not today. But probably soon.

  Each step on the cobblestones clicked louder than it should have, or maybe it was just my heartbeat hammering in my ears. Behind me, the voices of the people were sharp and clipped, like the sound of knives being drawn. The air was thick with the sweet, almost rotten scent of overripe peaches, the sharp tang of pickled fish, and the buttery warmth of fresh bread drifting from somewhere unseen.

  I scanned the vendors carefully, calculating — watching their movements, their guards, their weaknesses. A fruit stall caught my eye. It was busy, and lightly guarded.

  Perfect.

  I moved into position where crowd was a little less, heart steady, fingers twitching — and then I heard a voice just behind me, I wish I hadn’t.

  "You’re not thinking of stealing, are you, my lady?", my eyes widened as I heard the voice as I wasn’t expecting anyone to disturb me. Not now.

  I froze. Turned slowly.

  Only to see a boy standing behind me, age around seventeen. Hair like a crow’s nest someone gave up on brushing. An easy smirk. The kind of confidence you get only by being too clueless to know better — or too clever to care. He wore a black shirt accompanied with black pants, his attire was nice, the one that is simple, but elegant, the one you don’t see around here.

  "Is that how you greet people?" I asked with a serious face, hoping he will leave me alone.

  "No, only the interesting ones." A smile shrugged his face. Can’t he just leave me alone?

  I crossed my arms. "And what makes you think I’m one of those?" Why don’t he just leave?

  "You're standing too still. Eyes locked on a fruit stall. Hands fidgeting like you’re trying to pretend they’re not." That’s it, now not even a thief can glare at apples peacefully but he seems to be surprisingly smarter than he looked to be.

  "Maybe I like apples." I shrugged trying to look innocent I hope I look.

  "Maybe you like chaos," he said. "Which is great, because same." I don’t remember seeing someone so interested in others business person in Saturday Market.

  I raised an eyebrow. "You're not from around here." I spoke.

  "How could you tell?" He looked a little stunned.

  "You’re way too loud to be from this street." I just spoke facts.

  He laughed. "Fair. I’m new. Got bored. Wandered off. Found you." He spoke like a typical idiot.

  I blinked. "That’s your plan for the day? ‘Wander off and find trouble’?"

  "So far, it’s going very well." He looked a little amazed.

  I sighed. "Do you want something, or are you just annoying by nature?"

  "I haven’t eaten in a day. Saw you looking at those apples. Thought, hey — two hungry strangers with nothing to lose. Why not commit minor crimes together?"

  I tilted my head. "Do you trust random people that easily and in fact, who are you?"

  "Well, I am Kallian" he said, and for a moment, his smile faltered. Just a flicker. "And as for trusting random people, it’s better than doing nothing."

  "You're bad at this."

  "Stealing?"

  "Talking people into trusting you."

  His grin returned. "Still, you haven’t walked away yet."

  I hesitated — just for a second. He wasn’t threatening. Just… awkwardly honest. Maybe too honest.

  "Fine," I said. "One apple. If you mess it up, I’ll disappear and let you get caught." The words came out of my mouth itself before I could swallow them.

  "Deal. And if I don’t mess up?" he smirked, and looked a little happy, should I just decline him? But wouldn’t it be my advantage?

  "Then, it’s for your own good"

  "Looks like I can only get an apple"

  “Only if you don’t mess up”

  I tossed him the only cloth mask I had. He put it on like he’d done this before — which was both comforting and mildly suspicious.

  "Here’s the plan," I said. "I talk to the guards. You grab the food. Meet me at the north gate. Run fast. Don't be dumb."

  "Run fast. Don’t be dumb. Got it. Very professional instructions."

  "You're very punchable, you know that?"

  "People tell me that all the time." He smiled.

  I shook my head and walked away, muttering, "This better be worth it."

  Behind me, I heard him whisper — not loudly, not joking.

  "It will be."

  I walked toward the fruit stall where two bored-looking guards stood nearby.

  “Hello, sirs. Do you know where Mr. Hankster lives?” I asked, doing my best innocent smile. I wish he ignores how unreal the name sounds as I am bad at giving names.

  “Never heard of him,” one said. Relax floods through my mind as he speaks of these words from the ugly mouth of his noticing how mindless he is to believe such unreal name like that.

  From the corner of my eye, I saw Kallian sneaking fruits into a sack.

  Snap!

  He stepped on a twig. I guess it was my fault by trusting a stranger.

  “Thief! Thief!” one guard shouted.

  I didn’t get enough time to pace up with whatever it was happening.

  I didn’t hesitate.

  I kicked one guard in the stomach. He flew back, untrained and unprepared. The other lunged at me — I ducked under his arm, and twisted it behind his back on an odd angle, and whispered,

  “If you want to live, don’t follow us.” I tried to sound as the threating one but in reality, I was just as much nervous.

  “Y-yes… I won’t!” he stammered.

  I sprinted towards Kallian while crashing on almost every person I could see around. I could hear people shouting and cursing us but I kept on running, the rough cobblestone was touching straight to my feet because of a stupid kid that stepped on my boots and it became half worn. I wonder how much mother and Anna will hate me if they get to know I steal instead of working, I cannot imagine the look in Anna’s face when she gets to know that her beloved sister is a thief. Kallian was already running ahead, the sack bouncing at his side. He is surprisingly fast.

  “You are fast”, I said.

  “You know nothing, my lady”, he says while I can already feel his stupid smirk covering his face. As the words came out of his mouth, he started to run even faster leaving me behind.

  Kallian stop after some distance beside a carriage waving to me. I reach to him. We ducked behind an old crumbling wall near the edge of the market, both panting like dogs.

  Kallian dropped the sack between us and collapsed against the street made up of cobblestone.

  “Well,” he gasped, “we didn’t die. That’s a win.”

  “You almost got us caught.” I grabbed an apple and took a bite.

  “But I didn’t.” He grinned, lying flat on the ground. “In fact, I’d say that went pretty well.”

  “For someone who stepped on a twig in the middle of a theft?” I said in a teasing manner.

  “Hey, that twig was aggressively placed.” He looked serious, how can anyone be this dumb?

  “You’re aggressively irritating.” I spoke my mind.

  He propped himself up on one elbow.

  “Yet here you are. Still talking to me.” He smirked. I guess my judgement was wrong.

  I narrowed my eyes, chewing slowly. He wasn’t wrong — and worse, he knew it.

  “Fine,” I said. “For the next five minutes, I will try to stop any abusing word from my mouth to slip.”

  “Five full minutes?” He clutched his chest. “You do care.”

  “Don’t push it.”

  We ate in silence for a moment, the noise of the market muffled behind us.

  “You’re fast,” he said eventually. “And dangerous. You could’ve run. Left me behind.”

  “I considered it.”

  “But you didn’t.”

  “Still considering it.”

  He laughed, tossing a core over his shoulder.

  “This was fun,” he said. “You’re fun.”

  I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop the small smile that escaped.

  Just a little one.

  “You’re still very punchable,” I muttered.

  “People say that a lot.”

  I called my life hell, never suspecting it was merely the threshold. For someone out there had seen what should have stayed buried — and that sight would become the ruin of me-

  Once Again.