I lay on my back on the cool grassy ground. The Nightrealm stretched above me, the deep, dark blue sky a canvas for the twinkling stars. The air was still, and the only sounds were the soft rustling of leaves in the trees and the distant hoot of an owl. I looked up, and my breath caught in my throat.

The bright, glowing orb of the moon hung low in the sky, casting a magical glow over the landscape. I felt drawn to it like it was pulling me closer with an invisible thread. My heart raced with excitement, and I knew that the Moon Goddess was near, watching over me.

I closed my eyes and felt the energy of the Nightrealm around me. It was like an electric charge that flowed through every inch of my body, making me feel alive and invigorated. I slowly opened my eyes to see the Moon Goddess' divine gift that illuminated the surroundings with its radiant glow, as the moonlight unveiled itself upon us.

I felt a connection to her, my mother had always told me to keep quiet about it. That others wouldn't understand. Each realm had numerous cathedrals that were dedicated to them, where we spent our time worshipping the Goddesses for all they had done for us. But I've always been drawn to the nightly power, to the moon and stars. More than that, I swear the visions I would paint were from the Moon goddess herself. I would get sent scenes or snippets of what was about to come, and I had never been able to avoid the visions. When I had shared it with others, they had all believed I just had an active imagination until my mother told me to never breathe a word of it again.

As princess of the Firerealm, I did hold some say, and perhaps I could force the tens of thousands to believe me in this realm. I smiled at the thought – to finally get the chance to be completely honest with who I was and what I could do.

"Do you see that one?" I asked, squeezing Kyan's hand with my small fingers and using my other hand to point into the sky.

"Pointing doesn't help, princess." I could hear the smile in his voice. Giggles erupted from my lips as we laughed together.

He seemed to know all the names of them, better than I ever could, and kept pointing out new ones that I had never seen before. Suddenly, Kyan's finger shot up into the air, pointing directly at a group of stars in the shape of a triangle.

"Aurora, look! That's the Sun Goddess' Staff constellation!" he exclaimed; his voice brimming with excitement.

I followed the line of his finger. At the top, a radiant star shone brightly and following were two long and slender lines extended downward in perfect symmetry, creating the shaft of the staff. On each end of the staff, there were smaller stars that formed intricate spirals, symbolizing the inner power and energy harnessed by the Sun Goddess.

"Wow, that's amazing!" I replied, my eyes fixated on the constellation.

Kyan then proceeded to explain to me all about Orion, the hunter, and how the Belt marked his location in the sky. He told me about the different stars that make up the constellation and how to identify them in the future. I smiled at him, not seeming to comprehend his words, but seeing his excitement was all that mattered to me.

My smile began to dip as dread built up in my stomach. I could feel something was wrong, deep in my soul. "Kyan?" I cut him off, my voice sounding small.

A sudden and loud ringing sound echoed through the air. It was a deep, and ominous, signaling danger in our realms. We stood on the border of the Nightrealm and Firerealm, and it was coming from both of us. "We need to get back," I urged. As the princess of the Firerealm, my mother would be worried sick to come looking for me and not be able to find me. Although, I was sure this was the first place she would look. I was sure the guards weren't far off, anyway.

The sound was like nothing I had ever heard before. It pierced through the otherwise peaceful night air, a stark reminder of the dangers that lurked in our realm. The sound of the warning bells between the Nightrealm and the Firerealm continued to ring out loud and clear as we both jumped to our feet. It was a haunting, intense noise that seemed to grow more urgent with each passing moment.

I looked up at Kyan, seeing the desperation in his face as he heard my plea. His raven-colored hair fell in messy waves across his forehead, and his piercing blue eyes seemed to reflect the sadness I was feeling. He was only a few years older than me, but his maturity and selflessness never ceased to amaze me. He had always been my protector, my best friend, and my constant companion in our world, Alyanthi.

I clung to him tightly, wrapping my arms around his waist and burying my face in his chest. "I should get home," I said. "Meet again later? I can send you a letter," I decided.

Kyan's arms encircled me, holding me close as he whispered in my ear. "I will always be with you, no matter what. I promise." Kyan's voice trembled as he broke the spell, uttering the words that shattered our carefree harmony. "Princess, my father won't let me come see you anymore."

Suddenly, my heart sank, and a surge of tears welled up in my eyes, betraying my distress as I momentarily forgot the need to get back to my realm.

Refusing to accept this cruel separation, I pouted and lifted my gaze to meet Kyan's eyes. "But... but you're my best friend, Kyan. We can't let anyone come between us."

Kyan's expression softened, his eyes filled with both love and sorrow. He hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words to ease my despair. "I know, my princess. But to keep you safe, we have to part ways temporarily. I must erase our memories."

His words struck me like a bolt of lightning, leaving me stunned and devastated. Erase our memories? How could I forget the warmth of his friendship, the joy we shared? It felt unbearable, unthinkable.

Desperation filled my voice as I clung tightly to Kyan, desperately seeking an alternative. "Why? Couldn't we just run to Earth instead?" My voice broke, but I knew the answer. Kyan and I had discussed the possibility before, but I never thought it would happen. We had talked about escaping together, but we knew that being on the run for the rest of our lives wasn't a life that we wanted to live.

His eyes softened. "Aurora, I wish we could. My father knows what you mean to me. He...made me choose. Your death or I erase you from Alyanthi."

"Wait, what?"

His expression began to soften, a veil of vulnerability covering his hardened features. "He knows," he started, his voice shaking slightly. "He knows all too well what you mean to me. He...he left me with a cruel choice. Your death or the erasure of your existence from Alyanthi."

I blinked, struggling to parse his words. "Wait, what?" The shock was preventing me from fully comprehending his revelation.

As if hovering outside my own body, I found my mind engaging in a frenzied dance of thoughts. Does the King truly understand? He must know that I am blessed by the Goddesses and that I am destined to be the unifier of Alyanthi. I am the rightful ruler. But in his eyes, he sees himself worthy of the throne, believing that the control of Alyanthi should belong to him. His hunger for power sends a chill down my spine. The audacity of his conviction is as bold as it is terrifying. It's a fierce battle of faith against ambition. His ambition.

I swallowed heavily, the stone throne beneath me suddenly feeling as cold and uncertain as the fate that potentially awaited me. Fear began to creep its insidious tendrils within me, paralyzing me with its cold grasp.

In this echoing silence, his words hung heavily in the air- 'Your death or the erasure...' The words rotated in my mind. My existence in Alyanthi came into question, and it was surreal, terrifying even. The very foundation under my feet trembled as I absorbed the impact of his words. Yet, I had to remain composed, I had to face this ordeal with grace and fortitude as my mother had always taught me.

Then, there was the fear-propelling part that I could be hurt, the dread that I might be stripped of my existence, or worse... Even the thought left a cold thrill in my veins, making my heart skip a beat.

With a decided sigh, I reluctantly tore my gaze away from him, focusing instead on the tree behind him.

Pushing back the sinking feeling of despair, I forced a pensive smile, doing my best to keep my voice steady. "We'll navigate through this storm, just as we always have," I reassured him, my words echoing softly through the suddenly silent forest, the warning bells seemingly have stopped.

The king's greed could threaten Alyanthi, and potentially me, but the Goddesses' blessings were not to be easily voided. I took comfort in that knowledge. The road ahead promised adversities, and the inherent fear it carried was daunting, to say the least. Yet, as the rightful ruler, I was ready to face whatever trials loomed in the uncertain shadows of the future. For myself, for him, but most importantly, for Alyanthi.

A ripple of frustration coursed through me as I grappled with the enormity of the burdens that fell upon my tender shoulders. For a twelve-year-old, there was still so much to understand, so much to explore, without shouldering such heavy responsibilities. The silence stretched between us, becoming a living entity that filled the spacious room. Kyan, usually so vocal, remained unusually silent until he looked into my startled eyes.

"I...I threatened him, Aurora," he confessed, his words barely more than a whisper. I watched as he clenched and unclenched his hands. "My father, I challenged him..."

A cold wave of shock swept over me as I stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest. "Kyan," I whispered, my voice fraught with concern, "what have you done?" We both knew what was at stake for him to do that. The King needed an heir, but he had two sons. Only one had to be alive, and he has held that above Kyan for many years.

He sighed deeply, seeming to shrink before me. The vibrant, confident person I knew was now a shadow of his former self. "I know," he mumbled, "it was foolish, impulsive... but I couldn't stand by while he threatened you."

My heart twisted at the raw desperation in his eyes. "And...," he continued shakily, "he's my father, yes, but he's also the king. Power-wise, I am no match for him, not yet anyway."

An icy fear filled my heart. Kyan had put himself in danger for me, to protect me. He was defenseless against the king's power, yet he had challenged him anyway out of desperation, out of love. Fear mixed with appreciation as I looked at him, at the sheer determination in his eyes.

My rune began to pulse with fear. It sat against my skin, reminding me the way it always did that Kyan was my evermate, but more than that, runes showed each Alyanthian which realm they were a part of. "I can't forget what you are to me." I whispered. When an Alyanthi meets their evermate, their runes flare and begins to bond the two together. Coercion couldn't erase the bond, but since we had already had the bonding of our runes, it wouldn't happen again. How would I recognize what he was to me?
"How we feel will never fade," Kyan insisted.

I bit my lip nervously but nodded. We would find our way again; I was sure of it.

"Dangerous games like these are perilous, Kyan. I cannot bear it if you get harmed by your father." I said gently, realization settling heavily on my shoulders.

"Well," he murmured, his eyes meeting mine, "I suppose that's why I have you. My wise princess." And even though his words were laced with his signature charm, I could easily detect the steely determination behind them. We were in this together, against the world if we needed to be.

Another warning blare went off, my heart skipped a beat. "It's time, my love." Kyan murmured.

"You are sure this is the only way?" My eyes widened.

He nodded. "We will find each other again, Princess, I promise. But my father... he would use everything against me, especially if he discovered our bond is more than simple feelings. I cannot let that happen. Besides, he would force us to complete the evermate bond, and neither of us are ready for that."

He had a point. If we bonded completely, we would become more powerful, especially with the gifts the goddesses had given me on our side. But to complete the bond, we had to merge our mind, body, and soul. Overwhelmed by conflicting emotions, I buried my face in Kyan's comforting embrace, seeking solace in his presence. "I trust you, Kyan," I whimpered softly, my heart heavy with a mixture of profound sadness and unwavering faith.

I looked up at him, giving myself to him as tears welled up in his eyes. "Forget me, Aurora. Forget all the things we have done in this realm. Now go, once I teleport you back to your realm, know that you will be safe for as long as I am alive."

He used his coercion as slowly my mind began to force the memories of the boy I loved to vanish right in front of me. I took a deep breath as Kyan's arms wrapped around me, teleporting me back to the Firerealm, knowing that it was the only way to keep Kyan and I safe, well, safe enough. Without a word, I began to walk away from him. I could feel his eyes following me, and I fought back tears as I took my first steps towards home.

As I made my way toward the Firerealm, the world around me shifted into a dizzying tableau of intense colors. The ground beneath me was warm, almost reassuring, pulsating with a hidden vigor that sparked vitality into my every step. Each footfall syncopated with the vibrant heartbeat of the fiery realm, lending my heart a mirror-like rhythm that was both invigorating and thrilling.

The land around me appeared alive, breathing, and heaving in a symphony of the elements. Flames danced in the distance, their iridescent glow piercing the twilight and painting the landscape in hues of rouge and gold. What was a symbol of destruction in other realms was a sign of life here, a testament to the energy that churned ceaselessly and ignited the world around me.

A scorching wind grazed past me, carrying with it flakes of ember that danced like fireflies around me, their heat invoking an alien sense of comfort, rather than fear like it did to the other two realms, the Icerealm and the Nightrealm. These three realms encompassed Alyanthi, each unique in its own way.

With a reverently held breath, I continued my stride, each step echoing through the vast playground of fire and heat. Gazing around, I recognized the Firerealm for what it truly was - a kingdom of fierce landscapes, a testament to nature's raw, untamed power, and, as I was beginning to learn, a beacon of living, breathing vitality. It echoed a part of me, maybe a part I didn't often acknowledge, a part that was bold, bright, and passionately fierce.

I stared up at the towering walls of the Firerealm castle, marveling at its magnificence. The castle was an imposing structure, with walls that seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky and towers that loomed high above my head.

As I walked closer, I could feel the heat emanating from the castle walls, making my skin prickle with the intense warmth. I looked around, taking in the sight of the castle gates, which were made of solid metal and etched with intricate designs that glimmered in the flickering flames.

The air around me was thick with the scent of smoke and ash, and I shivered as the wind picked up, carrying embers across the courtyard and into the sky. Walking towards the courtyard, where a fountain of molten lava bubbled in the center, casting an eerie red glow over the stones.

As I walked towards the entrance of the Firerealm castle, a figure suddenly ran towards me. I stumbled back, surprised, before realizing that it was my mother. She stopped me in my tracks, holding me tight as she looked at me with a mixture of relief and fear in her eyes.

I stared back at her, confusion etched all over my face. "Mother, what's the matter?" I asked, my voice shaking as I looked at her.

She let go of me and stepped back, her eyes scanning my face. "Aurora, you can't go in there," she said, her voice urgent. "The Nightrealm king infiltrated us, that was why the alarm had gone off. He was searching for you."

I shook my head, my mind spinning as I tried to make sense of what she was saying. "Why?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Although I knew. My mother and I both thought we could keep it a secret, that I had all three realms abilities flowing through my veins. But clearly, we were both wrong.

"He has found out who you are, my dear. We knew it wouldn't be kept a secret for long, but I was praying to the Goddesses for more time." She looked around frantically. Searching through her pocket, she pulled out a vial, took the cap off with a satisfying 'pop', and handed it to me. "Drink this," she urged.

"What will it do, Mom?" I asked nervously. I have always trusted her, but seeing her afraid didn't make me feel very confident.

"It will put you in a short slumber. The King will not be able to use his magic while you are sleeping, and when I kill him, I will wake you back up, okay?" She rushed.

I furrowed my brows. "Mom, how will he not get to me if I am asleep?"

She glanced around nervously. "I found a man, Hedrick is his name. He is an amazing spell caster, he will be able to protect you this way." Without waiting for me to respond, she tipped the vile upwards as the blue, glowing substance fell down my throat in one gulp. Hmm. Minty.

I nodded, my eyes already growing heavy. "Mom, I'm scared," I admitted in a whisper. Squeezing me tightly to her chest, I inhaled her scent, a comforting aroma of smoldering embers and cinnamon wafted towards me.

"I won't leave you, my darling." She said to me as I fell into a night-filled sleep.