Dear Journal,
                 I am not especially good with words, not as good as my predecessor. He would often voice these mental notes in his mind and occasionally, he would allow me to hear them. Since his depart, I've found myself doing the same. It is a good way to flesh out thoughts and troubles. I do not, however, intend to do it forever for it is not my style and quite frankly, I still refuse to believe that I will never hear his words in my mind again.
                                                       - 𝒮𝓎𝓇𝓊𝓈 𝒮𝓉𝑒𝑒𝓁𝑒
                                                              (1611)

"Celestria! Celestria! Where is that girl?" Emma called, adjusting her crown before clutching her red gown in her hands to walk the castle halls.

It had been 6 whole years since Odelina's rebellion and the world as she knew it had changed. She was now a mother and the Queen of Gandalwell and though she may not say it out loud, she believed she was also a widow.

She opened door after door, chamber after chamber in search for her daughter but the little girl was no where to be found.

Bursting into the great hall, she found Syrus at his usual spot, slumped over a single trestle table lined with goblets of wine infront of him.

This had become an unhealthy habit for him— drinking away his sorrows. His excuse was that it took his mind off of his troubles which really meant it took his mind off Elias.

In the six years since Elias's death, neither of them had yet to accept it. Emma however, having become the new Queen had a kingdom to rule and as such, she had to force herself to put her emotions aside to better govern her realm.

Afterall, the war was far from over.

"Syrus! Syrus, get up! Where is your niece?" She shook him violently.

He had passed out on the table from drinking all night and was currently sleeping against the mahogany.

This was especially strange because vampires did not sleep. There were however, alot of strange things happening for the past half a decade.

"What?" Syrus flew up from his drunken slumber. He squinted at Emma, his vision slightly blurry from his intoxication.

When his sight had finally cleared, he shook his head to further wake himself before tussling his own hair. It had grown to the length Elias had often kept his and was just as lustrous, charcoal black tresses falling past his shoulders.

Sometimes Emma would catch a glance of him walking away and her heart would stop, her breath hitching at how similar he and Elias looked from behind.

"This is the seventh time in a row, Syrus. When will you stop this?" Emma chided.

"I don't need you to scold me, Emma. It was that damned fairy blood. You know I don't sleep," Syrus said, pouring himself another glass of wine in his silver goblet.

Emma watched as he ignored the sizzling of his palm and mouth, drinking from the metal cup. Another torturous habit he had.

"Whatever you say. Where is Celestria? I don't see her in her room nor yours," Emma told him.

"I don't know either," He shrugged.

"Can't you make contact with her? You know, with your mind?"

"I can but she's been guarding her thoughts from me for the past few weeks. I don't even know when she learned to do that," Syrus replied, taking another sip of his wine.

"Find her, please. Then come to the throne room. We need to talk," She told him.

"Is it about them?" He asked, his expression hardening.

"Yes. Among other things," Emma answered. "Hurry up."

Heaving a sigh, Syrus stood from the table, passing Emma as he left the great hall.

It was difficult not to watch as he did, his long hair flowing behind him. His black trench coat and boots fondling the ground. He was exactly like Elias, in more ways than others.

She sighed as she decided to pour herself a drink of wine, gagging at the taste of blood before setting the goblet down and heading back to the throne room.

Using his immaculate sense of smell, Syrus followed his nose to the second floor of the castle, specifically the lords' hall.

"There you are," He whispered to himself, pausing behind the door at the end of the hall. As he was about to open it, he heard Celestria speak, stopping him in his tracks.

"No, I haven't told them," Her little voice said. "But I think he believes something is strange."

"Believe what is strange?" Syrus bursted inside, surprising the little girl.

"Nothing, Uncle Syrus!" She answered quickly, her little hands folded in her lap as she sat at the edge of the bed.

Her red eyes were swirling with guilt, as she jumped to the floor, smoothing out her black breeches.

She was tall for a 5 year old, and also very smart. A little too smart. She favored her father greatly in every aspect of her appearance as Syrus did well to dress her in black buttoned jabbots, breeches and boots, specifically tailored for her.

Her black hair was as long as his, free of curls and flowing past her shoulders. It was her eyes however, that drew the most attention. They were like a sea of rubies, just like Elias's once he had undergone his change.

"I thought I heard you talking in here," Syrus squinted at her little frame. She was about as tall as his arm fell.

"Must be the wine," She sassed, causing him to raise his eyebrows.

"You're a cheeky little vampire, aren't you?" He said, her fangs showing as she giggled.

She rushed into his arms and he scooped her up, carrying her across his hip.

"Your mother has been looking for you, do you know that Princess?" Syrus said to her as he shut the door, heading off down the hall.

"Is she angry with me? About the cat?" She asked.

"What about the cat?" Syrus frowned.

"Nothing!" Her eyes widening with guilt.

"You really are a trouble maker, Princess," Syrus looked at her.

"I get it from my uncle," She replied, laying her ahead on his shoulder.

Smirking at her words, Syrus made his way to the throne room, ignoring the guards and handmaiden present outside as he opened the door with his free hand while holding Celestria in his other.

"Found her!" He shouted, setting the child down with ease and disregarding the fact that he had interrupted Emma's conversation with her generals.

"Excuse me, Varys and Shia. We'll continue this in a little while," Emma dismissed the men, each of them giving Syrus dirty glares while exiting the throne room.

Syrus was always impressed with the renovation of this part of the castle.

It was no longer a depressing display of manly authority because Emma had gotten two thrones of equal size for both King and Queen upon a raised platform while hanging regal gold tapestries behind  the thrones.

A large red rug led the way to the stairs used to ascend the raised platform and a self-portrait of Emma and her baby girl along with the castle hung on the left and right walls respectively. She had the chambermaids polish the marble floors daily to to keep up its pristine, womanly ambience.

"Celestria Steele, Where have you been?" Emma started.

"Playing," She lied, causing Syrus to shoot a glance at her, his brows furrowed at the fable.

Regarding Celestria's current attire, Emma's face twisted in disdain at similarity to her uncle's.

"What are you wearing? What happened to your dress?" She asked her daughter.

"What's wrong with her clothes?" Syrus asked, also regarding Celestria's attire.

"She's not a boy, Syrus!" Emma fussed.

"She can be whatever she wants to be and she wants to wear that. I simply got the seamstress to fashion it for her," Syrus said.

"You know what? Do whatever," She gave up, addressing her daughter once more.

"Is it true that you bit Marco? I thought he was your friend?" Emma asked.

"He was saying bad things about Father!" Celestria protested.

"So you bit his ear off? You can't do that, Celestria! You are a Princess and you have to set an example for others," Emma scolded her.

Celestria was a very complex child. Though she was five, her intellect was similar to that of a teenager because she grew very quickly. She knew right from wrong, good from bad and light from evil. She could read and write very well and she caught on to almost anything immediately. Emma and Syrus thought this to be a result of her supernatural blood, not only from Emma but Elias, who was hybrid of faes and vampires.

"I now have to pay off Marco's parents for their troubles," Emma stated.

"I'm sorry, Mum." Celestria frowned.

Heaving a sigh, Emma stepped down from the throne to approach her daughter.

Kneeling down, she ignored the puffiness of her red dress while she hugged her.

"Your father was very stubborn as well," She caressed her face. "You remind me of him so much."

Syrus and Emma had made sure to tell her everything about Elias, leaving out his sins. They wanted her to feel as close to him as possible, to know that he would have loved her just as they have and that it was not his choice to not be there.

Emma kissed her on her cheek before taking her little hands into hers.

"Please. No more fighting," Emma pleaded with her.

Celestria nodded her response, giving her mother a closed mouth smile.

"Celine!" Emma called at her handmaiden, who immediately entered throne room at her beckon.

"Take her to her room please," Emma instructed.

"But I wanted to see the flowers," the young girl protested.

"Then take her to see the flowers for a little while and then to her room. I'll talk to you again later," Emma said.

Taking Celine's outstretched hand, they turned to leave, the guards closing the doors behind them.

"I told you to stop dressing her like.."

"Like Elias? Do I have to remind you of all persons that she is his child?  There are no amount of dresses and curls in the world that can stop her from looking like him," Syrus argued.

Clenching her jaws, Emma released another sigh before softening her gaze.

"You're stressed, I understand. You've been overworking yourself for 6 years," he followed.

It was true. For the past years since Emma had assumed the throne after Baltazaar's death, she had worked very hard to correct her brother's mistakes, using the monarch's funds to acquire a new army consisting of both human and supernatural creature alike. She had helped to rebuild the church in Asphal since the blame had been casted on Gandalwell and had since been helping the people of her kingdom slowly get back to their feet after the disastrous aftermath of Odelina's rebellion.

They had all rallied to her side after learning of her child's father, who they believe had fought and died to protect the world from Odelina and her terror.

Though, not everyone was pleased.

"Things are bad, Syrus," Emma admitted, walking back to the throne to sit.

"Odelina's followers move still. They acquire important relics and cursed objects frequently in order to complete her work. We apprehended a few of them on our missions but they executed themselves with hemlock," She said.

"Poison?" Syrus frowned. "They really do not wish for us to know their next move,"

"That is not all. There has been talk of a powerful sorceress in Pretvar for a while. She gathers followers by the day as they promise to purge the world of the 'impure'. There are religious heretics from the church that are rallying behind them of course, especially after what you and Elias did in Garshank."

"Sorceress? Could it be Odelina's mother?" Syrus asked, stopping in his tracks.

"I don't know. Alice does not know much despite being the Queen of Pretvar but she says that they are dangerous. She has tried many times to seek an audience with them but they do not wish to discuss matters with the crown."

"What do they call 'impure'?" Syrus turned to Emma.

"I don't know. You, me, Celestria," Emma's voice was serious.

"This does not sound good," Syrus admitted.

"Indeed. But on the warmer side of the sun, Damien is still doing well in Asphal. It was a good move to make him King. His wolves have grown in numbers and their loyalty is unmatched," Emma said, her voice a little more upbeat.

"About Odelina's followers, we need to know what else they need so we don't miss the window to take them down and bring him back. She said they would use their souls which means his soul is probably still alive, despite it all," Syrus said seriously.

"I believe so too. However, Dahlia tells me nothing anymore. All she ever says is I already have the answer but I do not know what she means," Emma sighed.

She had made contact with another sister of Odelina, Dahlia the Oracle. She had been the one to create the prophecy Emma and Elias had found in the grimoire and it was also her that helped Emma to awaken her powers in time to reach Selvalley so she could save Elias but of course, prophecies and predictions are never certain. Anyone can change the future by their actions and that is what Annora did.

"What do you propose we do?" Syrus asked.

"Well, we've caught another one of Odelina's followers and I've since created a serum to slow down the hemlock's poison. Could you see if you could get something out of him? He's in the dungeon," Emma asked.

"With pleasure." Syrus smiled, bowing slightly before turning to leave.

"Oh, and Syrus!" Emma called right as he was about to exit the room. "Be careful when you venture out at nights. Celestria sees you."

Frowning, Syrus nodded at her before heading down to the hidden dungeon.

He asked a few knights to accompany him, most of which he was familiar with as they had fought together with Calen in the war before.

They journeyed to the first floor as they bent several corners until they reached the wall with a single statue in its corner. Using his hand to tilt the statue's head backwards, the wall ejected to reveal the entrance to the dungeon.

They retrieved a few torches from the walls before making their way down the dark staircase.

The floor was muddy and damp as usual while the smell of rot and racid air plagued their nostrils.

Ignoring the stench, Syrus walked through the hall while the criminals threw endless insults at him.

As he reached the final cellar, he took the keys from one of the knights to open it, pulling open the cell with his hand.

He instructed them to wait for him as he stepped inside, his torch igniting the enclosed space while it shone over the body of a dying man.

The man was deathly pale, sweat washing over his body while he hiccuped in fear. His bald head slightly bobbed up and down on the ground and his face was muddled with sweat, mud and grime. Blood stained his raggedy, brown clothing and across his mouth, telling Syrus that the poison was indeed working.

Stooping down over him, Syrus pointed a fingernail at his throat, running it across the perimeter of his neck.

"What is your name?" Syrus asked him.

"J-joshua." The man stammered, his mouth stained with blood.

"Do you want to die, Joshua?" Syrus questioned.

"N-no, no," He admitted, coughing as he spoke.

"So why then, have you killed yourself for a dead witch? What promises could she possibly fulfill in the afterlife?" Syrus asked curiously.

"T-the Vylisians..." he tried to say, choking on the word, "they will m-make us immortal."

"Immortal?" Syrus raised his eyebrows.

"Ye-yes. They will take b-back their lands and kill those who oppose t-hem, He continued, stuttering on his words.

"Is that what she told you?" Syrus asked.

"Yo-your maker is dead. H-his daughter is next," The man said.

"Say it again," Syrus dared, his hands clutched around the man's neck.

"T-the Vylisians wi-will," the man tried to say but Syrus had released him, running his fingernail across his neck to cut his throat.

Watching the blood leak unto the muddy floor, he stared into the open eyes of the dead man who was soon surrounded by a pool of his own blood.

"The Vylisians will perish along with everyone else," Syrus said, standing to leave.

"Clean this up." He instructed the knights, heading back up to the castle.

Celine the handmaiden watched as the Princess picked flowers from the castle gardens, a section of land new to Castle Gandalwell since it had always been under the rule of ignorant men who cared naught about beauty.

Celestria picked periwinkle and sunflowers in her hands, sticking a marigold in her hair as she ran through the flowerbeds chasing bees and laughing.

"Slow down, little one," Celine called at her, causing Celestria to decrease her speed to wait for her mother's handmaiden.

"I'm thirsty, Ms. Celine," Celestria said nicely.

"O-oh, well do you want blood or.."

"Just juice. Please," She answered.

The handmaiden had taken a while to get use to the existence of supernatural creatures especially the Princess, who was a cut above the rest with her brilliance and complexities.

"Oh, okay. Wait here. The guards are right there if you need them. I'll be back shortly," Celine said, pointing towards the entrance of the garden before heading off to the kitchen.

Watching the handmaiden disappear, Celestria turned to her flowers once more, walking over to the rose bush which was her favorite of them all.

Her attention was drawn to a group of dead roses under the bush, making her stoop down to pick one of them up. As she twirled it in her hand, she pricked her finger on the rotted thorn, immediately dropping the flower as she winced, mouthing the word ouch.

The dead rose fell to ground as her finger bled, dripping onto its brown petals to paint it red once more.

Celestria's little eyes widened as she stared at the bloody rose, picking it up again while her wound healed.

She twirled the rose in her hand, watching it transform before her eyes, its red color returning like it were just picked from the rose bush.

Her gaze shifted between her hand and the fresh rose, wonder taking over her mind as to how it was possible for such a thing to happen.

"Celestria!" The handmaiden called, plucking her from her thoughts and she dropped the rose again.

"I'm coming!" She shouted, stepping onto the rose as she ran towards the handmaiden, heading inside the castle.

How did you guys like chapter 1?

So many new things are happening! Can't wait for you guys to see.

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