"She knew more than the others liked to think."

Honey gave her brother a reassuring smile, one she didn't need to fake, as he turned to the sky, an unforgiving scowl plastered on his face. She knew it was better to let him rant about the kingdom's rulers here, where only she could hear him, rather than out in the open, where someone might dare accuse him of treason against the king, or more specifically, queen. 

From what Honey had heard, the king's wife, Malora, was the real power behind the throne, and the king was really just a sniveling fool, happy to live in his palace and let the villages nearest to the Wild Woods be destroyed.

At least the queen was trying to do something to keep the northern villages safe, unlike her husband. Honey only wished she could've had found a better way to do so, other than sending all of the kingdom's young boys into battle against the ruthless forces of the Wild Woods. 

From all that Honey had heard, which wasn't much since hardly anyone returned from the war front, was that the creatures that lived in the Wild Woods weren't like those who lived in Amaryllis. They were something called Mutare. Creatures as dark as night, and who lived by no laws or kinsmanship.

The citizens of Amaryllis were different than them, though. They were the chosen people of the gods above, a race called the Lekki. A race created by the Lady of Light's noble hand. Or so it was written in the Holy Texts of Amaryllis, a collection of stories telling about how the kingdom was created after the Lady of Light defeated the Dark Master in battle a thousand years ago.

However, Honey didn't really believe in the writings of a bunch of madmen from a millennium ago. Honey found herself not able to believe anything she couldn't see or touch with her own two hands.

"Do you think I'll survive?" Aldwin asked, his words breaking the chilling silence that had been stretching between the two siblings as Honey let her mind wander. "The first battle, I mean," he said, looking towards the brightening sky. "Then the war."

"Of course," Honey said, not hesitating before answering. She didn't need to think about the answer. She just knew it. "You're quick and resourceful. I'm certain you'll make any Mutare that dares to cross blades with you regret it," she said, doing her best to reassure her nervous brother. 

Then again, he had every right to be nervous. On the first of every month, soldiers came and collected any boy who had reached the age of fifteen, before taking them straight to the front lines with only some old armor and a dull sword. It was in the first battle that most boys lost their lives.

The first day of the last month of the year was only a mere two days from now, and both of the siblings knew it. "Everyone says that," Aldwin sighed. "I mean, doesn't everyone want to believe that their son will make a difference in the war?" he asked, sounding desperate, as he looked at Honey with his dark blue eyes. "That their brother will be the reason that the war ends and the Mutare are destroyed, once and for all?" Aldwin turned away.

"Well not everyone is my brother," Honey stated, pride filling her voice. She truly did believe in her brother. He was going to be the change in the war. "You're both talented with a blade and quick on your feet," she stated, her voice unfaltering. "You'll be fine in battle," Honey said, hesitating before she added, "just like father," she whispered, then turned away to hide the smile that was beginning to reform on her lips. 

Frowning, Honey turned back to the sunrise, her eyes filled with an ancient sorrow.

"I, on the other hand, will be forced to wed some smelly old man or another who survived the war, and give birth to child after child," she sighed. "I'd rather face the Mutare than that."

Aldwin let out a snort of laughter, shaking his head in amusement at his sister. She couldn't possibly mean that, right? Either way, she always knew how to make Aldwin feel just a little bit better. 

"Thanks, Honey," he said, smiling. "If it's okay, can I be alone for a while?" Aldwin asked and Honey said nothing, just simply nodded before walking back to the village. On her way back, Honey passed a group of older men, that smelt of the sea and whiskey, making their way to the shore to begin their day's work as fishermen.

Astrakane was one of the many fishing villages built along the Eastern Sea, which had always been rich with fish, even in the most bitter of winter's days. However, their small village was one of the northernmost villages in Amaryllis, making it the closest to the Wild Woods. 

Honey could probably walk straight into the woods if she wanted to, escaping Amaryllis and all of its hardships. If only it wasn't for the dark creatures, the Mutare, hiding within the shadows. And the worst of all the Mutare was said to be lurking in those trees, just beyond her village. The one called Golden Eyes.

Golden Eyes was said to be the legendary guardian of the border between the Wild Woods and Amaryllis in the days before the war. He was said to have been keeping the Lekki out of the Wild Woods, or "protecting it," for nearly five centuries before the war broke out and the fragile border between the two worlds shattered, which was completely foolish since no creature could live that long and possibly still be alive. 

Yet, all of the stories portrayed him as the immortal guardian of the Wild Woods, his face frozen in youth. However, Honey thought of him as little more than a story to get children to do as they're told.

As Honey got closer to her village she saw the familiar bright colors of the houses, that rivaled the vibrant colors of the sunrise. The houses were painted these vibrant colors many of years ago so that the fishermen could see their village from far out on the ocean's waves, and the bright colors would help safely guide the sailors home. 

Although even though Honey had never been so far out on sea she couldn't see the shore before, she doubted the sailors could see the colors of the houses before they were close enough to find their own way back home.

It wasn't long before Honey found herself in the busy market, where merchants sold everything from food and wine to rare trinkets from other worlds. Townsfolk crowded around the small stalls, where the merchants sold their goods, under vibrant cloth sheets hanging overhead to give some shade from the scorching sun to the merchants that now called out to Honey, trying to get her to buy every sort of items. 

A small group of vagabonds danced in the square, their music hypnotic to Honey's ears. As she passed, she dropped a coin into the cup that a young girl held. Honey had always felt pity towards those who wandered the world, without a permanent home to call their own. But she also knew they liked it that way, and she wasn't one to tell them how to live. 

Others, however, thought of vagabonds as they did Mutare since the vagabonds were the only ones who could navigate the strange paths of the Wild Woods, yet refused to share their knowledge with the rest of the kingdom. They were a strange group of Lekki, but in the end, they were still Lekki.

Honey continued down the path, passing by people praying to the Lady of Light and the Balance Goddess to help them defeat the Mutare. Some called for her to join them. Honey, however, didn't pay them any heed and only paused to buy a loaf of bread from the baker as he passed, then continued through the market, like she did every morning. 

For her, it was just like every other day of her life, thus far. Get up early to see the sunrise. Listen to Aldwin growl about the kingdom's rulers. Visit the market.

Only, what Honey didn't realize how her life was about to change, forever.

A U T H O R ' S N O T E

And that's the end of chapter one! Wow, how fun to write. Anyways the real fun begins once chapter two dawns, just as my ominous warning suggests!!

See ya next time the three people who can actually deal with my crappy writing.

*Sighs*