Chapter One: Fall of Grilux

In the Northern part of Gaedrillon woods where the Lake of Sea Serpents can be found, Archer, the famous dragon slayer is up for hunting the three-headed snake. Other than being called dragon slayer, he is also known as the beast hunter who walks at night, killing every bit of beasts interfering with his journey. Being a deserter for over a hundred years, he either kills for fun or money but mostly, it's the latter.

"Fuck!" he ferociously cursed when the serpent swung its huge tail, making him lose his balance when he stepped back.

The horn-mad snake once again swung its tail but Archer perfectly dodged it by floating in the air and getting ready to attack. The three-headed serpent then growled in anger when Archer attacked from behind and cut one of its heads. Unfortunately, the snake quickly recovered and grew its head back in a split of seconds. 

"Bullshit. So you can grow your fucking head back, you little shit!" Wanting to end the fight and get his reward from Lord Alwyn, Archer, with his sword positioned to kill, dived straight into the serpent's heart.

He made sure the attack didn't kill the beast by just cutting its heart halfway, making it whimper in pain as its body started to get paralyzed. Tired of the serpent's bleating, Archer inserted his hand inside its wounded chest and squeezed its heart until it burst in his palm.

"Damn, that feels good." Feeling the absolute contentment rushing through his veins, he cut the three heads of the beast and put them inside his sack. He needs them as proof before claiming his coins. 

"Fuck. Have you been eating shits? Your blood fucking stinks!" Archer cursed when the serpent's blood spit out on his face. 

Archer, without minding his body bathing with the beast's blood bolted towards his horse, Panther, and left the woods with a triumphant smirk pestered on his bloody face. 

*

Meanwhile, in the prosperous Kingdom of Grilux, a peaceful and extravagant party is being held as a celebration of Princess Vivienne Aurelie Eloise's eighteenth birthday. The whole land is in the state of celebrating with the guests from the neighboring kingdoms. Some are dancing, some are laughing and some are presenting their gifts to the princess. Everyone is happy and entertained, at least that's what it seems to be.

"What do you think about having a husband, darling?" Queen Emrys leaned closer to the princess and whispered. The young princess, surprised by her mother's sudden question frowned. "I don't want to marry. I'm still young, mother," she softly opposed with a low tone.

"Don't rush things, Emrys. Vivienne just turned eighteen for heaven's sake. Let her enjoy her youth before bearing a child," Aldeon, the King of Grilux commented.

The king's statement did calm Vivienne's nerves but it wasn't so long when her heart started pounding again. She's so sure nothing good will happen as King Rory stepped forward and introduced his son. "Your highness, may I present to you my son, Prince George of Geopiterra."

Prince George, with his head, held high in confidence proudly stepped forward and bowed before the rulers of Grilux. "Greetings! King Aldeon, Queen Emrys, and to you, my lovely Princess Vivienne Aurelie Eloise!"

"Rise young prince and state your purpose," King Aldeon told him. The Prince of Geopiterra stood up and composed himself as he stared at the princess who, at the moment shows no interest in him. 

"With all due respect, your highness, may I ask the princess' hand for marriage?" he boldly asked and it caught Vivienne's attention.

Princess Vivienne is more than terrified of what her parents might reply to the prince's proposal. She just refused when she was asked about getting married and now, judging from her parents' expression, they might just agree and let her marry Prince George.

"No, I won't marry you. I'm sorry, Prince George," she uttered before any of her parents could even speak. She had to oppose or she will lose her freedom. 

"Vivienne!" the queen warned her and gently squeezed her hand underneath the table.

Receiving a rejection from Princess Vivienne, George started to lose his temper because of shame.

Luckily, Queen Emrys quickly reacted to lessen the tension. "Well, our daughter acted recklessly because she doesn't know Prince George that much. Hence, I shall let both of them dance and have the chance to know each other. I'm sure Vivienne will change her mind after that."

Vivienne didn't stop herself from groaning as she looked at her mother, telling her to withdraw her words. Instead of listening to her daughter's protest, the queen gave a wide smile at the guests and signed the orchestra to change the music. 

"Now, let the dance begin!" she announced, ignoring Vivienne's query.

The forced princess had no other choice but to rise from her throne and walk towards the Prince of Geopiterra. As soon as Vivienne took George's hand, the prince squeezed her palm and she found it offensive and disrespectful on her side. It was then when she thought the Prince of Geopiterra is quite rude and would never fit to be her husband. She dislikes George and his immeasurable ego including the horrendous smirks he would give her when she caught him staring at her.

"Marry me and I will make you the richest princess among the other princesses," George started the conversation as they are dancing. Vivienne, being uncomfortable with how George is tightly wrapping his hands around her waist, looked away. "Please, stop with the proposal. You're just giving me many reasons not to marry you!" the princess gushed.

George fiercely pulled Vivienne very close to him as he whispered, "I'm going to make you my wife at all cost. Prepare yourself, princess!"

"Have you gone nuts?! Did you stomp your wit?! Can't you see I don't like you, George?!" Vivienne sneered as he pushed George away. She was about to walk out from the dance floor when a disturbing shout from a knight put her into great fear. 

"We are under attack!"

King Aldeon was alarmed by his knight's sudden news. "Who dared to interfere with my daughter's celebration?!" he growled and his voice echoed all over the hall. He's beyond furious and close to losing his temper.

"I saw the flag, they're from the Kingdom of Weacomor!" the knight announced. Everyone started panicking when King Felix drew his sword and pointed it straight to King Aldeon.

The Grilux's king, on the other hand, made his way into the crowd to come face-to-face with the treacherous King of Weacomor. "How dare you plot a treason behind my back, you bastard!" King Aldeon screeched in wrath.

Before Aldeon could even draw his sword, some of the men in the hall took off their cloaks, revealing their armor hiding behind their pretentious extravagant clothing. They surrounded Aldeon with their sword pointed at his throat, making him withdraw his plan of attacking. 

"You let your guard down, Aldeon. I'm going to take your kingdom by killing you and everyone around here!" Felix sneered with a wicked expression on his vile face.

"Michael! Take the princess and the queen away from here!" King Aldeon shouted at the top of his lungs as he started fighting against the knights around him. A full-scale battle begins and Michael took immediate action by taking the fazed princess away from the dance floor. 

"No! I can't leave my father alone!" Vivienne protested and tried to escape from Michael's grip but her strength did nothing. 

"Don't be silly and get out from here, Vivienne! This is an order from the king!" King Aldeon once again yelled. Queen Emrys is aware of what doom will the kingdom face hence, she hurriedly joined Michael and Vivienne to escape.

"If Grilux will fall, you know our last straw, my queen! Now go and save our daughter! She is Grilux's last hope!" That was the last thing Vivienne heard from his father before they exited the hall in a hurry.

"Will father be alright?" Vivienne asked her mother as they are heading to the west wing of the castle. 

"Your father is strong, he will be fine. The best thing we can do for him is to stay safe, alright?" The queen muttered before barging inside the forbidden room.

"What are we doing here? This is the forbidden room!" The king strictly prohibits anyone from entering the west wing because of the forbidden room and Vivienne never dared to disobey his father's words. 

"It's not forbidden anymore. Here, take our crest and don't lose it! Felix won't rule our kingdom without our crest so, don't ever give it to someone else, do you understand?" The queen's words sparked Vivienne's curiosity and inflicted fear upon her. 

"Why does it sound like you won't come with me, mother?" she asked.

"Just in case something might come in your way, you will have to escape by yourself and find Archer Grigoras. Tell him you're the Princess of Grilux and he knows what to do," the queen added.

"No! You're coming with me, mother! We're going to escape at all cost! I can't do it alone!"

"Don't be stubborn, Vivienne! This is for the sake of our kingdom! Do you want to see it crumbling and turning into dust? There's still hope as long as you're alive!" Queen Emrys gently put both of her arms on Vivienne's shoulders, giving her a soft stare while running her fingers on the princess' hair.

"Leave and come back when you're strong enough to reclaim our kingdom. There's no telling what things may turn into because chaos is inevitable. Grilux is under siege hence, you are to flee from here and live, my daughter. I'm going to miss every inch of you most especially your ginger hair and your soft giggles. May your father and mine's memories stay in your heart, do recall us in your sleep and wake up stronger each day. I see hope in you and you're strong because you are your father's daughter, the princess of Grilux. Now go and I will stay behind, I will fight side by side with your father. We won't just surrender the kingdom without even trying to fight until our last breath."

"How am I supposed to find Archer Grigoras? Never did I once take a good look at him," Vivienne wheezed with all the frustration inside her. She's so unsure what to do without her parents on her side. 

"Archer has white hair, sparkling blue eyes, and wearing a pitch-black hunting suit," Queen Emrys pronounced, remembering how Archer looked like the last time he visited the kingdom nineteen years ago.

"Your highness, I'm sorry to butt in but the princess has to go. The Weacomor army had reached the castle's gate," Michael announced, agitated and alarmed.

"Take her somewhere safe, Michael. You know what to do," Emrys ordered.

"I will, my queen. I shall do my best to keep the princess safe though it'll cost my life," Michael pledged before giving his final bow to the Queen of Grilux.

"I love you, mother." Those were the words Vivienne could ever utter before Michael pulled her away from the room.

Heading down to the underground chamber, Vivienne looked back for the last time and saw Queen Marita of Weacomor shot two arrows from outside the room. The next thing she heard is her mother's deafening scream because of pain. Vivienne vividly saw Queen Marita attacked her mother and King Felix fighting with his father. There's no way she would forget Weacomor's treachery, not until the day she will let her last breath go.

"We can get out from here, princess. Please hold on and I'll keep you safe," Michael assured her as he chanted some spell that opened the door at the back of the castle. Fortunately, no one is around except King Aldeon's horse. 

"Hop in, princess," Michael purred as he assisted Vivienne to ride his father's warrior horse.

Michael used his horse as they left the castle like the speed of an arrow. Just as Vivienne thought everything will be fine, luck turned its back from her. A dozen of Weacomor army is chasing them while chanting the words she fears the most.

"Kill the Princess of Grilux! It's an order from Princess Beatrice!"

"I'm afraid this is as far as I can go, princess. It's an honor serving you and the royal family. Please take good care of yourself and fulfill the queen's will. Leave as far as you can and make sure they will never get their hands on you!" Michael acclaimed then he stopped his horse.

Vivienne did the same but Michael spoke again before she could even utter her protest. "Go! Save yourself! You're the last hope of Grilux! Take her away from here, Marcellus! Save the princess!"

Vivienne is so hesitant to leave Michael behind but Marcellus, King Aldeon's horse turned the other side and ran away. Looking back, Vivienne saw how the great tower of Grilux fell into the ground trapping both Michael and the Weacomor knights. 

"Michael!" she shouted at the top of her lungs but she can't do anything but weep as Marcellus is taking her away.

Now that she's miles away from the castle, Marcellus finally stopped at the top of the Grilux hills. Vivienne almost fell to her knees when she witnessed the burning Grilux unraveled before her hazel eyes. It didn't take a minute when she heard the bell rang, it was then when she realized she lost his father and Grilux fell in the hands of King Felix. The home she once loved and cherished now had turned into dust.

"The kingdom I was about to rule someday had fallen," she reckoned, wretched and anguished. Tuning her back from the burning city, she gently caressed the horse's head. 

"Let's get moving, Marcellus." Her mother, her father, Michael, their royal advisor, and the people of Grilux. They're all gone and she's all alone in the woods not knowing what dangers she might encounter while finding Archer. 

"I am the last hope of Grilux hence, I will live and reclaim the kingdom," she declared before making her way into the woods.