1 Chapter 1: "Present Day"

Ten years had passed since the Central Kingdom had fallen, the castle and its surroundings were reduced to rubble, and the outskirts of the city were inhabited by the ones who survived the invasion, by this time the King's son William was thirteen years old. he was never allowed to return to the city whenever his Mother and brother were going to trade goods. he always asked "why can't I come with you?" but they always said, "it's too dangerous for you." and "we wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you."

This time around he disobeyed and trailed them into the city, he had always heard stories of the great city in its days and had always wanted to see what it was like, he hid outside the city walls or what's left of it, behind a column not too far from the entrance of the Kingdom until they had gone to the makeshift market to trade, he found an old cloak on the ground he took it up and brushed it off and threw it over himself to conceal his identity from Joy and Evan just in case he ran into them on his little exploration.

While he was off exploring the kingdom all the stories he heard about how great and majestic the kingdom was in its prime compared to what it is now, it was disappointing to him and heart-wrenching, as he made his way around he noticed how poverty-stricken the people were and the look on their faces, they were really suffering and deep in his heart, he wanted to do something to help them but what could he do?

He saw an elderly man begging, he had a few coins on him so he gave them to him, "thank you, young man, how kind of you." said Phillip. "it's the least I could do, I wish I had more to give you." said William, he went on to ask him "what really happened here?" then the old man told him of how the other kingdoms invaded there's and slaughtered the king and his family but they spared his eldest daughter and took her and some of the people into captivity," even though it happened ten years ago, it still feels like yesterday," said Phillip.

After hearing what Phillip said the young prince was very much displeased, it made him upset. "why did they do such a thing?" asked William, the old man told him they were looking for magical items but they didn't find any." I wonder what's so important about them that they had to destroy the entire kingdom?" William thought to himself, William then said "oh I have to go now, by the way, what's your name?" the old man said "Phillip.

"That's a neat name, I'm William nice to meet you," his smile warmed the old man's heart. he then made his way to another part of the kingdom that wasn't so run down as where he was coming from." some parts of the castle are still intact," said William, he saw tents and people gathered, as he made his way closer to the stage he saw a man who had a young girl in chains.

"Come one, come all, step right up, come and see the wonders of my magic show," said the Ringmaster while the young girl was performing her magic tricks, the prince was fascinated by her magic he had never seen anything like it before, as he took a closer look at the girl he didn't like what he saw, she was unhappy, she looked broken and she was suffering, deep in his heart he was troubled," this isn't the way how someone should be treated," said William.

At the end of the show the prince went over to talk to her, he asked her what her name was she replied with a low broken tone "I'm Rose," he asked her what she had done to be chained up like that, she told him, "I have tried to escape on numerous occasions but I would always get caught, so he chained me up with these chains and he added a binding spell to it."

"Why would someone want to make another person's life so difficult, it's clear that you don't want to be here," said William," all that he cares about is money," said Rose," how can I set you free?" asked William as he was shaking the door of the cage, looking for a way to break Rose out.

"If I get out of this cage, I would still need to undo this binding spell," said Rose, "what do you need to undo it?" asked William, " there is a Mace inside his tent, it belongs to me, if I could get my hands on it I could undo the spell, he has it wrapped in a black cloth," said Rose, William leaned to his left to observe the tent, " it doesn't seem like he is there," thought William to himself.

"Ok I'll get it for you, be right back," said William as he was making his way to the tent," really?" asked an astonished Rose," yea you deserved to be free, you're not an animal you don't belong in a cage, don't worry you will set free in a bit, I promise you that," said William as he was making his way to back of the tent.