#5

As usual, after we had our bath and dinner, we all gathered at the fireplace, including Thalia.

Alcmene and mum sat down on one couch, while Thalia and I sat opposite them waiting for mum to speak.

“The kingdom of Narthdal was one of the most powerful kingdoms in the mystical realm. Our moon goddess, with fertility, riches and power, greatly blessed us. It is said that the royal family has a special connection to the moon goddess, as they all have grey eyes that are as bright as the moon.

Your parents were the king and queen of Narthdal. King Reagan and Queen Jamila Valerian- moon. I was the lady-in-waiting for your mum when she got married to your dad and became Queen. Your parents were very loved by the people of Narthdal. Your father was the wisest and strongest king Narthdal ever had. He was called Titan because of his immense strength and exceptional skill. In battle, he ran through men on the battlefield and he has defeated all kingdoms that waged war against Narthdal, which made kingdoms from far and near fear and respect him.

The kingdom of Narthdal was its most powerful and prosperous under the reign of your father. Until one dreadful night, we got attacked by a demon- god ‘the very epitome of evil itself, the dark one ‘ called Namlock. He broke through our borders with his dark knights, shape-shifting demons, and other evil creatures. They killed and sucked out the souls of anyone that came their way as they invaded the kingdom. They were already halfway through the kingdom when news of the attack reached your father. Your father gathered all the warriors he could find and rode off to defeat Namlock. He destroyed most of the dark knights and fought with the demon god, but he was already weakened from the cuts he got from the blades of the dark Knight which oozed off dark magic. Namlock took advantage of this and attacked the areas where the cuts were. King Reagan couldn’t take it anymore as he got weakened, he fell to his knees, Namlock then slashed at his throat several times until his head was almost severed from his neck and then removed his head from his neck and held it up in the air for everyone to see as a clear sign of his victory. A gloomy atmosphere padded over Narthdal. The cries and wails of the people filled the air that awful night, for, as our mighty king fell, Narthdal fell with him.

The people of Narthdal were devastated, but your mother, Queen Jamila, was the most devastated and heartbroken by your father’s death. we were all miserable as we lived in slavery and pain under Namlock. we prayed fervently to our moon goddess to save us from the demon god. On the night of the moon eclipse, our moon goddess sent a golden scroll to us which gave a prophecy which read that on the next night of the moon eclipse, a child of royal blood shall be born and it will be the one to defeat and save us from Namlock. Nam lock heard of this prophecy and sent his dark knights to kill all members of the royal family. We found out that your mother was pregnant with you, so we hid her in an underground coven of the witches who were still loyal to the crown.

On the night of your birth, Namlock found out that your mother was expecting you and where we were hiding her, so he sent his dark knights to come take the both of you. In other to keep you safe, your mother gave you to me and begged me to run away with you and never to return until when you are ready to defeat Namlock. Before I left with you, she named you Amaris and the witches in the coven gave me an invincible cloth which hid us as I ran away from Narthdal to The Enchanted garden, where I used that tree to leave the mystical realm “

“That was how I ended up in another realm taking care of you, mum said as she ended her story.

‘ Woah’ I sighed as I tried to comprehend everything I just heard. I sat there confused as I stared at my mum because just this morning I was a normal 17-year-old girl whose only worry in the world was SATs exams and college applications and now I’m finding out that I’m a princess from some mystical land who has to defeat some demon god.

“this is a lot to take in”, I said as I massaged my temple

I know honey, that’s why I couldn’t tell you all this while. I had to make sure you were ready to know the truth, she said as scurried over to sit beside me and placed her hands on my lap.

“was that why you brought me to this place? Because you think I’m ready to fight some evil demon god “

“how, how in the world is a teenage girl supposed to defeat someone who killed my dad, who you said was the most powerful man in Narthdal ... how!

“you are not just any ordinary teenage girl, you are special”, mum said as she cupped my face in her palms, “just like all the other royals of Narthdal, you have a special connection to the moon goddess and also the chosen one, which makes you specially gifted by the moon goddess

“you can do it. We just have to train you and help you harness your powers,”

“and how are you going to do that?

“well, if I may, I know someone who could help,” uncle Alcmene chips in

“who”

“Basilah, a warrior I met when I went searching for you and your mum and other ways we could defeat Namlock. She has a camp in the far north, up the mountains where she helps teenagers like you whose kingdoms were destroyed and were left the sole survivor and takes in other stray kids and trains them.

“I think she will be the best person who can help you access your powers in this situation,”