[Altissia Empire, Windlilly Valley, Heaven's Home Orphanage]

The girl, who had blonde hair tied up in a bun, was wearing a white dress shirt with a blue long skirt, black stockings, and brown boots. Despite her attire, she was playing happily with the children and had a big smile on her face. The sound of her name, "Rowan!", reached her ears as she looked up with her emerald eyes to see a man approaching her. He had short black hair, was dressed in a priest outfit, and had a pair of black eyes and glasses. Greeting Father Maxwell with a smile, Rowan walked up to him and said, "Hello Father, what can I do for you today?"

"Would you be able to cook dinner tonight, Rowan?" asked Father Maxwell.

"What did you say?" Rowan asked, sighing with confusion. "Where Sister Amy?"

Father Maxwell let out a heavy sigh as he crossed his arms in front of him. "The reason for her outburst was due to the fact that she was present at the workshop where she was supposed to test out a new ingredient for alchemy."

"Again!?" Rowan exclaimed with a sigh, clearly not thrilled about the prospect. "I guess I can do that."

"Rowan," said Father Maxwell with a smile, "I am grateful for your help."

"Big Sister Rowan." asked one of the children. "Are you cooking today?"

"Absolutely!" exclaimed Rowan, her face lighting up with a smile.

The children are cheering loudly while Rowan is smiling and feeling someone tapping her leg. Rowan observed the little girl with short black hair, who was dressed in a white short-sleeved dress and black flats. The little girl looked at Rowan with her bright blue eyes and addressed her as "Big Sister Rowan." She asked, "Can I ask you a question?"

"Yes Bella?" Rowan said with a smile as he knelt down to her level.

"I learn from class about how the chosen king save our world from monster." said Bella with smile on her face. "I am curious to know if you believe that our king will be able to protect us from the monster."

"Well, yes," said Rowan, picking up Bella and grinning. "In my opinion, I have faith that the king will provide protection to all of us, just as our previous king did."

"Rowan!?" said Father Maxwell while Rowan look at him. "Should you be shopping right now?"

As Rowan was putting Bella down, she forgot something and then started to leave while laughing and heading towards town.

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[Altissia Empire, Windlilly Valley, Ayes Fortress}

"My King," one of the guards reported to him, "We have received a letter from the King of Aizista Empire."

Seated on his throne, the young male with short blond hair, dressed in royal attire, cast a gaze upon the guards with his captivating blue eyes, and with a sigh, he questioned, "What is it?"

"The King of the Aizista Empire has sent us a request for an alliance," he informed the king.

"Is that really so?" questioned the king with blond hair, a smirk playing on his lips. "I was approached by him, and he began desperately begging for my assistance."

"King Felix Ambrose," acknowledged the guard, meeting Felix's gaze. "In light of the demon attack, he has made a request for our aid."

With an eye roll and a sigh, Felix expressed his sentiment, stating, "In order for him to receive my assistance, he must be willing to compensate me."

"I understood," said the guard before he walked away.

Dressed in a military outfit, a young female with long white hair approached Felix and locked eyes with him, her blue eyes shining, as she addressed him by his royal title, "King Felix."

"Commander Nissa Chalice," Felix said, a wide smile adorning his face. "What has brought you to this place today?"

"The meeting is focused on the demon attack and entails the participation of other rulers," Nissa lamented. "Have you considered the potential consequences if a demon were to attack the Altissia Empire and its people, and what steps will be taken to address this threat?"

Felix directs his gaze towards the Knight Core that is in close proximity to him and lets out a sigh, questioning, "Why?"

"Please, Your Majesty, I implore you to take this seriously," Nissa said. "If the demon were to unleash an assault on the Altissia Empire, it is highly likely that panic would ensue among the populace."

As Nissa froze up in fear, Felix directed a cold stare towards her and called out her name, intensifying the tense atmosphere.

"Yes," Nissa said with a hint of agreement in her voice.

"I am the King of the Altissia Empire, and my actions are dictated by my own discretion," declared Felix. "Besides, I have such control over everyone that even if I were to tell a lie, they would unquestioningly believe me."

Nissa glanced over at Felix, letting out a sigh before responding, "If that's what you want, I'll go along with it."

Felix, with a smirk on his face, commented, "Good," as he gazed out of the window. "My strategy is proceeding smoothly."

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[Altissia Empire, Windlilly Valley}

Despite the usual hustle and bustle, Rowan successfully navigated through the busy shopping alley. With a smile on her face, Rowan observes the bustling business, as it always seems to be thriving. She leisurely strolls around, eventually making her way to her regular shop. A young boy with short blue hair, who appeared to be around her age and was dressed in a white dress shirt, black pants, and brown boots, looked at her with his green eyes and said, "Rowan, it's good to see you again."

"Hey, Roy," Rowan said happily, a smile evident on her face. "It appears that you are scheduled to work today."

"Yeah, the boss wants me to work because we are currently experiencing a shortage of staff," Roy said with a smile. "Are we going to go with our regular choice today?"

"Yeah, I'm the one who will be preparing tonight's meal," Rowan stated.

Roy, I need you to start packing the usual stuff for Rowan. While doing so, he smiles and jokingly says, "I bet Sister Amy had something come up, am I right?"

Rowan, feeling frustrated and disappointed, let out a deep sigh, crossed her arms tightly together, and formed a frown on her face. She explained, "Sister Amy was given the responsibility of testing out a new ingredient for alchemy, but regrettably, she made an error in the process."

"It's that bad," Roy said, his smile barely noticeable.

"Yes, I will be the one cooking dinner again," Rowan said with a sigh, raising her voice.  "I don't understand why Sister Amy feels the need to make my life more difficult."

Roy handed her a bag filled with the usual ingredients and flashed a smile, assuring her, "I'm quite certain it will turn out just fine."

As Rowan sighed, Roy found amusement and let out a brief laugh. "Hey, Rowan," Roy said, his tone indicating that he had something to discuss. "What is your impression of King Felix?"

While Rowan gazes at Roy, she pauses and reflects for a moment. She realizes that she has never had the opportunity to meet King Felix, but she has heard wonderful tales about him. With a smile on her face, Rowan chuckled and expressed her thoughts, "Personally, I think he is an exceptional king who will go above and beyond to protect his people from any harm. I mean, he truly is a remarkable individual, just like his father."

With a smile, Roy expressed his thoughts, saying, "I was actually thinking the same thing. Our King possesses kindness, courage, and great strength."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Rowan's smile lights up her face as she places her trust in King Felix's ability to shield his people, completely unaware of the dark twist of fate that will unfold before her eyes. "I think it's time for me to leave now." Rowan said as she wave Roy goodbye and head back to Heaven's Home Orphanage.

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{At Heaven's Home Orphanage}

As Rowan made her way back to Heaven's Home Orphanage, she was greeted with excitement by the children who ran up to her, eager to welcome her back home.

Rowan's face lit up with a smile as she caught sight of a young woman, her hair a vibrant shade of red and her attire a nun's habit, engaged in conversation with Father Maxwell. Uttering the words, "Welcome back, Rowan," she gazed at her with her green eyes, filled with delight.

Rowan called out her name, "Sister Amy," and let out a deep sigh, expressing his frustration, "It is because of you that I have been given the responsibility of cooking."

"I apologize for that, Rowan," Amy said with a soft laugh, "I was experiencing some difficulties with alchemy."

Rowan, with a sigh and her eyes fixed on Amy, said, "You owe me for this, so consider yourself lucky that I'm saving you."

Amy smiled and embraced Rowan, saying "Thank you so much."

Amy smiled and let go of Rowan, who happily ran off to the kitchen to start making dinner. The children, along with Father Maxwell, were playing in the living room, enjoying their time together. Rowan worked diligently in the kitchen, preparing a delicious meal for everyone. After a while, the aroma of the cooked food filled the air, and Rowan announced, "Dinner is ready!" The children, Amy and Father Maxwell quickly gathered around the table, eager to enjoy the meal that Rowan had lovingly prepared.

The children were filled with astonishment at the sight of the food that Rowan had prepared, and as a result, everyone gathered around and sat down to partake in the delightful feast.

"This Storm Rosemary Buns tastes amazing, Big Sister Rowan!" one of the children exclaimed.

"Broasted Bittersweet Snapper is absolutely delicious," Sister Amy exclaimed, a smile lighting up her face, "Rowan's talent in the kitchen is nothing short of divine."

With a gentle smile, Father Maxwell complimented Rowan's culinary skills, stating, "These dishes, Rowan, are truly amazing."

Rowan, with a smile on her face, expressed her gratitude to everyone.

Once dinner was finished, the children changed into their pajamas while Father Maxwell and Sister Amy took care of washing the dishes. Rowan walk to the children as she smiles at them "Okay kids it time for bed."

Sighing in unison, the children expressed their disappointment with an "Aww."

"Could you please grace us with a story, Big Sister Rowan?" Bella asked inquisitively.

Rowan said "Okay" while she positioned herself in front of the children and asked, "Which story would you like to hear?"

"The story of Elysia," remarked one of the children.

"Oh, you all desire to hear the creation story of our world, Elysia," Rowan exclaimed, her face beaming with joy. "Allow me to regale you with the tale of Elysia."

In a distant era, our world Elysia was forged by celestial deities from the heavenly or Divine Realm. However, during the time the Divine was busy working on Elysia, a god named Tanos, who is known as the god of darkness, decided to create a separate realm known as the Demon World or Demon Realm. The god of darkness, had always been a formidable force, but with the passing of time, his power and malevolence grew exponentially. Consumed by a relentless hunger for dominion, he set his sights on Elysia, a realm of ethereal beauty and unparalleled harmony. His desire to rule over this celestial land fueled his viciousness and drove him to devise a nefarious plan to overthrow the existing order and claim Elysia as his own. With each passing moment, his darkness seeped further into the hearts of mortals, corrupting their souls and bending them to his will. The imminent arrival of the gods marked a critical turning point in the struggle for the fate of Elysia, as the forces of light prepared for a momentous battle against the encroaching darkness.

The King Core was a powerful artifact forged by the god of Light himself, imbued with immense divine energy. Its purpose was to channel the pure essence of light and righteousness, enabling its wielders to combat the forces of darkness. The god of Light carefully selected a group of exceptional individuals from different corners of Elysia, bestowing upon them the honor of becoming the chosen wielders of the King Core. These individuals were blessed with extraordinary abilities, both physical and magical, and were trained in the art of combat and harnessing the King Core's immense power. Their mission was clear - to stand as guardians of Elysia, defending it from the encroaching darkness and ultimately defeating the malevolent god of darkness and his demonic minions. With the King Core in their hands, these chosen few became the last line of defense, fighting relentlessly to preserve the light and protect the realm of Elysia from falling into eternal shadow.

The god of darkness had one trump card up his sleeve - a powerful artifact known as the Shadow Orb. This ancient relic possessed unimaginable dark energy and had the ability to corrupt and control the minds of those who came into contact with it. With this weapon in his possession, the god of darkness planned to regain his strength and unleash chaos upon the world once again. However, the other gods were aware of this threat and devised a plan to keep the Shadow Orb hidden and protected. They entrusted it to the most trusted and skilled guardian, a celestial being known as Seraphiel. Seraphiel was tasked with safeguarding the Shadow Orb and preventing its misuse. With the god of darkness sealed away, the world breathed a sigh of relief, but the looming presence of the Shadow Orb served as a constant reminder that the battle between light and darkness was far from over.

Once the god of darkness was sealed away, the chosen knight, with the assistance of the Divine, went on to establish various kingdoms, all of which were blessed by the Divine and governed by their Divine Ideal. However, even though Seraphiel trusts the Shadow Orb, there is still darkness lurking around. The King Core, a powerful artifact, was sealed away in a tomb located across the land of Elysia. Additionally, in its place, a set of new weapons known as The Knight Core was created. According to the prophecy, a new generation of warriors will arise to confront the god of darkness in yet another fierce battle.

"As you can see, children," Rowan said with a smile, "the selected warriors have been chosen to battle and safeguard us from demons."

"Oh, wow!" exclaimed the children in amazement.

"Alright kids, it's time for bed," Rowan said as she assisted in getting the children ready for bedtime.

Turning off the light, Rowan went to her room and went to sleep.

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[The outskirt of Altissia Empire]

In the presence of two shadowy figures, the girl confidently declared, "Our objective is to launch an attack on the Altissia Empire."

"Yes," said the boy, "it is time to set the plan in motion for the god of darkness."

Nodding her head, the girl summoned a multitude of demons behind her as she confidently spoke up, stating, "Our ultimate objective is to locate the elusive Shadow Orb, which holds the power to shatter the seal that binds us."

"That's right," said the boy excitedly, "It is finally time for the attack of Altissia Empire."

The girl turned around, facing the demons, and spoke with determination, "It is time to go forth and destroy everything, to kill everything, all for the sake of our lord of darkness."

With a thunderous roar, the demons surge past the girl and the boy, leaving the boy smirking in satisfaction as he witnesses the ferocious attack on Altissa Empire. With a smile on her face, the girl gazed at the boy and admitted, "Seeing the suffering of humans always brings me great satisfaction."

"Same," replied the boy with a mischievous smirk on his face. "The level of suffering experienced by humans is truly astonishing and it amazes me."

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[Later that night]

Rowan remained in a deep slumber until suddenly, a loud bang echoed from the outside, accompanied by the chaotic sounds of people yelling and screaming. Upon awakening, Rowan found herself compelled to look out of her window, where she was met with the alarming scene of demons laying siege to the Altssia Empire. Rowan, feeling a sense of horror, exclaimed, "Oh my divine!" as she quickly rushed out of her room to witness Father Maxwell and Sister Amy escorting the childrens to a safe location. "Father Maxwell!"

"Rowan, we need to evacuate this area immediately," Father Maxwell shouted with urgency.

Rowan nods approvingly while assisting the children in their escape. Rowan found herself questioning, "Why isn't the king taking measures to protect us?"

"I'll be back," said Rowan to Father Maxwell as she ran off to the castle to talk to the king. Upon her arrival at the castle, she entered and was greeted by the sight of Felix lazily seated on his throne. "Your Majesty, I am Rowan Nox and I urgently require an audience with you," Rowan stated.

Felix asked, with a frustrated tone, "Ugh, what is it that you want?"

Rowan questioned, "What is the reason for aiding or deploying your army to safeguard your people?"

"Why bother," Felix questioned, "when you came all the way here?"

"The presence of a menacing demon attack has resulted in a significant number of people suffering injuries or losing their lives." yelled Rowan. 

"I couldn't care less," Felix yelled angrily as he looked down at Rowan with disdain.

Rowan was taken aback by the lifeless look in Felix's eyes, which left him feeling shocked. Rowan expressed his confusion by asking, "What do you mean when you say you don't care?"

"The well-being or survival of others holds no importance to me," Felix declared with a laugh, his grip firm on the Knight Core. "I am willing to sacrifice my own people in order to attain greater power."

Rowan's eyes grew wide and she was taken aback by what she was hearing. The image of the king, which had been held in high regard, was completely shattered. Rowan, with a fist clenched in pure anger, sees the true colors of the king and realizes that he is nothing more than a tyrant. "You heartless tyrant," she exclaims. "You are willing to sacrifice your own people in order to attain greater power," Rowan yelled angrily, her voice filled with growls. "You are not deserving of the title of king." 

Rowan quickly runs towards Felix, snatching the Knight Core from his grasp, and then points at Felix. Felix angrily growled, "You insolent brat!" as he brandished the sword towards the king.

"If you are not inclined to rescue the citizens of the Altissia Empire," Rowan yelled, her gaze filled with unadulterated fury. "Than I will" 

Rowan ran swiftly as she leaped off the window, skillfully landing on the sturdy tree branch, and then gracefully jumping down to the ground. In a hurry, she hurriedly made her way towards the town, her eyes widening as she caught sight of Commander Nissa and her courageous army engaged in a fierce battle against the terrifying demon. Rowan bravely struck the demon that stood in front of Nissa. Nissa was taken aback by the sight of Rowan holding The Knight Core, but before she could say anything, Rowan spoke, "I'll explain everything later, but right now we need to get rid of these demons."

As the attack unfolded, a young boy, dressed in indigo attire and donning a black hood, made his way to the Altissia Empire. With his piercing dark blue eyes, he observed the chaos and let out a sigh, muttering, "Yet another Demon Attack, huh?"