As you may know
In our world of magic, monsters, metal, and might. Our kingdoms arose many centuries ago after the 'mortal upheaval.' The great battle that took place in the location that would become our wonderful Solanra kingdom! The first celestial that many say could have rivaled all 12 of the gods was overcome and sealed away by a team of 6 fearless mortal souls!
The first was the ever-ambitious leader, Hildegarde Mercedes, and the first queen of Ganbatte. A humble sellsword turned hero who forged her sword to cut and sunder the divine. Her indomitable human spirit commanded the respect of even the Dragon Gods after clashing with the Water Dragon.
Archdemon of Pride. Lucifer, the fallen celestial whose pride was his downfall into demon hood but likewise was his greatest strength—refusing to yield in the face of what he saw as a lesser being with sharp wit, scythe, and chains bared against the divine entity.
Voidyanoiy and Simorgha, the King of Seas and Queen of Skies, respectively. Monstrous but powerful aquatic and avian creatures joined alliances with the heroes to usurp a more significant threat. Bringing wind, water, and lightning at their beck and call to bring the being down under the storm's fury.
The soon-to-be king of Solanra, Amina Halcyonra. A young mage who had to rise to the coming threat by mastering magic and the elements. He would be the one who would unite the land after the demon king's defeat, forge the structure and balance of the kingdoms, and bring them all into peace.
Lastly, Hastur, the Wandering Star of Elrouche. A summoner and once an outcast thought to have no power to contribute, but proved to be an essential part of the team's success. Bringing them all together as one collective party and becoming the first mortal to ascend to celestialhood to meet the Devil divine on equal terms.
Many agree that the Arcanegel's defeat would have never been possible without the six of them coming together, and the world is thankful for them all. With their triumph, the three kingdoms that make up our continent were founded! Alongside the wave of adventurers, explorers, and merchants we see in full force today, the continent has been united ever since.
The eastern settlements, now known as the Ganbatte kingdom, would become renowned as the pleasure capital of the world for its rich culture and entertainment. Individuals from even the archipelagos out at sea would flock towards its beautiful scenery and exotic foods. The 12 dragon gods themselves would bless the kingdom with their presence for times to come, granting Ganbatte the illustrious reputation of hosting the dragons themselves many times. Hence, we know them as the 'Dragon Nest Kingdom' today.
The southern counties and settlements past the vast canals would become Elrouche. Ruled by two hierarchies of royalty descended from the wandering star, each known to harbor powerful beings from beyond the veil to aid in their rule. While less wealthy than Ganbatte, Elrouche has gained incredible success by being home to many mercenaries, warriors, mages, rogues, and adventurous spirits following their hero's example. Furthermore, a good portion of the trade ships and caravans that go through the continent would come out of Elrouche's ports. Histories most famous and infamous heroic parties have all come from or through the land.
Finally, there is the Solanra kingdom, the appropriately named Empire of warmth and light that sits in the middle of the continent—home to many great scholars, philosophers, apothecaries, and alchemists alike. Many nobility, dandys, and aristocrats or those fortunate enough to make their way to the upper echelons of society dwell in the empire. The royal family of Solanra acts as the heart and soul of the continent as well as a mediator for the surrounding kingdoms and royalty among mortals, demons, monsters, and the archipelagos past the continent's vast seas.
*
"With that, my dear students, ends the first chapter of your history lesson. Our first of the year and a favorite for many of you, I'm sure!"
The teacher announced with a proud smile. She stood before a chalkboard covered in words and pictures. A few students sitting at their desks, some more attentive than others. Some looking bored or distracted, others scribbling away on their papers and paying close attention. One raised her hand.
"Yes? A question from young Soleil? You may ask, my dear."
"Thank you, Mrs. Barlow. Can we know more about the 12 dragons? And what their names are?"
"An excellent question, and I'm glad you're interested! But alas, the pantheon of dragons will be a subject for the next chapter."
"...Okay, but what about the demon uprising and subsequent sealing of the archdemons? Is that for another chapter?"
"Yes, dear. That will be in a later seme-"
"Or the recent passing of the Elrouche Royal family at the hands of that adventuring party a few years ago? Are we gonna learn about that?"
"I'm sorry to say that won't be a part of the lesson plan, Soleil. This is a history class, and that was a current event. I appreciate your enthusiasm, though. If we go through lessons swiftly enough, I'd be happy to speak of the unfortunate demise of Elrouche Royalty with you. But I've rambled long enough for this period. The bell should be ringing any moment now, but remember, children, that during Snowset, we will have a field trip up north to a historical battleground! If we can collect 15 willing students to attend, the trip shall also count towards your grade as extra credits. I do hope to see some of you there! For now, that is the end of the lesson, class. Thank you for listening, and you may now be dismissed."
A loud bell rang throughout the classroom as if on cue when the teacher finished her lecture. The students began packing their things as the sound echoed through the room. Standing up and chatting as they filed out of the room. Some students walked to the door and out into the hallway. While others stayed back, speaking to the teacher. But one student, a small lizardfolk girl with bright yellow eyes and green scales, ran excitedly past the teacher's desk, sliding the permission slip for said field trip toward her.
"Here's mine! Mrs. B! I wanna go so bad! I can't wait!" Her tail swayed side to side excitedly, the young student practically bouncing on her feet as she beamed a wide, sharp-toothed smile at the teacher.
"Ah, thank you, Kalolarach, dear. It's so wonderful to see a young lady as studious and passionate about history as you are. You remind me of a much younger Ms. Barlow when I was your age. I'm glad that you've expressed your interest. I'm also looking forward to this trip, and I hope you'll have fun. But you best be off; you have some ground to cover for next period."
With a wave and a goodbye, Kalolarach hurried out of the room and into the hallways toward her next class. She wasn't exactly known as the most popular student, but she was far from being a nobody. Mainly because she was one of the few lizardfolk in attendance at Solanra Castle Academy, let alone the only lizardfolk who looked like a miniature alligator. Thus garnering a decent amount of attention due to her looks. Lizardfolk were generally viewed as a rare sight within castle walls, and most who encountered them would assume they were dragonkin or nagas, as opposed to... Regular, common Lizardfolk.
Her status as the daughter of a prominent mail courier in Solanra's postal service certainly helped her popularity. Her acquaintances would vouch that her heart was the only thing bigger than her sharp jaws. And gods were they large... Always happy to offer a smile or a snack and willing to help anyone in need. Kalolarach was an incredibly kind and cheerful little lady. And taking a fun hiking trip just before her birthday would surely be a blast.
*
19 students signed up for the trip, chaperoned by 5 teachers, Kalolarach being one of them. 4 groups of 4 and a single group of 3 made their way north through the forest to the old battleground and split up to their respective sights of interest, set to rotate every 45 minutes. Kalolarach was grouped up with Mrs. Barlow and a couple of her classmates. Soleil, a boy she was unfamiliar with, and the group's first destination was...
"-Said to have been the lake where the Dragon God of Water, Ryumi, and Hildegarde’s battle was fought. 'The Opalescent Wellspring,' as some would call it, is believed to house a minor celestial born from Ryumi's overflowing power who enchanted the Queen of Ganbatte's sword with its unequaled sharpness and arcane channeling capabilities! Able to cut through divine, demon, and dragons alike, the sword was dubbed, Ganbateinn!" Mrs. Barlow declared with a pose and magical fireworks directed at the lake, her voice carrying easily across the snowy shore of the large, frozen lake.
"When the Queen died of natural causes, it is believed that she was laid to rest here, and her sword was returned to her home as their sacred relic to this day! The legend says-"
"Uhhh, Mrs. B...?” The boy spoke up.
"Yes, young Crowe? Do you have a question? A theory?"
"I- um- really have to pee... Where is the bathroom out here?..."
"....Ah, well." The group looked around, spotting nothing but a landscape of fresh snow, the tree line, the frozen lake, and mountain ranges. "There are none here since this is a historical site; you'd have to go somewhere else, young man."
"Ma'am, I really need to go. It's an emergency!"
"O-OKAY! Um, young Soleil and Kalolarach, if you would, please stay put here while I escort the young man elsewhere to relieve himself. Come, follow me quickly. Don't worry, we'll be back soon."
"Y-Yes, ma'am!" Kalolarach stuttered. As the teacher strode off with the boy in tow. Kalolarach and Soleil stood on the banks of the lake. Alone together. Giving them both a break from their teachers' rapid-fire, if informative, and admittedly entertaining lecture. Although judging by Soleil's muttering and frantic note-taking, she wasn't exactly taking a break. Kalolarach was content to just take the moment to relax. Snowset marked the approach of winter, but it was still plenty cold this far north, even with the lizardfolk's extra layers. She watched her breath leave her in wisps of fog.
Kalolarach peeked over Soleil's shoulder, watching her scribble notes in a journal with a pencil. The human girl's expression was focused and determined. Kalolarach didn't know the girl personally, but she'd seen her around. It was hard to miss the 'Princess of Class', called as such since Soleil was the class brainiac in all her periods, and she was always dressed to the nine's in fine garments and robes, even now. Top marks and the highest grade point average, even if the girl was a shrinking violet. Always quiet, soft-spoken, and fancily dressed like a doll.
In contrast, Kalolarach wasn't interested in the lesson; she was here to see the scenery. The snow-covered grass and trees, and the ice and snow on the lake. It was so peaceful and beautiful. The cold winds rustled the branches of nearby trees. It was harsh, frigid, and stale enough for the little lizard to wrap her tail around into her many layers of coats, but it was worth it. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Kalolarach finally broke the silence and tried to break the metaphorical ice.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
"Hm? Oh, uh- yeah. I'm more of a fall person, myself." Soleil replied, barely glancing up from her writing. She walked closer to the lake and continued scribbling away in her book. Kalolarach knew when someone was too polite to say 'leave me alone' outright, so she respected her classmate's space. So she went back to gazing at her surroundings from her seat on a log. She loved to travel just for breathtaking sights like this, especially the beautiful environments that her hatching month brought about. She loved the feeling of the crisp, cool air and the smell of wet earth and brittle trees. The sound of-
CRE-SHK-CK-KSSSH
A sudden noise snapped her from her thoughts. It was too loud to be the sound of snow being crushed underfoot but too low to be a tree falling and not quite strong enough to be a landslide or a boulder falling from the nearby mountain. It sounded more like something broke or split apart. The noise was unfamiliar, making her heart and body tense.
"What was that?..." She muttered, trying to stay composed. She stood up, scanning the area behind her in case it was a monster or animal, hoping to get a leisurely bite to eat. There were no footprints or tracks in the snow. There were no monsters or wild animals in sight, neither the boy who needed to pee nor her teacher.
"Um... S-Soleil?" She called out; the lizard's heartbeat was racing as she backed up to where her classmate was. "Did you hear that noise?..."
No response.
"HEY, Soleil! GAEARTH TO SOLEIL!!" She cried louder, looking over her shoulder for the other student. But all she saw was the frozen lake itself... And not Soleil... Where Soleil had been standing moments ago was a crack, a hole downward leading to the icy drink below. She was at the lake's edge in a flash; her heart was hammering. She could barely make something out... sinking deeper past the surface. There was no doubt her classmate had fallen into the lake. Soleil was drowning, if not freezing to death already.
*
'Oh gods. Oh, nononono!!!' Kalolarach had to do something and fast, or else Soleil would drown one of Kalolarach’s top 5 scariest ways to die. But what could she do? Kalolarach knew how to swim but not how to rescue someone! There weren't any large sticks around; even if there were, she wouldn't be strong enough to lift one so fast. What was she supposed to do?! Time was wasting; she needed to act, but what the heck could she do?!
If she jumped in after Soleil, should she take her clothes off? Her warm clothes would help with cold water, right? But they'd weigh her down when wet, so she should disrobe first, right??
Every second passed was one less second of air and one less chance of survival for her classmate.
Maybe a prayer to the water dragon, or to Queen Ganbatte?
No time, no time!!
Maybe if she used her scarf as a rope sh-
Kalolarach's body moved on its own, choosing the most direct option. A splash of her frame sank into the lake. Like thousands of icy needles piercing her scales, the freezing water sent waves through her body. It was dark, the only light cascading from the surface above. She could barely make out something little-girl-wearing-flowing-dress-shaped sinking low.
Kalolarach swam with her tail like a rudder, forcing herself through the water deeper by the second. Every muscle in her tiny body screamed to stop, and her mind begged her to give up and swim back to the surface. Kalolarach would never. Against all odds, she swam faster than Soleil was sinking, not by much, but enough. Just a little further!!
Soleil was right in front of her, too cold to move, too strained to swim, barely holding on to air. One arm trying to hold on to precious air within her throat, the other towards the surface, there were no tears, but her face was a portrait of sorrow, hopelessness, and fear. Soleil was right in front of her, still alive, still fighting. Kalolarach grabbed her arm, pulling her close for literal dear life. With all the strength her body could afford, Kalolarach pushed upwards. Neither girl could give up here.
It was hard, painful, cold. So horribly cold...
It seemed impossible for either girl to leave the icy embrace of the abyss.
...so... unbearably cold…
Kalolarach tried with all her might; they were so close, just a little higher… But she could feel it. Her body was tiring and she was slowing down…
Kalolarach couldn't keep going; her vision was blurring, her limbs felt like lead… She wanted to sleep so badly...
Water was filling her lungs, and Soleil was going limp. The harsh, uncaring cold overtook both girls' bodies, and the water would take them both...
Kalolarach didn't want to drown, and neither did Soleil
But if it was their time to die, then it was their time to die.
*
Moments before their demise, a massive arcane hand reached into the depths, searching for the girls. Swirling and stretching, the hand finally gripped both girls in its palm firmly but gently. With an urgent pull, Kalolarach and Soleil were lifted from the icy water and into the air. Both girls coughed and wheezed, spitting out water and gasping for air.
"Oh, thank the gods, I've found them!" Mrs. Barlow cried as she pulled the arcane hand back to solid ground. "Don't worry! I'm here! You're safe now, okay?!" Her teacher assured, the arcane hand lowering both girls to the ground. With a snap of her fingers, the teacher manifested a small bonfire already lit as she sat both girls near it and wrapped them into her arms.
"Breathe! Just breathe, take a minute, and calm down. If I have anything to say about it, you two will be right as rain." Mrs. Barlow comforted.
Both girls were still coughing up water, drenched to the bone, and freezing. They were far from alright, but they would be. They would survive.
They wouldn’t die, not here, not now.
*
"-Furthermore, young Anaugi, you are cold-blooded. It's a miracle you hadn't gone comatose or into cardiac arrest, not to mention how hypothermic you were." Mrs. Barlow scolded while giving the little lizard another hot pack wrapped in a woolen blanket.
This was supposed to be a fun field trip, but now she was getting scolded. A classmate almost drowned, and she tried to help, but now she was getting scolded. She almost drowned trying to do the right thing, and her reward was being lectured. She wasn't happy; she wanted to go home, and the waterlogged lizard was already crying tears soaked up by her blankets.
"But it would t-t-ake t-t-t-too long to get naked! C-c-coach Antoine said that the human body could only go at most a fhhh-few minutes without air."
"Even if you had disrobed, it would not have helped since you would have been further exposed to the elem-"
"M-miss-s-s Barlow?" Soleil cut the teacher off, her voice shaky.
"Yes, Soleil?"
"P-please don't be harsh to her. S-she didn't-t know what else to do. I f-fell in, so this is all m-m-my fault... She tried to save me, so p-please don't scold her."
Mrs. Barlow looked at her with a stern look but sighed as she relented. The teacher realized that she WAS being much more harsh than any student deserved. If she had never left the two alone, neither would have been so deep in the lake, period. After all the stories of heroism, it's no surprise one of her students might try to play a hero themselves. "Well, I suppose you're right, young miss... It's no secret that Miss Kalolarach here has a good heart. A little impulsive sometimes, but a kind soul all the same." Mrs. Barlow relented, patting Kalolarach, atop her head.
"My apologies, I am not angry at you or disappointed. If anything, I am proud of you. I am proud that you did what you thought was right and risked your own life to save a fellow student. But do be more careful. I would hate to lose any of my students, let alone two of my most talented ones."
Kalolarach sniffled and nodded, wiping her eyes. She had calmed down but wasn't exactly feeling better.
"Sadly, you two must spend the rest of our trip here in the carriage to recover. I want both of you to try to warm up as much as possible. I and the other teachers shall check in now and again if you need anything." The teacher finished before heading out the door, leaving the two students alone and bundled in the warm carriage.
The two were alone together once again, somehow more cold now than out in the elements.
"I'm sorry... For not being able to save you... I'm sorry for failing..." Kalolarach spoke up after a few minutes of her body warming up.
"Why are you apologizing? I probably would have drowned if you didn't try to help me. I should be apologizing to you." Soleil said with a sad smile. "I should have known better than to stand so close to the ice's edge, let alone walk on it."
"... I'm glad you're okay. Thanks for standing up for me." Kalolarach mumbled.
"Yeah, thanks for saving my life. You were really cool..."
"..."
"..."
Both girls didn't know what else to say. They were just so drained from fear and relief. It was such a whirlwind of a day despite it being only about 2 in the afternoon.
"Hey, um, do you think it would be okay if we were friends?..." Soleil asked after a long moment of silence.
"Huh?"
"Sorry, it's just, I've never... I don't have a lot. Friends, I mean. My parents don't let me go outside the castle walls, outside of school or meetings..."
"Yeah, of cou-"
"Plus, I only get to talk to a few people other than my parents or the maids and guards, or arranged 'playdates'. I'd love more friends, especially ones that I got to choose, but only if you want to..."
"Yeah, sure! let's be-"
"I don't want to force you. Not everyone is fond of my family name or wants to be forced to be 'friends' with a princess. And I would totally understand if you didn't-"
"Soleil!"
The young human jumped a bit, being brought back to reality, and looked over to the lizardfolk.
"I would love to be your friend! I don't have a bunch but I'd always love making more!!" Kalolarach said, beaming a big, toothy smile alongside as good of a hug one could muster past 8 or so blankets. "I'm Kalolarach!"
Soleil had never had a friend before. At least not one that was her age. Her first was a very excitable and enthusiastic lizardgirl. "I-I'm Soleil, nice to meet you, Kalola...Kalalar... Kaloarch? Um, Kal…. Sorry, my draconic isn’t the best."
"Just Lola is fine. Most of my teachers call me Lola... or Kallie, or Kal. But I like Lola the most, so you can call me Lola too."
"Lola, it is then. It is a pleasure to meet you too, Lola!" She returned the hug and the smile.
"Yay! Best friends! Do you want to come to my birth- Wait, did you say you were a princess?!"
"Yes?... I'm Princess Soleil Solanra? Did you... Did you seriously not know? I don't dress like this for fun..." Soleil gestured to her outfit, which consisted of no less then 3 layers of frilly, floofy, long-sleeved, dresses with white lace and gold trim that complimented her warm, yet dark complexion. She also had a white bow in her long dark hair. All of which had been soaked through by their impromptu dip into frozen waters.
Kalolarach shook her head before gasping. "DOES THAT MEAN I'M A KNIGHT!?!?"
"U-uhh I don't think that's how it works. You're... about my age. I don't think they can hire and train kids, like, legally or morally."
"Awww, but all the cool books with knights have them starting as a kid...But okay." The lizard pouted and crossed her arms, looking disappointed. "Can you make me a knight later, when we're grownups?"
"Sure. I guess so." Soleil chuckled and gave a soft smile. "You'll have to do a bunch of knight training stuff, though. It's super boring and hard. But what were you saying before?"
"YES!!! Huh? OH RIGHT!" The lizard perked up, remembering. "Do you wanna come to my birthday party? I'm going to turn 10 on the 7th of this month."
"I'd have to ask my parents, and I might have to bring a maid and guard or two. But I'd love to!!"
"Yay, your parents can come too if they want and all the maids and guards, and cooks, and retainers, and all the other palace people!!! You're the bestest, Soleil!~" Lola was already imagining the red carpet event that would be her 10th birthday.
"Uhhh probably can't have the entire palace join in... Sorry. Maybe at most, my parents for your parents sake." Soleil tried to temper expectations a bit.
"Awww. But thats still 3 whole people!!!"
Soleil had never spent much time outside the castle walls before, alone with non-nobility. Mainly to avoid the exact kind of perilous near-death situation she had found herself in today. However, today was an important day for both girls, the first day of her time with a lifelong companion.
A guardian, equal, and a best-friend-for-life for the princess.
A sister by oath, a confidant, and a shoulder to lean on for the lizard.
An unbreaking bond forged from ice but tempered through fire that would last till death do them part.
And beyond.