The sun rose over the horizon as its lights shined down upon the town of Aruni. The town was coming to life. Townspeople stepped out of their homes as they got ready for the day. Farmers started harvesting their crops, the guardsmen took their morning positions around the walls, and merchants shouted their wares to any potential buyers.

In the middle of town stood a two story house. The house was laden with stone and brick as the magical lights on the walls has fallen dim for the morning.

There was a man with a thick mustache wearing clothes of a noble. He had silver hair and red eyes as he paced back and forth in the living room. "Tsk, what to do...."

Suddenly the voice of a little girl was heard. "Father?"

The man stopped and looked to see a young girl in a night gown who was no more than four. The father quickly stopped and approached her.

"Remille... sorry, did I wake you?" He asked in concern as Remille shook her head.

"No father, it was mother who did. She told me to call you for breakfast." Remille said as her silver eyes looked up to the man.

"Oh yes, breakfast. Of course... Hopefully she didn't cook fish again, eh?" The man said with a hearty chuckle as Remille laughed as well. He took the girl in his arms and walked out of the living room into the dining as he sighed and gently sets her down in her seat.

Remille eyed the food. A slice of venison, beef, and some sort of soup. She smiled happily as a woman entered from the kitchen, removing her apron. She had blonde hair and her own silver eyes as she huffed.

"Well, I did all I can for today's breakfast... the market barely had meats." The woman said with a sigh as her husband sat down.

"It's alright, Rea. After those fiends blocked the trade routes, it's no surprise they're stealing our food too..." He said with a sigh as he started eating.

"What can we even do now, Meren? I cannot blame our house staff fleeing after that ultimatum... Should we not do the same?" Rea said nervously as her hand sliced into the meat in haste.

Remille merely sat between her parents as she did her best and ate her own food. She didn't understand what her parents were talking about so she simply sat there eating.

"I don't even know anymore, Rea. We don't have a life out there, where else can we possibly go?" Meren said in anxiety as he sighed. "I'll have to rush today, the town council is calling for a meeting."

"Why today of all days?" Rea said, wide eyed. "What about our plan?"

"I know, I'm sorry darling...." Meren said with a sigh before he looked to Remille and ran his hand through her hair. "Remille? Your father has to go for now. I promise I'll make it up later, okay?" He said as he stood up and kissed the girl on the forehead. "Happy birthday, little one. I love you."

Remille smiled happily as she giggled. She didn't mind, these days her father has been leaving the house a lot. "Thank you father."

With that he grabbed his coat and slipped it on. "I'll see you both tonight." Meren said as he gave Rea a light kiss.

"Stay safe, darling." Rea said as she waved while Meren left through the back doors.

Remille gave her father a happy wave.

...

In the town square, various businesses have closed down due to the loss of supplies. Only the barest essentials of shops are open from tailors to blacksmiths. But in a bakery, Rea seemed to be negotiating something to the baker as Remille sat outside with a humble but elegant dress fit for a young noble.

She watched a bunch of men with muskets rush down the street. It was kind of scary seeing so many of them rush about, but she didn't know why exactly.

After what seemed like an hour, Rea finally stepped out of the bakery with a small cupcake in hand. "Remille? Here it is... sorry, this is all the baker could muster..." She sighed with worry.

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Remille perked up. Her silver eyes then sparkled as she ran to Rea. "It looks so good mama!" She said with a giggle as the woman sighed in relief.

"Ah that's good... here you go, Remille. Happy birthday." She said with a smile as there was even a little candle. Remille puffed her cheeks to blow on the candle.

But then suddenly, something lit up. The candle died out from the sudden wind and brightness as Remille's vision suddenly went blurry.

The young girl could only sit up as the bakery which once stood suddenly was a pile of brick and stone.

"Mother...?"

Remille yelped as someone quickly grabbed her. It was her mother, and her head suddenly looked very red. Rea stumbled about, dazed as she retreated into a nearby shop. The insides were trashed from the sudden explosion as Rea panted.

"Remille? Are you okay, baby...?" Rea asked shakily as the girl nodded. The woman sighed in relief as she wiped some dripping blood on her face. "Remille.... I was gonna keep t-this a surprise b-but here, baby...."

With a shaky hand, Remille could barely hear Rea as she had her ears covered in fear. Outside, cannons and muskets fired at each other. But all that quickly went away as her mother opened a special box.

It was a little necklace made of lace and pearls. Rea placed it around Remille as the girl gently touched it. "I-it's so pretty mo— AH!"

Rea quickly held Remille close as her weight suddenly got heavy. Sounds of brick crashing into each other was all the little girl could hear.

Remille knew she was under something. She tried pushing with a whimper as she looked down to her mother who laid still. "M-mother? Are you okay?" She said fearfully as she tried pushing against her. She started to cry as she desperately tried to push against the rubble. "M-mother please wake up!" Remille begged to no avail.

Remille didn't know how long she was stuck under the rubble. The smell of blood made her dull to it as all she could do was sleep.

But one moment, Remille heard voices. She gasped as her hand tried slipping through the stone pile as she tried calling for help. She was afraid they wouldn't find her. But slowly but surely, she felt the weight on her started to get lighter and lighter. Sunlight met her eyes which made her wince as she blinked quickly.

"Father! I see someone!" A young boy's voice said.

Two figures then suddenly arrived as they kept they pushed the rubble away and managed to pull Remille out who only got a glimpse of Rea as she laid under the bricks.

Everything on Remille ached badly. Her dress was torn and her skin was scraped and bloody. The girl sat there in shock. She looked around as men dressed in red uniforms marched and cleared the rubble as a strange flag replaced the Aruni flag she knew.

"Are you okay?"

Remille looked to the side now. There was a little boy who looked to be 7 years old. He had silver slick back hair and the same color in his eyes. He looked just like her.

Remille then looked back to the pile of rubble. She couldn't see her mother at all. Her little hands tried taking away more of the debris. "Mother, n-no please...."

Through her tears, Remille didn't hear the clanking of iron boots as the boy looked up to a man with equally silver hair and a beard. "Ludius? Come along."

"Oh, sorry father." Ludius said simply as he hopped off the rubble. He looked up to the man, whose gaze left his son and landed onto Remille.

The little girl looked back. Remille stopped trying to get the rubble off Rea as the man approached her and crouched. "Hello there, little one.... What's your name?"

Remille sniffled as she wiped her eyes with her dusty arms before she whimpered. "M-my name is Remille, sir...."

"Remille..... my name is Candor, King of Parpaldia... you seem awfully hurt, hm?" Candor said as Remille looked back.

"P-please sir, my mother, she is—"

"I'm sorry, little Remille... but it is likely your mother is dead." Candor said with a gentle sigh.

"D-dead?" Remille quickly blinked away her tears as she looked up to Candor. "W-why dead?"

"Because... she is weak. She died at the hands of stone.... But look at you, little Remille... you're such a strong girl."

"B-but mother—"

"Your mother is no more, Remille.... You're the strong one here. Much like my little Ludius..." Candor said. He let out a little cough as he sighed and offered his hand. "Come on, little one... you're all filthy. That's not what a Parpaldian noble should be."

As Remille took Candor's hand, she then weakly stood up.

"You're a mighty fine symbol of the Kingdom of Parpaldia... come with me, Remille... you will be treated to the best foods and luxuries like my son...."

Remille hesitated. "A-am I really strong, sir?"

"The strongest I've ever met, little one... remember, you are worthy in Parpaldia's eyes... whatever other nation may say, you are a symbol of strength and beauty... do not forget that..."

As she was about to speak, the world started to shake as more and more cannon explosions happened around them. And yet oddly Candor and Ludius remained calm. She covered her ears as all she saw was the two males' gazes. "I-I'm strong, I'm strong, I'm STRONG—"

...

Remille suddenly sat up in her bed as she gasped deeply. Tears ran down her cheeks as she blinked and eyed the TV. She was watching a video on the Italian military. Well no wonder, they were showing off their explosive equipment. Remille sighed in annoyance as she shut off the TV. "I must've fallen asleep....." She muttered.

As Remille closed her eyes, she tried her best to forget about the dream.... But every time she did...

All she could see were Italian machines in place of Parpaldian cannons.