The Sumr Sea was said to be the most beautiful in the world.
Situated south of Europa, the waters there were said to glimr like topaz and amber whenever sunlight danced across their surface.
It shared borders with the Galestine Ocean in the west and the Stormy Sea in the east.
The Stormy Sea, as the na suggested, was always ho to storms and violent whirlpools. It was the primary reason why ships from Ulier and Nahua never dared traverse it. Instead, they took the longer route and crossed the Galestine to get to the other side of the world.
Whenever rchants and sailors journeyed from the Galestine Ocean to the Sumr Sea on their way to Southern Europa, they would always be enamored by the beauty of this sea.
The waters were calm, the skies clear, and the horizon stretched endlessly, painted in soft amber light. Trade routes were lively, ships moved steadily with the winds, and the sea carried the promise of wealth and adventure.
But now that beauty had turned to dread.
The waters were no longer clear. They were stained red. Naval battles raged across the sea without pause. Warships of Haynam and the Sovereign Union clashed day after day, their canons roaring, and their hulls splintering.
Broken masts drifted across the currents. Burning wreckage floated where trade ships once passed freely. Countless lives had been lost since the advent of the war. The Sumr Sea claid their lifeless bodies quietly.
The scent of salt had been replaced by smoke. And blood. What had once been a route of prosperity had beco a graveyard.
The kingdoms along the southern edge of Europa carried the responsibility to maintain naval logistics and supply routes that supported the Union's armies in the north. Ships carrying soldiers, provisions, and arcane supplies moved constantly across these waters.
And that was why the Sumr Sea had beco a battleground.
The Haynam Empire - and by proxy, the Cult of Bones - had undoubtedly tried to disrupt those supply lines. And it wouldn't be long before the kingdoms along Europa's southern coast found themselves facing attacks from the sea.
Harbors that once welcod trade would brace for war. Coastal towns would fortify their shores. Lighthouses would remain manned day and night, scanning the horizon for approaching fleets.
Soon, the war would no longer be confined to the distant borders in the north. It would co by sea.
The Ignisra Kingdom was one such kingdom occupying Europa's southern shores. And its capital city, Amberfall, was a port city by the Sumr Sea.
Although the war had not yet arrived, the panic had.
The residents of the city had begun stocking up on supplies, markets growing crowded as goods vanished faster than they could be replaced. rchants hoarded what they could, and families prepared for the worst.
Across the City of rchants, the presence of Union Magi increased. Patrols moved through the streets day and night, their expressions grim, and their senses alert. The usual ease of the city was gone, replaced by tension.
At the gates, security had tightened. Everything by road was heavily monitored. Ships approaching the harbor were stopped, inspected, and sotis turned away entirely. Nothing ca in without strict scrutiny.
And this was the reason for the sudden commotion taking place at the western gates.
"Hah!" The guard sneered at the newcor. "I should believe that you are the princess just because you have red hair? Get outta here!"
Dressed in a baggy, khaki cloak, Anna stood with an exasperated look on her face. Perched on her shoulder, Valerian, in his cat form, covered his mouth with his cute paws and giggled uncontrollably.
"My na is Anna Fireborne," she said. "And I am speaking the truth!"
"If you're the princess, then I'm the king of this realm." The guard raised his chin and harrumphed.
He leaned on his spear, pointing its blade forward ever so slightly in a threatening manner.
"Look here, girl," he began in a grim voice. "Show your identification papers and state your purpose of visit. If you don't have those, then turn around and
fuck off."
A crowd had already ford behind Anna, and many people were cursing at her to move away. If she wasn't going to enter the city, then she should at least stop barring the others from entry.
And the fact that she had crimson hair just like the Ignisra royal family didn't faze them one bit. Many other people had the sa hair color. Did that an they were royalty too? What a joke!
Anna's eyes narrowed, and flas danced in the depths of her ruby eyes.
"If I am who I say I am, and my parents and Marlow find out that you turned
away, what do you think they're going to do to you?"
Listening to her words, the guard stiffened. Guards nearby overheard her
directly calling out the crown prince's na so casually and felt enraged. But
they didn't speak up.
What if she truly was who she claid to be?
"Y-You!" The guard gulped nervously.
After exchanging a nervous glance with the captain of the guards, who gave him a nod, he turned to Anna and said, "Wait right here! I-I'll be right back."
With that, he and a few other guards rushed toward the palace.
Valerian yawned lazily and whispered in Anna's ears, "We don't have to wait here, you know?"
Anna arched a brow in amusent. "What mischief are you up to now, Val dearest?"
"Heehee." Valerian chuckled impishly.
His topaz eyes flashed with a mysterious light, and an invisible wave of energy rippled outward, washing over the nearby guards and others gathered.
"Myu!" He yipped. "We can go in now!"
Anna shook her head and let out a light chuckle.
Then she passed through the giant western gates, and no one around sensed
anything wrong. In fact, they didn't sense her at all, as if she didn't exist. They continued with their day, having all but forgotten the events that had taken place just monts before.
She walked through the bustling streets. Tall walls rose behind her, pale stone catching the sunlight. Countless buildings crowded together, layered and
dense.
Flat roofs and dos ford an uneven skyline. Minarets and towers reached the skies, so capped with gold, while others with copper. As the sun shone on these dos, they seed to light ablaze.
Smoke drifted upward into the city, and the air was rich with the scent of fresh herbs, spices, and the salty breeze from the Sumr Sea.
Anna inhaled deeply as she gazed at the familiar streets. Her eyes glistened with emotion as she took in her surroundings. She finally let out a shaky breath
and smiled. She looked dazzling.
The princess of Ignisra had finally returned ho.
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