Prologue
'Thirteen heroes have come and gone,
But tragedy will once again strike the land.
Two heroes, one, whose ancestors are praised in song,
Shall take the Master Sword in hand,
The other, a child born of Cain,
-A great evil they must fight-
Shall wield the sword Dragons' Bane.
On a dragon's back they shall take flight.
They must travel across two lands
To find the swords of light.
Until they have the swords in hand
The world will be filled with plight…'
These words were uttered by an Oracle centuries ago, before the first hero took up his sword. These were passed down by song and word of mouth within a land near Hyrule, Hylaila. The last stanza was lost as the years past…
Now the Great Mage Merlin stood before the queen of Hylaila, unknowingly about to start the prophecy.
"Merlin, there must be something you can do? Lantis and I wish for a child so badly." Pleaded a regal looking woman. Her silver eyes filled with longing as she gazed at the ageless man that stood before her.
His grey eyes searched hers as he pondered on his decision. The drab robe fluttered weakly as he stroked his short steel-grey beard.
The woman fiddled with a strand of her thick black hair, glancing up as he spoke.
"Annabella, I will assist you, but in return I must have your first born, to raise. I know that this is a lot to ask, but the rewards will be greater." His light baritone floated over the room.
"To have you ask that is great, but for the gift of having a child, I will concede to you." She lowered her head in thanks.
"Very well. Take these herbs every night before you go to your lord and you soon conceive." With that he gave her a small satchel full of herbs and turned to leave.
As soon as the sun set the Queen did as she was instructed.
It was only a few weeks later that the Queen conceived.
The King heard about the Mage's request and agreed to the deal. For if Merlin asked, then there must be a good reason.
Several months later the kingdom was graced with a little girl.
"What will her name be?" Merlin asked, looking down at the babe.
"It will be Ophelia Aphrodite." Lantis declared with a quiet pride.
"Then her title shall be Ophelia Aphrodite Princess of Hylaila Heiress of the Mages." Merlin said as he lifted the infant from her crib. "While she is with me she shall be known as Kyra. Her true linage shall be kept from her knowledge until she has been fully trained in all the Arts- magic and swordplay. Only then will I tell her all."
Only after dusk fell did Merlin take the babe with him to the Village of the Mages to raise as his own.
Fifteen years have passed and Kyra grew into an adventurous young girl. Many a time did her peers find her outside the village talking to the plants, fighting monsters, and sometimes just laying out in the fields letting her voice raise in song.
After one such afternoon she entered her father's house only to hear him call out to her. "Kyra, child, come and sit with me. We must talk" His gentle voice carried across the house to where Kyra stood.
"Yes, Father, what is it?" Kyra asked settling down in front of the fireplace.
"For the past fifteen years I have been waiting until you have completed your training to tell you this." Merlin looked at her in a kind but grave way. "I just want to say that the reason I kept this from you until now was so that when you had this knowledge you would be able to protect yourself." He then kneeled beside her and wrapped her in a warm embrace. "Your name is not truly Kyra."
She stiffened up in surprise. "Father how could that be? All of my life that has been my name."
"That is true child, but that was the name I gave you, your birth name is Ophelia Aphrodite." He declared softly.
Her amber eyes widened. "The name of the missing Princess? I am her?"
"Yes, child, you are not my daughter by blood, but by bonding, your true parents wished for children and in return I asked for you to raise as the Heiress of our Village." He went on to tell her everything he could.
Although it was hard to believe that she was the child of royalty she knew her father wouldn't lie to her and quickly came to terms with it. "What am I to do now?" She asked.
"You have learned all we could teach you, and now you are ready to set out on your own and learn even more than we." He smiled and led her out to the stables, where a pure black stallion stood saddled and ready for her. "This is Blackfire. He is your's to ride and…befriend." He said mysteriously. "This will also come in handy." Handing her a pack that fit perfectly around her waist.
"Thank you, Father." Kyra replied as she climbed astride her mount. It wasn't long before she rode off with thoughts of adventure in her mind and heart.
…But our story begins two years later…