PROLOGUE
Seven year old Princess stood beside her father in the Chamber of Flames. In the Emperor's hands he held a golden lamp whose design spoke of the orient. At the center of the object held a tender flame flickering gingerly.
The Emperor spoke with a tender voice hallowed by age. "This is the infant Solaris, the Flame of Hope." The fire swayed for a moment.
"When he grows a little older he's going to be able to help us, Elise. He will teach us how to return to moments we regret. To rectify past sins and ultimately create a better future."
The little girl glanced at the dancing fire, afraid to ask the undying question pecking at the back of her mind. "Will we be able to see mama?"
Her father's lips curved into a crack smile. "Yes my child, we will both be able to see her again." He spoke those words without thinking a minute, patting his daughter's head.
Elise, watched her father returning Solaris to his post upon the altar. When the Emperor withdrew his hands, the infant flame stretched towards the treating individual, cracking as if to ask them not to leave. Taking little heed to the god's request, Hector took his daughter by the hand and lead her away.
As Hector took his little princess to her bedroom, he smiled to see his little princess happy.
Hector opened her bedroom open, as they went inside, Elise walked to her bed, with a sleepy yawn removing the heavy bed covers, with winter coming up to the city, got in bed and fell asleep.
As the Emperor came up to her sleeping body sitting down on the bedside staring at his daughter he knew she misses her mama a lot and wished she could meet her mama, but he knew there was no way to change the past, but all changed creating Solaris.
He gave his daughter a kiss on her red hair. Looking at her daughter sleep. "You are a strong princess, remember don't cry... no matter what happens."
Hector said the same words to his daughter, since she was five years old, when she asked about where her mama was. He knew it wasn't time to tell his daughter where her mother was. But he kept it simple for her, 'Your mama is in a place where she can watch over you and be in your heart every single step of the way.'
Hector remember that day like it was yesterday, remembering Elise close to tears, but told her to be strong, don't cry no matter what happens.
Hector walked by the door, turned around taking one last look at his daughter, then left.
What the Emperor didn't know was that Elise was still awake. Hearing her father words for her to be strong and never cry. She knew he was asking a lot but she never broke that promise. Carefully getting out of bed, tiptoeing to the balcony. She opened her cream curtains out of the way, to open her French doors. She walked to the terrace and leaned against it, looking at her city, the City of Water.
Elise sometimes would go outside, without her father knowing, and look at the beauty of her city, she sometimes wondered what it would like to be a normal girl and not a princess.
But what she didn't know, is that her life is changing right now, in front of her.