Few know the truth about our family. Mother prefers it that way. The royal line has been shamed due to my choice. Despite this I do not regret my actions.
To understand, I must start at the beginning. I was born the heir to the floating continent of Zeal. My parents, upon my birth, named me Schala, "One from the fairy kingdom." At that point in time the people upon this sky dwelling paradise held themselves superior to the poor souls bound to the wintry land below. My father, the King, devoted his reign to help erase this attitude. He said that they were his subjects also and must receive the same treatment as those above. The Earthbound, as they are called, loved him. Back then my mother did her best to support him in his endeavor.
My fifth birthday had just passed when my father fell ill after returning from the continent. Within days he died, the sickness resisting all cures, magical or otherwise. Mother, always making time for me before, began to ignore me. Her grief over my father's death and the ensuing responsibilities of ruling consumed her. I remained alone in my suffering. My father, the center of my world, was gone. Only a deep chasm remained.
How long I stayed in that grief-laden state, I know not. Long enough to become a thin shadow of my former self. Finally, tired of waiting for Mother to do anything, Balthasar, Guru of Reason, approached me. At first I didn't respond as it had been with the servants that attempted to take care of me.
I caught a glimpse something colorful and moving, something familiar. Father had always included illusions when he told me stories. I watched fascinated as Balthasar recreated that which my father used to do. The Gurus knowing he had my attention, present a bargain. He would continue with the stories if I ate what the servants brought me. I agreed, desperate for the memory of my Father.
Several days passed with Balthasar and his two compatriots, Melchior, Guru of Life, and Gaspar, Guru of Time, traded off staying with me. Despite the arguments presented to Mother that I still remained in danger, she still summoned her most trusted advisors. I was left alone for what seemed like eternity. Panic took me. What if my saviors never returned as my father had done? I would never be able to see those beautiful images again. I wandered the Palace searching for my beloved friends. Several times I saw the Gurus in the halls, but did not dare to approach any of them. They were all busy helping Mother. I could not handle a rejection. Days passed with nobody but the servants speaking with me. Finally the loneliness compelled me to talk to Balthasar. I stopped him in the hall. Keeping my eyes fixed on the ground. I asked him if he would teach me how to cast the illusions. This began my magical education. Images led to more complex magics.
My eleventh year saw the arrival of a new magician. Tall, deeply tanned with violet hair, he posed an impressive sight. Introducing himself as Solei, he petitioned Mother to allow him to join the kingdom of Zeal. She accepted. How could she refuse such a powerful mage?
Three years passed with little change. Until Mother started to put more and more restrictive laws in place. By this time I had been participating in various Court functions. Between the Gurus reports and my own observations, I knew about the growing discontent. To be honest, I was frightened. It would not take much to spark a rebellion and end the lives of Mother and myself. The Gurus convinced her to hold off on sealing the Northern Palace away. She had ignored the advice of the three gurus and had already sealed the Sun Palace. She said it was for security reasons. Mother said the Sun Stone was our source of power and we could hardly allow it to be stolen.