Chapter Four: The Tykes in the Tower

When Belladonne was seven, yet another child was born, a high princess of the world known as Domino. And although she was the fifth child of the current rulers, she would grow to be queen. Nobody knew this yet. Unlike with Belladonne, the fate that the Great Dragon had in store for this baby was secret, unnoticeable.

And thus, the youngest princess in the family was raised in a manner more fitting a noblewoman than a royal. She was not trained in politics or language. Someday she would learn reading and writing and arithmetic, but none was necessary. As far as the world knew, Arcadia de Graaf, the fire princess of Domino, was going to live a responsibility-free life of comfort, and likely married off to one of the men from the lesser royal families.

When Prince Ogron Marak, the water prince of Domino, was born, it was obvious which one. As soon as Ogron could toddle, he was Arcadia's partner in crime. She constantly requested his companionship, as he followed her orders perfectly and without complaint. She did have many servants for that, but they would invariably tell her parents about her favorite hiding places and schemes. She couldn't have that.

So she made Ogron follow her, and neither was unhappy about it. Arcadia revelled in being someone's elder, and Ogron loved the attention that 'Cadia showered upon him. The adults called them adorable, and the other children let them alone, for their bond was beyond comprehension. A missionary from Light Haven speculated that the children might be soulmates.

He also speculated about the good that monastery schooling might do for the young princess. Would breaking up the pair, fated for each other, be worth the serenity, education, and poise that Light Haven would give her? To truly graduate, a girl must give her vows to the Dragon, keeping her from marriage. Of course, Arcadia was free to study there without graduating, but was that something her parents wanted? They had a year to think about it. The princess was eight.

The decision seemed rough. Finally, the king and queen did what all did in the moments of great decisions- they decided to pray over it. For the royal family, however, prayer did not seem enough. They packed Arcadia's bags a month from her ninth birthday and took the girl to Light Haven with the intent of seeing what schooling was like, praying heavily in the many temples there, and leaving their youngest daughter if it seemed to be His will.

Arcadia loved it. She loved the trees and endless fields and valleys. She adored the gardens that added color to the monastery. She sat in with the nine year olds and became friends with some of them, and she learned much. Of course, part of her heart yearned for Ogron, but she could come back to him in a few years, when she was fifteen and he was ten, and all would be as it should. She would not graduate, true, but that thought was hardly important to her eight year old mind.

With a smile and the promise of writing to her parents, she stayed in Light Haven. Even though it felt just a little tiny bit wrong, and even though no amount of school, friends, or gardens could, or ever did, replace the hole that tiny four year old Ogron left when Arcadia decided to go away to school.


Author's Note: Another super short update, but important to get all five mains to where they need to be for the story!