The Love of Cascade and Avalora
Love, it is the most powerful emotion, more superior than blood and rage. But it can also lead to the flaws in the paths of death. Whether war has pit one side against the other.
Once there was a war. But before the Great War began, there was this one battle in Solitas. In between rare semblance users. The Aquors, people with semblances that manipulated the water in different forms, like ice and mist. Some can evolve into storms.
The Glyphrites, users of the glyphs. Neither side would share the land. Both compete for domination. The Glyphrites managed to drive away the Aquors away after victory is secured to them. The Aquors retreated into an unknown land to start anew. And so the kingdom of Solitas was born, before the times of Atlas.
But the Aquors swore to dominate the land someday. Only when there were a few men and women left had they decided to give up the fight. They colonized a land that was suited for the waters. They called it Atlantis.
There was a young man, brave, gentle-hearted, and filled with the love of the seas. And holds no I'll will towards others, not even his enemies. But his strict father has given the means to survive. His name is Cascade Azure. A warrior who would only fight for the sake of his people. Alongside him is his younger brother, Milos. They were close brothers.
One night, Cascade was given an assignment to assassinate the king of Solitas. He disguised himself as a Glyphrites soldier. Until eventually, he took the moment to ambush the king, but was subdued by his men. During Cascade's imprisonment, he wasn't sure if he can come back to his home. Given the fact that Aquors are used to handling assignments alone. And that was his first. Days turned to weeks. Weeks turned to months.
He was hoping his father or brother would come to his rescue, but nothing happened. Until that fateful night would change forever. A young woman entered the dungeon and walks to his cell. "Are you alright?" She asked.
"Why do you asked me? Don't you hate me because I'm an Aquor?" He asked. When she shows her face. The woman gazed at his eyes. She has white hair and ice blue eyes. There was something different about her and didn't know what it was. His heart beats in every second at the sight of her.
"Even as a Glyphrite. I care not for your status. Please, tell me the reasons why feeling the need to assassinate my father?" The young man put two and two together. That young woman is a princess of Solitas. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am the second in line to the throne of Solitas. Avalora Glacindia. I believe if I can hear your side of the story, then maybe we can negotiate." She offers.
"My father, he is the General of Atlantis nowadays. He did not give me the full details. But from what he told me, your father, the king, took the life of my mother. It wasn't my choice to kill that night. But rather a direct order by him. I do not wish death on your father. But mine wouldn't listen."
"Whatever my father did to your mother. I'm sorry." To his shock, the princess uses a key to unlock the cell and opens it. Then she walks over towards Cascade and unlock the chains he was bound to. Freeing him. Avalora then gives him her hand to help him stand up. "There's no time, your execution has been scheduled and you need to run."
At that moment, she took my hand and takes me back to the seas. Where I belong. But before parting, I glanced at her hoping it won't be the last time I saw her. Seeing her hair as white as the snow. Blue eyes as cold as the icy waters. In my heart, it was a feeling I never felt before. As it was beating so fast.
At home, I had no choice but to lie to my father, that I escaped with my own hands. He didn't seemed to be angry, just disappointed in me. I don't know if he can look at me anymore. But I couldn't stop thinking about the princess at night. Her overflowing aura, her composure. Something I felt in my heart hurts. So I came to sneak into Solitas to see her. Without getting noticed. From the icy lands, I saw her. How beautiful she is. Avalora, a name so sweet, I cannot stop thinking about it.
When they meet again in the icy lands outside the Palace of Solitas. Avalora is walking around with her horse while Cascade's lower body is in the water whilst his head and eyes can see her. The snow flows around her. She stroked her horse while also feeding him. That's when she noticed him in the seas. Avalora is startled at first. But recognized the Aquor who snuck into the kingdom that night.
"Cascade, I know you're here, come join me." The princess offered. As she sat on the snow grounds. Adjusting her sword. Cascade was surprised to see that she knew he was here. But decided to join her for who knows why. He sat next to her and having a closer look at her, his heart beats faster. When she looks back at him, she blushed and smiles at him.
"So then, our ancestors have been quarreling over this land, that is big enough for both sides to colonize. Yet they refused to share this land." Avalora states recounting the history between the Glyphrites and Aqours. She then takes out a journal her mother left her before she died. "This journal, before my father took me under his wing, my mother gave this to me prior to her passing. I never left the Palace ever since." Avalora states. Cascade can tell she was a sheltered woman in her own household. "Even if I learned to defend myself, I was forbidden to leave the lands."
"I think your father forbade this because he loves you, right?" Cascade asked.
"There is no love between us. You want my reason? I was the illegitimate child of a king and a commoner. The real reason I was taken into the royal family was because my father wasn't able to produce any more heirs because of me. And when some knew about my past, they would always see me as a bastard of a commoner. He was only strict with me when it comes to duties as the king's daughter and heir to the throne."
"It just wasn't right. I feel you. It was always family first. At least that's what I believe. My father was once a calmer person. I don't remember much as a child. But he was once a loving man. But ever since my mother was killed, he changed. It's like he was dead on the inside." Cascade felt sad recalling these events.
Avalora felt sincere towards him hearing his story. But then gets up and pulls out her sword. Cascade is confused to why she is aiming at him. But then she smirked. "Get up. I wanna see what you have. Call it a friendly match." Avalora declared.
"Are you sure?" Asked Cascade. Avalora smirked and nodded. They began to spar. While fighting in a friendly match, they were laughing and not taking things seriously. But it was a great time to have apart from their purposes. They don't seem to care who wins.
As Avalora knocks Cascade to the ground. She pointed her sword at him, as a sign for him to yield. In response, he pulled her with him, causing her to yelp. "Ah!"
Her head landed on his chest. But looked into each other's eyes. Avalora's heart began to pound for every second. Something in his eyes captivated her. And they both laughed in this joyous moment.
At that moment, I didn't realize that I had fallen in love with Avalora. Her laughter gives me joy, the joy I never saw in my people. But at the moment, I knew it was time for me to return to Atlantis. But I vowed to Avalora that I will return.The only person who listens to me is my only brother, Milos.
"Brother, that's great. I am very happy for you. This way it can put aside our differences." Milos hugged his brother back home. Cascade is happy to have someone on his side to support his love life, unlike his father.
"But what will Father think?" Asked Cascade. "Would it feel wrong to fall for a Glyphrite?" Asked Cascade, concerned for the approval of his father.
"Anything can feel wrong. But follow your heart and it would make you feel free. Introduce me to her sometime. I want to get to know her too." Pleaded Milos. Cascade smiles and ruffles his hair. Milos is like a little puppy when goofing off with his brother.
Little did I know, Milos also fall for Avalora too at first sight when I introduced him to her. I regretted for ever hurting them both.
Avalora and Cascade rode on one horse together. To see the Northern Lights in the Sky. They would meet in secret to avoid conflict with their families. "Those lights, everyday I go there to see them. It reminded me how much my mother liked to see them." Said Avalora.
"I never saw anything this extravagant before. They're beautiful." Cascade replied. Avalora wrapped his arms around him and rested her head on his back. "Avalora, would it be possible for our peoples to reunite?"
"If you're referring to the divided sides, I am not certain. No matter what I proposed, my father just wouldn't listened." Avalora states. The lights were changing from pink to green. It amazes them to see. Avalora cannot shake the thought of leaving her Palace. Who knows what would've happened if her father found out she befriended an Aqour.
"Avalora. I'll be fair, that I am not sure either."
"I guess there is not point to stop them from ending each other."
"People say that Ice and Sea were of two different worlds. But my mother used to tell me that those two worlds are actually one. What could be causing our peoples to suffer this massacre?"
"If it were up to us, then we would've stopped this." Cascade hung his head in sadness. He then thought of an idea. If either of their parents can't listen to reason, then there would be a solution to heal from all of this. "Run away with me. We can start anew." Cascade then pulls out a sterling ring with a pearl attached.
He knelt down and showed her the ring. "Avalora, will you marry me?" He asked. Avalora is brought to tears. Caring not if he was an Aqour, the fact that the love he has given is real and sincere, she believe she has found a second chance of happiness. "Yes, I will." She replied and Cascade slipped his ring in her finger and they pressed their lips against each other and hugged each other.
What I didn't know, is that this'll be the last time I ever see you smile, my beloved Avalora.
Milos, who hid behind an ice block felt sad and angry for not having someone to love. He wished Avalora would've been his. He punched an icicle as soon as he left. Their father, Cerele, who saw the whole scenario, is too angry. Not only because Avalora is a Glyphrite, but only because of how much he thought she was hurting both brothers mentally. "My sons," He began, pulling out a small vial of poison. "I will end your misery and free you from all of this." He vowed.
The next week, Cascade, holding a bouquet of white lilies to give to the princess hid behind the pillars of the Palace in Solitas. Just as he was about to move forward, he heard a woman scream. "Ahh!" The servant fled the scene. It was coming from Avalora's room. Cascade, worried something had happened to Avalora ran into the room before anyone notices.
There was a an apple with a bite mark rolling on the floor to his feet. Cascade then saw something shocking. Avalora was lying on her bed lifelessly. her eyes shut completely. His lip quivered to see her like this and rushes to her side. Cascade realized the minute he smelled the apple, it was poison. The Aqour cradled his beloved's body as he hears no heartbeat. "No. Avalora. Who done this to you?"
From the balcony, his father just stood there. "She had brought this upon herself. I did it for the good of you and your brother." His father spoken.
"You knew? Why, Father? Why her?" He interrogated. His father did not seemed remorseful to see his son's eyes in pain. Seeing the agony, there is no avoiding his answers. "Don't you get it?! That woman is causing us nothing but distractions and manipulation-!"
He was cut off when Cascade rebuked at him for the one thing good to him. "Leave me alone." He muttered, but his father tried talking him out this. "But, son-!"
"I said let me be!" He shouted. With losing an argument, he lets Cascade be. Not caring what happens to his son anymore. Cascade looks at Avalora one last time. His heart full of anguish and pain. He lost the beloved he had met. He held her close. "Avalora. Forgive me." He said her name for the final time. Then he heard guards coming. He then saw the same apple used to poison her. He cannot live without her. While holding Avalora's body, he picked up an apple from her counter and bites it.
It was foolish of me to kill myself, but I just couldn't live without you. My beloved.
After taking one bite of the apple, he swallowed a piece of it and felt his heart slowing down. He breaths hardly as he felt heat. Finally, he closed his eyes and fell on bed next to Avalora. Holding her hand.
I was sure I was dead. But fate had other plans. In the next life I was a wandering writer traveling around Remnant. I arrived here on in Vale. There, I noticed a woman so familiar.
Cascade, reincarnated, saw the white-haired woman standing in the cliff. Holding down her sword. She was ready to attack him, thinking he is an intruder.
I couldn't believe my eyes, it was Avalora. Her face, her eyes, they all remained the same. I was overjoyed. I knew at that moment it was my beloved. But it was one-sided at first. But the more we spend time together, the more we care for each other. Turns out in this lifetime, she was a member of a tribe that hunts down bandits. Where this may lead next, only time will tell. But the question is, why are we reborn? Were the gods giving us a second chance of life? What was the reason Avalora and I were meant to meet from one lifetime after another?"