Chapter One

Many years have passed since that fateful day in Elysia. Since then, human towns and establishments have dwindled to just one single town. It wasn't very big nor was it very prideful in its existence. Strephia is a small town just outside the Fae Forest and out of reach of the DarkGrove. Though a one hundred and fifty years have since passed, the marks it left on the world and its power balance lasts a lifetime. The birth of what represents power is ever strong.

The biggest bone ever recorded in history was added to the crown. A preserved finger from the demon king, Madara, was added to the middle of the crown. His index finger - a loss from early on in the war when he had been helping an elderly woman. She had tricked him - causing him to knick his finger on a poisoned needle hidden in her cloak. At least, that is what the story-tellers say.

The Crown of Bones. A crown that has been passed down since the earliest moments of Paracosm. Not many who haven't worn it have seen it. Tales of its gross beauty and power travel among the lands. Portraits of rulers with the ever-growing crown on their heads are littered among the land. It is said that every bone in that crown comes from a ruler who reigned in the Paracosm castle. Not many were keen to believe such a thing, though it surely made a good story.

"Have you ever seen it?"

"No, my dear child, I have not," her old voice creaks and breaks. It was worn, not much childlike anymore. "For your sake, I hope you never do, either."

There was an ominous tone to the last part of her words. Sakura didn't dwell on them much but perhaps she should have.

"Great Grammy Aol," Sakura's older sister bursts into the room. "There you are - mother was worried sick, come back inside please. It is much too cold for you out here." My sister, with her long locks of dark brown hair and soft blue eyes, reaches for our great grandmother. Sakura watches from where she sat on the stone.

She tries to picture a younger version of Aol, but she struggles to do so. She was alive - a young girl back then - when the humans were nearly wiped out of existence. How she has lived to be one hundred and sixty one, no one quite knows. Still, many were grateful for her. Not only has she become a wise woman but she has magic - healing magic.

Magic in particular is something that Sakura is interested in. She could also do magic but not nearly as well as her great grammy could. She hopes that one day she will be even better - that she can one day save many, many lives. It is a good skill to have in the times that they live in. Nothing has been quite the same since the fall of Elysia and The Great War. Humans are attacked and fed on. Not only are they seen as weak, egotistical beings - but, all humans have magic.

It's a different kind of magic compared to the magic that the fae, elves, vampires, or even demons have. The magic humans have run through their veins and in their blood. Not every human knew it was there nor could every human use their magic. It is a rare gift to be able to use the magic that they have been blessed or cursed with. Human magic is neutral. Often, their blood is spilt to neutralize some other magic. Be it good or bad.

"Sakura, you need to come inside, too." Her sister, Ichika, huffs but Sakura only shakes her head. She wanted to be out in the cold a little longer - she is not allowed out here often. Being able to use magic makes her a target and a target is not a good thing. Especially when your entire race is a target in and of itself.

"Just a moment longer, Ichika," Sakura whispers and her older sister lets out an exasperated sigh.

"Fine, just don't wander off. Mother will have my head."

Sakura's only response is to just give her a smile and wave her off inside.

Once she is alone, she turns her emerald eyes to the trees before her. If she listens closely, she can hear whispers. However, that isn't what has her attention. Quietly, she gets up from the stone she has been sitting on. A small and tentative step off of the stone is taken and she feels the dried, dead grass on the rough skin of her foot. Grimacing, she takes another step and she keeps walking - past the lake and its song - until she reaches the edge of the trees.

Sakura isn't supposed to be this close. She could almost hear her mother and great grammy yelling at her to get back. The dark forest called to her and she wanted to answer, but she could never lean into it. She knows what waits in there. Tiny fae with their pointy teeth that want to eat human skin and collect their bones. Golems - mindless and wandering late at night, searching for their purpose and not looking around - that would surely crush anyone to their death with one heavy step.

Her emerald eyes rest on one tree in particular.

It is much bigger than all of the rest. Its branches are long, windy, and wild. At the trunk of the tree, it comes outwards - almost as if it is kneeling. This tree is old - almost as old as her great grammy. She says she doesn't remember when it appeared in the corners of behind the house, but she said to not trust it. It could be a trick, but for some reason Sakura didn't think so. Something about it is familiar to her, though she is not sure what. It could just be because she has known this tree since her first breath of life.

Whatever it may be, she rests her forehead against the tree and does the same with her right hand - palm flat against the bark, admiring the smooth feel despite its age. She has been seeking this tree out since before she could walk. It is her tree. Sakura can still recall all the one-sided conversations she has had with this tree almost as vividly as she can recall all the times the town and her parents have tried to set the tree on fire or kill it. It never works. It is always there and always will be.

"They may all hate you, but I will always hold you dear in my heart." She speaks to it softly but it remains not any less true. She has been saying the same words to the tree since she could talk. Sometimes, she can imagine it speaking back to her. Though, that would be silly.

It would be nice if it could talk back. Maybe then she would be less in her head. She slid down against the tree after turning. Tomorrow is weighing in on her almost as fast as winter. Closing her eyes, she tries to steer her thoughts. Tomorrow is the beginning of the festival in celebration of the coming of winter - all in the winter deities, Niamh, honor. However, it also marks when the royal demon family will visit Strephia.

It isn't often that they visit themselves. Usually any demon encounters are rogues, guilds, or guards on official business. However, as the story-tellers say, every so often the royal family must marry a human to neutralize and re-introduce magic in their bloodline. It is very rare and the demon family hadn't done so since the last human queen was killed in the Great War. Everybody was anxious.

For once, Sakura felt thankful not many know of her gift - of her ability to use magic. It would make her more susceptible to being chosen and she couldn't bear to leave her family, her town, or her home. It would break her. As her thoughts drift though, she couldn't help but think of the poor girl who would be dragged off. She wishes it could be different.

As her thoughts run rampant, guilt trickles in at not wanting to be the one chosen. It could be any of them. Taking a deep breath, Sakura did her best to try to rest her mind and her heart. It will all be okay, she was sure. They all just have to think positive and keep on moving. Keep on hoping.

The longer she sat there, the more she realized sleep would not be claiming her willingly tonight. With that thought in mind, she begrudgingly pushed herself up. With one last look at her tree, she turned to head into the house. For some reason, she could feel something - something sad bloom in her chest.

Something is going to happen tomorrow - something that makes that last look at her tree feel like goodbye.