Knights of Opara:

The Prodigy of Akara

Prologue

Xoria. Capital of the Grimm Empire

Empress Salem revealed atop her throne, observing with much intrigue from the open canopy of her throne room. At the display of the full Might and Order of her Empire. Along the walls of her palace, the red flags bearing the very symbol of her Empire danced in the wind. Thousands of Grimm troops stood in formation in the courtyard, facing the flag of which they had bid loyalty to.

Beyond the walls of her palace, to the mighty city of Xoria itself. Overhead, she could see the fleet of Starships high above the city. Along with fighters that patrolled the blood red skies of the Realm. In the streets of the city, her soldiers and tanks marched as they patrolled. Much to the fear and dismay of its citizens.

The doors to the throne room opened with a thunderous sound as the Sorcerer's apprentice, Cinder entered the throne room. Escorted by two armed guards. She came before the stairway before taking a knee before the Empress.

"My Empress, I have returned." Cinder said.

With but a twirl of her finger, an essence of the Empress's magic caused her throne to turn. Coming to face Cinder. She glanced down at her Apprentice. Her stare is as cold and bare as the winters of the Sixth Realm.

"Cinder, I trust your campaign was a success?" Salem asked.

Cinder glanced up at her Empress.

"Indeed." Cinder said.

"Speak of your efforts." Salem said.

"We have taken the Kingdom of Ataria." Cinder said.

"Their armies and walls have fallen and we have taken the Queen."

Salem grinned.

"Well done, Cinder. I expected nothing less of one of your skills." Salam proclaimed to her apprentice.

"No need to keep our guests waiting. Bring her in."

Cinder nodded. Glancing back, she gestured a nod to one of the officers. Two Guards entered the throne room as they dragged the Queen inside. They came before the Empress and threw the women before her feet. The Queen, elder and feeble, looked up at Cinder, who grinned as wicked and nefarious as the blackened magic that she wields.

"Your majesty," Salem said, mockingly.

"It has been so long. And time has seemed to have been unkind to you then it has for me."

The queen came to stand atop her feet before the Empress. She then looked up to Salem. Not a hint of fear to her gaze.

"To think that long ago, I was the one bowing before you." Salam proclaimed to her.

"And now, it is you who bows before me."

"It is you that time has been unkind." The Queen said.

"You once were the wielder of great power. And now that power has corrupted you."

Salem smirked and rolled her eyes.

"You may spare, your highness." She said, rising from her throne.

"Your lectures bore me. There is only one thing I want from you."

She came before the queen and brought her hand up to her neck, seizing her by the throat. The queen gasped at Salem's grip around her throat. Suddenly, she saw Salem's eyes glow a bright green. She suddenly felt her magic leaving her body. The queen slowly felt herself growing weaker and weaker.

Salem closed her eyes, feeling the essence enter and surged through her body. Before long, she had absorbed the last of the Queen's power and released her hold over her. The Queen fell before her. Slowly she tried leaning off the ground but she had little strength with the loss of her powers.

She looked up at the sorceress and watched as the magic that had once passed her, flared from Cinder's body. Slowly the blue essence changed into the witch's magic.

"All the magic of a thousand kingdoms." Salem said.

"Wasted on those who fear to even use the power that has been passed down to them."

"You… are not worthy of these powers." The Queen said.

"Worthy are those who don't understand the potential." Salem insisted, climbing the steps to her throne.

"I am the Realm's salvation. I have brought order to where the Knights and all the rulers of the realm could not."

"You are not fit to speak of the knights." The Queen said.

"Akara was the one who brought great peace to the realms…."

Salem turned and reached out her hand to the Queen. She was wrapped in a light green glow and lifted off the ground.

"Do not speak that name in my presence." She said,

The queen stared down the Empress.

"You will never win." The Queen said.

"I have foreseen the future and your Empire will never reign over the Realms forever."

Salem peered curiously to the elder women.

"The Knights of the Realms shall return." The Queen warned.

"And there will be one that will rise to take Akara's place."

Salem glared with rage. She pulled the queen toward her.

"Show me!"

She stared into the eyes of the now feeble old women. Suddenly there came several flashes as her sights bore witnesses of the foreseeable future. Salem widened her eyes as the visions revealed all. There was a Sanctuary in a land covered with forest and mountains. It then changed to a girl with long red hair running in the fields. It then changed to a young woman with the same hair color, wielding a sword and shield, fighting against her legion of Grimms. She was suddenly joined by other Knights who fought alongside her. They were all there. The Knights of whom she had long vanquished. She stared in horror of the vision before turning away.

Salem faced away for a time, contemplating all that she had seen. She then looked back at the queen.

"What else did you see?!" She said,

"Reveal it to me?!"

"That is all the Fates revealed to me." The Queen said.

Salem glared once more. She blasted her with a surge of her magic, turning her to ash. Salem came up before her.

"My Empress?" Cinder said as he came before her.

"What did you see?"

Salem was silent. She glanced at her two Generals.

"The Prodigy." She said, abruptly.

"Akara's Prodigy!"

"That's impossible." Cinder said.

Salem turned and walked up the steps of her throne.

"The Queen was right." She said,

She set down, her thoughts lingering over the future which she had seen.

"The Knights of the Realm may yet return."

"So what do we do now?" Cinder said.

Salem thought about the visions which she had witnessed. The Queen had said that one would rise to take the place of Akara. And with those words, she then recalled the vision of the girl in the fields. Was it this child which the Queen spoke off as the downfall of her Empire?

Salem was one to bear witness to visions of the future before. She knew not to question them for what they revealed was to be the truth.

"Visions may tell of the future," Salem said.

Salem held out her hand, igniting a ball of purple flame over the palm of her hand.

"But even the future can be changed."

(I hope you enjoyed this first chapter, please comment and review!)