Rising Winds of Fate

The King's decree spread through the town like wildfire, and fear gripped the hearts of every parent and guardian. Amelia, now seventeen, was at school with her friends when the news reached her. Whispers in the corridors, hurried conversations in the classrooms, and worried glances in the schoolyard confirmed the gravity of the situation.

She left school in haste, her heart pounding with dread, and raced back home. The urgency of the situation had cut short the laughter and camaraderie she had shared with her friends for so long. As she approached her aunt's mansion, the knot of anxiety in her chest tightened.

Her heart sank when she saw a guard from the King's palace standing at her aunt's front gate. She hid behind a nearby bush, listening as her aunt, Eliza, answered the guard's questions.

"Is there anyone living under your roof who is under the age of eighteen?" the guard inquired sternly.

Eliza's voice was steady but filled with a hint of trepidation. "No," she replied, her gaze flickering briefly towards the bush where Amelia hid. "There are no children here. They all died in a fire not too long ago."

Amelia's heart ached at her aunt's words, knowing that her aunt was lying to protect her. The fire her aunt referred to was the cover-up orchestrated by the King when her parents had been killed. It had been a desperate attempt to conceal the truth of her lineage and the powers she possessed.

The guard's expression remained impassive, but his tone was stern as he continued, "By order of the King, all children, whether they belong to the household or are relatives, must be tested to determine if they are full-blooded silvers. Failure to comply will result in death."

Eliza's voice trembled as she nodded. "Of course, we understand. We will cooperate fully with the testing."

Amelia watched in silence, hidden from view, her heart heavy with the burden her aunt was bearing to protect her. She knew that they had to comply with the King's decree, but the consequences of revealing her true nature were dire.

The guard left, and Amelia waited until he was out of sight before emerging from her hiding place. Tears welled up in her eyes as she approached her aunt, who wore a forced smile that concealed her fear.

"Aunt Eliza," Amelia whispered, her voice shaking, "I can't let you risk everything for me."

Eliza placed a reassuring hand on Amelia's shoulder. "We will face this together, my dear. We will find a way to protect you. But for now, we must tread carefully. The King's decree has set us on a dangerous path, and we must be prepared for whatever lies ahead."