By the age of sixteen, Mina had exhausted all the shares of love allotted to her. In her youth, no one loved more purely nor more fully than her. She loved her village, a small town located along the pathways between the capital of Corypha to the southern city of Acampe. She loved both the clear skies on a sunny day and the pitter-patter of raindrops on the wooden roof of her house on a stormy one. She loved climbing the tallest trees and finding the prettiest flowers. She loved all her neighbors, from Eli, the gruff but kind hearted butcher, to Ada, the sweet and gentle old weaver. She loved her best friend Kirian, the mischievous and lively son of the town's late blacksmith with whom she always found herself on the most memorable adventures. They once hitched a ride on a passing trader's cart and traveled all the way to the Acampe, spending three days there before returning home safe and sound, much to his mother's and her father's relief. She loved her father and he loved her, and together they lived in a little house made up of two sparsely furnished rooms and not much else.

Mina's life was far from perfect, but it didn't need to be. She never knew her mother, and her father never spoke of her. She had vague memories of a brother, but she was so young that she could hardly discern which memories were real and which were just childish longings. There were many nights where she went to bed longing for something more to eat, and many days where her whole body ached from being hunched over a carpentry bench as she helped her father create items for his shop. 

And of course, there were the self proclaimed rebels to keep a watchful eye for every day. They were much less of an organized movement and rather more of several ragtag groups of crooks who had stripped themselves of all morals so that they could do as they pleased. Whenever they passed through, Mina's father would lock all the doors, instruct her to stay as quiet as possible, and hand her a wood carving knife to defend herself if ever necessary. Her father was good at shielding her from the things the rebels did, almost too good, and as a result, they existed more as an enigma in her mind instead of a tangible threat to truly fear.

Though she lacked much in her life, Mina poured even more love into the things she did have. And perhaps, she loved just a little too much and thus created a lens through which she saw only the beauty in everything. She forged in her mind a reality that was too good to be true, and eventually, the day came where that world was shattered and her eyes were finally opened to the evil and darkness that permeated all that she held dear.

It began when her father allowed her to take a day off of work as a special treat, raising her spirits and her expectations for that day. With a massive smile on her face, she rushed over to Kirian's house, pounding on the door in a quick and uneven manner as she waited for a response. After a few moments, the door swung open to reveal her best friend, his green eyes peering through the brown hair falling in messy waves down his face as if he had just rolled out of bed.

"Already causing a ruckus this early in the morning, hm?"

She grinned. "I have a day off. You wanna go do something?"

He leaned against the doorframe, crossing his big arms over his chest. "Like what?"

"Doesn't matter. Anything."

"Well, if I'm gonna skip work today too, you'd better have something exciting planned."

"Oh, please. Even if I had plans, we'd stray from them anyway."

He snickered. "True."

"Come on. The best adventures are always the ones we least expect."

He didn't reply at first, stroking his chin as if he was contemplating whether or not to concede to her. She kicked his shin in a playful manner, causing him to recoil and pretend to shut the door in her face. Reacting quickly, she reached out and caught the door before it shut, nearly smashing her fingers in the process.

"Hey!"

He laughed. "I'm just kidding. Let me just get my shoes on."

A few minutes later, they were off to nowhere in particular, scurrying through the village streets. On a whim, Mina decided to stop by the bakery to pick up two small pastries for herself and Kirian to add a bit more sweetness to the day. After snacking on the sticky treats and meandering aimlessly around for a bit, they finally settled down in a quiet area of the woods, talking the hours away.

"Do you think you'd stay in this town? When you get older, I mean," Mina asked, dangling upside down from a tree branch.

Kirian hummed. "Well, how much older do I need to be? I've been basically running the shop on my own ever since I turned seventeen."

"True, but that doesn't mean you're stuck here for the rest of your life."

He was quiet for a moment, leaning his head against a tree as he formulated an answer. "I would definitely like to travel and see the different cities around Cordia, and maybe even beyond. Settling down in another kingdom wouldn't be off the table too, if I'm being honest."

She raised her eyebrows, pulling herself up into a sitting position and looking down at him on the ground. "Really? That far?"

He shrugged. "Life here isn't exactly a dream."

"Won't you miss home though?"

"There's not much to miss."

"What about me?"

He chuckled. "Won't you come with me?"

She raised her chin in defiance. "Well, unlike you, I'm happy where I am."

"Okay, but you're going to miss me when I'm gone."

"Nah, I don't think so."

"Rude."

She snickered. "You're the one who's going to be crawling back to me."

"Oh, you wish."

They exchanged glares, both trying to look more annoyed than the other until all seriousness melted away to leave goofy expressions in its place. Mina was the first to crack, bursting into a fit of giggles when she saw Kirian scrunch his nose so high it appeared as if it went in between his eyes. He smiled widely in return, never getting tired of the sound of her laugh. Some people in town would criticize them for acting too childish, especially because of the mischievous hijinks they would get into, but in a life where there was not much to enjoy, at least in his opinion, his time spent with her was a respite from all the other rougher parts of his life. It was a distraction, and though it couldn't fully mask everything that caused him misery, it was enough. To him, she was the cupbearer of the collective goodness that was sorely lacking in the world, and he needed to protect that at all costs.

Their fun was interrupted by a heavy drum-like sound, growing louder and louder by the second and causing the forest to tremble with every beat.

"What's that noise?"

Kirian sat up, turning his eyes toward the sound of the noise as if that would help him hear it better. "Sounds like horses. A lot of them."

"Rebels, you think?"

The corner of his mouth curled up, forming a gleeful smirk. "Want to find out?"

Mina returned the smile, jumping off the tree branch. "That's a horrible, terrible, stupid idea. And I love it."

Off they ran, tearing through the forest in the direction of the noise, their feet pounding on the ground and their hearts pounding in their chest. A flurry of thoughts flew through her mind, each lingering for a moment before passing on to the next. The most probable option would be that a group of traders was passing through, but she was inclined to believe otherwise as the sound of hoofbeats melded with the noise of clanking metal. Her hand drifted down to the small knife she always carried with her, and her fingers clenched around the handle, ready to whip it out in a moment's notice. 

With the group of horses finally coming into view, Mina and Kirian skidded to a halt, ducking down behind one of the nearby bushes and staying low to the ground. Kirian threw her a glance, his green eyes glinting, and she smiled in return. Turning their eyes ahead of them, the sight of both the horses and their riders being fully clad in metal plate armor struck her, causing her breath to hitch in her throat. Fabrics of blue and gold decorated their appearance, and they all bore the royal family's insignia–a four point star with a sword plunging through it. Her eyes widened, gripping onto Kirian's arm.

"Royal guards," she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. "What are they doing here?"

Kirian didn't answer, the smile falling off his face as his eyes focused on a particular rider in the middle that donned a shining golden crown atop his graying hair. The king carried with him an air of power and extravagance, as if his mere presence could turn the air around him into shimmering gold. Though his face showed lines of wrinkles, his blue eyes were fierce and lively. His beard was neatly trimmed and a long blue cape flowed out behind him in the wind. At his side hung a long sword, sheathed in a gold embellished scabbard. Mina's eyes were wide in awe, but his gaze morphed into a glare.

"There goes the king, all up on his high horse," Kirian sneered. "My papa's dead because of him."

Kirian's father was drafted into the king's army a few years ago. The pain of his departure would have been somewhat soothed if it was for a noble cause, but the king had a knack of getting himself involved in needless wars, often resulting in a devastating number of casualties. When his father left, Kirian desperately held onto hope that he would defy all the odds and return home, but all he received was the worst possible news and only cold words for condolences, shattering everything he was holding onto. His mother fell into despair at the loss, forcing him to keep things at home and in the blacksmith shop running by himself. As the years passed by, his hatred for the king and the royals only festered, poisoning his mind with feelings of loathing and thoughts of revenge.

Mina watched as they passed by them, the king's crown and armor shining in the sunlight, almost more than the other guards even though that was likely just an illusion. Squinting, she spied another rider next to him. He was so small, she almost didn't notice him. His blue eyes matched his father's but his expressed uncertainty rather than seasoned confidence. His skin was so fair as if he had never seen the sun, and his cheeks were flushed red. On top of his somewhat messy brown curls, he wore a small gold crown that was regal though nowhere near as extravagant as the king's. He kept his gaze ahead of him, occasionally throwing unsure glances at his father as if he sought constant guidance or affirmation.

"Seems like the prince is out for a ride as well."

"He's a scrawny little bastard. I bet I could break his arm like a toothpick."

She wouldn't be surprised if he could based on how strong he was. "Uhh, let's not try that."

He chuckled dryly. "I'm not getting anywhere near any of them." Looking around, he spied a stone about the size of the palm of his hand and scooped it up. "This, however, could work."

Rising off the ground, he started after them, picking up speed to keep pace with the riders. Mina followed after him, a gnawing feeling of dread forming in her stomach. She and Kirian had suggested and followed through with more bad ideas than she could count which often led to her ignoring her better judgment, but something about this made ignoring it even harder. Perhaps it was because every other time, they were only putting themselves at risk; they never intended to harm anyone else. Her better judgment pulled at all of her thoughts and senses, almost forcing her to stop in place and not take another step. But she pressed on, fearing what would happen if she left her best friend alone. They eventually slowed, dropping low to the ground again as the riders paused to converse amongst themselves. Kirian's eyes never left them, his hand clenched around the rock. To her dismay, he began to inch closer, a painful purpose clouding his eyes. She crawled after him, trying to be as quiet as possible.

"Kirian, I wouldn't," she cautioned, placing a hand on his arm.

"What? It's just a pebble."

She eyed the king. "You...you wouldn't want to anger the beast."

Kirian frowned, taking in her words for a moment. "Maybe just the prince then."

He reeled his arm back, and before she could say another word of protest, the stone was whipping through the air. A strangled gasp escaped her lips as it struck its target, nailing the prince in his temple. Blood immediately gushed from the wound and in his shock, he yanked the reins of his horse, causing a ruckus among the king and his guards. Kirian jumped to his feet and tried to pull Mina along with him, but she remained frozen in place, her eyes glued to the chaos unfolding in front of her.

"Mina, we have to get out of here," Kirian urged.

She had never trembled more violently in her entire life yet still remained unmoving from her spot on the ground. Kirian tugged at her arm harder, his voice growing louder and more desperate. She felt as if she was moving through thick mud as she slowly turned her head to look at him, wanting to say something, but no words coming out of her mouth. At last, he finally pulled her up, and she stumbled after him, tripping over her own feet as they charged into the thick forest greenery in an attempt to get away. Her whole body felt numb, and the hoofbeats behind her sounded dull and muted to her ears.

A sharp, searing sting through her shoulder expelled all the numbness from her body in an instant, the pain washing over her like a tidal wave and the after effects lingering. She stumbled and fell to her knees, the pain being too strong to ignore. Turning her head with difficulty, her eyes fell on a nasty arrow that had buried itself straight through her shoulder, the point shiny with her blood. Crimson stains formed on her shirt and spread across the fabric like dark clouds across a sky. A ghastly cry escaped her mouth as she stared at the wound, feeling her stomach churn and her head grow dizzy.

"Mina!" Kirian yelled, upon hearing her distress. Turning, he rushed to her side, hoisting her good arm around his shoulder. "Come on."

"No, run," she begged, pain shooting through her body with every movement. "They'll kill you."

His eyes glistened. "I'm sorry, this is all my fault. I'm so stupid."

She huffed, trying to ignore the screaming pain in her shoulder. "You can still get out of this."

"Who would I be if I just left you here?"

"A smart guy."

"Luckily, I'm not," he joked, trying to lighten the situation even at a time like this. "Come on."

She forced her feet to move, and they pressed onward with her leaning most of her weight onto him and him trying his best to support her. Worried about their pace and the ever approaching soldiers, he lifted her up into his arms, taking care to be as gentle as he possibly could. She gripped onto him with her good hand, her nails nearly digging into his skin, while her other arm lay limply across her body. Almost the entire left part of her top had turned red, and she could feel the blood dripping from the wound and down her arm. Her eyes fluttered open and closed as she leaned her head against his chest, hearing his racing heart beating in her own ears.

"Come on, Mina, come on," Kirian murmured to her, his eyes blazing with determination. "We're almost there."

She could only hum in response, the fear rushing through her veins being the only thing keeping her somewhat conscious. To her surprise, Kirian came to an abrupt stop, swearing under his breath as he looked around. Raising her head, she glanced around to see guards and horses all around them, leaving nowhere else to go. Her heart dropped into her stomach and she whimpered, holding onto Kirian with all her strength. He shushed her gently, doing his best to cover up his own gnawing fear.

"It's just a pair of kids," one of the guards stated as the king rode up next to them.

Now that he was closer than ever, the king appeared even more frightening, towering above on his midnight black steed. He gazed down on them, his eyes shining with what seemed like glee at the sight of their terror. His look made Mina's blood run cold, and she averted her eyes.

"Just kids, hm? Well, who knows what they'll be capable of in the next few years."

The king's voice was soft and velvety, and in any other circumstance, it would have sounded comforting. But Mina and Kirian knew better, making his words feel like a barrage of needles on their skin. The king dismounted and sauntered over to them, his heavy footsteps seemingly making the earth shudder.

"Put the girl down and kneel," he ordered.

At first, Kirian hesitated, tightening his grip on Mina and holding her closer to his chest. Frowning at their defiance, the king drew his sword, the blade glistening in the sunlight and the scrape of the metal causing both Mina's and Kirian's hearts to skip a beat.

"Obey, and I might let you live."

Kirian's jaw tightened, but he did as instructed, whispering gentle reassurances to Mina before setting her down on the grass and kneeling next to her. She lay on her side facing him, the arrow still protruding from her shoulder. Kirian kept his eyes downcast to not further anger the king, but if he could, he would have looked the monarch straight in the eyes to let him know with just a glance how much he wanted him dead. But Kirian knew he was walking on thin ice and that he had to be careful to ensure he and Mina would make it out alive. He saw her trembling as the king paced around them silently, so he took her hand in his, feeling her warm blood coat his palm. They both stilled as the king stopped, his gaze burning into their skin. Mina gripped Kirian's hand tighter, letting out a pitiful whimper as she felt a sharp point touch her back. Slowly, the king traced the tip of his sword along her spine, slicing through the back of her dress but just barely grazing her skin. Kirian immediately reacted, his head snapping up to look at the king.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" The words flew out of his mouth before he had time to think twice.

The king raised an eyebrow, obviously amused at his outburst. "Oh, just having a little fun. What, are you going to stop me?"

"I would certainly like to," Kirian hissed between his teeth.

The king laughed, applying pressure to the blade so that it pierced through Mina's skin. She cried out in pain, tears forming in her eyes. "Go ahead, then. Stop me."

Kirian gritted his teeth. The king was obviously toying with them, and he knew that his reactions only spurred the sadistic man on, but at the same time, he couldn't just sit there and watch Mina suffer. Not knowing what else to do, he grabbed onto her wrist and pulled her close to himself again, away from the king's sword. However, he didn't even get the chance to wrap his arms around her before the king pulled her back again, grabbing a fistful of her messy black hair. He angled his sword at her throat, forcing Kirian to freeze in his spot.

"Please," he begged, at the end of his rope. "Please don't hurt her. I'm the one to blame. She didn't do anything wrong."

The king clicked his tongue, a fire igniting in his gaze. "You're right, she'd be better off without you anyway."

Before either of them could say another word, the king swung his sword outward, slashing Kirian straight through the neck and severing his head from his body. Mina could only scream in horror, slumping to the ground as the king released his grip on her. She couldn't think, she couldn't breathe, she couldn't move, and she couldn't tear her eyes away from the nightmare in front of her, screaming and sobbing as she clenched fistfuls of the grass in his fists. No, this couldn't be happening; this couldn't be real. It felt as if her heart had been stabbed a hundred times before finally being torn out of her chest, leaving her broken and bleeding and empty inside. The pain from her wounds felt numb compared to the wave of anguish that suffocated her in that moment. Feeling her stomach lurch, she threw up all the sweet treats she had eaten earlier that day, a new bitter and rotten taste filling her mouth. Coughing and gagging, she barely had time to catch her breath before her head was forced up roughly, a strong hand gripping her chin.

"Be grateful it was a quick death. If I could, I would have bashed his skull in with the very rock he threw."

He was twisting the knife in her already gaping wound, igniting a fire in her unlike anything she had ever felt before. She had never been a violent or malicious person, but in that moment, she wanted nothing more than to reach up and tear his throat straight out of his neck so she wouldn't have to hear his voice anymore. Before she could even raise her arm up, he had let go of her face, shoving her back to the ground. Raising her head with much difficulty, she looked around at the guards surrounding them, their faces hidden by their helmets making them appear cold and emotionless. How could they just stand there and watch this happen? Her gaze settled on the young prince, dried blood still running down his face from his forehead. He stared at her in silence, a look of pity and perhaps even sadness in his gaze. Don't do that. Don't look down on me like I'm nothing more than a poor animal. This is all your fault.

Mina watched as the king mounted his horse, his expression calm and nonchalant as if nothing at all was wrong with the world. Ignoring the screaming pain in her body, she tried to get up, forcing herself to her knees. She was dead anyway, so the worst he could do was kill her too. However, she had barely gotten up before one of the guards swung his sword, hitting her roughly in the back of her head with the handle. She fell to the ground again, blood dripping down her neck as the world turned black.

When she finally woke up, she was at home in her bed, feeling dazed and confused for a moment before the bleak memories came rushing back. According to her father, someone from the village had heard her screams and found her and Kirian laying there. They managed to bring her home just in time for the town doctor Joel to tend to her wounds and save her life. Upon hearing the news, Kirian's mother had killed herself, unable to bear the loss of her last remaining family member. She and her son were both buried in the town's cemetery and their blacksmith shop was closed indefinitely. The whole town was shaken by the incident, and Mina could not even speak about it until months after it had happened. Her whole world had been turned upside down, leaving her struggling to right herself and find her balance.

The worst part of it all was that she would look at everything she once loved and would only see something worthy of hatred. Everything that was once perfectly imperfect to her became the most wretched aspects of her existence. She hated that she lived in a small little village, working until her back ached and her hands were splintered. She hated the overbearing sun and the cold harsh rain that seeped through the cracks in the roof. She hated speaking or having to interact with any of the other villagers who continued to live their lives unimpeded. She hated her father for trying to tell her to move on. She hated her mother for leaving her alone, whether it was by death or some other circumstance. She hated all royals for living such comfortable and easy lives, and she hated the people who willingly chose to serve them. She hated the king with her entire being, and she swore that she would stop at nothing until he had paid for what he did. But most of all, amid these feelings of loathing and disdain for everything around her, she hated herself, feeling more like an empty shell of a person with each passing day as the path she set out on grew more and more dark.