The Origin of Sauda Death

“If there is a chance I could be free, I would choose a life without a curse of shadows. But, this power is not mine. It is everyone’s clouded dreams in the palm of my hands. I can change time. I can save this world from evil that can’t be touched. This is our only hope.” - Sauda.

A winter’s tale many years ago. As told by the whispers of the streets. Confetti of light and glorious smiles. The Citadel Empyria. Past misty forests and above the lands of forgotten. Empyria has stood strong against civil conflict for many centuries, with its crystalized fortress and spirit guardians of the mountain. Until one day, the light faded.

It all started with the sky. A child floating down, surrounded by dark energy. The citizens looked up in fear and ran inside their homes. Except for one woman. Princess Empyria. A bride-to-be, yet afraid to make the final step. However, at this moment, she was the bravest of all. She ran towards the center of the plaza as the child began falling. Breathing heavily through the cold, while holding her hood down. The princess could never have her face seen as it protects royalty from corruption and despair.

As the child almost strikes down towards the plaza’s fountain, Princess Empyria leaped just in time to catch the unknown child. A sudden impact of embrace created a mysterious strike of otherworldly chaos. Raining fire and tears of the earth. The guardians screamed in pain as the child’s shadow was crushing the kingdom with speckles of galactic magic. Looking high above from Empyria castle, the head wizard watched intensely, as his hands began to shake with uncertainty. This was not a good omen.

The princess tried to calm the child down but her eyes were pale. She could see droplets of sinister figures dancing around the dilated pupils. The child was cursed and could die at any moment. Princess Empyria quickly began to sing an enchantment that would surround both of them with the holy crystals of light. This power is a family genetic that allows magic to be still for a moment of time. The citizens came back outside and watched as they saw a woman and child in the center of a fortified dome. They did not know it was Princess Empyria.

All pain and suffering began to freeze in space, slowing down the forces of gravity. The princess continued to hush the noise and noticed the child’s eyes form back to consciousness. A lovely lavender gently touched the surface. Princess Empyria smiled. When she placed the child down, she noticed a glowing dark shard embedded into her chest. It suddenly cracked and a ghostly body emerged out from its fragments. It was a strange lifeform that the princess has never seen before. It was weak and dying. The child began to cry as it appeared to be its protector.

A few minutes passed and the child spoke an ancient language, trying to wake the shadow up. Princess Empyria watched and saw the darkness from the shadow begin to drain life all around. The citizens were falling ill and plants disintegrating. She then realized that this was the aftermath of something much greater than her understanding. Their home was in danger of extinction.

Princess Empyria’s magic was not strong enough to hold back the dying creature. As the child continued to weep, her body also began to fade. The princess looked at her hands and noticed the ring on her finger was see-through. Memories of her past and recent days began to flood her cheeks. She then looked above towards the castle. Her one long last look at her life of royalty. As the princess reached for the child's chest, she rips the crystal out and swallows it whole. A life for a life.

Flashes of light beam out from the princess’s body. She yelled in agony and slightly laughed as this was the end of her journey. Reminiscing and remembering all the good days. The ghostly figure of the child stopped crying and ran to hold the princess. She spoke the same ancient language and their bodies suddenly vanished. They were gone. The citizens were healed and life returned back to steady normality.

The next morning, the royal family was shaken by the sudden appearance of their princess and a cursed child. Both were wounded on the red carpet. One thing that scared them the most was they saw their princess was not the same woman she used to be. Same family heirlooms and gown, but was now a shadow creature.

The child woke up and saw her gem was completely new. Seeing the family, she ran and hid behind the throne. The head wizard came down the steps and ordered the child to come into the light. She took a deep breath and walked forward. Her body glowed like the violet in her eyes. He saw great potential in not only her powers but another force to protect this kingdom.

She blinked a few times and walked over to the wizard. The child held his hand. The wizard could feel the energy that was within her, but also something different. There was love. He looked over and spoke to the princess.

“This child has never felt love until she met you” said the head wizard.

Princess Empyria felt ashamed of her new body and had a hard time adjusting. But when she looked at the child, all her selfish thoughts seemed to float away. She was now her new guardian.

There was no cure for this mysterious body transformation. The head wizard aims to study it as the child continues to grow in the safety of Castle Empyria. After some food and rest, the child walked up to Princess Empyria.

“You…are…my…new…shadow” said the child slowly

Princess Empyria responded and pointed to herself “No, I am simply a new friend in your life. You can call me Alzena. Al-Ze-Na. That is my true name”.

The child grins in excitement and yells “Sauda Sauda Sauda!”.

Alzena tries to calm her down before she wakes everyone else up from sleep. They both smile. This was the beginning of a new era.

Entered by: 0xae20…62A0 and preserved on chain (see transaction)