Chapter one

After the sudden death of king Jerald, there has been a search for the person next in line. People say the king was murdered, but no one knows the real truth behind it, many have been chosen as the next ruler but all have been rejected by the crown " The flaming crown". 

Tales say the flaming crown was forged by three powerful wizards who created it and gave it a mind of its own and only the purest of heart, accepted by the crown get a chance to wear it, the crown was given to the first king of valtoria and since then has been passed down from generation to generations.

The late king wife " Queen Eliza" with her son " prince Leon", still lives in the castle in respective of the king being no more. I know you must be wondering, why search for a new ruler when the crown prince is still alive, well that's a question! I have no answer to, but the pending answer lays down in between the king's cabinet, they knew the truth and why they needed a new ruler. Rumors have it that the prince does not bear the blood of king Jerald, but in the city of valtoria, you see a lot of things but keep your mouth shut if you don't want to get killed, the king's death brought up lots of controversy in the city.

But Deep within the wall of the city where I lived with my mom in a little cottage we called our home, " Tamora" was her name and " Taria" was mine, a tall, beautiful, dark-skinned with a gray hair tone. Growing up as a kid and now a beautiful young lady, I never knew who my father was, no name, not even a picture was shown to me, asking mom about it set to stair up bad memories which I decided to let go, just to avoid her from getting hurt.

After we were done cultivating the farm produce, we would go to the market square and sell them, some days we sold all but not all days was a good day for us. mom and I would stroll back home after we were done in the market, I'll warm up the food we left for dinner, finished eating we both would retire to our rooms to rest. I got into the room changed to my nightwear, jumped into the bed, and slept off.

There was calmness around me until suddenly I saw myself standing at the late king's throne room with the flaming crown placed at the side of the king's chair. A voice I had no idea where it was coming from came calling out to me and I had no control over it, slowly I moved towards the direction the crown was kept but stopped by a strange man that pointed his demon curved staff at me, he stood in between where the crown was placed and where I was, getting ready to take me down if I got more closer to it. Then again I heard the same voice that said to me " ready or not, this is your destiny", I woke up gasping for air, panting hard with my heart beating so fast that anyone sleeping next to me could wake up just by the sound of it. Wondering why and what connection I have with the throne room of the king, refusing to get more shut eyes in fear of the dream reoccurring again.

I stayed awake all through the night, till it was 6 am in the morning, it was then I decided to get some sleep and while trying to sleep, mom knocked on the door, came in to place a glass of warm milk on the table for me, she kept talking but yet I paid no attention to her. Noticing that I paid no attention, as I laid on the bed, she came and sat next to me, seeing how red my eyes were, she asked what happened and then I told her about the dream I had last night, overhearing this, mom stood up and fell deep in her thought, I called out to her, but she seems deep in her thought, so I got up from the bed and touched her to get her back to reality. 

Mom assured me that I should heed no notoriety to my dream, I shook my head in agreement with what she said but somewhere within me, I knew something was definitely off with her, and asking her immediately wasn't the right time. 

While taking my bath, mom notified me that my clothes has been placed on the bed for me, so after I was done, I came out all dressed up and ready for the day. I grabbed the glass of warm milk mom kept for me and hurriedly left to assist her on the farm while working, my best friend 'Julia' came to pay me a visit, and knowing her, I knew she had a reason behind her surprising visit. 

Julia greeted mom and asked her if she could borrow me for a while, mom looked at me and gave me her approval to go but expected to come back before 7 pm, that she would manage in the farm without me today. Agreeing to what she said I removed my farm boots, wore my shoes, and left with Julia. While walking I asked her where we were headed too and she said, she was invited to a party, and going there alone would make her feel inferior and needed me to keep her company. I figured why not and we both walked down to the party, the party was filled up with so many people and the atmosphere reeked of alcohol, Julia took me to the girl behind the party, "Vinita", she warmly welcomed us and offered a drink to us for a toast. So after the toast before I could count from a scale of one to five, Julia had gulped it down, waiting for my turn, I raised my cup but something beyond me dragged my hands back to stop me from taking it, thinking I was only dreaming I tried it once again but the same thing happened, giving me the same warning. 

I thought I must have been going mad as I spoke to myself while going outside of the party to get someone fresh air. 

"What is happening," I said to myself as I sat on the stairs of the house at the entrance of the party, I needed an explanation, to what and who might be the person behind the voice I was hearing. Trying to figure it out, Julia came looking for me and before she could say anything, I told her I was fine, how I knew it was her, I can't explain, but I had to know what was going on with me and those strange voices in my head.

The day had run fast and it was getting late, hurriedly I went to call Julia for us to go home but was nowhere to found, so I left without her. I knew mom most have been worried sick about my whereabouts.