Two Princesses, One Throne

Chapter 1

One of the caretakers of the Garden of Life ran towards the house of the most powerful sorcerer of all time; Amaria.

“Lady Amaria!” the caretaker called as she knocks on the door with her voice filled with urgency. Amaria opened the door with a frown on her face. When the door opened, the caretaker smiled as she said, “Madam, the time has come.”

Upon hearing the news from the caretaker, Amara smiled widely.” Let’s go get my husband.” Amaria blew out a loud whistle then the ground started forming into a large lion.

The caretaker’s eyes grew wide with the presence of the earth guardian. The caretaker fell on one knee and bowed his head.

“Is there something wrong mistress?” the earth guardian, Ethos asked.

“Let’s go get my husband Ethos. The roses are in full bloom.” Amaria replied with a wide smile on her face. Ethos knelt on the ground letting her mistress and the caretaker ride on his back.

Ethos ran all the way to the castle’s training ground and that is where they saw Rodel; the leader of the royal guards.

“Rodel!!!” Amaria called the moment she saw her husband. Rodel turned his head and smiled at the sight of his wife.

“What brought you here Amaria?” Rodel asked.

“The roses are in full bloom.” Realizing what it meant, Rodel hopped on Ethos’ back and they made their way to the Garden of Life.

Reaching the Garden, Amaria was surprised to see the air guardian Aera, the water guardian Aqua and the leader of the guardians, the fire phoenix Marco.

“We’ve been waiting for you, mistress.” The guardians bowed their heads as a sign of respect to their master.

“Where’s Ardes?” Amaria ran into the Garden of Life and searched for the head caretaker. When Amaria’s eyes landed on Ardes who was waiting for her with King and the Queen of the Kingdom of Magic, she called, “Ardes!”

Bowing her head to the King and Queen, Amaria added, “I wasn’t expecting to see you here your majesties.”

“Of course Amaria. We won’t miss the chance of meeting the children of the sorceress.” Queen Tamaria replied.

In the Garden of Life, the seeds of women are kept and taken care of for three months until their roses’ bloom which means that their babies are fully grown. In the garden, hundreds of roses both big and small float to the air, and from time to time their mother visits them to see the growth of their child.

“Your seeds are in full bloom Amaria.” Ardes said extending her hands up to guide the two floating and glowing roses down. Amaria’s excited and nervous to see her twins but Rodel stood behind her hugging her from behind.

The two big red roses slowly opened revealing Amaria’s daughters. Seeing her daughters brought tears to Amaria’s eyes. She took one of her daughters from the roses and Rodel carried the other. The roses where their daughters grew for the last three months disappeared the moment they took their daughters inside it.

“They’re beautiful Amaria.” The Queen commented looking at the babies with loving eyes.

“What will you name them mistress?” Aqua asked.

“I will name her Astra……” Amaria said pertaining to the baby in her arms then she turns to the baby in Rodel’s arms as she added, “……and this is Raquel.”

“Can I hold her?” the Queen asked extending her arms to Amaria.

“Of course, my Queen.” Amaria slowly passed her daughter Astra to the Queen’s arm and she looked at her daughter lovingly. Amaria caresses her daughter Raquel’s arm, giving her a soft kiss on the forehead.

But moments later, Amaria silently gasped when she felt her powers getting drained. Clutching her chest, Amaria almost fell on the ground good thing Marco was quick enough to catch her.

“Amaria!” Rodel passed his daughter Raquel to Ardes and he held his wife in his arms. Amara glanced from Astra to Raquel and she saw them bearing the combined marks of the elements.

“I see. My daughters are a sorceress and they are draining my powers.” Amaria thought to herself then she felt her tattoos disappearing which everyone noticed.

“Amaria your tattoos are disappearing.” Rodel said frowning as she saw Amaria’s tattoos disappearing.

Amaria breathed heavily and said, “Astra and Raquel are a sorceress. There must only be one sorceress in one generation.”

“There should only be one.” Marco the fire phoenix said.

“But the mistress’ power is too much for one to handle. Her powers are being divided to her daughters.” Ethos the earth guardian added.

“Then that means………” Aqua shook her head not believing what her brother meant.

“That means the mistress will die.” Aera concluded, tears dropping from her eyes.

Shaking his head Rodel said, “No. You’re not leaving me Amaria.”

“Now I understand why my father hated me, and why he is blaming me for my mother’s death. Because I took her powers; her life force.” Looking into Rodel’s eyes Amaria added, “Please Rodel, don’t hate them. Don’t blame them as my father did to me.” Amara gasped when she felt a shot of pain in her chest.

With tears in her eyes, Amaria looked at her daughters and said, “I love you.” Those were Amaria’s last words before she has finally drawn her last breath.

Rodel formed his hand into a tight fist and held his wife tight in his arms. “Amaria.” Shaking his wife’s body Rodel called out for her but Amaria is not waking up anymore.

~~~300 years later~~~

Three centuries have passed and Amaria’s daughters grew up to be one of the most beautiful and powerful sorceresses after their mother. Astra and Raquel grew up with unconditional love from their father but a sorcerer’s life span only last for three hundred years. Almost a year ago, Rodel died but the element guardians were there to guide their master’s daughters. After Amaria’s death, Rodel, together with the guardians lived far away from the castle so his daughter can live a normal life.

“Astra!” Raquel called her twin sister excitedly.

“Yes.” Astra answered from inside her room.

“I have to tell you something-----“ Raquel barged into Astra’s room and was surprised to see her putting powders on and tinting her lips red.

“What’s the occasion?” Raquel asked frowning.

Sighing nervously, Astra placed the powder down turning her body to face her twin. “I have something to tell you, Raquel.”

“What is it?”

“I have finally met my soulmate. I met him three years ago but I only found out he was my soulmate last full moon.” Astra announced happily and Raquel smiled awkwardly not knowing what to feel.

“I am happy for you Astra.” Raquel said almost hesitantly.

“You said there’s something you wanted to tell me?” Astra asked.

“Oh. Do you remember the man I’ve been telling you about?” Raquel asked excitedly.

“Of course. You’ve been telling me about him for almost two years now. Why? Are you meeting him? Is he your soulmate?” Astra asked with excitement but Raquel chuckled shaking her head.

“No. Not yet but I asked him to see me tonight during the full moon. I know Ward is my soulmate, Astra. I can feel it.” Astra took her twin’s hand and held it tight. “I know he is Raquel but first can I introduce my soulmate to you?”

Nodding her head Raquel answered, “Of course.”

Raquel and Astra traveled from the North to the capital where the harvest festival is happening. They never get the chance to go to the capital since Marco is forbidding them but now they got the chance to escape since Marco and the rest of the guardian are having a meeting.

“Wow. I’ve never been to a lively town before.” Astra commented, amazed by what she sees.

“Edward said he’ll meet at the central plaza.” Astra pulled her twin to the central and as they reach there, Astra’s been looking around for her soulmate until her eyes landed on the person standing on the small stage.

“There he is.” Astra runs towards her soulmate whilst Raquel keeps on looking around the things she’s never seen before.

Edward saw Astra running to him and he smiled. Edward held out his hand for her and as Astra stepped on stage, Edward hugged her tight.

“I’ve been waiting for you.” Edward whispered.

“I’m here now.” Astra whispered back. Edward’s parents were staring at the couple surprised.

“Edward?” his mother called.

Breaking the hug, Edward held Astra’s hand tight and introduced her to his parents. “Mom, Dad, this is Astra, my soulmate, and my princess.”

“Astra, they are my parents, Queen Elena and King Ulysses.” Astra’s eyes grew wide when she learned that Edward is the son of the King and Queen.

Bowing her head Astra greeted, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, your highnesses.”

Astra pulled Edward closer and whispered, “Three years we’ve been friends and you never told me that you’re a prince.”

“I thought if I do, you would treat me differently.” Edward answered.

“Astra?” the Queen repeated frowning.

“Your name is Astra?” The Queen asked which Astra answered with a nod.

“Yes, my Queen.”

“Are you one of the daughters of Rodel and Amaria?” this time it was the King’s turn to ask.

Even with confusion, Astra answered, “Yes.”

“We are good friends with your mother. After she died you and your father left the castle and we never heard anything from him anymore. Where is he?” the Queen asked looking behind Astra hoping to see Rodel but he isn’t around.

“My father died almost a year ago.” Astra answered.

“I am sorry sweetheart, but it makes me happy that my son is your soulmate.” Queen Elena gave Astra a tight hug which she returned wholeheartedly.

“Welcome to the family Astra.” King Ulysses said also giving Astra a quick hug.

“What is the meaning of this?”