Mira awoke from her slumber, groggy and disoriented, surrounded by the shattered remains of her once vibrant fairy village.

The ice prison that had protected her for two centuries had finally melted away, releasing her back into a world she no longer recognized.

Slowly, she rose to her feet, her wings unfolding stiffly behind her. She surveyed the devastation around her, the once charred and now snapped trees, the crumbling homes. 

Tears welled up in her eyes as memories flooded back, memories of her family, her dear friends, all lost due to the senseless and heartless cruelty of mankind.

But as Mira gazed out beyond the wreckage of her village, she saw something that caught her by surprise. 

In the distance, towering spires rose up into the sky, a city unlike anything she had ever seen before. Curiosity piqued, Mira set off towards the distant city, her heart heavy with sorrow and determination.

As she drew closer, Mira realized that this city named Avaloria, as she quickly learned, was a melting pot of different species. 

Humans, beast people, elves, and dwarves (among other unique species of people) all mingled together in the bustling streets. 

This was a far cry from the world she remembered, despite knowing very little of it. Such diversity was unheard of in those days.

As she wandered through the streets, wings hidden in a cloak she managed to scrounge up, her attention was drawn to a commotion up ahead in a nearby alleyway. 

A group of mixed species teens, who formed a semi-circle around a much smaller, hooded human child, were teasing him for unknown reasons.

Without a second thought, Mira sprang into action. With her magic restored, possibly from the aftereffects of the ice prison injecting its magic into her, she cast an illusion spell, making the bullies see their worst fears come to life before their eyes.

With screams of terror and tears of fright, they scattered, leaving the small child alone and bewildered at their sudden outbursts.

Mira approached the child, a young boy with eyes the color of periwinkle. Mira's eyes widened at the sight. It was a color unique to her own kind, the fairies. She knelt down beside him, offering a gentle smile.

"Are you alright?" she asked softly.

The boy nodded, but his eyes were wide with fear and uncertainty. Before Mira could say anything else, he jumped up and ran off, disappearing into the crowd.

Intrigued, Mira decided to follow him, keeping her presence hidden with a simple invisibility spell. 

She trailed him through the streets, watching as he made his way towards the grand castle that loomed over the city.

To her surprise, the guards at the castle gates greeted the boy warmly, as if his presence was expected. Mira watched as he disappeared inside, her curiosity growing with each passing moment.

Carefully, Mira slipped through the gates behind him, keeping to the shadows as she followed him through the corridors of the castle. 

Eventually, he came to a stop in front of a set of ornate doors, where two guards stood watch.

"Your Highness," one of the guards said, bowing respectfully. “The King and Queen await you in the throne room."

Mira's eyes widened in surprise. The boy was no servant, as she had suspected initially. He was Prince Cedric Avaloria, the guard announced. First prince and heir of the Avaloria Kingdom. 

Mira's heart raced as she followed Prince Cedric into the grand throne room, her keen eyes fixated on his periwinkle-colored eyes, a hue that should have been exclusive to her kind. 

At this moment, with the door shut and unable to quell her curiosity, Mira disabled the invisibility spell.

The King and Queen, who had been eagerly awaiting the prince's return, were startled by the sudden sight of an uninvited guest in their midst. 

They quickly called for the guards to apprehend her, but Mira, understanding the gravity of the situation, raised her hand to stop them.

"Please, Your Majesty," she implored, her voice soft yet commanding. "I mean no harm. I seek only an audience with you, in private."

The King, intrigued by her request, dismissed the guards and gestured for his son to stand beside him. "Very well," he said, motioning for Mira to approach. "Speak, and I shall listen."

With a deep and shaky breath, Mira removed her cloak, revealing her shimmering fairy wings. The King's eyes widened in astonishment, a smile spreading across his face. "You're a fairy," he exclaimed astoundingly. "Are you Alastair's sister, Mirella?"

Mira was taken aback by the question but nodded nonetheless. "Yes, Your Majesty. I am Mirella, daughter of Nessa and Dyro Starglade, next in line for the throne of the Forest fairies."

Before any more questions could be asked, a delightful, high-pitched voice rang out in the room.

 "Auntie Mira!" called out a young girl, about six years old, as she skipped into the throne room. The king chuckled as he scooped up the little princess in his arms. 

"This…is Princess Elysia Avaloria," he introduced with a smile on his face, "my daughter.”

Elysia beamed up at Mira, her eyes sparkling with wonder. "I knew you were still alive, Auntie Mira! Papa said you were just a tall tale, but I knew he was wrong."

Mira couldn't help but smile at the young princess's innocence.

She knelt down to Elysia's level as the king set her down and gently took her hand. "I am very much not a tall tale, Elysia," she said softly, chuckling. "And I have come to seek your father's knowledge."

“Where shall we start then, Queen Mira?” He asked as he sent Princess Elysia to her mother.

Mira didn't hesitate to answer as she looked up at him.

 “The beginning.”