Chapter 1: The Girl Who is lost
Queen Kayla had always felt different, but she never understood why. It wasn't just the way people looked at her—sometimes with curiosity, sometimes with quiet envy—it was something deeper, something that lived inside her bones like a secret waiting to be told. That morning began like any other. The sun slipped through the thin curtains of her small bedroom, casting golden lines across her face. She groaned softly, turning to the other side of the bed, but sleep wouldn't come back. There was a strange heaviness in the air, like something was about to change. "Kayla!" her foster mother's voice echoed from downstairs. "You'll be late again!" Kayla sighed and dragged herself out of bed. Her reflection in the mirror paused her for a second. Dark, silky hair framed her face, her brown eyes glowing slightly in the sunlight. For a moment—just a moment—she thought she saw something flicker behind her eyes. Gold. She blinked, and it was gone. "You're imagining things," she muttered to herself, quickly getting dressed. She grabbed her bag and rushed downstairs, skipping breakfast as usual. Her foster mother barely glanced at her. That wasn't unusual either. Kayla had grown up in a house where she existed more than she was loved. Outside, the air felt different—cooler, sharper. As she walked down the familiar road to school, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. Every sound felt louder, every shadow deeper. By the time she reached the school gates, her heart was already racing. "Hey." The voice behind her was calm, steady. Kayla turned and froze. Jamie. He leaned casually against the gate like he owned the place, his dark eyes locked on hers. There was something about him that always unsettled her—not in a bad way, but in a way she couldn't explain. Like he knew something about her that she didn't. "You're late," he said, pushing himself upright. "I know," she replied quickly, trying to brush past him. But he stepped in front of her. "Kayla… have you ever felt like something is wrong? Like you don't belong here?" Her breath caught. "What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice sharper than she intended. Jamie studied her face carefully, as if searching for something. "Nothing," he said finally, stepping aside. "Just forget it." But she couldn't forget it. Not when his words echoed exactly what she had been feeling for years. Classes passed in a blur. Teachers spoke, students laughed, but Kayla heard none of it. Her mind kept drifting back to Jamie. And to that strange flicker in her eyes that morning. By lunchtime, she couldn't take it anymore. She found Jamie sitting alone behind the school building, like he always did. "You need to explain," she said, crossing her arms. He looked up at her, and for a second, something like relief crossed his face. "I was wondering how long it would take," he said. "Take for what?" "For you to start asking questions." Kayla frowned. "Stop talking in riddles, Jamie." He stood up slowly, his height suddenly intimidating. "Kayla… if I tell you something, you have to promise not to panic." "That depends on what it is." He hesitated, then stepped closer. "You're not who you think you are." Her heart skipped. "What does that even mean?" "It means," he said quietly, "you're not just some girl living in this town. You're something more." Kayla let out a nervous laugh. "Okay, you've officially lost it." She turned to leave, but his next words stopped her cold. "You're a queen." Silence. The world seemed to freeze around her. Slowly, she turned back to him. "What did you just say?" "You're a queen, Kayla. The rightful ruler of a kingdom that was stolen from you." "That's not funny," she said, her voice shaking now. "I'm not joking." "Then you're crazy." She tried to walk away again, but suddenly the air around her shifted. A strong wind swept through the alley, though the trees stood completely still. Kayla gasped as a strange energy surged through her body. Her hands trembled, and when she looked down, faint golden light shimmered beneath her skin. "What… what is happening?" she whispered. Jamie didn't move. "It's awakening," he said softly. Panic set in. "Make it stop!" she cried. But it only grew stronger. The light spread, wrapping around her like a living thing. And then, just as suddenly as it started, it vanished. Kayla collapsed to her knees, breathing hard. Jamie rushed forward, catching her before she hit the ground completely. "Easy," he murmured.