Dania always avoided King Chandler. Whenever she heard his voice, she ran in the opposite direction. It was embedded into her instincts, she knew better than to be caught under his gaze. One fine morning day, her nana was humming a soft tune, the window was partially open and a cool breeze slipped through. Dania had a roll shoved in her mouth and she held her stuffed bunny tightly between her arms. The bunny was missing an eye and had plenty of patches holding it together, but it was hers.

  Her nana looked up, “On an adventure?”

  Dania smiled and nodded, her face bright with excitement, “I’m going to the garden, maybe the caterpillars have come out.”

  Her nana chuckled softly, “Okay, be careful.”

  Dania wrapped her arms tightly around her nana, “Yes, nana.”

  The sun shone brightly above in the sky, its rays shining directly into Dania’s eyes. She squinted at the golden light, her hand hovered above her, casting a shadow across her delicate face. The cobblestone pavement was wet with morning dew, her breath a small dragon of fog. She stopped under a small cherry tree, its leaves rustling in the wind. On a small branch, three small cocoons hung. She rose to her tip toes, her eyes squinting, hoping to see a small butterfly emerge. But, it was not time yet, it was too cold. Her hopeful gaze fell and she let out a disappointed sigh.

  She looked at her bunny, “I really hoped we’d see them come out today.”

  She hugged the bunny, its soft yet worn fabric brushing against her cheek, when she heard a noise. She flinched and quickly stood up, peering through the bushes. Amid the leaves and sticks, she saw King Chandler approaching the garden with his advisor struggling to keep up with his long strides. His jaw flexed and tightened in frustration.

  She quickly moved behind a tree, making sure to stay out of sight, then bolted away. Just as she nearly escaped his line of sight, she tripped. As her knee scraped the ground, she let out a small yelp of pain. She quickly covered her mouth despite the pain, trying to remain unnoticed. Unfortunately, his gaze landed directly on her, and a chill ran up her spine. She looked down but could still feel his cold, golden eyes staring at her.

  He walked towards her and picked her bunny up, "This looks a little old, doesn't it?"

  Despite all the alarm bells ringing in her head, Dania reached toward the bunny and said, "A little, but it's okay."

  "Nonsense, it's too old, we need to get rid of it." He ripped the bunny apart as Dania watched in horror.

  He let the bunny fall from his hands and walked away, leaving Dania staring at the bunny. It was a sorry sight, patches now in pieces, stuffing spilling out, and a rip that was sure to leave a scar. She gingerly picked up the bunny and cradled it in her arms. A tear slid down her cheek, but she ignored it and continued to rock the bunny. She slowly walked back to her nana, holding what used to be the bunny, her face asking the question for her.

  Her nana looked at her with pity in her eyes; the bunny was as good as gone. She held the torn and ruined bunny against her chest hoping that somehow it would instantly stitch itself back together . In truth, it would be easier to make a new one than to repair the old. Her nana patted her head and hesitated, unsure how to avoid breaking Dania’s heart completely. Yet Dania had already noticed Nana's rueful expression—it told her everything she needed to know. She slowly walked to her room, tears spilling onto her bunny’s remains.

  When Dania came out, her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy, her face blotchy with pink. She ate her meal in silence and prepared to go back to her room. She looked at her nana, whose hands were busily sewing. Dania tried to look at it, but her nana hid it from her sight. "It’s a surprise."

  Dania let out a soft giggle, placing a finger to her lips, "Shhhh…"

  A few weeks later, her Nana braided Dania’s hair into beautiful braids and sang her songs. She wore her best dress, and they pretended to be at a ball. Her nana laughed, her brown eyes twinkling, when she announced it was time to eat. She took out a small cake, beautifully decorated with small flowers and adorned with Dania’s name. Dania’s eyes widened in joy as her nana began to sing her a happy birthday. Dania then noticed a small package that Nana had placed on the table and looked at her in surprise. She knew that Nana didn’t have too much money, so how did she get a gift? She opened the package, curiosity growing with each tear in the package. She squealed when the gift was opened, a small bunny made of some old rags. She hugged her nana. This was the best birthday she could ask for!

  Dania looked out the window and smiled, remembering that day. She was sure that Nana was an angel who had come down from heaven. A lump rose in her throat as she swallowed; her fingers brushed the empty chair by the window, the one Nana would always sit in. The wood felt colder without her presence.. Now fourteen years old, King Chandler had declared that she no longer needed a Nana. The untouched cake on her table said otherwise. Birthdays were never the same without Nana gently humming in the kitchen, pretending not to notice Danai sneaking tastes of the frosting.. She'd rather stay young if it meant that she didn't have to be alone.

  She sighed. It would have been easier to get over it if she could go outside, but here she was, stuck in her room. All because she couldn’t manifest a keeper.

  Down in the palace courtyard below her window, children played with the creatures born of their souls. A boy laughed as his hawk dove past him, its wingtips brushing his hair. Another had a gentle sparrow perched on their shoulder, the two of them singing delicate melodies together. A girl knelt in the grass, whispering secrets to a silver-furred pup whose ears twitched as if it understood.

  That’s how keepers arrived, quiet, certain. They came when a child's spirit grew strong enough to call them, usually by nine or ten. They were living guardians of the soul, bound for life. That’s what made humans, humans.

  Dania pressed her forehead against the cold windowpane. She watched them the way a starving child watched a feast. Fourteen, and still alone.

  King Chandler had always been the kingdom's pride and power. He was the boy who manifested a griffin at seven years of age.. Griffins are rare for a keeper and are incredibly powerful. Meanwhile, Dania still hadn’t manifested despite her age of fourteen. This had disturbed many since every human has one. Rumors began to circulate around her, some suggesting that her mother meddled with dark magic. Others muttered “demon” under their breath as she walked by.

  Michael, King Chandler’s son, on the other hand, manifested his keeper at age eight, a Warland fox. A creature of white silk fur and Arctic-blue markings, elegant even.. Not only was it a beauty, but it was also powerful. When it padded across the courtyard, frost bloomed under its mighty paws. When its eyes made contact with yours, you begin to see things that weren’t really there. King Chandler was so delighted that he declared that day to be a national holiday. Though Dania never got to celebrate it after the first year, she remembered the day well. Memories began to wash over her, and she felt an ache grow in her chest.

  Two years ago, she watched from the edge of the crowd, admiring the beauty of the Warland fox. She was tempted to pet it but pushed the thought away. When the celebration ended, Dania gathered the courage and walked to Michael. Maybe she could ask for advice on how to manifest. She smiled at the thought and began to walk a little faster. She never made it that far. A sudden bite of cold locked her feet in place. Icy shards climbed her ankles, rooting her to the cobblestone floor. She gasped, glancing down at her feet. Her head shot up as Michael walked up to her keeping his distance.

  Michael’s eyes were filled with disgust, "Don’t come any closer,” he snapped, voice trembling. ”What if you make me lose my keeper too?"

  The words hit harder than ice. Dania’s eyes widened, mouth dropping open, but only a broken sound was able to escape.. She just wanted to talk to him. She never would want such a thing, but what if she could do that? Michael unfroze her feet and sprinted away to another hall. But Dania didn’t notice; she was staring at the frost melting at her feet.. Why couldn’t she manifest? Did the Goddess hate her? She pushed her hair from her face and wiped the tears cascading down her cheeks. She took a deep breath and walked down the hall. Maybe she would go see her nana. She continued walking with her head down when she slammed into something. She rubbed her head and looked up. King Chandler.

  He glanced at her, hardly acknowledging her existence. He simply glanced over his shoulder as if he were mildly annoyed. She froze, her breath trapped in her throat. He finished the conversation with the high priest and turned to look at her.

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  "Still here, unfortunately," he said, snarling, his expression anything but kind.

  She flinched, unable to make a word leave her mouth. Her gaze dropped to the carpet- red and gold threads woven into the shape of a lion . It would have been nice to admire it at any other moment, but seeing it only increased her fear. A hand clamped round her face. Her breath hitched. He forced her chin upward until she met his golden eyes.. Lion, it was the perfect word to describe him as he forced her gaze to land on him. His golden hair was like a lion’s mane, but what reminded her the most of a lion was his aura, fierce but majestic. His eyes were filled with bitter resentment and hatred that seemed to have been festering since the day she was born.

  "Where did you just come from?" He demanded.

  "I… I just went to talk to Michael and…" she began.

  His grip tightened. Tears instantly fell down her cheeks., "Don’t you ever approach him again, you’re a danger to him." he hissed.

  Dania’s stomach sank, and she felt sick. Michael’s fear. The rumors. The cold. All of it slammed into her.

  "In fact,” he continued, releasing her so abruptly she fell backward onto the lion's mane, "you are to stay in your room until you manifest," he declared.

  He walked down the hall, and Dania stared at the blurred scene around her, everything hazy and clouded with her tears. She slowly got up, rubbing her face, and walked to her room. And that was all she knew for the last two years.

  Dania let out a long breath. If she could manifest, she could leave this place. Yes, it was possible to simply run off, but what if King Chandler was right? What if she were a danger? She didn’t want others to lose their keepers.

  But it wasn’t going to stay that way, she decided. At fourteen, almost an adult, maybe she could do something about it. She glanced at the window. She knew the guards patrols by heart, every footstep, every joke they would whisper to each other. .

  The third shift was always the easiest. Those guards would always play a game of cards, always laughing, careless was what they were. She was sorry to take advantage of them since she rather enjoyed them. She had never met them, but she often heard them talking amongst each other. They were a rather jovial set of guards, always bantering with each other and smiling. But the other guards were much more keen in their watch, and it was too risky.

  The guards switched, and she waited until the other set of guards turned on the corner. She waited about a minute and slowly opened her window. She slid out onto the shingles, too afraid to look down. She focused on the tree closest to her, which was her next goal. She grabbed the branch, keeping herself grounded until she was sure it could support her. From there, she began to monkey climb to the center of the tree. From there, she slid down one of the main branches, quite close to a window. She gracefully placed her foot on the window, opened it, and noiselessly jumped into the corridor. All her senses were buzzing with alertness, as she snuck towards the library. In front of her loomed huge mahogany doors with two elephant statues guarding them. Dania gulped. Those statues were made for Queen Abigail as a tribute since her keeper was an elephant, and she adored reading. She opened the doors as quietly as humanly possible and closed the doors behind her with a small thump.

  Her eyes widened with wonder at the sheer number of books surrounding her. She knew the royal library was filled with volumes that could not be found anywhere else, but it still amazed her. She remembered her nana teaching her to read using old, worn books—Nana couldn’t afford new ones. Taking a deep breath, she began to browse through the shelves. She searched every section covering keepers—such an overwhelming amount—but not a single book contained the information she needed. Then, a worn book with a red cover and gold lettering caught her eye: *Manifestation of Keepers*. That would have to do. She hid it under her cloak and continued her search. Creakkk…

  Dania turned her head towards the sound, her stomach plummeting to the ground. Who would come here at such a time? She quietly moved behind a bookcase and held her breath. She heard Michael’s voice pierce the silence.

  "Father, can you read the story about how the goddess spared our kingdom again?"

  "I can, but don’t you want to hear a different story? I read that one to you every night,"

  "No! I like that story, especially when you read it, you make cool sounds," he answered.

  King Chandler chuckled, "Oh, that’s why you refuse to read it."

  Dania felt her blood run cold, King Chandler, chuckling? It was a sound she assumed he was incapable of . They grabbed a book near where Dania stood, but luckily failed to notice her. They soon left the library, leaving Dania alone. She sighed with relief and sat down for a few moments, waiting for them to leave the hall. From there, she opened the doors and silently sprinted back to the window from which she entered. She jumped onto the branch and shimmied her way back to her window. She climbed in, put her book under her bed, and sank to the floor. Her heart was still pumping from adrenaline; she could not believe that she had survived. She sighed, she would read the book tomorrow, and plopped on her bed.

  As Dania drifted off to sleep, a lady appeared before her, surrounded by mist, as if she were a magician. Dania squinted, barely able to make out the lady’s features. She was an exact likeness of the picture of her mother, hidden in a necklace that Dania kept among her small treasures.

  Her faint voice filled the air, "We don’t have much time. Please stay strong, my daughter. We love you, don’t forget that," She slowly dissipated as she finished those last words.

  Dania yelled out, but she knew the lady was already gone. A deep longing stirred in her heart to see her again—a longing she couldn’t understand. Why would she yearn for someone who had never truly been part of her life?

  The scene shifted, and she found herself surrounded by a multitude of people. She looked around and saw her Nana. As she ran toward her, she noticed sentries holding her back. She tried to push the sentries away, pleading with them to let Nana go. The sentries shoved her aside and began dragging Nana to the front of the crowd. The crowd screamed obscenities at Nana, throwing rocks and food. The sentries grabbed Nana by the hair and placed a noose around her neck. Dania began to sob as the sentries blocked her from approaching. Her heart broke when she met Nana's eyes. Nana spoke softly, but her words echoed in Dania's mind: "Monster, you did this to me." Dania closed her eyes, seeing King Chandler’s face, his voice echoing, “A danger, a danger to all.”

  Dania sat up, cold sweat running down her face, her heart pounding as if it would burst from her chest. It was just a dream, she sighed, trying to calm herself. She stood and looked toward the window. The sky was bright blue, birds were singing, and the grass was green. The world seemed so vibrant compared to the nightmare that had filled her mind moments ago. She sighed again. Her mother was one of the last people she would ever seek love from, yet now she felt a longing to meet her. Dania bit her lip. She swore she felt the warmth of love in her eyes, but what if she was wrong? What if her mother was disappointed with what she saw? Could she stand another cold stare? She walked to her small box of treasures, in a worn old box, and took out her mother’s necklace. It was the only thing her mother left her. It was a rusted bronze with small markings on the sides. She put the necklace away and flopped onto her bed. She needed to distract herself. She sat up and grabbed the book from under her bed. This would be enough to distract her.

  Dania glared at the book, tempted to burn it. It wasn’t helpful at all. It only explained that everyone was given a keeper—except for her—what it does, and how its appearance is determined. Common sense, even for a three-year-old. She threw the book against the wall, fuming. She had risked her life for this useless book!

  She sighed, pushed her hair out of her face, and picked up the book. As she did, she noticed a small, bright red ruby on the cover. She looked at it in confusion; certain it hadn’t been there before. Oh well, she thought, smiling—a jewel was a jewel, and it could fetch a good price if she decided to escape. She picked off the ruby and held it up to the sun, watching it cast a soft red reflection on the wall. Hopefully, it was real. Suddenly, she yelped in surprise and dropped the book when she realized that the book from which she had removed the ruby was now trembling. She watched as its worn red cover slowly transformed into an even more worn brown cover with a gold title: Prophecy. Dania frowned; for such a cool special effect, it was a pretty dull title. She had expected more creativity from a transforming book. She opened it and watched the letters move and rearrange themselves:

  Ahem… well, it’s been quite a while since I last introduced myself—about a thousand years, I believe. Those days were truly wonderful, filled with peace and the reign of the goddess. Ah, yes! I am the Book of Prophecy, as you can read. I open only to those I have chosen and who are gifted with the goddess’s power.

  Dania looked at the book incredulously. Yes, it was a bit crazy for a book to write itself, but she found it even stranger that it claimed she was gifted with the goddess’s power. She didn’t even have a keeper.

  Ah… about that—you’ve always had a keeper; it’s simply not the right time for it to manifest, especially given your young age.

  Dania stifled a laugh; this was insane. Now the book was saying she was too young, even though she was nearly five years late in manifesting.

  Goodness, I’m not insane, I’m the goddess’ creation, there’s a difference. It’s true—your mother is a Yaolitean, which is a very prestigious title. Now, before you ask what that is, since no one seems to know about them, I’ll explain. Yaoliteans are a separate race from humans, but incredibly similar, except for a few aspects. They often seclude themselves from humans, so the fact that your mother was a noble woman is quite shocking. One of their differences from humans is manifestation. They manifest about 5-6 years later than humans. They can also obtain their own individual powers that don’t have to correlate with their keeper. But that’s really all. It’s probably why humans don’t even know of their existence. Isn’t that hilarious? Ah… humans, so oblivious. Oh, that reminds me of one time some human was-

  Dania groaned, a talkative book, lovely.

  Hey, I can read your thoughts, you know? Also, I can’t even talk, so I guess you could say I’m readative… or would it be writative?

  Dania shut the book and flopped onto her bed. It was nice to finally be able to socialize, but she would have preferred it if it hadn’t been with a book. Maybe it was better to be bored.

  She looked down at the necklace of her mother, the "Yaolitean." If the book was telling the truth, her manifestation wasn't missing. It was just waiting. And when that day came, she would be free.