Arcadia E-Book

Delia Erisha Schwaiger

• Herausgeber: epubli
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 322

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

They lost their homes. They buried their pasts. Now they must decide who they want to become. In a world where ancient bloodlines and divine pacts shape the future, Arcadia follows the quiet collapse and fragile rebuilding of lives caught between fate and free will. Scattered across kingdoms and star systems, daughters, mothers, and queens find themselves forced into choices they never asked for—and transformations they never believed possible. This is not a story of heroes. It is a story of survivors: of women who break, rise, and redefine power on their own terms. Arcadia is the first book in The Seilora Chronicles: The Nexus, a sweeping science-fantasy saga where every bond is tested, and every truth has a cost.

Leseprobe

Arcadia

Seilora Chronicles: The Nexus - Volume 1

Delia Erisha Schwaiger

Copyright © 2025 Delia Erisha Schwaiger

All rights reservedThe characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.Address: Delia Erisha Schwaiger, Maxstadtstr. 29, 80689 Munich, GermanyE-Mail: [email protected] Website: https://www.seilora-chronicles.com

Stories want to be told.

Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Epigraph

A Note to the Reader

Prologue

Last Morning

Downfall

Resistance

Revelation

Divine Blood

New Life

Close Call

Lookalike

Disgusting

Gift

Hereafter

Explanation

Decisions

Announcement

Choice

Busted

Relationships

Commander

Secret

Farewell

Warning

Ordeal

Name

Deal

Message

Visit

Neutral

Plan

Decision

Caged

Separation

Family

Newcomers

Breakout

Succession

Choices

Homecoming

Dreams

Crossroads

Sisters

Visitors

Husband

Answers

Emergency

Surgery

Legacy

Announcement

Developments

Preparation

Confession

Twins

Coronation

Debut

Unconscious

Reincarnation

Reunion

Awakening

Secrets

Mothers

Seal

Remnant

Meeting

Results

Epilogue

Preview

Appendix I: The World of Seilora

Appendix II: The Glossary of Seilora

Afterword

A Note to the Reader

This narrative intentionally keeps physical character descriptions to a minimum. For readers who wish to delve deeper, a companion book, Library of the Nexus – Companion Book I: Arcadia, offers detailed illustrations, character biographies, and key statistics for nearly all named characters. It is available as a free PDF download on my website:

https://www.seilora-chronicles.com

Prologue

Passing through a dormant Gurahl Gate, an Archangel-class ship entered the Arcadia System as the portal flared to life for a fleeting moment. It navigated the void toward the planet Arcadia, a world that was not merely similar to Earth but a near-perfect mirror, right down to the ancient curse that afflicted it and all other Earth-type planets. The vessel descended, landing silently near a sprawling metropolis that occupied the same geographic location as ancient Babylon. On this world, however, it was called Arcadia City.

As the ship settled, it vanished. In its place stood a young woman, and in the moments that followed, others appeared out of thin air beside her until a group of about fifty people had assembled. The first to appear was a Siren named Aerith Lynx. Her touch alone should have broken the planet’s curse, a fact that would soon become a profound mystery. Once gathered, the group began their trek toward the shimmering city on the horizon.

Unbeknownst to them, another Siren had already arrived. She had appeared from nowhere in the main temple of Arcadia City, in the midst of a holy ritual. Her sudden manifestation unleashed a shockwave of pure magic before she collapsed, unconscious. Everyone present felt a fundamental shift in the world around them, though they could not yet comprehend what had changed.

The high priest, sensing the divine significance of the event, prayed through the day and into the night. At dawn, his devotion was answered with a divine revelation: the girl had lifted the ancient curse from the land. She was a savior sent by the gods.

When the young woman finally awoke the next day—August 2nd, 7455 BOIE—the king and priests had already declared her a living saintess.

Her name was Titania Jurai Fey. It took only a few days for her and Aerith to draw close enough for their Sirenic auras to overlap, alerting them to each other's presence. They soon found one another within the city's labyrinthine streets. Together, they approached the king and his priests, warning them of a great calamity that was coming and that they had been sent to help the people survive it.

A council was held that lasted for days. In the end, the leaders turned to Titania and Aerith and asked them what must be done. The two Sirens presented their plan, knowing the king would resist it. To survive, they would have to abandon Arcadia City, the very heart of their empire, and resettle at the planet’s magical poles. There, they could construct shields to weather the coming storm. Similar shields would be erected across the globe by the people Aerith had brought with her. The priests, swayed by the divine prophecy, accepted the plan. The king, however, protested fiercely at the thought of abandoning his ancestral home. Only when Titania and Aerith both pledged their undying service to his nation did he finally, reluctantly, give his consent.

And so, the great exodus began. The people of the Arcadian Empire left the lands of their ancestors, splitting into groups that journeyed toward the magical poles. Along the way, they persuaded others to join their cause, and Aerith used her Archangel-class ship to transport thousands to the burgeoning polar settlements.

It took many years to complete the preparations. Not long after the last shield was in place, the calamity began. It started to rain. Not water, but liquid magical energy, a torrent of raw power that fell across the entire planet.

Those caught outside the protective domes had almost no chance of survival. The few who endured the deluge were changed forever. Elves twisted into Drow. Humans, depending on the ancient blood in their veins, were reforged into new races like the celestial Deva or the infernal Tieflings. Those with elemental ancestry were reborn as Genasi—Sylphs of the air, or Undines of the water.

But most who were left outside simply died.

Last Morning

Chapter 1

In the years following the calamity, Aerith undertook a monumental task. To save the newly transformed races from being hunted by humans who feared their strange new powers, she guided them—all except the Drow—to the safety of the inner worlds. There, they could build new lives in peace, saved from an extinction that would have otherwise been certain.

Meanwhile, the people of the Arcadian Empire, under the leadership of their king, survived the calamity within the massive dome they had already erected at the planet’s primary magical pole—a location corresponding to the Korean peninsula of our world. In the aftermath, this fortified shelter was expanded and established as their permanent capital. They named it Arcadia City in memory of their lost home.

From this new seat of power, they rebuilt their empire. At its heart was the Holy Land of Arcadia, an exclusive enclave where residence was permitted only for the Light Elves, their descendants, and the native Felidae. From this center, the empire expanded until, at its zenith, its influence stretched across the entire Pacific and over large parts of Asia, the Americas, Australia, and even into Africa.

This vast dominion, however, was not to last. The empire began to fracture, losing significant territory after the global conflict known as World War I. In exchange for crucial aid during the war, the Arcadian Empire had been forced to grant independence to many of its regions.

Decades later, World War II began, and the Arcadian Empire found itself under assault from the aggressive Kingdom of Heavens. After more than a decade of brutal fighting, the enemy was at the gates. In the year 99 BOIE—or 1863 by the Arcadian Calendar of the time—the forces of the Kingdom of Heavens began their final attack on Arcadia City.

Downfall

Chapter 2

Afew months after Queen Sarah gave birth to her daughter, she prepared to entrust the infant to Aerith Lynx. For thousands of years, Aerith had served the royal family of the Arcadian Empire as both a nanny and their closest advisor. Also present in the room was the queen’s other trusted confidante, the Saintess.

“Please take care of her,” the queen pleaded, handing the baby to Aerith.

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty,” Aerith replied, holding the child close. “I will care for her as if she were my own. But is there no other way?

“You know as well as I do that it’s impossible for the queen to escape,” the Saintess explained. “The Kingdom of Heavens can’t let her live. For little Aridia, however, it may be different. She is just a baby; it will be many years before she can do anything. By then, the kingdom will have eradicated everything related to the Arcadian Empire.”

“That’s still better than being killed at this age,” the queen insisted. “She should at least have the chance to live, even as a poor girl in a conquered state. Now go! Take the hidden tunnels out of the palace. The soldiers will be here in minutes.”

With that, she opened a secret passage. But as soon as she did, the chamber door flew open, and soldiers from the Kingdom of Heavens stormed in.

“Go! And don’t look back,” the Saintess urged Aerith. “I’ll buy you enough time.”

It was the last Aerith would ever hear from her old friend. She made her way through the underground tunnels, reaching the exit without being followed. She knew it was only a matter of time before pursuers were on her trail, and she had to find a safe place. Luckily, she knew of one nearby—a place no one would suspect a princess and her nanny to be hiding: a brothel.

This was a place she occasionally worked to replenish her reserves of Basic Magic Energy. Since both she and the Saintess suffered from Basic-Element Insufficiency, Aerith was able to share the energy she gathered with her friend, whose public status made such activities impossible.

“I haven’t seen you for quite some time,” Briana, the owner of the brothel, remarked as Aerith entered the building. When she saw the baby in Aerith’s arms, her expression changed. “Oh, don’t tell me that was the reason you stayed away?”

Aerith nodded.

“So who is the real mother?” Briana asked. “After all, we both know you can’t have children.”

“I don’t know,” Aerith said, forcing the lie. “I found her abandoned. I couldn’t just leave her there. You know how my race reacts once we accept someone as our own.”

“So you decided to raise the little one in the palace as your daughter?” Briana pressed. “I know you’ve been working there.”

“Yes,” Aerith confirmed. “But with the current situation, the queen sent most of the servants away. I was the last one to leave.”

“Is it that dire?” Briana asked, her voice softening.

“Yes. The palace has fallen,” Aerith replied quietly. “The fight is over. We’ve lost. I fear the emperor, the queen, and the rest of the royal family are already dead.”

“Well, you can always call this place your home,” Briana offered. “But you’ll have to work for it, of course.”

“If you and the others help me care for her, I can certainly do that as a full-time employee,” Aerith replied.

“That won’t be a problem. I helped my late sister raise her son back in the day,” Briana recalled. “Both of us were working here then.”

“You’re still working here, if you haven’t changed in the last half-year,” Aerith countered. “Even though you own the place now.”

“Guilty as charged,” Briana chuckled. “So, what’s her name?”

“Aridia,” Aerith replied.

Resistance

Chapter 3

True to her word, Aerith spent the following years working in the brothel. Her nature as a Siren made her a sought-after courtesan, and in exchange for her service, the entire house helped raise young Aridia. For twelve years, they gave the child a life filled with affection and protection within their unconventional family.

That protection shattered on the eve of Aridia’s twelfth birthday. A summons arrived from the local governor, a man appointed by the conquering Kingdom of Heavens. In his domain, girls were considered women at twelve, and the governor had a well-known preference for them at their youngest. He demanded that Aridia be presented to him.

Aerith and the others had no power to refuse. They would have to surrender Aridia to him, but they resolved that they would not give the governor the satisfaction he truly sought.

That night, Aerith sat with Aridia and explained the governor's summons and the grim reality of their situation. The young woman listened, her face pale, before giving her answer. She would submit, but on one condition: she would not go to the governor as a virgin. Her first would be Asura, Briana’s nephew. Aridia had long held a deep affection for him; he was the only young man who moved through the house as family, not as a client or a guard for the high-ranking officials who paid handsomely for a night with Aerith. Even with her powers sealed, Aerith possessed abilities that left her patrons feeling more revitalized than any normal prostitute ever could.

To Aridia’s deep disappointment, Asura was away on business and could not make it back in time. She had insisted it be him or no one, and so their desperate plan failed. She was still a virgin when the governor's soldiers arrived to escort her to his residence.

She returned the next morning, a hollow shell of the girl who had left. When Aerith met her at the door, Aridia collapsed into her mother's arms and cried until exhaustion finally pulled her into sleep. The others in the house watched with a heavy, helpless empathy; there were no words of comfort that could possibly reach her.

When Aridia finally awoke, she and Aerith talked for a long time. Her mother explained things she hadn't understood before—not just about the world, but about herself. In the days that followed, Aerith began to teach her daughter not just magic, but how to wield her innate abilities as a weapon. For reasons no one could explain, Aridia had a natural talent for empathic powers, a rare and potent gift. Aerith possessed some of these abilities herself, though most of hers remained sealed. Still, she could teach Aridia the fundamentals: how to shield her own mind, how to feel the intentions of others, and most importantly, how to access a person's memories through the act of sex.

The governor demanded her presence again a few days later, and his summons continued every few days in the months that followed. Aridia learned to endure it. Each visit, once a source of pure terror, was now a mission—a silent act of defiance and a chance to uncover the secrets of the man who thought he had defiled her.

With each visit to the governor, Aridia honed her newfound abilities, sifting through the man’s unguarded thoughts. She began to plunder his secrets, learning more about the Kingdom’s current state of affairs than even some of his own generals knew. The information was a weapon, but she needed someone to wield it.

At Aerith’s subtle persuasion, Asura agreed to help with Aridia’s training. It was during these sessions that Aridia confirmed what she had long suspected: he was a member of the Resistance. He was the perfect conduit. She offered him a bargain—invaluable intelligence in exchange for a favor. He agreed, intrigued. But after she delivered the first pieces of information, revealing troop movements and supply weaknesses, she raised the stakes. For more, she required a second, more permanent promise.

Ultimately, she laid out her two conditions. First, that they would be together, that the quiet affection between them would no longer be a secret. Second, that she be given a place in the Resistance. She was no longer a victim to be protected; she would be a soldier in the fight. A burning need for retribution against the governor and the Kingdom of Heavens had taken root in her heart, and she would see it through.

At that time, she knew nothing of the secrets surrounding her own identity. Her world was focused on the here and now. She even began working in the brothel alongside her mother, not just for survival, but to practice and refine her empathic powers in a place filled with unguarded minds. Her unique talents, she discovered, made her undeniably popular with the clientele.

For a time, Aridia became the Resistance's most valuable asset, feeding them a steady stream of priceless intelligence. But her success could not last. Eventually, the military's search for the leak narrowed, and their suspicion fell upon the brothel. The soldiers came while Aridia and Aerith were with the governor. He had become fond of both women—first Aridia, for her unique abilities, and then her mother, whose own latent powers intrigued him. His possessiveness, in a twist of fate, saved their lives.

The other girls in the brothel were not so lucky. When Aridia and Aerith returned, they were met not with the usual warmth and laughter but with a deathly silence. The house had been ransacked, its residents slaughtered by the military. Seeing the fate of the women who had been her family, Aridia was crushed by a wave of guilt, blaming her actions for the massacre.

In the years that followed, she grew cautious. The brothel had been destroyed, so she and Aerith had no choice but to accept the governor’s offer to live in his residence—a gilded cage. She continued to gather information, but her fear of causing more death meant she passed it to the Resistance only when absolutely necessary.

This grim routine continued until she turned nineteen. One night, she uncovered details of an imminent military operation against the Resistance, a plan that included the name of a planted spy. That spy was assigned to Asura’s cell.

He was going to die.

In that moment, Aridia faced an impossible choice: maintain the cover she had sacrificed so much for, or save the man she loved. For her, there was no real choice at all. Knowing her actions would expose her as the source of the leaks, she made her decision. Together with her mother, she walked out of the governor’s residence that day and never looked back.

Revelation

Chapter 4

Upon their arrival at the Resistance hideout, Aerith and Aridia immediately exposed the spy and warned of the imminent enemy attack. Their warning came just in time. The Resistance was able to evacuate moments before the military stormed the facility, finding nothing but an abandoned hideout and the corpse of their informant.

After a brief stay in a temporary location, they were invited to the Resistance headquarters. There, a formidable leader named Kaelen recognized Aerith. He knew the legends of the Arcadian royal family, including the tale of a baby princess who had vanished the night the palace fell. He put the pieces together with unnerving speed and summoned Aerith to his private chambers that very night. His request was veiled, but his implication was clear: in exchange for his protection of the girl, he expected a certain loyalty—and intimacy.

“Give me time to explain it to her,” Aerith urged him, standing her ground. “Before you make any demands.”

Kaelen’s eyes narrowed. “So it’s true. She is the princess,” he murmured, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Who would have believed it? The last heir of Arcadia, hiding as a prostitute.”

“It was she who fed you information on the governor this entire time,” Aerith countered, leveraging her own advantage. “Even without knowing her own name, she has been fighting this war. She has already chosen her path.”

“That is a relief to hear,” he conceded. “I hope she is ready to embrace her destiny. Very well. I will give you time.”

“Let her be a normal girl for just a few more months,” Aerith pleaded. “I will tell her on her twentieth birthday. She will be old enough then.”

“As you wish,” he replied with a simple nod. In the Arcadian Empire, after all, twenty was the age of adulthood.

A few months later, on the thirteenth of July in the year 79 BOIE, Aerith found Aridia staring out a viewport at the star-dusted void.

“Aridia, we need to talk,” Aerith said gently.

“What is it, Mom?” Aridia asked, turning from the view. “Why do you look so serious?”

“There are things you need to know, now that you’re an adult.”

Aridia’s expression softened with a sad understanding. “You mean the fact that I’m not your real daughter?”

The question caught Aerith off guard. “Since when have you known?”

“I heard the other girls talking at the brothel when I was little,” Aridia admitted, her voice quiet. “I didn’t really understand what it meant back then. Later… I was afraid that if I mentioned it, you might leave.”

“Oh, my dear girl, never,” Aerith said, her heart aching. “But there is more. So much more. Please, sit.”

They sat opposite each other in the small, quiet room. Aerith spoke, and the world Aridia had always known dissolved around her. She told her of a fallen kingdom, of a queen’s sacrifice, and of a royal heritage that was now hers to claim.

When the story was finished, the room was silent save for their breathing. Aridia looked at the woman who had raised her, her eyes filled with tears, and asked the only question that truly mattered.

“Can I still call you Mother?”

“Of course, you can,” Aerith whispered, reaching across to take her hand. “I promised your mother I would raise you as my own. For my race, that bond is unbreakable. You are my daughter.”

Divine Blood

Chapter 5

Awave of relief washed over Aridia, the fear of losing her mother receding. The bond between them felt stronger than ever. But as one great question was answered, another took its place in her mind.

“My powers…” she began, looking up from their joined hands. “Did I inherit them from the Royal Family as well?”

“No,” Aerith replied, her expression turning thoughtful. “I don’t know where your powers come from. Genetically, you are what we would call a Lillim.”

“A Lillim? What’s that?”

“A mortal with a trace of divine or demonic blood,” Aerith explained. “Normally, it means you have a variant of what my kind suffers from: Basic-Element Insufficiency.”

“What does that mean?” Aridia asked, confused.

“It’s simple, really. As a Siren, I don’t produce my own basic magic energy, which is essential for life. I have to absorb it from others through the act of sex. A typical Lillim produces some basic magic, but not quite enough to be at full strength. It’s enough to survive, but they are weaker than they should be.” Aerith paused, looking at Aridia with a puzzled expression. “But you’ve never shown any such weakness. You’ve always kept yourself well-fed, so to speak.”

“So there’s no way to know for sure?”

“There is one way to check,” Aerith said, a new resolve in her voice. “But I’m not sure the ship has enough power left for the analysis to finish. Grab a flashlight. We’re not turning on any lights we don’t absolutely need to.”

Puzzled, Aridia agreed and fetched a flashlight. But Aerith didn't lead her into the base; instead, she transported Aridia into her Inara—the inner world of her very soul. Within that personal, silent dimension rested the dormant Archangel-class ship. As a Soul-Type ship, it was bound to Aerith and could be stored within her. She guided Aridia inside, through its pitch-black corridors to the medical bay.

“Lie down on the diagnostic bed,” Aerith instructed as she began booting up the systems. A few lonely lights flickered on, casting long shadows across the room. Aerith took a handheld scanner and passed it over Aridia’s body. The device hummed for a minute, and then, with a final groan, the system and all the lights in the bay went dead.

“Well, that’s it. We’re completely out of juice,” Aerith said in the sudden darkness, her voice echoing slightly. “But I was able to get the data. Give me some time to analyze it.”

She led Aridia back out of the powerless ship and her Inara.

“Go find Asura,” Aerith told her. “Spend some time with him. I’ll come find you both when I’m finished.”

Aridia did just that, finding Asura waiting for her outside the room she shared with her mother. She pulled him inside and told him everything—about her true name, her royal heritage, and the new mystery of being a Lillim. He listened in stunned silence, his expression a mixture of shock and awe.

Before he could formulate a response, the door opened and Aerith entered.

“I’m finished,” she announced, her face unreadable. “Good, you’re both sitting down. Let me get straight to the point.” She sat on her own bed, her gaze locked on Aridia. “First, the good news. Your soul is normal, albeit a very powerful one. Your abilities don’t originate from there. However… your body contains a clear trace of divine essence.”

She paused, letting the words sink in.

“What does that mean?” Aridia asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“It means,” Aerith said slowly, “that I was either wrong about your father, or a god interfered with the queen during her pregnancy. I performed a checkup on your mother after she was born; she was fully human, I’m sure of it.”

“What do you mean, you were wrong about her father?” Asura asked.

“It’s just a possibility, but the king may not have been who he appeared to be,” Aerith explained. “If a god or demon lives in the mortal world in a hidden identity, they must take great care not to spread their divine blood. In your case, someone failed. Either the king himself was a divine being who made a mistake, or… a god took the king’s place on the night you were conceived. It wouldn’t be the first time something like that has happened. Either way, it is clear that this divine blood is a source of your powers and the reason you were born a Lillim.”

New Life

Chapter 6

Years had passed since Aridia learned the truth of her origins. In that time, a quiet plan had been set in motion. Though she and Asura had been engaged for several years, he had insisted they wait to marry until he held a position within the Resistance worthy of her station. She had agreed, on the condition that when they finally wed, her true heritage would be revealed to the world.

To keep her safe while Asura rose through the ranks—with Aerith's cunning guidance—Aridia was sent to the Asura Republic on the American continent. There, under her true family name, Jurai, she began an unexpected career as an actress. The separation was a quiet torment. To remain faithful to Asura, she abstained from the act of sex required to replenish her Basic Magic Energy. As a Lillim, she could survive the deficiency, but it left her perpetually weakened, battling a constant, gnawing hunger. It was a private sacrifice she willingly endured.

Now, in the year 25 BOIE—or 1937 by the Arcadian Calendar—the time had come. Asura had been named one of the leaders of the Resistance. Aridia, now a world-famous actress, returned to Arcadia City for her wedding. Her arrival was a global event, with reporters and film crews swarming the airport. She had already announced that she would be retiring from acting after the marriage, turning the ceremony into a grand farewell.

She was greeted by the city’s governor. The man who had terrorized her youth had been replaced decades ago; this new official was simply eager for the prestige of hosting a global celebrity. He offered a contingent of his own soldiers as an honor guard, but Aridia politely declined. She had brought her own security, a sizable detail gifted to her by King Raphael of the Asura Republic. The king, a great admirer of her work and one of the few who knew her secret, had used her new citizenship as a pretext to send his own soldiers. It was a smokescreen. Under the guise of wedding guards, the Asura Republic, a longtime, quiet supporter of the Resistance, had just inserted troops into the occupied capital.

The ceremony was held in the city’s great cathedral, its pews filled with dignitaries from around the world. Cameras were positioned to record the event and then broadcast it in cinemas across the globe.

Asura stood at the altar, waiting. The music began, and Aerith entered, taking her place not as a guest but as the priestess who would officiate the rite. Then, the great doors opened. Aridia walked down the aisle in a magnificent white wedding dress, and on her arm, to the surprise of all, was King Raphael himself, taking the place of the father she never knew. The king escorted her to the altar, gave a solemn nod, and took his place among the guests.

The music faded. Aerith’s voice filled the cathedral, speaking of love and partnership. She presented offerings to the gods, her hands moving with ancient grace. Then, she turned to the groom.

“Will you, Asura Dark, take this woman to be your wife,” she asked, her voice clear and strong, “to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, until death do you part? If so, answer, ‘Yes, I will.’”

Asura’s voice was firm. “Yes, I will.”

Aerith then turned to Aridia. Her next words were not just a vow, but a declaration of war.

“Will you, Princess Aridia Jurai, daughter of the late Emperor Dynias Jurai and Queen Sarah Jurai of the Arcadian Empire, take this man to be your husband, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, until death do you part? If so, answer, ‘Yes, I will.’”

A stunned silence fell over the cathedral, followed by an explosion of frantic whispers. The world’s cameras captured every moment. Unflustered, Aridia looked at Asura and smiled.

“Yes, I will.”

Aerith continued as if nothing had happened. “Then in the presence of the gods, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

The news spread like wildfire. Even before the ceremony had ended, all of Arcadia City knew that the lost princess of the Arcadian Empire was alive—and soon, the whole world would know it too. They were not surprised when reports came that enemy soldiers were mobilizing. As the guests erupted into chaos, Aridia, Asura, King Raphael, and a few others slipped away through a hidden tunnel beneath the altar. By the time soldiers from the Kingdom of Heavens arrived to storm the cathedral, they were long gone.

For more than a year, they would remain hidden from the public eye, but Aridia had instantly become a living symbol for the Resistance. Her new life had truly begun. Not long after the wedding, she became pregnant, and on August 1st, 24 BOIE, she gave birth to a daughter.

Her name: Titania.

Close Call

Chapter 7

It was the morning of December 15th, 24 BOIE. For months, the battle for Arcadia City had been a brutal siege. The Resistance had successfully driven the Kingdom of Heavens from the city center, only for the enemy to retaliate with relentless artillery bombardments.

The shelling had stopped just hours ago, replaced by an eerie silence. Now, that silence was broken by a fresh wave of fighting. The enemy was mounting a new offensive, pouring troops into the ruins. The Resistance lines, stretched thin across the rubble, were collapsing. Within hours, large parts of the city had been recaptured.

“What is it?” Aridia mumbled, still half-asleep, as her mother burst into the room.

“Grab Titania! We have to leave, now!” Aerith shouted, her voice tight with urgency. Aridia started to protest, but the sharp crack of gunfire nearby cut her short. The noise woke little Titania, and the baby began to wail. Still in her nightgown, Aridia scooped her daughter into her arms and followed her mother.

“What happened?” Aridia asked, her heart pounding as they hurried down the corridor. “We’re at headquarters. This was supposed to be the safest place.”

“They came in overwhelming numbers,” Aerith replied, clutching a firearm that resembled a Tommy Gun. “The defenders were overrun. You have to get out before it’s too late.” She pressed a small wooden box into Aridia’s hand. “Take this. Just in case.”

Aerith led her into a fortified room where several other women were huddled with their young children. Once they were inside, Aerith locked the heavy door behind them and activated a mechanism that revealed a hidden passage.

“Go. Don’t look back,” Aerith urged the small group. “May the gods protect you.”

Aridia waited, letting the other mothers and children file into the darkness first. As the last one disappeared inside, a heavy thud slammed against the door. Someone was trying to break it down.

“Your turn, Aridia. Go,” Aerith commanded.

“But, Mom—”

“No buts!” Aerith shoved her daughter gently but firmly toward the opening. “I love you. Now go!”

She slid the heavy stone passage shut behind her. Aridia, doing her best to soothe her crying daughter, heard the chamber door splinter and crash open. A cacophony of shots erupted from both sides, then suddenly fell silent, replaced by the triumphant shouts of enemy soldiers.

With tears blurring her vision, she turned and ran down the pitch-black corridor. The darkness was no obstacle; her Demonic Aura pierced the absolute blackness, resolving it into faint, ghostly outlines for several meters around her.

The tunnel ended in the lower downtown district, and she emerged into the chaos of a city falling. The other women had already vanished, melting into the morning crowds that filled the streets despite the danger. But soldiers from the Kingdom of Heavens were everywhere, their presence a stark confirmation that this area was already in enemy hands. She had to find shelter before she or Titania was recognized.

Luckily, she knew someone nearby. As she navigated the panicked streets, she focused on a single destination, a single name: Sivia. A friend and a survivor of the brothel massacre years ago, Sivia was saved only because she had been in the hospital that day, giving birth to her twin daughters. Sivia had eventually taken over another brothel—it was the only life she knew—and now ran it with her grown children.

Aridia reached the familiar building just as Sivia was at the door, preparing to lock up for the morning.

“Oh my, little one, you look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Sivia said, her weary face, now deeply lined with age, etched with concern. “Come on in. Get inside while I lock this.”

“Thanks,” Aridia gasped, stumbling past her. Sivia quickly pulled the door shut and slid the bolt home; the sounds of the dying city were finally silenced.

Lookalike

Chapter 8

“So tell me,” Sivia asked gently, her voice low, “what happened? You arrive here in the middle of the night with a baby in your arms, wearing only a nightgown.”

The question seemed to shatter Aridia’s remaining composure. Now that the immediate danger had passed, the relief gave way to overwhelming grief, and the tears returned, flowing uncontrollably. Sivia pulled her into a comforting embrace. “Now, now, little one. Everything will be fine.”

It took several minutes for Aridia’s sobs to subside enough for her to speak. Through streaming tears, she recounted the harrowing events that led her to Sivia’s doorstep. When she finished, Sivia fell silent for a moment, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.

“I have an idea,” Sivia finally proposed. “Why don’t you start working here as one of my girls?”

Seeing Aridia’s hesitation, she pressed on, “Think about it. No one would ever believe that the famous movie star and last princess of the Arcadian Empire—the symbol of the Resistance—would hide as a lowly prostitute. We can pass you off as a princess lookalike. It helps that almost no one knows you actually grew up in a brothel and worked here before you went overseas and started your career.” Sivia paused, then asked a more practical question, “Where is your husband right now? Is he safe?”

“He’s safe for now,” Aridia confirmed, wiping her eyes. “He’s in the Asura Kingdom, training with other Resistance members. They’re being equipped with modern weapons to prepare for an invasion against the Kingdom of Heavens.” She sighed, looking down at the sleeping infant in her arms. “I didn’t come here intending to work, but hiding here might be the best option for a while. We could even use the fact that I’m a Lillim to add to the charade.”

“A Lillim?” Sivia inquired.

“It means I have succubus blood,” Aridia explained. “Before you ask, succubi are commonly known as sex demons, though only the clergy typically uses the proper term.”

Sivia’s expression turned wary. “But you won’t drain the life out of your customers, will you?”

“Don’t worry about that,” Aridia reassured her quickly. “My abilities aren’t nearly that potent. I do draw a small amount of magic energy, but it’s not harmful. If anything, they actually feel better afterward.”

Sivia considered this for a moment. “Was that why you were so popular with the customers back then?”

“Partly,” Aridia admitted. “Mom taught me how to use my abilities to enhance the experience for the client. A full-blooded succubus, however, could do far more.”

“Well then,” Sivia concluded, her tone decisive once more. “Let’s do it. I’ll get you settled in a room. And don’t worry about your daughter; we raised you, so we can certainly help raise her. If anyone asks, your name is Aria Fey, and you’re the new girl. I’ll explain things to the others tomorrow; most of them are asleep by now, so it’s better to wait until everyone is up.”

After a few fitful hours of sleep, interrupted whenever young Titania demanded attention, Aridia was woken by Sivia returning with clothes. “Put these on and then come down to the kitchen for breakfast. The other girls will be there as well.”

Once Aridia had changed and tended to Titania, she did as Sivia instructed. With her daughter nestled in her arms, she entered the kitchen—a sprawling room that occupied the entire basement—where several young women were already gathered around a large table, chatting over food.

Sivia clapped her hands for attention. “Oh, there she is. Everyone, let’s pause for a moment and greet our newest member, Aria Fey.”