The sun rose slowly from the edge of the sea, a molten arc of gold pushing back the last traces of night. Its light spread across the water in trembling ribbons, turning the restless waves into sheets of fire.
High above the horizon, an eagle glided.
Its broad wings cut through the cool morning air as it followed the advancing sunlight, riding the invisible currents that carried it forward. Below, the sea breathed softly against the shore, and the day began to awaken.
The eagle veered inland.
Near the coast, fishermen were already at work. Their boats rested crookedly on the sand as strong, weathered hands hauled in heavy nets. Silver fish thrashed and flashed, scattering droplets of water like scattered gems. Voices rose : low calls, laughter, the thud of baskets being set down. The eagle circled once, letting out a sharp cry, then moved on.
Ahead, stone walls rose from the land : thick, ancient, and formidable. The outer fort marked the beginning of the town, its watchtowers still half-asleep beneath the morning sun. The eagle soared over the walls and slipped into the waking city.
Inside, narrow paths twisted between rows of modest homes. Some houses were built from rough-cut wood, their walls darkened by age and smoke. Others had roofs of tightly bound grass and palm leaves, sloping gently to guide away the monsoon rains. Small windows peeked out like watchful eyes. Clay pots hung near doorways, and thin trails of smoke curled upward as hearth fires were lit.
People stepped out into the morning: men adjusting their tunics, women tying their hair, children rubbing sleep from their eyes. The smell of cooked grain and burning wood filled the air.
The eagle swooped lower and entered the marketplace.
Wooden poles stood in uneven lines, supporting sheets of cloth and patched leather roofs that cast broken shadows on the ground. The market was small but alive. Vendors arranged vegetables in careful piles: green gourds, red chilies, golden onions. Sacks of grain lay open, their contents scooped and measured. Fresh meat hung from hooks, glistening in the early light.
Voices overlapped everywhere.
"Fresh fish!" "Best rice in the town!" "Come, come, today's harvest!"
The eagle twisted sharply between the roofs, its wings brushing the air. It cried out, a piercing sound that sliced through the noise below. People glanced up, some shielding their eyes, others ducking instinctively as the great bird passed overhead.
The eagle burst onto a wider road.
Children ran across it, chasing one another barefoot, their laughter ringing bright and wild. A mother's voice rose sharply above the chaos.
"Come back here! You'll be late!"
Farther down the road, a crowd began to gather, moving toward the interior of the city. There was excitement in their steps, energy in their whispers.
"Today's the day," someone said. "The prince will show his talent." "I heard he's fearless." "I heard he's charming," a group of young girls giggled, covering their smiles with their hands.
The eagle flew above them, its shadow passing over heads and faces. A few people stumbled aside as it dipped suddenly, then climbed again, riding the rising warmth of the air.
The surroundings began to change.
The humble houses gave way to grander ones: homes of merchants, politicians, and the wealthy. Pillars painted in rich colors lined entrances. Decorative carvings adorned doorways. Roofs rose higher, tiled and polished, catching the sunlight in proud reflections.
Beyond them lay a beautiful avenue. Tall trees stood on both sides, their branches arching overhead like a living tunnel. Some were crowned with flowers, their petals drifting down lazily, filling the air with soft fragrance. Sunlight filtered through leaves and blossoms, dappling the path below.
The eagle's sharp eyes caught something ahead.
A towering structure reflected the light like a beacon.
At the heart of the city stood the castle: magnificent and white, its walls gleaming as if carved from the sun itself. A great central tower rose proudly, surrounded by smaller towers like loyal sentinels. A wide trench of water encircled the outer wall, still and dark, mirroring the sky.
The eagle flew toward the castle and swept upward, twisting and turning through the open space above its courtyards. It circled the towers in graceful arcs, its wings beating steadily against the vastness of stone and sky.
On the balcony of one of the smaller towers stood a young woman.
She leaned lightly against the stone railing, her hands resting on its cool surface. She wore a long white dress that stirred gently in the breeze. Her hair flowed down her back, catching threads of sunlight. Sparkling earrings glinted beside her oval face, and a delicate necklace rested at her neck.Her eyebrows were dark and well-defined, her features balanced and graceful. She stood at medium height, her posture calm yet thoughtful.
The morning sun reached her eyes, and they shimmered as she gazed toward the horizon, lost in quiet reflection. The world below moved and murmured, but she remained still, wrapped in her thoughts.
The eagle descended.
It passed just above her, close enough for the wind of its wings to stir her hair. Then it climbed sharply and landed atop the tower, settling with a rustle of feathers.
The space filled with a distant echo, a voice calling out through the castle halls:
"Princess Leah… Princess Leah…"
The young woman slowly lifted her gaze.