01: Scarlet Windflower

[ISOLDE FROST]

Chapter One

Birth and Death
Thirty-five autumns ago, the House of Summers experienced great grief and joy. A baby girl was born just one week after the Summers' matriarchal figure passed away. Isolde never knew her grandmother, nor would she understand the long-lasting consequences of the elderly's death till she was much wiser. The tiny bundle was named 'Isolde', a character in an ancient opera, and bestowed with the middle name 'Arela'. One who bears the vision of God, or in current times, Goddess. It was a mighty weight to bear for one who had just entered this world, yet the Summers thought of it to be a glorious one. Isolde was to be groomed into the perfect person who would excel in advancing the growth and position of the House.

[ISOLDE FROST]

Bloodlines
When she was nine years old, the Summers welcomed a new addition to the family - Isolde's sister, Delphine. Isolde did not understand the excitement. It was just a baby who, admittedly, was related to her by blood. That was all there was to it.

Isolde never knew jealousy till she saw the warmth in her parents' eyes. She caged the emotion, smoothed the baby's downy hair and gazed into her sister’s eyes for a long time. She knows. Isolde's fingers had shivered. Children had an uncanny ability of understanding without needing to say anything. She was certain that the baby knew of the ugly emotions that rose whenever they were in the same room.

Hence, Isolde did what she did best.

She denied the existence of envy and longing – she had seen the way her parents’ eyes lit up at the sight of her sister’s tottering form - choosing to devote herself into becoming the perfect Head.

The pride of Summers.

[ISOLDE FROST]

The Two Houses
The Summers and Frosts were two Houses of nobility that had managed to keep their bloodlines relatively pure. Due to the close relationship between the heads of both Houses that stemmed from generations long gone, it was of little surprise to see Isolde spending time with the Frost siblings – Lucaan and Jak.They could be considered her childhood playmates, though there was less of playing and more of studying and training and hours of effort put into becoming the respective heads of their Houses. Isolde thought of the two brothers as her own family, with Jak being her younger sibling and Lucaan her elder albeit scary Big Brother.

She was almost always with Jak, developing a strong attachment to the frail boy. Her maternal instincts were honed from the time they spent together. With Lucaan, however, it was different. Isolde had always felt an odd connection to him. She was terrified but respectful of the fiery haired boy who constantly caused trouble for the Frosts and refused to be the typical nobleman. Isolde had not understood his unwillingness - wasn't it alright to let things be?

[ISOLDE FROST]

Two Souls
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