"Hey, hey mom, wake up"
"Urgh," Groaned Erin Vahleer, stirring to consciousness due to the prodding of her toddler. She laboured to shift the weight of her very pregnant belly, turning to meet the eyes of her daughter. "Hey April, what are you doing up? Shouldn't you be in bed?"
"I can't sleep," April whispered back, failing to meet her mothers eyes.
"Oh I'm sorry baby," Erin responded, cupping her daughter's face in her hand. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"I don't know, can I sleep with you?" Her daughter muttered through a quivering lip and watered eyes, attempting to look as cute as possible.
"Oh little one, I'm not so sure there's enough room in this bed for you, you've gotten a bit too big for that now," She said with a smile, rising to her feet from the bed. She stretched out her hand looking down at her daughter, "How about we go to your room and I can tell you a story?"
"A story? That's okay!" April said, contempt in her mother's solution.
After safely tucking in her daughter, Erin lit the candle on the nightstand and pulled up a chair. She placed a hand on her daughter's leg above the covers, preparing herself to launch into the story.
"Okay April, this is a story everyone hears, my mother told it to me, and her mother to her. It's a story of heroes, of love, of war, of hope, are you ready?"
"Uh huh" her daughter nodded, listening intently to Erin.
"Alright, so hundreds upon hundreds of years ago humans were new to this land, refugees from a far away land. We were hopeful we could find a new home but were only met with cruelty. The inhabitants, who were another race with purple skin and scales known as Kekropans, raided our settlements, enslaved us, and tore families apart. But just when we thought all hope was lost, a hero appeared, he was a human who had long fought to survive in this land and had come to help us. We now call him 'the Dragonheart,' he was a great and powerful mage who had not only mastered all four elements but also had been given the blessing of the Great Space Dragon allowing him to wield her magic. So atop the Great Space Dragon's daughter and with a sword at his side, he and his allies fought to save all humans. After a long gruelling war, ending with the Dragonheart defeating the Kekropan king and his four generals, the humans were finally safe and the Mercillian empire was founded with the city of Lousa as its capital. The Dragonheart didn't want to lead, he only wanted to live a quiet life so he allowed one of his greatest allies, Elizabeth Mercilia, to take up the title of queen. With her Stormbringer spear and powerful lightning magic at her side she led our empire to greatness while the Dragonheart left for the countryside to retire with his family."
"So he just leaves?! Is he gone forever?" April pouted.
"No, unfortunately for all of us he couldn't leave for good. A few years after the war, we would find ourselves in trouble once again. Filled with anger, grief, and a powerful desire for revenge, the daughter of the defeated Kekropan king sought out the Great Titan of the North, begging him to bring about our doom. Then on nothing more than a whim and a foolish desire for fun, the Titan obliged and journeyed south to end our people. Upon learning about this threat the Queen immediately led all the warrior mages who would join her to go meet the Titan in the northeastern mountains. But once they began to face him, they quickly realized they stood no chance. The Titan was so large it made the mountains look tiny, its wind magic so powerful it could blow away fifty powerful mages with one spell. Despite being the last one standing after days of battle, the legendary Queen Mercilia could do nothing but leave a small gash on his arm. But when finally all hope seemed lost, the Dragonheart returned and together with the Queen they cut down the Great Titan of the North once and for all!" Erin declared, emphasizing their victory by shaking her daughter's bed.
"Did the Dragonheart stick around with the Queen this time?" April asked after a hearty laugh.
"Unfortunately, the power required to defeat the Titan didn't come without a price," Erin said, quieting down as she solemnly lowered her head. "He had used too much of the Dragon's magic, and despite having her blessing his body was never built to use such an intense form of mana. So after years and years of wear and tear from using the magic and after such an intense battle he had drained the last of his power and in the arms of our former Queen he took his last breath."
"Oh no," April gasped. "What happened next?"
"What do you mean what happened next?" Erin asked.
"Well… I mean who protected us after?"
"Ahhh I get what you mean little one. After his death the Queen returned and gathered all of her and the Dragonheart's old allies. Moved by his sacrifice they declared that together, with Queen Mercilia at the head, they would protect us. Since then the Mercilia line and the six great noble families have watched over us, protecting us, making sure we are provided for," She announced to a yawning April who was growing sleepier by the second. "Are you paying attention April?"
"Yes!" April whisper yelled. "The Six Great Families are protecting… us."
"That's right April," Erin said calmly as she leaned down to kiss April softly on her forehead before leaving her to sleep. "And maybe one day, like I once did, you'll be able to help them protect us."
"Wait," April said. "What about the Dragonheart? Is he just gone for good?"
"Well…" Erin said, pausing her exit to ponder. "They do say that when he died, he told the Queen not to worry, because when our people face their next greatest crisis, he would return to save us, just in a different form. But that's just a rumour."
"Oh, Alright," April said with her eyes already closed, finally content.
"Goodnight April, I love you," Erin cooed.
"Goofnight, I love you too," April muttered through a yawn.