Sia

The Lost Elf

Overview

She is a fairy princess in exile within the human domain. As a paragon of swordsmanship, her valiant dragon-slaying exploits during the Sacred Dragon War have etched her name into legend.

Chapter One

(17148–17527, Era of Frost Veil) Calrissian, the esteemed daughter of Elven Sovereign Candice.
As Candice's daughter, Sia was cherished from birth and groomed as the top contender for Elven Sovereign, destined to lead her people.
On her challenging path to sovereignty, she turned away many admirers, with no room for distractions.
She pursued mastery in art, magic, etiquette, politics, and swordplay, to honor her royal name.
Everyone expected her to become the next queen and succeed Candice.
Despite the challenges, Sia never thought of escaping; after all, her Locke symbolized "perseverance."
She was used to pressure from birth, and no one ever told her that she could live a different life.
But unexpectedly, the Heartwood bestowed a blessing, rendering her past efforts meaningless.
In 17199, during the Frost Veil Era, Maiyee, an elf, was born to awe. She was a Calrissian shining like the sun, outshining all stars and moonlight.
She was a gem nurtured by Heartwood; that day, all knew the newborn girl would be the future queen of the elves.
People sympathized with Sia, but their sympathy soon turned to immense joy, believing the newborn to be the incarnation of Karianthillae.
Though Sia was exceptional, how could she match Heartwood's favor? Elves believed innate qualities couldn't be replaced, no matter how hard one tried.
No one could truly empathize with another's pain. Sia understood this well. Yet when that day arrived, anyone would question the meaning of their life's struggle.
The pursuit of perfection entailed unimaginable hardship, yet it could vanish in an instant. What then was the worth of her efforts?
This elf, destined for High Commander, made a decision that baffled all elves: she insisted on joining the Hillean Assembly, risking return to Heartwood even if she failed.
"I am Candice's daughter, the Elven Sovereign. I won't betray my Locke, my lifelong goal."

Chapter Two

In 17250, the Era of Frost Veil, Elf Queen Candice rejoined the Heartwood. The Elves felt little grief, given Maiyee's longstanding, unparalleled prestige.
While every island still sent their top youth for the Ritual of Hilan, the Calrissians already knew their future leader. The honor of returning to the Heartwood and aiding its growth was conferred by the ancient tree.
Sia and Maiyee were twin flowers of their era. They both knew this was their destiny. There was no need for pity or comfort; this was their way of respecting each other.
Sia had dedicated her entire life to this moment and would never easily give up, nor would she disappoint her former supporters.
The highly anticipated Ritual of Hilan finally began. No one even cared about the former Elven Sovereign's funeral. The Elves knew they were about to live in the greatest era of their kind.
The unrecorded child of the Heartwood was destined to lead the tribe to its pinnacle, capturing everyone's attention.
The Heartwood Karianthillae glowed softly, enveloping the candidates who turned into specks of light and vanished, as more radiance flowed into Maiyee.
When the glow faded, the crown on Maiyee's head symbolized her acceptance by the Heartwood, but strangely, Sia did not disappear.
A delicate-looking girl of about five or six stood next to Sia, holding a Calrissian sapling in her left hand and clutching Sia's skirt with her right.
The surroundings erupted in incredulous exclamations!
According to legend, the great scholar Sibyl foretold a child's birth who would save the world, standing with a Calrissian sapling on a blood-and-water barrier, encircled by flames.
Sibyl believed a champion would sail to Yarve, achieve Calrissian's recognition, and harness the Heartwood to confront demons, reuniting Elves and humans in battle.
It seemed the prophesied child had emerged, destined to gain the Heartwood's recognition. The Elves needed to ally with her, and Sia, the noble Calrissian, was the ideal emissary.

Chapter Three

Camilla Steron, the Prophetic Girl, is the descendant of Valley King Pasha.
The valley and Elves share a strong bond. Therefore, Crown Princess Camilla is invited to witness the Elf King competition at the Ritual of Hilan.
During the ritual, branches from the Heartwood land in Camilla and Sia's hands, glowing with a light that purifies their soul.
So Sia becomes the first one that doesn't die from losing the Ritual of Hilan and is given an important mission: to assist Camilla in becoming a hero that can fight against Abyss.
Following the new king's orders, Sia accompanies Camilla to Ciaran, acting as a bridge between Elves and humans while teaching the human princess.
Sia stands by Camilla, proud of her growth into a hero, as they travel the mainland to unite nations against the impending disaster.
To secure the Elves' full support, Sia promises that human armies will never enter Yarve, making the Elves the most stable political ally of Apatite.
No one expects the disaster to come from the sky instead of below, as dragons eclipse the sun over Ciaran, unleash storms across Mirren, and incinerate city-states with flames.
After the tragedy in Altia, people realize that the creatures from the Mountains of Madness are not ordinary beasts, but highly intelligent beings, fulfilling Sibyl's prophecy.
Camilla and Sia forged a legendary tale while battling dragons. They invited the Orccodros from Elgron to ally with human kingdoms, and progress seemed promising.
Ignoring Sibyl's prophecy, Camilla was assassinated amid a power struggle for alliance leadership, collapsing before guards and aristocrats in a pool of blood, reminding everyone that heroes also bleed.
Though all the culprits involved in this event were seriously punished, the pain in Sia's heart can never be healed. She doesn't understand why those people do such things.
Why would the mastermind risk ruining the alliance to killing their own child, knowing that Apatite will inevitably uncover the true culprit?
Disheartened, Sia leaves the alliance she formed, feeling she has failed her name, Locke. The world no longer deserves her love, and her story fades into silence.
"Fighting means we have something to protect. Ceasing fighting means there's nothing worth protecting anymore."
"We don't care if you are an elf or a human."

Historical Notes

Candice
Born to High Commanders Eluthea and Soske, Candice (16719–17250), the Bud of Verdancy, excelled in governance. She used her political skills to secure advantageous positions for Yarve, enhancing interactions with the Zinew Archipelago and Ciaran.

Hillean Assembly
Also known as the Hillean Feast, this assembly honors Elven lineage. Candidates for rulership are selected by the Heartwood, ensuring each sovereign is the strongest. New sovereigns appoint three High Commanders to manage internal, military, and religious affairs.

Sibyl
Sibyl (12654–13176, Era of Frost Veil), Guide of the Crown, was a sage who provided prophetic guidance during the Sanctgard Empire's dissolution, helping the Elves navigate upheaval.

About the Prophecy
During Sibyl's life in the Golden Age, Abyssal races still lurked, and Orccodros struggled in distant Elgron. Her interpretations of the prophecy, shaped by the limitations of her time, were flawed. In retrospect, the human offspring refers to Camilla, the water to Narcissus from the Wavechants, the branches to both Sia and Elves, and the flames to a disaster caused by dragons, not demons. The blending of blood and water and surrounding flames foretold Camilla's fate, while the backdrop of darkness symbolized the malice of human hearts. Sibyl aimed to unite the three races but ultimately fell in a pool of blood. The prophecy is understood to refer to Lord Deity crossing the ocean to return to Yarve, breaking off a branch of Karianthillae with Lord Inquisitor, and obtaining the Elixir of Vitae.

Camilla
(17245–17271, Era of Frost Veil) Dragon Knight Camilla, the crown princess of Apatite, was tasked with witnessing the birth of a new Elf Queen. Celebrated as one of the greatest human heroes, she was the first human in centuries to tame a dragon, earning unparalleled renown. Camilla played a key role in forging alliances and promoting coexistence between humans and dragons, though her efforts were ultimately undermined by conspiracies among alliance members.

Maiyee
(17199–18187, Era of Frost Veil), known as the "Final Chapter of Birth," Maiyee is considered the greatest monarch in Elven history, surpassing even the earliest ancestor Ereno. Blessed by the Heartwood, she reigned for nearly a millennium, witnessing both the Sacred Dragon War and the Godslayer War. During her reign, the Heartwood's power grew immensely, significantly enhancing the overall strength of the Elven race. By the end of the Sacred Dragon War, some High Elves were capable of battling dragons. Maiyee reached the pinnacle of mortal power but merged with the Heartwood, preventing her from participating directly in wars away from Yarve. Her reign marked the first emergence of family concepts in Elven history, with "Savanti," meaning "Seed of Light," becoming her matrilineal family name.

The Altia Tragedy
The Duchy of Altia (15480–17264) was established by Lester, one of three ministers after the fall of the Sanctgard Empire. Although internal strife plagued the region, Altia bordered Dwarven territories, with its capital, Hiliyath, later becoming the stronghold of the Dividraggon Kingdom. In 17264, Altia was destroyed by a sudden dragon attack led by "Imperial Star" Stephanie. This incident exposed the lack of preparedness and showcased the formidable power of dragons, nearly wiping out the Sugeth Dwarves and resulting in the loss of their once-thriving rune forging techniques from the Golden Age. Following the Altia Tragedy, the scholars of Ciaran began the process of forming an alliance, prompted by the dragons' sparse numbers and inability to move south.

Karianthillae
After the "Taboo and Betrayal" event, the Elven Heartwood, Gloryhylan, was felled. To ensure the survival of the Elves who converted to Jancis, a new seed was bestowed by Jancis, which would become the future Elven Heartwood, Karianthillae.