A rather delicate face and a few shiny black curls poked out from the long hooded cape. The small frame lithely dismounted the tall horse, which steadily waited its owner's direction. A few days ago Inslee would never have imagined taking such a journey on her own, let alone to such a destination. However, that changed once she had the dream .
Inslee Van Heritas was a rather typical noble girl, apart from her family's relatively high status. Obsessed with honor and reputation, she had put a great deal of effort into maintaining her position, which resulted in her satisfying appointment to be the Crown Prince's fiancee. Satisfying, at least, for her parents. To Inslee, it was simply the outcome of all her hard work. Noble marriages were never the result of love, anyway. She would be honored and respected, and that would be enough for Inslee. At least, it was.
A week ago, she showed up at a royal ball. All the noble ladies saw were the rural dress and lack of style. However, the men could not stop glancing at her face, although their looks were not more respectful. Farm fresh, Inslee recalled overhearing. As the Crown Prince's fiancee, Inslee was performing her duties as an assistant hostess to the queen, thus she inadvertently ended up with the main group of young ladies who had corralled her near the pond in order to "teach" her a lesson in etiquette. In other words, to make snide remarks disguised as constructive criticism.
No one actually explained what happened next. Was there an accidental stumble, or a push? Either way, she happened to grab Inslee, launching both of them into the pond. While Inslee was a healthy young woman, the weight of a formal ballroom dress when wet was no joke. Bleak vision faded into darkness.
When she came to on the side of the pond, Inslee found herself coughing, supported by a pair of strong arms. As she gathered her wits, she thought little of the identity of her rescuer. That is, until she viewed the scene in front of her. There, in the arms of the Crown Prince, lay that girl , Diara Surfe, the daughter of a poor baron. The look on the Crown Prince's face said it all. All his thoughts were filled with her, whom he had rescued rather than even sparing a glance for his drowning fiancee.
Even then, Inslee was more disconcerted than worried. Diara's status ensured that she had no chance of winning the seat next to the Crown Prince, even if she gained his affection. However, Inslee's apathy would take an abrupt change that night. Chilled by her near-death experience, Inslee fell into a deep fever. During that time, she experienced a dream so vivid she somehow knew it was an oracle.
In the dream, the Crown Prince favored Diara more and more over time, to the point where it began to affect Inslee's status. Not formally, of course, but society had its own rules. Inslee was forced to act, but each time the Crown Prince would mercilessly crush her. Eventually, Inslee's parents took matters into their own hands, using more aggressive means against the Surfe barony. The Crown Prince had needed to marry a powerful aristocrat in order to consolidate power, thus his engagement to Inslee. But despite this fact, the Crown Prince stubbornly clung to Diara, and finally achieved his goal. Of course, Inslee and her family would not live to see it. As soon as the Crown Prince found another source of power, he destroyed the Van Heritas family thoroughly. Inslee could still feel the cold steel of the blade that had run her through from behind. And the source of the power that enabled the Crown Prince?
In two years, the Crown Prince would make a journey to the sorcerer's tower. Overcoming its trials through his great love for Miss Diara, the tower would recognize the Crown Prince as its owner, allowing him access to items of great power. And with that power, Inslee would meet her death.
Upon waking, Inslee had organized her thoughts and decided on her course of action. Without informing anyone, she gathered some supplies and mounted her horse. Despite her prior illness, Inslee was relatively resilient and strong, and after a few days ride, arrived at her destination. In order to counter the Crown Prince and save herself, Inslee would enter the sorcerer's tower and claim its power before anyone else had the chance to do so.
Without looking back, Inslee strode across the narrow stone walkway and entered the doorway to the tower, which was shrouded in darkness.