Once upon a time, there lived a young maiden high in a tower made of stone. When she was young, the Witch had locked her inside. But the Maiden didn't resent this- not at all. For the Witch was her mother, and had locked the Maiden in a tower at her husband's request- for her safety, of course.
The Maiden lived out her days doing whatever she pleased to keep herself occupied. She painted, played instruments, and above all, she loved to read.
On the Maiden's 13th birthday, the Witch gave her daughter two choices. Either to stay in her tower, or to join the Witch in the village.
But the Maiden quite enjoyed her secluded lifestyle, and refused to leave. She had read many books in the past 13 years, and had made up her mind that the outside world was quite horrible. And when she asked herself if she ever planned to leave her home, the answer was a clear and resounding no.
Despite her daughter's initial refusal, the Witch continued to ask the same question of the Maiden. Every year, on the Maiden's 14th, 15th, and very nearly 16th birthdays, the Witch asked again whether the Maiden would prefer to stay or leave. And each and every time, she received the same answer.
The Maiden's 16th birthday came, and she greeted her mother, who seemed to appear out of nowhere. The Witch began to speak, and the Maiden prepared herself to give the same answer as the previous three times the question had been asked. But this time, the question never came.
Instead, the Witch simply informed her daughter that the pair were to set out for the village posthaste.
The Maiden immediately began protesting. What if something terrible happened? She had read countless stories about innocents getting robbed, kidnapped, or even killed! How could her mother ever expect her to do such a thing?
But it was clear that the Witch would not be accepting any arguments this time. The Maiden reluctantly began to pack her bags.
As she packed, the Maiden asked her mother why she had made such a sudden decision. After all, the Witch had been quite content to allow her daughter to stay in her tower all these years. Why would she change her mind now?
And so, the Witch began to explain. She told her daughter about a terrible sorcerer who had decided to use his powers to harm instead of help, to kill instead of save. She spoke of how half of their beautiful kingdom was overcome with blistering heat and terrible droughts. She spoke of the other half of the kingdom, which was struck with frigid cold and blizzards that made it difficult for anyone to even step outside.
Both halves of the kingdom's crops were dying- along with some of the citizens. In addition, the equinoxes and eclipses that had happened so frequently before and helped the magic users were completely gone.
Why the kingdom was split down the middle instead of being fully one way or the other was unclear, but nobody had enough time to try and figure it out. They were all focused on living through the chaos.
Hearing this, the Maiden's resolve towards staying only grew stronger. All of that on top of the horrors she had read about was simply too much.
The Witch seemed to notice her daughter's growing apprehension and joined in packing the Maiden's things. As she did so, she explained to her daughter that since she was one of the most powerful magic users in the kingdom, she had to go investigate. And she would be taking her daughter with her.
And with that, the Witch grabbed the Maiden's bags and wrist, and started walking towards the singular window.
They were ready to leave.
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