Varian and the Seven Kingdoms (Varian's Seven Trials)

Princess Nuru

Some of the buildings closest to the castle were almost unrecognisable as homes, and there were more people around than there had been in the lower town. There were a few campfires scattered about the town square; and many happy-looking villagers were chattering around them.
Yong scanned the people sitting and standing around and Varian knew he was searching for the family from the painting. When he saw a familiar-looking woman with a child wrapped in a blanket, Yong ran off in their direction. Varian was fixated on a father and a boy, who appeared to be his son, sharing food by a campfire.
"What do you think happened?" Varian asked, finally and Hugo glanced at him.
"Dunno...let's just finish this trial and get outta here." He commented and Varian glared at him.
"Really? Can't you show at least a little compassion for these people? Their homes are destroyed!"
"At least they had homes."
"I can't believe you're making this about yourself- but why am I surprised? It's what you always do. Go and count your coins or something. I'm gonna see if I can find out more about what happened here." Varian responded angrily and walked off.

Varian noticed a hooded young woman, struggling with two heavy-looking crates.
"Hey- need some help?" He asked with a smile, walking over to the girl. She wore a lilac dress with constellations and a yellow ribbon around the waist. The girl had stunning yellow eyes and notable beauty spots on her left cheek and right collarbone. Her smile was kind and her warm skin glowed in the light of the street lanterns,
"Thank you." She handed one of the crates to Varian. They both carried the boxes to one of the campfires which was surrounded by children. They all ran over and grabbed at the food, a woman scolding them and instructing them to share. This made the girl laugh slightly before she looked to Varian,
"You're not from around here, are you?" The girl asked.
"Is it that obvious?" Varian asked with a laugh.
"Zephaeli doesn't have many...eccentric characters."
"...Thanks?"
"What're those orbs on your belt?" She asked curiously.
"Oh- just chemical compounds of my own design." He bragged and the girl smiled widely.
"Amazing! What do they do?"
"Seriously?" Varian asked, remembering an occasion where Angry had asked him the same question then proceeded to make fun of him. The girl nodded.
"Well, this pink one explodes into a sticky pink trap, this blue one is a smoke bomb..." Varian looked closer at it, "Or is it a bath bomb...? I really should've labelled these." He muttered and Nuru laughed.
"You must be a very well-accomplished alchemist...I'm Nuru." The girl put her hand out for Varian to shake.
"Varian." The boy smiled and took Nuru's hand.

Hugo watched Yong making friends with almost everyone he spoke to, bringing smiles to people's faces with his undying enthusiasm. The blonde looked around at the townspeople, sitting around their campfires. One young girl caught his eye and she stared at him.
"What d'you want, kid?" Hugo asked and the girl looked to the ground, shyly.
"You lost or something?" Hugo raised an eyebrow and the small brunette girl pointed at the crates of food left by the group of children. Hugo shook his head, his eyes narrowing as he tried to understand. The girl put her hands on her stomach and Hugo sighed,
"If you're hungry, get some food." The boy sighed and the girl looked as though she might cry. Hugo stared at her for a moment, feeling a sudden sadness for her,
"Ok, ok. How about we go together?" He suggested and the girl smiled nervously. Hugo smiled in return and put his hand out. The girl grabbed it hesitantly and they walked to the group of kids.

"Nuru!" A booming voice called from the palace doors and Nuru's eyes widened.
"Who's that?" Varian asked nervously.
"My father..." Nuru sighed, looking towards the man walking the castle steps. He was a large man with an elegant robe and a crown upon his head. Guards bowed as he passed them. Varian watched the man, frightened by his sense of power. He looked to Nuru,
"T- The king's your father? Then you're-"
"The Princess!" A man gasped when Nuru lowered her hood to reveal her head of thick, dark and curly hair with a bright yellow star clip in it. The king approached and Varian's eyes widened before he scooted away from the Princess slightly.
"Nuru, what are you doing out here? You're meant to be inside, training." The king said sternly, gazing upon his daughter with his dark and powerful eyes.
"And I told you I was going to help my people. I won't hide away while they suffer, father."
"We've been through this, Nuru. One day the responsibility of protecting our people will fall to you. When that day comes, you must be prepared. You should be inside; studying, learning the responsibilities of a Queen."
"What good will being inside do? The problems are happening out here! What ever we're doing to protect the kingdom now isn't good enough- we're still recovering from last years shower-"
"Nothing more can be done!" The king interrupted harshly and Nuru looked to the ground, defeated.
"All we can do for the kingdom is prepare as best we can, and minimise the damage."
"I'm sorry, father...but please, let me help here just a bit longer. Please." Nuru pleaded with her father. The man's expression seemed to soften very slightly and he sighed,
"You may stay an hour. Then I want you inside and training with Mr Vega."
"Understood. Thank you, father."
The man walked the steps, back to the castle and Nuru sighed. Varian finally spoke up,
"Your father's..."
"Harsh? I know he has good intentions but...I'm learning nothing in there. I need to see the damage; find a way to protect my people- there has to be a way to stop these asteroid showers...or a way to shield the kingdom from them." Nuru looked beyond Varian, in deep thought. Varian cleared his throat and Nuru looked back at him,
"I'm sorry, you probably don't want to hear about all of this...what brings you to Zephaeli?"
"Oh, uh...I'm here to complete a trial...but now I'm kinda curious about these asteroid showers..." Varian raised an eyebrow.
"There's an asteroid shower over the kingdom every year. It causes devastation, and we haven't found a way to stop it. Since I'm the Princess, I have to learn the procedure for the showers. The next one is coming up and we're preparing for it...though we're still suffering from the last." Nuru frowned.
"That's...awful."
"Yes. I wish my father would trust me to find a solution. I've been looking into ways we could protect the kingdom; possible spells or protection incantations but my father won't listen...maybe..." She muttered, "You mentioned a trial?" Nuru looked to Varian, "The trial of Zephaeli?"
"Yeah- do you know much about it?"
"Of course." Nuru smiled.
"Great! Do you think you could tell me where to find it?"
"Better. I can take you to it."
"Really? Won't your father be...I dunno, angry, if you aren't here helping out and instead, off completing a dangerous trial?"
"I don't wish to make him angry, but I believe that this trial could help me in finding the answers to putting a stop to these asteroids. Why do you want to complete the trial?"
"Well...my mother wrote about the trials of the seven kingdoms. I'm completing them for her. I've been to Vlamudia and Miyamgar already."
"Wow...that sounds- exciting!" Nuru smiled, envious of the boy's adventure, "I've only ever heard about the other trials in my studies- I would love to be able to go on a journey like that." Nuru looked to the sky.
"You...could come along with us." Varian suggested and the girl looked at him as if he had slapped her.
"I couldn't- my father would never allow it..."
"No, yeah, of course...b- but at the end of the trials, it's said you gain access to the Eternal Library. Unspoken knowledge...maybe we could find a way to help your kingdom against the cosmic disasters there." Varian replied and Nuru stared. She seemed to think deeply about this,
"The Eternal Library?"
"Yeah."
Nuru was silent for a moment then smiled at the boy,
"I'll help you to complete the trial. If it goes well, I can think about coming along with you. I want to stay here," She looked around at her kingdom, "But this sort of help only goes so far. If you're right about these trials, I want to help you. It could help my kingdom in the long run." Nuru answered seriously, and Varian smiled,
"Thank you...and, uh, I'm here with two friends, so...I'll have to introduce you." Varian laughed.