WIP (RE)INTRO | A KINGDOM BETRAYED
genre | young adult, high fantasy, adventure, lgbtq+
pov | third, limited
status | storyboarding/outlining draft four
synopsis |
Tensions in the kingdom of Arla have never been higher. Their diplomatic relations with other countries across the Lucent Sea are strained. Old magic that hasn't been seen in at least fifty years is bleeding back into the kingdom, causing sickness and fear wherever it goes. Something is deeply wrong. It all comes to a head when the prince returns from a hunting trip half dead, and his entire personal guard killed.
Helen Mast is determined to prove herself. A squire in the king's army, all Helen wants is to be granted the rank of knight and protect the kingdom she loves. A chance encounter with Muriel, head of the king's personal guard, leads to Helen being chosen to undertake a quest to retrieve a long lost magical artifact that grants unspeakable power to the worthy few able to wield it. It's the only thing, the king believes, that can give the kingdom enough power to save itself.
She's joined by Cordelia Langston, eldest daughter of one of the oldest noble families in Arla. Cory has her own reasons for wanting to join the quest, reasons she's unwilling to share. As the two journey deep into the heart of Arla, they discover secrets more deadly than the last — and a conspiracy that threatens to destroy the kingdom as they know it.
I'm starting a new tag list for this wip, so please let me know if you want to be added!
Character info below the cut!
STARRING
Helen Mast [she/her]: became a squire when she was very young, is desperate to get approval from Muriel (and any other authority figure), has learned a few trivial magic spells but isn't very good at them, has a horse named Whiskey who is her best friend
Cordelia "Cory" Langston [she/her]: eldest daughter of Lord Langston, lives in the palace six months out the year, would rather be out in the woods than stuck negotiating trade deals, loves her friends and family so so much
Moss Pennbrook [he/they]: bard who invites himself onto Helen's quest, a few years younger than Helen and Cory, born with the ability to wield magic (first in their family to do so), has never been serious once in their life
Levi Sherridan [he/him]: only son of King Sherridan and heir to the throne, was officially declared crown prince on his 18th birthday (which took place a few months before the events of the plot), frequently travels across Arla to connect with the people he's supposed to be ruling
Emory Thornfell [they/them]: a squire in Helen's squad, chaotic ball of energy who should really not be given sharp objects, befriends the prince, keeps Helen updated on palace ongoings while Helen is on her quest
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Matsui Jurina Showroom 180419 Translation
Starting from 1:33
“The Senbatsu Elections... Finally! Finally, finally, will be held in Nagoya! It’s been a long time coming! I’ve always wanted it to be held in Nagoya. We’ve done it in Tokyo, in Niigata... we’ve not done many 48 group events in Nagoya. Even AKB handshake events aren’t done much in Nagoya. It makes me sad. But now, finally...
Those who watch SKE have come to us, I’ve even seen it on the news, saying ‘this is the 2nd “golden generation” for SKE’ and ‘it’s time for SKE’s wind to blow’. For as much as we endured, SKE has become stronger. The fans are stronger, too.
...
(Here she talks about the WIP event held in Nagoya this year.)
...
“I’m so glad I never gave up. We’ve gotten such a big chance.
...Truly. I’m glad I didn’t give up.
Honestly, there’s been times where it was hard. I’m the only first gen left now. In these 10 years, there’s so much I want to tell everyone, even though I’m not the leader. In order to improve SKE and the 48 group, there’s so much I want to say, I end up rambling, and I’m afraid people will think it’s annoying. I just say it because I love SKE, but I felt like there was a disconnect.
But during SKE’s handshake event... I love handshake events, so it was fun, but my body was sore. Everyone came to me, asked me if I was okay, and gave me support. That made me so happy.
It made me think, I’m glad I worked so hard for these past 10 years.
*Bukiyo Taiyou starts playing while she’s talking. lol*
Everyone worked so hard together. ... Because we all worked together, we’re here now. I’m happy that’s been rewarded to us. (She’s quoting Takamina’s famous saying “Hard work will always be rewarded.”)
...
I always felt the members and staff around me accepted me. As part of SKE. To fans, too, as well as society, I want to be accepted. I’ll do my best. So please support me.
‘Everyone is SKE, together’. I’ve taken Masana’s words to heart, and have acted spoiled toward some other members. (Always a puppy at heart.)
I love everyone. My fans, the members, the staff. I love all of you.
Many Nagoya programs have been showing support for us for our 10 year anni. Truly, SKE’s storm is raging on.
It’s not my wind; it’s SKE’s wind that is blowing. I want to let my wind blow, but I don’t know what to do.
(Meaning, “this is SKE’s time to shine, so I want to shine, too.”)
In order to support SKE, I need power. For SKE to be known by many.
I believe in our fans.
...
*Singing “Boku wa Shitteru“*
Are you drenched in sorrow? Those cloudy troubles Have they disappeared for you?
The goal (of your dreams) You can’t (go at it alone)
I know That regret you feel… Even the tears you hide… So someday I hope you will be rewarded Your future smile I’ll pray for it here
...
Not just for SKE, but as SKE’s Matsui Jurina, I want to prove I can shine for the world.
After crying, you become stronger. Somehow, when I cry, I feel weak, but afterwards, I can smile and feel stronger. So now that I cried here, I can go to work with a smile.
I’ve been holding in my tears recently, but I know now holding it in is not good.
But that doesn’t mean I can be fully relieved yet. I see everyone commenting ‘this year you’ll be first’, but I have no one to help me do this.
This is something we must fight together. SKE has no one behind-the-scenes to help us. So we believe in our fans. Our fans are not people who help us; they fight along with us. I’m... reckless? I have no confidence I will win. My uneasiness feels stronger. Since it’s Nagoya, there’s also pressure. I can’t just be satisfied.
But I believe I can prove Takamina-san’s words. I’ve always looked up to Takamina since I was 11. I imitated many parts of her.
And Yuko-san, when I had a concurrency in Team K, we stood on the same stage, even during big concerts and theater performances, she always gave it her all in rehearsals. When I saw her, I thought she was so cool. I respected her. Yuko-san was always happy in the center, so I did my best not to lose against her.
I knew that “this is how the center should be” from her. No matter how difficult my concurrency was, no matter how busy my work got, I have to be like how Yuko-san was in SKE. If not, no one would follow after me.
Since I was 11, there were many amazing senpai I looked up to and imitated them. It’s often said it’s not good to imitate someone, but I believe imitating them and putting your own originality to it is good. Because you know nothing at first, you imitate others. And I took in everything from all of my amazing senpai.
Mariko-san looked after me and helped me if I wasn’t in the right position, she always helped new members, that’s what I learned from her.
Maeda-san (Acchan) taught me, no matter what, to stand on stage. One day, she was late for rehearsal, so I stood in her place. It really helped me grow and made me happy, but somewhere in me, I knew she would come for the actual performance.
When I stood in for her, it helped me to grow, and when I saw her, she was truly amazing. And as I thought, she did come. She was the center.
Mayu-san was someone who, no matter what anyone said, she wouldn’t mind it and focused on keeping her own pace, to do what only she could do to please the fans. She was so professional. I’ve never seen Mayu-san cry. I’m sure she was crying on the inside, but she was wonderful.
So I learned from Mayu-san, the center shouldn’t cry in front of others.
Sae-chan really loved her fans. She always thought of both her fans and the members, even if she didn’t say anything, she always looked after everyone and supported everyone. She was perfect.
Even after she graduated, she never forgot her feelings for us. She would take us out to lunch and listen to us. She was so kind.
Itano-san... (Tomochin) Just being in her presence was amazing enough. She was so cute. Even when she complained.
One day, when she was really worried, Akimoto Sayaka-san told her, “Tomo is fine being herself. Just being part of Team K is enough.” I was touched when I heard her say that; it’s really true. Itano-san taught me how to let out my aura.
Sayaka-san is someone who always thinks of others’ feelings. When it was announced I would have a concurrency, the first one to approach me was Sayaka-san. Whenever someone was troubled, she always extend her hand out to them. She was reliable, and never showed her own weakness. I liked how strong she was. But she’s also really girly. I like her cute side, too.
I recently called her. She asked how I was doing, and said she was surprised to see me at a wrestling ring (Sayaka went to see a match and Jurina was also present in the audience, so they happened to run into each other. x3), I ate lunch with her and Mariko-san. With Maeda-san, too. I loved how even now, she shows concern for me.
I didn’t get to see Rie-chan’s grad concert; I wanted to send her a video message. I heard from fans she sang “Tsuyogari Tokei”, it made me sorry, but I also felt she wanted to express her thanks for having her concurrency in SKE. I went to see her in her last handshake event.
When Rie-chan and I both had our concurrencies, we always rode the Shinkansen together and supported one another. We were friends who always helped each other. Rie-chan always greeted us cheerfully, regardless of senpai-kouhai relationship. I didn’t want to lose that either, seeing her like that.
Seeing amazing senpais like them made me. However, Yukirin-san and Sashihara-san, too. Myao, Shiichan, Miichan... There are still amazing senpais I want to learn from, so I won’t graduate yet.
I want to express my thanks to all of them, and accept all of their feelings, and do my best as part of the 48 group.
...
(Here she talks about Mikitii, who recently had her surgery. She hopes to see her when she returns to Nagoya.)
...
Hard work will always be rewarded. Let’s prove that to everyone. The fruits of SKE’s labor will be born. So let’s do our best, promise.”
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Find The Word Tag
thank you so much for tagging me @maddstermind!! these are all from a kingdom betrayed :)
group
There’s a small crowd watching them, gathered together in a tight knit circle. It’s a group of squires and trainees watching with rapt attention as she parries the man’s blow. She doesn’t like the feel of eyes on her, but she forces herself to ignore them. She has more important things to worry about.
child
It’s the second time in one day that Helen’s been face to face with Cordelia, which has to be a new record. They’ll maybe see each other a few times a week, with Cordelia seeking her out whenever she’s bored with her studies or whatever it is the noble children do at the palace. Helen’s still not sure why Cordelia seeks her out in particular, but she can’t say that she minds it.
pain
Another tug on her braid, this one hard enough to send sparks of pain across her scalp. It’s too late to change anything now. And this is what she wanted, isn’t it? To have Muriel recognize her? Her chest is tight and it’s hard to catch her breath. And the day had started out nice too. Things just had to go wrong, didn’t they? She ducks behind one of the bushes lining the path and crouches down on her heels, pressing her hands to her eyes.
deal
The smell of herbs is thick in the air. While most of the healing staff were mages, there were a few lesser mages who had to get by with potions and poultices, as their handle on magic was too weak to channel it directly. They relied on the magic of the Earth . Helen hates the smell. It clogs up her nose and makes her eyes water. Normally she’d do anything to avoid a trip to the healing wing. But this is an unprecedented time, and she’ll deal with the smell for information.
tagging @mk-writes-stuff @illarian-rambling @kaylinalexanderbooks and anyone else who would like to!! :))
your words are: stairs, rush, soft, light
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