Journal

A tale of a princess and her knight. A story of rebellion and rejection; of fate and freedom. Two souls are caught in events that will change their lives—but will it be for better or for worse?

Even in fairytales, not everyone gets a happily ever after.

Willows of the Canary tells the story of two characters in an unknown kingdom. The story has long been known as a fairytale, but some wonder if it has a kernel of truth to it and is a romanticized retelling of something in the far-flung past.

But who's to say what's true? Let's meet our heroes.
 

Eir

The princess of the kingdom, and the king's only child. Her mother died in childbirth, and as a result, the king is extremely protective of Eir, to the point of being overbearing. She rarely leaves the castle, forced to prepare for her future as the queen and little else.

As such, Eir has developed a rebellious streak, quickly scaring off the knights her father has appointed for her safety. She also often sneaks out of the castle, masquerading as a mercenary when she is away.

Eir's handmaiden, Gemna, taught her how to defend herself and other things about the kingdom. So despite her sheltered life, she's less naive than you'd think. She is also a powerful mage, specializing in healing and ice mage—but since ice magic is an inheritance from the royal family's bloodline, Eir doesn't use the latter much.

Reyna

The newest knight appointed to Eir. Reyna rose through the ranks quickly and was awarded the appointment as a result of his hard work—though many find it more of a punishment, himself included.

Reyna doesn't talk about his past before joining the knights, though his skill with the sword implies he's no stranger to combat. He is also very dexterous, so he prefers to wear less armor in order to move more quickly on the battlefield.

Those listening closely enough may notice Reyna's nearly imperceptible accent, implying that he's not from the kingdom originally. However, given his familiarity with the kingdom, it's clear he's been here a while.

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The unnamed kingdom where this fairytale takes place is mostly self-sufficient and blessed with natural resources. While the kingdom interacts and trades with its neighbors, it stays out of the affairs and wars of anything outside its borders.

When the current king was young, the kingdom and its neighbor to the north attempted a union with an arranged marriage between the king's older brother and the country's princess. However, a tragic accident while on the road ended in both their deaths and the countries have had a strained relationship since.

That said, while tensions were originally high, the kingdoms have let the matter go, opting to continue with an alliance and open borders with one another—even if said alliance is only surface level.

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There are many mysteries and questions regarding the kingdom and the circumstances of our young heroes... how will it all resolve?

It's time to read on to find out...