In a dark alley of a slum, dark buildings in terrible condition, patched together and mainly holding because of clumsy handiwork, Nailah, a woman with messy black curly hair, brown skin, and blue eyes filled with despair, her cheeks sunken because of hunger, and her face bruised, wearing a simple and dirty white shirt and skirt, greyed out by the dirt, was hugging her knees.

How did I get here?

Her dull eyes, as if plunged so deep into despair that they couldn’t reflect light anymore.

Why do I even keep going?

Her eyes turned to the apple that she had just eaten. She had found it in the garbage, half-eaten.

Maybe I shouldn’t have eaten that and let hunger take me…

She was giving up on everything, but she couldn’t help but wonder—

What did I do wrong? How could I do things differently?

---

Her mind drifted back to a time when her life was different—better in Skyland, the floating jewel of the Ether Empire, hung high above the land like a throne in the sky. The grand mansions sparkled in the morning light, and among them stood the Pristine estate, one the many emblems of wealth and influence, towering in both beauty and power.

Inside its grand halls, Nailah walked with practiced grace, her every step met with subtle bows from the passing maids. She had brown skin, bright blue eyes, and curly black hair, with a few strands naturally falling over her forehead. She wore a simple yet elegant white dress, one she saved for home.

"Greetings, Amber. Danielle," she said, acknowledging them with a polite nod.

"Greetings, Mistress Nailah!" they responded in unison before hurrying on with their tasks.

Just as Nailah turned a corner, a loud crash echoed from down the hallway. Her heart sank.

Not again…! she thought, quickening her pace.

She pushed open the kitchen door and stopped short. Chaos. Nailah burst into the kitchen to find chaos. Broken plates, spilled milk, and her clumsy butler, Edward, sprawled on the floor with one shoe missing. Edward was an old man in his fifties. His white hair was slicked back, and his neatly trimmed beard and mustache connected perfectly, complementing his sharp features.

"Edward! What happened? You made a mess again!" Nailah exclaimed, exasperated.

Edward scrambled to his feet, looking guilty. "I know, Mistress… I'm a sorry excuse for a butler. I was just trying to pour milk into a cup, and somehow this happened."

Nailah stared at the wreckage, incredulous. "All this… from just pouring milk? I have so many questions!"

Edward bowed his head in shame. "I'll clean it up immediately! But, Mistress, before I forget, your father wishes to see you and your brothers."

Her brows furrowed. "Do you know what it's about?"

Edward shook his head. "I’m not sure, but he seemed quite serious."

---

In the Pristine family’s grand office, Jason Pristine sat at his massive desk, a cigar resting lazily between his fingers. He was in his late forties, with the sturdy build of a father, well-groomed white hair, and a thick mustache. Standing before him were his three children: Nailah, Tom, and Duran.

Tom was the oldest son, 21 years old. He looked like their mother, but his style—carefully groomed blonde hair and expensive clothes—showed he was trying hard to look like their father, whom he deeply admired. Duran, the youngest at 16, had brown hair and a laid-back, natural haircut. He didn’t care much about family matters and was more focused on enjoying his youth.

Nailah, however, looked nothing like her siblings or her parents. While everyone else in the family had fair skin, hers was brown. She had been adopted. Most aristocratic families only adopted if they couldn’t have children of their own, but Nailah’s adopted family clearly could. This always made her wonder why she was chosen, but every time she asked, she received vague answers. The only conclusion she could draw was that her father had made the decision to adopt her, a choice she could tell from the way her mother treated her differently than her biological sons, while her father treated them all the same.

"Father, you wanted to see us?" Tom inquired.

"Are we getting gifts?" Duran asked excitedly.

Jason chuckled, the smoke from his cigar curling around his amused smirk. "No, Duran, this isn’t about gifts. I have something far more important to discuss."

The air in the room grew heavy as Jason’s expression turned serious. "I want to talk about the future of this family."

A chill ran through his children as they exchanged wary glances.

"As you know, our company is prestigious, but I have yet to reach my ultimate goal… to make it a part of Elysium. Unfortunately, time is not on my side. It is time for me to consider my successor. I will announce my choice at the Gala, one week from now."

His words sent a ripple of tension through the room.

Tom was the first to speak. "Father, have you already decided, or will this week determine your choice?"

Jason exhaled a cloud of smoke, his smirk returning. "I haven’t made my final decision, but I already have a clear idea."

Nailah crossed her arms, confidence shining in her eyes. "Which means there's still time to change your mind."

Jason smiled as he answered “Yes, indeed.” He liked his daughter’s confidence.

Tom shot her a glare, his anger flashing. He noticed his father’s smirk and hated the idea of competing against someone he considered an outsider for something he believed was his birthright.

Jason dismissed his children with a wave. “If that’s all, you may return to your occupations.”

Duran bolted out of the room, eager to hang with his friends at school. As soon as they left, Tom grabbed Nailah by the arm, his anger boiling over. "Wait! You madwoman! Don’t tell me you still think you can take over the company! It won’t happen! First, you’re a woman. Second, you’re adopted!"

Nailah’s expression remained calm and steady though a hint of irritation could be noticed. "That doesn’t matter, brother. I will take over."

Tom clenched his fists. "We’ll see about that."

With a scowl, he stormed off, while Nailah glanced at the time. I’ll be late for school.

---

The prestigious academy of Skyland was full of aristocratic students, all dressed in spotless uniforms as they walked through the grand hallways. Nailah rushed down the corridor, only to be stopped by a familiar voice.

"Oh, you’re late too!"

She turned to see Kenny, a confident grin on his face despite the two noticeable lumps on his head. Nailah sighed, already knowing the answer. "Kenny… do I want to know what happened?"

He scratched his head, embarrassed. "Well… I was so absorbed in this new animated show that I forgot to go to school. My mother found me on the couch, and… well, you can guess the rest."

As they walked, whispers and gossip swirled around them.

"Look, it’s Kenny Bakare!"

"Didn’t his family lose their noble status?"

"To think that it happened to one of the Big Three families!"

"How pathetic must one be to let that happen?"

Nailah clenched her fists, anger rising. "Hey!"

Before she could say more, Kenny placed a hand on her shoulder. "Leave them. It’s okay. I don’t care what they say."

She frowned. "They only dare to talk because Gawain does not come to our school anymore."

Kenny simply smiled. "Like I said, don’t mind them. Let’s go to class."

---

The teacher stood before the class, addressing the students who would soon graduate. "As I was saying before our latecomers joined us, Skyland’s nobility system is meritocratic. Nobles must continuously prove their worth by contributing to the Empire’s prosperity. Once you graduate, you must earn your place here…"

The teacher then pointed his finger toward Kenny, who was sleeping during class, and added: “Otherwise, you may share the same fate as this gentleman.”

The teacher then proceed to ask his class about their plans for the future. Many students wanted to take over their family’s businesses. Others wanted to get into arts to contribute to the cultural side of the empire. The more daring students wanted to build their own companies from their families wealth. These were all answers that brought a satisfied smile to his face.

The teacher’s gaze swept the room before settling on Nailah. "What about you, Nailah? What are your plans?"

She stood tall, her voice unwavering. "I will take over the Pristine family and become the Elysian!"

The class fell silent, then erupted into laughter.

The teacher sighed. "There we go again… I regret asking."

"Nailah!" a student scoffed. "Do you realize what you’re saying? The Elysium Council represents only one percent of the nobility but controls thirty-eight percent of the Empire’s economy!"

Nailah’s resolve remained firm. "I couldn’t care less. I will become the Elysian and live on my own terms. Only an Elysian can do that."

The class burst into laughter once more, even the teacher struggling to contain his amusement. 

As Nailah was on the brink of losing control of her anger, Kenny spoke with a serious expression, clearly annoyed by the class's behavior. "Ignore them. Ambition only sounds foolish to clowns."

At that, Nailah took a deep breath, letting her anger subside. "You’re right."

---

As the bell rang, students left their classrooms. Kenny turned to Nailah. "How about we go see Gawain?"

She nodded. "Yeah, let’s go."

The Knight Academy loomed ahead, a symbol of discipline and strength. Inside, young initiates sat in focused silence as an instructor introduced two rising stars of the academy, Bors and Gawain.

"Listen up, initiates! These two are among the academy’s best. They will graduate soon and become full-fledged knights. Pay attention as they explain what it means to bear this title."

The initiates whispered excitedly. "We get to meet two of the Brilliant Six! So cool!"

One of the knights stepped forward, confidence radiating from his stance. His voice rang through the hall.

"Nice to meet you, initiates! I’m Gawain Maysun! Let’s get this started, shall we?"

Bors stood before the gathered initiates, his voice carrying authority. "There are six Knight Ranks!"

He continued, "Bronze is the lowest rank. They are usually knights fresh out of the academy, as we will be, and newcomers in Knight Orders. Their duties often involve patrolling and guarding the Skylands."

The initiates listened attentively as he explained further. "After Bronze comes Silver. Silver Knights are the most promising young knights in an order. They often handle minor crimes."

Bors’ voice grew prouder as he spoke about the next rank. "Then comes Gold! They are mid-ranked knights but also the pinnacle of most knights’ careers. They handle more serious cases and hold leadership roles within a Knight Order."

His explanation continued. "Then we have Platinum Knights! They are the second-highest rank within a Knight Order. They serve as captains, the second-in-command!"

He gestured to an imaginary figure. "Diamond Knights are the highest-ranking knights within an order. They are the commanders. There are only seven of them."

Finally, he spoke with reverence. "And at the very top, there is the Emerald Knight! The ultimate knight, overseeing all knights and Imperial Security. Our current Emerald Knight is Sir Beowulf!"

Bors looked around. "Any questions?"

An initiate raised their hand. "Could you tell us more about Knight Orders?"

Gawain stepped forward, his voice filled with passion. "Of course! There are as many Knight Orders as there are Diamond Knights. Each specializes in a different crime department."

Before the conversation could continue, the instructor checked his clock. "Looks like we’re out of time! Let’s end the session here!"

As the session ended, Gawain stepped off the stand, spotting two familiar figures: Kenny and Nailah.

"Hey, Mister Brilliant Six!" Nailah teased.

Kenny smirked. "You’re quite popular now!"

Gawain groaned. "Knock it off, you two!"

Kenny turned to him. "So, which Knight Order are you going to join?"

Gawain straightened. "The Order of the White Raven!"

Nailah raised an eyebrow. "That’s the one that specializes in organized crimes."

"Yes! I hear crime in the Lowlands is on the rise. I want to be ready when the next Robbing Hood appears!"

Then Gawain turned to Kenny. "Speaking of Lowlands, when are you leaving?"

Kenny stretched. "I’m headed to the station now, actually."

Both Nailah and Gawain were taken aback. "So soon?!"

Nailah’s expression darkened. "I was trying to forget about that, but it’s happening, isn’t it?"

Kenny pulled them both into a hug. "Why the long faces? No matter where I am, we’re still friends, okay? I will never forget you!"

His tone became more serious. "Gawain, I’m counting on you to become the next Emerald Knight. And you, Nailah… become the first woman to become an Elysian!"

Gawain smirked slightly. "Let us accompany you to the station."

But Kenny shook his head. "No, I’d rather not be seen being stripped of my status and deported… It’s not my most glorious moment."

He turned away, waving. "Goodbye, my dear friends."

Nailah and Gawain watched in silence as Kenny walked off. Sadness flickered in Nailah’s eyes. "Should we still follow him?"

Gawain exhaled. "No… Let’s respect his wishes."

Nailah clenched her fists, her voice firm. "We’re waiting for you, Kenny! Work your way back here!" She meant it with all her heart, though she knew it was more of a wish than a demand. What she asked seemed almost impossible.

They watch Kenny disappear into the distance.