Esmerelda Larexen

Euphrates Larexen - Brother

Pernicious Larexen - Brother

*"The pain. Loss. Sadness. We must- end it."*

*—*Esmerelda about the invasion

**"Esmerelda Larexen,"** is queen to the resurrected Larexen monarch. Born as a blossomer opposite her brother born without enchanment, she went into hiding after his invasion. Lost, she tried to ascend into aeternum with Pernicious, giving up halfway and losing an arm. This led her to conceal her identity after fearing ridicule for being one of her own kind. She fought against Pernicious with Three Team, finally collapsing his reign of terror.

Esmerelda was later involved with helping Warren Mile unleash the Champions, which they used to destroy the sub-men and Warren's own cyclone.

## Pre-Invasion

Esmerelda was second in-line to the throne after her brother Euphrates. Her early years consisted of a sheltered life inside the halls of Bayclear. Due to King Reginald's reputation with revolutionaries tending to falter, her safety was a number one priority to her mother Sophiare. This eventually lead her to become a very lonely child. One day, she found a small, orphaned lungari and named it Percival. They then became friends. The relationship didn't last long however, as she began to lose her voice, learned of Euphrates' death and was separated from Percival after Pernicious' invasion. She later returned to Bayclear, losing an arm after attempting to send herself and Pernicious to their equated demise. Esmerelda later replaced this arm by constantly using blossoming power to withhold a replacement while learning nimer to communicate due to her speech completely deteriorating.

## Post-Invasion

Concealing herself for so long had put Esmerelda at odds with pretty much anyone who wished to find out the princess' true identity. As such this pushed her to train in defensive combat, as using enchantment would reveal her true nature sequentially. But she knew that if it was so, her brother would accept her with open arms. Esmerelda attempted this, returning to the castle after years of being away. A joyful Pernicious, returning to being the honorable prince for just one moment, stood up in amazement. Walking before him was none other than the sister he knew long dead. She was excited to see him as well, but knew little of him and what he had done in the years past. The naive princess simply looked at him as everything she always wanted to be. This was home. Esmerelda had come back to herself again.

As the hooded figure walked, taking down her hood as she did, the guards lining the walkway bowed to her. Pernicious stood there, as did his second in command Vesuvius, shocked. Feet to the edge of the steps, Esmerelda simply looked up at him. They both embraced. But there was a knowing silence and sadness. One of them was missing. Euphrates. She asked Pernicious if his death was true. A painful yes broke her a bit more inside as she almost just accepted it was true before crying lightly. Pernicious attempted to hug again. Standoffness was returned, something he was understanding of before professionally welcoming her back into their home.

## Later Life

After her brother's defeat, Esmerelda assumed her rightful position as Queen of East Guild, as well as having Adam as a joint ruler to her. She and Adam's friendship was deep in this regard, as being through the war had made them closer to one another and she would consult him regarding decisions. One night after she had hiked out he disappeared. This confused Esmerelda as it was not like him. The estranged queen sent out many a search party to find the missing hero, but alas to no avail. Seeing as she never believed Adam would leave her without cause and without telling her where he was going, Esmerelda soon began to try and accept that he might be dead. The queen did not wear the bright colors she once did, and fell into a deep and dark depression. She would communicate only in small words with her translator present, sometimes going so far as to speak in riddles and metaphors.

One day an elder merchant came along. Someone who Esmerelda had never met before. His skin was dark grey, his eyes crimson red. An obliviant. He reminded her of her brother from so long ago. The merchant requested to have an audience with her, proclaiming that he wanted to know of Adam's story. The inquisitive queen did not take kindly to him. It was obvious that he was not a merchant. The eyes that lie were something she had known. Even still, it was not worth her time to tell Adam's story. She had become bitter in her older age, a woman drowned in her duties and studies. Perhaps she was only doing so to block out the past. The so called merchant, referring to himself as Marxis, did not seem worth her time. She decided to only give him slight answers, confusing ones that didn't make sense. Why? It was entertaining. This obliviant kept droning about his excitement in the story, about how he knew the many battles they fought together. It was only until he attempted to poke her. After all, her love for Adam was never quite returned equally.

She'd had enough. Marxis, or whatever he decided to call himself, was forced out. He would not get the answers he sought. Esmerelda, emotional, retired for the night. She would not speak with anyone for a few days. The throne, however, needed a ruler, so it was necessary eventually. Coming out finally, Esmerelda was shocked to find Marxis attempt again. What was wrong with this fool? But a warm smell filled the hall. It was a pie, made of dracusfruit.

Esmerelda would eventually decide to leave with Marxis, as the pie charmed her a bit. However, the two uncovered that Adam had indeed been kidnapped by thieves who wished to bargain with his life. It was the same clan she had been from from so long ago. Worse, Esemerelda knew of this practice but admitted that she never participated in it. Confronting the demons of her past to save Adam as he had saved them all so long ago, she and Marxis found the hiding place of the thieves. It was much different than she had remembered, with Tonsen's grandson, the old leader of the clan, Karl, being it's current leader. He revealed to Marxis that Tonsen has been stabbed by someone in the back, but could not find out who. This question went unanswered for years. Inside, Esmerelda knew of one fact, but did not let Marxis know or anyone else. It was her. Karl would eventually seem to become suspicious of this after interrogating the two, but already knew. They made this plan in the heat of the moment to lure her there. He then gave Marxis and her a choice: she could hand herself over and Adam would be returned to safety, or have Adam die and be killed by his hand either way. Esmerelda would go through with the offer despite Marxis' pleas. Adam, however, knew that he was going to fight back. This was all in vain, however, as the guards surrounded him with lightshields and forced him to retreat. An emotional, guilt ridden Adam, held his head in shame. They were going to sacrifice her to the gods and they knew not where. Marxis then came up with a plan to follow them to the place after capturing a guard and interrogating him. Once there, the two revealed themselves. A vengeful Karl then executed a prisoner of war. A vengeful soldier, perhaps close to the man, attacked prematurely. This resulted in a large scale battle in the Temple of the Exonerated. Esmerelda was then able to break free from her binds, and found that Adam was losing against Karl. Just as he was about to stab Adam, she quickly twisted Karl's hand around into her gut, saving him. A shocked Adam blasted the exasperated Karl through a column, killing him instantly. He then held Esmerelda in his arms, knowing she was going to die. She did and Adam carried her to the Table of Exoneration and watched as she became in aeternum. Everyone at the battle stopped and watched as Marxis fell to his knees. The tide of the battle then shifted as Adam's men cut down the last of Karl's clan.

Her death would become a great darkness within Adam, as he blamed himself for not being able to save her. However, her memory lived on and she was one of the last people Adam would remember before his dying of old age.