THIS IS A TEMPORARY BACKSTORY; MOST OF THE INFO WILL BE THE SAME JUST LIKE. BETTER LCGKDFJGVKLB
Serena was born to Emperor Rayleigh and Empress Current of Fortuna Belli in a litter of seven weak kittens, of which only Serena survived- barely. Before his survival was assured, there were whisperings he would be killed to make room for stronger heirs. This clearly didn’t come to pass and Rayleigh denies the very suggestion later on. He is lying.
Serena’s upbringing into the position didn't start from birth- Current insisted he get some time to simply be a child, much to Rayliegh’s chagrin, which was voiced loudly around young Serena, who struggled with colds and flus, and can’t keep up with the other young children of nobles. He often stayed by his mother’s side- she didn’t try to get him to chase her or wrestle when he couldn’t, after all, especially as Current was tired, too. She would progressively get more exhausted over time, even as Rayleigh tried to push her to leave their chambers more, to face their people together, and stop babying Serena as much as she did. Current would defend Serena as the youngling pressed to her side, unsure of what to do as her mother would argue, and cough, and wheeze. The arguments wouldn’t last long once she couldn’t speak. Rayleigh would call the nurses, and ignore Serena’s cries to know if Mother was alright. They could make another child, but not another Current.
When Serena was nearly 3 months, another kit was chosen to be the guard assigned to the young heir- a young (~5 months) ‘stray’ named Rose, gray, sturdy, long furred, and with unusual black patches thrown in seemingly at random. She was quiet, and would not speak during this entire first encounter. Rayleigh and Current told Serena she was to be his lifelong guard and companion once they were grown, and was even suggested to give her a new name like Rayleigh had done with his own. Serena opted to leave the name, not finding a point in changing it. Didn’t make sense, after all- she already had one. Rose would spend much time with Serena and, by extension, Current, when she was allowed to rest between training sessions and the two became fast friends. Serena would often read to Rose the books they would take from the castle’s library into the wee hours of the morning, until Current would catch them and send them to bed, both giggling all the way. Serena learned to write, and so, then, did Rose. Sometimes, Rose would even show Serena battle tactics when he was feeling well enough for it. Rayleigh’s disapproval was tangible to all, including Serena, but Current convinced him to let it slide- the heir was still a child. It could wait, and… this… would pass.
- Serena would vaguely remember meeting a much older cat during this time; one of the council, and the only one who’d ever personally stuck out in his mind… because she’d become useful later on, long after when she was forced to flee around this time.
Nearing Serena’s 4th month, Current took a turn for the worse; she’d fallen ill and Serena was to stay away from her, the only interaction between the two done from a distance. Come a week into this particularly bad case, Current’s well-known wheezes and coughs came to a head as the sickness bore into her, and that very night, she died suddenly. Serena hadn’t even gotten to say goodbye, and Rayleigh had shoved him away to see Current himself. He’d only gotten in after Rayleigh allowed others near- some hours after Current’s death. Serena was inconsolable before- Rose and a nurse tried their best- and seemingly even worse once he was able to see Current before she was to be taken away and prepped for burial the next evening.
In the following months, Rayleigh's treatment of Serena worsened, with Rayleigh’s “training” for Serena’s future role as emperor officially beginning with no one to stop him. This involved several hard truths about the world- being overtly blunt and cruel with his explanation of Current’s condition and the reason for it, as a start. Was Serena’s fault in part, he claimed, disgust laced within.
- Some of the things Serena was shown at a young age were the punishment of witches, which would include things like being forced to fight to the death in rings outside the capital, burning at the stake, weighed down and thrown into lakes, ripped to shreds with their own weapons, and the like. Serena would become… somewhat apathetic to this, in time, even if he never really grasped the hatred for witches.
- Rayleigh would become increasingly abusive in this time, eventually becoming physically abusive, hitting and lashing out at Serena as early as six months.
- At the temple nearest the castle and the central one for the entire empire, Serena would more and more often visit the child of Father Gideon, Alpheus (Soph) and the two became fast friends, although perhaps seeing the relationship differently. Rose had always spoken of how.. strange Alpheus seemed, but Serena would shut down such talk. He was a friend, and a man of the cloth. Surely that was… good. (He knew it didn’t necessarily mean that.)
When Rayleigh wasn’t trying to “teach” Serena something or forcing her to participate in the sermons in the nearby temple (about the all powerful Laren, omnipotent central and ruling god of Fortuna and the world, presumably, drilling fear into the young Serena’s mind about being smited at the slightest misstep, as according to Rayleigh) the emperor would lock himself in his chambers for hours at a time, supposedly in a war council, but those were hardly held in his room. Thus, Serena would be left alone, the sudden void of parental affection filled only with vitriol instead. Rose’s company and the two’s misadventures and exploring of the castle could only help so much, particularly when they’d find themselves in the courtyard with Current’s grave in dead center, within an old human mausoleum. He’d often find herself laying in front, yearning. He’d spent much time in the coming months keeping to himself, as it was better than his father’s attention. If he didn’t know where Serena was, then he couldn’t say anything to him.
(If you told me how to, I’d know. Maybe I could do something to your liking for once. Stop yelling… please. Please.)
By the time Serena was 7 months, she and Rose would spend a lot of time outside of the castle, often roaming the town, or the outlying territory nearby. During one such adventure, they’d find a field of a thousand colors, and plants neither had seen before… They’d come here often. Their “spot” as new partners, their private little verdant grove. Serena’s hobby of pressing flowers was borne of this, and often would find gemstones among rubble dislodged and fallen into the little valley, along with all sorts of caves and nooks. For a short while, it was a reprieve Serena had needed, and even when he wasn't able to go, Rose would bring him flowers if she happened to be sent out close enough to stop by (something about a coming war, some interlopers nearby, something something. Always different. Always ordered by Rayleigh.) Serena preferred it out here and away from others who could insult Rose, also, who had started picking up a less than savory nickname for how brutal she could be with punishments and retribution against perceived slights against Serena and the royals: Dog. No one was here to say it, even if Rose said she hadn’t really minded.
- During this time right before being sent to war, Rose’s training was rushed and she was often away, leaving Serena mostly by himself. The knighting ceremony was the longest time they saw each other in weeks, and was mostly a bunch of royal flush and terribly long and boring speeches followed by Serena leaving his mark on Rose, as was customary: two sets of long shoulder scars. As usual, instead of being allowed to directly guard Serena back home, Rose would be sent off to war by Rayleigh; Serena would be the one to follow. “Well, she’s one of our best fighters,” Rayleigh would say.
The war would take about five months, and the name of the settlement would be lost in Serena’s mind not long after he first heard it: in his mind, this was an opportunity to get his father’s attention and approval. It would not go that way.
- Serena’s attempts at ordering squads and platoons of soldiers always went… sub optimal, even the times when they would win, and the wins were on smaller encampments which he would order completely wiped out regardless of who was all there instead of just captured to be dealt with later. Casualties from Fortuna were high, and Serena was eventually barred by Rayleigh for the friendly deaths. Rose… didn’t really seem to know what to say. Just looked disappointed by the losses against such a comparatively small enemy. The only thing Serena was worried about was Rayleigh and Rose’s approval, and gained nothing.
- Serena near the end of the slightly-prolonged war would go out of her way to fight, against the advice of Rose: not only did Serena have very little training, but royals weren’t even supposed to go into battle. The two would even argue, and fight about it. Serena would go anyway, in two battles, only to get trashed, and on his third and last outing, Serena and a small group would attack a totally unrelated group that happened to be coming through- he wouldn’t learn her name, but remembered the face of the cat who was clearly more put-together than him. She would give him a thrashing in the fight and send the entire squad packing, carrying the bloody Serena back. Rose, scared as she was for Serena, would berate him for going at all once he was stabilized. The two would argue again, and seethe, and avoid each other until the war was over and, with their newly acquired land, return back to Respi, the capital, and where they lived now that Serena was now a year old.
- After that, Serena and Rose made up, although clearly neither wanted to apologize despite it all. Serena took the longest.
In the half-year following, Fortuna would absorb the surrounding territory that had been surrounding the newly taken witch collective’s land, and as news came in of witches Serena noticed Rose’s discomfort. In secret he’d ask, and Rose’s answer confused him. She felt… guilty about it, after the war. The heir hadn’t really thought about it, but in retrospect, it hadn’t felt great. He wasn’t quite understanding, but there was a flicker.
- In the interim, Serena became more and more reclusive and would lash out at those around her as she sunk deeper into a depression despite Rose’s best efforts. Rayleigh’s disappointment and hatred was clearly wearing on the heir, and only became worse as he faced the consequences of his own attacks on other people, and soon was under the impression the world hated him.
- He and Rose would argue more often over time, as both were going through their own troubles and as they aged didn’t exactly become better at dealing with it, especially since neither seemed to understand the other’s situation.
When he was a year and about seven months old, the sky would turn red. He had become disillusioned with the church early thanks to Rayleigh, and yet as he noticed it, he still thought that, perhaps, this was a message from lord Laren. The fear he felt on that day was more intense than it had ever been, fearing retribution from the almighty… many did, and many had different ideas as to the exact reason. The priests would eventually settle on blaming the next kingdom Fortuna Belli would set its sights on- Serena would hear it louder over time as she would visit Alpheus. TThe war would come three months later.
Eventually, nearly a complete year after the last war, all the while having to deal with his father’s berating, and not much else happening outside of growing odd looks towards her and Rose- who now adopted the name Dog as an act of defiance against those who disliked her, though Serena still hated it- time would come for the one that had been threatened, this time with a kingdom whose name Serena wouldn’t be allowed to forget- Idi Pare (Seiren)- and one of the few that would be left standing in the wake of an attack by Fortuna.
- Serena wouldn’t let Dog be sent off this time, instead getting ahead of the curb and bringing Dog along with him as he wandered the countryside of Fortuna, visiting towns, cities, and landmarks he hadn’t been able to see with his own eyes yet. He told Dog that if anyone came to find her, he’d take the fall; she was his guard, after all, and was duty-bound to protect him. Who would argue with that?
- They wandered for the bulk of the war, a long-needed reprieve from Rayleigh, though as time went on, the world wilted around them, and Serena would witness more and more of the witch-punishing in creative ways… on top of just it happening all the time, now. He did start to find it… actually bad. Not a huge fan, and a bad use of resources in this crumbling world.
- Near the end of the two’s travels, about seven entire months, their anxiety began ramping back up as it was clear that the war was inexplicably going badly when they checked in with guards or passing soldiers. Several generals and council members were falling ill or having unfortunate accidents, and the effort was falling apart. Near the peak of all this news, Serena and Dog had stopped at a small village near a border of Fortuna’s land, and was trying to explain how stupid the whole “ring fighting” thing was when, right next to them all, a round was about to be started. A… comparatively little thing (Cowlick; Kels) was being pit against some sort of giant monster (Dragon; Seven) who was also supposedly a witch. Supposedly. It did not go well, they both escaped, several guards were either killed or beat to hell, and Serena? Well, he got run right over by the big beast. Directly after the chaos subsided, Serena and Dog took this as a sign to get back home. Serena was 2 years 7 months by then.
After returning to the capital once again, they were promptly yelled at by Rayleigh himself for about… well, several hours, it seemed, with Serena getting the brunt of it, an angry explanation how Fortuna just got done getting their ass handed to them, and a slap upside the ears before being chased out. Dog would spend the night in Serena’s chambers comforting him, and all things considered…. it could’ve been worse. Dog was there for the night, instead of resting or guard duties… whatever she was supposed to be doing this whole time that she hadn’t been able to focus on. What was that, again?
The upcoming months, while not especially eventful for Fortuna, were in Serena’s slice of the world. Dog was increasingly expressing distaste with Fortuna, Rayleigh’s erratic behavior ramped up further as other misfortunes fell upon his advisors and the Council, talks with Alpheus revealed they were planning something… and with how short of a leash Rayleigh had given Serena since getting back, he wasn’t hating the idea. Still, he’d hold out hope. That approval he was seeking had to be close, even if no one else could see it. He just had to figure out how.
- Dog, about three and a half months before the present, finally spoke seriously about leaving and spent several days trying to convince Serena to come with her. At the end of it, a huge fight opened the rift between them again, and nights later, Dog would disappear. Gone. This nearly broke Serena entirely.
- Serena spent even more time near Alpheus, venting his frustration, crying all the tears he could, asking for advice, and… listening to what the young priest said. No, no. No, not yet. He could… he could make it work. He had to.
Nope, no he could not! In the search for Dog, Rayleigh had gotten the bright idea to insult Dog after all that had happened, and in saying something along the lines of “the dirtiest stray we could’ve picked” had unknowingly sealed his fate. Serena, instead of just taking it this time, actually fought back, matching the emperor’s volume and ferocity, though she was easily sent away through claws connecting with her nose. That night, he would sneak out and speak to Alpheus, gathering others who had been… talking. A handful of days later, he’d take a group to wait outside the capital, planning his attack carefully, and left on a mission for two weeks. He went to see The Witch. See, I said she'd be useful later!
- At The Witch’s tower, he would spy Af (Corvis) but wouldn’t become aware of any other children or students because of his, uh…. volume. Still, during Serena’s meeting with the witch, he was given an herbal concoction giving him ‘visions’, or whatever you’d like to call them, and though somewhere inside himself he knew they were just confirming what he already thought, it steeled his resolve. Then, he asked the Witch to cast a curse on Rayleigh. The witch didn’t ask for payment, oddly enough, although to this day Serena has no idea if she’d actually done it. Still, he left feeling more confident.
The attack on the capital came soon after, and during their mad dash through town, most of the others were sent to carefully planned areas: the castle gates, each major door in the castle, and with Serena to clear the halls so he could face Rayleigh uninterrupted. Alpheus would break off from the group to fight their own battle, and Serenea hoped they’d make it. ‘They,’ plural.
- On the way to the castle, Serena realized Dog had come back and was looking for him. Instead of stopping to try and talk to her, he pushed on to the castle despite Dog chasing and calling after him.
- Serena’s tiny gaggle did manage to hold off the guards in the hall long enough for him to confront Rayleigh, who had ungracefully been trying to climb through a window in his room. Serena attacked him, asking him a slew of angry questions, and got no actual answers- only an insult flung in his face, and a frantic and deep slice to the side of the head, the nose, and the sight of his father’s tail as he tried to scamper away again. Not wanting to talk anymore, Serena lunged, pinned his father, and even through the pain of jaws and teeth digging into one of his paws, he dug his own into Rayleigh’s throat, and… that was that. He figured, anyway. Didn’t exactly have time to check.
Serena wasn’t long for this world after that. Once the other rebels were dead, there wasn’t anything to stop the castle guards from barging in, and once he realized they weren't going to stop after he ordered it, Serena made his own ungraceful escape. He sidestepped the guards easily enough, darting for the crumbling balcony overlooking the courtyard. In a split second he calculated how he’d leap to land on the mausoleum, and jumped.
He did not land on the mausoleum.
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