Encyclopaedia Azaria #2: The Tale of The Binding
Welcome back to the second installment of Eliza's Encyclopaedia Azaria! Each edition, Eliza and her friends will delved into the vast and ancient kingdom of Azaria and tell you a multitude of interesting facts.
I've encouraged Eliza to tell us about one of Azaria's most famous fairy-tales, the Tale of the Binding...
[transcript of animation]
Eliza: Hello again, it's me, Eliza. So, you enjoyed that post about the iasometer, huh? Well today we're going to delve into one of Azaria's best known fairytales, the Tale of the Binding. And this time Adam's here to help me.
Adam: Sup?
Eliza: So, this is a well-known children's tale explaining how the Binding spell came to exist. Pretty much everyone in Azaria knows it. Of course in my opinion it's much too idealised, and a bit simplistic. Love doesn't just happen, y'know. And it's even worse when that feeling's being driven by magic. It just makes it all so false and...
Adam: Alright Eliza, we know how much you love the Binding spell. But we're supposed to be talking about the actual story.
Eliza: Oh, right, sorry. *grumble* It's just a dumb fairytale...
Adam: No need to be so cynical, Eliza. Anyway, let's begin. *ahem*
Eliza: You better not use your pretentious narrator's voice again.
Adam: Who, me? Hehehe...
'Once upon a time, two great and noble families ruled the twin kingdoms of Azaria and Esturia. However, both were always wary of one another, in case one family should grow greedy and try to seize the power of the other.
But one day, the young princess of Esturia went out with her servants for a ride. The weather turned against them, and they took shelter in a cave. Alas, the rains made the rivers swell, and the poor princess was almost swept away. As it so happened, the prince of Azaria had been out hunting that same day. On seeing the princess in distress, he bravely dived into the river and saved her from drowning.
This act soon led them to becoming friends, although this was scorned by their families. Both sides tried to keep them apart, but to no avail, and soon their friendship turned to love. But this was too much for the King of Esturia. Coldly he locked his daughter in their castle home, and banished the prince from ever seeing her again. The princess cried and cried, begging to be reunited with her love. The King could not stand her pleas, so tricked her into drinking a potion which erased her memories.
Distraught, the prince sought help from his brother, who agreed to lend him the Azarian army. The prince then returned to the keep where his love was imprisoned, and demanded her released. The guards refused, and so he attacked. However, when he had conquered the guards and forced his way into her chamber, she could not recall his face, and refused to leave her family's side.
Defeated, the prince returned home, hoping to seek a way to cure her, but shortly after the Esturian King launched his own assault. The two kingdoms fell to war, and the heavens themselves turned angry. Terrible tempests and floods raged the lands, and the prince's brother was slain. The prince vowed revenge, and sought the princess again, not out of love, but out of hate, determined to hurt his enemy deep.
He finally found the princess, and without remorse drove his sword through her heart. The pain and shock broke her spell of stupor, and she whispered words of love as she died in his arms. The prince screamed, torn by grief at what he had done, and turned his sword upon himself.
They were eventually found, and both kingdoms were deeply ashamed. The two Kings made a pact of peace, and prayed to the Goddess for forgiveness. Moved by their remorse, she descended from the heavens, banishing the storms, and cast her holy light upon the fallen lovers. Her gentle touch woke them as if from sleep, and the kingdoms rejoiced. The Goddess smiled, and brought forth a spell that would let nothing tarnish the purest love. She named this spell the Binding, and declared that both the kingdoms be united. The prince and princess pledged this would be so, making the magic eternal, and on their wedding day, Esturia and Azaria became one.'
Eliza: Zzzzzzzz...
Adam: Oh come on, it was epic and you know it!
Eliza: *snort* Huh, what? You say something?
Adam: *sigh* Never mind...
Encyclopaedia Azaria #1: The Iasometer
Encyclopaedia Azaria #3: The Gladier-Farrontine Feud
Encyclopaedia Azaria #4: The Binding Spell
Encyclopaedia Azaria #5: The Noble Houses of Azaria
Encyclopaedia Azaria #6: The Goddess Shrines
I've encouraged Eliza to tell us about one of Azaria's most famous fairy-tales, the Tale of the Binding...
[transcript of animation]
Eliza: Hello again, it's me, Eliza. So, you enjoyed that post about the iasometer, huh? Well today we're going to delve into one of Azaria's best known fairytales, the Tale of the Binding. And this time Adam's here to help me.
Adam: Sup?
Eliza: So, this is a well-known children's tale explaining how the Binding spell came to exist. Pretty much everyone in Azaria knows it. Of course in my opinion it's much too idealised, and a bit simplistic. Love doesn't just happen, y'know. And it's even worse when that feeling's being driven by magic. It just makes it all so false and...
Adam: Alright Eliza, we know how much you love the Binding spell. But we're supposed to be talking about the actual story.
Eliza: Oh, right, sorry. *grumble* It's just a dumb fairytale...
Adam: No need to be so cynical, Eliza. Anyway, let's begin. *ahem*
Eliza: You better not use your pretentious narrator's voice again.
Adam: Who, me? Hehehe...
'Once upon a time, two great and noble families ruled the twin kingdoms of Azaria and Esturia. However, both were always wary of one another, in case one family should grow greedy and try to seize the power of the other.
But one day, the young princess of Esturia went out with her servants for a ride. The weather turned against them, and they took shelter in a cave. Alas, the rains made the rivers swell, and the poor princess was almost swept away. As it so happened, the prince of Azaria had been out hunting that same day. On seeing the princess in distress, he bravely dived into the river and saved her from drowning.
This act soon led them to becoming friends, although this was scorned by their families. Both sides tried to keep them apart, but to no avail, and soon their friendship turned to love. But this was too much for the King of Esturia. Coldly he locked his daughter in their castle home, and banished the prince from ever seeing her again. The princess cried and cried, begging to be reunited with her love. The King could not stand her pleas, so tricked her into drinking a potion which erased her memories.
Distraught, the prince sought help from his brother, who agreed to lend him the Azarian army. The prince then returned to the keep where his love was imprisoned, and demanded her released. The guards refused, and so he attacked. However, when he had conquered the guards and forced his way into her chamber, she could not recall his face, and refused to leave her family's side.
Defeated, the prince returned home, hoping to seek a way to cure her, but shortly after the Esturian King launched his own assault. The two kingdoms fell to war, and the heavens themselves turned angry. Terrible tempests and floods raged the lands, and the prince's brother was slain. The prince vowed revenge, and sought the princess again, not out of love, but out of hate, determined to hurt his enemy deep.
He finally found the princess, and without remorse drove his sword through her heart. The pain and shock broke her spell of stupor, and she whispered words of love as she died in his arms. The prince screamed, torn by grief at what he had done, and turned his sword upon himself.
They were eventually found, and both kingdoms were deeply ashamed. The two Kings made a pact of peace, and prayed to the Goddess for forgiveness. Moved by their remorse, she descended from the heavens, banishing the storms, and cast her holy light upon the fallen lovers. Her gentle touch woke them as if from sleep, and the kingdoms rejoiced. The Goddess smiled, and brought forth a spell that would let nothing tarnish the purest love. She named this spell the Binding, and declared that both the kingdoms be united. The prince and princess pledged this would be so, making the magic eternal, and on their wedding day, Esturia and Azaria became one.'
Eliza: Zzzzzzzz...
Adam: Oh come on, it was epic and you know it!
Eliza: *snort* Huh, what? You say something?
Adam: *sigh* Never mind...
Encyclopaedia Azaria #1: The Iasometer
Encyclopaedia Azaria #3: The Gladier-Farrontine Feud
Encyclopaedia Azaria #4: The Binding Spell
Encyclopaedia Azaria #5: The Noble Houses of Azaria
Encyclopaedia Azaria #6: The Goddess Shrines