Throwback Thursday: A Glimpse into The Secret Seal's Original Storyline

Let me introduce you to a snippet from the early drafts of The Secret Seal. This scene features Lieutenant Theodore and Princess Isabella as they encounter a dangerous foe, known as a Maycerseer. These mysterious figures are key players in the dark underbelly of the Shattered Kingdom, where they worship the dark side of the Sakará, and are feared for their magical abilities. The scene below sets the stage for a fateful confrontation:

Her mind raced as she passed the church with its magnificent bells ringing a sweet melody. A man in dark clothes was following her with insurmountable speed. When she rounded the corner she smacked into a man in armor. This startled him, clearly catching him off guard. She began frantically panicking as she tried to explain the situation, but her words stuttered and stumbled. A few moments later the man with dark clothes rounded the corner and gasped when he saw the man in the suit of armor.

“Theadore, it has been a while since we last met,” said the man clothed in dark clothing, being calm yet surprised.

“You are not welcome here, so what brings you here in the city?” Theadore inquired of the robed man, while he drew the sword from his sheath.

The man in the dark clothes grew a wry smile across his face. His eyes turned purple as he began to mutter words under his breath. As soon as he was done, a rift tore open in front of him. 

“Well, I guess I will see you some other time then,” he then walked into the rift and disappeared.

Lt. Theadore walked forward and surveyed the area the rift opened in. A burnt spot was all that was left of the scene. The young girl, still frightened by what had just happened, sat on a barrel nearby. Lt. Theadore walked up to her and realized who she was.

“Are you injured Princess Isabella?” Theadore asked Isabella.

“No, I was not injured. I was simply getting fresh fruit from the market and he appeared out of nowhere from the crowd.” Isabella replied with a confused look.

“He is what we call a Maycerseer. There are very few of these people but they live in the Shattered Kingdom. The last time we had an issue with them was at the battle of Rakkór. That was during the time of the start of your fathers rule. They worship the dark side of the Sakará. We banished them from our kingdom when their group was discovered.” Theadore said to Isabella trying to put an explanation on the situation.

“That explains the reason this man chased me, but what do they have to gain from this?” Isabella asked with an inquisitive look.

“I really cannot say what the reason is for sure, but their intentions are not in vain. They want or need something,” Theadore replied deliberately.

As they walked along they passed the bakery shop. The smell of sweet confectionery treats filled the air. The baker had just pulled out a fresh batch of bread. Isabella would rather wait till she got back to the castle to get bread though. The bread at the castle had a sweeter taste than the town bread.

The shadow of the grand castle loomed over Isabella and Theadore, as they walked along the street. As they neared the entrance of its magnificent walls, Isabella could make out the strong wooden drawbridge with its intricate iron decorations. Isabella had lived in the castle her whole life. She knew the whole castle inside and out. The only people she really knew were the people at the castle. Life as a princess was not appealing to her.

Upon arriving at the castle, Theadore barked orders to the guards. They began opening the gate to allow Theadore and Isabella through. The gate creaked and groaned as it dropped to the ground. Isabella could make out the ornate iron workings on the oak gate. What surprised her the most was the rush to the main castle doors. Everyone seemed to rush to the doors as if something important were going on.

“What is happening? Normally the castle courtyard is not this busy.” Isabella asked with a look of surprise.

The commotion was hard to keep up with, but Isabella was able to listen in on a few keynotes. A lot of the commotion was because of the Maycerseer. People feared that this would start a new war.

Theadore let out a sigh. “Rumors really do spread like wildfire in the kingdom. I assume plenty of people saw the scene and the castle always gets the first news. On the other hand though, rumors can change to a different story quite fast.”

“What should I do since in a moment like this I am supposed to be in my room?” Isabella asked worriedly.

“Hmm, they probably have those doors locked because of a secret meeting. If it gets bad though, then please by all means, go use one of the secret tunnels or I can have Simon come over and help.” Theadore replied with a smile.

The prime minister got up in front of the enveloping crowd. “We are holding a meeting to see what we should do. The… the… uhh…Wilson can you help me out.” 

Isabella could barely hold from laughing at Prime Minister Frederick. Frederick was quite an old man but very wise, and his assistant ,Wilson, occasionally helped the Prime Minister out.

Wilson whispered in his ear, and he remembered what he was saying. “As I was saying, The Royal Council is now meeting to discuss what is to be done, to deal with what has  happened today. Me and Wilson will update all of you once the meeting is concluded. Also, since that is going on in the Royal Study Room, no one is allowed in the main building. Thank you and you may continue with your work.”

The crowd began to thin out, and Isabella still was holding the laugh in. Theadore looked over and gave a disapproving look. He then looked back at the main building as Frederick entered through the tall double doors. The doors closed, locking Theadore and Isabella out until the meeting ended.

“This seems to be an issue. Even with my rank, I couldn’t even get us near those doors right now.” Theadore said with a little worry.

“What are you so worried about? It is a meeting that will take no less than a few hours. And they do not have to worry about me, because I have a soldier watching over me,” Isabella replied with no worry on her face.

“But they don’t know that. Your father will soon grow worried if you do not show up. But this meeting might mean war for me, so I am a little worried.

“I’m sorry. I forgot about that whole issue. They should let me into the castle right.” Isabella said with a remorseful look.

“Like I said, all the main entrances including secret tunnels will be locked off by magic. The only way I think I could get you in is by rift,” Theadore replied.

“So you need to get your friend to do that, right?” Isabella asked.

“Yes! Not only does he have the rank to do so, but he can get you direct access to the Royal Study.” Theadore replied.

After they got Grand Mage Simon to come help them, Theadore asked the strange request. “I need you to open a rift. One that could get Princess Isabella from here to up there,” Theadore said as he pointed up at the Royal Study.

Grand Mage Simon shook his head, but started to open one anyway. His hands turned bright as the sun as he prepared to open a rift. His hands began to make a fluid motion, and Isabella could hear a rhythm to it. The rift suddenly opened in front of them.

“Odd request Theo, but remember to ask if you need anything else magical done.” Simon said in a mocking tone.

“I will see you later, Simon!” Theadore yelled back as Simon walked off.

“I do have one question before I go through…” Isabella said.

“Go ahead, ask me anything,” Theadore replied to her.

“I never did ask you what your full name was. What is your full name?” Isabella asked.

“My full name is Theadore Concetta.” Theadore replied.

Background and Origins

In this draft, Theodore was first introduced as a loyal knight, sworn to protect Princess Isabella, while the Maycerseers were depicted as mysterious and powerful figures. The Shattered Kingdom and its history with these dark worshippers of the Sakará have always been an important part of the lore, setting the tone for future conflicts in the series. Isabella’s innocence and her role in the greater political landscape were also central to the story, giving readers a glimpse into her sheltered but complex life as a princess.

While The Secret Seal has evolved, this scene still stands out as a defining moment in the original version of the series. It captures the tension and stakes at the heart of the narrative. For those who are interested, I’m considering releasing more of these uncut, original drafts in a "lost files" book, giving you all a closer look at how the story evolved over time. Stay tuned for updates on that!

Why Revisit Old Drafts?

For any author, looking back at early drafts is like unearthing a time capsule. You get to see how far the story has come and appreciate the journey it’s taken to get where it is today. It’s also a great way to connect with long-time readers who’ve been following the story from the beginning and to introduce new fans to the rich history behind The Secret Seal.

As we continue to explore the history and development of the series, I want to thank all of you for your continued support. Your enthusiasm is what keeps the magic of The Secret Seal alive.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates, and who knows—maybe we’ll uncover even more lost pieces of this world along the way!

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