The Queen leaned on her scepter, pressing it to her forehead, soothing her. Before her, Castellan Hujo looked at a spot on the ground. Sweat pooled underneath his starched collar.

"Tell me again. Slowly. Why teenager is of more worth to my kingdom than my standing armies."

"Well--"

"And what does 'blue hair' have to do with any of this'?"

Castellan Hujo rubbed at his mustache. "I don't know, your Majesty. Truly, I don't. But...well...this has happened before. When a kingdom faces an existential threat, there's a chance--only a chance--child with blue hair will be born. That child, when grown is the last chance of a kingdom to save itself. I don't know why the blueness of their hair is important but..."

The Queen raised her hand, silencing the Castellan.

"You do know how utterly ridiculous this is, Hujo"

"Yes, your Majesty."

"And what kind of crises have these blue haired children helps avert?

Hujo took a breath and began to read off a list. Marauding dragons, conspiratorial viziers, demons disguised as gods, the sinking of cities...the list sent on for some time. Each new item softened the Queens's expression until she was staring blankly at the scepter.

"Have things really become so bad?" she whispered.

Slowly, the Vizier nodded his head.

"Bring them to me."

In days, the Queens men had found him. On his back was a sword far larger and heavier than any solider would reasonably use. At his side was another teenager--some childhood friend perhaps--looking at the blue-haired hero with unrestrained awe. On the hero's soldier sat a cat-like creature, in its paws a tattered spell book.

And on his head...a tuft of spiky blue hair.