Sea of Golden Sand

Short summary: Rafayel is the God of the Sea in diminished form, bound to the Princess through a heart she unknowingly carries: his own. Their relationship evolves from master/servant to reluctant allies, then to a tragic romance as the Lemurian prophecy demands her sacrifice. Rafayel defies fate by erasing their bond, but the Princess reclaims her memories and chooses to follow him, rejecting her royal life for a shared future.

Timeline Notes:

Event	Timeframe
Princess meets Rafayel (gifted as a Lemurian servant)	Philos, years before this story
Princess releases Rafayel into Moonbath Lake	Same night as gifting
Rafayel returns to palace as an adult	Present timeline begins, Philos, 30000 years after seas dry up
99th escape attempt (Princess meets Rafayel in lake)	Half-month before journey
Coming-of-age ceremony & secret outing	3 days after reunion
Journey to Island of Songs	Half-month later
Prophecy revealed and bond erased	Immediate aftermath
Princess regains memories, chases Rafayel	Post-prophecy destruction
Departure to Whalefall City	Final scene

Key Lore Information:

Sacrifice vs. Freedom: The Princess’s heart sustains Philos, but traps her; Rafayel’s duty conflicts with his desire to protect her.
Symbolism
- Fishtail Beacon: Represents their bond; glows when she remembers him.
- Black Flame: Rafayel’s dying power and the prophecy’s destruction.
- Blue Fish: A vow of return; later turns to a silver scale (lost connection).
Romance:
- “Our bond has existed for years. Long befoer the sea dried up.” (Since the Sea God Myth, where he gifted his scale).
- High: Unspoken devotion, physical intimacy (hand-holding, embraces), and the ultimate romantic gesture—destroying destiny to spare her.
- The Princess abandons her royal life; Philos’s immortality may be at risk.
- They have skewers (not fruit but meat like in Sparkling Traces

TRUE ENDING:

If you read the Dream she had in Forgotten Sea you can see how tragic this card is in the end. Rafayel carves out her heart once they reach Whalefall City.

PART 01

Many, many years have passed on the humble planet of Philos. And on this land lives a noble princess. Her heart, pure and flawless, is blessed by the gods. It protects Philos forevermore, granting immortality to its denizens. The source of Philos's glory is the Princess's heart, and it earned her endless love and respect. Everyone wishes the best for Her Highness.

To protect her heart, the Princess made a small sacrifice. She can never leave her palace. Books describe Philos with winding rivers and seas, yet to the Princess, "outside" is a small garden.

The Princess's dearest wish is to leave the palace and see the world with her own eyes...

—Legends From Deepspace: Sea of Golden Sands Prologue

Protagonist: With Miss Natasha's maid uniform, no one will recognize me.

Protagonist: My ninety-ninth escape attempt. Good luck, me!