Alyra ~the dark wanderer

Alyra had everything stolen from her while she'd been under the Dark Lord's rule. Her memories, her past, and even her name! 
But there was one thing he could not take from her...and that was her heart. It belonged to the King. The Medallion she kept hidden was testimony that she'd come from somewhere else, that she'd had a good life once. The entire six-book White Road Chronicles series is her journey to reclaim what was stolen. 

Read on to learn more about this enchanting character. Be warned, there might be a few spoilers ahead, so if you have not read Illuminated yet, you might want to go grab it for free, then come back here an read on.

Physical Description

Body Features
She has curly red hair and brilliant golden brown eyes.
Physical quirks
Sometimes, when she's anxious or upset, her hands and chest will start to glow.
Special abilities
She is an Illuminate- a light caster

Personal history
Alyra was stolen from her family after being tricked by her uncle who sold her to a witch. The witch, Orelia Ogletree, after learning what her giftings were, took her to Lord Darnel in Racah who paid her nicely for the find. 
Darnel kept Alyra, instead of destroying her as he normally did when he found an Illuminate. He had heard about a prophecy concerning one special Illuminate child that would bring about his downfall. He figured that if he kept the girl under his control, then she'd never have a chance to ruin him. 
Over time, he steals her memories and conveniences her that he is her father. When she is small, she easily accepts his story, but as she grows older and wiser, he had a more difficult time keeping her under control and finally ends up locking her in his prisons. 
​It is in Racah that our story starts.

Her past is a mystery. Her present is a nightmare. Her future seems hopeless.

Alyra, mockingly known as Princess, was captured at an early age by the evil ruler, Darnel, and brought up in the dark land of Racah. Now, at the age of seventeen, she considers herself nothing special. She has no recollection of who she is or where she came from.

Her hope of ever finding freedom dims.

Until the messenger arrives. Until he brings to light the meaning behind the medallion she's kept hidden. Until she accepts the blinding truth. Now she flees for her life. 

Alyra’s journey leads her down a narrow road with strange traveling companions. Together, they encounter a kingdom where nothing is what it first seems.  

Personality Characteristics

Motivation
Alyra knows that she does not belong in Racah and Darnel is not her father. She has dreams of a man standing beside a grave. Of a city made of white, glittering stones. She remembers a beautiful woman who glowed. She is intent on escaping the mountain fortress, somehow, and learning the truth about her origins.

Savvies & Ineptitudes
She is good with a bow and arrow (though she doesn't know it at first) and horrible at handling any kind of swords or daggers.

Virtues & Personality perks
She is compassionate with creatures and those who are downtrodden.

​Vices & Personality flaws
She's stubborn and untrusting.

Alyra's Kingdom Message

There's a Bible verse that says if you raise your children to know the Lord, they will not depart from that teaching. Sometimes, we depart for a while. I did. 

After being raised in a church, I turned away and took my own paths that ended up landing me in some rather dark places. But my heart still belonged to the Lord and He did not let me go. Instead, over the course of a couple of years, I began to feel a tugging, an unease that I was missing something. A sense of wrongness that wouldn't leave me be. 

Like Alyra, I began my journey back home. It was wrought with all kinds of rabbit trails, missteps, and thinking that my way was better than the way laid out before me. Mountains didn't make sense, and I tried to avoid them. Comforts drew me off the rough roads at times. 

However, my journey was blessed with friends to travel with that encouraged me to keep going, to stay on track, and who even went into battle with me when the enemy attacked. This is the road we walk when we choose the Kingdom life. It's not easy, but He promise to provide everything we need along our journey. 

 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”
Matthew 6:25-27 

Along our journey, we find out who we really are.  Our gifts are fine-tuned and strengthened. Our strength is built up. And if we mess up and get off track, He will help us find our way back. 

He is love. He is restoration. He is ever-present in times of trouble. He will never leave us, nor forsake us. He will walk by our sides, even when we can't see him. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2  

I pray that your path will be clear to you. Thank your for joining me in my writing journey and for reading my stories. I hope they bless you as much as they bless me when I write them.
Happy trailblazing!
​
Blessings and Peace-
JRC