"You look an awful lot like your mother. I hope you're nothing like her."
Myrtle's mother Mystira, often nicknamed Myst.
She was the soul mate to the King of Rudor, Leroy. She was not born royal, but that has never been something that was looked down on in regards to becoming royal. Myst was born in a small village that was secluded from the rest of the kingdom, known as Brindlefell. It's the only place in all of Rudor that ever speaks about the Malterns and magic as speaking about it is considered forbidden by law due to the nature of the departure of the Malterns. This became so true that it as almost completely forgotten outside of Brindlefell save for stories about magic that seemed to have vanished one day.
Leroy longed to marry his soulmate whoever they may be, something shared by many but not all, as a soulmate is one who best connects to you in someway, and is personally picked by Selene. He actually even sent out for finding the one who received the same markings he made (as any intentional marking you make on your body will magically appear on the same place on your soulmate). After discovering her he was smitten and they quickly wed as soon as they could.
Though she knew such things were forbidden, she admitted the truth about keeping the history of the Malterns, hoping that her soulmate must understand. But he quickly forbid any more talks of them, and that it was for the better.
After the birth of Myrtle, Myst often told stories to her daughter even before she could fully understand. It was under the guise of fairytales and myths but they were all related to the Malterns and the magic that once was present in the land and the history of Rudor. After telling the stories she'd write them down and draw out pictures of things so that Myrtle could read them whenever. Myrtle still preferred to hear her mother tell the stories.
This was all in secret with only the 3 family members being aware of the stories. But sometimes there would be slip ups and word got around about the queen speaking about magic and Malterns. Claiming that his wife must have lost her mind, Leroy had her locked up in a personal cell. Begrudgingly he allowed Myrtle to visit her mother as he was concerned how disallowing it may affect her. Anytime Myrtle ever spoke up about anything from the stories he scolded her for focusing on "fiction" and to keep in mind she'd be queen one day.
Even despite being locked up Myst still kept telling stories and even made up some. Often crying and lamenting her reality between visits from others. At times she'd write messages to Leroy on her body so he'd see them, which he often ignored.
Almost to Myrtle's birthday Myst became very ill with something very unknown, thought to be native to Brindlefell as that's the only location known to have it. But it had no cure. Despite all efforts of the royal help and medical staff, she grew sicker. On Myrtle's birthday she got to preform her coming of age ceremony and discovered her wolf form. Unfortunately it was also the night her mother past away, leaving Myrtle with just the book her mother created left to her.
Myrtle continued to view them as just stories until she met Nym.
Mystira's shifted form was also a Wolf. Leroy's is a peafowl.
Basically one is a princess the other is a hunter but they are platonic soulmates who can shapeshift (the animals at each side are their other forms). They have to go on a quest to save the people of her kingdom from a sleeping spell.
