Choosing Ceremony
I hold my breath as I watch dawn break over the City of Eryx from my bedroom balcony. The orange glistens over the white marble and glass of the academy. The spires of the building form a beautiful silhouette in the sky. I look down at the empty courtyard as the sunrise spills gold hues over the the lawn and fountains creating an array of green, blue, and orange. The morning chill sends a shiver down my spine and as the wind brushes over me, goosebumps rise over my olive skin. Today is the choosing ceremony. Today is the day I’ve been dreading for as long as I could remember. Today is the day I wished and hoped would never come.
But it’s here.
There’s nothing I can do to escape the nightmare that’s about to happen. I retreat from the balcony and into my warm room as I close the double glass doors behind me. Grabbing my ceremony clothes from my wardrobe I walk into the bathroom where I am met with a wall of warm steam from the hot shower. I drop my red nightgown to the white marbled floor and step into the warm water.
I feel the warmth engulf me as I tilt my head back to wet my long black hair. The results of the choosing have already been decided, though none of the other fae know or are aware of the fact that the royal family has already come to their consensus. I reach for the glass bottle filled with rose water, essential oils, and herbal extracts. I poor some out onto my hand and start massaging it into my hair. The faint smell of rose mixed with topics from the coconut oil fills my nose and ignites my senses. What will the choosing ceremony be like? Will I need to prove my skills, or have I already done that through my years at Olyard Academy? The royal family came numerous times over the years to observe us in our matches. Pressing their ugly rich faces to the protective glass, observing, and taking note of who has the power and qualities they are looking for to strengthen their position as rulers and solidify their dynastic hold over the realm.
Their son Damon showed up less than half the time and always seemed bored and disinterested in watching us perform our magic. As if he had more important and practical things to do with his time. The royal family have suppressed the fae for close to a millennium now, only allowing them to use their magic to profit them and only them.
There was a time when Eryx was ruled by the Fae Council, decisions were made by the most noble and fair among us and we thrived. But those times were long gone. Now we were servants who’s only purpose in life was degraded to nothing more than simple tasks around the city or if you were lucky, to serve in the palace. At least then your family was taken care of and provided for.
After the choosing the remaining fae who were not chosen to become the next heir were to be shipped out of the academy tomorrow. Placed into society wherever they fit best. They could be called to be healers at the hospital, builders who are tasked with the upkeep of the city and its structure, a garden fae attending to the land and growing crops, a servant in the palace to attend to all the needs of the royal family, or a guardian who participates as military, protecting the royal family and the city. I turn off the water and start to dry off. I go over to the dresser and out of the top drawer pull out the letter I got just days ago from the king himself.
Nairi,
I, king of Eryx declare you, Nairi as the next heir to our son, Damon Escalar. You are permitted to say anything about this to your peers until this is announced at the choosing ceremony. You will be moved to the palace the night of the ceremony and wedding planning will start to be arranged for the beginning of next year. Hoping you are well and looking forward to seeing you in three days time.
The letter made my stomach churn every time I read it or even saw the royal seal in red. They had already made up their minds about me being the next heir but that was the last thing I wanted to do. The idea of being married into the royal family and having to bend to their rules and regulations as well as treat my own people in a way no living being should be treated was a thought I couldn’t bare. I had no clue what to expect but I knew one thing for certain.
I would not be the one to further their power and reign over my people.
A knock at the door startles me and I quickly fold the letter up and shoved it under my socks in a drawer. Who would be coming to talk with me before the choosing ceremony? I open the door to reveal my older sister Callie. Her dark hair is braided and put up perfectly in a bun. She smiles sadly at me because we both know after today our days of seeing each other on a regular basis were over. Callie was one of the few fae’s reserved to stay at the academy as a professor and had been my teacher for the last two years here. We would escape at night and go visit our mom and dad in the village only to come back an hour or so before sunrise to make it to class that morning. I reciprocate her smile and move to the side to allow her into my room.
“I can see you’re running behind on getting ready as usual.” Callie said looking me up and down standing in the room with nothing but a towel on and dripping wet hair. She smiles and turns so I have some privacy to get dressed in my robe for the ceremony. The red silk is the color of all the robes that must be worn and on the shoulder there is a white sash that bares the royal crest. A simple shield with an E in the center for their last name, Escalar and a crown set on top of the shield. After I have tied the robe in the front Camille turns on her heel to face me and starts running a brush through my hair. “Are you nervous?” She asks as she starts to braid my hair.
Nervous was an understatement, I wouldn’t even begin to know how to describe the pit in my stomach but nervous didn’t seem like a strong enough word. I nod my head to her question, but little does she know that I already know the outcome of today’s choosing ceremony and my nerves have no correlation between me making an impression on the royal family and becoming the next heir to Eryx.
“You’ll be alright. Know who you are and be proud of it, you have nothing to worry about. No one has shown your unique ability sense before the council was killed a thousand years ago.” She takes a clip and pins a part of my long hair so it’s out of my face. “They would be foolish to not choose you.” She states as she continues to weave my hair down my back. She was right, I had never met anyone else who had my ability. Though my power was not an ability I have ever been proud of or seen as an asset. I wish I had an elemental power like everyone else but our family has never had simple powers like elemental magic.
Callie has the ability to see people’s true intentions and tell if someone is lying or not, they are called truth seers. Arbor, my older brother is an emotions manipulator able to amplify someones passion, responses, reactions, and adjust their intensity. Then there’s me, a mental manipulator. I’m able to control peoples thoughts, actions, and decisions; this power alone makes me the biggest weapon the royal family could have. The only catch is, I have to know the name of the person or my power is completely useless unlike Camille and Arbor.
Callie finishes braiding my long hair down my back and proceeds to add fresh flowers to my hair that I’m guessing she picked this morning from the field right outside the academy gates. From a distance the golden horn sounds. This horn is used to alert to an attack on Eryx’s boarders but today its used to alert all the contestants of the choosing ceremony. To me in particular it alerts me to the last minuets of freedom I have left. I don’t know what today will bring but the pit in my stomach indicates whatever my future holds I will never see my family again, I will never come home.
The courtyard fills with anticipation and buzzes with talk about who the royal family might choose and where each person is going to end up after. Some fae’s will end up in obvious positions. Nature fae’s will be assigned to the gardens and farm lands, healing fae’s will go to the hospital wing to receive the remaining training they will need to succeed, and earth fae will be assigned to maintain the structures of the city. Most of the fae who don’t have elemental magic go to Silvin, the war academy beyond the city borders to give us an advantage over the other species that threaten to attack Eryx. That’s where Arbor went and we’ve only seen him a handful of times since. He graduated the war academy about a year and a half ago and since then has been called to our alliance city, Golake to serve on the front lines.
“Welcome to the choosing ceremony!” I look up towards the direction of the booming voice, my eyes land on the academy balcony to see professor Devilen with his arms outstretched, announcing loudly for everyone to hear. “For the first time in twenty five years there has come a royal of age to participate in a choosing ceremony!” He is smiling but I can tell it pains him to see any one of us married off to the royal prince. “Let the choosing ceremony begin!” He snaps his fingers and reality warps to an arena with seating around the perimeter. The arena is covered in at least a few inches of soft sand that would break anyones fall. Professor Devilen has the power of teleportation, he had teleported us several times in school when we were studying a new place and he wanted us to see the town we were talking about first hand. I always admired the fact that he could escape anywhere in this world and could leave behind his reality if he wanted to. No one would be able to find him or stop him if he put his mind into disappearing.
Everyone starts to dissipate to the seating area and I look around for any familiar face. I can’t see any of my friends, there must be at least three thousand females alone in this arena. To find my friends would be almost impossible, so I take a seat in the very back of the bleachers. The last thing I want is to be noticed. “When I call your name please step forward and perform some of your magic. Impress the royal family and you may just find yourself married into it.” He pulls out a long paper and reads off the first name.
“Elvina, please come to the center of the arena.” I see a girl from the opposite side stand and go to the center. She has bright red hair thats shoulder length and contrasts against her white skin. She looks nervous and I can’t blame her, I’m nervous and I already know the outcome. I see the professor talk to her for a minuet, probably giving her advice on what to do and how to do it. Then he backs away. She puts her hand out, palm up and a ball of fire engines in it. She hurtles it toward the bleachers where no one is sitting. The flame is so hot that I can feel it kiss my cheeks as it flys by. The bleachers vibrate from the impact of the flame. She turns to where the royal family is seated and bows, then returns to her seat.
“Thank you Elvina. Next is Acrasia.” This time a girl from the side I am seated stands and enters the arena. There is a massive snake that follows at her heels. Does she have the ability to speak to animals? Or maybe transform into one? Once again she has a brief conversation with the professor and then he backs up to allow her to perform her magic. She is taller than the last girl and has long blonde hair. Her eyes are a beautiful blue and her lips are so red they remind me of the paint I use to play with as a child. I would paint everything from wood, to rocks, to brick, and even leaves. She takes a knife out of her belt around her waist and makes a small cut on the large snake. When she stretches her arm out the snake slithers forward then she raises her palm to the sky and the snake lifts its head off the ground and shows its fangs to the audience. She’s a blood magic fae! Blood magic is very powerful, if she has even a drop of your blood she has the ability to control someones actions. She curls her hand in a fist and brings it to her chest and as she does, the snake retreats back to her and slinks up her arm and around her neck. She bows to the royal family and takes her seat once again.
“Thank you Acrasia. Next up is Nairi.” My heart skips a beat at the sound of my name. You have to move, you have to get up. I think to myself but I can’t, I’m frozen. “Nairi, please step forward.” The professor repeats. This time I am able to stand and walk to the center of the arena where I meet up with Professor Devilen. “Are you alright?” He asks. I give him a faint smile and nod. “Good. You’re going to perform your magic, do something quick and then when you’re done turn to the royal family and bow. Do you understand the instructions?” I nod yes once again. “Good luck Nairi.” With that he backs up just like he did with the other two. I let out a shakey breath. My power is much like Acrasia’s blood magic but mine doesn’t require anyone to be bleeding mine requires only a name. I look at the crowned prince and think about what I want him to do. Stand and come here, he stands and walks down the stairs to the arena. The king and queen both look confused as their son walks over to me. Bow, I command he lowers his head and bows to me. This is something that I know Damon would never do so it proves that I can fully control someone just by knowing their name. Then I command him in my head to sit back with his parents. He does so with no protest and I feel myself release him from my power. The king smiles and I bow without breaking eye contact with him. I can see in his eyes that I just solidified my spot in the royal family.
The choosing ceremony continues after me. We see all manner of powers from flight, to shapeshifting, to telekinesis, and all forms of elemental magic. Everyone brings something new and exciting to the arena but the king can’t keep from staring at me once I had taken my seat back in the crowd.
When all is said and done professor Devilen teleports us back to the academy courtyard and announces the prince.
“May I present to you prince Damon!” As he declares his name professor Devilen slides to the left and a tall dark and handsome man steps forward. His dark hair is in messy curls as if he couldn’t even be bothered to brush it this morning before he showed up. His alluring light but rich golden amber eyes scan all of us in the courtyard beneath him, as if it is a symbol of where we belong and to assure us that we know our place in society.
His stern face never falls for a second; not even when he sees me and holds my gaze for what seems like forever. From behind him moves a woman of tall stature and beautiful white hair that cascades down her back and makes her fair skin almost look porcelain. She places her hand on his shoulder and smiles down at him. I can tell by the way she looks at Damon that her son is the only light in her life of shackles and control.
The King moves next to his wife and boasts of pride and ignorance. His big belly hangs over his belt and his white hair and beard complements his wife; though she, being a fae looks like she hasn’t aged a day compared to him.
“To all the fae who have attended the choosing ceremony today, thank you.” The king unsuccessfully tries to look down over his belly to the crowd below. “We have chosen an heiress to the throne.” As the king speaks I can hear whisperings arise around me. Suddenly I feel the breakfast from this morning threaten to come up, my hands become clammy as my heart beats beneath my rib cage. Then it happens.
“Nairi Delenhoth, you have been chosen to serve your county as queen of Eryx!” Everyone around me looks my direction and for a second I forget how to breathe. The crowd around me parts so I can join the royal family on the balcony, and for the very first time, look down on my subjects. Fae that were once my peers and friends are now officially my servants and slaves. I see the sadness in their eyes but it isn’t because they haven’t been chosen, it isn’t for them. It’s for me. Everyone knows that a life outside the palace walls is far better than being trapped under the thumb of the royal family. Forever their puppet. I walk up to the balcony and take my place next to Damon. His Amber eyes look me up and down before taking my hand and raising it in the air. The crowd cheers and claps because that is what is expected of them. I catch my sisters eyes in the crowd and her face says it all. I may not be happy about my situation but at least she will never have to worry about my safety or wellbeing. She never has to say goodbye to me like we did three years ago with our brother Arbor. I force a smile back her way and then follow as I’m ushered into the academy and the glass doors shut behind us. Instantly the crowd outside goes silent and a hush falls over the city.
“Now Delenhoth, we have a train to catch in the morning to take us to our annual negotiations with Golake.” The King places his hand on my back and ushers me down the hall at a quick pace. “We leave at first light and we expect you to have all your belongings packed and ready to go by that time.” The King states as we turn the corner and down a second hallway and a flight of stairs. “You will be provided with a gown that you’re required to wear. I expect you to look presentable for out allies.” He stops at the base of the second flight of stairs. “You will have books sent to your room that you will be required to read on this trip. You will learn proper education, etiquette, and how to talk and address people from now on. They will teach you everything you will need to know to be a royal. Once you finish reading those you will be shadowing one of our ladies at court so they can give you hands on experience on what you have read.” With that he departs down the staircase flanked by his wife and Damon who doesn’t say a word the whole time. I can only assume it’s this way all the time. The kings word is the only relevant word in our society.“We will see you bright and early tomorrow Dlenhoth” He calls over his shoulder as the guards open the double doors to the academy.
I exhale a breath I wasn’t aware I was holding when I get back to my room and shut my door. The silence is nice and soothes my pounding headache. I walk over to my bed to lay down only to find it covered with books and the dress the king mentioned I was to wear tomorrow. I pick up the books and read the names of a few of them. The Complete Guide to Rule A Kingdom, Politics and History of Eryx, and Laws of Eryx were just a couple. I drop the heavy books back on the bed and pick up the red dress. There’s an intricate lace design through out it that even goes down the almost see through sleeves to give them detail against my skin, the corset made to make my waste look smaller is laced in the back with only the finest of satin, the fabric fans out slightly at the waste and trails to the floor where it just barely kisses the marble. Its designed to make it look like I’m floating right above the floor while I’m walking; the queen was wearing a similar style dress today at the ceremony. The whole dress repulsed me. Who would ever want to wear something so uncomfortable and unpractical?
Was this all I had to live for now? Books, rules, regulations, and being a right hand prized jewel to the royal family just like the current Queen was?
No.
I was not going to just lay down and conform to what they wanted me to be. To be another puzzle piece to their plan, to maintain rule over our kingdom that was purloined from us. I had a plan and there was only one person in this entire academy that would be willing to defy the crown, risk execution, and help me pull it off. I needed to find Taneisha. I drop the dress and let it fall to the floor as I ran to my dresser and grab everything I could fit in my bag. I tear the ceremony robe off and toss it on the bed, quickly changing into something else, then grab my bag and rip open my bedroom door. I only have a few hours before midnight and I can’t afford to miss the next carriage out of here. I run down the hall and towards the dorm room of the only person that could help me. This was the only chance I had to change my fate.
