Chapter 6

A knock was heard at each door of the four ladies' chambers, echoing softly yet firmly through the halls of their respective households.

"My lady/Your Highness, a letter has arrived from the Magic Tower," said the maids, bowing as they entered their Master's bedroom.

"Read it." Mauie, Sianna, Rish, Zia

Each maid held a sealed parchment adorned with the royal crest. Following their masters' instructions, they began to read aloud:

To the noble households of Eldoria, the Magic Tower extends its summons. The Awakening Ceremony will take place in two weeks, a sacred event to determine the magical affinity of children aged five to ten. Those found with high affinity will be guaranteed admission to the Royal Academy. Prepare your children for this momentous occasion.

As the words resonated through their respective chambers, each lady reacted in their own way.

In Mauie's room, she set aside the book she had been reading and fixed her crimson eyes on Lydia. "Lydia," she began, her voice calm but inquisitive, "what is this Awakening Ceremony all about?"

Lydia stepped forward, folding her hands neatly in front of her. "The Awakening Ceremony is a sacred tradition held by the Magic Tower, my lady. It is a chance for children to discover their potential for magic. The ceremony involves an artifact called the 'Crystal of Resonance,' which reacts to a child's mana, displaying their affinity through color and intensity. A strong reaction signifies a high affinity, and those who achieve it are ensured entry into the Royal Academy."

Mauie tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "And what happens if someone doesn't have any affinity?"

Lydia's tone softened, though she maintained her composure. "They return to their lives, my lady, but with the knowledge of their place in the grand design of the world."

Mauie's lips curled into a faint smirk. "A grand design, indeed. It sounds more like a spectacle for the Magic Tower to assert its dominance."

Lydia did not rise to the bait. "Perhaps, my lady. But for many, it is an opportunity to change their destiny."

Mauie leaned back in her chair, her gaze thoughtful. "Lydia, my brother attends the Royal Academy, right?" Lydia nodded. "Did he possess a magical affinity?"

Lydia hesitated for a moment before answering. "No, my lady. Your brother did not have an affinity for magic. He was accepted into the Royal Academy for his exceptional intelligence and capabilities. He was placed in the regular division, which focuses on academics and strategic disciplines rather than magic."

Mauie's eyes narrowed slightly, her expression unreadable. "So, even without magic, one can still find their place there."

"Indeed, my lady," Lydia replied. "The Royal Academy values brilliance in all its forms. Your brother's genius mind earned him his position, and he excelled despite not possessing magical powers."

Mauie remained silent for a moment before nodding. "Very well. Let's see what this ceremony reveals. Prepare the necessary arrangements, Lydia."

"Of course, my lady," Lydia said, bowing deeply before stepping out of the room.

_____

Elsewhere, similar conversations unfolded, each lady contemplating the significance of the Awakening Ceremony. In two weeks, the Magic Tower's summons would gather them all, setting the stage for the next chapter of their intertwined destinies.

_____

The palace gardens shimmered under the midday sun, its glass canopy reflecting hues of emerald and sapphire. Sianna sat at the head of a table adorned with delicate pastries, steaming teapots, and ornate cups. Her golden hair glistened as she poured tea with the practiced grace of a princess, though her expression betrayed a mix of impatience and excitement.

Rish arrived a little later than the others, her steps brisk and purposeful as she followed the maid waiting at the palace gate. The midday sun glinted off the polished stone pathways, and the sprawling palace gardens stretched out before her.

"Where are my friends?" she asked the maid, her voice clipped but polite.

The maid smiled and gestured toward the glass garden in the distance. "They're waiting for you in the glass garden, my lady. This way, please."

Rish nodded, trailing behind the maid as they wove through manicured hedges and blooming flower beds. Her heart was still racing, not from the walk but from the heated argument she'd had with her father just before leaving. The words lingered in her mind, stoking the embers of her frustration.

When they reached the glass garden, sunlight streamed through the ornate glass panels, casting a kaleidoscope of colors onto the marble floor. Sianna, Mauie, and Zia were already seated around an elegant tea table, their faces lighting up as Rish entered.

"I'm sorry I'm late," Rish said immediately, her tone tinged with both guilt and irritation. "I had a small fight with the duke—my father."

Zia raised an eyebrow, leaning back in her chair. "Small? Knowing you, I doubt that."

Rish gave a wry smile as she took her seat. "Fine. Not so small. But it's done now."

Sianna placed her teacup down gently, her golden eyes glinting with curiosity. "At least you're here. We were just about to talk about the Awakening Ceremony."

"The Awakening Ceremony," Rish repeated. "What about it?"

Zia's violet eyes sparkled as she explained, her soft voice brimming with quiet excitement. "It's our chance to discover what this world has planned for us. And if we pass the ceremony, we might be admitted to the Royal Academy."

"Imagine," Sianna added, her tone lighter now, "being at the academy together. Away from our families, away from the prying eyes."

Zia sighed dramatically, a hint of amusement in her violet gaze. "True that. I've caught my stepmother staring at me like I've grown another head as I'm not exactly acting like the 'real' Zia anymore."

"Same," Rish admitted. "The duke keeps saying I'm not the daughter he remembers. He's not wrong, but it doesn't make dealing with him any easier."

Mauie just eating and nodding to all their statements.

They fell silent for a moment, sipping their tea as the weight of their situation settled over them.

"But that's why the Royal Academy is important," Sianna said, breaking the silence. "If we can make it, we'll have a place to belong. A place to figure out who we are in this world."

"Agreed," Zia said, her smirk returning. "And maybe, just maybe, we'll get some answers about why we're here in the first place."

Their conversation turned lighter as they finished their tea, trading stories about their awkward attempts to adjust to their new lives.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Sianna stood and gestured toward the palace. "Before the ceremony, we should learn as much as we can about this world. The library might have the answers we're looking for."

Sianna took charge with her usual air of authority, her golden hair catching the fading sunlight as they exited the glass garden. She turned to a nearby maid standing discreetly by the entrance.

"Escort us to the palace library," Sianna instructed, her tone firm yet graceful.

The maid bowed slightly. "As you wish, Your Highness. Please follow me."

The four girls trailed behind her, their footsteps echoing faintly against the marble floors of the grand hallway. Towering pillars lined the corridor, each carved with intricate depictions of battles, coronations, and celestial beings. The sheer magnificence around them was overwhelming, but they kept their focus sharp.

"Do they really need this many statues?" Rish muttered under her breath, her sharp black eyes darting around suspiciously.

"Not everyone's a fan of minimalist decor, Rish," Zia teased, her tone light despite her violet eyes glinting with quiet intrigue.

Rish smirked. "Minimalism isn't the issue—it's the unnecessary grandeur."

Mauie remained quiet, her red eyes lingering on the gilded tapestries that adorned the walls, each one depicting a piece of the kingdom's storied past.

When they finally arrived, the library left them momentarily stunned. The space was massive, stretching beyond what the eye could fully comprehend. Shelves carved from ancient darkwood reached up to a vaulted ceiling painted with scenes of celestial constellations. The scent of aged parchment and candle wax filled the air, and faint magical auras pulsed from some of the more ancient tomes.

"Now this," Zia murmured, a hint of excitement in her voice, "is worth admiring."

Sianna cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention. "We're not here to admire anything. Let's split up. There's a lot we need to learn. Look for anything that could help us—history, legends, magic, monsters, everything. Got that!?"

With determined nods, the four dispersed into the labyrinth of knowledge.

Sianna gravitated toward a section labeled "The Chronicles of the Crown: Histories of the Eldoria Dynasties." She ran her fingers along the spines of leather-bound tomes before selecting one titled "The Eternal Bloodline: From Founders to Guardians."

Settling into a high-backed chair near a golden candelabra, she delved into the pages. The book detailed the formation of the kingdom, the rise of its nobility, and the wars that shaped its borders. Sianna's golden eyes gleamed as she uncovered mentions of key events—the betrayal of the Great Alliance, and the mysterious disappearance of the first ruler, Queen Illyria.

As she turned another page, a passage caught her eye: "The Forgotten Accord: A pact sealed between the kingdom and the divine beings of the Astral Vale. In times of great need, the celestial powers shall choose champions among mortals to guide the realm."

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Chosen champions, huh? That sounds suspiciously relevant."

Zia made a beeline for the Arcane and Divine Arts section. The air here felt different—charged with latent magic. Her eyes scanned the titles before pulling out "Celestium Codex: The Essence of the Divine and Mortal Nexus" and "The Arcanum of Eternal Resonance."

She opened the Codex first, her fingers grazing the golden script that glimmered faintly on the page. The text delved into the origin of magic, its ties to divine beings, and its manifestations across different races. The book mentioned something called "The Aetherial Convergence," a phenomenon where divine energies align, unlocking immense magical potential in those attuned to it.

As she flipped through, she also stumbled upon a diagram—an intricate map of ley lines that crisscrossed the kingdom. "So this world literally breathes magic," she muttered, her violet eyes narrowing as she tried to make sense of the patterns.

Rish headed toward the darker, less populated corner of the library. The section was marked "Bestiary of the Cursed Wilds" and "Tales of the Evernight Terrors." She pulled out a tome titled "The Black Veil: Creatures of Catastrophe and their Vanquishers."

The illustrations were gruesome, showing creatures with gaping maws, twisted horns, and glowing eyes that seemed to follow her every movement. The text described monsters that had plagued the kingdom for centuries—the Shrieking Wraiths of the Hollow Woods, the Leviathan of the Abyssal Waters, and the most fearsome of all, the Mourning Wyvern, a beast said to bring death wherever it flew.

Rish's gaze sharpened as she read about the knights and mercenaries who had stood against these terrors. One passage detailed an enigmatic hero known only as The Veiled Vanguard, who had led the charge in subduing the Mourning Wyvern during the kingdom's darkest days.

"So, the monsters weren't just bedtime stories after all," she muttered, the corner of her mouth curving into a faint smirk. "Good to know."

Mauie moved with quiet determination to a section labeled "Scholastic Pursuits of the Elite: Institutions of Learning in Eldoria." Her eyes landed on a book titled "A Guide to the Royal Academy: Traditions, Trials, and Triumphs."

The pages before her were a treasure trove of intricately detailed information, each word painting a vivid picture of the Royal Academy's towering legacy. Mauie's pale fingers glided over the descriptions of its sprawling campus—gilded halls that seemed to touch the heavens, ancient libraries brimming with forbidden knowledge, and training grounds where sparks of magic and steel clashed in unyielding discipline.

Her gaze lingered on a passage about the Academy's infamous trials, each one designed to break the weak and forge the strong. The Ascension Ceremony stood out, described as the pinnacle of their journey—a rite that tested not only skill but the very essence of a student's resolve, character, and will to endure. Failure wasn't simply a setback. It was a mark of disgrace, often leading to exile from noble society—or worse.

Her chest tightened as she absorbed the weight of those words. The stakes weren't just personal; they were monumental. Yet, amidst the apprehension curling in her stomach, a flicker of something else emerged—determination. She had always been an outsider, dismissed for her frailty, but here lay an opportunity to defy those perceptions, to carve out a path on her own terms.

Mauie closed the book slowly, her red eyes catching the glow of the lantern's light. They reflected unyielding spark of resolve. Whatever awaited her at the Academy, they would face it—not as a noble's frail daughters, but as someone who refused to break.