Chapter 23

The time of the celebration has come.

Naked beneath a night robe and seated on the backless chair in front of the broad vanity set. The table is cluttered with cosmetics and a collection of accessories to choose from. Cassia and Lila are already outfitted in their ball gowns. Lila is garbed in a shiny emerald dress, off shoulders, that's tight at the waist, flaring out from her hips, ornamented with swirling golden armlets. Her dark green tresses are plaited up in a complex updo.

I watch Cassia through the mirror as she braids my hair into a crown-like style, her skilled fingers weaving through. Something about it reminds me of my mother.

Cassia is dressed in a simple but elegant buttery yellow dress, strapless and sleeveless, only held together by a cord around her neck like a collar, most of her back exposed. Both of their faces are decorated with glittery flecks like elf dust. My skin is lathered with scented oils, pleasant-smelling, and it gives my skin a glossy shine. My lips are coloured with cosmetics made from dyes containing Tyrian purple, crushed mulberries that make a luscious red.

"Can you go over the names again?" I request.

Cassia lets out her frustration with a long exhale.

"A summary would not hurt," Lila says in my stead.

"There's Green Earl, Moray. He owns the largest harvesting plots of earth globs. Green Earl Phelixzica who holds the seeds to nutritious vegetables that are only found within Cistern. Nowhere else in Urium, so it will be quite a notch to get access to those," she says, and looks at my reflection to gauge my response.

Done with my hair, she leans forward to reach for a gilded flower crown bound by interweaving vines. Each of us has one, but all a different variation. She picks it up and settles it on top of my head dramatically with both hands as if it were my coronation. The formation of mine curves up to a triangular shape with a palatial pinnacle.

I nod happily.

"I must say, I do good work. You finally look like a woman," she teases.

I pry my robe apart slightly to glimpse the golden glitter twinkling on my chest. "Though... is the glitter truly necessary?"

"But of course," Cassia says, retrieving her own crown. Two long golden leaves that meet together at the brink, overlapping slightly to make a short X-shape. "Besides, when you see the dress that I have planned for you, you will see why. No male with eyes in their sockets will be able to take their gaze off you."

A frown crinkles my face, the edges tightening. "So, am I to seduce favour from them?"

Cassia snorts, like what I asked her was absurd. "How else will you obtain it?"

My frown deepens. "By using my head."

Cassia's brows billow. "That's not the part of the female's anatomy that comes first to a male's mind," she remarks.

I shift, moving to rise from the seat.

Cassia looks back at Lila. "Apologies for using you as my personal servant, but you're the only one that knows. Please fetch my shoes, my favourite ones. Fortunately, she's about the same size as me. And bring it to the destiny pool."

Lila nods obediently and glides out of the room.

"Come along," Cassia says and sashays towards the exit. Then she looks over her shoulder once she senses that I'm not following. "What?"

I make an exaggerated hand gesture to the robe. "I'm not travelling to a... destiny pool whilst I'm practically naked."

"You are more than clothed. And on this tier, only first ranks dwell here and everyone's cooped up in their chambers preparing for the celebration. So, either we go now whilst it's silent—" and quickly adds, "—apart from the guards. Or you can give everyone a thrill and attend in your robe."

I yield, motioning her forward.

She leads me out of the annex, passing two bridges. Everywhere we cross, it is heavily lined with guards, perhaps because of the Terrian aristocrats that will soon descend. Fortunately, none even glimpses my way as Cassia navigates me to a square-shaped structure. The front has two wooden columns that hold up a stone awning. The lumber double door is flanked by two Terra soldiers. As we approach, they each pull a door open for us in unison.

Cassia and I drift inside. The front entrance is dimly lit. We descend a long staircase and make our way beyond. This place is far bigger than how it looks on the outside, with lofty walls that rise to unknown heights. Suddenly the hallway opens up, and the gloom melts away to a place of sumptuous affairs with wide-spanning arches that soar gracefully overhead, their curves echoing the timeless elegance of ancient craftsmanship. The floors and walls are adorned with a gleaming mineral that shimmered like liquid silver under the soft glow of ambient light. Decorated with intricately carved statues. At the head of the chamber, a tranquil pool lay nestled, its still waters reflecting the ethereal beauty surrounding it. The pool is bordered by a series of hill-like steps, circular and hewn from pristine white marble.

"So, it's a bathhouse?"

Cassia looks back at me like I insulted her. "It's not a bathhouse—" she throws an irritated hand towards the destiny pool. "—go and see for yourself."

I sigh and make my way to it. I climb up, feet pressed on the cold glazed steps.

I stop at the top, turning my gaze skyward. The dome ceiling is made from glass mosaic which reflects its vibrant light from the pool in an iridescent effect. But the pool itself is ethereal with glowing light green waters, a luminous turquoise.

I glance back down at Cassia; she makes a hurrying motion with both hands. "Take off the robe and sink in. Let the water rise until your neck. And then, thank me after."

I set my gaze forward, releasing another pent-up sigh. I undo the rope, allowing it to fall on the top step. I look down and lift my leg to dip it inside the lukewarm waters. It tingles. I continue, descending the staircase that's hidden under the opaque, gleaming waters.

I submerge myself until the water is at my neck. I swivel to face her.

"Now what? If this was your way of saying that I needed to bathe again—"

The harmless tingles erupt into sparkling sizzles. I look down and pure golden light shines through the water, blinding and bright. I look away. Something clings to my stomach, shoulders, arms, my entire upper body. Like some kind of material forming, wrapping itself around my figure.

"Now," Cassia says with a beam. "Come out."

I walk back towards the staircase, movements hampered by the weight of the water that I must push through. As I rise, I look down and my eyes inflate to full size. I rise higher until I'm completely out of the waters. My body is enamelled in a royal blue dress, skin-tight around my torso, long-sleeved with a plunging neckline that showcases a generous view of my glittering chest. The dress continues to materialise, slinking out of the water, spilling over the steps behind me in a cascade of shimmering fabric. The hems of the dress, adorned with intricate gold-plated feathers, dragged heavily, producing a shrilly scraping sound against the pristine marble steps. Each step forward was marked by the delicate chime and clank of metal against stone.

I halted when I was perfectly aligned with Cassia, feeling the weight of the dress's grandeur sprawled behind me. The golden feathers fanned out in a magnificent display, each one catching the light and casting a radiant glow that enveloped the space around us.

Cassia places a quick hand over her mouth before she shakes it out excitedly. "All hail the future High Queen of Urium," she says, picking up the skirt of her gown to lower herself into a deep curtsey.

I roll my eyes playfully. "I admit, I may look like one."

Her beam brightens. "Looking the part is half the job done. Now all you have to do is persevere through the Trials, pass the tests you are given, defeat your rivals, survive any more potential assassination attempts and win over the hearts of the people," she lists in one long breath. "Of all people."

I wrinkle my nose. "Yes, no pressure at all." 

She scolds me with a hollow glare. "First, let's start with the Terra. Since I heard that the Orombuc tribe, especially its hunters, were infatuated with a certain Herem Vince."

I place my hands on my stomach, my fingers caressing the velvety material like peacock feathers. "Where did you hear that?"

"Eyes and ears everywhere, my dear Hera."

I part my lips, but I'm interrupted by the sounds of tall, thin, heeled shoes clicking on the floor. Lila emerges with a pair of beautiful shoes in her grasp. The same royal blue as my dress with gold bottoms and a gilded vine rope around each heel.

"I won't be able to walk in those."

"Fortunately, you have ample time to learn," Lila points out.

Cassia glances at me with a sly smirk. "Half the job is done; the other half is up to you. Make them fall in love with you so that the day you need it. You will have the support of the Terra for your claim to the throne."

***

We all reunite at the Regulus's throne room.

Treasures of dying light bathe the mosaic floors, causing sporadic flashes of kaleidoscopic lights to gleam like the white glimmers on the ocean's surface. The colonnade around the interior is like a border, casting shadows beside the tables and tables of organic food, elegant-carved dishes bursting with fruits, all wild colours. Noticeably, there are servants at the rims that hold up trays of mulchy-looking wine, brimming with an abnormal color. They surround the spacious area, clearly reserved for dancing, right before the vacant throne. Just left of it is an orchestra of nymph musicians.

An ensemble of tuned bells strung together to form chimes, with a single head on a shallow body, furnished with four or more sets of bells placed equidistantly around its frame. Double-headed drums provide a rhythmic percussion through the melodic flute playing, aesthetic quality of whimsical music, only enhancing the ambiance of an enchanted forest feel.

The dance floor awash with Terra nobility, all robed in exotic silks, both males and females alike. Most mill about on the sidelines with their strange wine in their grasp, all nattering politely in cluttered clumps. Mostly to give space to those who frolic in the centre, occupied by hand-holding couples in a linear formation, performing various combinations of small bows and a series of walking steps completed by drawing the back foot up to the leading foot. Their gentle yet graceful movements match both the speed and elegance of the music.

"From here, you are on your own," Cassia whispers. "We can only be presented with the Regulus and Regine, so many fortunes to you."

Cassia and Lila's arms are looped around mine, and they both give me a reassuring squeeze.

"Thank you," I say, glancing at Lila, "to you both."

They release me, and I propel forward like a child flaunting their first steps. However, with every stride, my walk becomes more stable. My strut buoyed by rising confidence, neatly entwining my hands before my stomach, spine elongated like Cassia instructed me.

At first, I only thought there was only one point of entry to the throne room, but it turns out that there are many. As I approach, more heads swivel my way, my presence stealing attention. Most of the stares linger below my neck. During my aimless travel, I'm intercepted by Solaris. He wears a green tunic embellished by azure embroidery that adorns the collar before streaking down into two ornate stripes. The detailing repeats around the cuffs of his sleeves.

"You look..." His eyes widen. His gaze roams down my body, respectfully admiring every inch of the dress. "Ah, words falter and fail in the face of such a sight."

"Why, thank you," I say, dropping into a wobbly curtsey.

"I see that still needs work."

"Shut it," I say with an embarrassed smile. I take a quick moment to give him a flattering once-over. "You look stellar yourself, Solaris."

He strikes a confident pose and I look away, shaking my head.

My eyes scour the clusters of Terra nobles. The Herems have been quite busy in my untimely advent. Most of them coaxing many first ranks, their prestige boasted by the stature of their horns or antlers. Especially one Terra that catches the eye with spread-out antlers; symmetrical, overreaching and as extensive as ones of a stag. He has two pairs of crow-like eyes, his impressive frame is outfitted in heavy dark brown clothing, with only other Terra nobles around him; it seems like they are all vying for his attention, but he is too occupied taking ample sips of his wine.

Cassia mentioned that those who wear bark-wood colour clothing are harvesters of earth globs, and my guess is that he must be Green Earl Moray.

And of course, Vince is the centre of attention. His voice is foghorn loud when he is booming out a guffaw, a mellifluous sound. His innate confidence affixed to his proud broad shoulders, emanating assertiveness is the enticing allure that draws anyone.

He is not only adored by future kings but people as humble as the Orombuc tribe, and even as foreign and unknown as the Terra. And they are gobbling his every word, transfixed under the spell of his gaze and his gaze finds me. He visibly falters in his speech, stuttering for a second. His eyes evaluate me, and his conclusion is unreadable as the veil of charm falls back in place. And he resumes his theatrics, amusing the surrounding elite.

"Aurora?"

With a quick inhale, I'm flashed back to reality. Solaris looks back at me quizzically. Like he had asked me a question... several times.

"What was that?" I ask. "Sorry, the music is quite loud." Even though it is as soft and sensuous as fairies' whispers.

Solaris flares a questioning brow but maintains an amiable smile.

"Would you like to dance?"

"Do I seem like one who enjoys dancing?"

"No, however, such beauty deserves to be admired by all."