Introduction Ceremony Pt.1
Cyrus woke up, startled, after having a strange dream. He noticed his sister was asleep in her bed and she had given him a pillow and blanket. He blinked a few times to make sure he wasn't still dreaming.
"When we originally discovered Haven existed, I never imagined it being such a large city and Kingdom. It's nearly three times the size of the capital of Harmonia, which is huge," Cyrus thought.
After falling back asleep, he finally woke up and was greeted by Zoey.
"Good morning, how did you sleep?" Zoey asked with a kind smile.
"Really good actually, thank you for putting my head on a pillow and for the blanket. Everything just seems so surreal," Cyrus said.
"Yes, and someday I would like to see where you are from and see the life you grew up living. For me, it's been essentially training, school, work, and the Princess stuff when we have special guests. Father keeps insisting I find someone to marry. I keep telling him I'm only 23 and I'm a vampire, it's not like I don't have time," Zoey said with a deep sigh.
"So do you live longer than humans? What about our grandmother being a werewolf? She only had one son and it turned out human?" Cyrus asked.
"Yes, and our parents took over leading the Kingdom around 50 years ago. Our Father was blessed by the Father of Solace to be turned by our Mother, shortly after you were born. We age more slowly than humans but can die as well. Same with werewolves, Chimera and Minotaurs and I'm sure with vampire blood in you, you will live longer than a normal human, maybe just not as long as a vampire," Zoey explained.
"What about Zander and Sophie?" Cyrus asked.
"All we know is they're both humans with phoenixes living inside them. I'm sure Father and Mother will eventually ask about them but I have to ask you something you mustn't speak of. How well are you trained in fighting, have you activated your chi and can you produce any magic?" Zoey asked, with a nervous look on her face.
"I grew up training with Zander's trainer, Mr. Woo, who was quite excellent with chi. I've been able to draw more of it out lately, but as it's grown, I often have really weird mood swings where I feel like my body is running wild," Cyrus answered honestly.
"So that's why Zander kept distracting you, I could sense it as well. You have a much larger and stronger life force now and you haven't had the proper training to adapt to it," Zoey said.
"Close your eyes and focus and try to feel the life force inside you," Zoey explained.
As Cyrus managed fine at first, eventually it went to swirl uncontrollably; however, his sister was able to grab his shoulders and use her hand to move the chi into a more relaxed state.
"Did you feel what I did?" Zoey asked.
"Yes, let me try," Cyrus said. After about four tries, Cyrus finally could control it in its relaxed state.
"Excellent, that is chi control and you are getting into its relaxed state. From there, you can use it for all sorts of things. You can enhance your punches, enhance your speed and kicks, you just need to focus on what you want your chi to enhance, whether it a weapon or a part of the Earth, and channel your energy into that," Zoey explained.
She demonstrated pulling the chi from her body, molding it into a weapon, then flowers, then she sent it flying at Cyrus, who ducked, but she had retracted it back into her body.
"Woah, that was so cool. Yours is orange and gold, Zander explained the color system and he said I'm the only human he's seen with purely a golden aura," Cyrus said.
"It is true, your heart is pure, and as a human, your chi will be limitless, you just have to use your imagination. Just be sure not to overdo it, because if you do and no one is around to help you, you'll be a sitting duck," Zoey explained.
"Why must I not talk about this?" Cyrus said.
"I'm not exactly supposed to help or inform you that there is a trial in one week that will judge your strength, abilities, character and soul. It's called the trial of Haven. Most of Haven thinks it's just a beast hunt, which for most citizens it is, at the age of 18. Because you're of noble blood, you'll go through a series of tests. As will Zander and Sophie. It assigns you a rank, and based on that rank, it determines your future path," Zoey explained.
"Well I hate to disappoint Mother and Father but my path isn't just my path. My path is with Zander and Sophie, as I'm sure you saw on the news," Cyrus said while scratching his head.
"I did, I thought your mask was cute. I'm sure Theo was quite upset," Zoey chuckled.
"Oh shoot, you have to shower and I have to get your clothes. There's a ceremony for you today at noon," Zoey said as she rushed off.
"A ceremony for me, why can't my parents just introduce themselves and catch up. They still haven't said hi and we've been here for a full day and night. I wonder how Sophie and Zander are doing?" Cyrus thought.
Zoey went to her parents room, did the usual knock, to which her mother said to come in.
"Where's Father?" Zoey asked.
"You know him better than most, he's making sure all the preparations are perfect and he wrote a grand speech. I understand the need to show a strong, united family but I do wish we had the luxury of just meeting and talking to him right away like you did my dear," Zoey's mother explained.
"Well, let's hope we don't scare him out of Haven," Zoey said.
With a laugh, her Mother instructed her to take Cyrus to the barber and tailor in the castle, so he could be properly fitted and dressed.
With that, Zoey had returned and taken Cyrus to get a fresh fade and his noble clothing.
Meanwhile, Zander and Sophie just received a knock at the door. They were enjoying a movie they had never seen before, a romance film about a human falling in love with a Minotaur and how hard it was for them to remain a couple with the universe seemingly throwing every obstacle in their way.
"Come in," Zander yelled and opened the door with the tablet.
"Ah, The Minotaur's bride, you have good taste," Ricardo said, while entering with measuring tools.
"Ricardo is a big fan of that movie series, there's three of them, they're actually quite good," said a woman neither of them recognized. The woman looked to be in her early thirties, standing around 5'5, a little heavy set with long blonde hair and beautiful green eyes.
"Indeed Madame Lana, if only you were my werewolf bride," Ricardo said with an obvious affection for the woman known as Lana.
"You're a hopeless romantic, one day you'll meet the soul of your dreams Ricardo," Lana said with a laugh.
Not really knowing how to respond to any of this, Sophie broke the ice, "yes it's a good movie and it's nothing like where we are from. People in our area just see, and I mean this as no offense, other races as the scripture states them, as forbidden beings created by Theo,"
"And I'm guessing there isn't scripture about the truth, in order to protect Haven," Zander added.
"Indeed, well, Sophie please follow Lana and Zander you're with me, we need to measure you for your new formal attire for today so Zander, please get down to your underpants," Ricardo said while clapping his hands twice.
Rather than leave with Lana, Sophie did the same and Ricardo immediately turned away with a red face.
"Was that too much?" Sophie laughed.
"It's best if you come with me, Ricardo is quite the gentleman," Lana laughed and the women walked into the other room.
"Your wife is quite beautiful Zander, as was your Mother and Father. I always liked when they visited," Ricardo said while quickly getting measurements and making notes on a notepad.
"Thank you, you must have known them well, what were they like?" Zander asked.
"So, so kind Sir Zander. They never cared what people looked like, what race they were, as long as they believed in Solace, your parents treated them like family. Without them, Haven doesn't exist, although their friendship with the Harts' is much like yours and Master Cyrus's I'm sure. It was hard for your parents to lie, but Cyrus's aunt and uncle love him as parents do," Ricardo said.
Sophie overheard with her sensitive hearing and smiled, and said,
"Thank you Ricardo, that means a lot and since you're done with the measurements, can Sophie and I see you in your werewolf form?" Zander asked.
"I'll ask Lana, hers is far more beautiful," Ricardo said, as Sophie and Lana just walked out from the other room and overheard the ask.
Without hesitation, Lana took off her jacket, and quickly transformed into a white werewolf, about 9 feet tall with those beautiful green eyes. Ricardo then transformed to about 11 feet tall, into a brown werewolf with brown eyes.
Both Sophie and Zander had joined hands and told them how beautiful they looked, to which they bowed and said thank you.
"Well what about you two, a little birdie told me Sir Zander married because he mated, a rare thing for the great beings of a phoenix to do," Ricardo said.
Together, Zander and Sophie both transformed into their Phoenix form.
Sophie's feathers had adapted from pink and grey to primarily pink, as her hands turned to claws, with feathers going up to her forearms, and her feet into talons, with feathers going up to the shin. Her majestic wings were now a bright white and had also grown slightly. She was now able to transform keeping her bra and/or special top on, as well as keep her pants or shorts on. Because she had just gotten dressed, her shirt and shorts remained intact.
For Zander, his hair turned into golden feathers, and his arms, up to his elbows, had golden feathers, as did his legs up to his knees. His wings were a bit larger, and now even a small white flame emitted from everywhere he had feathers. He went over to Sophie and gave her a kiss, wanting to try out the small adjustment to his mouth and face.
"C'est Magnifique," Ricardo said.
"Yes, what a beautiful couple," Lana said with a large smile.
"You know you two look amazing in your werewolf forms as well," Zander said, reverting to his human form.
"I'd say you two look beautiful together," Sophie said with a wink and Ricardo and Lana both blushed.
"Thank you, we shall return with your ceremonial clothing in an hour. The ceremony is at 12, be in the castles main lobby at 11:30, as you will be part of the main party," Ricardo said as he dashed out of the room with Lana.
"I think those two actually do like each other," Sophie said.
"I think you're right but did the kiss feel awkward at all for you?" Zander asked, self conscious and worried about his new jaw and facial features.
"No, and stop worrying. I told you that you look handsome no matter what. Now I wonder how big this ceremony is going to be," Sophie said.
Smiling, Zander said, "probably pretty big if Cyrus is a prince and it'll be nice to not be the focus for once!"
Just then, around 11 am, Ricardo had returned with the clothing for Sophie and Cyrus.
Zander and Sophie thanked him and told him to thank Lana, and as Zander went to give him a tip, Ricardo laughed.
"Thank you and I'll take it as a token of your appreciation, but we use a different currency in the kingdom. This is the first time I've seen one of these $100 things you call bills though," Ricardo said with a smile.
"One was for Lana, but how about you pick something out in one of the shops for her and let us buy it for you for her?" Sophie said.
"Was it that obvious?" Ricardo laughed and agreed he wouldn't go overboard.
Meanwhile, after a nice long bath after his hair cut, Cyrus got up, dried himself off and wrapped himself in a large bathrobe. He walked out of his sisters bathroom and she stood there with his formal Prince clothing.
"What do you think?" she said while doing a twirl and showing Cyrus his clothing.
"You look great sis, is this really the clothing of our family?" Cyrus asked.
"Yes and it's punishable by crime for impersonating a noble, as you can see the guards have their own uniforms and although similar, well, you can see the difference," Zoey said.
Cyrus went into the bathroom to try on the clothing. The top was a very elegant long sleeved white top with red trim and a red heart on both shoulders. His pants were also white, and loose fitting. The whole outfit reminded him of a medieval theme, which matched his sister's dress.
Zoey's dress had the same color pattern, white with red hearts on both shoulders. The dress was long, with red lining throughout, which suited her natural beauty. It also reminded Cyrus of a medieval dress, something for a Princess.
"The heart is kind of cheesy isn't it?" Cyrus joked.
Zoey snickered and nodded and said, "don't tell that to Mother and Father, Mother designed our generation's clothing and Father is a big fan of them."
With that, the two of them went to meet the rest of the group in the center of the castle.
Despite the large crowd and mass attention, Cyrus spotted Sophie and Zander relatively easily. They were both wearing red, with white intertwined into the lacing of Sophie's dress, which was similar to Zoey's but much less flashy. She also had a white phoenix on her left shoulder.
Zander stood in a red top, similar to Cyrus's and red pants with a white Phoenix on them. It was a very medieval look as well and they weren't the only ones in red.
Zoey had managed to explain to Cyrus that white and red was for the family, and red with white was for its closest allies and most respected guests.
The members of the council all stood in their red robes, chatting away in the same area as Zander and Sophie.
Everyone eagerly awaited the Prince's ceremony.