Chapter 81: Prelude to Ritual

Shina

I sighed as I made my way to the ballroom. It was where all of us sages were to gather. There were also dignitaries from the other crystal clans beyond the main twelve.

"Relax," Alf said, putting a hand on my shoulder.

I smiled at him. "Seems only Kizu and I make you nervous."

He turned his head away and grumbled at a little.

While I teased him, I was glad he was stoic.

"Hello there," a handsome white-haired man in blue robes said as he made his way toward us.

I curtsied. "Sir David, nice to see you again. How is the Diamond Clan doing?"

He smiled. "Very well, thank you."

I glanced at the woman dressed in black seated not too far from him. Who was she? His girlfriend? Wife? Or dignitary from one of the minor clans.

She glanced at me and rose from her seat. "It feels odd to meet an Opal here in the bastion of the Quartz clan."

I crossed my arms. "Does it?"

David rubbed his short beard and hummed. "Lady Zirconia does have a point."

Lady Zirconia? So, she was from that shifty clan to the west... The Zirconia were experts at disguise and manipulation. Or so have I been told.

The woman sighed. "Guess people would question my presence here as well, wouldn't they?"

David shook his head. "I don't think so. You are important member of a feared clan. As is Shina."

She sighed. "You're just being nice."

I smiled and shrugged. "Maybe. But isn't that what diplomacy is all about?"

David laughed, a deep, rich sound that echoed through the hall. "Well said, Shina. Well said."

Zirconia, however, did not seem as amused. Her dark, almost black eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze flicking between David and me. "I suppose," she said, her voice tight. "But let's not forget why we're here."

I nodded, my smile fading. "Of course. The secondary ritual."

Her gaze softened slightly at my words. "Yes. A lot is riding on this ritual. For all our clans."

There was a moment of silence as the gravity of the situation sank in. This wasn't just about the Opal and Quartz clans. This was about all the crystal clans. The ritual could bring peace, or it could bring more conflict.

"I hope for the best for all our clans," I said, breaking the silence.

Lady Zirconia nodded, her gaze thoughtful. "As do I," she said. She eyed David and patted his arm.

He gave her a gentle, almost romantic smile. 

"Pardon me, but what is your relationship?" I asked.

David chuckled, a warm, indulgent sound. "Ah, well, that would be telling, wouldn't it?"

Lady Zirconia rolled her eyes, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. "David and I are... old friends," she said, her tone deliberately vague. 

David's smile widened. "That's one way to put it. Another would be to say that we're partners in crime."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. "Partners in crime?"

Lady Zirconia's smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "In a manner of speaking. We've been through a lot together. Fought many battles, faced countless challenges. We've had to rely on each other more times than I can count."

David nodded, his gaze faraway. "We've shared victories and defeats, laughter and tears. We've seen each other at our best and our worst. And through it all, we've always had each other's back."

There was a moment of silence, filled with unspoken understanding and shared memories. I couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. Alf and I didn't share a bond as deep and enduring as the one between David and her.

"But enough about us," Lady Zirconia said, breaking the silence. "We're here for the ritual, not to reminisce about the past."

David sighed. "Zena, there is still time. This is your chance to show people the Zircon aren't what the stories claim you to be."

She sighed. "I have no interest in dispelling stereotypes. People can say what they want about us Zirconium."

I watched as the pair moved away, their conversation drifting into murmurs as they joined the throng of people.

David's words echoed in my mind. This was a chance for us all, not just the Zircon clan. A chance to prove we were more than our reputations, more than the stereotypes that others had placed on us. I wasn't just here for myself, or even just for Alf and our unborn child. I was here as a representative of Opal.

A black haired woman with reddish-black eyes walked over, a confident stride in her step. "Well, if it isn't Alfonso, the virtuous knight," she greeted with a sly smile. 

I glanced at Alf, surprised by the familiarity in the lady's tone. "You know this lady?"

Alf shifted uncomfortably before answering, "Uh, she's one of the princesses of Obsidian. Her name is Lysandra. Also... I might or might not have had a fling with her once upon a time."

Lysandra raised an eyebrow, her gaze fixed on Alf. "May or may not have? Care to elaborate, Sir Alfonso?" she questioned, her tone filled with rancour.

Alf shifted uneasily under her scrutinizing gaze, unsure of how to respond.

I watched the exchange, a mixture of amusement and surprise dancing in my eyes. 

"Wow, you really were a scummy flirt, weren't you?" I remarked, a hint of amusement in my tone.

Alf sighed, a hint of regret in his expression. "Please don't remind me..." he muttered, looking somewhat sheepish.

Lysandra glanced at me with a raised eyebrow. "And who is this? Your new fling?" she quipped, giving me a mean eye.

I sighed. "I am Shina, the future Queen of Opal. Also, I am Alfonso's future wife."

Lysandra's eyes widened in surprise, her smirk fading slightly. "Opal, huh? Seems you traded me for a more powerful princess, Alfonso."

I could feel the tension in the room rise.

Alf's expression turned somber as he tried to respond, "Lysandra, it's not like that. Shina and I..."

But Lysandra interrupted, her voice sharp with frustration, "Save it, Alfonso. I don't want to hear your excuses. I thought you were different, but clearly, I was wrong."

I could see the hurt in Lysandra's eyes as she walked away. Her anger palpable in the air between us.

Alf sighed.

I crossed my arms. "You should be nicer to girls. Playing with their feelings like that. How would you feel if you were a girl and got used?"

"Bad..." he muttered. "But it's not like I used her, I—"

"You liked somebody else," I whispered. "You went out with her to not think about him."

Alfonso gulped. "True. I guess I am scum."

I nodded. "Thankfully, I already knew about it, so I am willing to overlook it."

His cheeks reddened slightly as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Hey!" Kizu yelled, running over to us. "Ready for the ritual."

Alf frowned. In a few years, he would lose not only me, but Kizu too.

I took a deep breath. "I'm trying to steel myself, but it's proving difficult."

Kizu rubbed his head. "Yeah. Same here. But we got little other choice. The Dark Lord could appear at any time."

Alf curled his hands into fists. "Don't you think it's cowardly to leave it to the future generations to handle?"

Kizu and I both nodded. But there wasn't much we could do. We weren't sure when he or his minions would descend upon our world. By doing this, we were helping secure the future generations. At least, that was what our hope was.