2.1 CHAPTER THREE: THE NEW IDENTITY

2.1 CHAPTER THREE: THE NEW IDENTITY

"The Sifr's report has come, your highness. She found Alaric Fitton and delivered his punishment,"

Celeste stated as she walked inside the king's private study. Her long, burgundy dress with an intricate, cross-halter top reached the floor. She had just finished one of her duties in the temple and had not changed before coming to see the king.

"That is good news," the king answered as he returned the book he was holding back to the shelf in front of him.

The king looked nothing alike his royal uncle. He was every bit of the opposite. His eyes were a seafoam green and his hair a beautiful shade of mahogany. He walked towards his chair and sat down as he watched Celeste roam around the library.

"When you mentioned that you are recruiting her into the Kifo, I have to be honest, Celeste. I was not expecting much," the king expressed. "Her name might have come out of the Phoenix fire, but as the lady, I knew her to be, I simply thought it was a mistake. An unexplainable one. But it truly must have been a mistake, is what I thought,"

"The Phoenix fire does not make mistakes, your highness," Celeste replied, her tone firm. "Your niece is a force to reckon with. I understood that the very first time I beheld her,"

"How many times have I said to not address me as such?" a new voice interrupted the conversation between the two.

The king visibly jolted in his seat from shock while Celeste's held a worn-out expression. The Sifr suddenly appeared beside the great sorceress. Her crimson hair was still in its perfect ringlets. Her brows furrowed as she stared in disappointment at the two older people in the room.

Celeste turned to her. "How often have I told you not to barge into a conversation?"

"Uhm," she pretended to think. "Never? Need I remind you that I learned to interrupt conversations from you,"

"Oh," the royal mage answered, her mouth forming an 'o'.

She stared at her prodigy. Karme was wearing her Kifo uniform. A black trench coat that reached her knees with three saddle pockets on the side and an oversized hood. The emblem of the Kifo shone on her left shoulder. She wore a black turtleneck shirt and black leather pants underneath the coat. Her feet were covered with red, knee-high combat boots with buckle straps.

Karme de Serin turned out to be far better than Celeste had anticipated. She trained her for only half a year, and Karme could already perform missions alone. Swiftly and successfully, which then earned her the name of the huntress. It was something that had never been done before. Especially considering she had to teach her from scratch. Since Karme never had any experience using her magic.

Even amongst the Kifo, Karme was a well-kept secret. So, Celeste as the leader of the Kifo created a position specifically for Karme. The Sifr. Only she and the king were allowed to know her identity.

"You have done your mission as swiftly as always, Aaryaa," the king complimented, making sure he had used the correct name.

As Karme previously said, she was dead. So, to let go of the past that never wanted her, she created a new identity. Aaryaa Silverwick. It was a name she had chosen for herself. It pained her to let go of the name her mother had given her, but she was no longer that girl.

"As always," she agreed, earning her a smack from Celeste.

"Don't go getting a big head now, child," Celeste chastised like an older sister would do to their younger siblings.

The three of them, despite their different statuses in life, joked around with each other. The king laughed as he watched his royal mage wrangle his niece off of her. He had never seen Karme laugh while she was still at castle de Serin as she does after becoming Aaryaa. So, despite his desire to bring what his uncle had done to light, he could not.

Not if it would take away her smile.

"The royal duke seeks an audience, my highness!" came the announcement from the king's courtier.

Aaryaa and Celeste quickly sobered up as the former turned and vanished. The king cleared his throat as he called forth his visitor. The door opened, and came in was his uncle with his head held high. It did not escape the king's notice how his uncle looked reluctant at bowing his head in greetings.

Celeste stood behind the king and merely nodded her head in greetings to the duke, whose eyes slightly flared up. But as a master of pretend, it was all gone the moment next.

"My king, would you mind if I talk to you for a moment?"

"Go on," the king answered, gesturing with his hand for the duke to take a seat.

"Privately," the duke added, his voice holding a venom he tried to hide as he turned to look at Celeste.

Celeste turned to the king and curtsied while she merely gave the duke a nod. Showing him that he was far beneath her respect. As a royal mage, Celeste was not below any of the royal statuses aside from the king himself. It was a fact of life that Celeste enjoyed rubbing in the royal duke's face for the past four years.

She walked passed him and gave him a smirk. She could just imagine him seething underneath that poker face of his. She laughed to herself as she closed the door behind her. As soon as it was close, Aaryaa appeared manifested behind her.

"Can you be any more childish?" she asked as she shook her head at the older woman. "One would think you are not a century old,"

"First of all," Celeste raised a finger.

Aaryaa felt something hit her in the back of the head, and she glared at the older woman.

"Do not mention my age. Second of all, I have no need, nor am I inclined, to show respect to a man, especially to one I have none whatsoever," she continued as the two of them walked the castle hallways.

Aaryaa had changed out of her uniform. She was wearing something akin to what Celeste was wearing. Aaryaa Silverwick was known to be the great sorceress's apprentice. She was enchanted to make anyone who saw her forget her face. Her whole facial identity was erased from their mind as soon as she was out of their sight. They would never forget Aaryaa Silverwick, just how she looked like.

"Do you have time right now, Aaryaa?" Celeste asked as she led the two of them toward her temple.

Aaryaa rolled her eyes in answer. "When have I ever didn't have time for you?"

"Good," Celeste clapped as she turned to Aaryaa with a smirk. "Accompany me for a ceremonial,"

Aaryaa groaned as she thought of how long Celeste's ceremonials usually last. But she had given her word. Thus, accompany her teacher she will.