Chapter VIII

Days have passed, and the castle became much more busier than ever. Servants and butlers alike are running around wild and frantic for preparations, wanting it perfect and pleaseable enough for the elite guests. Royals and six of the nobel houses from Ellysia have been invited over, some invited and highly expected guests from Xereisee and Sappherine were also anticipated by the King Lawrence himself.

Brixton on the other hand was quite nervous, knowing in fact that his background was something that elite people would look down on, but he was assured by Dominique, telling the young prince that it’ll be alright and that both him and the magician will always be support and defend him no matter what. Aethan, was quite a different case, he seemed calm and collected, unbothered to be precise. Yet deep down they knew that he was much more anxious and giddy than anyone else.

The banquet was for him and it’s understandable.

It isn’t his birthday, nor is it an engagement party— he’s still far too young for that. However, the upcoming most awaited day was significant, absolutely significant, especially for a crowned prince as him. After years of training with magic and dreams, his sacred guardian would finally be announced in front of the whole mob of invited people. It was really important, knowing that he’ll be the next king— and the people living in Celeste wouldn’t want a king without a sacred guardian.

Sacred Guardians fuels the magic within, they serve as the catalysts that makes one powerful— depending on whoever took an interest on a person and made a pact with them. They were the lingering souls of the deceased that chose to stay and govern the lands in their own ways, by means of becoming spiritual animals.

Normally, it would take a royal years before a guardian would sign a pact with them. Royals and nobels alike are examined much more thoroughly than those who were born below the nobel belt, because most of the poor have been the purest so far. Guardians needed to be assured that they were worthy and that their intentions weren’t ill— that they weren’t greedy for power and domination. The previous kings of Celeste had met their guardians at the ages twenty above, and it was a surprise (and definitely worth for a banquet, based on King Lawrence), when his first born child started to report of occuring dreams every twilight.

Meanwhile, Clementine have been out for most of the preparations— pacing around the room in front of Alejandro whom she called over. She didn’t care if she literally just made him teleport and loose a quarter of his strength, but amongst all of the magicians out there, amongst them four, it was him whom she trusted the most. They were childhood friends, practically attached to the hip and mainly separated due to her preferences of working under a different reigning dynasty.

“You’re telling me that Dark Magic had been reborn, and you suspect ‘slug-face’ as the one who brought it?”, Alejandro inquired, voice as low and slow as possible, definitely indicating that he was seriously analyzing the situation. When the white-haired Clementine straight up popped and called him over a by a talking hummingbird had him seething in annoyance. He had, apparently, almost broke and spill the concoction that took him a year to complete, due to shock. Who would’ve thought that birds could talk? Then again, this world is filled with magic, he had just— didn’t really expected that at all.

“Yes, it’s back. Somewhere near the palace. I can’t locate it’s real location but it’s near the palace”, she informed, busily drumming her fingers on the wooden table whilst inhaling the sweet calming scent of old books and parchment. They were currently situated within the library, totally ignoring the ghost who kept on whining and fuming at them, due to Clementine’s bounding spell that had him caged in a magical white cell.

“What happened to the overly confident, ‘I could do anything on my own and succeed’ Clementine?”, He snarked a remark, earning himself a smack on his hand from the magician who sat in front of him with a glare.

“I don’t need that right now, Alejandro”, she pursed her lips, sighing in a frustrated manner. Bags were sligho adorning the bottom of her eyes, and she was even more tired than usual— she had her own fair share of sleepless nights, but this by far was worse.

“I know, I’m just taunting you”, the warlock shrugged, resting his chin on his hand that was propped on the table in an evaluating manner. “This would be really annoying. I have the prince and princess of Sappherine to protect, and at the same time. . .this whole ‘reborn of dark magic’ thing”,

Hearing his latest statement made her gasp, eyes widening and mouth hanging at the fact that she had just heard him mention the prince and princess of Sappherine. She had no idea that they were a part of the banquet. . .so far she knew that there are invited guests from the aforementioned country alongside Xereisee, but never specified as the twins, Cyrus Van Sappherine and Cassia Van Sappherine.

“You seem really surprised. . . Don’t you know that they’re invited?”,

She shook her head, “No. I knew that there were guests from Xereisee and Sappherine but never did Aethan specifically told me that it was His and Her Highnesses Cyrus and Cassia”, Clementine admitted, slumping back on the chair with a groan.

“Well, there’s that. At first Cassia didn’t really want to and it was settled by the two that non of them would attend, but news reached them about Luca Rovic and Alice Hallen being invited and they agreed to come”, he answered honestly, earning yet another groan from the female magician, prompting him to roll his eyes at his companion.

“If Luca is present then I’m certain that Timothy would also be. . .”,

“The party would be really chaotic”, Alejandro chuckled, recalling that banquet in Xereisee wherein he and Clementine both have to tie down Luca and Timothy apart for causing havoc. Pranks here and there, and worst of all— Alice, Cassia, and Cyrus would also participate, claiming that it’s fun. They were the least people expected to do those silly messy things for a laugh or two, but life is indeed filled with surprises.

“Aethan had not been over that prank they pulled on him”, Clementine pointed out, making him cackle.

“Who wouldn’t? Slime and flour? Not a good combination. What is he? A damn octopus?”, he wheezed. Clementine couldn’t help it but faintly giggle too, reminiscing the horror-stricken expression on Aethan’s face that day.

“I wish I could go back to the past. . .and worry about nothing. It was really fun back then”, she mumbled loud enough for her companion to hear. Alejandro halted himself from laughing hard, staring at her silvered-optics that was held captive in a daze of longing. He knew that she misses home, and that she missed her family very much. She was fairly young when she left for she was chosen as an apprentice to a retiring magician. Though, it only made him shake his head, pursing his lips at the fact that--

It was her own volition to leave Sappherine, her family, her friends behind, for a reason that he couldn’t accept as of current time, and would always make his blood boil.

‘’Oh, Clementine— genius but foolish Clementine. . .’,