It took only a little bit longer than usual to finish the breakfast feast and I left the disciples and elders to their own small chatter. My mom gracefully patted her bloody lips dry, the very notion of licking the delicious beast blood never even crossed her mind. I knew that. Because she insists on the "Principles of Queenly Elegant Etiquette" that she found somewhere on the internet. I stopped myself from saying that drinking raw beast blood and eating "fresh sashimi" as she said was nowhere close to the word elegance.
As I was informed by my mom and great uncle, there was an awakening ritual site in the Central Plains. For reference, Central Plains were where the portal from Lathen connected into Central Lathen. On the other hand, Central Town was where the ordinary creatures live in Central Lathen. Not everyone can be disciples of the House of Selvano, but those that do are permitted to have their family be protected in Central Town. It is built on the mountain range's feet near Central Plains.
If I had to travel from Helvana Peak all the way to Central Town, it'd be ten whole days of climbing mountain ranges, passing valleys, and crossing Lenova Lake. Fortunately, this is not the mundane world. My mom and I left the dining hall to the main hall and she flicked her tail in a direction.
"The portal to the plains are open in the rear courtyard and all activities scheduled to be held there for today is pushed to a different day," her voice always had the undertone of someone joking or not taking everything seriously but it was heavily overlaid with serious affection this time, "I am very proud of you, my dear boy, but are you really sure you want to go to the outer realm? We can just as easily get you those degrees and professors to teach you here too."
I sighed at the questions again but nodded determinedly, "I told you, others had their talent since before they reach 12 years old. I waited four years but it never manifested. Other than simple magic and bloodline magic, I can't do anything like your enchantment arts or father's shadow magic."
I stayed silent as we walked to the other side of the main hall and slowly approach the guest hall.
The words in my head turned and twisted before I bit my lip lightly and blurted out, "and besides. We cannot advance the magic world if we stay in our secret realms and hidden sanctuaries. Humans may be blind and deaf, but even Mr. Beethoven is renowned by both worlds. There was also Mrs. Keller. Wasn't she the one—"
My mom looked at me, the glaze of emotion in her red eyes darkened the iris into a deep lilac. There was an unnatural turbulence behind them and I stopped. I had known some of these things from both the internet and my parents' stories. The magic world had their own rumours and folklores too. I didn't bring it up again.
"Anyways," I changed the subject as if nothing was wrong, "since you guys are determined to make a fun of your son in public, should I bring all my stuff with me or does that mean I have to deal with your old-fashioned niceties before I catch my flight to the US?"
My mom shuddered lightly as her fins flapped languidly, her laugh was melodious and the faint traces of magic was easily batted away by my mental barrier, "you could be make fun of? The other houses looks warily at you and awaits your ascension. You don't have to awaken an innate talent to bring fear to those fools. We are the core of the House of Selvano. Have faith in your bloodline. I am sure your talent will be as powerful as all your predecessors when it blooms."
I smiled at my mom. It was a little bit of insecurity I've always had but my parents never let me dwell on it too long. We had walked (or I did, my mom slithered) across the empty guest hall and turned another left to the banquet hall. Since the portal was set on the rear courtyard, we walked towards one of the many doors leading to the balconies.
My mom had apparently gotten tired of serious talk and began to hum another foreign melody. The melodies and songs she hums had always been slathered with magic, since her bloodline magic as part of the siren kingdom had such a passive skill. Her control was brilliant as always though, as I could easily ward off the magic with the perpetual mental barrier. I myself strode to the nearest door and pushed it open.
Both of us was immediately greeted by the magnificent view of the rear courtyard.
Since the rear tower looms over the Razen Cliffs, the vast view of the mountain ranges that makes up Central Lathen filled our view above the walls. Sleek black separating the clouds and lower mountains from the bustling rear courtyard. I gaped slightly at the sight. It wasn't the sight of the beautiful mountains that astonished me though. I had seen that view too many times.
"Why..." I swallowed my saliva before asking in a slight panic at my mom, "why are there so many things and people? How many people ARE coming to that ritual anyways??"
* * *
Today is a very special and nerve wrecking day.
It was the birthday of the Young Master of the Selvano House. Although The House of Xeon does not lose to the House of Selvano in terms of popularity, the two houses had differing strengths and peculiarities. The House of Selvano had sent invitations for the feast in Central Lathen and none of the other houses would even think of not sending a representative to attend. Unfortunately for a certain young man, he was dragged to come by the chosen representative of his house.
His home is in Southern Lathen, and his parents were the Master and Lady of the Xeon House. Clad in uncomfortable formal clothing and donning a top hat and cane to complete his look, the young master of the House of Xeon made even his servants feel uncomfortable just looking at him.
"Lescard! Thanks for accompanying me to the Selvano's! I wouldn't have been able to survive myself otherwise~" the cheery voice of the actual representative made his head spin in both annoyance and ear pains.
"Please, for the love of all citizens of Atlantis, quieten your voice."
The boy's voice was quite deep for his age but hadn't lost the touch of youth just yet. Lescard Xeon was appointed to accompany his fiance, Lady Aeria from his father's cousin's friend's sister-in-law's family, the Ircain noble family.
Unlike Central Lathen's monarchy system where there were only one main family and other disciples under them, Southern Lathen had many noble families and the royal family reigns as the Master of the House of Xeon. It was more similar to a federation system where the many noble families had their own lands while the royal family governs the overall prosperity of Southern Lathen. Also because of this, many of the noble's domains are related through marriage. It was also why Southern Lathen allows arranged marriage but has strict laws protecting the freedom of the children who were engaged since young.
"But, Lescard~! It's a feast held in Central Lathen! They have the most beautiful landscape in the whole wide magic world!" Aeria Ircain clung to Lescard's slightly slacked arm.
Lescard tried to suppress the automatic response of pulling his hand away and tried to reason with Aeria, "it is impolite to be so loud, especially since you'll be attending as a representative of the House of Xeon. The Queen will not like it if you act unseemly."
Aeria slightly pouted before tugging Lescard along, "it's more like, you're the real representative and I'm just your wife."
"Future wife."
Aeria glared at Lescard before relenting, "fine, future wife. But! We rarely get to visit Central Lathen since you're always busy studying and I was busy with other things."
"Isn't it just shopping?"
"What do you mean, 'just shopping'?! I also have governing duties to practice on!" Aeria exclaimed in a proud huff, her whole demeanor like the warm sun above sea level.
Southern Lathen is governed under a matriarchal royal system. Although my parents are officially the Master and Lady of the House of Xeon, they were also known as Queen Aquea and Royal Prince Lockard in Southern Lathen. At the end of the day, the women rules the lands under the sea. Lescard sometimes laments his fate for being born in such a place. Even so, he was proud of his home and family. Whatever the government system is, he can proudly say he is a prince of the great civilization of Atlantis!
"And who still uses the old name Atlantis, anyways? The first Queen was really lacking in naming sense," Aeria suddenly whispered to Lescard with a sly grin, "something like Aeria Seas would be way better."
"Your ambitions are beyond me," Lescard couldn't stop the instinctive deadpan in his voice.
"Well, come on! The feast will start in a few hours. We can't be late!" Aeria waved over a butler who nodded and called over the chauffeur.
The two of them swam to the carriage before the chauffeur coaxed the two water dragons to swim for the surface. Unlike horses and other carriage-pulling animals, dragons have pride and will not break loyalty from their true masters. The chauffeurs only needed to guide the dragons and not leash or whip them. It was easier on both sides. Lescard entertained Aeria's cheerful banter with his own wit and careful responses. He wasn't keen on getting lectures from his mother, the Queen but he does harbor hidden awe and respect for the future Queen. It didn't take long before they could see the border between the shallow coast and deeper seas. The people on land saw the signal and prepared to welcome the two nobles.
Lescard and Aeria themselves got off the carriage and waved the dragons and chauffeur goodbye. Their tails leisurely moved as they swam forward. When there wasn't enough depth to stay completely submerged, they held hands and Aeria muttered the incantation.
"We of the nobled blood rule the seas and walk the lands. Under the command of my powers, all of the seas obey me and bow before us," the cheery voice of Aeria echoed as the water around them separated and formed a dry path to the lands.
Lescard's suit and Aeria's dress dried out as the sea water escaped from the fabric. The moment their tails were not submerged, they morphed into legs and the two nobles quickly got used to using two legs. Their enchanted clothes followed the form of their bodies so there were no indecency to view. When they arrived on the dry land and the parted water fell back in, the people on top bowed deeply to both of them.
"Welcome to the land section of Southern Lathen, young master! Her majesty the future Queen!"
Lescard gave a wry smile before nodding, "her Majesty sends her regards to the faithful follower of Atlantis on land."
Aeria curtsied before waving off the people bowing down, "thanks for receiving us, no need to be too polite. We are all citizens of Atlantis after all. Let's get going now, shall we?"
Lescard waited for Aeria to walk forward before following her half a step behind. The people also stood back up with reverence to the future Queen. The chorus of "yes, your Majesty!" made Lescard chuckle and Aeria giggle. The twenty or so people then walked over to the harbor nearby and the people welcomed Aeria and Lescard into a prepared car.
"It's too bad that commoner of Atlantis could not breathe air while commoners who had mixed bloodline with land dwellers could not breathe water. Otherwise, I would love to let my butler view the seas from above and these faithful followers to see the palace," Lescard pondered as he looked at the blue stretching all the way to the horizon.
Meanwhile, the person beside Lescard that hadn't stop talking until now suddenly paused.
"Now that we're on land..." Aeria mumbled before reaching into her dress and pulling out a smartphone from who-knows-where, "there must be signal everywhere!"
Lescard facepalmed, "you seem to really like that human invention."
"Of course! I plan to make waterproof WiFi become common under the seas to ease the commoners usage of these technologies. It's been so long, yet her Majesty the Queen still haven't figured out how to promote the use of modern technology. I'll use this to spread the influence of my reign when I am crowned!" Aeria began talking about her plans to 'revolutionize' and 'modernize' Atlantis in her reign.
Lescard sighed and simply nodded along.