As we made our way to the pavilion, we felt the stares on us from many campers. Tracy was looking at her wrist, acting as if she hoped to find her soulmate here since they weren't found together. Soon we sat at one of the empty tables, "So," Aili began, "how do we get our food? Is it like a buffet, or will it magically appear like that story with a start of the term feat at the beginning of every book?"
I smiled as Hanni appeared, "It will magically appear, same as any drink you want," she added. "Including the limited-time drinks," she added with a wink as I smiled.
With that, she left as I imagined a cup full of Baja Blast and a plate full of burgers and fries. Soon enough, both of them appeared, and I started eating. By the time I was done, Dal was up at the front, ready to make an announcement.
"Good evening, campers," he began, "as you may have noticed, we have some new people with us for dinner today. We are hoping that they'll either be claimed now or at the campfire so we can all have some fun without people badgering them about their parentage."
Right then, a gasp came from the table that Hanni was sitting at as I looked at Aili, about to grab her hand before I realized the sign that appeared above her forehead. I then looked at Tracy, who had the same colored sign, but it was a flaming rainbow heart instead of a dripping rainbow heart with wings. Over her sign was also a symbol of a feather with parchment color in gold. I looked towards Aili, who had a silver crown over her sign.
Just then, I felt my clothes change, "Stage," I mouthed, and she nodded as we got up with Tracy and went to the front of the pavilion. I looked at her once more before speaking. Her looks were returning just as mine were. "Good evening demigods, gods and goddesses, and mortal," I began, "as you may have guessed, I am not who I originally said that I was. I am Liz Layzer, and this is my soulmate Allison "Aili" Ransom. We are your future King and Queen that brings sad news to you. Before I say this news, however, let me introduce you to Tracy Mitchell. She is my advisor during this war," I said as the pavilion was dead silent.
"What is the news, my future King," Dal asked as I scanned the room
"There is an upcoming war," I began as murmurs started, "as many of you may have heard, there was an attack on demigods in South America. The parents of the gods are declaring war, and we should be prepared for an attack, and the three of us are here for training, so we are fit to lead and understand our powers."
As I finished, the whole pavilion dissolved into chaos as people questioned my validation of this announcement. "All of this information that Liz is saying may be sad, but it is true," Aili began grabbing onto my hand. "Before today, we were informed of everything and introduced to the gods. We are mainly here to train, so we know how to defend ourselves in case of an attack on our campus. We will be sure to visit, but I do suggest that you start training as well. We all need to be ready for everything," she finished as the room went silent.
When she finished, every god and goddess we met simply hours ago appeared outside of the pavilion. There were even minor gods and goddesses behind them. The only exception was Samuel and Mariam, "What brings you here, my lords and ladies," I asked. I glanced at Tracy and Aili just as Sam and Shanda appeared before the three of us as Maurine appeared next to Tracy.
"It is the King and the Queen," Sam began with worry on their face, "they have been poisoned. The former King and Queen are dead," she finished, then turned to the crowd. "All hail King Liz Layzer and Queen Allison Ransom, may they lead us to the winner of this war," she announced as I glanced at Aili in shock just as our clothes were changed once more and everyone bowed.
'I was not ready for this,' I thought as Aili scrunched her nose, a telltale sign of her discomfort.
'Did you just speak into my mind?' I heard a voice ask in my head as my eyes widened.
'Yes,' I began. 'Did we just get married without a proposal?'
'No, you two did not get married. You are just crowned as King and Queen,' a new voice added. 'Now, will you please stop talking in your mind? It's weird enough having to bow to you two.'
'Tracy,' Aili and I thought at the same time.
At that point, I looked around and saw everyone bowing, and it made me uncomfortable. "Please rise," I began, and everyone stood up, "I plan on leading you all to a glorious victory. But please understand that we did not plan for this to happen, nor did we think that any of this would happen. Aili and I were only roommates when this project started. I would like it if you would treat us with the same respect as you would treat each other unless the circumstances require it to be different. We both had normal lives just as you did before you were brought here and claimed."
Everyone nodded in understanding, "Long live the new King and Queen," Flinn announced as the entirety of the pavilion cheered in approval.
The next thing Aili and I knew, there was a party for us
'Okay, this is quite the way to worship people who just replaced their King and Queen who recently passed,' Tracy said in our heads
'Yes, and I hate it,' I said, 'I'd rather spend some time with Aili or packing for college rather than do this. How were they poisoned anyways?'
'Their wine was poisoned,' Maurine chimed in. 'They were celebrating the fact that you guys understood so easily—something about finding you two at this point in time rather than it being too late.'
'So,' Aili began, 'what you're saying is that they were celebrating our acceptance and the fact that we just went with it? How would it be too late? We got here were just claimed by Sam and her wife, spoke and then poof; the King and Queen are dead.'
'I glanced at Aili,' who only shrugged.
'You're not wrong. It does seem a little suspicious of the council to instantaneously crown the next King and Queen when they barely know what's going on, much less how to control their powers. I need to fill Cliff in on this as soon as possible since he gave us those government jobs. I thought'
'Okay, both of you will fill me in on everything because I don't know all of what you've been through and I seem lost. Are you referring to the president when you mention Cliff?' Maurine asked as I smirked
'Yes, we are,' Aili answered as I flagged down Sam
"I believe Aili, and I should fill in these two before we jump into everything, is there someplace private where we can talk audibly," I asked her, and she nodded
"Yes, but before you four leave, Aili needs to say something," she replied, "she needs to say her thanks and some sort of blessing."
"How does she bless," I began, "we don't know how to control our powers."
Sam smirked, "Just force some will into it, and Shanda and I will funnel it, so it doesn't burn anyone," she said to Aili, who nodded
"Gods, goddesses, demigods, and mortals," Aili began standing up from her seat, "it is with my deepest gratitude that I, along with my King, thank you for this celebration. We must rest because our training will begin tomorrow. May we be well-rested, and may we have the strength to win this war as we had won the last one," she said as I felt power surge in her words.
As the crowd cheered, I saw it land on all of the gods, mortals, and demigods, "Now get some rest, warriors," I began. "We all will need the energy to prepare."
"Long live the new King and Queen," I heard Stu shout as the crowd repeated the chant before leaving for their cabins. One person stood in the middle of the pavilion.
"Are you really Liz," Hanni asked dumbfounded as I stepped off the stage with Aili.
I nodded, "Yes, I am, sorry that I had to lie to you like that," I began, "Tracy was part of this too."
"Yeah, sorry about that, Hanni," she said with a shy smile, "some of us couldn't exactly go to that school or anywhere without being recognized."
Hanni then regained her composure and nodded, "I forgive you both," she began. "Stu and I will have a hand in your combat training as your guards will help with the magic."
We nodded, "Thank you," I said, "now get some rest. We can talk more tomorrow," I finished, and Hanni turned around and left. I then turned to Sam, "Could you please lead the way to some privacy?"
With a stiff bow, Sam turned on her heel and led us to a cabin, like the last one we were in. "Dammit, Liz," she cursed, "don't put so much power into your voice. How did Aili learn that before you did," she asked, and I shrugged.
"Maybe because she had time to think and get used to it while Liz was pretty much thrown into this after she healed," Aili answered for me as I looked at the core and cut the flow of the power of to a minimum
"What she said," I finally said, "now go get some sleep. I don't want you drained if you're going to teach us how to use our magic."
A smile formed on Sam's face, "That I will, my King," she said with a mock bow as I groaned. "Thank you for learning so quickly," she added before leaving with her wife, who followed us.
I smiled before turning to enter the cabin. It was a golden cabin with the number one on a bronze plate. Below the one read Cabin of the King, Queen, and the advisors when they are at camp.
I opened it, and the place lit up as a fountain started, "Going to take a long time for this servitude," Aili said, and I nodded in agreement.
The cabin had one master bedroom and multiple bedrooms for guests and guards. There was a fountain in the middle, and the thing that irritated me the most was that everything was either gold, silver, blue, or purple.
"Couldn't they just choose a color," Tracy asked as I shrugged
"I don't know, but those are my thoughts too," I said, throwing myself into a chair. "So where should Aili and I start," I asked as everyone else sat down
"Why don't you start with how all of you know each other," Maurine answered just as Aili sat next to me
I sighed, "Tracy is easy since all I can say is that we met in high school, but there's quite the story with meeting Aili."
Maurine sat on the edge of her seat, "Well then, get on with it," she said as I smiled and began to tell her the story about how Allison Ransom and I met.