"Reign
The destiny of the Chosen soul
Born to rule and lead
With a heart braver than lion's
Intelligent as an owl
Kind and generous to their people
Artful and ready
To lead with their allies
To a brighter future.
And the Reign will succeed.
- poem for today's chapter
by Ayano_Ann (me)
Today was the very beginning of the trials for our heroes.
Sophie woke up early while her mother was brushing her head and urging her to get up. This was uncharacteristic of Selena, but she wouldn't see her dear daughter for a week and wished to see her till then as much as possible.
The girl rose to her feet and started to get ready. They hardly spoke. The words weren't needed. The suit that Anastasia had prepared stood on a hanger and as soon as Sophie touched the material, she realized how good was the workmanship.
Once she put it on, it fit her perfectly ��� in dark blue with silver ends, forming different shapes such as small stars, waves or, simply put, magic.
She gave her mother to braid her hair into a long and thin braid, as Anya recommended. Finally, Selena pulled out a gentle and beautiful hairpin: the coral flowers she gave her for the first day of training but braided with silver threads.
Sophie also noticed a new flower she had never seen before - surrounded as if by flames, but in blue at the end and red in the middle.
"It's called Suika no Hana, or, more simply, a fiery-water flower. I also participated with your father in the Competition. Then he gave me this flower so that if we had a child of our own, we could give it to her... now it's your turn to wear it. It will protect you." there were such tenderness and warmth in her voice. But sadness too.
She noticed the dahlia on the cupboard and took it in her hands. With a little magic, the threads made room for the flower and fastened tightly. "Now this will be there too."
Finally, she hooked the hairpin in her hair and stared at her daughter's face.
"I am proud of you from now on. I am sure that I will continue to be proud because you are the most wonderful daughter a mother can dream of. I love you."
Sophie got excited by her mother's words and turned to her to hug her.
"I love you very much too, Mom. I'm going to make you proud of me. The whole Nation will know what kind of daughter you have."
After the touching moments with her mother, Sophie had to leave. They put her in a carriage and headed to the big building of the event – the Pentagram. It was at the very centre of the Nations.
Tall, created by the rare gems: musgravite, tanzanite, serenities and others. It represents a large star surrounded by a circle.
They gave her some time to prepare, and then for a few minutes, Sophie saw only darkness...