Walking into the room, I instantly felt all the eyes on me and I could not help feel the sudden rush of fear that engulfed me as I tried to focus only on the Alpha and Luna in front of me.
It was not possible, however, because I could not listen to anything else except my heart drumming against my chest and the people staring at me, their eyes boring a hole into the back of my head.
The Alpha, with deep, dark wheat coloured hair and fawn brown coloured skin kept his eyes on me. If he was nervous, he did an excellent job hiding it. I wish I could calm down as well but I suppose my nervousness is evident to everyone in the room.
The Luna smiled at me kindly, a sort of recognition in his eyes the moment he looked at me but he did not say a word and I could not help but feel instantly grateful for that.
If he were to reveal that he saw me before they entered the room, most of the people here around going to look at me very sceptically. They will not allow me to dance as well as I could because of 'tradition'. No one, except a few selected, is supposed to see me, especially if I am dressed in this attire that is shown only for this time.
I really shouldn't have snuck out, that would have been a problem if they found out and I know that for sure. Thank you, Luna. I will do my best to impress you.
The entire hall is filled with sacred wine and bread, with the other priests standing in wait for the dancing to begin. This hall is where only the most important Alphas and their mates were seated in a circle around the hall.
There are some Betas too but only the Priests that were appointed to be in here. Otherwise, you will only be able to glimpse what happens inside by looking through the window and seeing the glow that comes from the hall.
I noticed some Omegas mixed with the Alphas and just uttered a prayer, hoping nothing bad happens. They are with their mates, I hope, so nothing should happen.
It is not wrong for Omegas to be there, especially if they have a strong connection to their Alphas. But if they do not, then being in direct contact with where the blessing will be coming in can cause some problems if they are not careful.
It can be anything from becoming sick to dying. So, please don't let anything too bad happen. Please.
They all sat on cushions scattered all around the ground, no one is given a higher seat or a more comfortable one for, until the blessing is received, they are considered equals to everyone in the room.
If, for some reason, the goddess decides not to give her blessing, the dancer will be put to death along with the new royals and the new search will begin again.
I can feel the pressure already mounting in my body as I made eye contact with the man in front of me. He gave me a nod, almost as if trying to reassure me.
I remembered his eyes widened the moment he looked at me as I walked into the room, almost as though I look different from the person he thought I would look like.
But he does not seem displeased so I am grateful for that. I know I am not one to look at in a way of admiration, especially physically.
That is why I am grateful that the clothes we are to wear are always so modest. Even the dress I am wearing for the dance is modest, though I am exposing the most amount of skin than I have ever done for a long time.
If he thinks that I look alright then I have no reason to complain and that did help me in relaxing just slightly too.
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This man, I have seen him before, but he never saw me. When he picked my token again, he asked to speak to me and I was called into a room, wearing a veil over my head as he spoke to me through a partition.
The partition merely being a very thin, white curtain.
I already made plans to run away again that night, I am not doing any dance that might doom the entire kingdom. I cannot take that kind of pressure and I am sure that the goddess would not mind it … I think …
I'm sorry! I know that I am scum!
"I heard you ran away the first time you were found out." His voice, like rich honey, came through the incredibly thin partition, almost like we were not divided by that.
I braced myself for a scolding. How I have insulted the goddess by asking for a second test, how I ran away and how I could have doomed the entire kingdom by not accepting my role the first time. That was the scolding I repeatedly got when I was brought back, after all.
But nothing like that happened.
He merely laughed and said, "I understand. You must have been terrified. I should have come the first time and, though I want to make some excuses, that will not change anything so, for what I put you through, I sincerely apologise."
I could see his figure in the translucent curtain and saw that he was bowing to me. Startled, I got to my feet, "Your highness, you mustn't bow to someone like me. I was the one that ran away of my own accord."
"No." He said, still resting his forehead on the dirty floor. "I was to be there. At least, I would have been able to give you the assurance that you are, indeed, the chosen one.
"I understand your fear. You ran away thinking to protect the kingdom, contrary to what anyone else says." He said, voice turning soft. I can feel the smile in his voice.
"Please raise your head," I said, looking at him through the veil, brows furrowing at him. "And speak. What could you possibly mean by your statement earlier?"
"Thank you for your graciousness." He said, looking right at me, as though he could see my face and I instantly felt exposed, much to my dismay. "I know the people are saying that you have insulted the goddess."
That is because I did.
"But I know that you ran away to keep this kingdom safe, as I have stated before." He looked right at me, making me grow even more anxious.
Can he see me??
"If my representative was not blessed by the goddess and chose the wrong person, no matter how well they try to appease her, she would not have been happy and, instead, curse us."
Ah, yes. She is petty like that sometimes but I suppose she has every right to be, given that she is the goddess and that she is the one that is supposed to give us her blessing.
"So, for trying to protect this kingdom and for trying to protect my honour, you have my eternal gratitude." He said bowing again.
Please stop doing that. Really makes me uncomfortable.
"Please stop doing that your highness," I said, keeping my composure as best as I could. "I did not do anything impressive."
Seriously. I am not as great as you make me out to be! Just treat me as a disappointment like everyone else is.
"You are too humble." He said, looking at me as I could see a hint of a smile on his face. Just how transparent is this partition??
I am so glad I am wearing a veil so he can't make my face out when I run away again tonight.
"Now I can see why the goddess chose you." He said, not taking his eyes off me.
Excuse me??
"I was actually worried about the dance." He sheepishly laughed, still keeping eye contact with me as a smile broke on his face. "If it is you doing the dance, I do not have a single worry in mind."
No, please. I am starting to feel guilty. Don't say it. I know what you are going to say, stop.
"I shall leave myself and this kingdom into your hands." He said bowing again.
There it is.
I sat in the room for a long time after he left, contemplating my choices but his facial expressions and parting words stuck with me. As someone not usually relied upon, words like that is to me what catnip to cats.
I had to dance, there is no other choice to be made.
________________________________
Looking at the king in front of me, I immediately relaxed, a smile coming on my face.
You are nervous yourself and yet you take the time to try and reassure someone in front of you. Putting your trust in a complete stranger is really something you have to be a fool to do.
Then again, I am doing everything I can to not let the stranger, putting their faith in me, down. So, who is the real fool here?
This hall room, also known as the 'Eclipse' or, as we like to call it, 'Blessings Room' has been cleaned for a week straight to make sure that it is so clean you can see a smudge if you so much as take a wrong step.
Every inch of the floor is covered with glass and underneath the glass is an intricate carving on a gold and silver plate that dates back hundreds of years.
"Greetings your majesties," I said, bowing to the both of them as I felt the cold glass under my bare feet, also decorated with little bits of white gold.
As much as we admire silver, we cannot wear it because it will burn into our skin and, well, I guess you can understand what I am trying to say. I shall not insult your intelligence further.
Waving my hands in front of me, I watched the markings on the engravings below us come out of the ground and appear in front of us.
"With your permission, I shall begin," I said, looking at them as they both nodded at me, the Luna looking very intently at me.
Ok. Grant me a little space to breathe, please.
"The carvings on the metal told the story of how we came to be thousands and thousands of years ago. It was during the era of the gods and there was a king that got a little too prideful."
As I spoke, the carvings turned into people and followed my every word as I continued to speak. This was one of the harder parts of my training, lose focus and they will stop listening to you.
"When one of the gods came down to dine with him and his family, he served him the body of a boy that was used in an offering not too long ago, to another god at that.
"This god became enraged and cursed his entire family and kingdom into turn into the beasts of the night, forever to wander around without a mind or human thinking.
"The entire kingdom appeared to have disappeared in one night and no matter where the other kingdoms tried to search, they could not find them.
"They only knew that the number of creatures in the forest have increased drastically and are laying waste to the people in the neighbouring kingdoms.
"Soon, these massive creatures that look like wolves, only bigger, stronger and with a much bigger appetite as compared to other creatures that ravage the night.
"That is, until one day. A lone wolf walked into a little hut, only to find that it was entirely ransacked. Bodies littered the room. Everyone laid motionless." I paused for a second, taking a minute to look at everyone before I continued, the sound of a baby crying resounded throughout the room.
So far, so good.