The Daeva house buzzed with activities as impish looking men and women carried flowers and ribbons made out of colorful branches, Brownies carrying cutleries and ladles and cauldrons. Grandma Daeva looked down from the stairs, laughing and responding to greetings.
"Happy name day your ladyship" two brownies greeted in unison as they passed by the matriarch. " Thank you Tweedledee, Tweedledum" The lady replied with a smile as she watched the creatures go about their duties.
"Tweedledee and Tweedledum? Jeez you mystian folks do have funny names. Just yesterday I heard Cascade talking to a pixie friend she called Flingerwings" Amora said to Bloom as they walked towards Grandma Daeva. Aquata had already gone to the Asturias Emporium to pick up their dresses, so Amora and Bloom were about leaving for the learning halls.
"You know pixies and fairies and brownies are somewhat cheerful creatures so most times their names are given based on a funny trait. Take that dwarf who escorted you into Vadina , his name is Alebelly" Bloom explained.
"Bless you Grandma, Happy name day" Amora greeted her grandmother once they reached her side. "Bless you too child" the older lady replied.
"Happy name day" Bloom also greeted.
"I see you are off to the halls" Grandma Daeva spoke. She didn't have the air of authority she always had on today, she glowed differently and her eyes twinkled as she spoke. Amora thought it to be because of the name day celebration.
Amora and Bloom left for the learning halls chattering about who and who would come for the soiree. "I really do hope Aenan comes" Bloom said with a sigh.
"You really need to tell that Aenan how you feel and stop acting like this" Amora shook her friend from the fantasy world she was in back into the reality.
"I can't Amora, he is a noble and I'm just well, you know the daughter of a witch and a naturite. He is way up and I am way down here" Bloom explained using hand gestures as they got into the halls.
Amora thought that it was quite weird to have social discrimination in a mystical land. She was only used to seeing such class differentiation in her world, the other realm.
They walked past the four sassy nobles, Fiammetta and her friends. While Fiammetta, Solana and Alena snickered at Bloom and Amora, Neyastra was rather silent and somewhat had the look of fear and guilt in her eyes.
"I can't wait to be the beauty of Lady Daeva's name day celebration" Fiammetta said as she flipped her long fiery red hair and wore a proud smile on her face. Just opposite them, four other female students stood and from their looks, they were also nobles. They were all water elementals with their silvery hair shinning and their sensual gestures intimidating. The four water elementals laughed at what Fiammetta said. Fiammetta shot them a glare, fire flashing in that glare.
"What are you laughing at?" She asked. The four water elementals continued laughing and this aggravated Fiammetta and her three goons more. Her eyes flashed red flames and her hands tightened into fists covered in flames. The four water elementals only smiled and then there was a large roaring sound. Outside the halls everyone could see a large wave of water just flowing on its own waiting on the girls to command.
"Easy there little smoke Dragon, one wrong move and I'll drown you" One of the water elementals who appeared the leader spoke with much calmness and sensuality as she walked around Fiammetta and her goons covering their auras with hers. Yes water elementals were that seductive with their qualities and can overshadow anybody with their presence. The other students watched with awe as the two groups looked like they were going to fight and show off abilities.
" Nerida, Fiammetta stand down" A voice thundered from across the hall. The voice belonged to Aenan who was now walking towards the group.
"She started it" Alma one of the water elementals spoke. Nerida called the waters down and sashayed with her girls with so much grace.
"Is it always this intense here?" Amora asked Bloom once they were away from the scene.
"Yes it is. Especially as the ball and matching season is about to begin" Bloom said as she stopped to pick up a flower pot. "ball and matching season?" Amora couldn't get more confused.
"Yes. This is the season where there are lots of balls and people get matched, weddings and matings happen during and after it. Lady Daeva's name day celebration is the first ball that opens the season and the Mystian games is the last event" Bloom explained. Now, They had gotten into the learning room and were seated listening to the other students buzzing and humming about the season Bloom just spoke about. The entire day in the halls had just talks about the balls and females making plans with their friends on the gowns to wear to attract the males amidst doing spells, potions and etiquette classes.
That evening at the Daeva house had the dwellers of that abode moving here and there, trying on dresses and checking out the decorations being done by six purple haired naturites, The Plumptons. The brownies carried trays and trays of sweet smelling food and drinks.
"Make sure that pudding isn't soggy" The head brownie yelled at the others.
"Temper temper Finnegan" Lady Sereia chided the brownie with a smile as she walked around the area looking for Jesper who was running from dressing in his attire.
Soon the soiree started and guests started arriving. Amora , Bloom and Aquata were all dressed up in the beautiful gown Peppa the blue pixie had made. Amora's gown had a silvery blue look. It was really soft and matched her glowing pale skin. The gown was sleeveless,the top down to her stomach having a heart shape and the rest of it holding her curves and had a high slit up to her thighs, her beautiful leg revealed to the world. Amora didn't know how Peppa had managed to get the corset right but it was perfect and the back was opened, lined with lace and pearls. Just above her waist was a huge rose made from the same material. Her red hair was made into fierce curls by her moon fairies. Bloom's gown screamed nature as it was green and off the shoulder. It also had the corset thing just like Amora suggested and her gown had layers with the front a bit shorter. Aquata wore a light blue gown with silver cape. It matched her auburn hair.
"I have never looked so grand. Eeeeekks to the Moon goddess I look like a noble. Like a princess. By the gods, may Grandma Daeva's days be long" Bloom twirled in front of the giant mirror squealing and laughing each time she caught a glance of her reflection.
Soon there was a knock on the door, asking them to step out as Grandma Daeva was about to lead the family out for the guests to see.
"I've never seen such beautiful designs in one place"Amora whispered to Bloom as she peeked out and saw the decorations and the guests who were talking and laughing.
Amora could see some of the students from the learning halls. Bloom saw them too and wasted no time to walk down the stairs to flaunt her beautiful ball gown. She got stares and size ups from them but that didn't flinch her one bit instead she held her chin up and waltzed past the lot of them.
"Now it's time to welcome our hostess, the one we celebrate today, the matriarch, the Lady Daeva" That was the master of ceremony speaking. The guests began to clap as Grandma Daeva stepped out looking so elegant and even more graceful in her light gold gown that had flowing hands and a flowing cape, the hem had silvery stones and the details gave her a queen mother look.
"Thank you all for honouring my invitation and I do hope it is going well" She laughed and the crowd laughed with her. She motioned for the other members of the family who began coming down one after the other with Amora being last. Amora's entrance caused lots of gasps as her gown was unique and her beauty beguiling. The attention got Cascade jealous as she shot Amora dagger glares.
There was a water elemental display from a troupe of water elementals. The brownies in charge of food and drinks could be seen carrying trays of goodies from person to person. Then there was a large dinner spread.
The floor got busy with dancing as a queer band of gnomes played beautiful music.
Grandma Daeva and her daughter in-laws moved in the crowd talking and appreciating the guests.
Amora, Bloom and Aquata were on their fourth moon cake when Fiammetta, Alena and Solana approached them each looking graceful in their gowns but overshadowed by Amora, Bloom and Aquata's.
"Pretty gown you have there Bloom, where did you get it? Let me guess your family borrowed it from an emporium?" Fiammetta mocked and her two friends laughed.
"Do you nobles have filthy tongues?" Aquata shot back at Fiammetta.
"Ah and who are you? Their escort knight?" Fiammetta laughed hard and sipped from her mead cup. Amora saw something in Aquata's eyes that she hadn't seen before. Aquata had anger in her eyes and didn't know what Aquata was doing but the mead began to choke Fiammetta.
"What are you doing to her? Fiammetta! Fia!" Solana yelled as she had balls of fire forming around her fists.
" The same thing I would do to you if you say anything nasty again. This is someone else's soiree have some respect" Aquata released her grip and Fiammetta began to pant her face red from suffocation. The trio left with shame. Fiammetta kept looking back, glaring at Aquata.
"What did you do to her Aquata?" Bloom asked. " It's just a water trick Bloom, the mead is made of water and other things so I manipulated the liquid going down her throat to a halt hence choking her" Aquata responded.
"Serves them right they'll know not to bully Bloomie again" Amora said hugging Bloom as they walked back into the guest arena watching and talking about everyone's dressing.
Olette and Sereia watched the younger ones mingle and blush when asked to dance. They watched the young females closely as they were all being swept off their feet by the handsome water elemental, Aenan Asturias. Aenan was also an object of awe to his cousin, Laech, who was nursing a very serious case of envy. Envy that encompassed both the charming Aenan and his two friends Nen and Zeru , and even his best friend Elio Almenara. Elio was a fifteen year old fire elemental and he already had a "prospective match", Aria, a very beautiful air elemental in their learning chamber, on his arm. He, Laech, was a very unsure-of-himself fifteen year old water elemental. He had always been told that he lacked the grace of a water elemental.
It seemed as if everyone out here in the garden where this soiree was taking place had someone but him- and of course Ulanni Daeva(Amora) and her two companions, Bloom and Aquata. His cousin Aena seemed to have not just one but a string of every young female vadinian- witches, naturites and elementals alike. Every single one who talked with Aenan and his friends, left with a smitten smile on her face.
How did he do that?
Working up his courage, Laech finally made his way to where Aenan stood with his friends entertaining three sister witches. But when he got closer, all he could do was silently observe. Aenan's friend were good but Aenan was better.
It took Aenan a few minutes to notice his sad cousin and excused himself.
"Why are you all sullen? Do you need a drink?" He asked.
"Yes I sure do need one to wash down my weak ego" Laech said.
"What is wrong?" Aenan asked his cousin
"I want to know how you do it" Laech finally said. But Aenan didn't really hear him. "what?"
Laech repeated himself, this time a little more audibly."I want to know how you do it"
Obviously hearing did not bring enlightenment with it. "Do what?"
This was going to be harder than Laech thought. He licked his lower lip, which had suddenly grown drier than his upper one had.
"How do you get all the ladies to talk to you, smile at you and rush at you?" He blurted out. "I've been watching you ever since you stepped into this place and there had to be have been at least a score of them". Old and young, they all seemed to bloom in Aenan's presence.
"A score and eight" Aenan corrected with a quick conspirational wink and then simply asked,"who do you want to swoon?"
"They find every way to talk with you, brush you" He paused to work up his flagging courage. "I want to do that" he added. "Who do you want to swoon?" Aenan asked again.
Laech looked towards a group of three girls two of which were silvery-blue haired water elementals and one grey haired air elemental. Laech stared at one in particular. He couldn't hear her laughter from where he stood but he could tell that it was lovely and she was very beautiful with her hair dropping down to her waist. Her silver gown have her an icy look. Well she sent shivers down his spine.
"Cascade Daeva? Cascade is the one you want?" Aenan asked a bit surprised.
"She's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen and I have been trying to get her attention for a long time but I am just so clumsy even for a water elemental" Laech complained.
Aenan laughed gently, taking care not to sound as if he was mocking his cousin. He'd never had that problem himself. The ladies always flocked around him. His cousin needed his help and that was what he was going to do.
"First Laech, you need to carry yourself with the sensual confidence of a water elemental. No lady would go to a ball with you if you act like you aren't comfortable with yourself not even a lady as prim as a Daeva, Cascade. Understand?"
A little of Laech's disappointment abated. "I think so"
Aenan nodded. Since no one was approaching the area at the moment,he decided to feed his cousin with his advice. "When talking to a lady, always make her feel as if she's the prettiest girl in the room, even when the queen of fairies is present or the queen mother of the water nymphs".
Laech swallowed and glanced over at Cascade Daeva, the girl who made him want to drown in water. Cascade was definitely the most beautiful to him . His heart melted once more when he laid eyes on her this evening.
"Now watch and learn. I am going to talk and charm another Daeva" Aenan nodded towards the direction where Amora stood talking with Grandma Daeva and Lady Asturias.
"Ulanni Daeva? Oh by the gods is she very beautiful" Aenan noticed his cousin drooling on the redhead. "Who do you want Ulanni or Cascade Daeva? Choose your Daeva"
Aenan walked towards the three women and bowed courteously. "Enjoying the evening ladies? Happy Name day your ladyship Daeva, I must say you look extremely beautiful in that dress"
The older lady blushed and smiled. " This is the handiwork of your grandmother here" Grandma Daeva replied.
"Ulanni, we have met before but allow me introduce myself properly. I am Aenan Asturias and I would love to have a dance with you" Aenan said quite charmingly. He held Amora's hand and kissed it. Amora was stunned not to lie. She curtsied and offered her hand for a dance while catching Bloom's face. She didn't quite know if Bloom was happy that she was dancing with her crush or not. Bloom only gave a smile and then turned to go to the moon cake fountain.