Ariadna spotted the last holy family with ease. Their striking blue hair and eccentric flair made them stand out in the crowd. Loved by the commoners for their ingenious inventions that simplified daily life, they were a familiar and comforting presence.
As she approached, Reloy beamed, his enthusiasm infectious. "Well, if it isn't the youngest and final member of our generation's holy families!" His eyes twinkled with mischief.
Areta adjusted her round glasses, her gaze sharp but approving. "This one has promise," she declared with a hint of excitement. "I have no doubt you'll make quite the impression."
With a tired smile, Ariadna replied, "Thank you for your kind words and warm welcome. I truly appreciate your presence as I take my first steps under the God of Destruction and Renewal."
They nodded in acknowledgment, and Areta continued, "Let me introduce our children—well, two of them. Most are off inventing their next big project." She gestured to the two present, saying, "We have three boys and two daughters. Here are Arthus, our oldest, and Vizla, our little prodigy."
Arthus, a lanky fourteen-year-old with a dreamy expression, and his ten-year-old sister Vizla, exuding sharp intelligence, both wore glasses that amplified their striking blue eyes, a mirror of their unusual hair. Ariadna bowed respectfully in return, introducing herself. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Ariadna."
"What a delight! It was wonderful meeting you, young one," Arthus responded, his voice laced with excitement. "We'll have to extend an invitation to you at our domain once you're settled into your lessons. I would like to know more about your power. But for now, we must be off; we're leaving early tomorrow," Reloy added, ushering his family away.
As they departed, Vizla managed to slip a small note into Ariadna's hand without anyone noticing. With a shared glance, she departed after her parents while Ariadna pondered, "Seems everyone's in a rush tonight." A small sigh escaped her lips as she tucked the note away into a secret pocket in her sleeve.
Returning to her parents, she reported, "Mother, Father, I greeted all the guests from the holy families. May I head back to my room and rest?"
Her mother looked approvingly at her. "Go ahead. I expect you in my study before morning prayers."
With that clearance, Ariadna made her way back to her room, escorted by two guards. Upon entering, Marina swiftly helped her out of her gown, bathed her, and tucked her into bed.
Once alone, Ariadna retrieved the note and read it in the soft light of her chamber: *I will find a way to invite you to our domain in a few years. Trust your new teacher. Learn all you can about your God.*
A irk of determination shifted within her, but uncertainty quickly followed. What did the other kids want from her? She now knew they expected her to join them, yet the nature of that joining eluded her. With a feeling of emptiness and a tangle of questions, she tossed the note into the fire, watching the flames consume it.
Laying in her bed, her mind spun, a chaotic mix of thoughts intertwining until, unnoticed even by herself, sleep overtook her.