Chapter 33 Solstice Celebration
Soehl, Shakari, and I walked to the arena with our masks on, where the celebrations were taking place.
Soehl was so reserved that even after all these months of friendship, she didn’t ask about the suspicions she must have noticed between Shakari and me.
If it were any of the twins, they would have already forced us to tell them.
It was almost sunset, and the arena was filled with music, chatter, and students dancing.
Everyone was wearing their legion dress and faction mask, attire that signified their
allegiance and identity within the academy.
Music hummed through the air, performed by Auroric and Emberkeep students, adding to the evening's vibrant tapestry. At the center of the arena, a large fire blazed in honor of the God of Solvir, with gold necklaces and bands burning within it as offerings. These trinkets were gifts of prosperity and strength, offerings meant to secure the sun’s favor and gratitude for the sun’s magic.
At the opposite end stood an eternal shadow, crafted to mirror fire’s nature, holding silver jewelry as offerings to the God of Lunareth.
This was the Moonveil way of giving thanks for their lunar magic.
The masks, intricate and unique to each wearer, were not only symbols of faction pride but also served as vessels for anonymity and expression, encouraging freedom in the celebration.
Despite the revelry and laughter permeating the air, it was hard to imagine that this very arena would mark the beginning of the Dragontail Trials tomorrow.
These trials, a test of courage and skill, would demand the utmost from each participant as they sought to prove themselves worthy among their peers.
Rowan and Tran approached us, both wearing green tunics and golden masks. Each held a rose in one hand. Rowan gave his rose to Shakari, who gladly received it and kissed him passionately in front of everyone, for a bit too long. I cleared my throat loudly, signaling for them to stop.
“You guys can’t keep your hands or tongues, inside your own bodies, right?” I teased.
Shakari frowned at me, her eyes brimming with accusation. I felt the sting. I had no right to mock them, not with the secret that flared between us and left me exposed. Shame and longing twisted inside; I looked away, afraid of what she saw in me. I turned my attention to Tran.
“You look beautiful, Princess,” Tran said, a smile on his face as usual. Then I noticed the red rose in his hand. I glanced between the rose and his face a few times without moving a single muscle. Was that a rose for me?
“Don’t freak out, Princess,” Tran said. “It’s not for you.”
I let out a shaky exhale I hadn’t realized I was holding. My chest ached from a wild burst of confusion and relief. The others laughed, but for a moment, fear flickered, a fragile dynamic, nearly shattered by a misunderstanding I’d never live down.
“It’s for Camelia, obviously,” Tran grinned. “Of course it is,” I said with a nervous laugh.
Tran left to look for his conquest, saying he'd catch up later. Without saying goodbye, Rowan and Shakari slipped into the crowd, already dancing again. Shakari and the twins truly lived like Dragontails to the core; they never looked beyond today, living each moment as if it were their last.
“They really do know how to live life to its fullest, don’t they?” I asked Soehl.
“It is acceptable that you don’t think like that. Royals cannot afford to,” she said with a serious, flat expression.
If there was someone I wouldn’t expect such advice from, it would be her. Soehl was from the corn fields and grew up far from the cities, the court, and the nobles, yet she was very well educated and quite resourceful. I looked at her and just nodded.
“I’ll look for Jan, will you be OK alone?” she asked.
“Yes, just go. Isn’t love and offering the main focus of this celebration anyway?” I teased. She smiled and left for the crowd.
I stood there for a moment, examining the students dancing, drinking auroric potions, offering to the Gods and accepting or giving flowers. There were already second years in the celebrations that had returned from the Auroric Veil today. Many except Lorik Draventh and his group.
My gaze drifted, and then from the crowd, I saw a female emerge, and she walked toward me. Poised and composed, wearing a high-neck white dress, her face covered with a complex golden mask with feathers. The mask was clearly noble, like those I wore in the Glass Castle.
When she was in front of me, I finally recognized her. Camelia Aric.
“I see you chose green today,” Camelia said, not with any edge of superiority or hate, just stating the facts.
“I am to wear the color of the legion I was assigned to by the Siren,” I responded with respect.
“I know the rules,” she said, adjusting her mask. “I just came here to wish you good luck for tomorrow. I truly wish you would pass the Dragontail trials for the sake of the kingdom.”
I swallowed hard and nodded to Camelia, fighting down a surge of old resentment and shame.
Only months ago, I would have spun away from her in a rebellious attack, needing to prove and loudly that I was different, that I never wanted the crown or its poison.
But now an ache had replaced my bravado, a yearning to belong and to protect, no matter the cost. When I walked through the doors of Solstice and Dusks all those months ago, I almost saw the Dragontail Legion as my way out of the throne.
I hated politics and despised the wicked people who were in it, such as Camelia’s mother.
I didn’t want anything to do with a broken and cruel system.
But after seeing the threats beyond the veil, my mother, drained of
power, was trying to protect the island, while the Dragontail warriors defended the veil each day with their lives. My unwillingness to rule was diminishing. Maybe having to rule and attempt to make the changes in the unfair and cruel system I was born into might not be so bad after all.
“Things are not getting easier now. But I have faith in Rionis and in the Solenhart throne,” Camelia added. “And more importantly, I have faith in you.”
The words landed hard. Right that second, I recognized something. She wasn’t a friend, but a clear ally for the future.
A voice cut from the crowd, calling her name. Tran. She looked over her shoulder, seeing his suitor from the corner of her eye.
“Thank you, Camelia,” I said. “You might want to run already.”
“I suppose I should,” Camelia said. “A Dragontail suitor. My mother would kill me.”
“I think you can form your own opinion. An opinion beyond the consent of the court.” And there was the rebellious princess again.
Camelia just grinned, her golden eyes shining with mischief for a second.
Then, she walked in the opposite direction from Tran.
Perhaps some concepts will be very hard to change in this island.
Royal Emberkeep relationships with Dragontail warriors were not illegal but looked like lesser unions.
I wandered around for a few minutes as the night fell over the celebrations. When I was at the dessert table, eating chocolates, I saw them. It had to be them, all wearing green tunics.
It was hard to tell in the darkness, with masks covering their faces.
A tall figure with dark skin, with a golden mask.
Ugo. And two strong pale Moonveils with obsidian and braided hair, Marla and Rory, wearing silver masks.
But no Lorik Draventh. A myriad of thoughts cluster in my head.
Perhaps he let go of his promise and finally gave me space. Disappointment crawled through me.
“Wondering where I am?” A deep voice cut from behind. I gasped in surprise at the voice being so close. Lavender honey scent was inundating my senses. Lorik Draventh had portaled again to be close to me.
“You need to stop portaling behind me,” I said, turning around, showing my angry face. His mask covered his face, and his short, dark honey hair fell over it. His silver eyes shimmered with the fire behind me.
“I thought you would be happy to know I am alive,” he said with that gorgeous smile.
“I knew you were alive,” I said, trying to look away. “There were no casualties where you were posted.”
I paused, knowing I had given myself away. I had checked on him.
“So you were worried about me,” he said, tilting his face closer to mine. “No, I wasn’t,” I lied.
“I didn’t tell you where I was going.” Lorik purred.
“All second years were called to the posts; it was obvious.” I breathed. “Yet, you were worried about me,” he said with a smirk.
He got me. He really got me.
“Don’t worry,” he continued. “You won’t get rid of me so easily.” Lorik pushed his bronzed brown hair back.
“Besides, I wouldn’t miss you kicking ass in your trials tomorrow.”
I almost blushed from the compliment. Silence fell over us as I looked at his attire. He was just wearing a long-sleeved shirt in deep green.
“You didn’t get the memo about this being a celebration for the Gods? Where is your tunic?” I said, a smile slipping through my lips. He just gave me a mischievous grin.
“You don’t follow rules,” I added, leaning just an inch. Almost inviting him. Lorik Draventh would do this to me. Again, I was here forgetting who we were, ignoring the world around us.
“I question why rules even exist,” Lorik said with a wicked smile. “And you are a rule bender yourself,” Heat coiled in me again, slowly, and unbearable.
We were safe, I thought. No one would suspect. It was dark, everyone was under an auroric potion influence, and he was a respectable distance away. No harm in this conversation happening right this second.
Lorik’s gaze dropped from my eyes to my tight dress and back to my eyes, stopping at my red lips for a second too long.
“You look like a princess today,” Lorik said.
“Is that a compliment?” I whispered. “Don’t you mean, beautiful?”
It was a dangerous game I was playing, but I didn’t want to stop. I couldn’t.