Chapter 2
Chapter
Two
Ifound myself regretting my outfit choice as soon as we arrived at the festival early that evening.
Having put much more effort into their garments than I had, Delani and my mother looked as though they belonged at such a prestigious event.
I, on the other hand, would have benefited from staying home.
I paused to take in the intricate design of the castle's architecture. The details of the pale stonework never failed to amaze me, no matter how many times I’d seen it.
The fortress was genuinely breathtaking, its size incomprehensible.
Pointed iron bars surrounded the main gate, standing high to prevent anyone from climbing over the fence.
On top of the staircase that led to the main entryway, a few soldiers stood properly by the oak double doors.
I didn't dare make eye contact with them—one glimpse of their drawn swords was enough to prevent me from doing so.
The grounds looked a little bit different each time I came to the castle, with a new array of flowers and shrubs for each season. To my left was the cliffside, lined by a cobblestone pathway that I knew would take me to the academy dormitories if I were to follow it.
In my opinion, the only benefit to attending the academy was living at the dormitories, which were stationed just feet away from a beautiful beach.
I learned that information the hard way one year when I was younger.
Delani and I had ventured off, only to be dragged back to the courtyard by a burly, female soldier.
Delani cleared her throat and then brushed by the soldiers, crossing the balcony to enter the party.
She looked remarkable as she strutted into the event with poise.
The silk of her sage gown flowed just past her knees, swaying with the motion of her hips.
Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and though a few stray coils framed her face, the messiness of the hairstyle still made her appear put together.
I couldn’t help but notice how a few wandering eyes followed her across the balcony.
The festivities always began in the courtyard, and this year was no different. We were greeted by the most elaborate decorations when we stepped onto the patio. I gazed in all directions, in complete awe of the presentation which somehow outdid the previous years.
Strings of twinkling lights hung from the trees surrounding the perimeter of the courtyard.
The bulbs sparkled under the dimming sun as it phased into moonlight.
The glimmer combined with the greenery, creating a tent-like framework for the party to occur in.
Connecting the tops of the trees were rows of delicate white and pink flowers.
The buds dangled from invisible strings, creating a partially transparent net that cascaded over the entirety of the courtyard.
The flowers dribbled down, adding to the ambiance of the event as they spun in midair.
To the far right of the courtyard was a secluded area separated by hedges, which held within their bounds a statue of each god and goddess.
The masonry was absolutely magnificent on its own, but better yet, each god was built from a large slab of the gemstone they represented.
The figurines were spectacular to look at on any given day, but for the festival, they were garnished with exquisite displays of flowers and cloth.
Aside from the jaw-dropping decor, there was an irrational amount of food and wine almost everywhere I turned. Music played loudly throughout the courtyard and a smile broke through my lips at the sight of people waltzing together, chanting the melodies.
My admiration was ruined by my mother’s abrupt notice of departure. “I have to go find Isobel Fletcher.” Her voice broke through the tunes.
She took my hand in hers and I admired her beauty—so natural and elegant without even trying.
Her forest green dress frilled out at the bottom, the color highlighting her fair skin while also emphasizing the dark curls of her hair.
She looked nothing like Delani and I, and we often questioned while growing up if she was even our real mother.
She always just laughed the idea off, telling us that we had overactive imaginations.
“I have something to discuss with her regarding the archives,” she continued, taking Delani’s fingertips in her free hand.
That was my mother. Always working. She was the top Archivist in Caelestis, responsible for maintaining the village records and history manuscripts.
Delani and I had been visiting the library since we were young, but only I stuck around long enough to assist my mother in her work. I enjoyed the quiet that the archives offered, and often used the space to write in. Delani, on the contrary, had no interest in manuscripts and quilling.
My mother pulled us into a deep hug, then stepped back, letting us go and directing her attention to just me.
“Happy Birthday, my star.” Her red lips curved into a smile as she unfolded my palms and placed a small black pouch into my hands.
“You didn't have to get me any—”
She cut me off, “It's not every day that you turn twenty-one.”
I smiled and accepted the gift, working my fingers to undo the knot of silver ribbon tying the pouch together. I peeled open the bag and pulled out a silver star pendant, dangling from a dainty chain. It shimmered when I held it up, swirling in tune with the wind.
“It's beautiful,” I praised, marveling at the gift.
My mother took the chain from my hands. She brushed my hair to the side so that she could clasp it around my neck. She backed away when she finished, and I clutched the necklace against my chest.
“It's absolutely perfect. Thank you,” I voiced my appreciation.
Though she smiled at me in acknowledgment, I could see the sadness in her eyes. My birthday was always difficult for her. The day was just another reminder of how I never knew my father.
She rubbed my shoulder for a moment before letting her hand slide off. Then she trailed away into the festival of lights, leaving Delani and I to our own devices.
I turned to my sister, and a devious look appeared on her face almost instantly. Her eyes lit up and she spun on her heel, directing me further into the gathering.
Sweet scents filled my nostrils as we passed by astounding buffets of sweets and plates of the freshest fruits. We came to a halt in front of one the tables—the amount of food on it being enough to feed my entire village for weeks.
Delani plucked some berries from the display and plopped one into her mouth. I took a handful, as well, savoring the tartness of the fruit as it coated my tastebuds.
I maneuvered to the table next door and swiped two goblets of wine from the surface. I passed one to Delani, then sipped on my own and familiarized myself with the space I’d be spending the rest of my birthday in.
I shouldn't have thought too hard about it, but my anxiety fought me once more. It blew through me like a gust of wind, the breeze whispering its doubts to me and scrambling my thoughts into disarray.
Though the air was flat, I still shivered.
“You are fine. Everything is going to be fine. You won't be gifted. Today is just like any other birthday,” I breathed the affirmations into my glass, letting them tame the storm inside of me and settling on some peace in knowing that no matter what happened tonight, Delani would be by my side.
Never mind.
Delani’s hand shot into the air, waving at someone across the courtyard. I followed my sister's gaze, making eye contact with one of her friends who gestured for her.
“I'll meet you by the statues in a few minutes,” Delani informed me. She clinked her glass against mine before hurrying off to greet her friend.
Great. Just myself and my thoughts.
I picked a few more berries from the buffet and downed my goblet of wine, then swiped another glass before wandering off.
I strolled through the courtyard leisurely, sipping on my drink and making small talk with familiar faces along the way.
A few wished me a Happy Birthday, and I faked a smile as I thanked them.
My legs stopped moving when they stood before the eight statues of the gods and goddesses. I looked up and around, taking note of their size, which in return made me feel incredibly small.
The statues were varnished with various floral arrangements, the color of the buds representing the gemstone that the god or goddess cherished. Flowers hung around their shoulders, resting on top of a lustrous cloth draping, which would sparkle in the starlight as the sun set.
I turned in a circle, dropping the arm that held my glass to my side as I admired each statue. Hidden by some shrubs and other greenery, the statues and I were detached from the rest of the party.
My wandering came to an abrupt halt in front of the sculpture of Blythe, the Goddess of the Mind.
Drawn to her glass-blue figure, I planted my feet firmly on the ground in front of her.
My skin prickled as my fingertips slid up the stone, stopping to caress the cloth that hung from her shoulders.
I ran the fabric through the gaps of my fingers, admiring the glossy sheen of silk that covered a good portion of the goddess’ pure constellastone body.
Her sculpture must have taken the longest to craft, as the crystal was incredibly rare. I honestly doubted that the statue was made of constellastone at all, but the king claimed its truth.
The stone was only found at the crash site of fallen Jewel-Light meteors.
Even then, it was a gamble on whether or not there would be any.
The conditions had to be flawless for the stone to manifest from the remains of a dying star, and more often than not, the conditions were not optimal.
Regardless, I couldn't fathom the amount of time needed to gather the amount of stone required to create something so detailed.