"What is the meaning of this nonsense?!"
Elder Micca's voice resounded throughout the throne room - a rough severity clung to his usually, frail voice. Undeterred by his evident opposition, I sat up more firmly on my white, stone throne. My pale, green eyes gazed at his dark brown ones with a defiance that surprised even myself. Having been similar to a father figure in my life, I had never even dreamt of defying him. Nonetheless, I could no longer avoid the glaring oblivion of the world beyond the waters of the city of Nime.
"You heard me clearly Elder Micca," I stated monotonously. "Upon my ascension as queen, I will journey beyond the waters. You no longer hold the power to keep me within the safety of Cyprus."
The thick, white eyebrows lifted on the aged forehead of Elder Micca; he seemed to have aged an additional ten years after hearing my announcement. "My Queen, who is to take the throne while you are away? You have after all, only taken the throne mere moments ago."
"I know this." My eyes shift to my left where my trusted advisor and friend stood rather stiffly. "Illian is to take my place in my absence. He has been advising even you, Elder Micca, since the age of thirteen. I do believe he will be a suitable leader in my place. I trust him with my life."
Illian has been a member of the court since he finished his studies at the age of twelve. Being a child prodigy, Illian learned all our scholars could teach him at a young age. There were nine years between Illian and I; he actually became my private tutor when it was necessary for me to learn my compulsory studies. Against the wishes of the Elders, he presented me with ancient scrolls of stories concerning the world beyond the island of Cyprus. He showed me maps of a landmass to the south that contained multiple countries within its mass. It was all so fascinating and was what piqued my interest in journeying beyond the familiar. I wanted to see everything the world had to offer.
"I do not understand what you will gain by traveling beyond the waters."
Letting my eyelids flutter shut for a moment, I released a sigh. "The Kingdom of Cyprus has known prosperity for nearly three centuries now but we have not made any additional advances. Our cultivating, our medications, our technology are advanced, yes, but there's a world outside our shell that could revolutionize our lives. We have known the same for far too long."
"There is a reason that no one wishes to leave - we know real peace. Our ancestors fought to escape the oppression of those we hide from now. Why change that now?"
"There may be others who we could benefit with our knowledge and we, too, could benefit from them."
Elder Micca rubbed his face tiredly. "Young Rena, I cannot stop you from making this foolish decision but I cannot support it. You will receive no help from the Elders of the Court on your journey. We do not wish to aid you in a shortened reign." Without another word, Elder Micca defiantly left the throne room, practically leaving a trail of fire in his escape.
Angered by Elder Micca's lack of support, I rose and hastily walked to the large window located behind the throne. The view was gorgeous. Nimes, the capital city of Cyprus, was located on the waters, adjacent to a waterfall that dropped down to a lower level of a great water expanse. In the distance, I could see the vague outline of the landmass from the ancient accounts. Its tree lines seemed to graze the clouds from the distance; it was a breathtaking view.
"Am I making a mistake Illian?" The weight of the white jeweled headpiece already felt too heavy on my head. "Will I accomplish anything in going to Raija?"
Being tall for a woman, I had no need to crane my head to look Illian in the eye. His hazel eyes flitted over my face before gazing at the ground. Illian had always been a handsome man. Many noble women appraised him for his soft brown hair and strong facial features but I saw him more for his mind. There was no mind that even came close to his.
"You know what I think. This is a necessary step for us to grow as a country. We no longer need to hide from the world like our ancestors. It's time to actually make a difference. According to the texts, Raija is the closest civilized country. It is more efficient to begin there." Illian's voice remained level - assuring me that he genuinely believed we could merit from my curiosity.
Shifting from the window to the great throne room, my eyes were assailed by the expensive white stone that covered the walls, ceilings, and floors. The throne was lifted on a platform overlooking the rest of the room. There were multiple royal guards that were stationed at various exits but aside from them, the room was empty of subjects.
Cyprus was unlike most monarchies as the title was not passed down by family lineage. It was believed that Cyrus was civilized by a man named Olium who exhibited magic powers that were rare among humans. He used his magic to take the island and seal it away from the evils of the mainland. Throughout our history, he has been revered as a god and our Elders live to preserve his name and the ways of ascension. Magic users in the past were more plentiful but it has been much more difficult to find those with its capabilities. I was found in my infancy by the late Queen Eva and have been raised under the watchful eyes of the Elders since then. Having found the future queen already, the Elders halted their search for magic users and focused their attention on me. I've always resented being perpetually kept under their radar, molded to be a complacent monarch. Illian opened my eyes to my potential to be an actual queen and not just a puppet of the Elders.
Illian walked close to my side and laid a hand on my shoulder. "How long will you be gone?"
"I will try to return in two years time, before my eighteenth birthday."
"That is a good time period. It should give you enough time to get the information needed to make the next move. I will await your return." Illian's fingers tugged gently on a loose piece of my light gold hair. The unique coloring of my hair has always set me apart in Cyprus. Most of the citizens had varying shades of red and brown hair and with the lack of foreigners in the kingdom, the coloring has narrowed throughout the years. "Although the Elders are angered by your decision, I could not have been more proud of you."
My lips moved up gently into a soft smile. "Thank you. That means alot coming from you." Illian pulled me into a hug, his arms securing me in place. Spending a plentiful amount of time with him, I would be lying if I had never thought of him romantically; but in the past year, I have seen him much more like a brother than anything. Aside from that, I believe he has his eyes set on a sweet, rising scholar at the academy. I would often catch him gazing at her from a distance when he believed that no one was watching.
"Come back in one piece." Illian pulled back his head with an intense look on his face. "We still need you in Cyprus. The citizens of the kingdom think you have real potential as the Queen."
"I will." I retracted myself from Illian's embrace. "I have complete control over my magic and the private lessons with the general have been amazing for my battle skills. I know I am ready for this. I've been ready since you opened my eyes to a new world, Illian."
YOU ARE READING
New World
FantasyCyprus, a kingdom known for its centuries of prosperity, remains largely hidden from the horrors of the world beyond its waters. However, with the ascension of the new Queen, the mirage of perfection is threatened by the curiosity of the young Queen...