The Earth's Mercy

The Ball

    "To prince Adamec Morais, and the Kingdom laid before him! May he always rule in peace!"

The blessing was followed by enthralled cheers, raised glasses, and smiles all around the throne room. Adam couldn't help but feel pride swell inside him when they said his name with such happiness. He stands from his throne, raising his glass to the crowd and smiling widely.

"To Earth!"

The crowd responds with an uttermost cheer. "To Earth!"

Adam takes a large swig, his throat cooling at the touch of the crystal clear water. He held his chalice tightly in his hand, as if squeezing its neck tightly would soothe his racing, but excited heart. After taking a subtle breath from the water, he sits back down, the cape of dark velvet sweeping beside him in a graceful spin. Adam knew he was destined for this; to rule over these people and keep them safe. It was his sole purpose. He was to take his father's throne, and take the Earth Kingdom through its darkest days. Adam had come into rule at a difficult time, when the Andalosi were being relentless with their attacks. They were a brutal colony, but surprisingly strong for an upstart. But, Adam knew he was strong. He would keep his kingdom the same.

The crowd fills back out onto the dance floor laid before the thrones, more laughter and smiles coming from the crowd. Adam felt his people loved him, would rejoice him with happiness. It was strange to him, being crowned prince of Earth at age fifteen. It was customary of Earth to conduct the coronation around ten years of age, but Adam was a special case. He was born in the middle of a struggle between Andalos and Earth, and they had to wait five years for some of the major battles to settle. Adam thought crowning him as prince earlier would have given the kingdom some sort of hope, but his parents thought otherwise, saying, "Crowning a new prince would give Andalos a target. We cannot risk you."

It was like if the kingdom fell, if it all went to dust, the whole kingdom would look to him for an answer he couldn't give to them. He didn't want to let his people down, and he knew this coronation was a perfect time to show it.

"My Adamec, how are you doing, my son?" Adam's mother asks softly, leaning over from her larger throne to talk to him. Queen Adamantia Morais was known for her beauty, long dark hair that went to her shoulder blades, and beautiful big green eyes. She wore a dark green dress of velvety silk, the dress showing off her figure and stature. The crown on her head was a gold with an emerald gem that dangled in between to metal swirls just above her forehead.

"I'm just wonderful, Mother. This is the party I've always dreamed of," Adam says softly in response to his mother. His gaze falls on the bustling room, his smile widening.

She smiles, adjusting her skirts and shifting back upright in her glorified chair.

Adam feels the crown on his forehead, his fingers tracing the engravings in the golden crown. If you looked close enough, you could see outlines of a tree's branches growing with the same contour as the spikes on the crown. In the center, the Earth Kingdom's most native gem, Emerald, mixed with a blue Sapphire swirling into it, almost like a yin-yang.

Adam knew how much this crown meant, and he would treasure it until the day he died and was buried in his Earth.

His father, Christopher Morais, stands from his throne, striding in the now parting crowd. As soon as they see the inferior king rise, they part ways, splitting the crowd down the middle. Christopher Morais wasn't known for his kindness, but more for his dark stares and ability to crush someone with a flick of his wrist. The Earth king could make the world shake, to make it all fall below ground, but he never did. But the thought of it drove the earth citizens into a slight panic and paranoia.