The Arcane Society

Chapter 28.5

August 25th: 11:12 AM

Taste, Courage and The Victorian Era

Everyone has a distinct taste in almost everything. Food, ambience, style, music, personality, so on and so forth.

I wished I was born in The Victorian Era. Yes, I do see the drawbacks . I've read my fair share of medieval and Victorian books. But some of the greatest people, came from absolutely nothing. Where they thought what they were going to eat, rather than their next masterpiece.

I would daydream about being a princess. Not just the modern day princess. It was always, If I found a time machine, where (when?) would I go to? My dreams would always end up somewhere along the lines of this.

Daydreams

December 24th

Royalty

I would look around. The windows with a red velvety windowsill to sit around. Snow delicately fell on the other side. My vanity was covered in all sorts of make up. I look down to the dark wood floor. Silver heels fitted my feet perfectly. My dress was a pleasantly sweet pink color, outfitted with silk that levitated only slightly above the ground. I walked over to the mirror. My brown hair was in curls. My brown eyes gaze softly at the reflection. Someone knocked at the door.

"Do come in!" I called loudly. My voice sounded waaay too regal and prim to be me.

A maid peeked herself in. "Princess Elisabeth? It's Yvette." Yvette looked something like Iliana. I had a split-second double take.

"Yes?"

"Someone would like a word with you."

"Who could it be?" I said quizzically, walking briskly towards the door. "I wasn't expecting anyone at this time of afternoon."

She smiled, almost laughing. "It might be your prince."

"Haha, oh, Yvette." I laughed.

I climbed down the immaculate stairs, holding on the the wood railing. It was fine carved. I was awed at the amazing splendor of my imagination. It's not every day my brain comes up with something this good. A robed man, what looked to be a king, or my father, waited patiently down. My mom, in a deep royal blue gown in the same fashion as mine, was standing beside him, looking proud. A soft classical melody was playing in the background and there were already couples waltzing to the melody. Seemed as if the party was getting into full swing.

"Darling Elisabeth." Dear Lord, you look like my mom and dad from real life. What is my imagination doing?

"You look so beautiful. Your prince is waiting for you." My mom swooned. At the time of my most complex dream, no one caught my eye, so my mind assumed the most befitting image.

"Ahh, you must be Princess Elisabeth everyone was talking about." A voice said. I glance around and gasp. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, he is the greatest handsome devil I'm beholding.

Indeed, his brown hair was neatly cut, his brown eyes were both powerful and kind at the same time, and he had a fantastic face. He stood slightly taller, that, and I was wearing heels.

I automatically curtsy, heat rising to my blushed cheeks, making them look even redder than a tomato. "Yes, I'm Princess Elisabeth, charmed I'm sure.

He bows, smiling. "I'm Prince Lucius, the pleasure is mine." He linked his arm around mine.

"May I take this dance with you."

"Why, of course." My brain was already starting to wander a bit with this. Queens, duchesses, and other princesses. have already started get a bit blurry. It was a weird mix of deep purple, jade green, and royal blue. I was facing Prince Lucius at this point and he already started dancing.

The Present

I mentioned earlier that I would be talking about courage. Courage is the ability to face something that would frighten a lot of people. Over the years, I've also been called The Courageous One. I've done a lot of things most people would be stunned with. It was 5th grade when I really lived life on the edge. Some called me brave, others called me foolish, but only I was to decide what I was.

5th Grade Celebration

Colored Lake Elementary

Ms. Duke, our science teacher, lead us into a forest. This was the zip line course that they saved for last. We thought about it with nothing to worry. But, Lola and I soon came to realize the zip line wasn't all fun and games. We stood in the middle of the forest when I noticed a tree house about 30 feet high.

"Welcome kiddos," another teacher said. "Welcome to the zip line course. You will be riding a zip line 40 feet high." 40 feet high? Holy crap, I've never been that high with just a harness and a helmet. He hands us the Atomic Harness and a helmet. I strap mine on with shaking hands. I didn't know if I had a fear of heights or of falling from 40 feet, but I was shaking. Once we were all good and strapped, he looked at us.

"Who would like to go first? Anyone?"

We all glanced at each other, shaking our heads. Finally I sighed and raised my hand.

"I'll go." I said, my voice was shaking, making me look even less sure than before. I took a deep calming breath. "I'll go." I repeated with more confidence as I walked up to the rope ladder. I did the cross quickly and grabbed the rungs as I heard clapping behind me. I climbed quite swiftly for someone who was half scared to death.

"Okay, she's reached 20 feet." I looked back at the teacher, gripping the rungs even tighter. I was getting fearful, as I felt a bit hesitant to go up. "Who else is going?" I saw some of the kids raise their hands. Others were still staring at me in awe and fright. A kid named Nick went next.

Dear Lord, did he say 20 feet up? I look up. and the tree house looked a bit far away. I then realized what I've been trying to push to the back of my mind and I froze. No...no, I won't die! It's only 35 feet high. Heheh, how possible could that be? The problem is that the harness wasn't strapped to anything. If you let go, you would either crack your head, or die. Both bad choices.

"ELISABETH, KEEP GOING, YOU CAN DO IT!" That was Lola's voice. Others repeated the same message. A lot of people didn't expect me to do this first, considering I was the sweet, kind, rational person, more than a girl based off of impulse.

I slowly climbed up to where I reached the wooden floor. I gasped for air, even though the air didn't get any thinner. I was sooo thankful for the floor. I lay there for a bit before standing up.

"You ready, Elisabeth?" A kind lady patted the seat and I sat there, my legs dangling. I tried to resist looking down. I saw a pole up ahead.

She strapped the chain that connected me to the zip line and gave me a push.

The bitter wind blew into my face and I started to scream with both delight and fear. I launched into a Tarzan pose, gripping on to the string holding the harness. I then realized the wooden pole up ahead.

OHMYGAWD, I'm going to crash. I screamed in my head. I came to a sudden stop, my face inches from the pole. I breathed a sigh of relief as I leaned back and came to a stop on a wooden fort.

The Present

Although my flashbacks are quite vivid and entertaining, I'm actually trying to tell you something through it. No matter how cliché it sounds. For those who haven't grasped it yet, I'll tell you the message.

No matter how deadly things may seem, we all have the power to step forward and make a stand.