The Prodigies: The Return of Equinox

Chapter Forty-Three : Ordered - Life of the Queen

They had finished setting up camp by the time it had become evening and sat around a fire. No one had really spoken since their encounter with the Druid. At least not anything that was important. Celesta had spoken the least, after Winter. She didn't know what to do, or say. She had just chanced upon a Druid. A person of myth. Someone who wasn't supposed to exist. The most powerful magic user in the world most likely. She had just blown her chances of creating a powerful ally. For what? So she could tell him that she isn't someone without forethought, without a sense of risk, without responsibilities. Maybe she isn't, but that didn't sit right with her.

"What is with all those titles?" asked Winter. While she didn't like Celesta, she was still somewhat curious about her. She was almost drawn to her, deep down. Nothing she could readily or easily indentify. Maybe it was because she was someone else that was her age. Maybe it was some sort of natural charisma that drew Winter to her. She didn't know what it was about, but she might as well get to know her teammate.

"My titles?" Celesta gave her a sideways glance. Not out of contempt, dislike or anger. Rather it was out of surprise. After a second she answered. "I earned them. Through beauty, pain, and birthright. Through inheritance, love, and patience."

"Those don't sound like you." said Seilan. "I wouldn't use those words to describe you."

"Are you saying that I'm not beautiful?" Celesta gave him a playful wink, though he knew this was more a threat than anything else. Seilan knew he messed up his use of words and decided to change topics.

"Uhm, do you know why he said that it was harder to do magic around Ellondra?"

"That's not my name." barked Winter. Strike two for Seilan.

"Sorry. Uhm, Celesta, could you tell me about summoned humans?"

"Give me a back massage?" Strike three. Time to pay up. He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and stood up before realizing he had no idea what to do.

"Um, did you want me to give you one while you sit?"

"Since you asked, I'm going to need a two part massage. While I'm sitting down I'm going to need you to loosen up my muscles gently. I have such a delicate figure. After that is done I'll whip up a table that you can finish up on." Seilan focused on not thinking anything while she spoke but instead concentrated on her words. He didn't want another strike against him.

"Sure thing." He said through a gentle smile that was much too polite.

"How did you get your titles?" asked Winter. "Could you explain?"

"Absolutely, I love talking about myself." Right after she had finished her sentence a large elk was dropped in their camp. It had startled all of them. When they turned to look at it they saw that there were insects on it running up and down its fur. 

"I've brought food for us." buzzed Voleria. Voleria vanished not long after they had started setting up camp. It left without a word, even when asked. They only heard its faint buzzing fade away as it traveled farther and farther from them. "For you I guess. I've already eaten."

"Thanks." groaned Seilan. "I hope the fire burns away any corruption that it has."

"I assure you that it is up to the high standards that most people want their freshly killed game in. The killing instruments were all very clean, and I'm now cleaning the various things inside of it as well. Food is food. No matter how disgusting it may seem to you all."

"Thanks, again." shuddered Seilan.

"Back to the previous topic. My titles. I earned 'The White Queen' when I turned fifteen years old. All ruling royalty earns a title when they turn that age, and thebiggest thing of note about me was that I liked being clean beyond sense. The best way to tell that if something was dirty is if it was white, because it shows so easily. Other ruling royalty would choose the more conventionally expensive purple, or red, sometimes blue. But white is so easy to get to. And because I am a fairly blank colored person, the white I wore, and still wear, grabbed everyone's attention. Therefore, I'm The White Queen."

"The others?" asked Seilan.

"Slayer of Magi Supremes is because I've killed ten of them. A number higher than any before in history had ever accomplished. Well, the record was two, but I didn't get the title until I killed my fourth one. Magus Supreme is a dueling title, if you didn't know. A title that is bestowed on the most powerful dueler at the time.

Chosen of Dratma is because I'm a Chosen. The god Dratma chose me to bear a blessing. The blessing being that magic costs far, far less for me than anyone could dream of. It's something that you have to be born with.

Succession of Celestria is a title granted to those who are given a name that is derived from the goddess's. I inherited it.

True Daughter of the Council is because I was raised by my Councilors. They don't raise just anyone either. You need to be Chosen, or of very particular birth or name for them to oversee how you become an adult. I love them, my mothers, and they love me. All of the Councilors love their children, even if none of them are their blood.

Ruler of the Magi is simply my first title. The most important one. The one that tells you what my role is in this world. It's a title that I try to live up to in front of my people every day. I take great care to be the beautiful, strong, fair, and just queen that they deserve. No one person or group of people is more important to me than them. Everything and everyone else is but dirt compared to them."

"Seems like you take your job very seriously." said Seilan, slightly impressed.

"Yes, but it seems that you don't take yours seriously. Your massage is not doing what it's supposed to."

"I've never given one before!"

"Maybe you should have told me before I commanded you to do. Now you're just going to have to give me one until you learn how to do it correctly!"

Winter watched as Seilan and Celesta argued. It was almost like the silly arguments that Fox and Mel would have. Almost. There was no love in their exchange of words. She wondered how they were doing, Fox and Mel. She missed them. All she wanted to do at the moment was be with them, in silence. That would have to wait it seems.