"Queens and commoners, princes and peasants, welcome to the party of the quincentury!"
For most people, receiving an invitation to the White King's Masquerade is an honor. Even attempting to attend is a chance to go down in history. But for Sol of M...
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I awoke the next morning to a sort of screeching sound. It was more of a low pitched shriek but regardless it was obvious it was meant to wake us up.
I stretched as light streamed from the room's single window. Everbird song along with Fyn's groaning, joined the shrieking symphony.
Then suddenly the door to our room flew open and Carya, waddled in, still shrieking. She glanced around, nodding at Fyn and I until her gaze settled on Odelyn still sleeping soundly. The screeching increased as Fyn and I shot out of the room, hands over our ears.
We stumbled into the common room, giggling.
"Must be nice to be a morning person," Aester muttered, glaring at Ciel as he stretched happily beside him.
River snorted and then smiled as he noticed Fyn and I.
"Don't pay him any mind. Being up early makes him extra murderous," River grinned, as Aester threw a pillow at him.
Their pillow fight was cut short by sounds of another struggle. I turned to find Carya on Odelyn's back as Odelyn tried frantically to brush her already perfect hair. Elves really are impeccable.
"Get off me," Odelyn screeched as Carya continued to beat her head with a small stick. I looked around, waiting for someone to interrupt as Odelyn threw Carya off her and the troll slid across the ground, stopping right before Asriel's feet.
His wizened eyes met Odelyn's with a disapproving stare as he helped Carya, still hissing, up.
"Ready?"
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We were gathered in a large hall, made of the same fusion of wood and glass as the rest of the castle. A round glass table had been set in the middle with ten matching glass chairs around it. Asriel and Asterodia were already waiting.
We took our seats, Ele glancing at me worriedly. I nodded once to tell him I was okay and the day began.
"Despite this morning's display," Asriel started, giving Odelyn a pointed glance, "I believe all of you understand the gravity of the situation."
He rolled out a large map as he said the words. I sucked in a breath as I took it in. Raging waterfalls, gargantuan forests, and exquisite cities were wrought in intricate ink, some portions of the map three dimensional.
"We do not know the exact route you will be taking but we made some educated guesses," he continued, gesturing at the map.
"I didn't know half of these places were actually real," Fyn whispered, awed, running her fingers over the rugged map.
"My sister and I narrowed it down to ten possible places," Asteria explained, raising her hands as she said the words. She breathed in deeply and as she exhaled, the room went dark.
