June 22, 2108
A light breeze bellowed over rolling hills as children played tag around what looked like a carnival from another era. High top tents and wooden stands littered a few square miles where several thousand people congregated. Everything looked like it was from the 11th century instead of the 22nd century from the patterns on the banners to the strangely colored robes everyone besides the children were wearing. Instead of the biggest high top, a majestic blue stone altar stood in the center of the gathering with rings of different colored rocks going around it out a hundred feet. The crowds of people were beginning to encircle the altar where two women in glowing white robes and a man in brown robes were standing. The man slowly walked behind the altar and raised his hands to quiet the attendees. Once they were silent, his booming voice carried easily, "It is with a joyful heart that we gather today. Each leader of their clan must prepare for the day when their descendants take the reins and lead. Today, we recognize the transfer of the Aurelias clan from mother to daughter as Lady Hannah Aurelias resigns her post for Lady Cassandra. Tonight, we councilors will elect a new Supreme, but today, we celebrate the peace and prosperity Lady Hannah has given us for nearly three hundred years. I believe these ladies have some words as well, but first, let's get a round of applause for these two." The man stepped back as the crowd roared for the two women while the elder looking of the two ladies stepped forward.
"Thank you for that kind introduction, Lord Ide," Hannah joyously spoke, "As some of you may be aware, this year marks my four hundredth trip around the Sun and what a journey it's been. Under my leadership, humanity has gone from the beginnings of science to exploring the stars, but it hasn't always been an easy journey. Wars over silly ideologies, famines, and plagues have washed over this world time and time again, yet we have always managed to remain a myth or a legend, always guiding the people back to reason without detection. All the while, our numbers have bloomed once again, and we have continued to prosper. However, like my father and his before him, my time of shepherding has come to an end. May we continue to guide this civilization forward until the day the Fae return. Now, please welcome my granddaughter, Cassandra, who has a few words to say." A deafening applause resounded throughout the hills as Hannah finished. Cassandra joined Hannah behind the altar and hugged her tightly before taking center stage. Silence quickly fell over the crowd; even bugs could be heard rustling in the lush grass.
"Thank you, Grandmother. If I can be half the leader you are, I'll still be a better leader than most. My name is Cassandra Aurelias, the first grandchild of my Lady Hannah. Most of you have seen me before, but few have met me, which is understandable of a person living in a shadow as large as my grandmother's. As we enter this new century, let us continue to guide humanity to prosperity into new worlds. We must continue to prepare for new problems and new situations where we can be of use to the rest of civil society. As long as we have magik, we will continue to put better into the world than we started with. Feel free to get to know me better after the announcement and may you not invoke the Void. Thank you," Cassandra bowed as she finished, and once again, the crowd erupted with applause.
Perceval led the two ladies off the stage and into the crowd before splitting off to walk alone. He meandered through the various shops and stalls until he finally made his way to a collection of food vendors. The vendors made a large circle around a patio area with tables and benches. After purchasing a vegan BLT, he found an empty bench and sat down to enjoy his lunch. Families, couples, and friends were spread throughout the seating area, and all seemed to be enjoying themselves. Then a girl with bright red hair angrily stomped into the area, spotted Perceval, and marched over to his bench. "Were you happy for your sister's inauguration, Lady Roselin? I thought it was a great ceremony," Perceval said without turning his head.
"Yeah, it was fine. She was perfect as usual," Roselin huffed, "It's not her that I'm frustrated with."
Perceval chuckled, "Let me guess. Your mother was less than thrilled with your plan to join the rest of humanity?"
"I'm an adult, aren't I?" Roselin sulked, "Three months ago, I got to level three. But do you think I would have gotten any more freedom? Not an inch! I want to see the world and the worlds we're going to, not confined to one teeny, tiny corner of an island."
"You know she's just looking out for your wellbeing. You and your sister are the last of the clan after all," Perceval tried to comfort her.
"It's always about the clan!" Roselin yelled, "When do I get to live my own life?" Her eyes turned bright blue, and Perceval could feel the magik surging off the young woman's body.
Perceval apologized, "I'm sorry, Lady Aurelias. We don't always get what we want. Maybe you can convince your sister to make an exception for you."
"Or maybe I'll disappear," Roselin muttered under her breath, "I guess we'll have to see. Thanks for always sharing your wisdom with me." As she finished a tall, muscular man walked into the food court. He scanned the area before seeing Roselin, so he approached her rather boisterously. Roselin glared and her body slumped as the man got closer. "Lord Grado, to what do we owe the pleasure?" she curtly asked.
"Lady Aurelias, Lord Ide," Lord Grado bowed slightly, "Lady Roselin, may I speak with you in private?"
Roselin snapped, "Anything you want to say to me can be said right here, Lord Zephiel. I have no desire to speak with you in private."
"Very well, Lady Roselin," Zephiel coughed, "I've come to ask you to reconsider my proposal. As you know, councilors and their partners are allowed to intermingle with the rest of the world. And any children we have in the future would increase your clan's size instead of mine. Please, we belong together, Roselin."
"Zephiel, let me make myself perfectly clear. I would sooner wish for magik to be wiped from existence and the Council destroyed than marry you. You're arrogant, cruel, selfish, and pretentious. Leave me alone, now and forever," Roselin dictated as she stood up in his face. The two shared a look before Roselin turned to walk away from him, while Zephiel's face got redder by the second. As she took her first step, he reached out and grabbed her wrist.
"Don't walk away from me! Do you know who I am?" Zephiel bellowed, "No one rejects me."
Without turning, Roselin stopped and coldly spat, "Let go of my wrist now and walk away. I won't warn you again."
"You warn me?" Zephiel growled, "You have quite the mouth on you. That'll be the first thing we fix." Her palm moved so quickly that it looked like a blur as Roselin slapped Zephiel's face with a resounding bang. His body moved like a limp noodle as he flopped several feet away. He tried to stand up quickly, but he looked woozy with a pulsating handprint covering the right side of his face. Clutching his cheek and holding back tears, Zephiel looked quite pitiable from a single strike.
"I held back two thirds of my magik, so I wouldn't kill you. Do not touch me again," Roselin glowered. Zephiel gritted his teeth as crimson magik began streaking up his arms.
"You'll pay for this," Zephiel hissed, "You Aurelias's think you're so strong, but you have no idea of my strength. Fine, you want a fight, you got one." He charged in like a rampaging bull and almost made it to Roselin before he stopped suddenly. Looking down, he could see ice rising like water up his torso and arms at an alarming pace. With a loud grunt, he pushed his own crimson magik out and began to fracture the ice. However, Roselin either didn't care or didn't notice as she walked forward to his face and put her index finger in the center of his chest.
Roselin calmly and slowly stated, "With this one finger, I could finish you. But I won't because our power is meant to lead, not cull. Lord Perceval, tell my grandmother and sister I left, and I won't be coming back. I'm done with the Council. As for you, worm, I will leave you with a reminder for the rest of your sorry life." Sparks began emanating from her fingertip while pressure waves began pushing the debris away from the pair. She changed her hand to look like a finger gun and pressed her extended finger firmly into his muscled chest. As she made a motion like the gun firing, a prismatic beam pierced through his chest and shot into the sky out his back. Instantly Zephiel coughed up some blood that splattered on Roselin's hand. The ice melted a moment later, causing him to collapse onto the ground, yet blood didn't pour out of his wound. Then, like a puff of smoke, she disappeared, leaving Zephiel collapsed on the ground and Perceval in total shock. After a few moments, Perceval snapped out of his haze and wrapped Zephiel in vines to carry him to a rest area.
"That's a shame she left," Perceval sighed as he pulled Zephiel along, "That was Obliterate. At her age, it's unheard of." Once Perceval dropped Zephiel off at a medical tent, he found Cassandra and Hannah, describing the whole ordeal to them.
"I am sorry for not trying to stop her. I was too shocked by the turn of events that I froze," Perceval finished with a bow to them.
"No, perhaps I was too strict with her to begin with," Hannah murmured, "Should we send someone after her?"
Cassandra shook her head, "It would just be a waste of time. She's teleporting now; all we can do is wish her safe travels. Goodbye, little sister. I hope you enjoy the life you've chosen."