Tiana’s ceremony of awakening

It has been a little over two years now. Our magic and general studies have been going well so far. We are close to reaching an adept level in four basic elements. Our progress in light and dark magic respectively has halted a bit. However, it must be said that Arti is doing better in light magic than I am doing in dark magic. That is probably because I am learning three types of dark magic simultaneously while Arti is only concentrating on healing magic.

Yesterday was our ninth birthday. This is not the most important detail. The important part is that it was Tiana’s sixth birthday, which means that today she will be having the ceremony of awakening. We are currently getting dressed up and ready to leave for the cathedral. Arti and I got ready before our sister did. I am wearing similar clothes to what I wore to my ceremony. The main difference is color. Instead of black, I am wearing a set of light grey, almost platinum, clothes. Arti is the same, but instead of wearing dark blue, he is wearing sky blue. We make our way to the big lobby where our retinue is waiting, headed by our father. We walk over to them and take our places behind and on each side of our father. We didn’t have to wait for our mom and sister long.

Our attention was drawn to the top of the stairs where we just came from. Our mom was making her way downstairs holding Tiana by her hand. Mom was as gorgeous as always, wearing a lilac dress that was modest, and elegant and accentuated her curves all at the same time. It is my sister, however, that drew my attention the most. She was wearing a beautiful golden dress. Her face had a tasteful amount of make-up on it. Her black, shiny, straight hair, similar to our mom’s but without a blueish hue, was done in a beautiful long braid that was lying over her left shoulder and in front of her. The braid had lines of golden ribbon. In her ears, she had golden earrings with white shiny stones in them. Her bright blue eyes, lighter in comparison to our mom’s deep blue, were sparkling with excitement. I couldn't help but smile like the proud big brother I was. This was perhaps the first time I realized that Tiana was the princess of this kingdom. She saw me smiling at her and beamed back at me.

Soon, we were all riding in the same carriage toward the cathedral. Tia was giddy with excitement. Again, a lot of people came out to watch the procession and were cheering us. We arrived at the cathedral and went inside under the shouts of encouragement of the huge crows behind us. High Priest Dallan was already waiting for us. After the usual greetings, we made our way through the big wooden doors and into the main room of the cathedral. It was as huge and beautiful as I remember it from three years ago. We make our way to the glass obelisk at the opposite end of the room. Once we reach it, Dallan gives exactly the same speech he gave during our ceremony. When he finishes, it is time for Tia to go to Obelisk. She looks at our mom who is still holding her hand. Mom smiles encouragingly at her and gently squeezes her hand before releasing it.

Tia makes her way to the obelisk. Once she reaches it, she raises her hand and places it against the glass surface. The obelisk starts glowing white. A few moments later, three lines start glowing. Blue, green, and purple lines all glow brightly.

The High Priest speaks up. “High affinities for water, air, and dark magic. First, Prince Artias and Zenovia with their high affinities in multiple elements. Now Princess Tiana. Invia truly blessed our kingdom.”

Tia starts running towards me with a skip in her step and launches herself into my embrace. I catch her without issue and hug her back smiling. Arti stands beside me and pats Tia’s lovely head. I look at our parents and see Mom smiling and wiping a tear from her eyes. I swear I saw our father exhale deeply like he was holding his breath for a whole minute. I guess he was worried that Tiana would repeat or even break my own record. That would complicate things and threaten the stability of the continent even further.

With that, we make our way back to the entrance. As we step out of the cathedral, the crowd falls silent. Our father, yet again with his booming voice, says, “Princess Tiana, my daughter, has exhibited high affinities in water, air, and dark magic. With that, she makes the third royal child to show incredible magical potential. All three of my children having such strong and numerous affinities must be a sign from Invia that our kingdom is on the right path and that we carry with us her blessing.”

With that declaration done, the crowd explodes in a loud roar. They chant Tiana’s name and our kingdom’s as we make our way to our carriage.

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