~2~
The stars faded into the sky, like perpetual diamonds slowly emerging forth from a velvety, black fabric that blanketed the heavens. Daphne was on the balcony that opened up from her room, leaning up against the cool, flat surface of the wall. Her face was upturned to the sky, and she watched as each star came into view. The moon was still rather low in the sky so its silvery glow was cast over the waves of the sea, the reflecting light changing with the flowing water. The moonlight made Daphne's hair shine a paler gold than the sun had, so she really did have the appearance of a beautiful moon goddess. Her flowing, white nightgown fluttered as a stray breeze playfully swept its way through the night.
But Daphne wasn't imagining herself being a mysterious moon goddess as she stood there in the chilling, night air. Instead Daphne was focused on the blazing stars, recalling the constellations that connected them all. She espied several of the most common constellations: the mermaid, the centaur, the kraken, the unicorn, and so many others that roamed the skies. With every constellation she identified Daphne remembered the stories that generations of people of the Magical universe had associated with them. The stories her father had told her about as a child.
A sense of tribulation overwhelmed her emotions, dissipating the tranquil moments, and she felt her eyes begin to tear up. Daphne bowed her head and rubbed at the tears defiantly. She missed her father terribly, nearly to the point of unbearably; only her self-control and her mother kept her from leaving to search for her father. If she did leave to find Oritel, Daphne would probably fail, being she had no means of tracking him down and she was inapt when it came to the use of her powers. The only thing she could do was wait with strained patience until he returned home.
Daphne felt her life was incomplete without her father and the little things he did to show her love. She missed how he would hug her tight and reassure her that everything would work out; she missed how he'd affectionately call her Daph-Daph whenever he teased her; she even missed how he'd always peer in at her before he went to bed, thinking she was fast asleep when, in all actuality, she really wasn't. Those small acts alone had a great impact on Daphne.
Daphne searched the skies again until she caught sight of one of her favorite constellations: the constellation of the Great Dragon. Seeing her favorite constellation reminded her of her father and the few times they ever spent together alone. She closed her eyes and imagined he was there at that moment next to her, telling her all about the constellations like he'd done when she was a young child.
He stood tall and strong with his hands clasped behind his back, his form filled with confidence and purpose. Oritel's warm brown eyes were filled with an indescribable happiness as they roved the skies and his tone spoke with a well-controlled sense of wonderment, as though he was hearing his own stories for the first time. 'And there's the constellation of the Great Dragon, Daphne.' Oritel pointed up toward a particular section of the heavens above, his aim following the twists and turns of the constellation.
Daphne tilted her head upward as though she were following his direction. "Tell me the story of the Great Dragon again, Daddy." Daphne whispered.
Oritel turned and smiled at her. 'You've heard the story hundreds of times.'
"Just one more time, Daddy." Daphne begged quietly. "Please, please, please."
He returned his gaze to the sky above and began. 'First there was nothing. Everything was a dark void. There were no realms, no suns, no moons, no life. Without any of this magic couldn't be either.'
"Nothing. Nothing at all." Daphne stated. "Then there was a great explosion."
'Yes. See you know the story so well.' Oritel laughed. 'You have it memorized now. I've been telling it to you so often…' His voice trailed off.
"Keep on, Daddy. Tell me the rest." Daphne insisted. "I love it when you tell me the story."
'Alright, alright. From that great explosion came a spark that sprang to life. That spark was the Great Dragon. It took in the void into which it had been born and was saddened because the universe was so dark and empty. No one would want to live in such a universe, devoid of everything. It would've been a lonely existence if the Great Dragon hadn't used its powers to create things that would fill the universe and give it light and life; using its fiery-hot breath it created the planets, the suns, the moons, animals, plants, people, everything that is in the magical universe now. The Great Dragon created all of these and it saw the universe fill with magic and life because of its creations."
"The Great Dragon was so powerful…" Daphne said in awe.
'Yes. And it was so generous with its powers too. The Great Dragon's generosity was so great that it wore itself out creating everything. The Great Dragon needed to rest then and it searched the realms for its ideal resting place.'
"The Great Dragon chose Domino."
Oritel nodded slowly. 'Domino. But before the Dragon could finally rest, it had to leave the magical universe with those who would rule it wisely.'
"The Dragon left its eight nymphs, who originally protected its powers, to rule Magix…" Daphne added.
'…the universal capital of magic.' Oritel nodded. 'Fairies from the realms of Solaria, Cimmeria, Terrenum, Andros, Faunus, Zephyrin, Ninsaris, and Blitzia had been chosen as priestesses to the Great Dragon, faithful servants to the great entity. The Great Dragon rewarded them with an important responsibility to keep the peace throughout all the magical universe. They have gracefully ruled Magix ever since.'
"And the Dragon Fire of Domino?" Daphne asked, already anticipating what her father would tell her.
'The Great Dragon's final act was to bestow some of its power upon the royal family of Domino, for both use and keeping. Entrusting us with such a sacred power was a great honor.'
"Now it is our duty to keep the sacred power safe for future generations and to use the power when times call for its use. We pass the power along through our bloodline."
'With such a gift comes numerous responsibilities to others. We are not always allowed the luxury to think of our own wants and needs because of this power. The royals of Domino must focus on keeping universal harmony as the Dragon had wanted. And that's how things have been up until this very moment, Daphne. That is why we are held in high regard by other realms throughout the universe; because we've fought for what is right for the good of everyone, not just ourselves.'
"Because we display the generosity the Great Dragon had." Daphne opened her eyes and turned her gaze to where her father had been in her mind, but found he wasn't there in reality. She fought another pang of melancholy and returned her focus to the stars again, specifically the Great Dragon constellation.
"I miss you, Daddy." Daphne whispered. She shivered in the cool air and was about to head back into her room when something bright slashed through the sky. Daphne blinked and watched the flash fade away from view. "I wish Daddy would come home." Daphne said, her hope evident in her soft voice.
Then came a crepitating noise and she heard the sound of footsteps from below the balcony. Daphne peered over the railing and saw shadowy figures walking up the path with haste. One was ahead of the rest, almost running for the door of the mansion. "Who…" Daphne's voice trailed off.
The door to the mansion opened and light spilled out over the darkened lawn, revealing the following figures as being guards. Daphne saw her mother run out of the mansion, disregarding any rectitude she would usually show a visitor. Miriam was swept up into the arms of the unknown figure, and Daphne finally knew who it was. Her mother would only act this liberal around one person.
"Daddy!" Daphne ran into her room and rushed for the door, snatching up the flounces of her nightgown so as not to trip. Her bare feet pounded on the floor and she hurried down the stairs, skipping two or three steps at a time. She nearly ran into a couple of servants chatting on the stairwell, but she didn't slow down. Rather, Daphne sped up and shoved past servants crowding the front door. "Daddy!"
He was standing on the lawn, Miriam holding his hands in her own when he looked up and saw Daphne. Pulling away from Miriam, Oritel held out his arms and Daphne flung herself into his warm embrace, burying her face in his chest. The cold of the night faded as he held her to him with his protective hug. "Hello Daphne." He was exactly as she had envisioned him moments before, the same tall, stately figure and brown eyes that made him seem both of royal status and father-like. Daphne's sense of sadness melted away and she now felt complete with all her family together again.
Oritel finally pulled back, his hands lingering on Daphne's slender shoulders. He was looking her over with awe and pride, taking in all his daughter had grown to be during his absence. Daphne could see the very indescribable happiness she had imagined him having in his eyes, the happiness that she'd always come to expect from him. But then the happiness clouded over with a look of disquiet and Daphne held back a cry of shock. "I missed you so much Daphne. But right now I really need to have a discussion with your mother." Oritel sounded so calm and serious, but Daphne could sense there was an underlying distress.
Daphne felt the chill of the night return to her, reclaiming her warmed skin. An anger burned from deep within her heart and thoughts, though she was careful not to show it. Her father had spent so much time away from his home and family and all he wanted for now was to talk about the war. Of course the universe needed her father, but Daphne needed Oritel more. She was about give a plaintive cry about it, but then Oritel's voice echoed in her head, 'We are not always allowed the luxury to think of our own wants and needs because of this power.' She fought her feeling of disappointment and taking a breath, looked her father straight in the eyes. Giving him a bright smile, Daphne chirped "Of course!"
He gave her a half-hearted smile and let his hands fall from her shoulders. Daphne said nothing else as she continued to look at her father, expectantly. The two them stood there in awkward silence, the only noise coming from the rustling of tree leaves and grass. Finally Oritel broke the temporary silence. "You'd better head off to bed, Daphne." Oritel said the words with only half-focus, like her going to bed wasn't exactly important, but was necessary anyhow. He was obviously distracted by whatever he had to discuss with Miriam.
Curiosity welled within Daphne, but she ignored it and allowed for the dutiful daughter role to take her over. Daphne gazed at Oritel for a moment longer hoping she'd see even a glimmer of the father she was inspired by; when she didn't see him she turned from him and tentatively made her way back into the mansion. She hesitated at the doorway and glanced back once more at her father and mother , who were now close together whispering with anxious voices. Oritel didn't appear to have the confident composure he was known for; in fact his posture suggested he was disheartened. Miriam took Oritel's face into her hands and gazed up at him with a mixed look of sympathy and love. The scene was both heart rending and passionate.
Daphne felt a hand grab her by the forearm and lead her away from the scene, but she didn't tear her gaze away from her parents until her view was blocked by the closed front door. Then she willingly allowed herself to be led back up the stairs to her bedroom where she did as her father asked and slipped into her bed. The handmaiden tucked her into the bed and left, leaving Daphne to lie awake, struggling against her feeling of disillusionment.
