Usual claimer/disclaimer. This is going to be a two part update. Next one will be up next week sometime. Schools out, so I have a lot more time to spare! A lot of plot this chapter, a lot of fluff next one. Enjoy!
Feasts in the Order were always grandiose; since relocating to Fiji, when Lady Ratulemen had chosen that as their new convening spot, they had roast pig and other local delicacies, as was the Order's custom. Lord Luch lowered the long tables of the Elements into the ground and created numerous smaller tables, so that those who so wished could converse with others in different Lines could do so.
Anna was still in shock from seeing Elsa, clad in her astounding Laena. Only when she stepped out into the light did she realize the garb must have been fabricated from ice, with the various torches illuminating the myriad of frozen crystals about the sleeves and buttons of her top. The redhead found it difficult to tear her eyes away from the beautiful sight.
"..na, did you hear me?" A higher male voice said from behind her. Her eyes found Iakob standing there, an unamused expression on his face. She grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck. The freckled skin of her cheeks grew warm.
"Uh… no," she admitted, an awkward laugh coming out from her. He sighed; this was typical Anna to him.
"Lady Sydalnnar and Lady Ratulemen want to see you." Anna straightened at the statement, smile leaving her face to be replaced with a look of obvious question. She subconsciously fixed her Habitu, one that belonged to no specific Branch or House of the Ignis Magum.
A freefloater, belonging to nobody. A piece of trash that no one wants to own. Someone that has to wear the common garb because she flits from House to House and between Branches because no one will take her.
She grimaced, recalling the harmful words she had once overheard a fellow saying when she had been training with Lord Shadow. She closed her eyes momentarily, knowing in her heart the complete falsity of the statement. When she reopened them, she nodded at Iakob.
"Let's go," she told him. He had already smoothed out his Laena and straightened the gentle ivory sash that ran from his right shoulder to his left hip across his deep indigo vest, the color of the sash standing out against the scarlet of his shirt: the colors of the Calor Agri. Anna envied him; her Habitu was a simple scarlet nehru shirt tucked into fitted black trousers, bearing the common colors of the Ignus Magum.
A freefloater.
Anna didn't realized they had been walking until they met their destination, the clicking of Iakob's polished black shoes coming to an abrupt halt as she noticed him dropping to one knee, fist over his heart. She internally chuckled at his ministration, knowing full well how traditional he was in regards to how he respected his superiors. Nonetheless, she followed his actions not wanting to be chastised by Iakob later.
If there is a later. This could change everything.
Her eyes widened at the sudden realization that this could be her last time traveling around with Iakob. It brought a pang to the heart her fist was enclosed over, yet made her stomach flutter with butterflies. It was about time that she started a new chapter of her life.
"Lady Ignus Magum, Lady Ultimum Maleficus," said Iakob, still on one knee.
"Please, Oraculi Archízoun and Miss Branansikt. There will be no need for such formalities here. We are dining as friends and equals tonight," Lady Ratulemen replied kindly before sighing, "Gods know we need such."
Iakob rose, his curly, chocolate brown hair bouncing slightly as he rose to his feet, tapping Anna's shoulder to signal doing the same. Following his lead, she got up and locked eyes with Lady Sydalnnar for a small second. There was the most odd, knowing look in her pupils; like she knew something that no one else did. But just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, leaving a warm smile in its wake. Sydalnnar's eyes did not move. Breaking eye contact, Anna began.
"You requested my presence, my Ladies?" she asked. Lady Ratulemen nodded.
"Yes. It has come to my attention that you have mastered the final form of Ignus Magum," she replied. Anna nodded. The Indonesian looked around at the scene before them; there were too many people for such a private discussion.
"Iakob," she called. His eyes snapped over to her and stood, ready for orders.
"Yes, my Lady?" he replied.
"Retrieve Lord de l'Eau for me, if you would be so kind." His eyes widened for a brief second, as did Lady Sydalnnar's.
"I believe he's conversing with Lord Frost over there, by the clock tower," she told him, nodding in the direction of the two men. Iakob nodded, bowed, and left to retrieve them.
"He always was the one for formalities," Sydalnnar mused.
"Indeed, Yusraa. At least he remains true to his beliefs," the darker skinned Lady chuckled. Yusraa smiled, then looked over at Anna.
"Gita, should we go to somewhere more private?" she asked, losing the mirth of her prior statement, "this isn't exactly the place to have as serious a discussion as the one we're going to have in a few moments."
Iakob and Lord Lezigha de l'Eau headed back toward them. Lord de l'Eau was a giant of a man; his dark complexion a reflection of his Nigerian nationality and the copious amount of time spent outside training pupils in the ways of water; his broad shoulders and tree trunk arms that rippled with strength underneath were hidden beneath his cape, an ancient textile of the Aqua Magus that was passed down from generation to generation of the Lords and Ladies that inherited the position he was in then. His giant claymore hung sheathed within his scabbard by his side, fitting for a man of his stature.
He bowed before the Ladies.
"Good evening, Gita. Greetings, Lady Sydalnnar," he greeted, thick Nigerian accent peppering his Latin. The use of a formal title did not go unnoticed by any of them; they knew that he only referred to his friends by their first names.
"Good evening, Lezigha. I take it you are doing well this evening?" Gita asked politely.
"Ah, indeed. Jack and I were just discussing how good the pig is this time," he chuckled. When he smiled, Anna noticed, there was a small gap between his first two teeth. For all his terrifying appearance gave him, he seemed to have a generally pleasant air about him. Perhaps it was the trained tongue of the political game of Lords and Ladies, or maybe it was genuine. For now, Anna had not a clue.
They began making small talk and walking toward something akin to a conference room; aside from the fact that the table had ten seats, and the table itself was made of stone and circular. Everyone sat down in their respective seats while Anna stood, awaiting permission to seat. Once granted, she sat on a chair made of dried obsidian.
"Iakob. I thank you for your help tonight. However, this is a conversation I'd like to have privately. You are dismissed," Lady Sydalnnar said. He bowed deeply, then locked eyes with Anna. His gaze spoke for him.
I'm proud of you.
Sharing a smile with Anna, he took his leave.
"Not that I mean to sound as though I am being disrespectful, but why was I brought here but Oraculi Archízoun?" he asked, intending no rudeness in his tone. Gita glanced at Anna.
"Well, I'd like to talk about a new potential prospect for your Line," she explained. His eyes followed her gaze and rested on Anna.
"Vishal," called Gita. Promptly, the Fijian servant arrived, clad in nothing but a traditional white sulu and a carved ivory talisman upon his chest in order to showcase his lithe frame. He bowed, awaiting orders from her.
"Would you mind, terribly, getting Sir Shadow and Sir Ababwa? I feel as though they should be present," she requested. Lezigha and Yusraa nodded.
"She is bearing the colors of the Ignus Magum," he stated plainly, as if the fact was unnoticed.
Belonging to no one.
"Is that a problem?" Yusraa said. There was a challenge in her voice, one that dared him to say yes. His eyes met hers and Anna could swear she saw and smelled steam.
"I mean not to chastise you both, as you have mothers for that, but please. Keep the peace, if only for tonight," Gita asked. At the sound of her even voice, the two instantly eased off one another.
"Not at all, Lady Sydalnnar," he said, replying to Yusraa's challenge carefully. Anna looked curiously between the two, wondering what had made them dislike each other so much. She understood that there was a natural rivalry between the Ignus Magum and the Aqua Magus, but she didn't think it boiled down to individual detestment.
Sir Naveen Shadow and Sir Aladdin Ababwa then entered, taking their proper seats next to their respective Lord and Lady.
Anna, on numerous occasions, had seen Sir Ababwa. Tonight was different, however; tonight, he donned his Laena, of which a brilliant red shirt of his craft was etched with intricate designs of white silk thread of his own making; his normally mussed black hair was now combed and tidied, and his silver sash, tied around his waist, dictated his position as an Advisor.
Anna had never seen Naveen Shadow, however. He had thick brown hair atop his head, a fine chiseled jaw and broad smile. She noticed he had decided to don a different Laena than she would have expected, composed of a dark blue sweater with a silver vest and a black cravat.
"So, Ladies and Gentlemen, what are we discussing today?" Sir Naveen questioned, all charms and smiles. Gita smiled in kind, and Pocahontas spoke for her.
"Just the potential induction of a new pupil into the Line of Water," she replied. Naveen's smile broadened.
"Well that's just great! Isn't it, Lezigha?" Sir Shadow asked, turning to see his older friend's face pensive, thinking. His smile fell from his face.
"My Lord?" he asked, concerned.
"It is indeed…" he responded. Naveen's brow furrowed.
"Who is this new inductee, if I may so ask?" Sir Ababwa inquired. Gita, Pocahontas, Yusraa and Lezigha's eyes fell on Anna. Aladdin and Naveen's gazes were soon to follow in the same direction.
"Her?" they exclaimed at the same time, incredulous.
"Yes. Her," confirmed Lady Ratulemen. Anna shifted uncomfortably under the apparent scrutiny placed upon her. There was small discussion shortly afterwards, small voices talking about what to do about this situation. Anna felt like she was a party where she knew no one, yet everyone knew her.
After what seemed like ages, the three parties seemed to come to an agreement.
"You may join the Line of the Aqua Magus to learn our ways, if you wanted to do so," said Lord de l'Eau mechanically.
"However, I still have to ask: why am I being asked to take one of the Ignus Magum into my L— " he cut himself off, realizing mid-sentence the reasoning behind the request and eyes widening.
"Oh. Well, I didn't realize that— my apologies for being so close minded, Gita." She nodded her forgiveness.
"I understand your hesitation, but we do think that her next course of action should be to learn her polar opposite. It would make everything else significantly easier, as far as training goes," she explained.
"Well, it's up to you now, Anna. If you so wished to, you could stay comfortably within the Line of Fire, most likely to become a Lady and Head of a House or Branch. Or, you could progress with your training and move to the next Line, that being the Line of Water," Lady Ratulemen said. Anna's face became pensive, wondering if this was for her. On one hand, she would have a home, a Branch to call her own. She could rest easy, knowing that she could go home and be part of something. She could bear the colors of her House or Branch and find sanctuary.
But…
Her mind flitted to Elsa for the umpteenth time that day. Though the blonde would never be the driving force behind such a monumental decision, the thought of her still gave the redhead reason to move on, to press her cause forward and not give up, settling for the comfortable in lieu of the complex and unknown.
Mom and Dad would want me to go on. If not for me, then for them.
"I've made my choice," Anna declared. All eyes turned to her.
"Well, this was a tough decision to make, but…"
A/N: What? I like cliff hangers sometimes. However, I've noticed that since my comeback from the year-long-hiatus, I've still somehow managed to acquire more followers. I feel drive again, and I can't thank you enough for that. Have a fantastic week/month, guys. I'll see you next time! ~Burns (p.s., I need cover art. Hella bad. If I could draw it, I would... But I can't. So... If any of you can draw and would be okay with submitting your lovely skills to me on my tumblr {therealburnsx3 . tumblr . com} then I would love you forever. Thankyouguyssomuchloveyoubye)