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Chapter 4.
In the span of two months the Senate had completely tarnished their reputation they had started taxing everyone and there were several riots over this to make things worse they had imprisoned several members of our settlement and practically left them for dead hearing these things broke my heart i wanted to get out there and help my people but i was told time and again that it wasn’t the time Nanny Layai did her best to ease my worries but there was nothing anyone could do to alleviate my concerns another week had past and i heard that the Senate had started to turn on each other actively assassinating each other or going into hiding to avoid the carnage
Rays took this opportunity to start another riot this time he planned the entire event and took advantage of the Senate’s divided forces i was then brought out of hiding and i was escorted to the palace when i finally arrived the remaining members of the Senate were in chains i sighed when i saw them they were incredibly pitiful many of my subjects asked for an execution i thought of something better an Execution would be too easy these Faeries were old they couldn’t fend for themselves so i banished them knowing them they wouldn’t last long as for the soldiers that served under the Senate they were all incredibly corrupt i then used my Parasol to use a spell that would make them regress into Faery Bulbs
My Subjects cheered for my return to power i simply smiled and undid all of the Senate’s laws as for the members of the Senate that went into hiding they actively apologized and swore loyalty to me they then tried to get in my good graces i felt nothing for them so i let my Subjects decide their fate either they would be banished or they will regressed into Faery Bulbs
The vote was unanimous and the remaining Members of the Senate were banished the Senate tower was converted into a Beehive this would allow us to have another source of food as well as a new ally we searched high and low for a roaming Queen Bee and soon we had found one we offered her shelter and security in return for honey and she agreed to our terms and soon Valisa a young Queen Bee was a member of our settlement
My Palace had to be restored from the damage the Senate had done to it and their was the manner of redistributing the food that the Senate had stowed away it was truly an ordeal for everyone but i refuse to sit idol at this time i actively helped with the restoration and it was grueling many of the Architects laughed at me saying that i was too delicate for such work this only bolstered my resolve i got right back up and began to work even harder earning the respect of the Architects within the span of 5 months the palace was looking better then ever
We were able to build a new Faery Dome in the back of the Palace Maia appointed a young Faery Midwife named Ecalon to this New Dome i used it quite frequently but i did still visit Maia’s Faery dome every now and then in the Palace’s Faery dome the oddest thing had happened i had somehow produced two more Sovereign Faery Bulbs this was considered a miracle among my kind and for safety reasons we kept these two bulbs a secret from the public
Once everything had settled down i was once again bound to my strict schedule but i was able to act freely without the Senate judging my every action it became quite refreshing soon i was able to dress in my normal attire as i did when my Mother was still alive everyone welcomed my new attire commenting that i looked happier than ever and i was able to be myself and the entire Clan seemed more upbeat
The Arcus Stella clan soon began to shine like the sun but with all this happiness we didn’t notice another problem lying under the surface because the river that flowed through our domain dried up and our forest began to wither when we discovered this we began to douse for other possible water sources there was none fearing the worst i was considering moving the clan but Rays pointed out that there was Mountain to the west of us i knew what he was getting at the Possibility of Dwarves residing in that Mountain was a gamble i was willing to take the Dwarves are known for forging items of incredible power they can solve almost any problem
I sent a team of scouts to investigate the Mountain meanwhile i was busy sorting out our supply of water you see for us Arcai Faeries water is used for more then quenching thirst we also use water to supply Faery Domes with water to support the lives within the Faery Bulbs they require Purified water in order to grow to their full glory in time the water of a Faery Dome becomes impure so we refill it with fresh water from time to time normally we would utilize the power of a gems with purifying capabilities to make this problem easier but i’m sad to say my Mother and i never saw the need of doing so due to our spring
I am now paying for that oversight so right now a large portion of our water reserves are going to the Faery Domes and what is left is going to the general public i fear the future scorn from my subjects because i am sure they will grow discontent so that is why in case there are no Dwarves i will have the Gnomes dig for hidden source of water
In three days the Gnomes are brought before me and i tell them about my peoples plight the Gnomes think for a moment before suggesting the use of invoked Sapphire Gems but they warn that the water that they’ll produce will only be a small fraction of what we need even if they use all the Sapphires in their possession i let out a soft sigh if that is all they can do then i will accept i tell the Gnomes to construct a fountain right away in exchange for their services i will offer them anything within my Settlement the Gnomes gleefully chuckle stating that they will do it for free and i am incredibly thankful soon they take their leave and the next day the scouts return with news
They state that there is in fact a Dwarven settlement i smile thanking the gods for this stroke of good fortune i then make preparations to leave for the Settlement leaving Rays in charge with a team of three knights and a single Faery Cavalier at my side we travel for six days to reach the mountain following the map the scouts made we find an entrance to the Dwarven settlement and we are welcomed warmly by the current Judge of the Settlement his name is Judge Thengrin
Judge Thengrin: “ah an Arcai Faery hmm that explains the size of those scouts from earlier what brings you here my friend”
Esteria: “Judge Thengrin i have come asking for your aid the forest where my Clan resides is withering due to the spring running dry we were hoping you could help us somehow”
Judge Thengrin: “so you wish to go against the will of nature hmm sadly i must decline if nature dictates that your forest is to wither then so shall it be”
Esteria: “i had a feeling you might say that you Dwarfs are strict followers of Nature’s laws but what if i offered you something so great that you would have to say yes”
Judge Thengrin: “i am quite sure you have nothing of that great of value”
I took a pair of scissors from my pocket and i cut a lock of my hair and held it out towards the judge
Judge Thengrin: “are you doing what i think your doing….”
Esteria: “yes i am a Faery’s hair is highly valued for it’s capabilities in alchemy but cutting it is the greatest Faery taboo but it is the only thing i have to offer that is truly that great”
I would then proceed to cut my hair until it was incredibly short i then offered my hair to Judge Thengrin who took it and inspected it’s quality he then turned to me and said
Judge Thengrin: this is truly a worthy offering we will in fact aid you please wait here for just a moment
I then went over to my group they all looked at me in disbelief and i just silently cried i cut my hair my sweet sweet hair i felt so ugly and dirty right now it took an hour but Judge Thengrin would return he placed a large skinny vase beside us i was curious how this would help but Judge Thengrin recited a spell and the Vase Shrunk down to a size where i could hold it the Vase was decorated with paintings of snow and ice i held it in my hands and Judge Thengrin took a breath and said
Judge Thengrin: “now then your familiar with the Lake Burst spell correct young Sovereign”
I nodded my head and answered saying
Esteria: “yes i am Lake Burst will only work if there is already an existing source of water and if the source dries up then the newly created lake dries up as well”
Judge Thengrin: “exactly this Vase is known as the Snow Spring Reservoir it was crafted using ice magic it never runs out of ice cold water and serves as a limitless source of water if a Geomancer were to use the Lake Burst spell then you would never run out of water”
I smiled and thanked Judge Thengrin and soon my escorts led me back to our settlements when they saw my hair they were horrified and i couldn’t blame them but i explained everything to them and in their eyes i was even more inspiring i soon sent Geomancers out to create more Lake Bursts around the forest and after a series of shakes the drought had ended me were safe
Our clan safe i sat upon the throne happily my hair was gone along with my pride this would greatly weaken my resolve i now see why Faery’s are not allowed to cut their hair the harmful effects are incredibly damning
After a number of years the First sovereign Faery Bulb in Maia’s care blossomed and to everyone’s surprise this Sovereign was a boy when news of this traveled through the settlement confusion took root in their minds since time in memorial all Sovereigns have been Female but then again this young Sovereign was not born through natural means but that bit of information remained secret for the safety of the Sovereign himself
I decided to name this child Jezon and he was put in my care this child would soon grow into my possible successor i would raise him to be kind as my Mother did for me
Soon young Jezon had stolen my heart he was so full of life it was incredibly refreshing sweet Jezon became my shining light fighting the growing darkness within my mind everything seems so bright and Maia is teaching me how to tend to his needs and i;m getting better and better currently little Jezon sleeps with me in my bed he clings to me late at night it’s incredibly sweet
I start every morning by feeding Jezon a bottle of spider milk with honey extract after that i spend a little time with my sweet Jezon before entrusting him to Nanny Layai after that i proceeded with my day i decided to do something different i went to the Beastmaster and i asked for a steed the Beast Master showed me all the available mounts there was only one that i was interested in it was a Concordia Hare as i said before Concordia Hare’s choose there riders so i approach all the Hares in the stable eventually one of them walks up to me i smile gently and let him sniff my hand the Hare slowly begins to nuzzle into my hand i think i’ve been chosen i then have a saddle harnessed i then name my new friend Adono and i ride him around the settlement Adono seems to enjoy the stroll
Soon we return to the palace and Adono is taken to the stables i was then reunited with Jezon and i spent time with my sweet sweet child as Jezon and i are cuddling in the garden Rays comes in and tells me that we are being visited by an emissary from another Clan
I’m curious to hear this and i tell Rays to send this Emissary to my meeting room handing Jezon to Nanny Layai i would then meet with the Emissary they had cyan blue skin and bright green hair his eyes were a deep blue and he was garbed in clothing with frog designs on it
Emissary: “greetings my fellow Arcai i am Splash an Emissary of the Frog Song Clan”
Esteria: “i’m happy to make your acquaintance Splash, is your Clan nearby?”
Emissary Splash: “yes we are currently setting up a settlement near the lake a ways off our Sovereign detected your Clan with her relic the Hawk Eye and we wanted to make presence known we are hoping to be the best of Neighbors”
Esteria: i see i would love that though i have to say your presence would have been greatly appreciated sooner am i to guess by your attire and skin your Clan is aligned with the Water element?”
Emissary Splash: “yes we are in fact water Faeries we live in the Bottom of the lake with our prized companions Frogs”
Esteria: “i see well hopefully this can be the beginning of an incredibly strong relationship please tell your Sovereign that i am willing to form a alliance with her”
Emissary Splash: “thank you your grace but may i have your name to take back to my Sovereign”
Esteria: “my name is Esteria Sovereign of the Arcus Stella Clan”
Emissary Splash: “thank you your grace”
Splash soon took his leave i was excited to gain a new ally and Water Faeries are incredibly good company to keep around they are very go with the flow and calm Rays was excited as well though we both agreed that they could have shown up earlier and helped us with our drought
As i was about to go back to Jezon Rays told me that there was some business i needed to do i let out a soft sigh and left to handle it apparently a young Faery was turning 12 years old and his deepest wish was to be visited by The Sovereign i couldn’t help but smile i came to the little ones home and i saw the biggest smile on her face she then showed me her room and she shared her dream of becoming a Knight i told her that if she tries hard she will be the greatest Knight ever
I spent so much time their and we had so much fun soon the small Faery child fell asleep i spoke with her parents and they were incredibly happy i could come i was happy as well it felt good to fulfill the dreams of a child i then made my way back to the Palace
I then found Jezon resting in my bed i then got into my night clothes and snuggled my child in my arms i then had a dream i was in a field of Flowers and their were three Hawks circling above me i stood completely still and tried to take cover from them then it happened all three Hawks began to swoop down at me i evaded them but they had completely destroyed the Flowers
I started to hyperventilate but then the three hawks came at me again this time they surrounded me and just loomed over me then one hawk grabbed my left hand another grabbed my head and the final one grabbed my legs they all yanked in different directions and their talons dug into my skin
I woke up at 5 am drenched in sweat i took a few deep breaths and looked down at my son he was sleeping peacefully but i can’t help but think that dream was about him somehow as i was getting Jezon ready for the day that dream loomed in my mind i tried to push it aside but it became harder and harder as the day went on
I would then hear word from Ecalon that the other two Sovereign Seed Bulbs were almost ready to bloom as well this was a little stressful for me i tried my best to relax with Jezon in my care but i did wonder if my mother had the same issues she never told me about the Sovereigns she birthed i’m sure if i venture into the Archive i can find some information about them but i’m sure i’m not the Only Sovereign my Mother fostered
As i was feeding Jezon his lunch Rays came in he was reminding me of today’s task it was going to take all day Nanny Layai gently took Jezon from me and i kissed his head i then followed Rays to today's task it then dawned on me that today was the night of the first frost moon meaning winter was on its way meaning food Sources become scarce Valisa is still setting up her colony we would need to support her and we would need to make some of our food supply into preservatives this was going to be a long day
But it also meant the winter solstice and a time of togetherness and bonding so there was a good and a bad i was led out of the Palace and i felt the cold wind blow yep the chill is coming Rays took me to the Plaza and i took a deep breath and addressed the crowd
Esteria: “greetings my Subjects today marks the beginning of the Frost Moon season meaning we’ll need to band together more then ever this season first off the Farmer’s Society will need to bring in their harvests as well as find time to convert a portion of our crops into preservatives we will also be losing our mounts as a majority of them will either be hibernating or migrate to warmer pastures we will also need to gather resources for firewood medicine and so on but all of this hard work will be paying off when the Solstice comes around and we all gather sing carols and share gifts with one another but as i have mentioned before we all need to work together that means no hoarding but with all that said let’s make this a Frost Moon season to remember”
Everyone cheered as they continued on their way i met with the leader of the Farmer’s Society he was a muscular elderly Faery wearing orange and green robes he removed his hood to reveal his divine face he bowed before me and said
Egala: “My Sovereign i’m glad to see you i am Egala i manage the Farmer’s Society i am glad to say that i will work as hard as ever to make this Frost Moon season the most prosperous “
Esteria: “i certainly hope so Egala your group has the most important task of them all”
Egala: “My Sovereign i am one of the few remaining members of your Mother’s Generation i served her dutifully and you have my word that i will also serve you as well”
Esteria: “speaking of my Mother i was about to head to the Archives to find something out but maybe you can help me”
Egala: “whatever you need My Sovereign i’m sure i can help now what do you need”
Esteria: “i was wondering if my Mother raised any other Sovereigns i don’t recall her mentioning any others and i was just curious”
Egala’s face turned as pale as night it was as if my question frightened him to his very core
Egala: “My Sovereign if i may be honest your Mother did raise other Sovereigns but they are not listed in our Archives they are listed in your Mother’s Memoir and i must say the Memoir has been hidden and so few know about it’s existence”
Esteria: “why would my Mother’s Memoir be hidden Egala is there something your not telling me?”
Egala: “i swear to you my Sovereign i am only thinking of your best interest and it’s for the better that the Memoir stay hidden”
Egala then left back to the Farmer Society’s headquarters and i was even more confused from what i heard about my Mother she was wonderful beloved even then why wasn’t anyone talking about her i took a deep breath and made my way to Maia’s Faery Dome i walked inside and saw that Maia was busy tending to the Bulbs i watch on in amazement at how delicate she is with them i then move to the Market i pay for the last Honey and spider milk cake and it tastes heavenly i then return to the Palace when i get inside i walk to my room i hear Jezon’s laughter from the Balcony and when i get out there i see Nanny Layai playing with him the two are an incredibly cute sight it honestly warms my heart
I soon come over and Jezon sees me he then lets out a happy loud squeal he then begins to reach out to me i hold my little one in my arms and i kiss his head my sweet little prince Nuzzles into me as i take him inside i then begin to spoil him rotten my sweet little Jezon
In two weeks my clan was buffeted by snow and ice we were processing the last of the resources we had collected and we had barred the entrance to the Settlement mainly to keep everyone safe inside and might i add that we had a hard time keeping the snow off our buildings and streets we are very small so we need to work extra hard to keep the snow at bay the Faery’s with the fire Element worked around the clock to melt the snow
Eventually we created special braziers that gave off a warm aura keeping the snow and ice at bay we had to carve holes in our frozen over lakes to get water besides that everything was going well we were also preparing the Plaza for the upcoming Solstice it was going to be a wonderful time
But with most of our offensive mounts temporarily out of commission we could only rely on the Faery Maiden’s they are a sect within the Faery Cavaliers that use support Magic they are clothed white and soft pink armor with long flowing skirts they are healers and menders at heart but on occasion they will use their magic to weaken or disorient oncoming enemies they will be acting as the main patrol force for the Clan currently i am inside the Palace’s Faery Dome creating a new patch of Bulbs i hear that all of my Bulbs went to good homes and i wish i could just see them just once
I then rose from the pond and stretched my wings i then returned to my son he was happily sleeping away in his crib beside him was his two younger sisters Belsa and Wendalia i do so wonder what the future held for these three i stepped out onto my Balcony and looked down at the Plaza they were still preparing for the Frost Moon Solstice i thought it was going great in fact i was sure it was
But then a fierce Blizzard began to rear its ugly head our braziers were no match for such strong and harsh winds it was crippling we were all bound to our homes and though we tried our best to distribute rations and food to everyone for some it was far too late for others we never got to celebrate the Frost Moon Solstice and my Clan’s population had shrunk greatly when winter had passed us we began to dig a way out of our homes we then held a memorial service for those who had lost their lives it wasn’t pretty for the first time i felt scorn from my Subjects it wasn’t a heavy scorn but i could tell they did hate me
With spring under way we began to plant new gardens for future food harvests we also began to wake our hibernating Mounts we then began to clear more snow away from our homes and we dismantled our Braziers so we could ready them for the next winter season i was then informed of the Rite of Spring this was a Rite i was more then happy to perform performing the Rite of Spring it was a chance for everyone to relax
The Rite of Spring is considered by some to be a ritual of luck performing it in the right way would ensure good Fortune for my clan and it would create a beacon of hope in my Subject’s hearts so preparations were going to be put into place so I could perform the Rite of Spring Rays told me proportions could be completed in two days time i then told Rays that the discontent within my Subject’s heart needed to be addressed
So i flew out to the Plaza Parasol in hand and i spoke up and said
Esteria: “my friends i Know this Winter Season has been Hard on all of us we have all lost someone important to the frigid cold and my lack of leadership but to ensure the Gods of Luck smile upon us all i offer this the Rite of Spring i shall perform it now right here in the Plaza”
With no music or even my best gown i opened my Parasol and began to dance it was slow uncoordinated at first but soon musicians began to join in and with the aid of the their music my dance became more organized i was solely focused on the right nothing else mattered at this key point performing the rite mattered the most to me
As i danced things seemed to be getting easier my body was beginning to radiate a soft light i could feel it surging within my breast it was hope i didn’t know how long i had been dancing for but it was enough to make my feet hurt i soon fell to the ground panting when i had opened my eyes i saw my entire clan they were cheering it would seem i was able to light that spark many of my subjects came to me and actively complimented me and i couldn’t help but smile i was helped to my feet by Rays i was then laid in bed with my three children the next few years were uneventful we did our best to survive negotiated with the Basilisk Gnomes and Frog Song Clan and of course my children were preparing for the day when they must create Clans on their own though one of them will have to stay to take my role
In all confidence i hope Jezon will take my Role he’s the first Male Sovereign to be born in centuries and his magical prowess is unmatched even by his sisters and in all honesty that frightens me his powers far surpasses my own even at his young age and worst of all i think he knows this but thankfully he’s incredibly kind and considerate he has no ill intent at least i think he doesn’t
I take my children with me when i do my tasks it’s so they can get a better understanding of my work they all seem to enjoy the idea of becoming a Sovereign they have all gained delusions of grandeur but the title of Sovereign is not all fun and games when you truly think about it half your Clan is expendable so long as the Sovereign Survives then there is still hope for a clan
All three of my Children believe they can do no wrong like it will come so easily to them i must burst that bubble if they are too succeed in this life
I gave each of my children a challenge they needed to keep a flower alive i told each of them that this flower represents the future of their clans Jezon Besla and Wendalia thought this would be easy they quickly tried to use magic to preserve their plants but little did they know i chose these plants knowing they had high magical resistance
I watched on as each of my children did struggled to keep their plants alive Jezon became the most upset mainly because this was the first problem he couldn’t solve with magic my daughters Wendalia and Besla were each very devoted to the task of keeping their plant alive and though this was an independent exercise i chose to help each of my children
Besla was applying too much water and i gave her some advice Wendalia was being a little too rough with her plant so i helped her gain a gentle touch then i came to Jezon i sat down with him and explained that while magic can make life easier it shouldn’t be used as the answer to everything
Jezon took my words to heart and he began to embrace the idea of hard work i didn’t give them another moment of help i simply watched from the sidelines and i am proud of what i saw each of my children nurtured their plant to maturity and each of them became beautiful i was so proud of them and from that day onwards each of my children took an active role in the Settlement
Jezon studied with the Royal Mages and the Faerie knights gaining combat training and tempering his magical abilities meanwhile Besla spent her time with the Faerie Ranger’s and fell in love with all forms of nature she even adopted a Fox as her mount
Wendalia chose to become a scholar and spent most of her time in the Archive learning all the secrets of the prior generations meanwhile i had brought another Sovereign Faerie Bulb into the world the Clan was once again abuzz with excitement
And my other three Children were excited as well i couldn’t blame them this was a whole new experience for me honestly after a few months Jezon went though a very important milestone in an Arcai Faerie’s life we call it a Blossoming basically it’s our version of puberty
Jezon came to me worried mainly because he felt this strange feeling and i hate to say it but i laughed mainly because my mother did the same thing when i told her the same thing
I sat down with Jezon and explained to him that he was now ready to become a Sovereign and he was incredibly confused so i told him that he would be able to create Faerie Bulbs
Jezon: …… i don’t think i’m ready for this
I chuckled even more i then placed a hand on his shoulder and held him close saying
Esteria: listen to me Jezon i know this is scary i felt the same way but since you’ve blossomed that means that your life is just beginning and i know your going to do great things
Jezon: Mother how do you know?
Esteria: because your my Son and i believe in you with all my heart
Jezon then hugged me close for the following months i trained Jezon personally the goal was to prepare him for any possible outcome i had to get his sisters involved as well mainly because i felt like my time was coming to an end i kept it to myself but i could feel myself getting weaker and weaker still i continued
It eventually happened 15 years later i became barren Ecalon eventually had to help me to my room in time i could barely walk or fly i needed a wheelchair my youngest child Verilla stayed by my side the whole time she hasn’t blossomed yet she is still only a child
But she is such a lovely child so pure and sweet she has some talent with songcraft her songs can cause miracles to happen others have seen it
The next day soon arrives and Rays helps me into a dreaded ballroom gown i have to wear this because now i have to crown my successor with Rays helped he pushed me to the steeple and the entire settlement is gathered for this day when the door opens everyone rises and i wave as i’m pushed to the front of the room where my Three children stand awaiting my choice once i am in the front of the room everyone sits down and i speak
Esteria: greetings my children we are here today to bare witness to a most wonderful occasion today i shall choose my successor now this event is much different then the other events of the past we have three Heirs Besla Wendalia and Jezon one of them will be your new Sovereign while the others will start a new Colony with their own customs but this Tradition is not strict our customs are fluid and allow for change so my children are free to join together and create a super colony if they so wish the choice is theirs but as for my successor
Esteria: i cannot decide
The entire Steeple let out a gasp and so did my children i then turned to face them saying
Esteria: my Darling Children each of you have the potential to guide this colony to greatness this is a decision i refuse to make so i want you each to go in the back room and contemplate your options the future belongs to each of you
Taking my words to heart Wendalia Besla and Jezon went into the back room and began to think meanwhile i sat back in my wheelchair and closed my eyes for the final time i died at that very moment a tear escaping my eyes i so desperately wanted to see the future each of my children would bring but fate had other plans i did so much good for my clan and i can say this i have no regrets
The End
In the span of two months the Senate had completely tarnished their reputation they had started taxing everyone and there were several riots over this to make things worse they had imprisoned several members of our settlement and practically left them for dead hearing these things broke my heart i wanted to get out there and help my people but i was told time and again that it wasn’t the time Nanny Layai did her best to ease my worries but there was nothing anyone could do to alleviate my concerns another week had past and i heard that the Senate had started to turn on each other actively assassinating each other or going into hiding to avoid the carnage
Rays took this opportunity to start another riot this time he planned the entire event and took advantage of the Senate’s divided forces i was then brought out of hiding and i was escorted to the palace when i finally arrived the remaining members of the Senate were in chains i sighed when i saw them they were incredibly pitiful many of my subjects asked for an execution i thought of something better an Execution would be too easy these Faeries were old they couldn’t fend for themselves so i banished them knowing them they wouldn’t last long as for the soldiers that served under the Senate they were all incredibly corrupt i then used my Parasol to use a spell that would make them regress into Faery Bulbs
My Subjects cheered for my return to power i simply smiled and undid all of the Senate’s laws as for the members of the Senate that went into hiding they actively apologized and swore loyalty to me they then tried to get in my good graces i felt nothing for them so i let my Subjects decide their fate either they would be banished or they will regressed into Faery Bulbs
The vote was unanimous and the remaining Members of the Senate were banished the Senate tower was converted into a Beehive this would allow us to have another source of food as well as a new ally we searched high and low for a roaming Queen Bee and soon we had found one we offered her shelter and security in return for honey and she agreed to our terms and soon Valisa a young Queen Bee was a member of our settlement
My Palace had to be restored from the damage the Senate had done to it and their was the manner of redistributing the food that the Senate had stowed away it was truly an ordeal for everyone but i refuse to sit idol at this time i actively helped with the restoration and it was grueling many of the Architects laughed at me saying that i was too delicate for such work this only bolstered my resolve i got right back up and began to work even harder earning the respect of the Architects within the span of 5 months the palace was looking better then ever
We were able to build a new Faery Dome in the back of the Palace Maia appointed a young Faery Midwife named Ecalon to this New Dome i used it quite frequently but i did still visit Maia’s Faery dome every now and then in the Palace’s Faery dome the oddest thing had happened i had somehow produced two more Sovereign Faery Bulbs this was considered a miracle among my kind and for safety reasons we kept these two bulbs a secret from the public
Once everything had settled down i was once again bound to my strict schedule but i was able to act freely without the Senate judging my every action it became quite refreshing soon i was able to dress in my normal attire as i did when my Mother was still alive everyone welcomed my new attire commenting that i looked happier than ever and i was able to be myself and the entire Clan seemed more upbeat
The Arcus Stella clan soon began to shine like the sun but with all this happiness we didn’t notice another problem lying under the surface because the river that flowed through our domain dried up and our forest began to wither when we discovered this we began to douse for other possible water sources there was none fearing the worst i was considering moving the clan but Rays pointed out that there was Mountain to the west of us i knew what he was getting at the Possibility of Dwarves residing in that Mountain was a gamble i was willing to take the Dwarves are known for forging items of incredible power they can solve almost any problem
I sent a team of scouts to investigate the Mountain meanwhile i was busy sorting out our supply of water you see for us Arcai Faeries water is used for more then quenching thirst we also use water to supply Faery Domes with water to support the lives within the Faery Bulbs they require Purified water in order to grow to their full glory in time the water of a Faery Dome becomes impure so we refill it with fresh water from time to time normally we would utilize the power of a gems with purifying capabilities to make this problem easier but i’m sad to say my Mother and i never saw the need of doing so due to our spring
I am now paying for that oversight so right now a large portion of our water reserves are going to the Faery Domes and what is left is going to the general public i fear the future scorn from my subjects because i am sure they will grow discontent so that is why in case there are no Dwarves i will have the Gnomes dig for hidden source of water
In three days the Gnomes are brought before me and i tell them about my peoples plight the Gnomes think for a moment before suggesting the use of invoked Sapphire Gems but they warn that the water that they’ll produce will only be a small fraction of what we need even if they use all the Sapphires in their possession i let out a soft sigh if that is all they can do then i will accept i tell the Gnomes to construct a fountain right away in exchange for their services i will offer them anything within my Settlement the Gnomes gleefully chuckle stating that they will do it for free and i am incredibly thankful soon they take their leave and the next day the scouts return with news
They state that there is in fact a Dwarven settlement i smile thanking the gods for this stroke of good fortune i then make preparations to leave for the Settlement leaving Rays in charge with a team of three knights and a single Faery Cavalier at my side we travel for six days to reach the mountain following the map the scouts made we find an entrance to the Dwarven settlement and we are welcomed warmly by the current Judge of the Settlement his name is Judge Thengrin
Judge Thengrin: “ah an Arcai Faery hmm that explains the size of those scouts from earlier what brings you here my friend”
Esteria: “Judge Thengrin i have come asking for your aid the forest where my Clan resides is withering due to the spring running dry we were hoping you could help us somehow”
Judge Thengrin: “so you wish to go against the will of nature hmm sadly i must decline if nature dictates that your forest is to wither then so shall it be”
Esteria: “i had a feeling you might say that you Dwarfs are strict followers of Nature’s laws but what if i offered you something so great that you would have to say yes”
Judge Thengrin: “i am quite sure you have nothing of that great of value”
I took a pair of scissors from my pocket and i cut a lock of my hair and held it out towards the judge
Judge Thengrin: “are you doing what i think your doing….”
Esteria: “yes i am a Faery’s hair is highly valued for it’s capabilities in alchemy but cutting it is the greatest Faery taboo but it is the only thing i have to offer that is truly that great”
I would then proceed to cut my hair until it was incredibly short i then offered my hair to Judge Thengrin who took it and inspected it’s quality he then turned to me and said
Judge Thengrin: this is truly a worthy offering we will in fact aid you please wait here for just a moment
I then went over to my group they all looked at me in disbelief and i just silently cried i cut my hair my sweet sweet hair i felt so ugly and dirty right now it took an hour but Judge Thengrin would return he placed a large skinny vase beside us i was curious how this would help but Judge Thengrin recited a spell and the Vase Shrunk down to a size where i could hold it the Vase was decorated with paintings of snow and ice i held it in my hands and Judge Thengrin took a breath and said
Judge Thengrin: “now then your familiar with the Lake Burst spell correct young Sovereign”
I nodded my head and answered saying
Esteria: “yes i am Lake Burst will only work if there is already an existing source of water and if the source dries up then the newly created lake dries up as well”
Judge Thengrin: “exactly this Vase is known as the Snow Spring Reservoir it was crafted using ice magic it never runs out of ice cold water and serves as a limitless source of water if a Geomancer were to use the Lake Burst spell then you would never run out of water”
I smiled and thanked Judge Thengrin and soon my escorts led me back to our settlements when they saw my hair they were horrified and i couldn’t blame them but i explained everything to them and in their eyes i was even more inspiring i soon sent Geomancers out to create more Lake Bursts around the forest and after a series of shakes the drought had ended me were safe
Our clan safe i sat upon the throne happily my hair was gone along with my pride this would greatly weaken my resolve i now see why Faery’s are not allowed to cut their hair the harmful effects are incredibly damning
After a number of years the First sovereign Faery Bulb in Maia’s care blossomed and to everyone’s surprise this Sovereign was a boy when news of this traveled through the settlement confusion took root in their minds since time in memorial all Sovereigns have been Female but then again this young Sovereign was not born through natural means but that bit of information remained secret for the safety of the Sovereign himself
I decided to name this child Jezon and he was put in my care this child would soon grow into my possible successor i would raise him to be kind as my Mother did for me
Soon young Jezon had stolen my heart he was so full of life it was incredibly refreshing sweet Jezon became my shining light fighting the growing darkness within my mind everything seems so bright and Maia is teaching me how to tend to his needs and i;m getting better and better currently little Jezon sleeps with me in my bed he clings to me late at night it’s incredibly sweet
I start every morning by feeding Jezon a bottle of spider milk with honey extract after that i spend a little time with my sweet Jezon before entrusting him to Nanny Layai after that i proceeded with my day i decided to do something different i went to the Beastmaster and i asked for a steed the Beast Master showed me all the available mounts there was only one that i was interested in it was a Concordia Hare as i said before Concordia Hare’s choose there riders so i approach all the Hares in the stable eventually one of them walks up to me i smile gently and let him sniff my hand the Hare slowly begins to nuzzle into my hand i think i’ve been chosen i then have a saddle harnessed i then name my new friend Adono and i ride him around the settlement Adono seems to enjoy the stroll
Soon we return to the palace and Adono is taken to the stables i was then reunited with Jezon and i spent time with my sweet sweet child as Jezon and i are cuddling in the garden Rays comes in and tells me that we are being visited by an emissary from another Clan
I’m curious to hear this and i tell Rays to send this Emissary to my meeting room handing Jezon to Nanny Layai i would then meet with the Emissary they had cyan blue skin and bright green hair his eyes were a deep blue and he was garbed in clothing with frog designs on it
Emissary: “greetings my fellow Arcai i am Splash an Emissary of the Frog Song Clan”
Esteria: “i’m happy to make your acquaintance Splash, is your Clan nearby?”
Emissary Splash: “yes we are currently setting up a settlement near the lake a ways off our Sovereign detected your Clan with her relic the Hawk Eye and we wanted to make presence known we are hoping to be the best of Neighbors”
Esteria: i see i would love that though i have to say your presence would have been greatly appreciated sooner am i to guess by your attire and skin your Clan is aligned with the Water element?”
Emissary Splash: “yes we are in fact water Faeries we live in the Bottom of the lake with our prized companions Frogs”
Esteria: “i see well hopefully this can be the beginning of an incredibly strong relationship please tell your Sovereign that i am willing to form a alliance with her”
Emissary Splash: “thank you your grace but may i have your name to take back to my Sovereign”
Esteria: “my name is Esteria Sovereign of the Arcus Stella Clan”
Emissary Splash: “thank you your grace”
Splash soon took his leave i was excited to gain a new ally and Water Faeries are incredibly good company to keep around they are very go with the flow and calm Rays was excited as well though we both agreed that they could have shown up earlier and helped us with our drought
As i was about to go back to Jezon Rays told me that there was some business i needed to do i let out a soft sigh and left to handle it apparently a young Faery was turning 12 years old and his deepest wish was to be visited by The Sovereign i couldn’t help but smile i came to the little ones home and i saw the biggest smile on her face she then showed me her room and she shared her dream of becoming a Knight i told her that if she tries hard she will be the greatest Knight ever
I spent so much time their and we had so much fun soon the small Faery child fell asleep i spoke with her parents and they were incredibly happy i could come i was happy as well it felt good to fulfill the dreams of a child i then made my way back to the Palace
I then found Jezon resting in my bed i then got into my night clothes and snuggled my child in my arms i then had a dream i was in a field of Flowers and their were three Hawks circling above me i stood completely still and tried to take cover from them then it happened all three Hawks began to swoop down at me i evaded them but they had completely destroyed the Flowers
I started to hyperventilate but then the three hawks came at me again this time they surrounded me and just loomed over me then one hawk grabbed my left hand another grabbed my head and the final one grabbed my legs they all yanked in different directions and their talons dug into my skin
I woke up at 5 am drenched in sweat i took a few deep breaths and looked down at my son he was sleeping peacefully but i can’t help but think that dream was about him somehow as i was getting Jezon ready for the day that dream loomed in my mind i tried to push it aside but it became harder and harder as the day went on
I would then hear word from Ecalon that the other two Sovereign Seed Bulbs were almost ready to bloom as well this was a little stressful for me i tried my best to relax with Jezon in my care but i did wonder if my mother had the same issues she never told me about the Sovereigns she birthed i’m sure if i venture into the Archive i can find some information about them but i’m sure i’m not the Only Sovereign my Mother fostered
As i was feeding Jezon his lunch Rays came in he was reminding me of today’s task it was going to take all day Nanny Layai gently took Jezon from me and i kissed his head i then followed Rays to today's task it then dawned on me that today was the night of the first frost moon meaning winter was on its way meaning food Sources become scarce Valisa is still setting up her colony we would need to support her and we would need to make some of our food supply into preservatives this was going to be a long day
But it also meant the winter solstice and a time of togetherness and bonding so there was a good and a bad i was led out of the Palace and i felt the cold wind blow yep the chill is coming Rays took me to the Plaza and i took a deep breath and addressed the crowd
Esteria: “greetings my Subjects today marks the beginning of the Frost Moon season meaning we’ll need to band together more then ever this season first off the Farmer’s Society will need to bring in their harvests as well as find time to convert a portion of our crops into preservatives we will also be losing our mounts as a majority of them will either be hibernating or migrate to warmer pastures we will also need to gather resources for firewood medicine and so on but all of this hard work will be paying off when the Solstice comes around and we all gather sing carols and share gifts with one another but as i have mentioned before we all need to work together that means no hoarding but with all that said let’s make this a Frost Moon season to remember”
Everyone cheered as they continued on their way i met with the leader of the Farmer’s Society he was a muscular elderly Faery wearing orange and green robes he removed his hood to reveal his divine face he bowed before me and said
Egala: “My Sovereign i’m glad to see you i am Egala i manage the Farmer’s Society i am glad to say that i will work as hard as ever to make this Frost Moon season the most prosperous “
Esteria: “i certainly hope so Egala your group has the most important task of them all”
Egala: “My Sovereign i am one of the few remaining members of your Mother’s Generation i served her dutifully and you have my word that i will also serve you as well”
Esteria: “speaking of my Mother i was about to head to the Archives to find something out but maybe you can help me”
Egala: “whatever you need My Sovereign i’m sure i can help now what do you need”
Esteria: “i was wondering if my Mother raised any other Sovereigns i don’t recall her mentioning any others and i was just curious”
Egala’s face turned as pale as night it was as if my question frightened him to his very core
Egala: “My Sovereign if i may be honest your Mother did raise other Sovereigns but they are not listed in our Archives they are listed in your Mother’s Memoir and i must say the Memoir has been hidden and so few know about it’s existence”
Esteria: “why would my Mother’s Memoir be hidden Egala is there something your not telling me?”
Egala: “i swear to you my Sovereign i am only thinking of your best interest and it’s for the better that the Memoir stay hidden”
Egala then left back to the Farmer Society’s headquarters and i was even more confused from what i heard about my Mother she was wonderful beloved even then why wasn’t anyone talking about her i took a deep breath and made my way to Maia’s Faery Dome i walked inside and saw that Maia was busy tending to the Bulbs i watch on in amazement at how delicate she is with them i then move to the Market i pay for the last Honey and spider milk cake and it tastes heavenly i then return to the Palace when i get inside i walk to my room i hear Jezon’s laughter from the Balcony and when i get out there i see Nanny Layai playing with him the two are an incredibly cute sight it honestly warms my heart
I soon come over and Jezon sees me he then lets out a happy loud squeal he then begins to reach out to me i hold my little one in my arms and i kiss his head my sweet little prince Nuzzles into me as i take him inside i then begin to spoil him rotten my sweet little Jezon
In two weeks my clan was buffeted by snow and ice we were processing the last of the resources we had collected and we had barred the entrance to the Settlement mainly to keep everyone safe inside and might i add that we had a hard time keeping the snow off our buildings and streets we are very small so we need to work extra hard to keep the snow at bay the Faery’s with the fire Element worked around the clock to melt the snow
Eventually we created special braziers that gave off a warm aura keeping the snow and ice at bay we had to carve holes in our frozen over lakes to get water besides that everything was going well we were also preparing the Plaza for the upcoming Solstice it was going to be a wonderful time
But with most of our offensive mounts temporarily out of commission we could only rely on the Faery Maiden’s they are a sect within the Faery Cavaliers that use support Magic they are clothed white and soft pink armor with long flowing skirts they are healers and menders at heart but on occasion they will use their magic to weaken or disorient oncoming enemies they will be acting as the main patrol force for the Clan currently i am inside the Palace’s Faery Dome creating a new patch of Bulbs i hear that all of my Bulbs went to good homes and i wish i could just see them just once
I then rose from the pond and stretched my wings i then returned to my son he was happily sleeping away in his crib beside him was his two younger sisters Belsa and Wendalia i do so wonder what the future held for these three i stepped out onto my Balcony and looked down at the Plaza they were still preparing for the Frost Moon Solstice i thought it was going great in fact i was sure it was
But then a fierce Blizzard began to rear its ugly head our braziers were no match for such strong and harsh winds it was crippling we were all bound to our homes and though we tried our best to distribute rations and food to everyone for some it was far too late for others we never got to celebrate the Frost Moon Solstice and my Clan’s population had shrunk greatly when winter had passed us we began to dig a way out of our homes we then held a memorial service for those who had lost their lives it wasn’t pretty for the first time i felt scorn from my Subjects it wasn’t a heavy scorn but i could tell they did hate me
With spring under way we began to plant new gardens for future food harvests we also began to wake our hibernating Mounts we then began to clear more snow away from our homes and we dismantled our Braziers so we could ready them for the next winter season i was then informed of the Rite of Spring this was a Rite i was more then happy to perform performing the Rite of Spring it was a chance for everyone to relax
The Rite of Spring is considered by some to be a ritual of luck performing it in the right way would ensure good Fortune for my clan and it would create a beacon of hope in my Subject’s hearts so preparations were going to be put into place so I could perform the Rite of Spring Rays told me proportions could be completed in two days time i then told Rays that the discontent within my Subject’s heart needed to be addressed
So i flew out to the Plaza Parasol in hand and i spoke up and said
Esteria: “my friends i Know this Winter Season has been Hard on all of us we have all lost someone important to the frigid cold and my lack of leadership but to ensure the Gods of Luck smile upon us all i offer this the Rite of Spring i shall perform it now right here in the Plaza”
With no music or even my best gown i opened my Parasol and began to dance it was slow uncoordinated at first but soon musicians began to join in and with the aid of the their music my dance became more organized i was solely focused on the right nothing else mattered at this key point performing the rite mattered the most to me
As i danced things seemed to be getting easier my body was beginning to radiate a soft light i could feel it surging within my breast it was hope i didn’t know how long i had been dancing for but it was enough to make my feet hurt i soon fell to the ground panting when i had opened my eyes i saw my entire clan they were cheering it would seem i was able to light that spark many of my subjects came to me and actively complimented me and i couldn’t help but smile i was helped to my feet by Rays i was then laid in bed with my three children the next few years were uneventful we did our best to survive negotiated with the Basilisk Gnomes and Frog Song Clan and of course my children were preparing for the day when they must create Clans on their own though one of them will have to stay to take my role
In all confidence i hope Jezon will take my Role he’s the first Male Sovereign to be born in centuries and his magical prowess is unmatched even by his sisters and in all honesty that frightens me his powers far surpasses my own even at his young age and worst of all i think he knows this but thankfully he’s incredibly kind and considerate he has no ill intent at least i think he doesn’t
I take my children with me when i do my tasks it’s so they can get a better understanding of my work they all seem to enjoy the idea of becoming a Sovereign they have all gained delusions of grandeur but the title of Sovereign is not all fun and games when you truly think about it half your Clan is expendable so long as the Sovereign Survives then there is still hope for a clan
All three of my Children believe they can do no wrong like it will come so easily to them i must burst that bubble if they are too succeed in this life
I gave each of my children a challenge they needed to keep a flower alive i told each of them that this flower represents the future of their clans Jezon Besla and Wendalia thought this would be easy they quickly tried to use magic to preserve their plants but little did they know i chose these plants knowing they had high magical resistance
I watched on as each of my children did struggled to keep their plants alive Jezon became the most upset mainly because this was the first problem he couldn’t solve with magic my daughters Wendalia and Besla were each very devoted to the task of keeping their plant alive and though this was an independent exercise i chose to help each of my children
Besla was applying too much water and i gave her some advice Wendalia was being a little too rough with her plant so i helped her gain a gentle touch then i came to Jezon i sat down with him and explained that while magic can make life easier it shouldn’t be used as the answer to everything
Jezon took my words to heart and he began to embrace the idea of hard work i didn’t give them another moment of help i simply watched from the sidelines and i am proud of what i saw each of my children nurtured their plant to maturity and each of them became beautiful i was so proud of them and from that day onwards each of my children took an active role in the Settlement
Jezon studied with the Royal Mages and the Faerie knights gaining combat training and tempering his magical abilities meanwhile Besla spent her time with the Faerie Ranger’s and fell in love with all forms of nature she even adopted a Fox as her mount
Wendalia chose to become a scholar and spent most of her time in the Archive learning all the secrets of the prior generations meanwhile i had brought another Sovereign Faerie Bulb into the world the Clan was once again abuzz with excitement
And my other three Children were excited as well i couldn’t blame them this was a whole new experience for me honestly after a few months Jezon went though a very important milestone in an Arcai Faerie’s life we call it a Blossoming basically it’s our version of puberty
Jezon came to me worried mainly because he felt this strange feeling and i hate to say it but i laughed mainly because my mother did the same thing when i told her the same thing
I sat down with Jezon and explained to him that he was now ready to become a Sovereign and he was incredibly confused so i told him that he would be able to create Faerie Bulbs
Jezon: …… i don’t think i’m ready for this
I chuckled even more i then placed a hand on his shoulder and held him close saying
Esteria: listen to me Jezon i know this is scary i felt the same way but since you’ve blossomed that means that your life is just beginning and i know your going to do great things
Jezon: Mother how do you know?
Esteria: because your my Son and i believe in you with all my heart
Jezon then hugged me close for the following months i trained Jezon personally the goal was to prepare him for any possible outcome i had to get his sisters involved as well mainly because i felt like my time was coming to an end i kept it to myself but i could feel myself getting weaker and weaker still i continued
It eventually happened 15 years later i became barren Ecalon eventually had to help me to my room in time i could barely walk or fly i needed a wheelchair my youngest child Verilla stayed by my side the whole time she hasn’t blossomed yet she is still only a child
But she is such a lovely child so pure and sweet she has some talent with songcraft her songs can cause miracles to happen others have seen it
The next day soon arrives and Rays helps me into a dreaded ballroom gown i have to wear this because now i have to crown my successor with Rays helped he pushed me to the steeple and the entire settlement is gathered for this day when the door opens everyone rises and i wave as i’m pushed to the front of the room where my Three children stand awaiting my choice once i am in the front of the room everyone sits down and i speak
Esteria: greetings my children we are here today to bare witness to a most wonderful occasion today i shall choose my successor now this event is much different then the other events of the past we have three Heirs Besla Wendalia and Jezon one of them will be your new Sovereign while the others will start a new Colony with their own customs but this Tradition is not strict our customs are fluid and allow for change so my children are free to join together and create a super colony if they so wish the choice is theirs but as for my successor
Esteria: i cannot decide
The entire Steeple let out a gasp and so did my children i then turned to face them saying
Esteria: my Darling Children each of you have the potential to guide this colony to greatness this is a decision i refuse to make so i want you each to go in the back room and contemplate your options the future belongs to each of you
Taking my words to heart Wendalia Besla and Jezon went into the back room and began to think meanwhile i sat back in my wheelchair and closed my eyes for the final time i died at that very moment a tear escaping my eyes i so desperately wanted to see the future each of my children would bring but fate had other plans i did so much good for my clan and i can say this i have no regrets
The End
Category Story / Fantasy
Species Unspecified / Any
Gender Multiple characters
Size 50 x 50px
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