“I was telling you how to get to your homeroom and how you need to be on your best behavior since the Prince is in your grade.” His tone was teasing, but Janus meant it. Our family now worked for the royal family. I nodded once. I wouldn’t mess this up for my family. I couldn’t.
Janus grabbed my shoulder gently before I moved. “And most importantly: Make friends and be yourself, okay Aurora?” Our eyes locked for a moment, the same crystal green color that our father had, and I smiled.
“Always. Bye Janus!” I waved, running down the hallway towards homeroom, He smiled back, waiting for a moment before turning and heading to his own class.
The worst part of being in a new school? Having to introduce yourself to everyone and at the beginning of every class. I internally groaned as my math teacher called my name, asking me to introduce myself and tell everyone an interesting fact.
“My name is Aurora Lilium, I have two older siblings and one younger.” I wanted to sit down after that, but the way the teacher glared made my spine stiffen. “Uhm, well...” Shit, why is it that I suck at talking about myself? This was the worst. “I swear I’m usually more eloquent than this.”
A small laugh was heard from behind me, but before I could even look back, the teacher rolled her eyes and told me to sit down. Apparently, that was my interesting fact. Works for me: I quickly sat down and started scribbling along to the lecture.
Class went by fast, whether I understood everything or not, and I was packing my things to head out for the day.
“Hey, new kid!” I spun on my heel, eyes wide at the person who stood before me. Then my eyes slid over to the person beside him.
He was blonde, thin. He had blue eyes and freckles and a smile that could’ve challenged my brother’s. I blinked.
The other had dark hair, shadowed eyes. His expression was curious, but indifferent. Both seemed to have followed me from math class. Did one of them laugh at my remark in class?
“Don’t have to be a deer in headlights, sorry if I scared you!” Blondie’s smile never left his face, though I could see that he was genuinely sorry.
I smiled, fiddling with my backpack straps. “It’s okay, I’m just... a little nervous, first day and all.”
If possible, his smile got brighter. “Been there done that! I’m Prompto and this, of course, is Prince Noctis!” He gestured towards himself and his friend.
“Oh, Prince?” I tilted my head, “So like... you’re popular or something?”
Prompto’s jaw dropped a little and I saw a tinge of a smile on Noctis’ face. “You... you don’t know Noct??” Prompto seemed almost offended. My smile turned into a small frown.
“Am I supposed to?”
Prompto blubbered, “Well, yeah I mean he’s the p--”
“Popular guy. Yeah, that’s me. I guess it’s the broody look.” Noctis cut him off, shrugging. I perked up immediately, giggling a bit. “Brooding seems to be the type people go after these days, yeah.” I agreed.
The three of us soon fell into a walk together. With classes being over, it was only sensible to go outside. “So what brings you to Insomnia?”
I looked over to Prompto. “My mom’s job. She works in the Citadel as a magic historian for the Hall of History. The King picked her himself, apparently.” I was bragging a little, but hey, my mother was amazing. Also...maybe this would get me friends.
“Whoa, that’s awesome!” Prompto exclaimed. Noctis seemed amused. I figured he didn’t talk much. That was okay.
“Mhm, I think so too.” I nodded. I adjusted my backpack straps. “So where are you two off to?”
“Arcade.” The answer was immediate. My interest was immediately piqued. “There’s an arcade? Can I come?”
“You’re not going anywhere, Bambi.” I heard Janus mutter from behind us. Sheepishly looking over my shoulder, I saw my big brother with his arms crossed. “Or did you forget about mom’s celebration at the Citadel?”
I smiled and fidgeted with my cardigan. “I didn’t forgeeeeet, just... Misplaced the date.”
Janus was not amused by my attempt to recover. Prompto and Noctis however, were very much so.
“Don’t encourage her.” Janus rolled his eyes, not sparing them a second glance before turning on his heel. “If I get in the car before you, you’re gonna walk home.”
“Bye guys!” I shouted, hurrying off to follow my brother. He wasn’t kidding -- Janus had actually left me at school before. Now Aella, our older sister, was not happy, but she was not around to help me out right now and I didn’t know Insomnia well enough to get around.
_____________________________________________________________________
Parties are more nerve wracking that the first day of school, I’ve decided. As I stood there with my mom and siblings, fidgeting with my dress and feeling absolutely out of place. I was a teenager, not a royal or a noble. Which most of these people were -- or at least were in the Crownsguard or a Citadel employee.
Well, that did fit my family now, I suddenly thought, staring off towards the paintings and art that were so proudly displayed in the Hall of History.
“Your Majesty!” My mother greeted, and my head immediately turned and bowed at the sight of King Regis Lucis Caelum, the very man who insisted my mother move to the city for this position. His smile was kind, and his eyes reminded me of someone -- perhaps someone I saw in passing today, but no one I knew too well. A bit of deja vu, I suppose.
“Hello, it brings me joy to see you here, Celosia.” King Regis smiled, then introduced himself to each of us before setting his eyes on me at the end.
“And you must be Aurora, then.”
I nodded, trying to hold myself still. “Yes, your majesty.”
“Oh, please, Celosia, I insist your children refer to me as uncle or at the very least with less formality. You are apart of the Citadel family, and I look upon you as my own.” The genuine nature of his tone and the humor hidden in his face almost made me laugh.
It made me snort instead. My mother looked over, mortified. My face burned.
“No need to be embarrassed, my dear.” He told me gently, “I am not an all powerful being, merely a person chosen by the Six to rule as best I can. I can handle being laughed at. My son does it all the time.”
“Alright... Uncle Regis.” I managed to get out, and a wide smile came from him. It seemed to please him greatly, and the approval made me relax. “So, Aurora, tell me, what excites you about your mother working here?”
He seemed fairly interested in me and not my siblings, but then again I remember Janus telling me the Prince was in my grade. Perhaps he was hoping I could be his friend.
“To... be honest,” I started, glancing up where I saw stairs, “I grew up with my mother telling me of the ancient goddess Etro painting that was stored here and of the intense magic presence it gave off. I don’t know if that’s true but --”
“You’d like to experience it for yourself?” He finished for me. I smiled sheepishly, not knowing what to say. He was right, after all. Janus snorted softly.
King Regis turned towards the stairs at the entrance, “The mystic painting you’re searching for is up there -- it is restricted, but for one of my favorite nieces,” He winked, “I’ll make an small exception for you to make your own conclusions.”
I could hear him laugh as I took off, holding my dress as I bolted towards the stairs. I couldn’t believe he was allowing this -- but I wasn’t one to take things for granted.
The noise from the party drifted into the distance as I climbed up the stairs. The warmth from the bodies and lights started to wear off and I felt chills starting along my arms and the back of my neck. I made my way to the top of the stairs, anticipation and excitement running through my veins.
I stepped into the empty, dimly lit room. The ceilings were high to accommodate the only painting displayed here: Etro herself.
My vision blurred around the edges, my eyes fully focused on the painting before me. A hum filled my ears, loud enough to drown out the party’s distance atmosphere. This feeling was... incredible. A mysterious but harmless surge of power drummed on in my veins, amping up the excitement I was already feeling from being allowed to see her. Could I get any closer --
“Hey! Watch out!” A hand grabbed my wrist, snapping me out of my trance. I stumbled backwards. Without realizing, my body had moved so close to the edge of the floor where a railing stood, effectively keeping most people out. I... had almost fallen over the edge.
“Whoa...” Awed by the fact, looked up at Etro’s face. It was almost like she was... calling me to come to her. “Amazing.... Guess the legends are true.”
The same voice caught my attention again. “Uh, you okay there? You shouldn’t be here, this area is -- Aurora?”
I looked up, finding dark eyes wide. “Noctis...?” He was dressed handsomely. Suddenly I understood why he’d be popular. He looked good.
“I knew you’d be here, but not in this area.” He sighed, scratching the back of his head. “Come on, we should get back down to the party.”
I looked back towards the painting, “But --”
“We can come back later, no worries.” He assured me, holding his hand out to me in an awkward fashion. I bit my lip and took it gingerly. Noctis led me back down the stairs and the sound of the party got louder, and the lingering magic (if you could call it that) had settled under my skin.
“Noctis, my son! I see you did find our dear Aurora.” King Regis came striding over, his kind smile never leaving his face. My mother and brother were close behind, looking concerned. Had I been gone that long?
“Sorry I didn’t mean to --- wait, did you just say... son?” I looked between the king and Noctis. My mother must have looked mortified at my lack of understanding, but I could hear my brother’s laughter as I spoke next, looking at Noctis.
“Oh shit, that’s what Prompto meant by prince.”
gamechangershow
stormborns
theartofmadeline
titsay
origamiaround
