A four year old Lyra was dangling from her favorite branch when her Mother rushed over.
„Lyra! Get down there! Why are you not getting ready for the welcome banquet? And where is Maria?"
Said maid was rushing out into the courtyard, obviously out of breath, still with Lyras dress in her hands.
„Huff your huff maje huff stiy, please huff let huff me huff get huff you huff ready!" Mariah barely croaked out. Then she saw Queen Ingrid and got even more frantic.
„I was huff trying huff-"
„It's alright Maria, I can see that my daughter is up to her little shenanigans again. Feel free to leave the dress with me, I'll take over. Go and take the rest of the day off."
„Are you huff sure, your huff Majesty?"
„Yes, thank you. Now Lyra, come down before I climb up there myself."
„But Mommyyy, I want to plaaayyyy! Why are we going to this bankat?"
„It is called a banquet, sweetheart. And we have to make an appearance and greet our new court magician and his apprentice. He is also just a boy, I am sure you can play with him. Buut you have to come down and get ready for that to happen, my heart."
Lyra sat up on the branch and pouted. But after another scolding look from her mother she climbed down and sighed: „Mommy, why must I wear these? It is so uncomfortable! I can not even climb trees!!"
Queen Ingrid knelt down to her daughters eye level and brushed through her hair with her hand while saying: „I know. I promise you, one day you will not have to. But for now, be good Lyra. Okay?"
A still pouting Lyra gave in and took her mothers hand as she ushered her back to her floor.
The banquet was as they always were. Lots of unfamiliar faces were bustling around. Magic was in the air, as were the floating plates.
All in all it was way too loud but Lyra found out pretty quickly that the adults would be distracted and too busy with other entertainment to pay her much mind. She just had to get through the formalities first.
Speaking off, the hall doors swung open right as the King finished his welcome speech. An old but towering man with a cane slowly made his way into the hall. Even Lyra was intrigued and payed attention for the first time at a banquet in her short life. Lyras Father stood and introduced the man as Basilides.
He had a dark cloak around him and his beard was comically long. He would have been terrifying, if not for the twinkle in his eye and the all knowing smile he wore to greet the King. And then he moved to the right and used his cane to nudge a blonde boy no older than 10 in front of the King.
Basilides spoke in a scratchy but in control voice: „This is my apprentice Abraxas. I hope you will welcome him with the same grace you have me, your Majesty."
The boy was shaking, his eyes were darting all around the room but he didnt flee. All at once his brown eyes landed on the four year old Princess. She had lost interest and was playing with her mothers sleeves.
That was the moment Abraxas decided Seren must not be soo bad if a child was this carefree. And he relaxed a bit, just not enough to entirely lower his guard.
The King approached both the new court magician and his apprentice with open arms. He said: „Of course, my old friend. Please come sit and eat. I am sure your journey was tiring. Tell me about where you have been!"
„La la la la I knew you could not catch me!" a five year old Lyra joyfully boasted when she beat Abraxas in a race again.
„That is not fair! You used the hidden passages! I do not know them! You would not win in a real race against me otherwise. Admit it."
A little Lyra puffed out her chest (and still only came up to Abraxas' waist) and said: „Learn them then Braxi. Maybe you will beat me then."
Abraxas laughed at her antics and then crouched down to her level. He wispered mischievously: „Hey is it not dinner time soon? Why do we not go to the kitchens and steal a tart or two?"
Forgotten was their little race because Lyra beamed up at him, grabbed his hand and showed him a new secret passage to the kitchens
„Why are you always so sad, Brax?" a six year old Lyra asked. She was covered from head to toe in mud but still brimmed in energy.
A twelve year old Abraxas was sitting on top of a hill overlooking Serens lands. He had been melancholy, even Lyra could tell.
„I am not Princess. Do not concern yourself with me. You should wash up before your Mother catches you." Abraxas brushed her off and continued staring out into the distance.
„No. I won against those mean boys from the market. Who cares if I am muddy." Lyra said. And then sat down right next to him.
Abraxas sighed and looked down at the Princess. She looked more like a kicked puppy than royalty.
He asked: „Why do you insist on fighting with them? Just tell them you are the Princess and they will leave you alone. Do you not have any males in your life to take care of them for you?"
Now it was Lyras turn to stare into the distance. She had father but he was always busy. She did not want to bother him. Then she perked up. Abraxas knew by now that meant she had an idea.
She turned her whole body to him and looked up at him with pleading eyes: „You know, I have always wanted a brother. Can you play him for me?"
The boys never bothered Lyra again.
Lyra went to her first magical funeral at 9. Basilides has passed away peacefully in his sleep. He had been an old man even for wizards so it was not too surprising. At some level Lyra knew that was why Abraxas had not been playing with her and locking her out of his room. She might have been young but she wasn't stupid.
Abraxas lead the whole funeral at barely 15 years old. The royal family was in attendance only to mourn. Abraxas performed spell after spell, one to ensure Basilides' body would be reunited with the earth, one to make sure his sould would find peace. Then he sent his mentor off with his own farewell no one heard.
Everyone left. Except for Abraxas. And where Abraxas was, Lyra wasnt far behind. Queen Ingrid and King Hans stayed too. But farther way to give the grieving boy time.
Lyra did not stay away. She took his hand, buried her head in his sleeve and cried for the mentor she briefly knew. Very soon after Abraxas finally cried too. Not that he let anyone but Lyra see.
Abraxas took over his mentors place, ignoring any attempts at dissuasion. He locked himself in Basilides' chambers and threw himself into work. He only ever let Lyra in. Lyra came by every day. She watched in amazement as he brewed all those potions and weaved protections into the air around the castle. Most days Lyra chatted his ears off, some days he would even chuckle.
After two years Abraxas came out more. Although he still didnt attend gatherings or any other big events. Unless it was Lyras. He always came to those even if only for a brief moment to see her blow out candles or beat her first real fight.
He watched as the little mud covered puppy slowly turned into a fierce wolf. And he couldn't have been prouder of her. He was sure she knew.
It was Lyras 15th Birthday and for the first time in years she was surrounded by everyone she loved. Her parents were carrying in the cake, Abraxas was stacking her presents with magic, Alexius, the head knight was helping himself to some food and her mothers knight, who were just established the week prior, were holding guard. Although Lyra was distracting them all with a tale of a new adventure she had had when she had left the castle.
Cecillia and Dorothea were captivated by her story while Ava slowly went around to make sure everything was in place. They weren't too much older than Lyra, but old enough to feel protective over her.
Abraxas interrupted her with an amused look: „Alright enough of that. I think it is time for our dear Lyra to open her gifts."
„Uhhh I will never say no to opening my gifts early." Lyra jumped at the chance.
Queen Ingird chuckled and said: „I do not doubt it, sweetheart."
The King added right after: „Well then you must open ours first. Come children, lets all have a seat."
And so they did. They all sat in a circle while Abraxas got busy levitating the King and Queens gift over to Lyra.
She slowly opened the twine that was holding the present closed and the gasped when she saw what was hidden underneath the cloth. „You did not! Oh my it is beautiful!! Thank you so much!"
It was a pair of ornate daggers with a silver eagle as the handles. There was also a ring. Lyra could not believe her eyes. She wispered: „Is that what I think it is?"
Queen Ingrid smiled at her daughter and nodded: „It is time you have the Seal of Seren, my dear. You have always been the heir to the throne. It is only right to make it official."
King Hans looked at his wife and then his daughter with so much love and adoration you could have filled an ocean with it as he spoke: „Your mother and I are so proud of the woman you are becoming and I can not wait to show you what it means to rule one day."
Lyra jumped up and tackled her parents in a hug. She wispered: "I will not disappoint you. I promise."
Her father pulled back and said: "I have no doubt about it. You are Serens light." Lyra could have cried.
But she got her emotions under control, thanked her parents again and went back to her seat. She slipped the ring on and never took it off after that day.
"Whose present should I open next?" Lyra asked and looked around the table. Ava jumped at the chance.
"We all made you a group present. I hope you'll like it, your highness." Ava said in anticipation. They hadn't known eachother for long, so they struggled to find something the princess would want. After all what do you gift royalty? They settled on something handmade.
Abraxas floated their gifts over. It was a stack of letters and a leather bound booklet. They were all tied together with twine and Lyra got to the booklet first.
It was plain on the outside but when she opened it she realized what it was. The girls all had written down a summary of every day they had been training under her. What they did that day, jokes, hopes, dreams, moments Lyra didnt catch. It was all documented in there from all three perspectives.
Lyra asked glassy eyed: "When did you guys even start this?"
Cecillia explained: "We knew we wanted to do something special for you pretty much right after we met you and got the opportunity to fulfill out dreams thanks to your family. We did not think it would turn out to be a whole booklet and a birthday present."
"Wow. I do not know what to say. Thank you so much. I will be reading it as soon as possible." Lyra said dazed.
She tried to move on to the letters but Dorothea stopped her with a: "The letters are for when you're alone. Take your time reading them."
Lyra just nodded and thanked the three again profusely.
Now only Abraxas' gift was left. But he did not move to levitate it over. He just stated: "I'd prefer it if you opened it in private." Lyra took it in stride and the Queen diverted the attention from Abraxas by saying: "Very well. Then let's eat some cake and start the festivities properly."
They celebrated into the night and by the time only Lyra and Abraxas where in the hall the moon as bright and luminating the mess they had made. The two were sitting next to eachother in comfortable silence.
"How was your birthday, Ly?" Abraxas asked in a soft tone. He only ever called her by her nickname when they were completely alone. But Lyra did not mind. She respected his boundaries and he pushed his own to let her know he cared.
"It was the best. But my curiosity is killing me. Can I open your present now, Brax?" Lyra asked in the sweetest tone she could muster.
Abraxas just smirked and let her have her way. He levitated the brown package into Lyras hands and watched as she unwrapped it.
It was his grimore. The one he had been working on ever since Basilides passed away. She had seen him write in it on numerous occasions but he never let her see what was inside.
„I do not understand. Why would you give me this?" Lyra asked curiously. She was touched, but she couldn't do much with it, since she did not have magic.
„You will need it in due time. But that itself is not really your present. Look closely." Abraxas got up and stood behind her chair.
She turned the book over in her hands. It was leather bound and small and convenient enough to fit in pockets. Nothing remarkable in the outside. So she opened it. And then she saw it.
The first few pages werent spells or potions but poems and songs he seemingly wrote himself. Every page after had spells and magic but the thing that caught Lyras eye were the pages. They had a gold sheen to them when you looked closely.
She looked up at him inquisitively. He smiled knowingly and gave her a quill.
„It is an enchanted book. While it has useful things inside, it doubles as a communication device. I had two of them and linked them. Once your quill touches the pages they turn blank and you can write me a letter. It will appear in mine and I will write you back as soon as I can. It will only work for you." Abraxas explained and made it a point to pull out an identical book from his cloak.
„Wow." Lyra was floored. How did he even come up with this?
„I-I will cherish it, Brax. Thank you so much" Lyra shot up and hugged Abraxas with such force he stumbled back. Lyra heard his rare real laugh.
„It's my pleasure. Do not go soft on me though." He said as he messed up her hair by tousling it. She tried to dodge it (half heartedly) but failed.
„I just wanted to make sure you can reach me. Especially should I lock myself away again so you can drag me back out. I do not think I ever properly thanked you for that, Ly" Abraxas said while sitting back down and tried to look nonchalant. He was failing, but only because Lyra knew him too well.
„Do not be ridiculous. That's what family is there for." Lyra tutted.
„Hm. Alright, enough about that. I can not take you seriously." Abraxas changed the subject expertly.
„What? Why?" Lyra frowned.
„Because you have had cake on your cheek the whole time."
That birthday was the happiest she had ever had.
Hey guys! I am really sorry I havent updated in so long. Live got a bit too serious, professors decided to pile on work and I was passing away. I cant promise it will go back to the normal posting schedule but I can promise I‘m doing my best! Please be patient with me :)
