The Anointing

Rulers had ascended the throne, but never before in the kingdom’s history had the gods been present to bear witness to it.

Solely on this day that divine beings graced the mortal world for the crowning of a new royal family member. Their colossal, spectral forms soared elegantly in the air, flowing robes patterned with constellations, majestic halos looming like castle spires. All who gazed upon the mystical view were overcome by reverence that left them scarcely breathing.

“I-Is it true?”

“It’s a miracle…”

“Has the princess been truly blessed?”

Suddenly, from somewhere within the Grand Hall came a voice. “The Theovaleo Kingdom is a living divine realm…”

“This is…!”

“Rah Aerowenlore?” The people's attention briefly shifted towards the royal family’s seats, where Lorenz sat looking as bewildered as the rest.

“Is it really His Grace?”

“...Ancient creatures may have long ceased to exist, but this one truth remains…”

“That is the kingdom’s origin.”

“So it seems.”

“Is it possible…that those are illusions?”

And there was the truth.

What’s beyond the laws of nature could only belong to the field of magic. That should’ve been the most plausible explanation rather than an unprecedented divine descent.

However, there existed no magic known at present that could fabricate illusions finer than the handiwork of skilled craftsmen. Illusions could imitate the likeness of an object, similar to paintings or sculptures, but they couldn’t reproduce the object itself. Furthermore, such magic was too reliant on recollection to render imaginary sights with the same realism as those seen with one’s own eyes.

So, unless the caster had met the gods themselves, the scene before them should’ve been inconceivable. At least, that’s what magecraft practitioners would say.

“...Mountains, rivers, forests, oceans—all of nature chooses certain individuals to become the eyes and voices of the realm…”

As the retelling of the myth continued, the static display transitioned into a dynamic narrative. The deities brought the story to life in a sequence of movements. One reached through thunderclouds, lightning coiling around his massive arm. Another rose from molten lava that poured down to his humongous feet, wreathed in smoke and embers.

“...Those being who hold the crown.”

Then, darkness took over once more.

Only she, who ruled that very darkness, remained.

Lumaianea, the Goddess of Darkness, smiled upon them all.

That alone seemed to evoke worship in every heart. With ethereal grace, she glided across the ceiling before stopping directly above the dais, over which a black, translucent layer stretched like a night sky. She placed her upturned palms on either side, and an eclipse-like orb emerged from the center. The crowd came to a collective still.

“...What could it be…?”

The orb morphed into a staff.

“A Divine Insignia?!”

A different voice echoed at the same time Lumaianea vanished into wisps of shadows. “And the crown shall now be held by one hailing from the sea…”

The chamber was unceremoniously transformed into a starry aquarium.

Pools of light flowed around, with faint currents and slow waves creating a sense of endless depth. It was like being submerged underwater.

“...Where creatures of the deep blue thrive…”

“Huh?!”

The silhouette of a giant whale passed overhead. 

Gasps of wonder resounded. Fishes swam through. Jellies drifted upward. Turtles formed clusters. Their glowing bodies, almost transparent at the edges, would occasionally overlap.

The entire scene was otherworldly in a different sense from the previous one—a starlit sea with no shore, aquatic creatures lurking in eternal midnight.

“Oh my.”

“How beautiful…”

“...Where dreams and fantasies come alive…”

A big, flying vessel materialized, its glasslike hull gleaming as though carved from moondust. It sailed towards the stage, where the staff hovered inches above the ground. Once there, the ship unraveled into a stream of silver speckles.

The dazzling light spun ‘round and ‘round until it took the form of a young girl.

“...By fate, by will, she has come forth.”

The light ebbed. 

The darkness sank.

And finally, the princess appeared.

For one whole moment, the Grand Hall was steeped in profound silence. Everyone was still absorbing what had happened, surprise and disbelief lingering like the last remnants of the magic. In the face of the speechless audience, Aya kept calm and composed.

“I offer my gratitude to all who have come. It is my sincere hope that my magic has brought joy. To the gods, I dedicate it in high esteem. To the kingdom, I dedicate it in great honor.”

She curtsied before them, holding her staff. Her gaze carried a natural softness, her smile delicate.

It was how she looked so effortlessly refined even as she faced hundreds of people that stunned them even more.

'She is twelve years old, right?’ one would question.

“Has Her Highness done all that?”

“So, it really was an illusion.”

“That was an illusion? By the gods!”

“The princess has done the impossible!”

“And she already has her Divine Insignia, too!”

“Incredible..."

Gradually, cheers and applause rang throughout the Grand Hall.

Some were impressed. Others were dubious. Most didn't react as openly, but they clapped with such enthusiasm that it could’ve been hardly more apparent that they’d enjoyed the performance.

Meanwhile, the royal family watched with pleasant yet ambiguous smiles.

Only Lorenz looked genuinely delighted. “Splendid as ever, Princess.”

“Did you know…?”

“About what, Rah Vonwerstein?”

The man's face twitched. “That she can do such a-!”

“Were you not the one who proposed to hold the ceremony in a month?”

“And what do you mean to say, Rah Ignatius?”

“Had there been more time, perhaps you would have known, too.”

“...”

Gallahan rose from his throne.

He made his way towards the princess, each step commanding the room. The temple head priest followed behind, bearing the crown jewels. She kneeled and bowed as the king stopped before her, at which point a deferential quiet had settled over.

“Two months ago, the Kingdom of Theovaleo had been blessed with a new Divine Vessel.”

Gallahan introduced Aya, though it's merely a formality by this point.

Most present already knew her, as well as the notoriety she'd incurred when word of her deeds spread among social circles. Evidently, her ill repute preceded her. The atmosphere tensed at the mention of her offense and subsequent confinement that had reflected on her unfavorably. 

Despite the princess’s spectacular performance, the king wasn't persuaded to conceal the truth of the matter.

“I mete out punishment as I deem fit, and all my subjects are well apprised of that.”

A few nobles appeared overtly gratified. They’re the same people who’d seen Aya in the Royal Palace after the sacred trial. The king seemed keenly aware of this. He glanced towards them before continuing to speak.

“This child chose to defy a royal decree…yet, in doing so, saved the country from the savage beasts that ravaged its lands."

A chorus of startled voices filled the Grand Hall. Among them were the princes.

“The attack on the royal capital…” Aiden looked at the others to find them no less astounded than he was, then at Calixtus, who was seated with the queen and the chief ruler of Ruxandrion Isle.

“Calix was there, was he not?”

Enzo nodded at Gabriel’s question. “But he never mentioned that she...”

“His Majesty’s orders, surely.”

“You sound rather disgruntled, Drystan."

“I just can’t understand why the king hid such a monumental accomplishment. That girl could’ve been less susceptible to malicious rumors.”

"It's precisely for this moment." Aiden's expression turned conspiratorial. “There were witnesses to her escape attempt. Had she gone unpunished, the crown’s authority would have been scrutinized. They’re high-ranking nobles, too. To show he had the matter under control, the king acted first. He even allowed her offense to be the focus of public attention. It’s all deliberate.”

The nobility was appeased, and his own agenda was fulfilled. Not revealing the princess’s achievement until the crowning ceremony would leave a far greater impact than letting the news circulate beforehand. This also gave the king grounds to argue there was ample time for a thorough investigation and to dismiss any further demand to exact penalties. 

“Not to mention, the one-month timeframe was quite odd for someone unacquainted with noble customs. His Majesty might have foreseen that the coronation would be expedited. Should her performance today prove lackluster because of that, her contribution would give enough merit to lessen criticism.”

Enzo gave Aiden a meaningful smile. “You certainly thought it through. Were you observing her that closely this whole time?”

“...It was Calix.”

“Calix again?”

From the dais, Gallahan continued to extol Aya’s heroism and virtues. “That is not all, however. She possesses a most extraordinary ability worthy of the gods’ blessings—magnificent illusions that transcend both reality and fantasy. As you have seen, it is the first of its kind. Our kingdom has long valued magical talents, and we honor those who devote themselves to the advancement of magecraft. It is, therefore, fitting that such a gift receives due recognition…”

The temple priest stepped forward, passing the crown to the king. He held it over her head, the light of the diamonds caught in his warm, gentle eyes. The sight of him smiling was almost surreal. The nobles stood, then bowed once the crown touched the princess’s head.

“...By the guidance of the gods and the divine authority vested in me, alongside this crown of Darkness, I hereby bestow upon you the new name, Hiraya, and the title of Dreamweaver—the princess who spins threads of wondrous magic."