A loud knock at the iron door pulled Yonni Sxem from her slumber. She stretched her arms high above her head and rotated her shoulders with a small pop. Long, turquoise locks flowed in the water that encompassed her. She ran her hands through her hair to smooth it out then turned to face the clamshell mirror across from her bed. It was adorned with some of the kingdom's most beautiful pearls and glass made from the sands of the Silent Grotto. It was one of the best gifts her mother had ever given her, yet she still missed the period of time it represented.
The knock repeated, even louder. Yonni swished her fin down and swam to the door. She could hear the shuffling of the Queen's Chosen in the hall on the other side, their tridents and javelins scraping the floor.
"Princess Yonni," a deep voice called from the other side. "We're here to escort you to the main procession."
Yonni slid the door open to the scarred face of General Gandreke. His arms were crossed yet he showed no signs of anger. Gandreke always treated the royal family with the utmost respect. As if in response to her thoughts, he bowed slightly.
"Your highness, I see you've just awoken," He noted. The rest of the Chosen stood at attention behind him. "We can wait for you to prepare, but please, try and be swift. You don't want to miss your brother's homecoming."
"I'll be just a moment, General," Yonni replied and slid the door closed. She swam to her wardrobe and pulled out the vibrant coral top that her mother had chosen for her. Laying neatly at the front of the mirror were two matching ribbons that she laced around her arms. As she changed, she felt a tinge of excitement begin to build within her. She wondered what it would be like to see Enerill again for the first time in four years.
Yonni slid the door back open and gave Gandreke a silent nod. He swiveled around to the Chosen, raised his golden trident in the air and ran his gaze across each of them. "We transport treasure today!"
"By the grace of Monalei!" They responded in unison.
Yonni moved closer to Gandreke as the group made their way through the castle's interior. The prince's arrival had everyone in the kingdom bustling, especially the royal staff. She overheard chatter from the cooks and the Seastriders making their way past them toward the great hall. The smell of baked goods tickled her nose.
"Are you excited, Princess?" Gandreke asked, keeping his eyes locked forward.
Yonni smiled at the General's attempt at casual conversation. Even he seemed to be on the happier side. They approached the pearlescent doors of the great hall and stopped outside.
"I just hope my brother remembers who I am amongst all this newfound attention he'll be receiving," She joked. "I hope that I get as much of a fanfare when I return from my future marriage arrangements."
"I'm sure your mother will make every attempt to," Gandreke replied. The ornate navy decorations across his silver armor complimented the doors nicely. He pressed his hand to his chest. "Just a bit of unsolicited advice from an old soldier, though. Always be true to your heart, arrangement or not."
Yonni placed her hand on his pauldron in a gesture of understanding. She could always rely on Gandreke to speak his mind. While others in the castle only saw her as royalty, Gandreke had always treated her like his own.
The doors to the great hall swung open and Gandreke ushered her inside. Yonni looked towards the top of the staircase, far past the assembly of tables gathered and endless amounts of puffer fish balloons and algae candles. Her mother sat atop a throne of gold and jade, wrapped in a white top made from the finest seaworm silk. Shining green scales rippled down from her shoulders to her forearms. Monalei was beautiful, yet imposing, an embodiment of great leadership at the helm of the kingdom. She was everything Yonni herself strived to be.
"Good morning, Princess," the Queen said in a warm and welcoming tone. "Nice of you to join the festivities. We'll be traveling to the Raftworks as soon as the carriage is ready."
"Good morning, your majesty," Yonni bowed and swished her tail. The Raftworks were her favorite place in the kingdom of Anqua: a bustling center of shops, taverns and artistry. She could only imagine what it looked like for the celebration. The day was already off to an incredible start.
***
Four Seastriders pulled the carriage through Khalani's Current with ease, navigating every wild twist and turn it threw at them. Their Wallu's, large creatures that resembled a cross between dolphin and seahorse, made a low grumble as they tugged against the reins. Wallu riding and racing was a sport pursued heavily in Anquan culture, but only the best made their way into the Queen's personal fold.
Yonni listened to the rumble of the aquaways around her. It always brought her calm in states of anxiety, like the sound of a roaring waterfall that wholly enveloped her. She caught her mother staring at her.
"You seem a bit more on edge," She noted. "Is there something wrong?"
"What if Enerill is... different?" She answered after a moment of thought.
"I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean?"
"We used to be best friends before he left," Yonni clarified. "I was his 'second in command' and followed him everywhere. He used to scare off all the suitors and make sure that I was learning the proper ways of princessing."
Queen Monalei smiled brightly. "That he did, quite often, if I recall."
"It's just... What if he doesn't want me around anymore?" Yonni mumbled as she looked toward her fin.The bright pink edges contrasted with the darker blue of the rest. "What if he thinks I'll embarrass him around his new wargoing friends?"
The carriage slowed to a stop. The bang of Gandreke's fist against the top interrupted the conversation. Yonni felt her nerves building.
"Your majesty, we've arrived," Gandreke's voice stated from outside the carriage.
Queen Monalei reached over and gently tilted Yonni's head back up. Her bright emerald eyes met Yonni's.
"You're my youngest, but you are by far my most mature," the Queen began. "I never had to push you like your sisters or send you away entirely like your brother. You have always had a strong heart and stronger spirit. You would do well to remember that. Let no one, family or friend or stranger, convince you that you are not enough. Your brother may very well follow in your father's footsteps, but you have yet to forge your own path. Now come, let's greet the masses."
Yonni said nothing in response, but placed both hands around her mother's instead. She took in the Queen's words and reflected on them. She didn't quite know what path she would forge yet, but she wanted it to be something that brought pride to her family name. General Gandreke opened the door to the carriage and extended a hand to Queen Monalai, then to Yonni. As the latter made her way out of the vessel, the crowd around them erupted into a loud cheer.
Anquan merfolk covered every space of the Raftworks, stretching as far as Yonni could see. Magnificent colorful banners streaked across the rooftops and candles of green, yellow and blue blazed wildly in the windows of the Raftwork's many establishments. The crowds pushed and swayed as everyone tried to catch a glimpse of Yonni and her mother. The Queen waved to them all in return. A bit of shyness overcame Yonni and she clung close to her mother, offering a light wave to a few of the closest individuals.
The sound of bellowing horns from above quickly drowned out the noise of the crowd. Yonni jerked her head up in surprise and saw the cluster of Brineback whales descending upon them. Each carried a number of Scalite soldiers and a large transport on their back. Flakes of salt from the whales' crusted backs drifted down into the Raftworks like snow. The crowd grew even more wild.
Yonni watched as the Brinebacks swam toward the edge of the Raftworks before coming to a halt near their carriage. The Scalites disembarked immediately and pulled down the transport doors. The dozens of academy graduates within slowly exited to thunderous applause. They waved and cheered, the light of the surface world reflecting off of their newly polished armors. The horns started to bellow once more, this time trumpeting a song of triumph
Prince Enerill was the last out of the transport and received the biggest reaction of all. His indigo hair was pulled into a tight bun and the right side of his chestplate was embedded with dozens of medals, which Yonni knew were no doubt won through the academy's constant military exercises. A long saber accompanied the left side of his fin, secured by a stylish bronze holster. He was definitely not the same Enerill that left for the academy years ago. Yonni could see a sense of accomplishment and pride emanating from his relatively peaceful demeanor.
Enerill made his way to his mother and sister, who both hugged him deeply. Yonni could feel the happiness welling inside of her as he squeezed them tightly in return. He let out a laugh.
"I'm glad to know I was missed," Enerill said. His voice was notably deeper than when Yonni last saw him, but his energy was still the same.
"We're happy to have the heir to the throne return safely, my son," Queen Monalei responded. She turned to the crowd and raised his arm in triumph. More cheers and whistles reverberated through the water.
Yonni watched her brother and mother laugh and wave in joy. Gandreke stood at attention nearby, keeping a watchful eye on the crowds. He seemed to sense Yonni's gaze on him and turned his head to acknowledge her, but an expression of surprise spread rapidly across his face. Yonni blinked and started to move forward when she felt it.
A deep burning pain quickly shot through her head and a pressure began to build behind her eyes. They stung, so much that no amount of rubbing or blinking could relieve it. The water around her began to boil. Gandreke launched towards her, catching Enerill's attention.
"Sis, are you okay?" Enerill asked in concern as he moved toward Yonni as well.
Yonni felt sharp stabbing pains across various parts of her body and her breathing became more and more shallow. The world around her started to blur and spin. She could feel something building up inside of her, like a giant puffer fish inflating from the inside out. She screamed in pain, but she realized it wasn't her voice. The scream sounded low and metallic and the pressure in her head continued to build.
Gandreke put his hands on Yonni's shoulder and said something to her, but the words became muted by the ringing in her ear. It grew more and more intense until she couldn't bear it anymore. She reached up and covered them to no avail. Suddenly, there was silence.
'Yonni Sxem, princess of the Anquali,' The metallic voice that had replaced hers uttered within her mind. 'You have been chosen as my champion. Take all that I offer and use it to the fullest extent. Gather your tome and complete your task.'
The sound rushed back into Yonni's ears as the ringing stopped. She glanced around at the mass of Queen's Chosen and Scalites surrounding her. The crowd had gone silent. Gandreke was shaking her lightly and calling her name repeatedly while Enerill held their mother back. She felt the pressure in her head dissipating, replaced by an odd burning sensation in her skin.
"Princess Yonni, are you alright?" General Gandreke shouted. "Please respo-"
A sudden burst of frosted magical energy exploded from Yonni's body, knocking the entire group back. It shot across the crowd, icing the tips of the banners and freezing the still-drifting salt flakes instantly. She felt instant relief, like a massive weight had been lifted from her body, before blacking out entirely.
***
Yonni regained consciousness slowly, her vision coming together bit by bit. Low candlelight surrounded her and she could make out the purple walls of a cave. She took a shuddering breath, frost magic held in her throat.
"Thank Drinex, she's alive," a worried voice uttered from the other side of the room. Yonni turned her head and saw the faint outline of her mother becoming clearer. "Yonni, please speak to us if you can."
Yonni let out a low groan and flipped onto her side. Her fin felt numb. As she took in her surroundings, she realized it wasn't just her mother. Enerill and Gandreke floated behind her.
"Where am I?" Yonni asked groggily. Her mind could process words faster than her mouth could speak them.
Monalei moved forward and clasped her daughter's hand. She squeezed it hard, like she would never let it go again.
"We thought we lost you," Queen Monalei whispered. Her voice cracked slightly. "You scared us, Yonni."
Yonni still had no idea what was happening or where she was. She repeated her question.
"We've brought you to the Silent Grotto. It's the only place you can be safe," the Queen explained.
Yonni knew of the grotto and thought back to her mirror glass made from its sand, but had never been allowed to visit it herself. It was a very sacred place, reserved only for the kings and queens of Anqua. She knew something must have been terribly wrong to break that tradition.
"Why are we here?" Yonni managed to piece together slowly. Her mother glanced towards the other two. Gandreke scratched the back of his head before nodding slowly. His eyes averted the Queen's.
"Yonni, we need to tell you something," Queen Monalei began. Her voice was coated in an unusual fear and sadness. It bothered Yonni immensely. "At the procession, you... changed. Your eyes began to glow and you started thrashing about. We thought there was an attack at first, but then you released an immense amount of frost magic. Gandreke and I know that magic of that nature can only mean one thing."
Yonni gave her mother a puzzled look. "What do you mean?"
Monalei took a deep breath.
"Yonni, my dear. You've been chosen by Drinex," She continued. Her hand squeezed tighter. "Once every century, the gods choose one of us from every kingdom to do their bidding. We've had great warriors, powerful politicians and some of the best riders in the sea be selected in the past. I thought your brother was going to be the one he chose this time, but it was you, my sweet. You are the Incarnate, the Tomekeeper of Anqua. You are the Spear of Drinex."
Yonni's breath stopped for a moment. She didn't know what any of it meant, or how to address it, but she could tell from the look of fear in her mother's eyes that it was something beyond her current comprehension. Enerill and Gandreke remained silent.
"What does that mean?" Yonni questioned. Her voice dripped with panic. "Is it going to hurt me? Am I going to die? What should I do?"
Monalei placed both hands on her daughter and let out a low shushing noise.
"Everything will be explained, but not by us. We need to get you to Prodigium as quickly as possible," Monalei said. "Gandreke, please gather the Queen's Chosen."
Gandreke left swiftly without a word. Enerill moved to his mother's side and put his hand on Yonni's forehead. She looked up at her brother's face and felt a sense of guilt pass through her.
"Probably not the homecoming you were expecting," She lamented. "I'm sorry."
Enerill shook his head and gave her a half-smile. "Mom's right. Our priority right now is getting you to Prodigium, and soon."
Yonni looked at Monalei, then back to Enerill. She still didn't quite understand. Prodigium was the capital of Pradarek and the kingdom of the Wingsong. It was far from the place that any merfolk would go, especially one that had never been to the surface. Exhaustion settled into her bones.
"Why Prodigium?"
"Because," Monalei answered, "If you've been chosen, that means the other Tomekeepers have as well."
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