The Realm Protectors - Chapter 21: Chapter 21

"How much more time do we have?" Ciana asks worriedly.
"Ci, we still have an hour and a half before we need to be up in the Atrium." I assure her. "Guests aren't allowed in until two thirty, and the ceremony doesn't start until three."
At around nine this morning, a team of stylists knocked on our door. They completely took over the lounge, transforming it into a full-blown salon. They immediately ushered each of us girls into chairs so they could begin hair and makeup. The boys get to hang out for a little while longer before they get powdered and their hair done.
Avani is squirming slightly in her chair as her stylist braids extensions into her hair and lifting them into an impressive mohawk that hangs down her back. Lyra hums to herself as her hair gets transformed into a blossoming crown of tight little coils that shines like magic. I'm almost jealous at how gorgeous their hair is. Ciana takes a breath to calm herself. She watches her reflection in the mirror in front of her while her stylist curls her hair in loose ringlets, twisting it back away from her face. Nikolina's on my other side, sitting patiently still while her freshly curled hair is pulled up into a bun at the crown of her head.
My stylist, a talkative young woman from Aria named Christie, pulls my hair into a beautiful chunky braid that falls over my shoulder. She's spent most of her time working on me talking about just how red my hair is.
"I mean, isn't it just marvelous!" She laughs like an air elemental, light and with little sound. It's almost like a raspy gasp. "I've never seen such a rich red."
"It is beautiful." Ciana's stylist agrees. The poor girl rolls her eyes every time Christie attempts conversation.
"Oh it's marvelous," Christie gushes. I can't quite tell if she's sucking up or being sincere. "Almost as marvelous as that incredible opal crown your friend has over there." She motions with her head to Lyra, since her hands are busy working in my hair.
The stylists finish up their last touches on our hair, and a team of makeup artists swoop in. Three of the hairstylists stay and start to work on the boys. They don't need much work, but they need a little help. Especially Faris' bedhead.
The makeup artists doll us up, applying foundation, powder, highlighter, bronzer, and contour expertly. They swipe on and blend out eye shadow that makes all of us look incredible. Normally I try not to wear too much eye shadow because I'm afraid of how it will look against my paler skin tone, but this looks perfect.
"You guys are incredible!" I tell them after they're all finished thirty minutes later. "Thank you!"
Jaq shows up as the hair stylists and makeup artists are packing up their stuff, and she rushes us to our rooms. All five of us girls go into my room so Jaq can personally make sure we get into our dresses without ruining anything. They're all gorgeous: Lyra's clad in a gown of every shade of purple, Nikolina's dress is the blackest of black with an incredible train that falls behind her like a shadow, Avani's skirt has a triangular cut out in the front to reveal fitted green pants to match the bodice, and Ciana's gown is studded with little tiny suns.
"Did you make those yourself?" I ask her as Jaq fastens the back of my dress.
Ciana nods. "Jaq showed me what her vision looked like. I just have to keep these light for most of the night."
"There you are, Enya." Jaq steps back. I walk over to my mirror and admire her handiwork. The bodice of my gown is a yellow so light it's nearly white, and seems to glow. It fits down my torso before flaring out at my waist, trailing far behind me and fading to a deeper yellow, orange, and finally red, making me look like a flame.
"Once again, Jaq, you amaze me." I give her a big hug. "This is exactly why I hired you to be our personal designer."
"Oh, it's nothing." She gushes.
Once Jaq checks to make sure the boys are dressed and that none of us have ripped, dirtied, or messed up our outfits in any way, we walk through the tunnel up to the Atrium.
"It's a lot lighter in here than usual," Carter notices.
"It's because of Ciana's dress." Faris replies, never taking his eyes off Ciana. She's walking up front, leading the way with her sun-studded gown. The boys are spread out between us, being careful not to step on our skirts as they trail behind us.
We emerge in the Atrium, which has been completely decked out for the ceremony. Everything is even more spotless than usual, our seats have been polished to perfection, and there are hundreds of chairs laid out for the audience, as well as more along the wall for other visitors. There's two camera crews on opposite sides of the room, with tall cameras on cranes to get a full view of the whole ceremony to be live streamed to the general public.
The crowds haven't been let in yet, since it's customary that the High Arches greet the guests as they come inside. We make our way to the foyer and take our places by the doors, ready to welcome everyone to our crowning ceremony.
"You look incredible." Nile murmurs as he stands beside me. I lace my fingers through his. Our class rings clink together, light blue and orange stones shining.
"Thank you, darling." I smile at him. "So do you." He looks incredibly handsome in his powder blue suit. It suits him.
"There's only one way you can look better than this," He says with a smirk.
"How?" I ask, bumping my shoulder against his playfully.
"With nothing on," He whispers in my ear. I shiver and scrunch up my nose.
"How scandalous," I laugh.
Nile snickers at my comment and straightens his spine when Tucker enters the room.
"Well, look who finally showed up." He grins.
"We had to get hair and makeup done." Ciana points out.
"I woke up like this." Tucker laughs. "By the way, that friend of yours is quite the talented little designer." He turns, allowing us to see all the details of his dark gray suit. It looks more like a dress uniform than anything, with gold, silver, and bronze braided detailing across his shoulders and around his wrists. The symbol of the High Arches – a circle of eight eight-pointed stars – is embroidered over his heart, each of the stars a different color correlating with each element.
"She's pretty good." Nile agrees.
I check the clock above the door and look at my friends. "It's time."
We take our places, four on each side of the door, and Tucker takes his position by the doors to the Atrium. I nod to the guards and they open the doors. The February sun shines in as people start to slowly move inside. Nile loops his arm through mine as I plaster a smile on my face.
"Welcome, welcome," I say to them. I hear Ciana say something similar on the other side of the doors. "It's lovely to have you here."
There's so many people – nearly the entire population of Center City and many elite members of other countries. The elite and the senators enter first. I notice that Senator Darcio glares at Tucker as he walks into the Atrium and I remember what Nikolina told us when she and Tucker got back from his debriefing.
I push the thoughts from my mind when the last of the elite society enters and the common population begins to enter. These are the beautiful people I've begun to meet throughout my time at Asavanra. There's the owner of my favorite little cafe and her two little daughters. I stop there almost every day after school and and say hello to the girls while I wait for my order.
They drag their poor mother over to me when they spot me.
"Hi Enya!" They squeal at the sight of my dress, staring at it in amazement.
"Hello," I laugh at their excitement. Their mom, Louisa, laughs with me. "How are you guys?"
"Great now that we got in!" The older daughter, Lillie, says.
"We've been waiting out there for forever," Lottie, the younger one, chimes in. I notice that they're both bundled up in heavy winter coats, and I see leggings underneath their dresses. Their cheeks are rosy too.
"Here, give me your hands." I tell them. I untangle my arm from Nile's, taking Lottie's little hands in my left hand and Lillie's in my right. I reach for my ability, finding it easily. Warmth rushes through my veins. I keep the fire down, but push my warmth into Lillie and Lottie. They both sigh in relief and their faces return to their usual color.
"Thank you!" They both sing-song, Louisa laughing.
"Alright girls, let's go so we can get a good seat!" She herds them through the doors to the Atrium and out of sight.
Soon a team of guards comes over and tells the crowd that the Atrium is at capacity, and that they'll have to wait outside or go home to watch the ceremony. The crowd makes sounds of disapproval but the guards manage to get the doors shut. Two of them man the doors while the other two guard the doors to the Atrium. The eight of us gather behind the doors, waiting to go inside.
"See you in there," Tucker says to us. He goes in first, the guards opening the doors for him while we step out of view. When the doors are shut we line up from youngest to oldest, per tradition.
"Are you ready for this?" Nile asks me, looking over his shoulder.
I nod stiffly. "I'm ready."
"Ladies and gentlemen," I hear Tucker say inside the Atrium. "Today we are gathered here to witness the rising to power of the next High Arches." The crowd cheers.
"I think I'm gonna be sick," Nikolina groans.
"You'll be okay." Ciana tells her.
"Without further ado, I present to you, the next High Arches." Tucker's voice is strong. The guards look at me and I nod, steeling myself.
"Let's do this." I mutter.
The doors open and the Asavanra band starts playing the Realm anthem. Nile's shoulders rise and fall as he takes a breath, leading our little procession through the doors and into the Atrium. The entire crowd stands as we enter, turning to face us. Small children weave their heads around others to try and get a good view. There's at least five hundred people in this room, plus the billions watching from their home country around the Realm. It's exhilarating to be in front of that many people. I take a deep breath to try and settle the nervous swarm of butterflies that settled in my stomach.
I count my steps, focusing on the feeling of my heels hitting the carpet to avoid stepping on my dress. The Atrium has never seemed so big. It seems to take forever to reach the dais. Tucker is waiting for us in front of it. There's a microphone and a long table in front of him, with our eight crownbands on it. Each one is made of a different material, ranging from gold, opal, onyx, or sapphire to diamond, fire agate, jadeite, and turquoise. They look almost like giant rings, each one about an inch wide. Supposedly they're enchanted to fit the head of the wearer and magically engrave itself with the symbol of their position. Or at least, that's what Professor Grantwood told us a few years ago in history class. She also told us that no one truly knows how they came to be enchanted.
Nile finally reaches the dais, and we split from our line to climb up the three small stairs. We walk in front of our seats but remain standing, facing the audience. It's tradition to only sit once you've been sworn in and crowned.
"It was only two weeks ago that our beloved High Arches were taken from us." Tucker begins the ceremony. While we were at school all week between meetings and fittings, he was stuck in the residence memorizing what he'd need to say. "They ruled us wisely, courageously, and fantastically for fifteen years. Cira Grantwood and her peers had just found their future mentees when their lives were viciously taken from them. They moved on to the Ever, and left us to mourn. Now their young mentees will take their spots, and do their best to rule just as wisely, courageously, and fantastically."
The crowd applauds as Tucker picks up Nile's turquoise crownband, turning around to face him. Nile steps forward – the oldest of us – bowing his head and sinking his knee to the floor. The sight makes my heart stutter and warmth blossom in my gut.
"Nile Aquino," Tucker's voice carries throughout the entire Atrium even without the mic. He lifts the crownband so the entire crowd can see it as he speaks. Tucker begins asking a series of questions – vows – and Nile pledges himself to the Realm. I try to pay attention but I've heard these vows all week in preparation for today, and I can't help but let my mind wander to other things.
Tucker speaks again, words breaking me from my trance as he lowers the band onto Nile's head. Pale blue light bursts from the front of the band, and Tucker watches it intently. When the light fades, he turns to the audience.
"The Arch of Intelligence!" Tucker announces. The crowd applauds as Nile stands back up, turning around and walking back towards his seat next to me. I see that his crownband has been magically engraved with the symbol of crosshairs overlaid onto a badge. He sits down on his seat. Tucker calls my name. I take a breath and step forward, hitching up my skirt as I kneel on both knees before the crowd. Tucker picks up the fire agate crownband, raising it above his head as he turns to me.
"Do you swear to uphold the ways of the Elemental Realm?" He asks.
"I do," I respond.
"Do you swear to do whatever it takes to protect the Realm, no matter the cost?"
"I do."
"Do you swear to uphold your designated position as a High Arch, no matter what it may be?"
"I do."
"Do you swear to wear this band with pride and stand alongside your fellow Arches to be a source of guidance and protection for the entire Realm?" Tucker's voice rings excitedly like an announcer at a sports game.
"I do."
"Then I crown thee, Enya Fuego, a High Arch of the Elemental Realm." He places the band on my head and I feel it tighten to fit so it rests on my mid-forehead. As soon as it fits, orange light bursts from the front. It slowly fades and Tucker turns to the audience. "The Grand Arch!" he announces. The crowd applauds. Lillie and Lottie whistle from their spots standing against the wall. I wave to the crowd before standing up and turning around, taking my seat. When Carter steps forward and kneels for his vows, Nile's hand reaches over and finds mine, squeezing it.
I watch the rest of my new friends, my peers, pledge themselves to my home and be crowned as High Arches. When Avani – the youngest of us – takes her seat, Tucker turns to the crowd and spreads his arms.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the High Arches of the Elemental Realm!" The crowd applauds, filling the Atrium with sound. We stand as one before them, and the band begins playing Blessed Be, the unofficial High Arch anthem.
When the song finishes with its beautiful swell, the crowd applauds politely. I take a breath and stand, stepping to the edge of the dais.
"Thank you all so very much for being here today to witness our Coronauguration." I say. My voice echoes back slightly. "I know that there are some people out there who are hesitant about having a group of teenagers lead the Realm, but I assure you that we have a very responsible Arch Council by our side to help us get on our feet. We vow to protect the Realm from any threats."
The crowd applauds again, some more enthusiastically than others. "And now, a few words from my new partner, Right Arch Leonide." I turn and offer her a hand. She gives me a slightly panicked look before grabbing my hand, standing up. She stands beside me and scans the crowd.
"Hello everyone," She starts. The crowd chuckles lightly. "Some of you may be aware that I've only been living here in the Realm for a month and a half. However, I am dedicated to devoting my time to learning all that I can about my beautiful new home so I can do my best to help run and protect it." The crowd applauds again, slightly more enthusiastic this time.
"Virtus aeterna!" I shout, raising my fist in the air. Eternal strength.
"Virtus aeterna!" The crowd hollers back. Their fists rise as one – even the children present.
"Let's go party!" I whoop.