Chapter 1: Phantasia Celeste
He watched her for a moment more, then turned his attention back to the rest of the class. They were all used to this by now. If they weren’t so stoic, they would probably hate her for it. When she noticed a ripple in the teacher’s aura, she expected a clever come-back, but then the ripple spread out to all the students. A message, sent through the waters, like a hidden code Phantasia could never understand.
“We shall reconvene once the situation has been dealt with,” said the teacher. Phantasia remained seated as the faeries began to leave. None of them would come and explain things to her, because they didn’t see the logic in it. It was a task assigned to just one of them: Phantasia’s lady-in-waiting, Faye. Like the others in the class, she was a third-stage faerie around fourteen-years-old, with long, sky-blue hair framing her expressionless face.
Faye remained silent until everyone had left, then glided over to Phantasia and stood, back straight with hands clasped in front of her. In the three years they had been friends, Phantasia had tried in earnest to make Faye relax and open up, but her elemental nature was a constant, ingrained barrier.
“The demon Cecaelia is planning an assault on the Water Queendom,” she explained in her usual monotone voice, “Queen Thetis is arranging a defensive to counter Cecaelia’s anticipated attack force. All faeries are to assemble in their troops and await further instructions.”
“And what about us?” asked Phantasia.
“We are to remain in the palace at all times.”
Typical.
“Neither of us are required for such an operation. Also, as a Princess of the Queendom, your well-being is of a top priority.”
Phantasia frowned. She wasn’t even a real princess. She could never succeed Queen Thetis. She had only been given the title ‘princess’ because the Queen had felt sorry for her! Without that blessing, she would have been abandoned long ago by the water faeries, who feared anything they didn’t understand. Some had already tried to depose her, insisting she was unnatural – even a demon! Maybe it would have been better if no one had ever found her.
Nonsense.
His voice came to her like gentle waves washing away her doubts.
I have something for you, Princess.
***
Prince Dionysus was stood at his balcony, looking up at the Innerworld stretching away before him, when Phantasia entered the room. She had known him for as long as she could remember, back from the time the faeries had been fighting a terrible war up in the human world.
Since that first meeting fourteen years ago, Dionysus had metamorphosed from an adolescent to a powerful adult, destined to succeed King Nereus. His hair crashed backwards like waves, but regal robes looked awkward on a tall, slender frame that still bore armour from his past battles. As Phantasia entered, he glanced at her with an aquamarine eye.
“Cecaelia is going to assault the Queendom with everything she has,”
Phantasia sat down on the edge of a fountain and ran her fingers through the cool water, wishing she could read things so easily.
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