“Yo!”

Faye and Lady Thalassa looked up at the source of the interruption in unison, an unmistakable figure sitting atop the archway as if it were any ordinary stool. No other member of the Royal Court had such flagrant disregard for tradition, nor did any other have short white hair or glistening diamond eyes.

“You’re gonna be my handmaiden, right?” said Princess Phantasia.

“Princess,” said Lady Thalassa, “Your attendance is not required.”

Phantasia fell from the arch and landed beside the two Water faeries. Faye studied the Princess with her immature senses, seeking a reasoning for her sudden appearance.

“Dionysus told me ‘about the trial,” she said, “Since we’re gonna be best friends and all, thought maybe I oughta come with ya!”

The Princess lived up to her infamous reputation. “That is prohibited,” explained Faye, “The Trial is a solitary task.”

“Who makes them rules anyway?” asked Phantasia, “Is that Guardian god-thing really gonna care if you break ‘em?”

“That is not the point,” said Faye, “I must overcome the trial with my own strength or else I am not worthy my audience with the Guardian,”

Princess Phantasia turned to Lady Thalassa. “So, ’bout them ‘rules’?”

“They are tradition,” said Lady Thalassa, “They have been obeyed for millennia. However I recognise that you are a unique individual. Perhaps in this instance it would be reasonable to allow you access to the Holy Sanctuary.”

The Princess turned to Faye with a big grin across her face. “Told ya,”

“I do not understand this logic, Lady Thalassa,” said Faye.

“If I do not allow the Princess to accompany you, she will follow anyway.” said LG, “I do not have the power to stop her if that is what she chooses to do. She will be safer alongside you.”

It was a logical solution, and that Faye could only see that after it was explained only demonstrated how young and inexperienced she was. The Princess was still grinning, a picture of illogical rebellion in her torn robes adorned with jewels she’d acquired from unauthorised excursions with Prince Dionysus.

“I will not ask you to accompany me,” said Faye, “However, as you are Royalty, I have no authority to prevent you joining me,”

The Princess cheered and caught Faye in an uncomfortable embrace. It was not often emotions were shown in the Water Palace.

Lady Thalassa moved away from the doors. “Then, if you are both ready…”

Princess Phantasia stepped aside so Faye could be the first to step over onto the glass steps. The island appeared twice as large as it had been a step ago, but was still distant, while the calming light of the Goddess filtered through the atmosphere from above. When Faye turned back to see if the Princess was following her, she found the Water Palace had vanished, leaving Phantasia standing alongside her on a stairway that descended into infinity.

“This place is amazing! Where are we?” she asked, looking around with her curious white eyes, “No one’s told me ’bout any ‘Holy Sanctuary’ before.”

“That is because you had no reason to know.” explained Faye, “This is the last plane before the Goddess and acts as the world’s final bastion of defence against the Darkness. We stand on the path that leads to the Water Sanctuary, a place of pure elemental energy that rests under the light of the Goddess. It is from this wellspring of mana that our Queendom gains its power, and it is from here that all Water faeries are born.” Faye took a step forward and began her trek towards the distance sanctuary.

Chapter 38
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