The Crown Princess emerged from the water gasping for air. Her lungs forced into action after so long. Each gasp for fresh air was both painful and soothing, as she looked to steady herself. The High Priestess held her, which grounded her back in her world. She was unsure how much time had passed, it felt as though she had been gone for ages and all the same had only just submerged. Her mind raced with a thousand thoughts about what she had heard and what any of it had meant. Her sisters had warned her that being submerged was the hardest part of the ceremony but what she experienced she could not have been prepared for. All she had heard shook her even if they were only fragments of what seemed like a conversation that spanned across eons. Yet through it all, through all that was said and what she did not understand. Among them all, hearing her own voice call out to her left her unable to grasp what had happened. The desire for answers welled within her until the High Priestess placed her hand on her shoulder.

  The princess turned to her, sapphire eyes wild and ravenous for knowledge. Only then did Reza finally recall where she was, as she saw thousands looking back at her expectedly. The old woman’s eyes did what they could to soothe her worries and concerns to remind her that there was still much left to address. She slowly nodded acknowledging her; remembering how to walk and followed after her back to shore. As she was about to leave the sea, Reza turned back to the ocean once more. From her lessons she had understood that the land held secrets, the mountains and the trees who lived even longer than the Stygians were the true historians of their world. However to Reza they all failed in comparison to the ocean, what mysteries it held, the truths and secrets that made its home at the bottom of the seabed were as endless as the very blue waters themselves. There was much of this world that she did not know, and yet for the first time in her life it felt as though she was given a glimpse of what lay beyond it. And it terrified her how much she craved to understand what stood behind the veil, because for the first time in her life, it felt like that is where she belonged. In the chaos of it all.

  With one last look she turned her back on the sea, ready to continue her ceremony. Back on land once again, they had said that she would feel different as though a great burden was placed upon her shoulders, a responsibility to uphold traditions that existed long before her or any of her people. However she felt nothing, the silence that had followed her since the beginning seemed a distant entity. The gaze of all of those around them appeared further away, almost inconsequential in principle. She had been submerged completely and now her white gown clung to her curvaceous frame, but she felt no embarrassment. Rather she did, but again it was distant, as though a distraction from a different time. The High Priestess led her past her family and they continued on their journey back towards the castle.

  She did not walk with any more confidence than she had done so before, but it seemed to her that there was more purpose in her steps. As though there was a defined destination she was walking towards. It was not long before she had reached the top of the path, her family and others walking behind her in anticipation of what came next. The High Priestess turned to face her and directed her towards her left, away from the castle and in the direction of the old forest. She turned to study the clearing but not before she once again took in the appearance of him standing to the side. The princess was unsure what it was she was expecting to see in his eyes, perhaps some indication that she had changed, or that she had become worthy. But there was nothing, his eyes told her nothing. Still no desire for her, only simply wanting to see her as she was. His name echoed in the deepest corners of her being as a guilt she had not known she could experience bathed her in doubt.

  Her eyes lingered on him for a moment too long before she noticed Gawain just a mere few places over from him. The anxious yet loving look in his face warmed her and she offered the faintest of smiles in return. She was embarrassed to imagine him looking at her as she looked at another in his presence. Not long after, she continued on. The strength to march forward coming from deep within her.

  Through the grass she had made it to the edge of the forest. She knelt down and waited patiently, in truth she was most unsure about this aspect of the ceremony. The simplicity of it is why it bothered her so much. Her scholars had stated whether it was a black stag or a white stag that approached it did not matter, for either one was a good omen. Yet even she knew that the black stag was the symbol of her father’s home and the goodwill that would follow from an appearance would be a sign of a fortuitous outcome. The white stag on the other hand, was seen more as an after thought, a weakened creature that relied on the strength of the herd to survive, a representation of the constant balance of nature and the interconnectivity of all things. It was not lesser, by any means but it was different. And for humans oftentimes both words were interchangeable.

  Through bated breath she waited, it gave her some time to think. However as she tried to recall the conversations she heard while submerged they increasingly grew difficult to grasp. With every step she took away from the sea, they became harder to remember until all she was left with was a feeling of uncertainty about what had happened. Only her soul would remember, her mind left blank of what she experienced. Yet somehow changed because of it. She thought of what words of wisdom her mother would offer but she did not know how she would address any of it with her. What exactly would she say to her when she herself did not understand what it was she heard? The bushes in front of her rustled which brought her back to the present. Afterwards she heard twigs snap as something was approaching, softly, delicately. The first she saw of it was its snout sticking out from behind the bush. It sniffed the air judging if it was safe to approach, when it was satisfied it slowly revealed itself.

  As life lived within the confines of her home, she had always found the appearance of animals to be more wondrous than most people. However, gazing at the brilliant stag in front of her, Reza was left speechless. The coat of its fur was a pleasant white that gave off a sense of familiarity that filled her with a warm feeling. Its beady black eyes were welcoming as well as inquisitive of her, cautiously moving its head to better look at her. But above all, its antlers were a sight to behold. Like a white crown atop its head it glowed with a shimmering sensation similar to how the sun's rays bounced off the sea. It reminded her of the design of her brother’s crown as she counted eight points on its antlers. Each one protruding forward in unrivaled elegance.

  Once more it sniffed the air before making its way towards her. She smiled in return and opened her palm welcomingly and it followed. She was hesitant to touch it but found the confidence to do so believing it would not harm her. Her hope was correct as it sniffed her hand first and then brought its snout near her face and did the same. She giggled as it got closer before walking around her in a circle studying her in its own way. When it was satisfied it turned its head back towards the forest and she followed its gaze.

  What approached was of a greater size and spectacle than she could have ever imagined. The black stag was nearly twice as large as the white one. For such a large creature to approach without sound was terrifying but she did well to hide her fright, not wanting to look weak in front of those who watched. Unlike the white stag with eight points, this one had ten, which were wrapped in all kinds of vine and from deep within the forest. She could tell from its appearance that it was older than the white one by quite some time. In fact she was sure this black stag may have even been older than her own father. It looked on ahead at the people gathered as though deciding whether there was anyone within them worth addressing, it stopped its gaze at Saturn before returning it to her. The black stag walked towards her and behind it followed another smaller one, even smaller than the white stag that stood by her.

  This one mesmerized her as it contained features of both stags, its fur a beautiful mixture of soft black and harsh whites, culminating in an ethereal animal that seemed to carry an even greater air of superiority than the black stag that stood next to it. However what most caught her eye was within the mixed stag's horns, rested a black rose. It matched the same luster as the ones in Queen Freyja’s garden but there was something primal about this one. As though it was from an age long before this, perhaps from when the First Men arrived. All the same, Reza slowly stretched her hands out, and watched as the smaller stag moved to her in a cautious manner. She did not know how she could tell, but it seemed only the white stag cared for her, the black one seemed only to be there to watch and the one that sported both their features was untrusting of her. But as it reached her and lowered its head towards her, she took the black rose from its antlers. It was hot, like it was on fire but it did not burn. She watched as the rose bloomed in her hand as it unfurled into a wonderful flower. The mixed stag rose his head somehow sharing the same shock as her and moved to walk around her along with the white stag. She found the longer it did this the more trust it seemed to develop for her.

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  It was not long after before the white stag–satisfied with the outcome–returned to the forest. The black stag followed, calling for the smaller mixed one to follow. It heeded the actions of the larger one but before it returned, it turned back towards Reza and rubbed its face on her knee before licking her hand. The princess watched on speechless as tears welled in her eyes, she did not want the creature to go, growing fond of its presence. All the same, she watched it return into the bushes and the forest ahead. The black stag was all that remained, its look was still that of uncertainty but Reza did not mind. In time it too returned to the forest leaving her with the burning black rose in her hands.

  She rose to her feet and studied the bloomed flower in her possession. The heat emanating from it pulled her towards the castle and along she followed. Until once again she was standing in front of the High Priestess. The old woman bowed acknowledging the great item in her possession and moved out of her way directing her back towards the castle. The grand structure looked to dwarf her in appearance as it loomed overhead, the position of the sun forced it to cast a large shadow over them all. Twin castles steeped in countless centuries of history, beckoned for her to approach as this would be the last time she crossed these doors as a mere princess. The last part of her ceremony begun.

  The princess was left unguided and made to take this journey alone through the halls of the castle. She did not know where she was supposed to go, instead trusting the burning rose in her hand to direct her, following the sensation of the heat. Through massive pillars, across great rooms and hallways often filled with hundreds of people now empty. Reza felt as though she was the only one in existence. The last of her kind left to walk these halls for all time, to walk through marble floors of a place once familiar to her now unrecognizable as though she were a stranger in a distant land. However she would not falter as she held true that the black rose would not lead her astray.

  The emptiness of the castle allowed her to study the structure, a design she once found unflattering was viewed under a new light. It was not appreciation by any means, but instead a sense of understanding that it was more than a mere castle. Just like the flower in her hand, this building was a symbol, a representation of a great power than many through Aurum looked at in awe and wonder. Just as how the rose she held could burn her to ash, this castle could swallow her into oblivion. But neither things would happen, for she was among the chosen few that was allowed to stand above. Just as the black rose did not burn her, so too did the castle allow her to traverse unobstructed.

  Her journey took her up several stairs as she was nearing her destination and a growing sense of anxiousness enveloped her. Still she held on strong and moments later she had arrived at the final set of stairs. It was not until she stopped before them had she realized she had been transported to a part of the castle she did not know existed. She was unsure if she was still within the same building. However, what waited at the top of the stairs called to not only her but the flower in her hand and she obliged, walking up the steps. She found confidence in each step she took. She would no longer be a princess, there would be more offered to her, more expected of her. It was as though her whole life had been a precursor to what would happen after the ceremony. A rebirth and yet to be born truly for the first time and equal among her siblings.

  With each step she took the black rose burned even more intensely until she felt like it would burn through her hands. She grew more terrified with each step but she would not stop, not this close to the end. What little strength she had left, she forced her legs to move and in return the rose seared even greater. Where she to drop the flower she was sure her hands would look as blackened as what she held and be beyond any saving. Yet Reza did not care. The door was within reach, at first it opened just enough for light to glimpse through. With each step it opened increasingly until under all the strength she could muster, it opened completely as she reached the summit.

  The princess collapsed to the floor with tears streaming down her face, still unwilling to drop the rose. She gulped down large volumes of air and the soothing breeze that failed to cool her called to her. As she had done before, all she needed to do was place one foot in front of the other. Rising to her feet, that is what she did. She passed through the door and the azure sky and blazing sun greeted her with their familiar sight. The blinding light of the sun nearly made her drop the rose but she squinted her eyes in protection.

  She stood at one of the highest points within Castle Blackrose, closer to the sky than she had ever been before. Reza moved into the circular open area, the winds were stronger here but not enough to topple her over. She walked around the edges of the guard rail and saw just how many had truly gathered for her. There were millions, all looking up at her in wailing but they were not in agony. Or if they were she could not tell. Where she stood no sound could reach her. With the help of the wind, it blew her attention back to the center where the large basin stood resolute.

  Reza made her way towards it knowing this was the final act of her ceremony. She looked within the still waters of the basin and saw several black roses floating about, some of them burned a soft glow and yet the flowers did not burn along. Two seemed to bleed as they burned, another among them burned so intensely she was sure it would boil the waters around them. Unsure how she was able to identify them, but she knew which ones belonged to her siblings and her father. Yet among the black roses that were placed within this basin, there was one that bled as it burned a soft hue that she was unsure who it belonged to. The princess was captivated by it, it reminded her of Enrieta in ways she struggled to put into words, even though she was sure she had already noted which of the flowers were hers. When she had composed herself, she carefully and slowly lowered her own flower into the basin. She did not want to submerge it completely, instead having it float alongside the others.

  The flower touched the surface and there was a small vibration that passed through the still waters as it rippled slightly and passed through her fingertips. There was a tremendous weight off her shoulders and she relaxed at the last of her tasks were done. Such a simple end to an arduous ceremony she thought, she found it amusing if not somewhat lackluster. The Crown Princess stood back and waited for a moment, wanting to see what her black rose would look like compared to her siblings. However nothing happened. It floated there with a calming appearance and a stillness that mirrored the other black roses around it. When Reza believed nothing would happen, she offered a small smile in exasperation and found the strength to leave the area. However not before she took one more look at the sky above and the distant lands of Aurum. There was a renewed sense of wonder that she had discovered of her home, one that lingered on her lips and in the briefest of moments she thought of what the deep northern lands of Iliad looked like. If such a beauty as this one she witnessed existed there. She had begun to wonder about a great many things, and about…

  She moved her soaked raven hair away from her cerulean colored eyes. A new sense of power emanated from them, one that marked her as part of a select group. The seeds of divinity had been planted. The Crown Princess made her way back down towards the growing cheers that were now audible from within the castle below. Within the stillness of the empty area she had departed, Crown Princess Reza Altieri’s rose bloomed a second time, a budding flame emerged from the center of the flower, soft in its glow but regal all the same. Further along the rose, its black petals froze an ancient Stygian white.