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"You summoned me, Countess Nadia?" Astraea asked, stepping into the sunlit parlor. Countess Nadia was sitting on the couch, a cup of tea in her hand.
"Ah, Astraea, thank you for coming. I did call for you. If you would, please close the door behind you." Astraea did as he was told and shut the door. Afterward, he sat on the couch facing the opposite of Nadia.
"May I ask why I'm here, Countess?"
"Please, call me Nadia. I believe we're past formalities. The reason you're here is that I decided to visit Prakra, and I want you to come with me."
Nadia's request came as a surprise to Astraea. The Countess never seemed too keen on visiting her homeland and family. However, the more he thought about it, Astraea figured it would be quite a fun adventure. With that, he decided to accept the invitation.
"I would love to go with you, Nadia. Thank you for asking."
"Of course. No trip would be worth traveling without you with me. Besides, my sisters have been begging to see you again. You made quite the impression on them."
Astraea blushed as Nadia brought up the first time he met her sisters. He remembered each one and what made them so different from each other. He especially remembered Nadia's older sister, Natiqa. Something about her character had Astraea thinking about her from time to time. Before he could continue, Astraea noticed Nadia get up from the couch, and he followed suit.
He opened the door for her, and before she left, she mentioned, "We depart tomorrow morning. You shall spend the night here if you desire. I will provide you with everything you will need for the trip. Good night, Astraea."
"Good night, Nadia." The young magician watched the Countess walk away before he made his way to his room. As he lay in bed, awaiting the morning, Astraea dreamed of a contagious laugh and sparkling blue eyes staring at him.
/()-()/
Come morning, Astraea awoke to the sound of a knock at his door. Shortly after, Portia walked in carrying a suitcase. "Good morning, Astraea. Did you sleep well?"
"Good morning, Portia. I did, thank you for asking. What's in the case?"
"It's everything milady had put together for you. I hear Prakra can get pretty warm this time of year. She packed light clothes for the warm weather and a bathing suit in case you wanted to go swimming." Portia gave Astraea a wink, and he gave a tiny blush. Portia bid the apprentice a safe journey before leaving him to get dressed.
Looking through the different options, Astraea decided on a sheer, relaxed, pale lavender long-sleeve shirt. Along with it, he chose a pair of white harem pants. After strapping on his sandals, Astraea was ready to meet with Nadia. He found her sitting at the dining table eating breakfast.
"Good morning, Astraea. I see you dressed appropriately for the upcoming trip."
Astraea sat down next to Nadia before answering, "I did. Portia made me aware of the warm weather in Prakra."
"Understandable. As soon as we're finished with breakfast, the carriage should be ready." Astraea nodded and continued eating his meal. Shortly after, the two finished and were making their way outside towards the carriage. It was the same carriage Nadia had used when bringing Astraea into town. Harnessed to the front were two beautiful mares.
The apprentice noticed Portia trying to strap the luggage to the top of the carriage and went to help her. "Let me help you with that." Taking a rather large suitcase, Astraea lifted it on top of the carriage.
"I just wanted to tell you goodbye one last time before you guys left. I wish I could join you, but there are things here at the palace that require my attention."
"I understand. Maybe if you ask, Nadia will let you come with her next time."
"If there's going to be a next time. I'm surprised milady even wanted to make this trip."
"Me too, but I think it'll be good for her to keep in touch with her family."
"So do I." With that, Astraea and Portia finished loading the suitcases, and Nadia and Astraea were ready to leave. The apprentice helped the Countess into the carriage before climbing in himself. As the two of them pulled away, Portia yelled at them to have a fun time. Astraea watched as the palace disappeared and looked forward to the journey ahead.
/()-()/
Astraea and Nadia were halfway to the city when they had to stop and let the horses rest. Nadia estimated they would reach their destination by nightfall. With nothing else to do, Astraea decided to look around. The town the two had stopped at was small but lively. People were running around, talking and shouting. There were numerous stalls set up trying to sell whatever goods they had. There was a particular stand that drew Astraea's attention. The owner, a somewhat short woman with a braid that reached the ground, was selling different gemstones. She noticed Astraea and beckoned him closer.
"Young man, I feel mighty power radiating off of you. Would you like to choose a gemstone to help channel that power?" Astraea remembered what Asra had told him about gemstones. They held wonderous magical properties and many healing benefits. As he was looking through the different stones, Astraea noticed Nadia walk up behind him.
"I see you're interested in buying a gem. Allow me to purchase it for you, Astraea."
"You don't have to, Nadia."
"Nonsense. You know I love to spoil you whenever I can. Pick whichever one you want and I shall pay for it." Knowing there was no chance of changing her mind, Astraea looked at the different gems, and his eye immediately landed on a frothy blue stone with silvery-white lines. Picking it up, the young apprentice handed the gemstone to the woman.
"Ah, a beautiful piece of sodalite. I pray that this gem bestows you with many blessings." Nadia paid for the gem and one for herself, and she and Astraea left the woman with a "thank you." The two of them returned to the carriage to see the horses well rested and ready to get moving. Once back on the carriage, Astraea fastened the sodalite into a necklace that hugged his throat in a comfortable fit.
Just as the sun was beginning to set, throwing the sky into shades of ash-pink and lilac, Nadia announced that they have arrived in Prakra. Astraea peaked out the window to see the tall, ornate buildings that made up the capital city. With the setting sun, multi-colored lights illuminated the streets. People dressed in colorful attire roamed the streets, laughing and talking to one another. Kids ran by the carriage playing a game of tag.
"I see Prakra hasn't changed much since the last time I was here," Nadia spoke.
"Does this bring back any fond memories?"
"Not particularly. I spent most of my time behind the palace walls." Astraea pondered Nadia's words and wondered if she ever got to experience the joys of being a child. While he was thinking it over, the carriage came to a stop.
"It seems we arrived. I'm sure my family is waiting for us inside." Astraea noticed the worried look in the Countess's eyes and grabbed her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. Nadia squeezed the apprentice's hand back and exited the carriage. Helping him down, Astraea and Nadia made their way to the palace doors. The guards recognized the two visitors and opened the doors with a respectful bow.
Once inside, Astraea takes notice of Nadia's family waiting for them. As he approaches, Astraea catches the familiar scent of sea salt in the air. The first person Astraea walks up to is Nafizah. Her ethereal gaze holds the apprentice in place as he looks up at her. He notices her golden eyes fixated on something below his face. Astraea then realizes she's looking at the sodalite hanging around his throat.
"The gemstone compliments your aura." Nafizah gives Astraea a small smile, and he returns it before moving down the line to the next sister.
Nazali smiles at the apprentice and gives him a firm handshake. "Nice to see you again, Astraea. Tell me, what kind of hijinks have you gotten into after the last time I saw you?"
"After a night out with Julian, I woke up in a fountain." Astraea provided enough details to give Nazali some idea of what happened, but not too much to give away the whole story.
"That's what I like to hear. I plan to hear the rest of the story tomorrow." Nazali gave the young magician a wink before he moved on to Navra.
Before he could utter a word, Navra picked Astraea up and began spinning him around before hugging him tightly. The apprentice happily laughed and hugged Navra back instantly. "Oh, Astraea, I forgot how much of a dancer you are. You must dance with me before you leave."
"I promise to save you a dance before I return home." Hugging her one last time, Astraea walks up to Nahara. She stares at the apprentice with hard eyes before cracking a warm smile.
"Astraea, my favorite sparring partner. How has your training been going?"
"Good, so far. I'm still having trouble with my hand-to-hand combat, but I'm approving."
"That's good to hear. While you're here, we should set apart a day to train."
"We definitely should. I may be able to beat you this time." Nahara gave out a hearty laugh as she slapped Astraea, a little too hard, on the back. Laughing with her, Astraea moved from Nahara to Nasmira.
Nasmira's turquoise eyes shone as she warmly smiled at Astraea. "On behalf of the entire family, I present you with this gift." Nasmira held out a box wrapped in a bow. Astraea thanked everyone before opening the box to find a beautiful blue ombre conch shell. Milky white pearls adorned the shell's spikes.
"It's beautiful. Thank you so much. I love it." Astraea gently placed the shell back into the box before hugging Nasmira. She gave him another smile as Astraea greeted the last sister.
Astraea knew he would meet Natiqa again, but standing in front of her still took his breath away. She possessed the same lightning blue eyes that shone with merriment and mischief. She gave Astraea an impish smile, and Astraea hoped Natiqa didn't catch him staring.
"Well, if it isn't the young magician my dear sister has befriended. I'm afraid I've forgotten your name." Recognizing the joking tone in Natiqa's voice, Astraea decided to play along.
"Oh dear, how that hurts my feelings. And to think, we shared a connection when we first met. I thought we had something special?" Astraea gave a dramatic sigh as a finishing touch. Natiqa let out a wonderful laugh as she enjoyed Astraea's act.
Wiping a tear from her eye, Natiqa said, "Oh, how I've missed you, Astraea. You are the only person with a good sense of humor. I believe we are going to have the best of fun." Astraea blushed at Natiqa's words and tried to cover it up before she saw it.
After meeting all the sisters, Astraea finally reached the queen of Prakra and her husband. Nasrin looked the apprentice up and down, offering a polite smile and a handshake. Namar, on the other hand, gave Astraea a warm hug. He took note of the way the royal consort smelled of sandalwood and vanilla.
Namar broke the hug and gave Astraea a warm smile. "I've heard that you are a talented magician. Mind showing us a small trick of yours?" Not wanting to deny the royals their wish, Astraea conjured up a bright ball of light that illuminated the entire room. As a final display, Astraea shot the ball into the air. Before it reached the ceiling, it exploded into a burst of fireworks. The sisters clapped, and Namar laughed in delight.
"Stunning, absolutely stunning. You must provide your powers at one of my fashion shows." Before Astraea could answer, Nadia took him by the arm.
"If you will excuse us, dear family. I believe it's time for Astraea to retire for the night. I shall return to discuss our trip after I show Astraea to his room." Astraea wished Nadia's family a good night before she led him out of the room. Nadia showed Astraea where he would be sleeping before departing to find her sisters.
Astraea entered his room to find a stunning view. The king-size bed was covered in silk sheets and had a canopy covering its massive size. Many plants and books filled the room. It even had a balcony where Astraea could look out over the city. Turning back to the bed, Astraea noticed a single hydrangea and a letter.
Opening the letter, Astraea discovered the letter to be an invitation to meet someone tomorrow at midnight in the garden. Smiling to himself at the possibility of who it might be, Astraea smelled the flower and got ready for bed. Before he could fall asleep, Astraea felt the inclination to pull a Tarot card. Doing so, the apprentice found himself pulling the Wheel of Fortune. Astraea stared at the card seeing if it was going to provide an answer. When it didn't, Astraea placed the card back in the deck and fell asleep. That night, Astraea dreamt of a pearly white puma.
/()-()/
The morning sun rose with a salty breeze blowing through the open balcony doors. Astraea opened his eyes to see the first slivers of sunlight enter his room. He sat up, the silky sheets falling from his frame. He was still trying to wake up when there was a knock at his door. "Come in."
One of the Prakran servants opened the door, "Good morning, Mr. Magician. I hope your sleep was peaceful."
"It was, thank you. And please, call me Astraea."
"Of course, Mr. Astraea. I was sent to retrieve you for breakfast. The Satrinava Family awaits your presence."
"Thank you for telling me. Tell them I will be there shortly." Astraea watched as the servant bowed before leaving. Astraea got out of bed and began getting ready for the day. The first thing he did was slip on a foam white poet-sleeve shirt. Next, he donned a pair of black high-waisted pants. Before he left, Astraea placed a pair of soft slippers on his feet. Setting the sodalite around his throat, Astraea was ready to meet the family.
Making his way down the elaborate hallways, Astraea arrived at the door leading to the dining hall. Opening the doors, the young magician caught the attention of the entire family. Navra was quick to pick Astraea up and hug him tightly. "Good morning, Astraea. Come, the cooks have prepared a wonderous meal for your arrival." Astraea let Navra lead him to a seat, which turned out to be the one next to Natiqa. She gave Astraea a subtle wink, and he blushed in return.
Astraea's mouth watered as he turned to the table. Laid among the table, Astraea could see the different samples of food Prakra had to offer. Piles of sliced fruit beckoned the young magician with their aroma. Meat cooked with exotic spices begged for attention. Astraea took a sip of his water to find it held a bubbly fruity taste. Astraea began filling his plate but made sure not to take too much.
As he was eating, Queen Nasrin spoke up, "Astraea, you must be eager to see all Prakra has to offer. If you want, I give you full permission to explore the city with one of my daughters. Luckily, Natiqa has offered to be your tour guide." Astraea nearly choked on the mango he was eating. The thought of spending the entire day with the second-youngest Satrinava sister had the apprentice furiously blushing.
"Th-There's no need for that, your highness." Astraea stuttered.
"Nonsense, you need someone familiar with the area to keep you from getting lost. Natiqa knows all the best places I'm sure you will enjoy."
"If you want," Natiqa interjected, "we can leave this afternoon. I have some business I need to attend to after breakfast. I'll meet you around noon."
Astraea knew better than to say no, so he quietly accepted the invitation. Once he finished breakfast, Astraea had permission to roam around the palace. Walking down the many halls, Astraea appreciated the extravagant artworks owned by the royal family. Paintings of previous rulers and sculptors lined the great halls.
Astraea was about to head to his room when he felt the familiar magical pull of something. Following it, Astraea found himself in one of the many rooms of the palace. It was a bathroom that resembled more of a spa. It contained a pool surrounded by shelves lined with mason jars filled with all kinds of salts and minerals. Astraea was so focused on the magic inside the room he didn't hear the servant call his name.
"Mr. Astraea, are you okay?"
"Huh, oh, um... I'm fine. I apologize if I'm not supposed to be here."
"It's quite alright, Mr. Astraea. I've come to ask you if you're okay with joining the sisters in the sitting room?"
"I would love to." Leaving the bathroom behind, Astraea followed the servant to one of the sitting rooms. As they were approaching, Astraea picked up many different noises. The one he picked up first was the sound of laughter. The apprentice steps into the room, and everyone stops in their tracks, staring at him. They soon usher Astraea in, seating him in the middle of the room on one of the plush sofas. There were plenty of snacks and drinks on the table. Astraea decided on a plate of apple slices and refreshing water.
As he was eating, Astraea noticed Natiqa was in the room. She was eyeing him with interest. Astraea looks away, but he feels Natiqa continuing to look at him.
"Astraea, it's so good to see you again," Nasmira remarked. "Do you know what you're going to see first on your tour of the city?"
Astraea thought about it before he remembered the numerous beaches he and Nadia passed on the way here. "I think I would like to see one of the beaches."
"That sounds wonderful. Luckily for you, Natiqa knows the beaches very well." Nasmira said.
"You should've seen her when she was little," Nahara announced. "She spent all her time at the beach finding all kinds of seashells. We had to drag her away from the ocean in fear she would swim out to sea."
Before Nahara could continue the story, Natiqa stood up and grabbed Astraea by the arm. Astraea could've sworn he saw a faint blush on Natiqa's cheeks. "I believe that's all we have time for, sisters. If you will excuse us, Astraea and I have a lot to see before the sun sets." With that, Natiqa led Astraea away from her sisters.
"I'm sorry you had to hear that, Astraea. Sometimes my sisters don't know how to not embarrass me."
"It's quite alright, Natiqa. I enjoyed it. I would like to hear more."
Natiqa let out a laugh, playfully slapping Astraea on the arm. "I might share a story or two while we're in town. Come on, the beaches won't wait forever."
Astraea followed Natiqa outside, where a carriage was waiting for the two of them. Astraea helped Natiqa into the carriage, and he joined her after she settled. The carriage took off, and Astraea found himself gazing at the city. Similar to when he first arrived, the capital was very much alive in a display of motion and color.
Natiqa looked out the window with the apprentice. "If you think that's something, just wait till you see the beach." Shortly, the carriage came to a stop, and Astraea found himself looking at a vast array of opalescent waters hugged by white sand beaches. The natural beauty hypnotized the young magician in a way that he didn't feel Natiqa's presence next to him.
"Beautiful, isn't it? As a kid, this was my safe place. I was surrounded by nothing but the wind and the water." Astraea glanced over to see Natiqa had a fond look on her face. Letting his control slip, Astraea grabbed Natiqa's hand and squeezed it. She returned the gesture and smiled at the apprentice.
Natiqa turned toward Astraea, and he recognized that mischievous look in her eye. "Why don't we go for a swim? Just me and you?"
"But I didn't bring a swimsuit."
"That doesn't matter. We can just roll up our pants legs and step in the water." Astraea was unsure, but he knew he would never get another chance to do something like this with Natiqa again.
"Why not. You only live once." Natiqa gave Astraea a wide smile before removing her shoes. Astraea followed suit and discarded his slippers. He stepped into the warm ocean and wriggled his toes in the sand underneath the tides. " He began to take in the sounds of the ocean when he felt a wave of water splashing him in the back. Astraea turned around to see Natiqa trying to contain her laughter. The young magician decided to have some fun and splashed the Satrinava sister back.
For the rest of the day, Astraea and Natiqa played in the water, splashing and swimming. The sun was beginning to set, and the two of them were sitting on a rock overlooking the ocean. They sat there in silence, listening to the waves. Natiqa laid her head on Astraea's shoulder and let out a content sigh.
Astraea was unsure of what to do next. "Um, do you think it's time to head back to the palace?" Astraea didn't want to leave, but he still had a midnight meeting to attend.
"Of course, I would hate to keep you out all night." Natiqa jumped down from the rock and stretched. The seawater made her clothes cling to her lithe frame, causing Astraea to blush furiously upon noticing it. "Don't just sit there, Astraea. Let's go." Astraea shook himself from his daze and followed Natiqa back to the carriage. They arrived back at the palace and went their separate ways.
Astraea went back to his room and waited till midnight. He had a couple of hours before he had to leave, and he spent it in his room. He tried to read a few books on Prakran fauna and flora. He even attempted to manipulate a few of the plants with his magic. Deciding it was close enough to time, Astraea went down to the palace gardens.
Astraea arrived at the garden when the clock struck midnight. At first, he saw no one waiting there for him. Uncertainty was beginning to eat at the apprentice. 'Was this one of Natiqa's pranks? Or was I being stood up? Did I even read the letter right..?' So many questions flooded Astraea's head as he paced around the garden, deciding to wait a moment longer. Suddenly he heard a chuckle from the darkness. Astraea quickly stopped and looked around, trying to find the source of the sound. He then heard a loud 'psst' coming from above him. Astraea looked up and quickly saw a figure sitting on a tree branch.
It was Natiqa, the second youngest Satrinava sister and the Prakran ambassador. She was grinning back at the young magician from the tree branch as she lazily stretched her arms before gracefully dropping down, her movements almost cat-like. She offered Astraea a bouquet of hydrangeas with a confident smile on her face. Astraea took the flowers carefully, examining them for a while before sniffing them, half expecting them to smell something disgusting. To his surprise, they smelled amazing. The scent immediately filled him with happiness and glee.
"You came... I mean, obviously, you came. We both know what's been going on, right?" Natiqa laughed and flipped her blue hair over her shoulder before nuzzling her nose against Astraea's. It tickled, "We're always dancing around it. The attraction we have towards each other. We hide it with jokes and pranks and it's all great but... Sometimes I feel like I want us to be more than that. Scratch that, most of the time I feel like that. It's all fun and games until you notice you've really fallen for the other person. And oh boy have I let myself fall hard for you." She became more serious but never allowed her contagious smile to drop from her face.
"Was it you who sent me those beautiful flowers and that letter?" Astraea asked, feeling a bit silly right after asking that question. Natiqa looked at the young magician for a few seconds before laughing loudly.
"Duh! It's not that difficult to figure that out!" She laughed for a moment before trying to calm herself, tears in her eyes from laughing so hard. She wiped her eyes and composed herself again, smiling widely, "I have a feeling we could have it all. Like, you wouldn't only be my lover but also my best friend, my confidant, and my partner in crime. I just feel so damn lucky I got a chance to meet you.." Natiqa grinned at Astraea as she pulled him closer to her, caressing his cheek and jawline with her delicate hands before sighing happily.
"I love you, Astraea."
"I love you too, Natiqa."
Finally confessing to each other, the two lovers shared a kiss under the moonlight within the royal gardens.