Looking through all her formal attire, she decided to choose a long sleeved, flowing dark purple dress embroidered with lace to accentuate the water-like image. The purple made her lower-back long hair shine in the torch light. Katrina took off the heavy golden crown on top of her head and placed it in its engraved box. It'd be awful for it to fall off during all the dancing that she will be expected to participate in.
Placing on silver high-heeled shoes, and dusting up her make-up so it looks more presentable. Dumping the beginner magical tome on her bed to return to when the party finishes, she walked out of her room to meet her father before the ball started. Walking the familiar path to his living quarters, she knocked on the obscenely silver accented door. Expecting an invitation to enter, she was surprised when the doors suddenly opened and her father walked out.
Dressed clad in his old military uniform, medals of his accomplishments pinned to the red and dark navy vest. His blue eyes twinkled at the sight of her.
"Finally, we can have a much needed private conversation." Taking his offered arm, she smiled back at him before replying.
"Yes we can." She smiled at him.
"I'm so proud of you, I never imagined that you would be a mage, let alone one with three affinities." He said to her, grasping her hand with his calloused aged one.
"Thank you dad."
"I don't want you to leave, my only daughter across the continent with who knows what, anything could happen. I mean its magic. You have heard the horror stories of what those elusive mages do to those who break the rules." He confessed, the budding feelings she knew he had, his agitation the past few weeks since the awakening made his true thoughts clear.
"I know dad," But they were on the same page, like always.
"But you have to," It was their only option.
"For the kingdom," She vowed.
"For the kingdom," The king said to reassure himself.
"If you ever get into trouble, find Master Merkad. He has promised to look out for you over there. Oh, and please make some friends maybe even meet a cute guy as long as he's not below your standing." He told her, his voice teasing and light.
"Dad..." She groaned.
"How do you know Master Merkad?" She inquired, thinking back to the closeness she witnessed at the royal library.
"He was friends with my father." The grey-haired king told her, a smile and a look of nostalgia gracing his features.
"Yes dear, he is that old. Mages age much slower than humans do, then you will." He said, his voice sobering up at the end, realising his daughter was going to enter a different world so foreign to his.
"I'll send letters dad." The silver-haired girl bargained, knowing how quick her father was to change his decisions. If she showed a hint of hesitance on going, he wouldn't let her.
"Tell me everything?" He asked her.
"You know I will," She promised.
"It looks like we've reached our destination. Beyond these doors, all our nobles. Such vultures, especially the men. When you take the throne, don't trust a single one, all they care about is power. Loyalty is lost on them." The King spoke quickly, like the second she entered these doors, she wouldn't come back out.
"Dad, I'm not leaving today. We have plenty of time to talk." The princess said strictly.
"I know. You look beautiful, the gods know it's not my genes you got it from." He told her, brushing a stray strand out of her ears.
"Let's go celebrate such a joyous day," he said, his voice brimming with sarcasm. Katrina felt a pang in her heart, leaving will break his. But staying would break the kingdom, and they both know it.
"Yes let's." The Princess of Aurora said, opening the doors into the hall where every important noble, craftsmen and merchants were all waiting. The hall was decorated to the brim. Banners of their kingdom's insignia (a golden sea thrift flower, with a pure black background), hung every dozen meters or so. On both, the left and right side of the hall were banquet tables packed to the brim with all the local cuisine, that she adored.
Her eyes glowed when she spotted a certain sweet treat that her kingdom was famous for. Named the pasty sugar fish, it was a pastry covered in harp jam and smothered in sugar, in the shape of a fish. One of her favourites, but she had to dance the opening with her father before she could stuff her face.
Arriving at the middle of the floor, she took her fathers hand and danced. It was a short melodic dance, where everyone followed after the first verse. A variety of colours filled the dance floor, different dresses all flowing with the movements of the dance, as the song resounded through the halls.