Fleur sat on her phoenix, watching the scene unfolding before her in silent awe.
Daphne did not disturb her. She simply watched alongside her, sharing the same quiet reverence. Even after seeing this sight many times, its beauty never faded for her.
Before them glided a magnificent boat with golden wings sweeping along both its sides.
Upon the boat stood a majestic blue and gold castle, regal and shimmering, befitting a home for gods.
Behind the vessel stretched luminous golden threads that coiled around the sun it was pulling behind it.
Encircling the sun were seven flat planets, each angled so every surface faced the blazing sphere as though worshiping it.
"I guess zat castle is where ze gods live," Fleur said eventually, her voice soft and full of wonder.
Daphne nodded and gestured to the orbiting planets. "Choose one, and we will explore that one."
"Not ze castle first?" Fleur asked, eyebrows raised.
"Ra is grumpy all the time. We will meet him, but later," Daphne said with a shrug.
Fleur stared at her, waiting for clarification.
"I'm not joking. If we go right now, he will probably say something like..." Daphne planted her hands on her hips and deepened her voice. "'You are always disturbing me.' Then he will order us to leave." She wrinkled her nose and puffed herself up in imitation of Ra.
Fleur covered her mouth, giggling at Daphne's performance. "Mon dieu… zat sounded quite real."
"Lady Taweret is great, though. She makes the best Umm Ali," Daphne added with a fond smile before nudging Fleur again to choose.
"Well, I do not know what to expect from any of zem, so how am I supposed to choose?" Fleur asked, mirroring Daphne's posture with her hands on her hips.
"Just point at one," Daphne insisted.
Fleur sighed dramatically, didn't even look, and pointed in a random direction.
"Good choice," Daphne said brightly and snapped her fingers, teleporting them to whichever planet Fleur had unknowingly selected.
They appeared near a grand entrance leading into a city, standing behind a long line of people waiting to get inside.
None of the people noticed them because Daphne had used her authority to stay invisible.
The people in the line were not entirely human.
They had skin with a faint blue tint, were taller than ordinary humans, and their hair glowed like molten gold threaded with green. Their ears were pointed.
"So… perhaps you explain who zey are first," Fleur whispered.
"They can't hear us," Daphne said, raising a finger like a teacher beginning a lecture. "They are elves. And that is all I know. We will find out the rest together."
"Are you not ze chosen one or something? How do you not know?" Fleur asked, shaking her shoulders in disbelief. Even the phoenix she rode turned its head to give Daphne a suspicious side glance.
"Well, I could just find everything out instantly… but where is the fun in that?" Daphne asked, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"I think Aaric has corrupted you with his carefree nature," Fleur muttered.
"Not enough," Daphne whispered under her breath. Fleur leaned in, trying to hear.
"N-nothing. Let's introduce ourselves," Daphne said quickly, shaking her head to hide her blush. She flew forward, and Fleur followed her into the city.
They soared above the streets, marveling at the architecture.
Sun disks decorated many buildings, and stylized hippos marked others. The inhabitants appeared highly skilled in magic.
They watched a group of elves crafting a statue.
Three elves moved their hands in synchronized patterns, gathering light until it condensed into a molten, liquid substance.
They handed the glowing mass to another group, who shaped it with precise, graceful movements and placed it into the correct position.
Finally, a lone elf with darker blue skin hardened the construct and breathed shimmering color into it.
Fleur sighed in admiration atop her phoenix. "Magic like zis would change our world," she murmured.
Daphne nodded and headed toward the massive temple rising at the city's center.
"What is in ze temple?" Fleur asked, following closely behind.
"We need to introduce ourselves to someone. As their god's chosen, the temple is the most logical place. We can find a priest and explain everything to them." Daphne replied casually.
At that moment, something caught Daphne's attention. She stopped mid-flight.
She pointed toward a courtyard inside the temple. "It seems someone is expecting us."
In the courtyard stood an elf with obsidian skin, pacing anxiously as he stared up at the sky, clearly waiting.
Daphne gestured for Fleur to remain in the air and wait before descending alone.
"Are you looking for me?" Daphne asked as she landed and allowed herself to be seen.
The elf froze, her red eyes widened, then she bowed deeply.
"The chosen of the First Radiant. It is an honor to be in your presence. Our god told us you would be arriving," she said before straightening with visible nerves.
"It's good to meet you as well. I am Daphne," she replied with a warm smile and a little wave.
"Call me Nysera. Forgive me, but the First Radiant said you had a friend with you…" Nysera added, tilting her head.
"Yes, I'll bring her too," Daphne said. Fleur and the phoenix, who had been waiting a short distance away, became visible to Nysera as Daphne lowered the veil.
Daphne beckoned Fleur over, and Fleur nodded, guiding her phoenix closer.
| Meanwhile, with Ra and Taweret |
"Is she averse to planning? I had to send a divine message to my priest for her." Ra muttered, rubbing his temples, earning a soft chuckle from Taweret.
"We would never have met her at all if she weren't such a free spirit," Taweret said in a gentle tone.
Ra folded his arms, unimpressed.
"You know this is exactly why she did not visit us first," Taweret chided lightly.
"What have I done?" Ra demanded, offended.
"Perhaps try speaking gently for once. I know you approve of her, which is why you chose her," Taweret added, still calm.
Ra said nothing and only shrugged defensively.
"I am going to prepare some Umm Ali for three, then," Taweret said, shaking her head affectionately as she walked away.
"Great, now I don't even get desert." Ra muttered to himself before peering down again as if he could see Daphne from there.
A/n: Give me your thought on the chapter and reviews on the fic.
And.. you got any power stones? Well, hand em over then.