The Fayere feast was the introduction of the Emperor's women into the lands by the Priest, a spiritual leader.
He went around to every brides table with a knife and cut them until blood flowed. He collected their blood into separate bowls. Though a drop was also enough. Valyha grudgingly let the strange robed man collect her blood. It was just her blood, not too big a deal. She couldn't act irrationally when that evil white haired man was around.
As he went around collecting the blood, two women were missing. Without taking their blood he couldn't properly accept them. It meant they would be excluded from the role of Queen completely.
As the moon reflected over the spirit pool, a small pond in the center, the maidens belonging to Salvyiti and Roriana began to panic.
The priest poured the first drop of blood into the pool. It belonged to Aijah. Her heart rumbled as her blood turned cold in anticipation.
The occupants watched as the pool turned blue after receiving the blood.
"The lands have accepted, future queen Aijah."
Aijah's team breathed out in relief.
The Elder dropped another drop of blood from another bowl.
The pool turned blue.
"The land has accepted, future queen Valyha," the Elder said.
Valyha only rolled her eyes as she thought whether their land was critically insane, to accept her.
"The lands have accepted the future queen, Everette."
Everette gave a small smile. She never doubted herself.
The pool turned blue.
Not long after, the pool turned completely black. It shocked the occupants. Black color, no one had ever seen that color before.
Najeer leaned in as his eyes narrowed.
Before the elder could even react the pool began to dry up. Burning up to steam.
As the air cleared it revealed a dried pond. The sacred pool had been dried up! A settlement of water that had been self-filling for thousands of years.
"What bad omen is this?" The Empire officials began to murmur between themselves.
The Elder's mouth pressed into a thin line as he looked directly at the Emperor. As if he knew something he shouldn't. A look of pity flashed in his eyes shortly as he gazed towards the Emperor.
"It is not a bad omen. Far from it." The Elder said as he motioned to some guards to come. "Go and refill the moon pool so we may continue with the tradition."
The occupants of the room were all confused. The moon pool had just dried up and the Elder was trying to play it as normal? It has never happened before, neither had it been recorded to happen before.
Guards ran out to call water magicians.
As the soldiers went to fill the pool, the elder walked to Emperor's table.
There he was met with Najeer's distant gaze. He was deep in thoughts. Was he confused, or had he confirmed something.
"Which one, Your Majesty?" The Elder questioned in a whisper discreetly. How could he have hid something like this from the Empire's priest and the royal council?
Rafel raised a brow in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"This is not your matter but the Emperor's. He knows what I speak of, and from the looks of things he had known for a while." The Elder said still keeping his voice low.
Najeer pressed his lips forming a thin line. "I will handle it."
Roma's forehead wrinkled. He sensed it, something different in the Emperor's tone.
He was hiding something.
There was a moment of silence between the two, almost as if there was more to be said.
The Elder only looked away silently biting his tongue. He dared not to talk back. "As the great In'er commands." He bowed raising his two sleeves above his head as be moved back slowly.
"Shall I trust the priest to keep his tongue?" Najeer added in a calm yet threatening tone.
The Elder understood. He could not tell the other Elders of his discovery. Only he understood what a dried pool signified.
"My tongue dares utter." The Elder only curiously glanced at the Women whose blood had been collected. If only he had known, he would have been more patient testing each person's blood. Now he knew not whose blood triggered the moon pool. It could have been any of the three.
The Elder knew that the Emperor would try to hide her identity until the very end. There was nothing that could be done about that.
Such a shame, the Empire will never be the same again.
The Elder looked up to see the moon almost completely away from the reflection of the new water.
"Time has—"
"No, wait, we're here!" A female voice cried.
Roriana and Salvyiti ran into the hall. Salvyiti had a beaming smile, while Roriana panted heavily.
Roriana had changed into a green dress with gold jewelry. Salvyiti remained in her yellow garment.
"You are late." The Elder frowned. "Is the Emperor a servant, to keep him waiting!"
"We apologize, Great Elder," Salvyiti curtsied, Roriana followed along. "Something happened that we had to change immediately."
"A mere apology doesn't change the fact that the Emperor entered the hall before you."
"They are pardoned. Let them sit," Emperor Najeer intervened
The Elder grumbled, but motioned for them to step forward anyways.
He collected their bloods individually and dropped it into the pool while a part of the moon still reflected.
Both their blood reflected. They had been accepted by the land.
Roriana returned to her seat in silence so did Salvyiti.
Both of them glared in the direction of the evil woman, Valyha.
The taste of Valyha getting away with her misdeed did not sweeten in her mouth.
The celebration went on and everybody ate and drank wine till they were drunk. But there was one who couldn't summon the appetite to even eat a bite.
Aijah narrowed her eyes at Rori. In'er, a perfectionist pardoned her so easily? That is unlike the Emperor... Did he really favor this low woman? It appears the real threat were Evre, Salvyiti and Roriana. Aside from that clown of a woman who entered the harem by mistake, she was wrong afterall.