The Signet Ring

Curly black hair, tall and seemingly strong. Beautiful yet not soft. Standing beside the rustic window is Cassandra a woman of about 28 and intelligent in expression. Her name is a legend in the land, for she's the queen and the wearer of the most coveted thing in the entire Kingdom - the signet ring. At a glance, you may not see the tremendous power she possesses but, in reality, Cassandra is a name to revere. She's not just their Queen but she's their hero. " Your Majesty the ceremony is about to begin", a voice of her assistant awakened her from her deep thoughts. He's referring to the ceremony of succession. Every 40 years in the land of Velaris they held a ceremony of succession. It's been a long time since Cassandra wanted to have a successor. Yes, she has heirs actually, but her twins cannot just inherit the throne because of the bloodline. Things in Velaris are not as usual. In the land of Velaris, power rests not in the crown but in the signet. In this land lies four kingdoms where people obey not the one who's wearing the crown, but the one who possesses the signet ring. Yet, the signet is not a thing they can just get from the drawer and pass it as an inheritance. It's a favor to earned. A power to possess. It has a life of its own. It cannot be tamed. It chooses its master. And in this present era, the signet had chosen Cassandra. " I hope the ring will choose now its new master" Cassandra whispers in hope as she rubs her fingers on that ring she's wearing. It's just a simple looking ring to look at no one had seen yet how it transform, tales said the ring and the master become one at a time it unleashes its power. The assistant glances at her, curious why she's in a rush to be replaced but he just keeps the question to himself. Cassandra enters the grand hallway of elegant chandeliers and golds. She sees the crowd waiting from a distance, waving flags, all seems expectant. The ring itself will choose. The succession must be pure. But what if? Cassandra worriedly shakes her head. This time. I must decide. I'm running out of time. She thinks. Everything is set already. She just has to fix this one. " Velarians, all those people who had dreams and gifts of foresight are welcome to reveal anything they have seen about the next ringmaster" The man in a flamboyant suit announces. This is how they normally start the ceremony. They gather first all prophecies as a guide in decision making. Cassandra's heart beats fast, grasping the ring, she closes her eyes and pleads on her mind. Please choose now. But still no activity, no sign of selection. The people are quiet also waiting for something from the ring. But none. Cassandra could see the people's faces reflect joy. She's aware that these people in Velaris doesn't like another Queen or King. They want her to lead them forever. But there's something they don't know. " Long reign our Queen!", a voice amid the crowd soar, that made the entire crowd also cheer in delight. Cassandra could hear the people cheering her name in joy. They feel delighted that she's not replaced. " Long reign for our Queen! Long live the Queen!" their voices echoed the entire place. Cassandra rose from her seat and raise her hand signaling them to keep silent. " I recently have a dream of the next successor" she cut the people's excitement.                                        Silence. Velarians are stunned. They're not ready for this. Cassandra continues to reveal her dream. " I dreamed that my nephew Neji will be my successor. The ring had chosen him, in the event of my death, he will reign ... " " But your Majesty signs in the oracle that the next successor will lead the land in great wisdom and power", Kapono dares to interrupt her. " Yes, Neji will do that", Cassandra turns to Kapono. " He's the person in the oracle", she smiles. Kapono is the eldest mentor in the Velaris. His duty in the Kingdom is to teach every generation of Velarians everything they need to know for the preservation of their race. Kapono did not argue anymore. After all, she's their Queen. There's no reason to doubt everything that she will say. News about having the next successor quickly spread through the entire land. Every King of each tribe in the land easily agreed to that. "She's wearing the ring when she dreamed of it. How can we argue?" Zair told his council. Then he looks to the window from this powdered stone castle of his and stares at his Kingdom from above. The Kingdom of the Elves which resides in the far north of Velaris is lush greenery. A kingdom of serenity and magic. Zair could not hold any threat to this place whom they consider as home. I just hope the Royals will really fulfill what was prophesied. He thinks and breaths heavily. Soon the three Kings of the Three Kingdoms in the land will be summoned to the Capitol where the Queen is and they will about the succession. Cassandra stares at the twins that are sleeping softly in the cradle. Ever since the ring had chosen her, she knows that her life is not of her own anymore but for Velarians, the people in Velaris. That's what they call themselves. The ring had chosen her to be the protector and guide of these people. She could not put herself first. " I know you two are strong to find your fate even when if I leave your side", she whispers at them while caressing their faces. She looks up and tried to hold her tears. Everything is arranged already. I have to go. She said to herself. Cassandra walks out of her twin's room proceed to the hallway, going to the back of the Capitol. At the back of the Capitol of the Royals is vast darkness. Its night time. Green mountains afar could not be seen. Only the lit of moon above the sky. "It's now time!", there's a serious urgency in her voice. Then she whistles loud in the air as if calling for something from nowhere. She waited patiently for a minute and whistle again. " There!", Cassandra said with a wide smile on her face. A blazing fire of blue and red appears in the sky. Spreading its wings in full confidence. Flying fastly towards the Queen. When its eyes hit the Queen, its beak turns up to utter a roar. It's the Phoenix of the water and fire. The Phoenix flies around Cassandra as if covering her. As if devouring her yet not hurting her. " Bring me to Niflheim", she commanded the phoenix. Niflheim is the land of death outside Velaris. It is dominated by the dark giants that threaten to destroy Velaris. Now, the land is at a point of extinction for the waters in the entire land has been poisoned without anyone's knowing. Days ago a crow from this land has been told to send a message to her. It's too late. It's only a chant away to activate the poison that had entered into the body of those who had a drink or use the waters in the land, including her children and the other children in Velaris. Now, she doesn't have a choice but to make a deal with their leader. The phoenix brought her to the land of the giants. It's dark that few torches cannot brighten the surroundings. Cassandra waves her fingers and in a blink, the ring she's wearing had become a sword. Cassandra looks at it intently as if relying on her fate to it. The sword is of thick metal that the gems embedded on the center reflect the elements gifted to the four Kingdoms of the land of Velaris. It speaks both of strength and splendor. It breaths out fires when it intends to kill. It's a weapon of no ordinary swordsman, for its edge is doubled, that it must be handled skillfully to unleash its full power for it to be able to save lives and protect the bearer as well. Cassandra hears growling sounds coming to her. She sees a group of giants rushing to attack her from the back. " Fire Bird now!", she commanded the phoenix. She climbs up to it. And the phoenix lifted her, flying in an instant speed that the giants freak out how to they can catch her. Cassandra flips the sword in his hand, it transforms into a double dagger, it has a white gem in the handle in the middle, and the blades on both sides glitters to kill like no mercy. She throws the dagger towards the giants as she flies with the phoenix. The dagger moves it has its mind slashing each giant on its head. Cassandra sees each giant fall groaning in pain. She slowly landed on the ground and signals the phoenix on her side. She stretches out her palm towards the dagger that is far from her. It was pulled out by some force and instantly fly back to her hand. "I'll go inside" She turns to the phoenix. " You already know what to do, we have talked about this" Cassandra reminded the bird. It utters a sound and disappears. Cassandra walks bravely towards the dark ancient fort that was built with blood. She could smell some stinky scent of dried bones as she walks towards its depth. She raises her double dagger steadily prepared for any attack. " Welcome to my sanctuary ringmaster", a hallow creepy voice calls her attention from behind. At least at this part, there are torches around enough for her to see the face of her enemy. " Asmodai!" Cassandra calls his name as if threatening him. Her teeth clenched in anger. She knows that at this point it's a dead-end for her. She could not win over this demon by just battling him. Cassandra waves again the dagger in her hand and it eventually returns to its original form - the sword. " Renounce the curse you planted on my people!" She pointed the sword to the demon's neck. Asmodai just stares at Cassandra unshaken, unafraid, then he touches the tip of her sword and glides it away from his neck. " No matter how many times you change your form. I will still recognize you",    Cassandra stares at him sharply. The creature in front of her looks like an ordinary man, but she knows she's not ordinary at all. " Take off that face of yours! reveal your true form!"  she shouted at him. Asmodai burst a baleful laugh. Then flashes an angry look at her. " You did not come here to demand on me! You come here to give up your life in exchange for retrieving the poison on your land!" he pointed his finger at her. " If you live Velaris will vanish. And if you die your Velaris will continue for ages, " Asmodai's words seem to pierce Cassandra's heart. She already has prepared for this. " Cassandra, Queen of Velaris, one true ringmaster, you came here to be slaughtered to death!"  Asmodai's devilish laugh echoed as if vibrating to every corner of the fort.