The Signet Ring

Dawn of Darkness

" Cassidy!"    Jhira keeps calling her daughter's name as she walks turning her head around the square nervously. It's the late Queen's death anniversary so the people in the entire land are asked to gather for a commemoration at the center square, where Cassandra's statue is.

"Where is that kid goes? "     she exhaustedly said to herself and stops for a while.

A white hair seven years old girl standing in front of Cassandra's statue catches Neji's attention. Amidst the crowd who gathered in that place today, this girl stands out to his sight. Watching her he feels  a tickle in his heart.

What is this feeling?   He asks himself as he watches the girl from afar.

Why is that kid's stare at the Queen's statue giving me goosebumps? Who is she? He thinks. To satisfy his curiosity Neji walks towards the girl.

But as when he's near, a voice calling the girl made him stop.

" Cassidy!, there you are",     Neji sees a woman, base on her clothing, a simple blue & white cloth with no embellishment, she's an ordinary member of the light water tribe.

" Let's go home",     Neji hears the woman said.

He could not describe his feeling as he watches the girl walking out slowly from the statue.

" Amita!",     he whispers in some kind of nostalgia. Why he suddenly remembers her?

" What is it dear?",    Neji hears the woman''s voice as she talks to the girl.  To his surprise he sees that the girl suddenly stops walking. It's like she's looking for something. Seeing the girl's gestures Neji stops following them and hides in the crowd.

" Amma ( mom) I feel some presence watching us!",    Neji hears the girl said.  His eyes widen and he cover his face with his hand. How can she have a strong sense? He thinks.

He peeps again but then he notice that the girl is glancing sidelong to where he is. He quickly turn around and blend in more in the crowd. 

" Come let's go",   Neji hears the mom once more. What a relief. He sighs.

" You see, we should have attended this event with your father, you give me a scare I thought you were lost!",    he hears the girl's mom rants, as they continue to walk away.

They're going home now for sure. I will search for that girl! He thinks.

" Your Highness!, there you are! You're about to give a speech. I have been looking for you all over the place",     the chamberlain breathlessly told Neji in a hurry. And so they rush towards the manor house where he is expected to show himself as King and ringmaster at the extending white balcony.

" Amma can we wait for the ringmaster's speech? I'd like to hear him",   Cassidy pleads to her mom.

" When did you become concerned about that thing? It doesn't suit your age?",   Jhira wonders sometimes about her daughter's actions.

" Please!",    she could see the eagerness in Cassidy's face.

She sighs.    "  Okay, but let's go home after that?"

And they walk back again to where the crowd is.

An old white manor house of powdered stones, of round pillars and pointed roofs, lies near the late Queen's statue. It intended to be built in that place, so whenever there is a ceremony concerning the late Queen's memory, it will just be easy to address the people.                                                                                      Now, Neji stands there on the balcony with the Kings of the Tribes.

From afar, Cassidy could see a picture of a man in dignity and splendor. Looking straight to the King from afar. She could see that he is no longer the young and frail Neji, who's afraid to assume responsibility. When you were young you're even afraid to touch a small flame fire. She thinks. Now, you're standing there confidently.                                                                                                                                                        

Pieces of memories flashed on her mind.

" Get that!" Cassandra orders Neji to get the sword at the center of fire coal, although there is not much fire in but, for sure the coals are hot.

" I can't Amita!", there's a c***k in Neji's voice. The kid is about to cry, which makes Cassandra loses her patience.

" Look!, if you can't get that sword there!" pointing to the ringmaster's sword. " How can you even embrace the fire phoenix?", Cassandra sighs.

" Salutation to the Ringmaster King Neji, a descent of the Royal Tribe"    the voice of the host draws back Cassidy's mind to the present time. The host now asks the people to give Neji a clap before he starts his speech. This is what he's waiting for, yet she could not react here differently. She's in the body of a seven years old kid. She should act like one.

" Velarians!",     Neji started his speech. Cassidy looks at his brazenness, his splendid outfit, and her eyes landed at the ring on his finger.

" He's now wearing it",    she whispers.

" Our land has now entered into a new era. You might be surprised that old traditions are no longer practice. I will lead Velaris far different from the late ringmaster. I need to because I want a new Velaris, a kind of land that is prepared for the future and adaptable to the changing of time."                                       Neji's voice soars into the air, addressing the attentive crowd.

Cassidy's eyes narrowed as she looks at him on that balcony.

" Velarians!",   Neji continues his speech.

" This is the last time we will be commemorating the late ringmaster's death!",   he said.                                  Cassidy could hear the chorus gasp of the crowd.

All are surprised of they just hear.

" Does he wants us to forget the Queen?",    she could hear the crowd murmuring.

Neji raises his hand signaling them to listen.

Then silence. And he continues to speak.

" I no longer want to remember the horror and sadness that goes along with her death. I no longer want Velaris to feel that day where we were left like orphans!",      this time his voice is more authoritarian.

" Her monument",      pointing to Cassandra's statue.

" Her monument is enough to honor her memory!"      he heard him said.

Cassidy looks up to her mom beside her and holds her hand.

" Amma, I want to go home",    she said.

" Aren't you finishing this one?",    his mom refers to the speech.

" Why that sad face huh?",    she caresses her face.

" I'm just hungry",     she answered.

" Okay, let's go home"     her mom smiles.

Before leaving the place, Cassidy glances again at the ring on Neji's finger.                                                      It's not yet time to summon the ring. She thinks.

Neji savors the warmth of the people's applause. The smiles on their faces reflect their acceptance of him. He remembers the days how Cassandra scolds him during his training period. The days of hardships for him and hesitations and confusions.

Look at me now Amita. I will create my own story. A story that is greater than yours. He thinks. He's almost teary-eyed looking at the people as once again, that look in her Amita's eyes flashes back to his mind.  That look of neither joy nor sadness. Until now I wonder why do you have to look at me that way? You should just look at me with happy eyes. He said in his mind.

Neji turns his eyes to the kid on his side and smile. A yellow-haired boy in a fancy royal suite smiles back at him.

" Akem ( dad) ", the boy calls to him, waving his hand in delight.

I will righteously raise an empire for you my son. Neji thinks while looking at Ashane.

Neji remembers how he even tricked his brother Aurelius just to get to where he is now. No, the ring is not enough. He thinks.

These people in front of him now, who are glorifying his name believe that the ring had chosen him because it was what Cassandra revealed. Yet, he doesn't believe it in himself, for him, it was just Cassandra, her Amita who acknowledged him as ringmaster, but never the ring.

It's just right that you sacrifice your brother, you need to establish an impression in the Kingdoms. You need to appear powerful even without wearing the ring. He said to himself.

Memories before his formal succession flooded back to his mind.

" I want you to spy on my brother Aurelius", the soldier in a rustic medieval suit was surprised by what he heard.

" Your Highness, with due respect, if I may ask ? Do you have something against your brother?",   he dares to ask. Neji laughs.

" No, I just want to be sure, he's leading the land according to the virtues we practice" he answered

" Tell me if you find anything, and keep this as a secret",   Neji said as he hands out to him a pouch of gold.

Days pass, he received information about his brother's secret love affair with the court lady. There's so much to lose, for both of them are in a noble office. Even though he's not the ringmaster, it is forbidden in the land for a King or any Valerian noble or not , to have many wives or concubines. Before his bother confesses to him, he already knows his secret. Although Neji assured  his brother that he'll keep his secret yet in reality,  he really doesn't have the intention to do so. Instead, he sends a message to the Kings of the tribes and the entire council of the land and proposes a trial for his brother.

Greetings Tribe Kings,

Although I have not yet decided to embrace the ring, it has sent me a vision of the present. Our King Aurelius had tremendously disrespected our law. The King is having an affair.

That was his letter to the tribes.

Neji could remember the shock in the King's faces and the admiration towards him.

" How can you have such ability without yet that ring in your hand? That thing really had chosen you!" they all said in amazement.

Even his brother Aurelius believed that Neji caught him in the garden that day because of his gift of foresight, a gift that naturally comes out once one is chosen as ringmaster. But he could not accept that his dear brother will testify against him in the council trial.

Neji could not help but smirks as he remembers his brother.

My brother has gone into exile, and his family has left the land in shame. My Amita , Queen Cassandra is dead, her twins are not a threat to us. I and my descent are now dominant in our tribe and soon in the entire land.

Neji closes his eyes to savor the warmth these voices of the people brings.

They are praising my name. Who would have thought that this moment would come? He thinks.