Prologue: Michel Desjardins
Helena stood before the dais, where the pharaoh’s throne sat, gleaming golden and exuding a powerful aura. The man sitting on the steps was so old that she thought he would crumble to ashes.
“I am Chief Lector Iskandar, steward of the pharaoh of Egypt. This is the First Nome of the House of Life, where young magicians are trained to utilise their powers,” he explained. “Are all these gods real?” Helena had asked in a fit of curiosity.
Iskandar chuckled. “Yes, they are, my dear,” he replied. “However, communication with them and hosting them is strictly forbidden. The penalty for doing that is death.”
Death. Helena hated that word. It reminded her of the fate that had befallen her parents, that which had led her here. She remembered her mother’s dying breath, and her words, “Go! Go to the First Nome in Cairo! The Chief Lector will…” With that, she had passed, and her words were lost to the wind. Iskandar would have gone on about that, too, if not for him.
“Stop! Can’t you see you’re scaring her?” A voice echoed from behind the throne. A young boy of about age ten (three years older than she was) stepped out from behind the throne. He walked to Iskandar’s side and sat down.
He had piercing onyx eyes that seemed way too discerning for his age. His salt and pepper hair waved in the slight breeze as his cream coloured robes rippled with his movements.
“You do have a point there, Michel,” Iskandar nodded approvingly. “This topic is too morbid.”
“Who are you?” The boy named Michel turned to her, meeting her stormy grey eyes. “I-I am Helena C-Calliope Solace,” she stammered under his gaze. He seemed satisfied with the answer, as he also introduced himself, “Michel Desjardins. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Little did she know, this boy would change her future. By the looks of it, he didn’t know as well.
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Eight years later, Helena Solace and Michel Desjardins were inseparable. They were rarely seen without each other, and their bond was close-knit, closer and tighter than any other seen in the Nome.
Oh, and they also liked climbing rooftops.
“Come on, Michel!” Helena called. “I want to see these stars!”
“Wait up!” he huffed. “You’re too fast!”
“That’s not it!” she laughed in return. “You’re just too slow!”
“That’s it!” Michel cried, scrambling to the top. “You asked for this!”
He reached out his hands and his fingers came into contact with her sides, tickling.
“Ha, ha, ha… s-stop, Michel, st-stop!” Tears leaked out of her eyes, and only then did he cease his infernal tickling. She sat up straight, pointing into the distance. “Look at them, Michel!” Helena exclaimed. “They’re beautiful!”
“What?”
“You can see Orion, and then Ursa Major and Ursa Minor! Aren’t they amazing?” Helena turned to face him, only to find that his onyx eyes were looking right at her.
“The stars are beautiful,” Michel admitted, “but they cannot compare to you who sits before me. Your beauty is paramount to that of anything in the universe.”
“W-what?” Only then did Michel seem to realize his mistake. “Oh! I didn’t mean to… I mean, you’re beautiful, but… not that I meant to say it aloud… I mean-”
“Shut up, Michel.” Helena murmured as she leaned towards him and sealed their lips, effectively cutting off his rambling. He reciprocated the heck out of that kiss, and they parted when the need for oxygen became too pressing to ignore.
“Wow,” he drew in a deep breath. “That was intense.”
“Definitely,” Helena agreed. “Do it again.”
Do it again he did.
-------
Years had flown by, and Michel Desjardins was feeling extremely nervous. He fingered the box in his robes, his heart fluttering as she came into view.
“Michel!” Helena bounded towards him, her raven hair flying behind her. “Hey, owl,” he murmured, pressing his lips into her hair. “Where shall we go today? I believe we’ve finished training with the other initiates!”
“I know,” he answered, making for the rooftop. “Shall we see the stars, love?”
-------
They were sitting on the rooftop, his arm around her smaller frame as she pointed out the stars.
“That is Canis Major and Canis Minor, is it?”
“Very close!” Helena promised. “Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, Michel. But very excellent. I see you’ve improved since I last questioned you!”
He laughed nervously, and Helena could hear it in his voice. Her piercing grey eyes stared deep into his black ones. “Everything okay?” She asked, concern flashing in her irises.
“I just…” Suddenly, his memorised script was wiped blank, and he forgot what to say. Screw it, he thought, and he pulled out the velvet box.
“Helena. Over the years, your companionship has become very valuable and indispensable to me. You can never imagine how happy I was when you told me that my feelings for you were reciprocated. I now come to the realization that I cannot live a day without you, and that we should never spend a day apart. Will you, Helena Calliope Solace, do me the honour of marrying me?”
Her eyes shone with tears. By the time Michel had finished his speech, she said, without a moment’s hesitation, “Yes! Gods of Egypt, yes!”
He swept her into his arms, and they embraced each other fiercely.
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