#idium

As he made his way to the castle, he bumped into Idium. He chuckled and raised a brow at his mentor. “Going my way?” Firis asked with a cheeky grin.

“Good morning to you too Firis,“ Idium said and laughed softly. “But to answer your question, yes. I...would like to speak with Queen Crystalia one more time before the five of us gather and then head on our separate journeys,” he said. 

“Ah, delightful, our reasons are similar then!“ Firis noted. “For me it is the dear master of ceremonies, Mazella, I wish to see and speak with,“ he explained and placed his hands behind his back. “I will understand if she can not spare the time, but...I can hope, no?“

“We can both hope Firis, for who is to say Queen Crystalia can spare a moment or two for me as well,” Idium mused. Firis chuckled once more, he could see the shy hopefulness hiding in his mentor’s eyes. It was nice to see him to be a little uncertain for once. In a weird way of course. 

They made their way to the grand hall and, to Firis’s initial delight, Mazella was indeed at her little table like she mentioned she might be. However, once they got closer to her, and Firis noticed how she looked he softly frowned. He quickly closed the gap to the table and leaned over the table to get close to her face. His frown grew as he gently took her face in his hands. “You look absolutely drained! Did you even sleep last night my dear master of ceremonies?”

Mazella was a bit started by the mage’s sudden appearance in her face, she had been more “focused” on her cards, and him gently taking her face in his hands. Which were softer than she expected them to be, she wasn’t sure why she did not notice that last night but, that wasn’t the point right now. “Please don’t frown,” she found herself saying first, surprising herself a little. “I do what is needed of me, Firis. It’s okay, I’ll be fine. I’ve bounced back from worse,” she said.

Firis’s frown did not leave and even Idium seemed a bit skeptical. Firis, however, had the advantage of knowing more from the things Mazella had shared with him the previous night. “Before I speak with you further Mazella, where can Idium find Queen Crystalia?”

“She is...actually, give me a moment,“ Mazella said and then took Firis’s hands off of her face so she could grab her cards. She pulled out one of them and enchanted it. With in a few moments she could see her queen’s face. “High Queen Crystalia? One of our guests from last night, the mage Idium, wishes to see you.“

No sooner than Mazella had finished speaking, the queen disappeared from her sight, and was soon reappearing in the entrance hall with them in a flurry of snowflakes. Idium could not help but bow in her presence. Firis also took a moment to bow as well before he focused back on Mazella. “Idium...” the queen said softly. Her nephew’s words, were starting to play through her mind again. Although she was sober now and could think with a clearer mind, it just meant she could not deny the connection she had felt between herself and Idium last night. She then held out her hand to him. “Let us...talk in the gardens,” she said. Idium stood straight and took her hand.

“After you, Queen Crystalia,” he said softly in return. Mazella watched them leave, and though she cleared the image in the card, she kept it activated. Although she doubted Idium would cause trouble, she wanted to be alerted just in case. However, the ‘gatekeeper’ of the grand castle was startled once more as Firis’s hands returned to gently cup her face. When she focused on him once more his frown was still present.

“Your devotion is admirable, and I know you say it is in your nature,“ he began quietly. “But it would be such a shame if you burn out your light because of it, or become a falling star to make someone else’s wish come true. Mazella, forgive me for saying this, but the thought of that happening to you just makes me sad and upset.”

Mazella glanced to the side and made a non-committal sound. “We just met last night. You should not be worrying about me. I told you, I-”

“But you were the highlight of my night, my dear master of ceremonies!“ he interrupted in protest. “If us just meeting was indeed so trivial...then why did you share with me what you did, hm? Why were you comfortable sharing things you would not want others to know you said?“ he asked. “Why can’t I care already? Am I really just another guest among hundreds across so many events? Or are you not used to a guest actually wanting your time instead of one of the queens? Tell me honestly Mazella.“

She stayed silent for the moment, a little stunned by his words. She wasn’t sure what to say at the moment. After another moment or two she heard Firis sigh as he took his hands away. She glanced at him to see he had taken a thinking pose instead and was looking more at the ground than at her. “Firis...”

“No...it’s okay. I am a simple mage doing my own thing, while you are here doing important work. I should not have asked those questions, or indirectly accuse you of being...” he trailed off and shook his head as he let his arms hang back at his sides. “Your time and your duties are valuable, and important, and I should not be infringing on them,“ he ended up saying. “Again forgive me, master Mazella. May the rest of your day find you better than right now,“ he added and turned to leave. 

Something about the situation, about the things he just said suddenly gave her a sense of dread. As he started to walk away it hit her. It was reminding her of the night Lula had left the castle before her grand ball to ‘take care of something’. How she felt her concerns and trust were being pushed aside and had begun to question her queen, but then stopped herself. Her mind then thought of everything that happened afterwards, and understood why she was now feeling this dread. 

But in this situation Firis was in her place in a way, and she was being similar Queen Lula. There were crossovers, but in the end she started to fear that something bad was going to happen to him if they parted ways on this...sour note. She stood and leaned over her little table to catch his arm. “Firis wait. I should...apologize. I should not take for granted that you care even though we just met. I...rather people not worry about me regardless if there is valid reason to do so. The queens are the most important ones and I see myself as beneath them. That I should not matter as much as them as they are the hopes of the kingdom. I just do what I can to ensure their safety and that any event they throw goes well and to their expectations. I...I don’t expect anyone to see me as anything more than just another person with their duties to fulfill here in the castle,” she explained. 

Firis turned to look at her with a slightly saddened expression. Why did she value herself so little? Could she not see the bright light she had? Does it look dim to her or was she dimming it on purpose? He was confused. He then walked around the table so she did not have to lean over it. “Between last night and today...you make it sound like you should not matter at all as a person, and I just can’t agree to that. Mazella the person should matter just as much as Mazella the master of ceremonies, or Mazella the...gatekeeper/protector. You may not be a queen but that doesn’t mean people can’t care about you too,” he said and placed his free hand on her cheek. “It should not mean you run yourself into nothingness, and I don’t think the queens would want that either. I don’t want that to happen.”

“If I, as a person, could not make any more mistakes...maybe I‘d be more accepting of that,” she said a bit sadly. “I am trying to learn from my mistakes but...I wonder if I really am,“ she said softly. She knew her training with Alvara was making some progress, but was it really good enough? Was it fast enough? Why was she starting to feel like a disappointment? Mazella sighed in slight frustration.

Firis leaned in to kiss her cheek and then nuzzled it a moment before leaning back. Mazella looked at him a bit wide eyed, but he looked like what he just did was an absolutely normal thing to do. “Do not let the knowledge of your mistakes hold you down. They are making you doubt yourself. You deserve to shine like you are meant to and do not give up on bettering yourself. Do not overdo it and I believe you will be fine,” he said gently. “It may not mean much coming from me but I care and believe that you can find your balance,” he added and smiled warmly at her.

Mazella let go of his arm and shortly after he took his hand off her cheek and stepped back. “You are...certainly different,” she said a bit speechlessly. He lightly chuckled and adjusted his monocle. She placed her hand on the cheek he kissed.

“I am me, Mazella. Nothing more, nothing less,“ he said and winked. “And I am certain I have taken up too much of your time now. I want to write to you from time to time while I’m on my travels. Is that...permissible?“

“I should start paying attention again, that is true, but...thank you. Just...thank you. And...please do write...it would be nice to have something so simple to...look forward to.“

While this was happening with Mazella and Firis, Queen Crystalia and Idium were having their own conversation.

The queen had led Idium to one of her favorite parts of the vast gardens. Perhaps it was in part because this section had some of the flowers native to the North that her father had planted here long ago. They always seemed to look pretty with a light dusting of snow too. There was a bench by a small frozen fountain that she led him to and sat down gracefully. She then patted the space next to her and waited for him to join her before she spoke. 

“Idium…I...forgive me for seeming indelicate and forward right now but...am I alone in feeling a connection between us?“

Idium blinked at the question. He was not expecting this, or as she said, her forwardness in asking. However, he also could not deny that he was happy that she asked. “No, you are not alone in that feeling Queen Crystalia. If I am honest, I was hoping that I was not wrong in that feeling. However, at the same time I also thought I was being foolish. You are one of the High Queens of the Light Kingdom, after all. I am not a noble or anything of high standing so I felt I should not be expecting much except a kind and gracious welcome and small talk,“ he said as he interlaced his hands in his lap. “But the conversations we had and the time we spent in each other company at the ball, did feel more than that to me. Of course, part of me was also trying to rationalize it as just my previous idolization of you making me feel that way.”

“Status does not matter that much to me, although there are those who feel it should matter to me,“ Crystalia said. “However, it did not matter to my father. If it did...I would not be here today. My mother was a simple woman blessed with healing magic, a kind and compassionate heart, and a wise mind. Sure, there were those that were disappointed with his choice of her, but he cared not for she was what his heart wanted. Their love was true,“ she said and then sighed softly. “How I miss them...“

“I am sorry, I did not mean to bring up bittersweet memories,“ Idium said and looked down. Crystalia shook her head and make him look at her again.

“Do not apologize. I will never shy away from talking about how my parents loved each other. A love like theirs was something I looked up to, that I had hoped one day I would experience for myself. Some would say it was foolish of me to hold onto that hope. Some even now would still say that, citing that I am the only of the High Queens to still be unmarried,“ she said and turned her gaze to the flowers. 

Idium followed her gaze to the flowers as he thought over the things she was saying. He was similar to her. He too once believed in finding a true love to call his own. Despite being what he was, and how some viewed his kind...he had still had those hopes in his younger years...

“I thought I had found it once-“ they both started to say in unison but stopped and looked at each other. They both waited a moment to see if the other would continue. “They were not what they seemed at first.“ they ended up finishing in unison. They blinked and looked away from each other and at the flowers again.

“Seff and his brothers were the first to see it, however. The first to know more, to hear more of his true nature,“ Crystalia began to explain and sighed. “I...almost fought them over it, figuratively. I was blind to the true nature of that man, but...in the end I saw a hint of it myself and trusted their judgement. I...never tried looking for love again after that...“ she finished and then trailed off. Although she could have mentioned an occasion before that, she would never bring up her silly and brief teenaged crush of Seff. She could tell early enough, so she could squash it down, that she wasn’t exactly his type. Though on occasion back then she still wondered what it would be like, but she figured that she probably would end up unintentionally annoying him to the point they’d be ex’s instead.

“She...seemed so interested in me, and what I was trying to do. Liked to watch me work and ask questions to figure out why I would do certain things. She would sometimes bring me books she thought would be helpful. It was so...kind and cute...“ he trailed off and covered his left, and lighter colored, eye for a moment. He then lowered his hand and sighed before he continued speaking. “I was blind to her true reasons of interest in me until it was too late. If I had realized she was only looking to use my talents for her own gains sooner...well...the naive mistakes of a younger man I suppose. I had my own hopes diminished after that.“

Idium then summoned a couple crystals to float in the air in front of him. Two blue ones, a purple one, a yellow one, a pink one and a clear one. With a little concentration, and a light snap of his fingers, they glowed for a moment before they started to transform. After a minute or so they came together to form a little bouquet of crystalline flowers in front of the queen. 

Crystalia tentatively reached out to take them. They were lighter than she thought they would be. Although, she wasn’t sure why she thought they would be heavier. She brought them to her chest and looked at Idium. He looked at her and there was something unspoken between them. She blushed slightly and looked down at the flowers again. “I know you are set to travel once more after we are done talking but...please do not let too much time pass before you come this way again. I also implore you to be careful, and be safe on your journey,” she said softly. 

Of course, the only catch was his friend did not know that she was actually his aunt. Octavian heard his aunt chuckle mentally and let him know where he and his friend could find her. “Hey, Idium follow me,” he said to his mage friend.

“What do you have in store for me now my friend,“ Idium asked with a brow raised. Octavian laughed and shook his head. 

“Not telling. You have to wait and see,” he said and began to weave through the people. Idium chuckled a little but followed him anyway.  The two excused themselves as the moved, trying not to bump into the other guest or disrupt their conversations. Soon however, they found a break in the crowd and could see the icy high queen staring off to a different part of the room, watching people, with a half glass of wine held carefully in her hand. Her eyes were lightly shimmering, but the meaning of that was lost to Octavian. “High Queen Crystalia...” Octavian began and bowed slightly. 

A light laugh came from her as she turned towards them. “Dear nephew, it is wonderful to see you, but how many times must I tell you that it is fine not to be so formal with me,” she said, managing not to give her nephew a mischievous grin. Octavian went wide eyed and blushed slightly as Idium briefly raised a brow. 

“A-auntie, please...“ Octavian stuttered slightly and glanced away while scratching his cheek. He had not expected her to reveal their connection anyway. He had to give her some credit for that, but not right now. “Not...not so loud. Anyway...I would like you to meet my friend Idium. He has wanted to meet you for some time now, and I figured this was a perfect chance for that.”

Idium bowed immediately as the Vosmus Queen looked his way. Nevermind the fact that Octavian had just put him on the spot, he was actually being introduced to the woman, nay the queen, he had wanted to meet the most. “It is my utmost honor to meet you, your majesty. Mere words do not do your grace, or presence enough justice.”

Queen Crystalia chuckled softly. “It Is pleasant to meet you Idium, I already know that you must be an interesting person if you are friends with my nephew,” she said softly. “And unless I am wrong in my guess, you are a mage, correct?”

Idium stood straight again and then nodded. “Yes, your majesty. It is true that I am a mage. I know that those like me are not...” he trailed off as she held up her free hand. 

“Let us not concern ourselves with that aspect of our society right now, hm? As long as you do not give me reason to be suspicious, I will not think ill of you,“ she said with a gentle smile. She took one last sip of her wine before handing the glass to Octavian. “Octo, dear, would you do me a favor and properly dispose of that please?“ she asked. Octavian looked at his aunt and then nodded before leaving the two of them alone. He could not help but grin to himself and hope for the best now. 

“Your majesty, I am glad that you will let my actions and words judge me rather than what I am,“ Idium said warmly once Octavian was gone. He was trying his best to keep his composure and not be left in awed speechlessness. Though it became harder when she reach out her hand to him.

“Please, use my name. Queen Crystalia is fine if you wish to retain formality. Not everyone says ‘High Queen‘ anyway,” she said first. “Also, would you like to join me in a dance? Normally I would ask one of my nephews to cure that desire for me, but I want to learn more about you as well.“

Idium took her hand and lightly kissed it first. “It would be my pleasure to dance with you Queen Crystalia. And I am humbled that you truly wish to get to know me,” he said and began to lead her in a dance where they were instead of trying to find space in the designated area for it.

--

It was a bit nostalgic after all for Lula, the former Spade Queen. Visiting the castle for the grand Winter Ball, it really was an event she had looked forward to every year. Sometimes getting to help Queen Crystalia with some of the decorating. And as much as she was enjoying her new life with her dear husband Silva and their newborn son Auberon, she did miss all of the people here. Maybe except for King Marcel. Maybe.

Everything here seemed to be wonderful and on point as usual. And there were things she just knew was Mazella’s handiwork. She laughed quietly to herself as her son cooed happily in her arms, there were a lot of things she had treasured that she did not make fully known to them while she had been here. 

But first...of course she spotted High King Marcel and High Queen Darcia first. She carefully shifted her son so she could point that way. “Let’s say hello and take care of a ‘little matter’ first,” she said to her husband. Lula then cradled her son again as she could not help but march up to the royal pair. She stopped in front of them and stared  somewhat intently at king Marcel. “Since a certain someone was cruel, you are only getting to meet him now Queen Darcia,” she said, not bothering to hide that she was miffed at the king, and turned towards the Richter Queen. Lula’s expression softened at her as she presented her son to her. “This is our little angel, Auberon Ursaris Reinhardt,” she introduced. He gave the older queen one of his precious smiles followed by a happy sound. “Silva and I would like your blessing for our child,” Lula said and then glanced at King Marcel again. “His too...I suppose...”

“Cruel?“ the high king questioned with a brow raised. 

“You could have came with her you know. Like King Seff did with Queen Iona,“ she shot back with out raising her voice as she handed her son over to her husband so she could fully face the Richter king and point a finger at him. “I appreciated Gisela’s presence and help, don’t get me wrong but...I wanted queen Darcia there,” she said softly as she crossed her arms and then looked away. “And maybe, just maybe, you too if you weren’t so dense and overprotective and stupid...” she added more in a murmur. 

--

It was an odd moment. Mazella had been making her rounds but stopped when she reached a group of people seemingly staring and gossiping about...’some weirdo’? She pushed her way through, somewhat politely, to see what was really going on. Her eyes fell upon the male who was dancing by himself in his dress. He seemed to be minding his own business and having a fun time. Nothing to for her to be too concerned about. If anything it was his ‘audience’ she needed to keep an eye on so they wouldn’t start do more than just gossiping among themselves. 

However, Firis had done a little spin and noticed there was someone knew watching him now. Her presence made him pause in his dancing and stare at her a moment. He just adored the winter themed suit she was wearing and how nicely it fit on her. Then he remembered that she was the master of ceremonies. When their eyes truly met, he could not help but smile wide. He had caught her attention! How delightful! Maybe, just maybe, she could spare him a few minutes?

He walked over to her and curtsied before adopting a thinking pose. “Would it be possible for the dear master of ceremonies to spare some time for a dance?” he asked. 

Mazella blinked, caught off guard by his approach and question. “Well...I-I suppose things are going smoothly enough that I could spare some time,” she began and rubbed the back of her neck. “But...I’m sorry...”

“Firis,“ he supplied.

“Firis, I...I’m not much of a dancer,” she finished. “Someone was trying to teach me once but, I’m a klutz when it comes to that,” she added with a bit of a nervous laugh.

“Mazella, right?“ he asked with a tilt of his head and she nodded. “Delightful~ It is quite alright if you are a...’klutz‘ as you say. I could help you! And even if I can’t, it is fun! Even the master of ceremonies should have some fun!” he said and chuckled. “So~ How about reconsidering?“ he asked and held out his hand to her.

“Well...I guess when you put it like that...“ she said with a short laugh and took his hand. The others would want her to have some fun as well. Especially with as hard as she had been training, and all her responsibilities leading up to the ball, among other things. “And I suppose it is hard to say no to someone so curious and beautifully dressed.“

“But Idium,“ they began to protest, “You are a leader-“

“Of a rag-tag group of curious mages who keep the knowledge of making golems and constructs alive, yes,“ the young looking man, named Idium, interrupted as he placed a finger on his friend’s lips to stop them. “However, those younglings I herded have decided they wanted to travel the world for awhile to see what they can learn from other places or what more they can discover in regards to what we do. So is it really fair to say I am a leader right now? Hm?“ Once more Idium chuckled as a slight glint in his left eye seemed to appear. Or maybe it was a trick of the light. His left eye was already a lighter shade of purple than the right for a reason he keeps to himself. 

His companion sighed and moved his finger away from their lips. “Even so that just makes this a perfect opportunity to come with me an enjoy yourself for awhile. Maybe even do a little networking? And, correct me if I’m wrong, but haven't you mentioned in passing before that you had always wanted to meet High Queen Crystalia?”

“Ah, the foolish daydreams of a younger man those were,“ Idium said with a slight laugh. “To circle back to my first point dear friend, I am no noble, no royal, no one with a recognized standing or sphere of influence. Even if I were to go with you, she would not give me a meaningful glance.“

“But you would get to see her,“ his friend contested. “Did you not once say that anything was possible with a little imagination and a bit of magic?”

“Perhaps those words once left these lips. However, there is also the question that if you could, does that mean you should? The answer is not always yes my friend,“ Idium responded and lightly crossed his arms. “I do appreciate you thinking of me, but I don’t think I should be chasing old daydreams, even with as innocent as they were. I’ll leave that to the younger ones.”

His companion sighed and placed hand on their hip. They did not want to resort to this, but it was something they knew he would have a hard time resisting. “Idium, listen. Come with me, I promise it will be worth your while. I’ll owe you a favor, and I’ll even let you pick a couple of the magic crystals I have for you to keep,” they said. 

Idium uncrossed his arms and let them fall back to his sides and looked at his friend with a brow raised. He thought it over for a minute or so before sighing and shrugging. Only slightly putting on a show of ‘defeat’. “Alright. I do not know why this is so important to you, but I’ll go, Octavian. Maybe I won’t have to say I told you so later.”

Octavian only grinned and handed Idium a copy of the invitation with all the details he would need to know on it. The noble then watched as Idium read over it and tuck it into one of his pockets. “I’ll send message to you when it gets closer so we can met up and head towards the grand castle together.”

“I suppose I should start looking forward to it, hm?“ Idium asked. Octavian nodded and waved before turning to leave. Idium slowly shook his head when his friend’s back was turned and sighed quietly to himself. “You are certainly eccentric my dear friend, arent you? But that is part of why we get along...“ Idium murmured to himself before chuckling and heading on his own way.

---

There is more to explain as I piece them together, but this is the introduction of Idium Ofea. At least as far as Royal au is concerned. A mage who is much older than he looks, and mainly is a gentleman. Although, at times, he can seem like more of an exasperated father when it come to the small group of younger mages he’s the ‘unofficial’ leader of. He is of the believe that magic is inherently  neutral. That it is those who wield it that shape it to be good or evil, or can cause mass harm/damage/etc when there is lack of respect or understanding of the magic being used or channeled.