Libran Knight

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Rho has a warm & sweet scent, reminiscent of a summery day: a blend of amber & vanilla & sea cherries…

Mathias has a cool & subtle scent, reminiscent of the Cancrian Sea: water lotus & sea salt & apples…

Hysan has a woodsy & headrushy scent, reminiscent of reaching a precipice in a hike: cedar & mint & thyme…

A Christmas-in-July tale inspired by @rominagarber’s Zodiac, for my fellow Zodiac fanfic readers/writers @fandomsonthemoon and @shitmanimkindahot.​ Takes place at Nishi’s home on Sagittarius. I apologize in advance for spelling errors. I “read” the books via Audible so I don’t know some of the proper spellings. I’ll admit I was a little rushed putting this together, but I hope you enjoy anyway! “Thank you!”

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“I’m sorry I wasn’t more prepared.” Nishi said looking around the decked halls. “Sagittarians are normally so scattered during the holidays we don’t bother with these homey traditions.”

“So what do you do, then?” Rubi asked. She was hanging over the edge of a box full of decorations as tall as herself, feet in the air, digging for mistletoe. Hysan had imported copious amounts of lights, bright ornaments, and other decorations from Libra. Rubi had shipped over a bright blue tree from the forest of Argyr to place in the center of the home. She had worked hard in making sure it was covered in tinsel and baubles on all sides for a three-hundred-and-sixty degree adventure. To Rubi’s delight, Hysan had engineered a revolving plate to hold the tree and turn it.

“Families who are home sometimes set up scavenger hunts around their neighborhood so you have to go find your gift. Finding it is just as much fun as getting it usually. One year, when we were apart, we all decided to collect ornaments from every planet and moon we visited to bring back… but they never usually make it onto any trees.” Nishi gestured to the box by her feet. There was only the faintest hint of loneliness in her voice as she recited the memory. In truth, she didn’t really know what she was missing until she went home with Rho one year during their academy break. Her own feelings of longing to have her family nearby was replaced with concern for Rho. All of the things tying Rho’s memories of Christmases at home were unreachable, and maybe even destroyed now.

Rubi seemed to sense the train of Nishi’s thoughts, and with a wise look in her eyes so contrary to her childish face said “Home is where you make it. This year, we’re making home here, and new memories in it. Now… where is Rho?” She asked, her eyes turning from aged wisdom to childish mischief.

Rho was in the kitchen with Mathias, fumbling her way through baking, by memory, some traditional Cancrian goodies. Mathias had hunted for a couple of days to find everything she needed to make kelp cookies, coconut pies, and sugared seaberries. Rho groaned as she pulled a too-dark batch of kelp cookies from the massive kitchen’s oven.

“My dad is the one that usually did all the baking while my brother and I helped mom put the house together.” She said sheepishly to Mathias. “I don’t have enough kelp and clam powder to keep messing these up.” Exasperated, she dumped the blackened cookies into the compactor.

“Even the best of cooks make those kinds of mistakes, Rho. You’re doing fine.” Mathias said, comforting her. Rho looked into the compactor, back to Mathias and raised an eyebrow.

“The full compactor begs to differ.”She said dryly. At the end of the night, she would end up with two good coconut pies, one kelp cookie for the each of them, and a pile of sugared seaberries so high they’d be eating them until New Galactic Year’s.

Hysan breezed into the kitchen. He had been working on a surprise in one of the house’s many rooms. In his light coveralls, a few tools in his pocket, and a Sagittarian smile on his face, he looked like he was up to no good.

“It’s all set up.” He said triumphantly, snagging a sugared seaberry from the cooling rack. Rho hastily placed the last possible batch of kelp cookies in the oven and set the timer.

“We should wait for Stanton.” Rho said. “He should have been here by now though.”

“Let’s see about helping Rubi and Nishi.” Hysan offered. He and Mathias turned to leave the room, meeting at the doorway.

Rubi screeched a laugh.   “Stop stop stop!!” She said through breathless giggles. Hysan and Mathias froze in place, looking at the Geminian, puzzled and alarmed. That was when Nishi noticed it as well, and fell into a fit of laughter alongside her. “I was hoping to catch Rho in my net somehow, but Helios gave me an even better gift!!” Ruby laughed. And laughed. And laughed.

Rho squeezed between Mathias and Hysan in the doorway to try to see what had caused the commotion, which only caused more screams of hilarity from Nishi and Rubi. Clutching her splitting sides, Nishi pointed up and laughed “Look!”

The three of them in the doorway looked up.

Mistletoe.

Hysan’s perfect mouth slid into a sideways grin. Mathias and Rho blushed redder than the holly berries strung by the fireplace.

“Well, Mathias?” Hysan said facetiously coy. Mathias glared but refused to budge and leave him in the doorway with Rho, who gave them both a crabby pinch making them both jump out of the doorway.

“Any word from Stanton?” Rho asked Nishi quickly, hurrying to put the comedy behind them. As if on cue, Stanton swung open the wreath-emblazoned door. A bag over his back, and a Saint Claus hat on his head.

“I come bearing olive branches and peaceful tidings!!” He announced. Everyone said their hellos and welcomes. Hysan, failing to conceal his pride, reminded everyone of the surprise that awaited them upstairs, and they trudged up the steps. He had cleared out a room and filled it with more of the trees Rubi had brought from Argyr- blues and greens and deep browns of all heights filled the room with the exception of a small clearing in the center, over which hung a foot wide ball.

“Close your eyes.” He said. All did. Rho could hear a faint whirring noise coming from the ball. Then, something cold hit her skin. And then another hit her hair. Her nose. Her fingers.

“Snow!” Nishi exclaimed. They all opened their eyes. Small, feathery puffs were floating down from the whirring ball on the ceiling, tipping the trees in white powder.

“Yep.” Hysan said proudly. “Taste them.”

Eyes wide, Rho and Nishi exchanged glances before looking up to the ceiling, and dropping their mouths open. A few cold flakes landed on their faces, but eventually a few landed, angel soft, on their tongues. They were gauzy. Cold. Vanilla.

“Are these Cold Cream Clouds?” Rubi bounced on her toes, mouth upwards and agape.

“Yep. There’s a miniature spinner inside the orb that whips out little whisps so you can eat them like real snow. Only a little tastier.”

“We never had snow on Cancer.” Stanton said astonished. “Too tropical of a climate. This is amazing.”

“Yep. If we can get it to be mass produced, everyone could create their own little snowglobe every Christmas no matter what planet they’re on.” Hysan said. Stanton quickly turned to Rho.

“Rho, I’d like to give you your gift now.” Stanton said. They left the group twirling in Cold Cream Clouds, Rubi  trying to form snowballs from the gauze on the floor.

Downstairs, Stanton pulled a small box out of his Saint Claus sack.

“Rho,” he began. “I know this first Christmas without home is a little weird. But I got an idea on Capricorn. I hope it makes you happy, and not sad. But I made one for me, and one for you.”

Stanton handed Rho the box, which was surprisingly heavy. From the box, she lifted a cool, heavy sphere.

“A snowglobe?” She ventured.

“Yes. I had it made special. Give it a shake.” She rolled her wrist, sending tiny snowflakes flurrying as an image appeared. She saw her father first. He was dumping Narclams out on the table for a butcher paper feast where they would shuck and eat without plates or silverware right there on the paper covered table. She saw Stanton placing dishes of melted butter at each of their place settings, sneaking a vegetable from the hot pile of Narclams. Her and her mom appeared by the table, Mom tying Rho’s already long waves back with white ribbon before tying her own locks back. She couldn’t have been older than five.

“Stanton, oh my gosh!” Rho said, not taking her eyes of the globe.

“Keep watching.” He said. He didn’t have to , she was transfixed.

They gathered around their round table, and held hands. Mom and Dad closed their eyes, and so did Stanton. Anxious, her younger self squirmed in her seat. Mom began to speak.

“We thank the Cancer sea for this meal that we gather around and providing for us the year past, and the year ahead.”

“We thank Cancer,” continued her father “for providing our house that we gather in, where we feel safe, and where our love builds us a home.” Rho’s tears began to well behind her eyes, blurring the edges of the image.

“We thank each other for the support we share, the lessons we teach, and the love we feel.” Stanton recited, sounding like it was from memory.

The room fell quiet a moment before Dad shook Rho’s hand.

“Your turn, Rhoma.” He encouraged.

“Ummmmm… thank you!” toddler Rho said. The table was surrounded by laughter. The snowglobe faded. Rho’s tears had escaped her eyes and were falling unchallenged down her cheeks. She didn’t know what to say. There was nothing she could say. No thank you, no I love you, that could accurately capture how grateful she was for the memory. Instead of speaking, she threw her arms around Stanton.

“It was the first Christmas you were able to sit at the table with us.” Stanton told her.

“And you made me finish our gathering prayer the same way every year after.” Rho laughed through her tears. Pulling away from their hug, she held the globe close to her heart. “It’s perfect, Stanton. I needed this piece of home so much and I didn’t even know it.”

“Home is always with you, Rho.” Stanton said. “But I hope this makes it easier to remember.”

A cold puff exploded against the back of Rho’s head. She whirled around to see Nishi on the balcony above, Cold Cream snowball in hand, smiling menacingly. Rubi bounded in behind, and another white puff ‘ploofed’ against Nishi’s back, distracting her for a minute. Hysan looked after them as he descended the stairs. As he passed the kitchen doorway, he paused, sniffed before saying “Rho…  how long did you put the cookies in for?”

Me: *slides up out of no where with Zodiac* Well honey I have here the best book you’ll ever read as well as the rest of the series

Friend: *looks at the thick paperbook copy I have in my hand* I just need a quick read.

Me: But but ….

Friend: *picks up some trashy 130 page romance novel* this’ll do.

(contains mild spoilers from WANDERING STAR & BLACK MOON)

Ophiuchus isn’t the real villain of the Zodiac series.

In the first book, though, he went around bullying and scaring everyone to thinking he was.

This was later revealed as part of the Master’s plans, but imagine Ophiuchus having to channel his inner dramatic self?

I really, really hope this one takes off like Black Moon Hopes and Zodiac Bad Romance did, because I’d love to get to know Tumblr’s Zodai. So I made up a little interview! Please copy, paste, and tag with “the zodai tag”. 1.     How did you hear about the books?

2.       What is your favorite moment from the series so far?

3.       Which house are you from?

4.       What do you like about your house?

5.       If you had to change houses, which house would you pick?

6.       Which system would you most like to visit?

7.       If you got to choose, which Zodiac technology would you most like to have?

8.       Which character would you want as a best friend?

9.       Which sign would you most like to date?

10.   Who do you hope Rho “ends up with?” (If anyone at all!)

11.   If you could record a Snowglobe, what would you put in it?

12.   If you had the chance to tell Rho anything, what would advice/encouragement would you give her?

BONUS QUESTION

Who’s my favorite character in the “Zodiac” series you ask? Hmmmmm. It’s a mystery…

Today–and every day–I’m grateful for YOU. Thank you so much for being the best part of ZODIAC.

The Houses of Helios have their own version of Thanksgiving: One of the few universal holidays they celebrate is ZOLSTICE, the anniversary of the day Earth’s survivors found a new home in the Zodiac Solar System.

On this day, the people of every House commemorate their ancestors’ plight by engaging in acts of gratitude. For example…

On Taurus and Libra, families spend hours cooking rich, elaborate dishes together, then they welcome less fortunate families to their homes for a majestic meal where they get to know each other. The Librans often become lifelong friends with their guests, while the Taurians tend to invite so many people over that tallying up who fed the most mouths at their ZOLSTICE dinner is practically a competitive sport.

On Capricorn and Virgo, the whole population spends the day taking care of the planet by picking up litter, pulling out weeds, planting new trees, caring for any animals that need help, and generally trying to make up for humanity’s footprint.

On Pisces, people prepare for the holiday by posting lists on their doors of pending tasks they can’t complete on their own, and neighbors swing by to sign up for whatever they can help with; on ZOLSTICE, each person follows their own unique schedule, going from one place to the next to help out. At midnight, everyone parties together, toasting with Seaberry liqueurs as they compare schedules to see who was the most helpful.

HAPPY ZOLSTICE, ZODAI!!!

@penguinteen

ARIES When warriors of House Aries die, their bodies are burned in the Everblaze (a fire that’s never gone out) so their souls can rise to Helios.

TAURUS Taurians use their Blotters to award Star-Stock to people + businesses in the Star-Stock Market, ensuring consumers have all the power.

GEMINI At the Geminin Zodai Academy, each Acolyte designs her own curriculum based on what she’d like to learn and who she’d like to become.

CANCER House Cancer is a Matriarchal society where women run the household, women write the laws, + women make the first move.

LEO When Leonines turn twelve, they embark on a walkabout through the Nine Prides of House Leo to discover where they belong.

VIRGO On House Virgo, writers always self-publish their books on their Perfectionaries, + for every typo/error, the price gets discounted.

LIBRA After a 12-yr-old Libran has her Scan surgically implanted, it’s tradition for her parents to take her out for a Cold Cream Cloud*.

SCORPIO Scorps travel less than anyone in the Zodiac; almost 90% of Scorps have never left their own constellation.

SAGITTARIUS Every structure on House Sagittarius is covered in holographic graffiti that can’t be erased but fades on its own over time.

CAPRICORN Tierre is the largest inhabited planet in the Zodiac, so a day on House Capricorn lasts longer than anywhere else.

AQUARIUS Aquarians harvest invisible ice from their moons that’s cold enough not to melt + use it to build their most important structures.

PISCES There are no gender roles on House Pisces: Piscenes consider the body a vessel for the soul + pay little attention to physical attributes.

*Cold Cream Clouds come in every flavor; it’s ice cream that has the texture of cotton candy!

(visit www.zodiacbooks.com/@penguinteen for more info on the series!)

#1: HOUSE ARIES: Military

Majors in the Ariean army go to battle wearing their Helm: a warrior’s helmet that, in addition to protecting one’s head, also provides a polarized, panoramic view of the battlefield and alerts the wearer of any incoming attacks or problematic vitals. The Helm’s advanced optics also allow Arieans to zoom in on the horizon and identify threats as well as friendlies. It can also tap into the visual feeds of other soldiers in the wearer’s regiment, and take control of larger weapons like tanks, airships, and homing missiles. Advanced technology aside, there are still plenty of stories about Arieans in combat using their Helm as a blunt object to batter their enemies.

#2: HOUSE TAURUS: Industry

The Promisaries of House Taurus have a special war machine called The Tremble: a stout, horn-shaped device that can be plunged into the earth to trigger a small, targeted earthquake. The Tremble is most effective when used in triplicate: Three Promisaries take strategic positions on the battlefield and create a devastating and contained quake within a triangulated area. This can be enormously effective in taking down entire units on the field of battle.

#3: HOUSE GEMINI: Imagination

Dreamcasters defend themselves with the Sumber: a twin-barreled gun that injects enemies with a concentrated dose of a serum, similar to that used in Imaginariums, that incapacitates them and traps them within their subconscious. One barrel releases a pellet that unlocks the target’s innermost dreams, and the other releases a pellet that unleashes their deepest nightmares. Depending on the intensity level of the dose, hallucinations can be temporary, or in extreme cases, permanent. To kill an enemy, a Dreamcaster shoots him twice, with a pellet from each barrel—the double dose causes a brain aneurism that is instantly fatal.  

#4: HOUSE CANCER: Nurture

In times of war, Lodestars carry the Ripple: A crossbow-like device made of tightly woven strands of Sea-Spider silk that propel up to a dozen slender darts that are whittled from nar-clam shells and dipped in the paralyzing poison of a Maw. If not immediately sucked out, the poison spreads to the brain and shuts down all its functions, leaving the target in a comatose state. The weapon works both above and underwater, and as Cancrians abhor violence and value every life, they only use it when they absolutely must. 

#5: HOUSE LEO: Passion

Lionhearts fight with the Swath: a sword with an ornate handle covered in microscopic mirrors that traps rays from the sun. The Swath harvests and stores the sunlight so that, when activated, it produces a steady, focused beam of solar energy that burns so hot it consumes whatever it passes through—or anything unfortunate enough to try and pass through it. A skilled Lionheart never wastes the energy stored in the Swath, and instead uses its burning blade for just the few seconds it takes to strike down an enemy or object. It’s said that on a dark night, and in the right hands, a Swath blade in motion resembles a firefly’s furious dance.  

#6: HOUSE VIRGO: Sustenance

When under attack, Virgo’s Ministers vanish and turn deadly with the Veil and Thorn. First, they activate the Veil collar, which turns the wearer invisible. Next, Virgos use their training in the art of stealth to sneak up on their targets with an elegant and small-but-deadly dagger called a Thorn. Some Ministers carry several vials of poison to dip their Thorns in, sometimes to paralyze and sometimes to kill.

#7: HOUSE LIBRA: Justice

The Knights of House Libra believe justice cannot be found without a proper trial, and so they defuse violent situations with Bind: a wispy white powder made from ground-up minerals found deep within Kythera’s core. As soon as targets inhale the fine white mist, it seeps quickly into their muscular system, putting the body into a deep sleep. Each Knight has her own preferred method of dispersing Bind, but often it’s as simple as blowing a fistful into someone’s face. Librans are immune to small doses of the powder from breathing in trace amounts of it every day.

#8: HOUSE SCORPIO: Innovation

Stridents fight with the Scarab: a black bangle that clamps onto the wrist that, when triggered, will fire tiny darts toward its intended target. A long-held Scorp secret, the paralyzing poison in the darts is so effective that it can render any electronic devices on the target’s person completely useless. The poison is fatal unless its antidote is administered within 24 hours; this gives Stridents a window of time to evaluate a violent situation before determining their enemy’s fate. Due to the small, elegant nature of the weapon, most targets don’t even know they’ve been stung until it’s too late. If anyone attempts to wear another Strident’s Scarab, it will not work; instead, it will turn against the impostor and inject its poison into him instead.

#9: HOUSE SAGITTARIUS: Curiosity

Stargazers’ signature weapon is an Arclight: a portable metallic device that attaches to soldiers’ Trackers, that shoots bullets that burst into flames on contact. For easier targeting, greener Sagittarians can set their weapon to emit a red beam of light that lines up with their line of sight.

#10: HOUSE CAPRICORN: Wisdom

Chroniclers neutralize their enemies with the Shrill, a weapon made from Sea-goat horns, the insides of which are carved with a series of ridges using a centuries old technique. When sounded, the Chronicler’s breath passes through thousands of intricate airways to emit a sound at a frequency that shuts down the nervous system of anyone who hears it, eventually causing bodies to fall over and seize. With time and talent, Chroniclers can learn to sound the device delicately enough to target a single individual, or with enough force to level an army.

#11: HOUSE AQUARIUS: Philosophy

The Elders of House Aquarius are always unassumingly armed with their Barer: a devastating multi-weapon made of a series of connected rings fitted perfectly to the wearer’s dominant hand, making it a very quick draw. When an Elder makes a fist, metals in the rings convert energy from the atmosphere, emitting brilliant aqua arcs of electricity. The wearer can then either use the Barer as a sword, or mold the energy into the form of a bow that will fire off devastating electric blasts. For hand-to-hand combat situations, the Barer grows a blazing row of electric spikes, turning into a terrifying set of “brass knuckles” that delivers electric jolts every time it connects with an opponent.

#12: HOUSE PISCES: Spirituality

The Piscene people are pacifists, and their Disciples don’t believe in violence. Though they carry no weapons, they go to war clad in a Gowen: a special silver suit of fluid fabric that gives its wearer a degree of protection from most elements and identifies them on the battlefield. Most Houses recognize the watery-like garment and allow its wearer to move about to collect the injured and provide spiritual guidance to the lost.

Rhoma Grace is a Hufflepuff. Do not fight me on this. Romina Russell herself could pop out of my screen and smack me with every book in the series and tell me I’m wrong and I would not relent.

She’s so???? loyal?????? Almost to a fault????? Reminds me of Cedric sometimes

Nishi and Hysan are obviously Ravenclaws. Nish has that Luna Lovegood vibe about her; if she was at Hogwarts, I feel like other Ravenclaws would skirt around her because her brain, while incredibly brilliant, is simply not wired the same as anyone else’s.

They wouldn’t avoid Nish like they avoided Luna, though… they avoided Luna because they thought she was weird. I think Nish has too much star power for a normal witch/wizard to handle.

Hysan would be extremely popular in Ravenclaw. The golden boy. Think Cedric levels of popularity. Of course it’s all for good reason— he’s brilliant, he’s handsome, he’s funny, and he’ll let you borrow his broom for illegal rescue missions at the Ministry in case you don’t want to ride by thestral.

Matthias is a Slytherin. MATTHIAS IS A SLYTHERIN.

S L Y T H E R I N.

D’you remember Rho in Book 1 lowkey roasting him when she’s like, “I know you don’t approve of me being the new Holy Leader… I know you think it should’ve been you”, or something along those lines…

And Matthias doesn’t deny it

Because he can’t

Because she’s right

Don’t get me wrong, Matthias is amazing and brave as hell and loyal to Rho

But Slytherins can be brave just as Gryffindors can be loyal like Neville or brilliant like Hermione

Mathias is ambitious af

He’s older than Rho but still EXTREMELY YOUNG for his position

Not to mention that he’s like constantly trying to tell Hysan how to be a proper leader like he has an actual clue… what a Slytherin thing to do

Deke is a Hufflepuff like Rho. This goes without saying

PANDORA IS A GRYFFINDOR ICON. BITCH POPS OUTTA BEING TORTURED & MATTHIAS IS A HOT MESS AND PANDORA IS LIKE HEY RHO U AIGHT BUDDY THAT SHIT IS STRAIGHT UP HARRY POTTER LEVELS OF BADASS

LIKE SHE HASN’T MET THIS GIRL BEFORE PANDORA WYD

IDK SHE JUST GIVES ME SUCH GREAT GRYFFINDOR VIBES DON’T @ ME