Chapter Text
Once upon a time… far into the Mediterranean Sea, there was the Kingdom of Rosas. Ruled by King Tomas, whose sovereignty was held with utter surety alongside his brother, the sorcerer Magnifico. Rosas prospered under the rule of the two brothers, with Tomas sharing his wisdom with the people, and Magnifico using his magic to assure the kingdom’s security. One day, Tomas fell ill, spending his days alongside his queen and their daughter Asha. Heartbroken, Magnifico delved into his magecraft and found that there was power in Wishes. Once he found the power to try and reverse the effects, Tomas perished, his final will being that Magnifico rule until the princess was of age.
Magnifico, wishing to honor his brother’s legacy, became the Keeper of Wishes. The people of Rosas would bring their wishes to him, and he would safeguard their wishes, and for the good and worthy among them, grant them. With the help of his loyal advisor, the Queen Amaya, Rosas flourished. People coming from far and wide to settle under the protection of Magnifico, all the while hoping their wish will be granted…
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
“Princess, please slowed down!” A handmaid called out as Asha paced through her room. The princess walked back and forth, mumbling into her fist while the maid haplessly followed her around, with her pet goat in tow. Her eyes taking a quick glance about her room, the shelves filled with books, trinkets, and alchemical glassware.
“AndSaba’sgonnabeahundredyearsoldandI’llhavetoreceivevisitorscomingfor…” Asha expatiated excitedly, her words slurring as she stared at the marbled floor. Only hearing her thoughts racing through her head and out her mouth while her goat, Valentino trailed her with a small clip-clop-clip-clop-clip-clop .
“Asha?” Asha jumped and spun around, her mother’s voice coming out through the other side of the door after a loud knock. Asha finally held still long enough for her maid to gently grab and begin fixing her hair.
“Yes, mama? You can come in!” Asha called out as the doors creaked open.
“Your uncle wishes to see you,” The Dowager Queen Sakina poked her head through the door, the two guards quickly standing to attention as she walked in. Asha relaxed and sat at her dresser, looking at her reflection in her periphery before attentively looking back at her mother. “A good Queen of Rosas is always punctual.”
“Sorry, mama. I’ve just been worried a lot about Saba’s birthday, and all the duties I have to perform.” Queen Sakina tilted her head and smiled softly, excusing the handmaid who bowed before briskly exiting the room.
“You have a quick mind. Like your father,” Sakina chuckled, standing behind Asha and doing her hair. Asha looked into the mirror, relaxing a little as she felt her mother’s fingers brush through her hair. “You carry so much on your shoulders, my daughter. It is an admirable quality to have as a leader. But you must also know when to breathe as you walk. Don’t rush to responsibility, it will find you soon enough.”
Asha nodded, feeling her mother’s fingers fix her braids, hearing her mother’s advice and watching how her mother looks at her work like a seamstress at her threads. She smirked when her mother exclaimed “done” and straightened her purple, blue, and white gown before her mother gently held her chin and tilted her head up to meet her gaze. “My daughter, you are braver than you believe. Stronger than you seem. And smarter than you think. Understand?”
“Yes, mama.” Asha nodded again before her mother kissed her on the forehead. Asha quickly stood up to her feet and followed her mother out of the room, Valentino trotting along before she hugged her mom and their paths diverged. Asha raced down the corridor, dodging servants as she looked over her shoulder. “Love you, mama!”
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
Asha raced through the hall until she saw a familiar white gown and slowed to a halt. Amaya turned and looked at Asha calmly, waiting until Asha slowed down, her hands on her knees while catching her breath. Asha took a step forward, wavered, and curtsied. “Good morning, aunt-- Queen Amaya.”
Amaya snickered before opening her arms, stumbling back a little as Asha lit up and hugged her. “Good morning, princess.”
“The King wanted to see me?” Asha looked at Amaya as they held each other at arms’ length. Amaya’s smile was warm and collected, gently brushing Asha’s hair out of her face.
“Today is a big day, princess. Your uncle plans on having a Wish ceremony, and he has some news of his own to share with you.” Queen Amaya linked her arm with her niece, leading her through the castle as they strolled to Magnifico’s Tower. Alabaster walls framed limestone stairs that climbed in a spiral that they strolled up and up into the peak of the tower.
“As you know, your uncle is very particular, Asha. Almost too particular,” Queen Amaya giggled with Asha as they walked down the corridor that framed. The doors opened, sunlight spilled into the corridor. Asha’s senses were filled with the smell of old parchment and alchemical ingredients. Walls lined with diagrams and the room filled with blackboards covered in chalk scribblings, and the slight gurgling of potions and clattering of flasks. Her uncle’s white embroidered cape swished around as he turned to them, while Queen Amaya stepped in first. “Mi rei?”
“My love!” King Magnifico opened his arms, the levitating utensils and bottles slowly floating down to the table before he walked to his Queen and his niece, embracing them both in each arm. “My dear niece.”
“Good morning, Uncle Magnifico.” Asha greeted with a small laugh and placed his hand on her shoulder. Magnifico held her at arms’ length, taking in her welcome smile.
“Are you ready for another big day, princess?” King Magnifico stood back, going back to his work.
“Yes, uncle.” Asha leaned over, peeking past his shoulder while he combined potions and chemicals. With the flashes of arcane flares and puffs of magical clouds, Magnifico read over a manuscript, putting his attention on the written ingredients for his newest potion, nodding with approval. “And I trust you've been practicing with your spells?”
“I levitated a potted plant earlier this morning.”
“Oh? And set it down carefully?” Magnifico smirked.
Asha blushed bashfully before shaking her head, glancing down at the amulet on the collar of her dress while Magnifico laughed teasingly. “There's no shame in it, Asha. What do the commoners say? You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. Just keep practicing.”
“But I’ve gotten better at my illusory magic.” Asha demonstrated with the languid waves of her hands, her amulet glowing as she conjured purple glowing bands of light. Asha narrowed her eyes, focusing her willpower through her magic to make the light crystallize into a lucent crown which she placed on her head.
“Well done.” Magnifico laughed, clapping his hands while Asha curtsied with a grin. “And the constructs? How elaborate can you make them?”
“I made a door on a wall which a guard walked into.” Asha smirked, which made Magnifico throw his head back and laugh even harder.
“Bravo, dear niece!” Magnifico patted Asha’s shoulder, that satisfied grin sitting on his lips. “You’ll make a good sorceress yet.”
“Maybe better than you, uncle?” Asha asked, cocking her eyebrow.
“Hah! One can hope,” Magnifico scoffed a laugh. “But keep practicing. Soon enough you’ll be a proper queen of Rosas.”
“Thank you, uncle.” Asha smirked, flinching away from Magnifico playfully pinching her cheek.
“Mi rei, I have more duties to oversee in preparation for the Wish Ceremony. I’m sure you two fine sorcerers of Rosas have much to discuss.” Queen Amaya excused herself, kissing her husband on the cheek before she leaves.
Magnifico returned her kiss before swishing his cape. Returning back to his work, waving his hands, and telekinetically manipulating his glassware with arcane finesse. Hovering his cauldron while he regarded his niece with occasional over-the-shoulder glances. “And your duties as a tour guide, Asha. How is that going?”
“It’s exciting. However the more handsy visitors can be wearisome, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. My mother once said, ‘A Queen must know how to connect to her people.’” Asha answered proudly.
“Your mother is right, my brother also liked to be among the people when he wasn’t buried in parchment or swinging a sword.” Magnifico continued pouring over his cauldron.
Asha nodded, remembering her kingly father. She stared up at the ceiling of the laboratory, seeing the wishes hovering under the domed ceiling. She reminisced about her father’s lectures about philosophy and questions of the stars. A small, sad smile crept on the corner of her lips until the bamf of an exploding potion broke the lingering silence. “Uncle, I have a question. About the wishes.”
The sorcerer-king sighed, lowering his head while he continued focusing on his work. “Yes, Asha, what is it?”
“Don’t you think that maybe there can be some old wishes here that can be granted? Rather than taking more from the Wish Ceremony?” Asha asked, winced at the sudden tensity in the king’s posture.
“Asha, we have been over this. People come to the Wish Ceremonies because they can’t make their own wishes come true. Whether it be the unfairness of life, the arduousness of their journeys, or the whole indifference of the universe, they give their wishes to me. Willingly. And I let them forget all their worries.” Magnifico huffed, finishing his potion and pouring it into an etched bottle.
“But father said that a wish is the most beautiful part of one’s self. So if those people don’t understand what they’re missing, then perhaps they deserve more than--?”
“I know my brother’s teachings well enough, Asha!” The king lashed out, slamming the empty flask on the table. Asha flinched back, watching her uncle, his shoulders sagging as he took a few deep breaths and running his fingers through his salt-pepper hair. “Forgive me, my dear niece. The stress of my work has been getting to me.”
“The fault is mine, uncle. I know how you mislike repetitive questions.” Asha apologized. Magnifico kept his back to her, taking another deep breath before setting the potion on a shelf.
“That potion, are those Latin inscriptions?” Asha asked in an attempt to change the subject.
“Hmm? Oh, yes. Very good. You’ve been studying your Higher Magics.” Magnifico stepped over to a basin to rinse his hands, his back still turned to her.
“Yes,” She nodded, rubbing her hands together until the faint clamor of voices and ship’s bells rang outside. “Uncle, the people that have traveled for the Wish Ceremony are here.”
Magnifico turned around with a weary smile, placing his hands on his hips and shaking his head dismissively. “Go now, I will see you at the Wish Ceremony, hmm?”
Asha bowed her head before briskly leaving the king’s laboratory, the great doors slamming behind her. She held up the sides of her skirt to make sure her shoes didn’t get caught, hastily walking through the maze of corridors while her guards marched behind her. The princess, followed by her pair of ceremonially-adorned guards, ran out beyond the castle gates and to the harbor.
The princess looked out to the Mediterranean Sea, the midday sun making the gold rings in her hair sparkle while her guards stood behind her, presenting the dark purple rose on the white and lavender banner of Rosas. Watching the weary travelers disembark from their vessels, Asha took a deep breath and beamed, “Hola! Shalom! Salam! And welcome to the city of Rosas!”