Song: "Coronation" from Music From She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Do you remember, Mother, when Father would buy treats from the bakery before he came home every evening? It's been fifteen years since the last time he brought home those delicacies, but I still remember them. My mouth waters at the idea of the buttered baguettes, and pan et viande; the hot pork wrapped in soft rolls that we used to eat. To me, that is the taste of home.

❂❂❂

When Micah and Arvina exited the dorm, Asteria and Veritas were waiting for them. The satyr squeezed his hands. "Micah, we're going to Light Spinner's coronation today! It's going to be so exciting!"

Arvina checked her pocket watch. "Yes, and it will be starting soon. We should make our way to the Lunarium. Come now."

As they walked along the road, Micah tapped Asteria's shoulder. "What's the Lunarium?"

"Have you gone to a single year of school?"

Ouch. Ver rolled her eyes. "Asteria, be nice."

"Whatever. Did you?"

Micah's cheeks were hot. "No. Isn't that obvious?"

Veritas gave a small smile. "The Lunarium is the assembly hall. It's the biggest room in the Great Hall - that's where we'll be doing school."

"And Light Spinner's becoming the queen of Mystacor? What happened to the last one?"

"Nothing," Asteria said. "Mystacor doesn't pass down seats like the other kingdoms. We're ruled by a council here. Light Spinner is the youngest person in centuries to be on the Guild."

Micah nodded slowly. "Will I get to meet her?"

Asteria didn't meet his eyes. "Only if you end up getting her as a teacher, which you won't."

"How do you know?"

"She only teaches the best sorcerers in the kingdom," she said as they entered the Great Hall. "The gifted and talented types."

"I'm not gifted and talented?"

"Asteria's not saying that," Ver said kindly. "Light Spinner is nice. I like her."

"If by nice you mean crazy," Asteria muttered, "then sure."

How is Light Spinner crazy? The way they talk about her is pretty weird. She can't be that bad. They entered the Lunarium straight from the outside; many different beings packed the room, standing around the central cauldron, where an old satyr with a starry crown on his head set several bottles on the edge of the bowl.

Ver danced around a bit. "That's Norwyn. He's the Head Sorcerer, and one of Mama's best friends. He's also Light Spinner's dad."

"Wait, her dad?" Micah asked. "But they're different species -"

"Not her birth dad," Asteria interrupted. "Her adoptive dad."

"Oh. Right." Micah tried to scan over the heads of the adult sorcerers - he was rather short - but Ver bent down and pointed at his feet, drawing a mandala. The three of them rose until they were around the same height as the adults. It's okay, Micah told himself, though his heart banged in his chest at the sudden height change. You're just getting taller.

"Ver, that's kinesis magic," Asteria said. "You aren't supposed to use it yet."

"Light Spinner taught it to me over the summer," Ver said. "She told me I'm really good at it." Micah tilted his head. She teaches students over the summer? 

Asteria rolled her eyes. "You love being her favorite, don't you?"

"Maybe if you weren't so rude to her, she might -"

"Greetings, everyone!" Norwyn said from the cauldron. Micah sensed the pulse of magic he used to amplify his voice. "Welcome to the first Guild coronation in twenty-four years. I now present Emeth Light Spinner!"

From one of the dressing-room doors, a woman walked out toward the cauldron. She walked with her white shoulders squared and her head high, wearing the dress from the orchard. Ver smiled widely from beside him. "Her clothes are so pretty!"

Light Spinner walked down the line toward the cauldron, her tall frame carrying authority and wisdom, though she couldn't be older than thirty. Wow. She's...really cool.

He clenched his fists. Tomorrow, class starts. How long would it be before he let it slip that he was a poor Tropicil boy who could barely read Meyan? He envied Light Spinner's confident gait, the way she walked with her head and shoulders high and her fingertips touching. I guess I've gotta imitate that if I want to look like I belong here, don't I?

No. Mom said to be yourself. So that's what you're going to do.

Light Spinner walked up to the cauldron, and Norwyn took her hand, gesturing to the cauldron. "The anointing will now take place."

Ver whispered in Micah's ear. "He's putting oil on her hair. It's a Seraphite tradition."

What are Seraphites? He almost asked, then decided Asteria would be angry if he did, and give some snide remark. He wasn't stupid - he'd figure it out soon.

Norwyn poured the liquid on her hair as she lowered her face near the cauldron; a sweet smell filled the room. Light Spinner flung her hair back, her thick raven locks rustling with power. A strange and almost unpleasant stir washed over the crowd. What was that all about? Micah frowned.

Norwyn cast a sorcerer's mandala, and a four-point star with a red stone appeared. "Create your badge."

Light Spinner nodded, then shouted. "From the farthest regions of Etheria, I command you, be as one!" Her voice was like billowing smoke, carrying a slight foreign accent, powerful and deep. As she spoke, the items fit together, creating a four-point badge with a red stone at the center. It fastened itself to her chest, and a cool wind blew through the room, blowing Micah's unruly black hair around his head.

Light Spinner bowed before the Head Sorcerer, who took her hands and spoke. "Sorcerers and sorceresses of Mystacor, I present to you Emeth Light Spinner!"

The crowd cheered, but the uneasy tension remained, as if the whole room was about to burst. Light flickered joyously around the Lunarium, framing Light Spinner's veiled face in gold as the levitation spell broke. But the room held its breath even as it cheered, as Micah floated back down to the ground.

✧✧✧

They walked up to Light Spinner and Master Norwyn, who held hands and touched foreheads. Light Spinner's pointed ears drooped, her eyes shut, and her expression shifted to one of deep happiness. The Emeth almost forced a smile as she turned to Micah, waving at the girls as they walked away. "You are?"

Her voice was like velvet, and he had trouble gazing directly into her rich green eyes. "Micah, son of Abraham of Tropicilas." A sheepish grin came to his face; surely she knew how poor he was, with his simple clothes and worn boots.

"Micah," Light Spinner echoed. "Are you the son of Sarah?"

He nodded. "You know her?"

"She was a few years my senior in the academy," Light Spinner said, touching one of the rhinestones on her navy-blue veil. "You look so much like her."

"Thanks. I'm excited to come to Arxia. I hope I learn...a lot of things."

"For your sake, I agree," Light Spinner said, amusement in her voice. She smoothed her skirts. "I should be going. Thank you for attending." With this, she walked back toward the dressing room, her gait smooth and her translucent cape flying out behind her.

❂❂❂

Did you know...

● I based Micah's culture off of a mix of Eastern Asian (which is what his race would be in real life), but his people speak Ramish, which is the equivalent of Spanish. 

● Light Spinner's culture and native language is based off of France, because I've always thought of her as the She-Ra equivalent of an uptight French lady.

Tell me what you think...

● If you're a fantasy writer, how do you write your cultures? Do you make up a culture or borrow a real-world culture? Or is it a mix of both?