( 10th century — kingdom of norway )

"You're turning 17 soon, my dear," Regina says as she braids her daughter's hair. It had been a rough couple of years for the two Castillos, but they had gotten through it. It still hurts to think of Elric, and sometimes they can't help but cry. They've gotten better though.

"I know, Mama..." Alix murmurs, a bit nervously. Turning 17 in their culture was a big deal. That was when a Castillo would find out the god or goddess that blessed them. It was also when, sometime after the Castillo turned of age, they'd be pulled into a test.

The chosen would have to fight for their lives and if they came out on top, they'd be seen as a true champion in the gods eyes. Especially Zeus. Depending on who the god they were blessed by, the arena would match their abilities and so forth.

There have been a couple of instances where Castillos have failed and fallen, but Alix was determined not to be one. She'd make her legacy proud. Her mother, her grandmother, her great-grandmother... they all passed and so would she.

"We'll start upping your training right away. You'll be gifted the second you turn," Regina says as if she hadn't told Alix a hundred times already.

"I know, Mama," Alix repeats, sighing a bit as she shifts. Her mother finishes her hair. "I'll be pulled into the test once the Gods think I am ready. There I will fight monsters and complete challenges. If I fall, my power will be stripped—if I don't die first."

"Well, that's lovely to walk in on."

Both Castillo's look up, a smile breaking out over Alix's face at the sight of her betrothed. "Sunshine! What are you doing here?" She asked, shooting off the stool and toward the blonde. Esther grinned brightly, giggling as Alix scooped her up.

"I wished to see you," Esther replies simply, kissing the redhead's cheek, "am I not allowed?" She teases.

"Of course you are," Alix murmured, leaning in to kiss her.

"Ah, ah," Regina said, standing up. Alix bounced backward, ears flushed. Esther smirks at her girlfriend in amusement. "My dear," the woman smiles, holding her arms open. Esther eagerly accepts the hug.

She didn't get many from her family anymore so she savored any physical touch Regina and Alix gave to her.

"So, you're turning 17 soon," Esther said, taking Alix's hand between both of hers.

"So are you. We're not that far apart," Alix reminded, hoping her voice didn't sound too frustrated. She didn't want to keep talking about her seventeenth birthday. Not when they could be doing anything else.

Esther hummed, a knowing glint in her eye. She let it go. "Well, shall we go get breakfast?"

"Sounds lovely," Regina said, ushering her girls out of the house. She and Esther shared a knowing look.

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

When a Castillo turns seventeen, they are pulled into a dream. In that dream, the god (or gods) that bless them will be there. They will explain the power bestowed, the weapon granted, and the rules of the tournament.

Alix was no different. When the night reached the middle and a new day began, Alix was drug into a dream.

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

Alix winced at the light on her eyelids. She slowly opened her eyes only to shut them immediately as a bright golden light hit her.

She tries a couple of more times until the light fades and her eyes grow accustomed to it. She's standing in a grand city. Pillars made of gold and quartz. It's ethereal and has Alix staring in astonishment.

Cyclopes, nymphs, and minor gods roam the area, talking and walking about.

At the top of a hill, there was a large palace with many others scattered around it.

"Mount Olympus..." Alix murmured, staring in awe at the kingdom.

She had known of its beauty, seen it described and drawn in journals of her ancestors. Seen the gods drawn. But this was a whole 'nother level. Seeing it before her with her own eyes.

"Quite the sight, isn't it?"

Alix jumped a little and turned her head to the right. There was a man. He had long brunette hair, braided and reaching his ankles. He had bluish-green eyes that looked like the sea—the iris seemed to move like the sea too. He was dressed in traditional Viking wear, different than what Alix would've thought someone here would dress like.

"Were you expecting a chiton?" The man asked, a sly smirk on his face as he watched her take him in.

"Yes," Alix replied with a small shrug. She tilted her head and turned toward him. She could tell he was a god—an Olympian. The pure power that radiated from him was divine and overwhelming. Alix felt giddy. She bowed in a show of respect. "May I ask who you are?"

The man cocked an eyebrow, a small frown falling on his lips. He studied her for a moment, then smiled. "Why, I am Poseidon. god of the Sea—Earthshaker, stormbringer—"

"Do you always hype yourself up like this?" Alix cut in, raising an eyebrow at the man's arrogance. She's sure, as a god, the man probably deserves some. Especially with how vengeful and destructive he was.

Poseidon paused in his dramaticism, not expecting her to cut him off. However, she was blessed by him and the ocean can not be contained. He could feel the fire that burned deep within her soul—he knew she'd make a wonderful Blessed.

The two blinked at each other for a long moment.

"Well," Alix said, placing her hands behind her back and mirroring the deity's position, "I assume you are the god that has blessed me. It is an honor to be in your presence."

"Oh, so you do have manners," Poseidon smirked, not looking put off by her earlier interruption at all. Instead, he merely looked amused—giddy.

"On occasion," Alix smiled back.

Poseidon clapped his hands. "Wonderful." He grabbed her shoulder and suddenly, they were in the water. Alix made a noise of surprise and horror as she realized how far down they were. Poseidon floated through the water effortlessly, his hold on her shoulder still tight. "My underwater palace is much nicer than my brother's throne. There I will show you my gift and why are you not breathing?"

Alix stared at him incredulously, feeling her head pound from holding her breath. She was in the water, probably thousands of meters down—

"I told you, you could breathe underwater," Poseidon looked miffed, confused by her horror.

Alix sucked in a sharp breath and yeah, she could breathe underwater. She panted, rubbing her chest. "No, you did not!" She argued, "you grabbed my arm and suddenly, we were in the water!"

"Oh," Poseidon blinked, "you can breathe underwater."

Alix shot him a dirty look, coughing a bit.

Poseidon pulled her along once more and Alix looked forward, her jaw-dropping at the sight of the massive palace in front of her. It was built with some sort of blue material. The water rippled around it, mermaids, mermen, and creatures of the sea swimming in and out of the arches. It was magnificent.

"Wow..." Alix breathed.

Poseidon's chest puffed with pride. "My palace is much better than my brothers," he gloated, pulling her through the main doors and through the many corridors. "Creatures of the sea!" He suddenly boomed, coming to a stop in the throne room.

Two thrones sat side by side, one was bigger than the other. A blue woman sat on the smaller throne staring at the two of them with narrowed eyes. She wore a crown upon her head.

Lady Amphitrite.

Creatures all around them stopped. Alix stared wide-eyed at a couple, in wonder rather than judgment.

"My Blessed has become of age! Welcome, Alix Castillo, future Earthshaker!"

Cheers sounded from all around her and a grin slowly worked its way onto her face. Creatures bowed, some came up to greet her and welcome her, some avoided her.

It was interesting.

Then Poseidon was once more dragging her.

"So you've returned," Lady Amphitrite says in greeting, staring at the King of the Seas with an unimpressed expression.

Poseidon huffs a bit. "My Chosen is here. Of course, I've returned. I must show her my beautiful palace," he said as if it were obvious.

Amphitrite seems even less impressed with his response. Alix almost found it funny at how bored the goddess looked in the face of the god. She knew they loved each other, even if their stories were a little... messy.

(Understatement of the millennia.)

"You," Amphitrite says, turning her gaze onto Alix. The redhead stands up straighter (she wobbles a little since she's in the water and her feet aren't touching the ground. She blushes at the amusement that flickers in Amphitrite's eyes) and bows in respect.

"Lady Amphitrite, it is a pleasure to be in your presence," Alix says, her voice level and polite. Poseidon was her god, but all the others could turn her to mush on the spot.

"Oh, so she gets manners, but I don't?" Poseidon huffs, sounding like a petulant child.

Amphitrite rolled her eyes and Alix was sure she could reach Mount Olympus with that eyeroll. "I am worthy of respect, unlike you, waterboy," she says, clicking her tongue. She turns her attention back to Alix, "rise." The redhead does as she's told, "it is nice to meet you, Chosen."

"The honor is all mine."

Poseidon huffs even more. "Come, Alix. We must go to the training area. I will explain your powers and your gift."

"Are you actually going to explain or just say you explained after telling me that you told me I had said power?" Alix shot back dryly, side-eyeing the god.

"We will see," Poseidon said then dragged Alix away.

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

Esther glances up at Regina who is busy making breakfast. Alix was still fast asleep, not even moving (she always moves a lot when she sleeps.) "Is it supposed to take this long?" Esther asked a worried note in her voice.

Regina looks back at the girls and gives her a reassuring smile. "It is normal. Some even go longer than this—the whole day," she shrugged, turning back to the food, "do not fret, child."

Esther huffs a little and nods. "Of course." She brushed her hand over Alix's hair. She pressed a kiss to the redhead's forehead. "Happy Birthday, Moonshine."

A knock sounded at the door and Regina quickly moved to go get it. "Esther, dear, the food?" The blonde quickly went, making sure the food didn't burn or grow soggy. "Erika," Regina says, surprised, "to what do I owe the pleasure?"

Erika glances past the woman, finding her daughter's curious eyes. Erika looks back at Regina. "I must speak with you," she said.

Regina scowls, already knowing from the tone of voice what the conversation will be about. "Of course," she agrees. Then she quickly goes back to Esther. "The food is ready, dear. You can begin eating."

Esther nods. She watches as Regina grows tenser the closer she gets to her mother. Their relationship has been strained since Elric's passing. It worried Esther especially when she heard her and Alix's names being thrown around during overheard conversations.

Esther gathers some food and begins eating, looking between Alix and the door. She knew Regina and Erika hadn't gone far. She could hear the hums of their voices on the other side of the wall.

She tapped her fingers against the table, trying to eat her food.

"It's not ladylike," Esther mutters, talking herself out of the eavesdropping. Then she was out of her seat and creeping toward the window. She crouched, pushing the shutters open just a little.

"My decision remains the same," Regina snapped, sounding both exasperated and annoyed.

"So does mine. My daughter will not marry yours," Erika snapped back. Esther froze, her eyes widening. What?

"You cannot back out of a deal we made 18 years ago, Erika. Our daughters will be married whether you like or not."

"No. They won't. I have another suitor. One that will help her prosper and won't turn her into a mangy mutts housewife—"

The sound of skin hitting skin was heard. Esther hopes Regina smacked her good. "My daughter is not a mangy mutt. You will speak with respect to her name, do you understand me? I've allowed your family to live here. That can change at a moment's notice. Esther will become the brightest witch this world has ever seen with Alix by her side. Like we agreed on years ago."

"No."

Esther closes the shutters and makes her way back to Alix. Her mother didn't wish for her to get married? She had another suitor? She'd have to speak with her mother. There was no way she'd marry another. Alix was the only person for her—

A sharp gasp rang out and Esther's head snapped up. "Moonshine!" She exclaimed, rushing over and helping Alix take a sip of water. She helped her sit up, rubbing her hand up and down Alix's spine. "Good morning, my dear."

Alix blinked a couple of times, sweat beaded on her hairline. She smiled when she saw Esther. "Hello, my love," she greets softly.

Esther brushed her hand over Alix's sweaty hair. "Are you alright? You were out for a long time."

"More than," Alix beams, "I have so much to tell you."

"Go on then," Esther grinned, moving to get Alix some food before settling beside her. 

AN: uh oh... 

side-not, would you guys like smut in this book or not? let me know!

wc: 2254