So, I took creative writing last semester in school, and our final exam was to submit something to a fine arts contest. A bunch of people chose something they'd already written in the class, which you could do, but I didn't particularly like any of my other ones, so I wrote something new.  It had to be a max of 5,000 words, and I got my cousin's advice for the very ending, because she is AWESOME with things like that—————————————————————————————————

In her home town of Livithia, Akari was growing bored.

The festival was lively as usual. The night sky was a blanket of stardust, the same constellations sitting stagnant as the Star Lords quarrelled about which to put up that night. Livithia's royal castle stood on the highest hill, lit and glowing like crystal from the inside. The bobbing glow of orange paper lamps lit the narrow pathways between booths, the flames licking the stubborn sides with pleasure as the colored material refused to burn.

Still, none of it interested her as she counted money, the coins and colored paper flashing as booming firelights sparkled in the sky. The tourists laughed and sang shanties from their coastal towns, marveling in the thick atmosphere of incense, food and beer.

The festival jobs ran in her family for generations; her mother had played as a guru from Convia, and when she got sick, Akari took her own image: a fortune teller, a mystical, fire-haired creature made of silk and soft words.

She liked being out in the open, able to influence the people the way their futures could. But she had no real power--her magic came in tips and tricks, outsmarting the impatient tourists who wanted a taste of "true Livithian magic."

Satisfied with her early haul, Akari buried the money in a box hidden under her table and smiled coyly at a passing tourist. He smiled back at her, and the woman on his arm scowled in return.

"Making friends this early, are we?"

Akari resisted the urge to jump. She had been partners with Devlin long enough to know he was there, but that knowledge didn't make his footsteps any louder.

"Several kevs worth of friends," she told him, smiling at passersby as she nudged the box with her toes.

Devlin crept forward, kneeling out of sight as he slid the box towards him. The lid clicked as it opened, and she could imagine the golden glow of treasure fanning across his round features.

The festival was just beginning, but Akari had already met with several customers. People liked to have their futures told early, so they could drink to their sorrow or their joy, whichever she felt like bestowing upon them.

"All that's mine, by the way," Akari told him, reaching across with her foot and shutting the box. "You should've gotten here on time."

"I had homework!"

Something caught her eye and she kicked him, hard enough to let him know to be silent. A woman was approaching, her cloak and drab blonde hair the most obvious things about her, immediately standing out against the vibrant reds and purples of the crowd. Akari found it odd that she was here. The only interaction the poor had with the Festival of Light was working for it.

The woman stopped at Akari's table, her blue eyes wrinkled and worried, though she couldn't have been much older than Akari herself. Her pale hands clutched her cloak into a nervous bundle.

"You're the future lady, yes?" she asked, her pitching accent pointing to the Northern Islands. She fumbled in her cloak pockets, withdrawing a handful of coins. "Please, I need to know if my sister will live."

Akari took the money and motioned for the woman to move around the table and towards the back. She carefully passed the kevs to Devlin, who was now standing by the entrance to her "seeing" tent. He quickly pocketed the coins, his dark skin flashing in the colors of the firelights.

Akari paused, putting on a touch of her mother's accent and gathering her dramatic flair before turning to her customer. "Are you sure you vant to see your future? Tis not an easy thing to bare."

The woman hesitated, but nodded. "I need to know."

"Very well." Akari flicked her hand and Devlin pulled the curtains open.

The woman gasped, staring in amazement as the fabric seemed to move on its own. "How do you do that?"

Akari stifled a smile. "My spirit guides assist me as I wish."

The back room was filled with incense and pillows, fiery silks and bells hanging from the walls. There was a clearing in the center, where an ornate rug covered the hard cobblestones beneath it.

"Sit," Akari said, taking her own advice and gesturing to the pillow across from her. She ignored Devlin's grin as the woman sat down—he always enjoyed making fun of her fake accent.

"Vhat is your name?" she asked the woman, snapping and pointing to a pile of crystals lying in the corner. Devlin picked his way around the pillows and grabbed them.

"Evelyn," the woman answered nervously, watching as the colored stones seemed to fly into Akari's hand.

"And your sister?"

"Jillian."

Akari closed her eyes, arranging the colored crystals in a half moon on the floor and placing her hands in the middle. She put on her most serine, otherworldly face, though all she could see behind her eyelids was black. "Describe her to me."

As Evelyn rattled off a number of characteristics, Akari slowly put together the little girl's image in her mind. This was what she loved: meeting new people without having to leave her booth, learning of other lives and other faces. Learning of the brown-haired girl who loved to play dress up in Evelyn's clothes and had an obsession with soup.

She liked Jillian. So, she decided.

"Your sister vill live," she said, smiling as Evelyn seemed to sink into the floor with relief. Happy tears filled her eyes, and she lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Akari. Devlin started forward, but Akari waved him away. She was used to this.

With much thanking, Evelyn walked outside and back around the booth. Akari followed, trying to reduce her smile. Otherworldly fortune tellers did not grin like idiots.

"Vone last thing," she said, grabbing hold of Evelyn's arm as she turned to disappear into the crowd. "Vhat is it your sister is sick vith?"

"Misopholia," Evelyn said sadly. "My mom died of it last year."

Akari's heart dropped. Her own mother was sick with the Red Fever as well, and had been for the past two years. It was everything Akari could do to make ends meet and buy enough medicine to keep her mother alive.

"I'm sorry," she said, and Evelyn walked off, disappearing into the crowd, a black spot in a sea of orange, purple and red.

"Now or later?" Devlin asked tentatively, and she started. She hadn't heard him approach.

"Now would be best," she said, trying her best to regain her composure. The night was only half over. "I can handle myself for a few more minutes. Take all we can spare."

Devlin nodded and darted off.

Akari sat herself back behind her table and tried to clear her head. The money box was still open on the ground, several bills missing. She nudged it shut with her foot, slid it back into its hiding place, and waited for Devlin to return.

Her job was a tricky one--one small error, one wrong prediction, and her reputation would sink faster than the ships in Shell Harbor. She made the best guesses she could, most of them educated enough, but when it came to something as unforeseeable as little Jillian's survival...well, Akari had to make her own insurance.

She'd met Devlin on a night similar to this, only a few years ago. The thriving, pulsing crowd had swept her from her mother's booth far into the reaches of the festival, to places she had never seen before. Starlight Square, where diamonds were embedded in the stone paths as a gift from the Convian royalty. Barlin's Tavern, where they sold the best beer in all of Livithia, and she had tried all of it.

But while trying to find her way back, she got lost, and her feet carried her to the edges of the closing festival. The lights in the buildings were off, and the wind whistled down the wide lane, like it was trying to recreate the shouts it had heard just hours before.

And that's when she saw it.

Something was wrong with the leaves.

It was the middle of summer, but after a strong storm, leaves from the king's garden sometimes made their way down to the Border, the poorer parts of town where her mother had lived and worked when Akari was younger. The foliage littering the ground tumbled away in the breeze, but a select few stayed put. They didn't bend, or really move at all. But with a strong wind behind her back, that was what Akari found so very strange.

As she moved forward to get a closer look, the leaves suddenly ripped free of the ground and blew away, as if they'd been freed from something. Her suspicion grew, her eyes narrowed, and she took one, big step forward.

There was a yelp, and she screamed.

A boy flashed into view, already in the process of falling over. He hit the ground and scrambled to his feet, glancing at his hands and back up at her. His blue eyes were wide and fearful.

So that was why the leaves had stayed. He'd been standing on them.

Akari was speechless. She'd seen him appear out of nowhere. She'd grown up with her mother's fake magic and the stories that travelers bring, but she'd never believed any of it.

"Can you see me?" the brown-haired boy asked, a flickering veil of confidence not quite hiding his fear underneath. "Can you see me?"

"Your one of them..." Akari breathed. "The Benvoli...but I thought--"

"No no no, this can't be happening--" He flickered, his voice turning desperate. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Three."

The boy let out a half laugh, half sob. "Dad's gonna kill me."

And Akari knew why. Benvoli were from the South Islands, a conquered province of Livithia. Their ability to turn invisible made them ideal soldiers, but one flaw led to their supposed extinction--once you see them flash in or out of sight, they're never invisible to you again. It had only taken a single mistake to annihilate them all.

"Don't turn me in," he pleaded.

She hesitated, thinking of the reward she could demand. But his eyes begged for mercy, and she had no choice but to give it to him. "I won't."

The boy had run off then, and not three months later, Akari found him again--Devlin, she'd discovered his name was. But this time, she asked for his help.

Devlin's voice snapped her back from the past--present Devlin, the person who'd been working beside her faithfully for two long years. "It's done. Got the meds in just in time."

"That's great," she said, turning back to look at him. "So why do you sound so nervous?"

Devlin shuffled and cleared his throat. "I'm not nervous." But as he handed her an envelope, his eyes told otherwise.

Akari's first thought was how thick the envelope was--it had a smooth, sturdy feel to it that practically shouted kev signs. She turned it over and her heart dropped.

That was the royal seal.

"Dev, watch the booth." She hurried past him and into her tent, where she tore open the envelope and unfolded the paper inside.

To the respectable Akari Minitov:

We are pleased to inform you that His Royal Highness, King Edoran, and Her Royal Majesty, Queen Corolin, require your services at the palace next moon, at two hours past sundown. The subject matter is not to be disclosed in this letter. You will be informed on the details tomorrow.

Yours, King Edoran and Queen Corolin

Akari's heart stopped. The king and queen...a job...tomorrow...

She burst back out of the tent and marched over to her booth, flashing a quick smile at any onlookers and turning the small "open/closed" sign on her table. She grabbed Devlin's arm, and he yelped as she yanked him back into the tent.

"Jeez, Akari," he grumbled, rubbing his arm as he regained his balance. "What did it--"

"Where did you get this?" she demanded, whispering in case someone could hear them. It wasn't likely over the booming and laughter, but she decided safe was better than sorry. "Did someone catch you?"

"Of course not!" Devlin said indignantly, his blue eyes flashing. "I was walking back visible, and some pompous weirdo comes up to me, asks if I knew you and handed me that!"

Pompous weirdo, she thought, and wondered why that was all she could focus on. The prospect of being hired by the Livithian royalty was just...

"Are you taking the job?" Devlin asked quietly. "That is what it said, right?"

Decisions warred in her head. The risk of getting caught and the possible compensation...Akari would never have to work again. And most importantly, she could afford all the medicine she needed to keep her mother alive.

Akari turned to Devlin, her mind made. "I don't think I have a choice."

***

She stood by the palace gates, the sky a map of indigo diamonds, and her heart refused to stop pounding.

Devlin stood beside her, staring nervously at the castle above them. She knew this was the last place he wanted to be—if he got caught, they'd draft him into the army to serve for life. Then they'd find his parents and force them to serve too, as punishment for keeping him a secret.

Still, her selfish need to have him there outweighed her sympathy. She was risking something as well.

Fixing her eyes on the stoned path ahead, she caught sight of someone traveling down the hill towards them. She felt her muscles tense and forced herself to relax. This wouldn't work if she wasn't on her toes.

The man approached them, stopping behind the gate and staring with gray eyes from behind the iron designs. "You must be Akari Minitov."

"I am," she said.

The man waved her words aside. "Please, no accent. We know you hail from Livithia." He continued watching her, his black hair neatly combed and his dark blue suit tailored with fine points. "Are you alone?"

Akari nodded, trying her best to keep her voice steady. "I am."

The man eyed her and glanced around, as if someone was somehow hiding in the empty square she stood in. "Very well." He pulled out a large ring of keys and unlocked the gate. "You may come in."

Akari kept her eyes fixed ahead as Devlin slipped through the closing gate, making sure to stay off the grass. His footprints would give him away.

The man led her up the cobbled path, not looking at her as she stared around. At the base of the hill, gardens circled the palace, flowers blooming in wonderful whites, pinks, oranges and blues, filling the hot air with the scent of vanilla and home.

The wooden double doors loomed ahead, golden streams spiraling across the wood. Two guards in heavy armor nodded to the man and lifted their crossed spears, pushing the doors open and revealing a grand foyer. As Akari passed, she could see the sweat hanging on their brows.

Keeping her eyes ahead, she listened for Devlin's footsteps, but heard nothing as the guards blocked the entrance again.

As they traveled up the wide staircase on the far side of the room, Akari couldn't help but marvel at the gold-and-marble walls, the woven tapestries hanging from the ceiling, the soft carpet under her feet. But no matter how beautiful it was, she knew she could never live here. It was too grand, too cold, in blinding whites and golds that reminded her too much of a sun that would never set.

When they reached the royal chambers, the guards let them through once more, into a room that was simpler than Akari had expected. A large bed on the right, a vanity, a large circular window on the far wall, night spreading behind the glass. The king stood by the window, his hands clasped behind his back, his colorful clothes bedecked with jewels and medals. The queen sat on the bed, her dark hair matching that of the small child in her lap. Two guards stood on either side of the door.

Akari curtsied and lowered her head, but as she looked down, anxiety gripped her chest. The floor was carpet. Devlin's footprints...

She risked a glance at the door and focused on its base. No new imprints. He wasn't there.

Akari tried to calm herself as she watched the queen's feet walk towards her, and a soft voice told her, "Rise, miss Minitov. You are our guest."

She did as she was told and resisted the urge to fiddle with her hair. She was used to her red wig, and her normal chocolate locks seemed too plain for royal company. Still, she had managed to find one her mother's dressier outfits to wear, more red ribbons than a red dress, and she hoped that would focus their attention on her and not anything happening behind her.

"You look a little on the young side," the queen murmured, her tone light and amused as she bounced her baby boy.

"I am, Your Majesty."

"Miss Minitov," the king boomed, his deep voice soothing despite its volume. "We wish to know the future of our empire. My wife and I ask that you read our son's fortune and advise us on the best course of action. You will, of course, be compensated greatly."

Akari inclined her head, her heart pounding and thoughts racing. "Yes, Your Highness. I would be honored."

King Edoran smiled. "Wonderful."

She took a seat on the floor, making sure her back was facing the window so she could watch the door. She beckoned Corolin over, and the queen sat daintily in front of her, her skirts spreading and her son staring around with wild green eyes.

The king circled to stand by his wife as Akari began.

"Do you have anything of his I could hold?" she asked.

The queen smiled. "You could hold Delph if you like."

Taken aback, Akari held out her hands, and Delph was placed carefully into them. He stared up at her in confusion, as if wondering why his mommy looked so different. She smiled.

Her thoughts chased each other and she debated what to say. Every future she gave was vague, but she'd never done lifetimes like this. And without Devlin and the illusion of magic, her clients became even more skeptical and ask more detailed questions. Even so, she was Akari Minitov. She would have to make do.

"Hello," she murmured to Delph, shifting him in her arms. "Let's read your future, shall we?"

She closed her eyes and thought of every single history lesson she knew, Livithian or not. How kingdoms rose and fell, what hardships she knew were likely to occur, but also the recent news, what was happening in the world that might affect them. Convian and Alibate relations, an increase in heavy droughts...

"The future of your country lies in balance," she said, keeping her voice low to emphasize the supposed importance of her words. "Watch the tension between Convia and Alibate. Convia may pull you in to fight with them. Expect less crops this summer and the next. And as for your son..." She scrunched her eyebrows together, a picture of concentration. There were gasps from the door, and one of the guards breathed, "Sire, look..."

Akari didn't dare open her eyes, but she knew something was happening. She repressed the urge to grin. Devlin had made it after all.

"Your son will face many hardships as king," she said, opening her eyes, Devlin's presence filling her with a new confidence. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the covers of the bed drifting back onto the mattress. Devlin gave her a thumbs up, but she kept her expression somber. "Make sure you teach him how to deal with pressure, and to look from all angles."

These were all traits Akari thought every king should have, but coming from someone who had just levitated the bed spread, they must have sounded much wiser.

"There may soon come a time when he is forced to make a hard decision," she continued. "Make sure he is the one to make it, and not you. It will be..." She made a show of hesitating. "Life changing, to say the least."

The king and queen nodded. Delph gave a protesting squirm, and Akari handed him back to his mother.

"Can you give us any other details?" King Edoran asked tensely as Akari got to her feet. "Anything we can do to make his reign easier?"

She shook her head. "The future is a delicate thing. To much information can hurt you more than it can help."

The king nodded and helped his wife to her feet. "Your compensation will be sent to your residence shortly. We can't afford to have it robbed on your way home."

She curtsied again, despite the queen's soft protests, and the gatesman led her back out. As she walked back, Akari thought about the joy of seeing her mother healthy again, of never having to work unless she wanted to, of sharing time with Devlin without the stress of costumes and accents and the fact that no one else could see him.

As she walked out the double doors, with Devlin at her back, she finally thought things were looking up.

***

Prince Delph sat on his father's throne, relishing the way the room looked from a new perspective. His mother was who-knows-where, his father--well, Delph didn't have to worry about him anymore. He felt freer in that moment than he had in his entire life.

Pressure pressure pressure. That's all his childhood had been. Learn how to handle it, how to deal with it, how to apply it savor it use it--!

Delph let out a long, calming breath, surveying the golden throne room once more. The tapestries were burning, but that was fine; Delph had never liked those anyway. Blood coated the floor, but the servants were making quick work of that, their faces full of terror and disgust.

He watched as his father's body was carried from the room, and he smiled to himself, wiping his sword on the leg of his pants.

"Well," he muttered. "That wasn't such a hard decision after all."