The High Priestess Vantaiga sat unamused but patiently in her chamber. She begrudgingly accepted these annual rituals of Syffox celebrating her birthday; her insistence that he shouldn’t do anything for her fell on deaf ears long ago. She had long lost track of how old she was. And quite frankly if it wasn’t for Syffox always giving her a gift, she would have lost track of her birthday all together.
This seemed different though, he appeared more adamant than usual that she take time to celebrate with him. She couldn’t imagine why though. Maybe it was some special number or astrological alignment. He was always going on about some such abstract thing that she couldn’t be bothered with.
She certainly didn’t want to know her actual age. Counting double digits was bad enough, counting triple digits was just a ghastly reminder that she lived far longer than any sane person should. She gave a sigh; birthdays were also a reminder that no matter how long she extended her life, she was only getting older and more tired of it.
She sat at the edge of her bed in a cream silk gown. She thought if she was going to suffer the indignation of a birthday, she might as well look nice. Syffox shortly entered; in his hands he held an ornate wooden box.
“You’ve taken your time my love.” She spoke with a purr as she stretched back’ “Do you have something that is worth keeping this body waiting?”
Syffox gave her a broad smile, “I don’t know if I have something worth that much, but what I do have is pretty special.”
“What is it then my love?”
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Syffox presented her with a dark wooden box covered with engravings of the forest. Vantaiga took the box and gently opened it to reveal a delicate tiara of white and gold leaves. In the center of the headdress was a large green gem. Vantaiga gasped at its beauty as she picked it up. Her expression turned concerned, as a biting chill pinched her fingers.
She withdrew her hand with a questioning look, “It is beautiful, but what is it?”
Syffox beamed at her, “watch,” as he delicately picked up the headband with the tips of his fingers. The gem began to illuminate and sputter small sparks from the back. He turned it around to place it on her forehead. Vantaiga pulled back, looking with doubt at the small spray of sparks from the gem.
Syffox softly reassured her, “Don’t worry, it’s safe. It’s a Mantle of Divinity”
Vantaiga’s eyes grew wide and she gasped, “You mean like the gems stones the gods have?”
Syffox continued to beam at her, “Yes, Hydar showed me where to find the instructions to create one.”
“Have you lost your mind? Do you have any idea what happens when a mortal touches that?”
Syffox gave her a sly grin, “Of course I know what happens if a mortal touches it. But do you know what happens if a mortal wears it?” Vantaiga gave a reluctant shake of her head. Syffox lifted up the Mantle, “Let me show you.”
Vantaiga looked at him uneasily but found she could never distrust his warm smile. Slowly she leaned forward and allowed Syffox to place the delicate crown on her head.
At first the touch of the chilled metal sent shivers down her spine, but as the back of the gem rested against her skin, an intense heat radiated through her head and over her body. It filled Vantaiga with a sense of power and being. She sucked in a breath of awe and clenched her nails into the bed linen.
Syffox slowly waved his hand before the gem, allowing it to pull in his essence and magic. Vantaiga felt a surge of heat and power, and behind the power she could also feel him, feel his mind, feel his desire to be with her. He gave her a soft kiss, “With this my love, we can complete the forest and finally have the peace you’ve always wanted, together, forever.”
