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Madhal and Ilohir had gone to the library to brush up on their knowledge of how the crowning ceremony played out. According to the information they found, the Gallants stood on either side of the new Solare as he was escorted by the new Lunare towards the 'throne.' In the past, the Solare really did have a traditional throne to sit in, but as the fortress evolved, the throne room became more like a reception hall. Though there was no longer a throne, the forefront of the hall was where the Solare would be crowned. The goldsmith would then have the new Solare choose a long, wire-like metal from his hand that varied from silver, gold, copper, platinum, and even pewter. From that long 'wire,' the goldsmith would then fashion a unique headpiece for the Solare to wear during his term. The goldsmith would then give the remaining option of metals to the Lunare and fashion him a unique gauntlet. Afterward, the old Solare would hand the new Solare a staff with a color that corresponded to the new Solare's home biome. And then, all of them would bow respectfully.
"Sounds simple enough," Madhal commented as he walked with Ilohir down the Gallant hall to their newly assigned room. "I think the most complicated thing will be to figure out how to put on the different parts of our ceremony clothes."
Ilohir nodded hearing Madhal. "Looks like all we really do is stand there and give support by our mere presence." When Emyve brought up the subject of their ceremony clothes, he spoke again. "Y-yeah, I saw the maids dropping off everyone's clothes earlier. I've never seen so many buttons on one outfit!" Everyone's clothes had buttons all over them."
Madhal smiled down at the blue-haired dragon. "I could help you fasten all of those buttons if you like," He offered. Though, somewhere in the back of his mind, he would prefer to help Ilohir un-fasten the buttons.
Ilohir looked up at Madhal, making an angry looking pout. "Something tells me you're thinking something else in the back of your mind..." He shook his head. "B-but I'll help you button yours if you help me with mine."
"Agreed," Madhal replied, a smirk sneaking onto his face at Ilohir's sharp senses. As they walked into their room, they caught sight of the last maid running for dear life out of Kelius and Ansar's room. How curious.
"I have a feeling we're better off not knowing…" Ilohir commented a bit nervously as the maid rounded the far corner and kept running.
Their ceremony clothes were set on the bed. The deep greens were surely meant for Ilohir's smaller frame. Madhal's had violets and deep blue. He was pleased to note that Ilohir had some of the same deep blue color on his outfit, as well. "It seems like our ceremony clothes were meant to match."
Ilohir smiled when he noted that their outfits had a matching element, the deep blue. "You think so?" He asked. "We should start getting ready. We spent more time in the library then I thought," The Taiga dragon suggested. He didn't want them to be late.
Madhal shamelessly began to change before Ilohir even finished his sentence. He was vain enough to be proud of his body, so he didn't fear showing it off as he changed. The indigo dragon managed to button up his inner blouse without difficulty, but he only shrugged on the jacket and waited for Ilohir to help him as promised. "Just think of me as an oversized doll and button me up with your tender love."
Ilohir's face turned bright red seeing Madhal starting to undress before quickly turning away and began to change his clothes as well. He managed to get the pants on fine but was having trouble with his inner shirt. He blushed even more at Madhal's over the top statement. "Oh, r-right," He replied with a small laugh, having a far easier time buttoning up Madhal's jacket than his own shirt. "There we go." He finished with an accomplished smile.
Ilohir was quite a sight to behold layers of unbuttoned clothing. As soon as Madhal was free to move, he sat on the edge of the bed and tugged Ilohir to stand between his legs as he helped him with his inner shirt, sleeves, and the blasted jacket. His azure eyes were half-mast in concentration until Ilohir was absolutely perfect. "There. Gorgeous." He stated proudly, standing up and extending his elbow for Ilohir to take.
The blue-haired dragon let out a surprised little noise as Madhal tugged him over. "S-sorry that you're doing all the buttoning for me...these little buttons are a pain for me to get." Though, he liked watching the look on the other dragon's face as it set into such deep concentration. When he was through, he smiled and grabbed his arm as they both walked out.
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Ruthed had dragged Emyve outside for a stroll. They walked around the border, far enough to get some fresh air, but not too far. The burgundy dragon was rather content holding the aquamarine dragon's hand as they walked and took turns carrying his rabbit counterpart. He felt rather honored to have such an adorable creature named after him. Rabbit Emyve flopped on top of his head as they walked. He was a clever rabbit to be able to balance his entire body so well. "The sun is getting ready to set," Emyve told his partner. "We should head back."
Ruthed grumbled as he realized that they had to go back. He was rather enjoying his time alone with Emyve. "I guess you're right. We shouldn't be late for this." But, that didn't mean that they had to stop holding hands, at least. He looked up at Rabbit Emyve, who was making himself comfortable on the red hair. "Heh, he looks pretty cozy up there."
When the two of them reached their room, Emyve carefully lowered the rabbit and placed him in his corresponding bed with a soft pet. "Will you guard our room while we're gone, little one?" He asked him whimsically. With Ruthed and his pet for company, Emyve felt as if he had a small family unit away from his family. "Ruthed," He began as he approached the teal-haired dragon. "Thank you for choosing me."
Ruthed was glad to see that Emyve liked the rabbit, as well as the fact that it was named after him. He was relieved that Emyve didn't find that to be weird. "I bet he won't even let a bug get away with slipping inside here," He declared with a grin, petting the bunny too. He looked over at the redhead upon hearing him say his name, and he blushed at what he had to say. "Is it bad for me to say that I'm glad Sindri didn't choose you?"
"I'm grateful that he didn't choose me, as well," Emyve replied as he reached out a hand to gently lift Ruthed's chin, gazing into the honey-hued eyes. "And I would very much like to kiss you. Will you permit me to?"
Ruthed's cheeks burned an even darker hue, but he managed to summon up a smile for him. He wrapped his arms around Emyve's neck. "Permission granted."
Emyve met Ruthed halfway and pressed a chaste kiss upon the Gallant's lips. With a soft sigh of content, he kissed him again and again. Simple kisses closed mouth kisses. He gave him one last lingering kiss and shifted closer to pull him into a warm embrace. "I would like nothing more than to hold you like this always."
"Well, if that's the case," Ruthed started, reaching up to kiss him once more. "You're stuck with me for good, lifemate." He hugged him again, not wanting to let go just yet, either. He enjoyed just being with him.
After a peaceful moment, Emyve reluctantly pulled away. "Alas, but we must prepare for the ceremony for now. Afterward, I will look forward to us sharing our lives together."
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In the reception hall, the Gallants lined themselves up on either side. Solare Vitara gave special permission for Ansar to be among the Gallants so that it would be an even number. She certainly liked her uniformity. She stood beside the goldsmith, who was a grey female dragon with long pale green hair and eyes of the same hue. In her hands, she held the strands of different metals.
Behind them stood the Sentains, the Sentain of the mountains waiting for Vitara to take over her position so that she could retire. And seated on the sides of the reception hall were musicians of all kinds. They played an intricate song reminiscent of the desert in honor of Sindri's crowning.
As Gonuret walked Sindri towards their fellow Gallant friends, he realized that these were the last few moments that Sindri and himself would be referred to as 'Gallants.' It was a bittersweet feeling.
Sindri took a deep breath before he and Gonuret went into the ceremony room. He had to admit that he loved the music, though it made him miss his home even more. He focused, instead, on the other Gallants and Ansar. It was nice to see their familiar faces for such an event.
The Lunare of the sea, Mavius, pulled up next to Vitara in an electronic wheelchair. He had fallen ill during the week of the Gallant summons and was contagious, so, this was the first time that he would see the new Gallants. His body was still weak and recovering, so Lunare Mavius was forced to remain in the chair until he was stronger. He was a bright blue dragon with lilac hair and brown eyes.
"My right hand has not been able to approach our new Gallants until now, but I will speak for the both of us by stating that this group certainly shows promise." Solare Vitara began. She took off her customized crown and set it onto a velvet pillow that was on a table behind them along with Lunare Mavius's gauntlet. The items would be placed in a museum as relics.
The goldsmith approached Vitara and hooked a pendant around her neck, a symbol of her new status as Sentain.
"Everyone, show your respect to the newly transcended Sentain Vitara," Mavius announced as they all bowed.
Sentain Vitara was all smiles as she took the hands of the former Sentain of the mountains that was to retire. "I free you from your responsibilities as Sentain. Go in peace."
"May you work hard to keep the peace of the people." The old Sentain replied with a smile of her own. The Gallants bowed once again as the old Sentain walked between them and out of the door at a leisurely pace. Sentain Vitara stood amongst the other Sentains as the ceremony continued.
"Come forth, Gallants Sindri and Gonuret," Mavius called.
When the two Gallants were at the forefront, the goldsmith approached Sindri with the different metals. "Choose a metal, whichever one is to your liking." She said.
Sindri nodded serenely as he looked them over. "I think...that I'll choose gold." The color reminded him the most of his home.
The goldsmith took the gold strand into her hands, setting the other metals aside on the table for the moment, and concentrated hard. As she closed her eyes, the strand in her hand began to glow and shift in shape. The gold lengthened and formed itself into an intricate headpiece with dangling red-orange gems. "Close your eyes," She whispered. As she placed the crown onto Sindri's head, the glow seemed to seep through him until his entire body began to glow instead of the crown itself.
Sindri watched in amazement as the gold strand began to glow and form into something else entirely. "That's incredible..." He said quietly, closing his eyes as he was instructed to. He began to feel a warmth taking over his body, starting from his head and spreading down.
Leaving Sindri to his meditation, she showed the remaining metals to Gonuret. "Choose a metal, whichever is to your liking," She stated. When Gonuret chose silver, she once again closed her eyes as she concentrated on forming the glowing metal into an intricate chain cuff that attached from the rings to the wrist with small blue gems. "Close your eyes," She instructed as she slid the gauntlet onto Gonuret's hand.
The moment that Gonuret's eyes closed, he felt a cold sensation seep into his hands through the gauntlet. The cold seemed to spread all over him like an icy wind. When he opened his eyes, the glow seemed to simmer back down.
"Everyone, show your respect to the newly crowned Solare Sindri, and the new right hand, Lunare Gonuret," Mavius announced as they all bowed once more.
Gonuret placed his right hand on Mavius's shoulder, gauntlet and all. "I free you from your responsibilities as Lunare. Go in peace."
"May you work hard to keep the peace of the people," Gallant Mavius replied before driving his chair off the platform.
Sentain Vitara then walked over to reach behind the table, presenting Solare Sindri with his golden staff of the desert. Her pale blue eyes regarded Sindri with warmth as she placed the staff into the desert dragon's hands and closed her own hands around his.
"I free you from your responsibilities as Solare. Go in peace." Sindri stated with a slightly hoarse voice, as it was difficult to speak with a throat that was constricted with emotion. More than ever, he wished his mother would be able to see the ceremony with her own eyes.
"May you work hard to keep the peace of the people," Sentain Vitara replied before taking her place back in line with the Sentains. "Oh, and Solare Sindri?" She called over her shoulder. "Rest well. Tomorrow is the first meeting with the Sentains. In fact," She turned to focus her icy blue gaze on the Gallants. "ALL of you should rest well. You will all be summoned bright and early for the first meeting with the Sentains; all except for Visionary Ansar."
A chorus of "Yes, Sentain Vitara" and "Certainly, Sentain Vitara" followed her statement. Afterward, Gallant Kelius let out a groan of despair while Ansar rubbed his back in, what the hoped, was a soothing manner.
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