The words reverberated around the room. Slowly, the elders rose one by one. The elder furthest on Crystal’s right was the first to stand, followed by the elder on his right. Each elder stood up until there was only one remaining: the elder seated the furthest to Crystal’s left. A truly ancient man, the elder locked eyes with Crystal before painstakingly standing up.

A hush fell upon the room as the elders stood. Crystal felt as if they were drilling holes through her skull, but she did not back down. Like Violet, she attempted to lock eyes with each and every single one of the elders. The youngest of the elders, those to Crystal’s right, seemed nervous, but those who were further advanced in years gazed at her with steel and ice. The eldest, the one at the very end, did nothing to mask the contempt on his face.

The elders’ chairs were arranged in a half-circle around the front of the room and were elevated on a platform. Each chair was like a throne, coated in gold and taller than anyone in the room. Crystal had not been in the council room for some time, and the opulence struck her. Snapping Crystal out of her thoughts, a woman in her mid-50s stepped forward from her seat in the dead center of the semi-circle.

“Crystal Levin Whit,” she began, “the decision has been made that you will succeed your mother. Do you accept this responsibility?”

Meeting the woman’s eyes, Crystal declared, “I accept this responsibility.” The elder nodded and sat down.

“You will be in charge of the day to day operations of this village,” the elder to the furthest right declared. He was not much older than 40, but he already stooped over like the older members. “Do you accept this responsibility?”

Crystal met his eyes. “I accept this responsibility.” He sat down.

“You will protect this village from any and all invaders,” a woman to his right declared. Unlike the others, she gave Crystal an almost motherly grin. “Do you accept this responsibility?”

“I accept this responsibility,” Crystal said, returning the smile for a brief moment. Nodding, the elder sat down.

“You will make sure the strong are taken care of and allowed to flourish,” the next elder declared. He was a burly man with an intense mustache. “Do you accept this responsibility?”

Crystal nodded. “I accept this responsibility.” The brawny man sat down.

“You will also look after the weak,” the next elder, a scrawny man, proclaimed, “and protect them from those who would take advantage. Do you accept this responsibility?”

“I accept this responsibility,” Crystal announced proudly. I can do this she told herself as the thin elder sat down.

As Crystal turned to the next elder, she was met with an icy gaze. This elder said nothing. The tallest of all the elders, the woman stared down at Crystal from her elevated platform. She made no gesture, nor did she let out a single word. Instead, she sat down and turned away.

For a brief moment, Crystal felt her composure slipping, but she caught herself. One disapproval means nothing.

The next elder to the right nodded to the tall elder before declaring, “You will shape our political ties and ensure proper trade routes. Do you accept this responsibility?”

Crystal nodded. “I accept this responsibility.” He sat down.

“You will protect the fields,” the next elder declared.

“I accept this responsibility.”

“You will keep the youth in mind and oversee their education.”

“I accept this responsibility.”

“You will watch over our allies and assist when needed.”

“I accept this responsibility.”

“You will maintain ethical practices of magic and study of its arts.”

“I accept this responsibility.”

The second to last elder gazed upon Crystal. Her eyes were weary as if she had seen too much. Gertrude and old Philemon are the only two who witnessed the second chief’s coronation Crystal realized. This is only the second time they have witnessed this ceremony peacefully.

Gertrude was quiet for what felt like a season. Crystal thought that she too would sit down without a word when a soft voice came from the eldest woman. “You will safeguard the traditions that were established before you. Do you accept this responsibility?”

Crystal nodded. “I…” For a moment the words would not come out. Crystal took a deep swallow. “I accept this responsibility.” Gertrude nodded and sat down. She seemed almost relieved.

The final elder, Philemon, met Crystal’s eyes. He stared at her for a long moment, and Crystal broke eye contact. Without hesitation, he declared, “I do not approve of this venture.” A gasp snuck out of one of the younger elders, but before anyone else could say anything, Philemon continued, “Claudia may not voice her displeasures, but I will. You are too young. You are too inexperienced. Most of all, you are too easily cowed. I do not believe you will ever be worthy of being the chief of Velestot.”

“Elder Philemon—“ Crystal began.

“Do not address me during the ceremony, girl,” Philemon ordered.

Crystal closed her mouth. What do I do? Is this a test? Why? Why, why, why, why, why?

“Philemon, you are an old codger,” a velveteen voice flowed, more than a hint of malice hidden in the words. “You would disrupt this ceremony at the final moment?”

All heads turned to where the center elder stood. She looked as if she were not sure of what to do. “Open the door, Elima,” the voice commanded. “Now.”

Elima jumped to her feet, pushed her throne to Crystal’s right, and opened a door that was hidden by the seat. Standing behind the door, an impressive figure stood, her hands on her hips. Her shoulder length blond hair shown gray at points, but her body was fit. She looked as if she had mastered aging, allowing herself to age only as slowly as she wanted. She wore a long green robe with sleeves that ended at her forearms. Crystal could tell she wasn’t happy.

“Do you claim to know better than I do, Philemon?” the woman demanded, stepping past Elima, who seemed scared out of her wits.

“I do, your highness,” Philemon responded, bowing his head slightly. “She is not ready. You must be able to see this!”

The third chief of Velestot, Isla Kenley Whit, turned her eyes to Crystal. For a moment, Crystal could see nothing in those eyes. They were expressionless, not cold but rather calculating. “My daughter is not ready for the tasks set before her,” she declared. Then her eyes softened. “But neither was I.” Chief Isla turned back to Philemon. “This is why we have given her the task of meeting with the royalty of our greatest allies. She will learn what she needs on her journey.”

“But you cannot surely believe—“ Philemon was cut off.

“I do believe in my daughter,” Chief Isla asserted. “I see great potential in her.”

Chief Isla met Philemon’s eyes and held them with her own. Philemon stared back defiantly, but the chief’s eyes burned holes through his skull. After a few tense seconds, he turned away. “I accept your judgement, Third Chief. But I cannot give my approval to this girl.” Elder Philemon sat down.

Chief Isla nodded. “Would anyone else like to place themselves above my decisions?” The room was silent. “Good. Now, Crystal, my daughter, it is time for your journey to start.”