Moon Crystals

When the mortals emerged, the crystals warmed and protected them from the beasts that bordered and threatened their useless and expendable lives. Little by little they got used to the presence of the crystals and as inferior beings they always were, they prayed to them and worshiped them like gods. Then, on the night the moon became full, Devit emerged. "My children, you have been good so far and we are all satisfied with your loyalty. But I must warn you, you will be swallowed up by the world if you do not listen to our advice." they saw no reason to go against the one who saved them. So my nightmare began. Our lives, customs and even the simple way of speaking was coldly influenced by Devit and his children, the moon crystals were serene. Superior beings. Gods. We were taught rituals that we never dreamed of learning, we were taught to fight, hunt and above all to live with each other creating a hierarchy of monarchy and sovereignty. Now I was just part of it all. Lady of a family of monarchs who worshiped stupid crystals and in front of the stones I saw myself sigh. “Be respectful,” Lenna grumbled and I raised an eyebrow in disdain. "It's stones," I mumbled. "They are the ones who protect us" “No, they protected the dumb mortals and without any sense that I was incapable of surviving this world” I replied crossing my arms over my chest. Lenna sighed, lifting a hand to her forehead. "How can a noble lady be so rude?" I smiled openly hearing her words and seeing the way the sun reflected its light on the crystals I answered her. "Perhaps I would not be so rude if by chance they did not allow a piece of stone to be able to designate my whole life, my future" "It's always been like this, Alena" she tried to comfort me, but before her gloved hand touched my arm I pushed her away. "No. Not with me” I looked at the crystals wishing they could hear me “not when I'm destined for something other than a mediocre marriage to an average lord”. I would never accept such a fate. Would my future be different, would it be my choice, my decision and above all? It would be done by my own steps and words. Not by an oracle of a strange, dark stone. Not by a moon crystal. Lenna, for her part, flinched at hearing me and muttered an ancient prayer to the crystals as she asked for forgiveness, making me sound like a grumpy child who doesn't understand her own mistakes. I would feel sorry for her if I wasn't so angry. “Shut up, Lenna. Are you really too dumb to understand?" I found myself saying before I could police myself. Lenna was young, actually two years younger than me, and thanks to the damn craze of the nobility, we'd become friends at an early age, even though there wasn't much between us to maintain such a bond. Lenna was kind, sweet and dreamy. A complete indulgent without control and a romantic without a destination. She was too lost to the real world and would let the crystals guide her without a second thought towards her future love, but that was the complete opposite of me. While Lenna devoted herself to embroidery and singing, I trained against my brothers and defeated them in swordplay, horseback combat, and magic control. While Lenna attended teas and ladies' reviews, I accompanied my father to fights, hunts, and meetings. Don't get it wrong, I didn't become an i***t who gets rid of the basics, but I did strive to be perfect. The perfect Lady, the perfect young heiress and everything was fine, even the damn oracle. Until the crystals destroyed my life and hopes. “The young woman who bears the crimson eyes, must marry at the end of autumn and without looking back leave her home and family to her true destiny” the voice of the oracle still rang in her mind.