The day before the ball, I had a vision about the Returners Ball. In the vision, I was suddenly drawn to a child my age with red hair and green eyes that shimmered as he spoke. A voice told me his name was Allister Carmen, and he was trustworthy. Suddenly, a rampaging monster broke through the wall. Allister immediately ran over to save me as the monster ran towards me like I was its prey. He used fire magic to deter the monster, but the monster killed him instantly. Then the monster killed me. A voice said, “You must be wary of the adults around you. There is a reason why you came and not your cousin by blood. She was murdered in your stead. You cannot run from your fate forever, but you don’t have to be as vigilant when you go to school. It is the adults outside of school that wish to harm you, and they cannot touch you while you’re in school.”

“How can I stop this from happening?” I asked in desperation.

“You must locate the one who called the monster and use your water magic on their Tomkin,” the voice said.

“Why do I have to do that to their Tomkin?” I asked.

“To disrupt the monster,” the voice said, “I am not allowed to say anymore.”  Suddenly, something out of the corner of my eye turned light. I saw a face scowling at me with brown eyes, and… Before I could do anything else, I was brought back to reality. Mom was sitting on the chair at my bedside, looking anxious.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“You passed out so suddenly, Aurelie,” Mom said, “I was worried that something had happened to you, but the medic only said that it was probably due to you hitting your head the first night you were here.” I wondered if I could tell her about the vision, but the voice said not to tell what the vision was about.

“I don’t know what came over me,” I said, “It was probably due to shock, I guess.” Mom nodded.

“For a child of the healing tides, Debrik, to not heal well is not a good sign,” Mom said, “But you don’t act like you have a concussion. It’s almost like you’ve had a vision like your great-grandmother used to have before she passed.” I frowned.

“And what if it was?” I asked. Mom smiled.

“That would make sense as to why you’re a 12,” Mom said. I have to tell your father.” Something told me I shouldn’t tell anyone except Mom, but it wasn’t the voice this time.

“Mom, please don’t,” I said, “I don’t think it’s a good idea. Something bad would happen if anyone besides you knew about this.” Mom sighed.

“I’m sorry,” Mom said, “I guess I was getting ahead of myself, but it’s all so new, this mother thing. I mean, I did give birth to you, but I didn’t raise you. I don’t understand this at all.”

“It’s a little strange, isn’t it?” someone I couldn’t see asked. Besides, you should be more worried that she’s not in shock.” The person stepped out of the shadows to reveal a beautiful woman whom I had never seen before, with red hair and blue eyes, wearing a crown and a purple dress. Mom looked surprised and quickly got off her seat and curtsied.

“Your Highness,” Mom said, “I didn’t expect you to be here.”

“I just wanted to meet the person who was a 12,” the Queen said, “No need for formalities. We were childhood friends after all, weren’t we, Meredith?” Meredith stood up. “So, you’re Aurelie, huh?”

“Yes, Your Highness,” I said.

“Meredith, I’d like to speak to your daughter alone,” the Queen said.

“Oh, all right,” Mom said. She left.

“You don’t seem to look like your mother at all,” the Queen said as soon as the door was closed, “Are you her daughter?” I frowned.

“I’m her niece,” I said; I couldn’t lie, almost as if a spell was cast that I couldn’t lie, “My father was a Flouppzich who never manifested his powers, and my mother was probably human. I have an older brother, but obviously, he doesn’t have powers either.”

“Why did you live instead of Meredith’s daughter?” the Queen asked.

“I was told that she died instead of me,” I said, “Because I’m the prophesized one, not her. So I’m not sure what you want me to do.”

“Why would a half-blood be in a prophecy?” the Queen asked, “I understand since you’re a 12, but these three things never go together. 12, prophecy, and half-blood. I don’t know what kind of entity you are, but you’re not what you were thought to be. Why did you lie to my best friend?”

“I didn’t feel comfortable telling the truth,” I said, “My mother wasn’t good, my father was rarely home, and my brother was on my mother’s side. I did have a family maid and her son living with us. She was on my side, but her son was surprisingly neutral despite being my brother’s friend.”

“That’s not an answer,” the Queen said, “Why did you lie to my best friend?”

“I didn’t want her to be sad,” I said, “Because her daughter didn’t return. Weirdly, I have the same name and teardrop birthmark on my cheek. I wanted to believe that I was her daughter because I was so upset with my former life that it was better to pretend to be her and be happy.” The Queen stared at me in surprise at my words.

“So, you decided to lie to be ‘happy,’ is that right?” the Queen asked. I nodded, “For a 12, you’re pretty audacious. I just decided to raise you as my successor. Normally, you would have to marry into the royal family, but since I don’t have children and can’t, as my lover has long since died, you can marry whomever you choose. I suggest you choose wisely, as with Flouppzich, we can have children with anyone regardless of gender.”

“Is that why Bethany and Hyun Shik have two mothers?” I asked.

“Yes,” the Queen said, “But you have to look for ‘the one’ who will make you the happiest. Not many people find their person.”

“I think I already met that person in my dreams,” I said. The Queen laughed.

“I’m starting to like you more and more, Aurelie,” the Queen said, “You always say strange things, but that’s the best part. You’ll be the perfect ruler.” I choked on some salvia.

“I don’t think I can take you up on that offer,” I said.

“And why not?” the Queen asked.

“I don’t think I’m qualified,” I said. The Queen laughed.

“You’re a 12,” the Queen said, “That makes you more than qualified.”

“Someone is going to try to kill me at the Returners Ball,” I said, “They’re going to be using dark magic to summon a monster. I didn’t see their face clearly, but I did see that they had brown eyes and an upturned nose. I was told to use water magic on his Tomkin.” The Queen sighed and snapped her fingers. A Flouppzich with blue eyes and rainbow hair appeared wearing a weird uniform, almost like a knight from the olden times, and his wings looked almost like rays of refracted light.

“What is it, your highness?” the knight asked.

“Karl, can you investigate this matter?” the Queen said, “I don’t want anything to happen to my precious successor.” Karl looked at me in awe before he nodded.

“I will ensure that nothing happens to the princess,” Karl said, and then he disappeared again.

“You have nothing to worry about, Aurelie,” the Queen said, “I will treat you as my adopted daughter. Meredith and Charles can always have another child. Their second child is still too young to return, as he is only six years old.”

“You mean that the real Aurelie is the eldest?” I asked.

“Yes,” the Queen said, “But you don’t seem to have any problems pretending, right?” I sighed.

“No, Your Highness,” I said.

“My name is Velisabeth Greene,” the Queen said, “You can call me Aunt Veli until you feel comfortable calling me Queen Mother.”

“Aunt Veli?” I asked, “Why would I call you Aunt Veli if I’m your adopted child? That’s almost blasphemous.”

“You know a lot of big words for a ten-year-old,” the Queen said.

“I couldn’t do anything but read when I was living in the human world,” I said, “I wasn’t given any formal education, I wasn’t allowed to leave, I wasn’t allowed to have friends, I wasn’t allowed to go to the doctors, I wasn’t allowed to have things that I wanted, I wasn’t allowed to do much of anything. Sure, I would sneak out to play, but I would get people sick and then secretly heal them. I was so scared I would be discovered, but I never was. All my old clothes, besides underwear, were hand-me-downs from my brother and the maid’s son.”

“That’s terrible,” the Queen said, “I’m sorry you had to endure that.”

“But now I don’t have to deal with that,” I said.

“I will give you a private tutor for after-school lessons,” the Queen said.

“Wait, I get a private tutor?” I asked excitedly.

“Yes, of course,” the Queen said, “The school you are going to is called Maynard Academy and is a boarding school. You aren’t the only one who will get a private tutor after school, but since you’re now my successor, you will get higher priority than just being a Grimes from the Healing Tides Debrik. I must go, but I will see you later, Aurelie.”

“See you later, Your Highness,” I said. The Queen smiled and disappeared. I quickly opened the door, but no one was there. I guess Mom left to talk to someone. Mrs. Darby arrived as I was looking out the door.

“What are you looking for, Miss?” Mrs. Darby asked.

“I was looking for Mom,” I said, “But I don’t want to leave my room.”

“I’ll go find her,” Mrs. Darby said.

“No,” I said, “I think that would be a bad idea. Why don’t you have someone you trust to spy on her?” Mrs. Darby frowned. We went back into my room and shut the door. Mrs. Darby made a soft noise.

“All right,” Mrs. Darby said. She snapped her fingers, and a female Flouppzich appeared with long brown hair and purple eyes. This is Michelle Lilac, my friend and a spy by trade. She will be the one spying on Meredith.”

“So pretty,” I said.

“Hello, you must be Aurelie,” Mrs. Lilac said, “I will gladly do as the Miss wishes and let you know if I find anything at all.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“There’s no reason to thank me, Miss.” Mrs. Lilac said, “I haven’t given you any information yet.”

“That doesn’t matter,” I said, “As long as you agree to help me and follow through with it, I’m thankful.”

“I’m glad I can serve such a wonderful Miss,” Mrs. Lilac said, but then she disappeared.

“What does snapping do?” I asked.

“It calls on your most loyal friend or servant,” Mrs. Darby said, “But both parties have to sign a contract to make it work, and only the one side can call upon the other, but say if the one being called upon was in the bathroom or doing something, it can be voided for a length of time.” Mrs. Darby blushed as she said the last statement.

“Oh, that’s interesting,” I said. I wondered if I could find someone willing to do that for me.

“You can only have one Flouppzich do it,” Mrs. Darby said, “Even after they die, you can’t have another one, so be careful about who you choose.”

“That’s strange advice,” I said, “By the way, are Flouppzich marriages the same way? You can only one person for the rest of your life?”

“Yes,” Mrs. Darby said, “That’s why we don’t have arranged marriages. You must find the right one yourself; it’s only natural.” My stomach suddenly felt like it had knots in it.

“But what if you can’t love anyone?” I asked, “I don’t even know what love is.”

“You’re too young to know for sure about that, Miss,” Mrs. Darby said, “Now, let’s get you ready for the Returners Ball.” I sighed, this again. I quickly put on the dress that Meredith chose, and Mrs. Darby did my hair like I usually do, with two small side buns and the rest of my hair down, but put ornaments in it to make it prettier.

Soon, Mom and Papa arrived to take me to the ball. Mom was wearing a white dress with blue beads that matched my dress. Papa was wearing a white suit with a blue tie. We got into the back of a black limousine.

“I’m so excited to show off my little angel,” Mom said.

“Did you notice that all three of us match, Aurelie?” Papa asked.

“Yes,” I said, “It’s nice.”

“It’s customary for the parents and siblings of the Returners to wear matching clothes with the Returner,” Papa said, “It’s said to give good luck to the Returner, which in turn gives good luck to the family.”

“What about Returners without any family?” I murmured.

“What did you say?” Papa asked.

“What about Returners who don’t have any family?” I asked.

“They’re so few and far between,” Mom said, “They get sent to an orphanage until they find the right Debrik. It usually only takes a year or so to find the right Debrik, but depending on their rank, it might be harder. The Flouppzich who get rank 0 are usually executed when revealed to have a rank 0, so the orphans aren’t in the category.”

“Oh,” I said, “What does the rank mean anyway?”

“I don’t know,” Mom said.

“I don’t either,” Papa said.

“Could it be talent?” I asked.

“There’s no way we would know,” Papa said.

“Those Flouppzich in robes are the only ones who know, but it’s impossible to become one of them unless you have a recommendation from your family, and you can’t get that unless your family wants to get rid of you.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“We don’t have enough information about it,” Papa said, “We aren’t one of those who make the laws.” I frowned, then realized that Papa didn’t say anything about the Flouppzich in robes. I guess it sounded similar enough to him for me to think it was him saying it.

“I’m one of his ancestors, so, of course, I sound like him,” the voice said, “I’m also the one who warned you about telling people, but the Queen used a spell on you to force you only to speak the truth. The Queen chose you as a successor because you are 12, like me, but she doesn’t know I can talk directly to you. I am Nicholas Louis Locksley, the first rank 12 in the history of Adaqowi, and you, my dear, are the second. You can hear me now, but not before, because I can only talk to seers I’m related to when they manifest. You just manifested yesterday, so now you can converse with me.”