Prospit was in a sort of enthralled chaos, its populace inebriated off of a volatile mixture of jubilation and liquor. The air was a viscous drink of breath caught in the back of one’s throat and the roiling sensation of anticipation, the jump in a soul’s stomach as they teeter over the ledge of the great, unknown precipice. The carapaces waited, pale hands clutched to their chests and teeth gnawing at their chapped lips. Young ones stood on their toes in fruitless attempt to see over their older compatriots.

The Seer of Derse was soon to arrive.

Jade paces under the shimmering, golden canopy held above the heads of the high nobility—its placement more for the sake of recognition for their position than protection from any heat. She wrings her hands before bringing one up to card through her tumble of dark, messy hair. Her smile is quivering, a combination of excitement and nerves, though more the former. Turning on her heel, she glances to the others under the canopy: the Heir, the Page, the King, and the Queen. If they are nervous, it does not show upon their countenances.

“My Queen, when do you think she shall be here?”

The Witch of the Green Sun knows she has asked this far too many times in the past hour, but she cannot help herself. Among the many duties her position has granted her, she has garnered another this day. Today, she is to be the guide of the Seer. The Queen had told her this with that knowing, maternal smile of hers. Instead of instilling a sense of calm in Jade, as it almost always seemed to, it had only frustrated her. Why was the duty hers and hers alone? It was not so much that Jade recoiled at the idea of helping the Seer. No, it was the question of why she, The Witch of the Green Sun, was selected.

Perhaps this was comeuppance for all of the times Jade had provided those who sought her counsel with such vague answers.

Suddenly, the cheer of trumpets rings to the heavens. Jade’s head whips near one hundred eighty in its eagerness to turn, to see the Seer’s approach. Grinning wide and clutching her hands to her chest, the Witch says in an excited whisper,

“She’s here!”

And, indeed, there she is. The young woman is an astoundingly striking contrast to everything that is Prospit, as are most anything of Derse. As a matter of fact, Jade finds the Seer to be her exact opposite, in many ways. She is tall, with the gentle slopes of oncoming curves so symbolic of her womanhood approaching. Her lips are dark—a placid line—and her hair a near platinum blonde, cut short: neat, manageable. Their garb is what Jade finds similarity in, the fanciful opulence of it. Such was what positions such as theirs endowed, after all. Jade wishes she could see her eyes, though; glance at the Seer’s soul. All that the Witch knows is the way the Seer’s hand raises to delicately wave to the adoring crowds milling below.

Maybe when the two would finally meet, Jade could finally see her. She’d bet her finest potion ingredients that the Seer had interesting tales to tell.

((I apologize in advance for the fact I am incapable of giving anything a proper title. I can barely give my own pets decent names ;3;))

The walls of the ship were thick, and blocked out all sound as it moved closer to the golden planet. To be able to survive the journey through the asteroid belt that separated Derse from it's sister planet Prospit with a precious cargo like it had, it needed to be sturdy. The inside of the ship was all different shades of purple, more luxurious than even the rituals ever required. This cargo was rare, in fact irreplaceable. For kneeling on a mauve sofa, face pressed against the pane of glass barricading the cold grip of space, was none other than the Seer of Derse, Rose Lalonde.

The girl waited, pale hands clutching the railing in front of the large window. It was so much brighter than Derse, and even that was brighter than the inside of the Circle. It was however just as silent as in the Circle. There was no one on the ship but her and it's pilot, but even if she had someone to talk with she would have kept silent.

As they got nearer to the surface of the planet however that long period of complete silence was broken. The noise that passed through the metal and cushioned walls grew from a low buzz to deafening for the girl's sensitive ears. Is the outside always this loud? The Seer wondered moving away from the window. Moving with the slow, silent pace she'd learned through her years she paced across the carpeted floor.

This would be her first time anywhere but the circle. It had been her choice of course. Stubbornly she had argued that her training couldn't be considered complete till she met her counter part on Prospit, even if the Circle had wanted to show her to Derse first.

To anyone else the trip would feel like an eternity, just silence all around, but Rose enjoyed it. She had time to think. Only now just before leaving the ship did she feel regret, wishing the trip had taken longer that she could have put off her entrance into the world.

Well not a thing I am able to do for it now. I shall simply have to face the hoards. Now a few minutes later she stood in front of the large door that would open for her, taking apart every detail of the mechanism in her mind. To stand out even more than she already would with her pale skin and light hair she was dressed in an extravagant purple gown that made her look ever paler. Still she stood proud and pulled the violet veil over her eyes to protect them from the brightness.

The hiss of the door opening was lost by the sudden even louder cheering. Even though she had been preparing herself for this Rose nearly staggered back at the sheer intensity of these people's exuberance.

After a second to recollect herself Rose stepped out of the ship and if it was possible the cheering got louder. Running back into the ship would be bad form, instead Rose raised a gloved hand in a wave.

The pilot disembarked behind her and wordlessly, such a thing would be lost among the sound of the enthusiastic Prospitans, went off to find some refreshment. Preferably an alcoholic one. With all the noise and bright colour it was difficult to focus on where she was going, but her feet gracefully lead her to stand just before the canopy of the high nobility. Again the Dersite was glad for the cloth covering her eyes.

Not knowing what to say she settled into a deep curtsy to buy a little time. When she rose again she again gave the content smile, folding her hands in front of her. The crowd had fallen into an expectant silence, so she had to say something.

"Thank you for so graciously welcoming me to your beautiful home."

If it was possible, the Seer sounded exactly as the Witch had expected her to. The voice was a sonorous, infallible hymn of verbal poise—unexpectedly quiet, yet an authoritative sort of presence. Jade wished she could be so commanding whilst exuding such effortless subtlety. Such skills either came naturally, or blossomed through long, arduous years of practice. It was an ability Jade was still attempting to master herself.

The decorous words of the Seer tilt Jade’s lips in a smile, and she ducks her chin while glancing away. It was not her place to speak, not yet. Cordial greetings and formal hospitalities of these sorts were between the true royalty of Prospit and the Seer. The Witch of the Green Sun would have to wait her turn if she wished to converse properly with the Seer of Derse. Greetings are exchanged: the King amicable but brief, the Queen gracious but languorous. Like Jade, the Heir and the Page would have to bide their time if they desired proper introductions.

The encompassing silence of bated breath emanating from the crowd dissipates, easily, eagerly resuming to its deafening roars of praise and good-hearted benevolence. The Witch takes this as her cue to pick up her skirts and curtsy to the crowd—smiles abound, as always—before retreating with the others of Prospitian royalty into the stuffy sort of safety their canopy provided. The prying eyes of the common people could not breach the heavy curtains of the structure.

Hitching an excited breath in her throat, Jade turns on her heel in a swirl of skirts just as the Seer takes measured, cautious steps into the structure. The Witch is upon her in an instant.

“Salutations, Seer of Derse! I am the Witch of the Green Sun, but you may call me Jade!”

The young woman nearly forgets herself in all of her excitement, her curtsy clumsy and rushed before she is back up with perfect posture and a grin splitting her lips. The hasty upward motion sets the wisps of hair framing Jade’s face in frenzied disarray, only further exemplifying her frenetic sort of enthusiasm. Gesticulating enthusiastically, Jade attempts to explain her abrupt presence upon the Seer,

“The Queen has tasked me with the duty of being your guide for the duration of your stay upon fair Prospit. I am looking forward to sharing your company immensely.”

If possible, Jade’s smile widens even more. Her shoulders pull up high in a sharp shrug, the curved heights brushing the bases of her flushed cheeks. And then, practically quivering in her excitement, Jade opens her arms before pulling the Seer into her smaller form and eager embrace.

“And who knows, if fortune may have it, we shall become close companions!”

Finally, the Witch releases the tense young woman from her hold before leaning forward and inquiring,

“Where would you prefer to venture first?”

Rose calmly waited through the introductions, speaking when she was meant to and listening through the rest. These interactions she could understand, they were trained into her as much as her knowledge was. The interactions she didn't understand was what came after she followed the few Prospitans under the canopy.

She froze when the girl in front of her suddenly stopped and turned around, speaking directly to her. No one besides her mentors and fellow scholars spoke to her directly like that, and certainly no one except those few that only came occasionally to the Circle ever moved so quickly outside of a ceremony.

She stared for a few seconds, jaw clenched tightly shut, before she forced herself to relax. She had learned that the head of the Green Sun had been an elderly wizard, not a witch as young as her. "Greetings, Witch Jade." Rose said with a nod in reply to the curtsy. Since her teachers thought it frivolous, despite everything.

Everything about this girl seemed wild and uncontrolled, more than she'd ever expected. From the mess of her hair to how she seemed to be bouncing even while standing still, everything was different. Now she was sure nothing more would ever surprise her after this first encounter. "I see. My thanks, both to you and her Highness. This is too grand a pleasure."

She reached out a hand to shake but it was crushed flat against her stomach when the girl sprang forward, wrapping her arms around her. What? What is she- what is happening?! The seer's mind reeled, trying to make sense of it. The most affection she'd ever gotten was a pat on the head, maybe a squeeze on the shoulder. Now this girl was trying to crush the life out of her!

Even the worried terrified wasn't close enough to explain how she felt, standing ridged in the arms of this excited and.. friendly? stranger.

Her hood had fallen back revealing long blond hair in an elaborate braid that fell to almost to her waist. Bright yellows assaulted her eyes, but Rose didn't pull her hood back up or squeeze her violet eyes shut.

Released, Rose took a slight step back and blinked till she stopped seeing spots. "Perhaps to your temples, if you have any? Or if there is a place that is... not to bright, I would be grateful."

With furrowed brow, Jade appraised her new companion with interest. The poor young woman seemed not only on edge, but gave off an air of well-controlled confusion. She was, on the outside, the picture of composure. Well, save for when her hood had fallen off and she blinked into the light like she hadn’t seen it in years. Which, for as pale as she was, Jade wouldn’t be surprised if such was the case.

“You may simply call me Jade. Titles are not truly necessary, unless they are your preference….?” Jade trailed off. Perhaps hugging had been too soon? Jade wondered if this girl had ever been hugged in her life. That was tremendously depressing thought, if she had not. If Jade had her way, this Seer would have enough hugs to compensate for all that that had been missed by the time she went back to Derse.

“The pleasure is ours, truly! Thank you so much for coming. I have no doubt it was quite the journey.” Last Jade recalled, of when she had visited Derse and met the Prince and Knight, the trip had been a long one.

She’d been right about not being exposed to much light. Offering her companion an affable smile, Jade hooked an arm around Rose’s shoulders before she’d even known she was doing so. Leading the way towards the back of the canopy and away from the crowd surrounding the royalty, Jade mused aloud, “Temples, temples. We have quite a few temples, for quite a few things. Though, I suppose our most famous would be the Temple of Life.”

As if that were decision enough, the Witch extended her free hand before her. With a heated crackle that sent pinpricks of electricity coursing across Jade’s cheeks, a vibrant, radioactive green portal opened its wide maw before the two young women. Heat flared from its center, and nothing concise could be discerned beyond the swirling whirlpool of verdant hues in front of them. Releasing Rose once again, Jade meandered forward so as to stand side by side with her creation. “Come along! It’s safe, I promise. I have been making these since I was but a child.” For reassurance’s sake, Jade thrust one forearm through the portal, then, after a moment, pulled it back out. “See?”

After a moment, Jade ducked her head through the portal so as to peer out of the other side. While she startled a few maidens, most seemed unperturbed by the random head peering into the muted, golden din of the temple. “I wonder if Jane is here…”

Then, she pulled back out, standing straight and gesturing back to her portal once again. “All is clear!”