What is Ternaro?
Ternaro is the world in which “The High Queen “ takes place. It is a parallel universe to ours set fairly far into the future. However, as it is fantasy, don’t think flying cars and artificial intelligence. Think similar to today with more sophisticated technology as well as magical powers. Everything is more energy efficient and there isn’t a reliance on fossil fuels, but it’s not out of this world advanced. With Magix, there really isn’t the need for some of the sci-fi type technology. Ternaro is similar to earth except it is smaller. Think of earth just shrunk down a couple of sizes. Instead of countries, these scaled down versions are called prefectures. The prefectures are all based on places in our everyday world. For example, Anna-Sophia is from Eyre-Lind which is the equivalent of Ireland. ‘Mergo is the equivalent of America. Instead of each country being largely separate, there is much more cohesion. Each prefecture is governed and ruled by Queens. The Queens also run medical systems, education, and law making. The enforcing of laws is done by the Princes and Kings. The Queens are born as royalty and have no choice unless they choose to abdicate. Once they finish school (as Princesses) they are placed into the Lower Council, Higher Council, or Circle at their coronations. Princes stay princes unless they marry a queen. Then they can become a King. However, even civilians can become Kings if they marry a Queen. They have more of a choice. This power does not end up as tyrannical as the Kings and Princes (along with any civilians who join the law enforcement career through certain placements) will bring anyone who does not follow the sacred laws of kindness and equality to the forests behind the Mountain for rehabilitation. This isn’t anything more than intense therapy type treatments. It’s not cruel. This world is much more peaceful than ours. Racial differences aren’t even recognized as anything beyond aesthetic. All teens and children must learn about the cultures of every prefecture in their Basic Studies before going to school speaking the same language with the same accent. They may only go back to using their native tongues and dialects after graduating. This puts everyone in School on the same page as they aren’t allowed to divulge if they are royalty or civilian during these four years either. Only civilians have Talents, so everybody at the University of Talent are civilians, but they too only use the standard accents. It is a foreign concept to those of us here, but it is how their world is shaped.
What is the difference between civilian and royal?
The first thing to understand is they are equal in importance. There are significantly more civilians than royalty and therefore in situations of voting have significantly more say than royals. Voting situations do happen when either the High Queen or Prefecture Queen determine everyone’s input is needed, so this is something that cannot be forgotten. Royalty are essentially the rulers but in a much different way than our world. There is a strong sense of peer oversight, so any blatant over use of power is handled immediately. As long as other royals can intervene, they do not have the ability to become tyrannical. The High Queen is a leader, up her word isn’t layaway. She is more the facilitator. She is chosen through Deep Magix in a secret way so the Queen chosen is never anything but kind and fair. All royalty have Magix and about 85% of civilians do. The other civilians have Talents. Civilians with Talents tend to be the most easily employed and the highest paid due to the extreme specialized nature as well as the Small numbers. Civilians have more choice in how they will live their lives. Princes and Kings have less choice than civilians, but more than Princesses and Queens. Queens and Princesses paths are chosen for them unless they chose to abdicate. Most civilians marry. Most Princes marry civilians and do not become Kings (60-70%). A very high number of Queens, for many reasons, never marry nor have children. This keeps the royalty’s numbers low as well when only about 30-40% of Queens marry. Civilian men may become Kings if they marry a Queen. Civilian women may not. All children of Queens become Princes and Princesses. Princes who do not become Kings retain their titles, but their children will be civilians. Therefore, civilians and royalty can be a part of the same family.
What is Magix?
This is a very hard question to answer in terms that make sense to our world. In simplest terms, it is the magic of this world. However, unlike the popular Harry Potter universe (which I am a huge fan of) magic wands and Latin derived spells are not part of using it. Magix is essentially a pure form of energy. It resides inside everyone, even if they have a Talent. Deep Magix is at the core of all feelings and morals. To use Magix, one must be able to manipulate the energy. This is why people are not able to simply conjure food or other such things. The laws Of the conservative of mass and energy still apply. Pure Magix is blue while Dark Magix is red. Powerful Magix users not only are better at focusing the manipulation of energy, they also tend to have a larger Core of Magix. The Core of Magix is what we would refer to as a soul and therefore more powerful individuals are actually better people in general.
What is a Talent?
A Talent is a different manifestation of Magix. Instead of being able to manipulate energy in a way one desires, they have it very specifically and very powerfully centered on one thing. Their Magix literally go into one thing to an extreme degree. They can’t do spell type Magix, which is what regular control of Magix is called, but they can do the impossible in one area. Imagine needing to make 13 beautiful couture dresses for a ceremony in a very short amount of time. Someone with a dress or clothing making Talent could probably do so easily in a few days. They would also be impeccably made. Think of anything like this, and there probably is a Talent associated. For this reason, people with Talents have an extremely easy time finding employment.
What are Basic Studies?
Basic studies are akin to our high school and elementary school years. For the elementary years, children of Ternaro learn the standard elementary type subjects. Reading, math, history, etc. are still paramount for a well-rounded education. Between ten and twelve, depending on advancement, students are able to begin their true Basic Studies. This includes in-depth knowledge of every Prefecture. Because all preliminaries and novices from around the world come together in one place at School or The University of Talent yet are required to conceal their prefecture of origin, it is paramount they understand more than just the place they call home. This includes things such as culture, foods, language (though not required to learn more than the name of it), etc. Students have the choice to learn electives as well. These actually would be more like core classes in our world; advanced math, sciences, arts. Students are required to take a least 3 elective studies for the entirety of their Basic Studies. They must complete at least three to at least a twelfth grade equivalency in our world. They are encouraged, but not required, to tailor these towards what they want to do after they complete School or The University of Talent. Students are expected to learn The standard accent which is required to be used by all preliminaries and novices. There are remedial and refresher classes during orientation weeks, but students are supposed to already have a good grasp of it. The most important part of Basic Studies is learning to use Magix. This is when students generally become aware of their Talents if they have one. There is a basic proficiency that much be achieved with both Talents and spell type Magix. There is a checklist of proficiency that must be sent to Higher Council Queens for review before application to either higher education institution. Once approved by the Higher Council Queens, students may apply for admission to the School or University of Talent. Typically this is done at age 18, but can be as early as 16. Students must be completed with Basic Studies before their 19th birthday. If they are falling behind, a Higher Council Queen will intervene to ensure completion. Students may go to an education center similar to our elementary and secondary schools or be instructed at home.
What are School and The University of Talent?
Much like college in our own world, the School or University of Talent are the two mandatory options for higher education. This of course is the main difference; it’s mandatory. If a student possesses spell-type Magix, they go to the School. If they possess a Talent, they go to the University of Talent. The main purpose for these places of higher education is to learn to properly use the powers they have been given as well as to gain a greater understanding for the sacred laws of kindness and equality. This ensures all citizens see something other than their home town and meet a diverse array of citizens across Ternaro. This education lasts for four years much like traditional college. To help put all students on equal footing, once at these institutions, they are not allowed to reveal their prefecture of origin nor their royalty status. Celebrities are not a thing in Ternaro, so it’s much simpler to remain unknown outside of your home town. If someone knows you from before School, they too must keep your origin a secret. Languages and dialects are just as diverse across Ternaro as they are in our own world. All citizens must learn the “standard accent.” Spoken in ‘ Mergo (the Home of the first High Queen), this is the language, dialect, and accent all students must adopt while at school. All Kings and Queens continue its use for official business, but once finished with their higher education students may return to whichever language they choose. It does make traveling easier for everyone though to have a common language. After four years of education, Royalty and Civilians are split up. Civilians may take a break from education but they have what is called Placements before beginning a career. These placements are the equivalent of an apprenticeship or internship. Royalty may not take a break. Princesses are only elevated to Queens once every five years, but they must complete their compulsory Queen training. If they are finished by the coronation, they can go to where they have been assigned. If not, they remain in the Placement village by the Mountain (The home of the High Queen) until completion. Princes only become Kings if they marry a King, but all must go to the forests by the Mountain to learn defense. I use this word lightly as it means something very different in their world. This is what they call law enforcement. If a Prince does not become a King, he may continue to a civilian placement on top of his defense duties. A king who is civilian born must complete the defense training as well.