a silver splendour, a flame

When a magic user's craft fully matures it manifests in the form of a spirit guardian taking the shape of a magical creature. Mages and elves who bear these familiars spend a year traveling through four kingdoms, where they present them to each of the high courts of the aes sidhe throughout the year's festivals. Both Viktor and Yuuri have their reasons for hiding the full extent of their gifts -- Viktor's been hurt before, when his own powers were used against him; Yuuri's been warned that everyone will abuse his gift. The world they live in is one burdened with legacy and expectation; wars fought long ago that linger and divide. So what will happen when Viktor's younger brother, Yuri, comes of age and must travel the wheel, and in doing so, makes two bright stars finally cross?"the edge of the receding glacierwhere painfully and with wonderat having survived eventhis farwe are learning to make fire"- Margaret Atwood, Habitation

This is a world focusing on four Kingdoms of the Elves in the second age; each of those Kingdoms celebrates a particular festival drawn from the Celtic calendar wheel. Take this handy calendar reference, because it's dangerous to go alone:East: Imbolc, start of Spring, 1 FebruarySouth: Beltane, start of Summer, 1 MayWest: Lughnasadh, start of Harvest, 1 AugustNorth: Samhain, start of Winter, 31 Oct