Ray Of Hope

It was almost time for dinner, yet none of them felt hungry, and, as usual, Anasthasia went back to the alcove and delved deeper into her thoughts.

Moments later, a maid came in with a food trolley and prepared the food for them. They all looked at each other with a cast of doubt. The dishes' fresh and savory aroma laid on the table assaulted their noses, resisting the urge.

Gulps and grumbles heard from their stead; however, reassurance from the maid plucked a fraction of heaviness in their heart. Skipping dinner for the guests would leave a bad taste in Eirwen's mouth.

"Ana, would you like some of these?"

She hollered back, "Sure, I'll be there."

Dinner was over, and they all sat on the couches. Lucy laid her head on Anasthasia's lap. The twins only smiled and watched how their little sister curled up, grinning from ear to ear, as her hair raked by the fingertips.

Anasthasia sang a lullaby; her gentle voice soothed their soul. Her eyes darted over Lucy's profile that softened until she bore a gentle and peaceful sleep. Thereon, her voice dropped to warm hums when Liam applaud.

Clapped once but at a decent volume, though he retracted right away, he faced the wrath of Anasthasia and Levi: with a hiss from the former and a smack his head from the latter.

"If you managed to wake her up, you're dead to me by then." Anasthasia mouthed with a fair warning, and Liam flinched while he kneaded his head.

Levi whispered, "Shall I carry her unto the bed?"

She nodded, and, with a cue, Levi stood up and embraced Lucy towards the bed. While he was at it, Anasthasia called out Liam.

"Do you have any plans going back to your rooms?"

He shook his head. "I don't think so, and we would like to stay here. These couches are comfortable to sleep either way."

"Why is that?"

"Lucy, sometimes she," Liam trailed off his voice while eyeing sideways, "...Always wake up, sweating and panting hard, as though nightmares loomed over her rest. It's always us taking our rounds to console her."

"It must have been hard for you."

"Not at all, Ana. I don't mind spending time with Lucy, and so does Levi."

"Does Eirwen know and paid no heed to all of these?"

Liam bobbed his head and left her in confusion. She threw her hands in the air as she groaned. "I don't know what to think at this point. He's shrouded with mysteries as well."

"I would like to think it's because we're adults, Ana. The state affairs engross him."

"A busy person, indeed." She shut her eyes as she relaxed for a moment.

"How long will Lucy stay here?"

"That, I have no idea." Liam rubbed his chin while looking heavenward. "We have received ours, though."

"Would It be alright for me to know?"

"Aside from the information about you, the rest seemed trivial and not worthy of your attention."

"He must have thought I would pry this much. What a calculative and cautious man, I like that." She grinned in subtlety. "I bet now that he knew I'm here; he's reconstructing his thoughts."

"He was flabbergasted, Ana." From the peripheral vision, she saw Levi walking towards them.

"I think anyone will be in that kind of scenario. Anyway, if you need anything, I'm one call away by the alcove."

Levi came back and nodded with Liam. She stood up and strutted her way to the alcove, thinking about the things she knew so far.

'100,000 years… So many millennials have passed. Rightfully so, the extent of change should be just as much that I could no longer predict from my perspective. The more I dug deeper, the more it got complicated.'

Anasthasia glanced by the nearby window, and her eyes glistened from the reflections of the moonlight.

'First was Wallace, now Iris popped up in my mind.'

'What could these fools be doing? Creating a legacy for themselves? I barely noticed this before.'

She shifted to the side, crossing herself tightly, and thought once more.

'At this point, I'd like to believe that there are remnants from my empire. How come the crown prince of this kingdom, Michael, doesn't know the slightest detail of it? Was it changed—?'

Eyebrows furrowed so deep. 'The audacity for someone to change history—!' She stopped as she heaved a rueful sigh. 'History is written by the victors. Blake did mention some keepsake and whatnot of Wallace, and I should be able to get more information.'

Things got too overwhelming; Anasthasia threaded her hands through her hair and shook them off ever-so-slightly. At this point, she needed to calm down and reorganize her thoughts.

'I'll check Michael's father, then that peculiar flower, then towards Daniel… And then to that old man…" She narrowed her eyes, and she could feel her body seared from the thought of it.

"I should rest. I don't know how things will turn out from now on."

The night was quiet and the drowsiness pooled unto her eyelids. Soon, the darkness came over like a blanket, embracing her with solemnity and solace. Her consciousness ebbed, tucked in herself that night, swirling into the beautiful dream.

Realizing the randomness, all she had to do was let go. A sweet release of letting go of the worries of the world. In her dreams, she could escape and be relieved.

The golden rays glazed over her, which made Anasthasia squirmed from her place, and her arm hovered over her eyes, blocking the ounce of light as she yawned. She realized, for a few seconds, she awoke from the oblivious dreams.

But one thing for sure, she enjoyed the brief moment before her troubles burst to the forefront of her mind.

She jolted upright, stretching her limbs. She stood up and peered at the room: Twins were gone, and Lucy was on her bed, sleeping. Strolled near the window, leaning, and leered down.

In the open field, the twins sparred with each other. There were other knights, having their respite from the rigorous training, squat comfortably on the ground.

"My, what a way to see at the start of the morning." She opened the window and let the breeze welcome and brushed her face. Her blonde weave waved through the air.

She propped her palms on her chin and enjoyed the moment.

"Ana! Ana!"

Her face cracked from Liam's rowdy hollers. She squinted her eyes; Both of them were on white sleeves and black pants: Levi wiped off the sweat with his towel that hooked around his neck while Liam waved, wielding his weapon, without any caution.

'This guy, did he honestly forget I'd bypass what he did yesterday? Nevermind that.' She facepalmed.

Anasthasia hopped, gliding through the air and then fell with grace. Before she landed the ground, a gust of wind cushioned her body and pranced. She strutted to their direction.

"Liam, wipe your sweat, at least."

"Right! My bad, Ana." Liam grabbed his towel and took his time removing the excess sweat.

Her eyes dawned on their damp tops; the cloth meshed well with their skin, outlining their toned torsos and well-built arms.

"Both of you had some breakfast already?"

They shook their heads in unison. "It's our schedule to train the knights here."

"I see." She glanced at the knights, of both genders and varying ages, then back to the twins. "Do you want to provide them a spectacle?"

Liam mused, "I beg your pardon?"

"You know, like what you two did earlier."

"A spar? With whom?"

With Liam's scrunched face, she couldn't help but giggle in silence. She extended her fingers towards both and then gestured back at her with a thumb. Realization dawned them, mouth agape, and their face turned livid.

Levi felt like his glasses cracked from her crazy idea. "That is not a good idea, Ana."

"What? Do you not want them to show your strength at play?" Her fingertips covered her mouth while she arched her brows.

"Well—"

Before he could respond, Anasthasia called and rallied the knights in the area, "Everyone! Sir Liam and Levi would like to show and inspire how they fight and protect as their duties of a knight."

The rounds of knights cheered on, pumped their fist, and looked at them with reverence.

Both of them had eyes gouged out of their sockets, but she couldn't be bothered, continuing, "They will display how to fight against magicians! This is a great spectacle!"

Hearing her, they all whispered among themselves who she could be referring to at the moment.

"Don't worry! I'm the honorable guests they have requested for us to spar and show everyone in here and, perhaps, learn a lesson."

The crowd had their mouth agape, nodding slowly, as they realized the gist; their anticipation, coming to a full circle, grew larger than ever.

The twins gnashed their teeth at her blatant lies.

"You'll regret this, Ana."