Chapter 25: Troubling Mind

At the empress' home where she resides. The guards are stationed at their posts near the base of the building, silence is all there is at the moment.

Within the building itself, in her main bedroom, Ruth is seated at her desk, with a glass of red liquid accompanying her.

The desk where she is seated, is at the corner of the room, her bed being in the middle, the sheets, white, pillows, dark-green.

Her desk is white to a shine, and solid enough to keep the necessary things she needs. Books, as well as a large screen lay on top of it.

Faint sounds can be heard in the distance outside. The window of her room is half-open, the curtain gently flowing from the cool air seeping through.

The empress is clothed with a white long sleeve top, with an overlay clip over her torso, as well as a long white pants with heeled boots. Her rosé hair now tied up in a bun with a few strands hanging from it.

The screen illuminates her face, with patterns of light moving across as she slides her hands along the screen. Texts, as well as images pop up, and disappears with a new selection showing.

So busy she is, scrolling through the documents that lay present. Always feeling like she's barely holding everything together. After all that has happened between then and now, she manages to keep things in check, and in order.

She stops scrolling on the screen. Picking up the glass, she brings it near her lips. Hesitant to take a sip, she blankly stares ahead for a moment, the screen before her still illuminating her face.

Her eyes train to the balcony of the room. The curtain still flowing gently by the ever present breeze. The sun's light shining through the room, and along the floor. The dust that's made visible, dance within its rays.

She takes a sip, now staring ahead at the screen, her eyes reflecting its light. Her mind still stiring with thoughts about the invasion that accured the night before.

Placing the glass on the desk, she slides her index finger across the screen, closing windows of texts. Letting out a sigh, she brings her hands to the keyboard, and starts typing.

With one click, an image appears, showing a young woman's face. The color of her hair, black, with the length barely reaching her shoulders.

This woman, she knows all too well, her facial features matches that of her sister, Alecia.

Ruth picks up her glass, and takes another sip, only to place it back on her desk.

She opens up a few more windows on the screen, with a spectrum of colors beside the image.

She moves the cursor to the white hue, only for her to move it across the slider, and slowly adjusts it.

Slowly, Alecia's hair color changes from black, to platinum. Ruth stares at the image for a moment, and takes a breathe.

Her lips form into a slight smile. Hovering the cursor over the status bar, it reads: "Deceased." She deletes it, and types the word: "Active."

Picking up her drink, she leans back into her chair. Taking another sip, she still stares at the image of Alecia.

Ruth's mind stirring once again with thoughts of Alecia. All these years she had it in her mind that she was dead, killed in action. Only for her to know the truth, that it was a lie told by Silas, the man she trusted the most.

He was the one who tried to kill her sister, he was the one who lied to her face. After everything, the truth of him is only known to her now.

Ruth looks at the red liquid within her glass, rocking it slightly, watching as it glistens.

The big question that troubles Ruth's mind now, is why would Alecia, after coming back; why stay away for three months? What reason was there for her to not come and greet her? If Alecia had just showed that she was alive, and well, she would have welcomed her with open arms.

Ruth lets out another sigh, training her eyes to the balcony once more, with the sun's light no longer shining through.

Still thinking about her sister, it troubles her to know that Alecia stayed away, choosing to be a servent of the goddess, Angelica. Is it because she was scared, or couldn't find a way to reach her?

Taking another sip, she gazes down at her desk for a moment. Looking up, she stands from her chair.

Gracefully she walks towards the two doors leading out, still holding the glass within her palm. She walks through the doorway, and onto the balcony.

The gentle breeze begins to caress her face, a nice change from her warm room. She steps towards the wall, and overlooks the landscape below.

In the distance the orange hua of the sun's light merges into the sapphire sky. The golden disc is setting, soon it will be dark, and the stars will rule the night-sky.

Ruth lowers her gaze, and spots a few guards patrolling the grounds. Her lips twist into a smile.

This reminds her of something; something that she remembers very fondly of.

When she was a young girl, her mother was in rule, she, and Alexia would go outside, and run around the place without tiring. They would pull pranks on the guards, imagining themselves to be adventurous heroes. When they got caught, she'd always blame it on her little sister, every time. Looking back on it now, she wishes to have taken the blame with her.

But now things have changed, as the empress, she has a huge responsibility. She knows that she couldn't have done it without her trusted guard, Aven. He has been there with her for decades. He was by her side when she was grieving, and there, when she was happy.

She brings the glass to her lips, and takes a sip, her eyes starring blankly ahead.

Someday, Lumina, her one and only daughter, will take her place, and be the new ruler of Waranthal, while having minor influence on the city of Senteria.

What troubles her the most is the Seraphims; their influence of power far exceeds her own, and goes beyond her comprehension.

The Seraphims were the ones who influenced her sister, and three others, Aven himself, Silas, and Kevra. They were intangled within the Seraphims' web to do their will, and in return, have a truce with them.

The empress only hopes to not see the Seraphims again, that is the last thing she needs now.

She takes yet another sip from her glass, the sweet taste easing her mind a bit.

When that ship invaded during the night before, she feared it was them, fortunately for her, it was not.

She closes her eyes, feeling the cool breeze against her face. Just then, a knock at the door of her room is heard.

Looking over her shoulder, her eyes narrow. Only to hear her daughter's voice calling for her; her voice being muffled out.

Ruth's eyes soften. She steps into her room, and walks her way to the door.

Placing the glass in her other hand, she opens the door for her daughter, and smiles slightly at her.

"Mother, may I have a word?" Lumina asked. Her eyes beaming with questions.

With a smile, and a hint of a frown, she lets Lumina into her room, and closes the door behind her, only to hold the glass in the other hand once again.

She gestures Lumina to sit on the bed. Looking at her mother with a smile, she walks towards it, and cautiously sits on the edge.

Ruth walks to her desk, and puts her drink down.

"What's on your mind?"

She asked, a gentle tone coming from her voice. She turns around, only walk to Lumina, and sits next to her.

Lumina averts her gaze for a moment, her mother patiently waiting for her to speak.

"Remember, Lumina." Ruth said, her eyes filled with compassion. Her daughter looks at her, meeting her gaze.

"You can tell me anything."

Lumina sighs, her eyes downcast. Courage building up, she looks up at her mother once more.

"Mother I've been thinking." She paused, the light within the room switch on, chasing away the darkness.

"This huge role I will be given someday..." She sighs, her eyes averts away once more.

Ruth brings her hand to Lumina's head, and moves a few strands of hair around her ear.

Lumina looks her way with a gentle smile. Her smile fades, looking into her eyes.

"Do you think I will be able to do it?" She asked.

"To rule as you do?"

Ruth's face softens, she smiles slightly.

"I was just like you when I was your age." She said, her tone, gentle, as a mother would be to her child.

"Nervous, and unsure I was."

"Really?" Lumina said, wide-eyed.

"I didn't know that."

"It's true." Ruth said, chuckling a bit, urging her daughter to smile.

"I thought I'd never make it. My mother..." She paused, averting her eyes, staring blankly.

"Oh how I marveled at how well she did things." She looks at her daughter.

"It made me doubt that I'd ever come close to how she ruled as an empress."

"Yet..." Lumina said, her lips twist into a smile.

"Look how well you're doing."

Ruth chuckles at her daughter's kind words, averting her eyes, only to look at Lumina once more.

"I'm glad you see so." She said, smiling at her.

"What was your mother like?" Lumina asked, looking at with an intrigued gaze.

Ruth's smile fades, her eyes train away in thought for a moment.

"She was a good woman..." She said, sadness building within her chest, just thinking about her mother.

"No... a great woman. She was patient, kind, loving..." Her face saddens.

"Forgiving..."

"How did she..." Lumina asked, pausing for a moment.

"You know?"

Ruth at her daughter, still with saddened eyes.

"It was simply her time, that's all I can say."

Lumina downcasts her eyes.

"I'm sorry mother." She said, now looking up at her.

"There's no reason to say that." Ruth said, smiling at her. She takes her daughter's hand within hers.

"It's life, we all gain, and lose those we love."

Lumina sighs, her gaze lowers.

"I wish it wasn't like that." She said. Her tone oozing in disappointment.

"As do I." Ruth simply said, which urges Lumina to look up at her.

"You just need to be strong when that time comes... Do you understand?"

Lumina lets off another sigh.

"Yes mother, I do." She said. Her mother smiles, urging her to smile in return.

Lumina takes her hand out of her mother's, and stands up with her.

"Thank you, mother." She said, forming a gentle smile.

"I feel a bit better now."

Ruth smiles at her. Looking at Lumina now, it is like seeing a mirror reflecting the past. If she could go this far, her daughter will do the same.

"I'm glad that I cheered you up." Ruth said, smiling, and gently pulls her in for a hug. Only to let her go.

She walks with Lumina to the door, and lets out.

"Goodnight, mother." Lumina said, with a gentle tone in her voice.

"Goodnight Lumina." Ruth said, smiling at her, and watches as she walks away, only for her to close the door.

She lets out a stuttering sigh, her eyes now focusing on her desk ahead. She walks towards it, and take her seat.

She picks up her glass, bringing it closer to her lips she hesitates. Talking to her daughter has brought her thoughts back to her own mother, not only her mother, but sister as well. Ruth lost her mother, she can't lose her sister as well. She only hopes that Clay may find a cure for her sister's condition before it's too late.