Woke Up At 2:00 In the Morning

After the quick dinner that felt like an hour to Seira, she went back to the office of Kyrian.

Her eyes spotted the tray that was still in the place she left earlier. She glanced at Kyrian who was still in deep concentration on the paper on his desk. The three upper buttons of his polo shirt were unfastened. His eyebrows were knitted together. 'There are people who are really blessed with good looks' she thought.

She contemplated bringing the tray back to the kitchen, reminding Kyrian to eat, or doesn't do anything and waiting for instructions. Seconds after, she left the room; closing the door as noiselessly as possible. He might eat it eventually and waiting for instructions was safer for her. 'So let's wait again at the door'. She hastily glanced down at her wrist, remembering her conversation with the women in the quarters. Hiding her arm, she brought her head to her knees; leaning on the cold wall.

The sound of the clock resonating in the palace made Seira stand straight; taking out the pocket watch from her dress. It was already 10:00 and her job for the day was now done.

"Yes!" She fist pumps the air with a big smile on her face. She wanted to lay down on the bed. Sighing again for the umpteenth time, she opened the door. Her eyes landed on the tray still untouched that made her eyes furrowed.

"Is there anything else you want me to do, Your Highness?"

"Nothing"

"Then I will now take my leave" she bowed before turning around.

With one last look at Kyrian who's fixated on the papers, she leaves and heads to the servant's quarter.

The usual loud chattering and groups of women huddling in the beds greeted her the moment she opened the door. Some are already in their thin white nightgowns. She ambles to her bed, laying down for a bit. A sigh of relief came from her as her back made contact with the bed. It was a rickety bed and far from soft material. She was sure the three girls, Bella, Lana and Almira were taking a bath. Soon after, her eyes fluttered, closing until sleep came into her.

Seira opened her eyes, flickering as she was met by darkness. Glancing on her side, she saw the women sleeping deeply. She slowly gets up, rubbing her eyes; striding towards the bathroom. What time is it now? She took out the pocket watch in her dress, squinting her eyes as soon as she reached the bathroom. It's 2:00 in the morning already.

"Oh gosh" she slapped her head; crouching down, shutting her eyes promptly. Deciding to take an early full bath for the day, she walked to the cubicles. Her steps halted when a loud, deep and resonant sound came from the outside that made her step back. She stealthily walked towards the wall; leaning her ear closed to the cold vertical brick.

"Ahhhhh!" she screamed as a loud ringing sound echoed in her earhole. It was followed by throbbing pain in her left upper arm. A red liquid flowed from her nose to her white nightgown until a whirling sensation hit her. What in the name of thunderberry was happening to her? When the loud flapping sound came, slowly fading in the air, the ringing sound gradually disappeared along with pain in her arm. Her heart was thumping hard against her chest so she could hear her own heartbeat. She rolled out her sleeves. The black mark in her arm became red and there was a small glowing light tracing on the lines. She hastily pulled down the sleeves, feeling scared of her own body.

After almost 30 minutes of sitting on the cold floor, she stood on her feet. Her leg still felt like jelly. Thankfully, she managed to enter the cubicle. While scrubbing her body, her mind was still in the harrowing past minutes. What's that sound? Is it what Ms. Cora was pertaining to the rule of the time 11. And most importantly what happened to her?. Maybe she was terminally ill? That may be the reason why she suddenly collapsed and had a nosebleed.

A lot of things played in her mind at the thought of dying from incurable disease. Maybe for some, the thought of dying brings fear but for Seira, it was the equitable and well-grounded way for her to escape her past, be free from pain and worries. But at the back of her mind, an anxiety was building at her because of her mark.

…..

Bella walked towards Seira who was already dressed and leaning on the post of the bunk bed. The woman was in that position when she woke up. She was even surprised when Seira said to them that she already took a bath.

"Are you okay, Seira?" she tapped Seira's shoulders "Seira"

"Oh, what? Sorry" Seira hastily replied; getting on her feet, glancing around to find Lana and Almira "Are we going now?"

"No, I am asking if you're okay"

Seira takes seconds to answer "Yes. Yes, I am"

Bella nodded although she didn't think Seira was fine at all.

"Let's go!" The cheerful voice of Lana caught their attention beside her was Almira with her ever so poker face.

Seira forced herself to smile as natural as possible. The four of them then walk out and head to the kitchen with Lana wrapping her arms around them and giggling. She sighed as she felt tired even though her long day was not starting yet.

After breakfast, like usual the three went on their posts while Lana and her went on the garden. On their way, a servant came running towards them. Seira and Almira halted their steps, frowning.

"Ms. Elena told us to work today in the field again today," the woman said, rolling her eyes.

The two look at each other, shrugging.

"It's very annoying to work in that area, I swear" the woman exclaimed, stomping her feet.

A smile appeared on Seira's face once her eyes met the wide vast green field.

"Wow" she suddenly uttered. The view in front of her made her speechless. The fields that she saw in her entire life which were not that many were nothing compared to the wide and beautiful view in front of her. It is so broad that she thinks that it was twice the size of the combined open area of Palsbury and the Darthill village which was the next village in her town.

A hand, pulling her, made her bring back from her quick reviere. She briskly glanced at Almira who was tugging her to the area where a lot of servants were crowding with their arms crossed and knitted brows.

Almira sighed once she saw another large footprint in the field that destroyed the once healthy surface into a dry and cracked soil; the green grasses into the bunch of black ashes, some entraining in the wind. They spent the whole day restoring the other footprint near the east wing and they didn't even fully return that place into its original form. To the people like them who barely have magic, it is hard to grow actual plants. The eight people who can grow plants used their magic yesterday one time only. And her ability was not useful at all. She can only let the ashes in the place float all the way to trash bins but lifting and moving those particles was even hard for her.