World of Ruin – Act 15: The Mother's VigilThe Calm Before the Storm
Queen Nolvia sat in her royal chambers, staring out at the moonlit courtyard. Jacob, now three weeks old, was peacefully asleep in his crib, wrapped in a soft blanket woven from the finest silk. The quiet of the room felt like a fragile moment of peace amidst the chaos that surrounded her.
The prophecy hung over her, a weight that seemed to grow heavier with every passing day. Jacob, the Child of Prophecy, was meant to save the world—yet he could barely hold his head up for more than a few seconds. The world outside was crumbling, and yet, here she was, tending to a tiny baby who didn't even understand the magnitude of the future he carried.
Her mind wandered back to the day she first held him in her arms. His tiny hands, his innocent eyes—he had changed everything. But now, as the weeks passed, the weight of motherhood had become something more profound, something that demanded all of her strength.
A Queen's Burden
Despite the royal duties that awaited her, Nolvia could not bring herself to leave Jacob's side. She had dismissed her council for the day, choosing instead to be with her son, who was fast becoming the center of her world. The future, the prophecy, seemed distant when she held him close.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. "Enter," she called, not taking her eyes off Jacob.
The door opened, and an elderly woman entered—Gertrude, the woman who had served as caretaker for the royal family for decades. Her presence brought a sense of calm, a steadying force in a world that had been anything but steady.
"My Queen," Gertrude greeted with a bow. "I trust you are well."
Nolvia sighed, her shoulders heavy. "I am, but my mind is... troubled. There is so much at stake, and I feel so small. What can one mother do when the weight of salvation rests on her child?"
Gertrude's smile was knowing. She had raised the princes and countless others in the royal family. "You can do more than you think. A mother's love is a force stronger than any prophecy. You will guide him when the time comes. But for now… you must rest."
Nolvia looked at Jacob, his tiny chest rising and falling with each breath. "I don't know if I'm ready. The world outside is falling apart, and I'm here, helpless."
Gertrude knelt beside the crib, placing a gentle hand on the Queen's arm. "You may not be able to stop the world from turning, but you can be there for him. You can show him love. That will be the greatest gift you can give him."
The Whisper of Prophecy
As Gertrude spoke, Nolvia's gaze drifted to the far corner of the room, where the High Priestess of Egress had once left a sacred scroll—the prophecy of Jacob's destiny. The words were still etched in her mind:
The Child of Prophecy shall be the one to bear the light of salvation, to banish the darkness that threatens the world. Only through his hands shall the broken lands be healed, and the final judgment be passed.
It all seemed so distant, so abstract. How could her son—such a small, fragile child—be the one to fulfill such a monumental fate?
But as the nights passed and Jacob grew, Nolvia found herself clinging to the hope that one day, her son would rise to the challenge.
A Mother's Strength
That night, after Gertrude had departed, Nolvia found herself standing before the royal garden, gazing at the moonlit sky. The stars twinkled above her, distant and cold. The weight of the prophecy was ever-present, but tonight, something was different.
A sense of peace washed over her. Perhaps it was the quiet of the night, or maybe it was the warmth of Jacob's tiny hand still imprinted on her heart. She was not alone in this fight. Not with Jacob. Not with her people. And not with the legacy of those who had come before her.
The Queen's duty was clear: she must protect him, nurture him, and raise him to understand the weight of his destiny. And when the time came, she would stand beside him, guiding him toward the light.
A Glimpse of the Future
As Nolvia turned back to her chambers, she paused at the doorway. Jacob stirred in his crib, his tiny arms flailing as he let out a soft cry.
The Queen smiled, her heart swelling with love. "It's all right, little one," she whispered. "I'll always be here."
The night passed, and as Nolvia rocked her son back to sleep, she knew that the trials ahead would test them both. The prophecy could not be ignored, but it was the love of a mother—a force that had stood the test of time—that would see them through.
To Be Continued...
As Nolvia continued her journey as a mother, the world beyond Egress remained on the brink of destruction. But within the royal walls, a mother's love burned bright, a beacon that would guide Jacob when the time came to fulfill his destiny.
The storm was coming, and Nolvia could only hope that when it did, she and her son would be ready.