Iftia: Lyx Palace, Elianna's Bedchamber

• Elianna •

After Rowan left, Elianna sat on her bed and wondered what she could do since she wasn't feeling weary. Since she left Thethia Royal Grounds ten years ago, she couldn't remember the last time she slept during the night. Thunder circled around her bed to watch her and she held her palm out, deciding that since wouldn't find her, she shall train with her gift. 

Dark shadows surrounded her as they glided through the room, painting it in a canvas of black. She focused on containing them within the perimeter she wanted them to stay in. Like wild beasts, her shadows were difficult to tame and they always attempted to break free from her command if she lacked concentration. 

Just then, Elianna sensed someone walking past her room and her shadows morphed into a sea of arms, trying to reach for the life near them. Elianna quickly closed her hands and pulled on her shadows to forcefully draw them back, she sensed their resentment and warned, "Take a look at who you're trying to rebel against before attempting."

Her shadows quickly quietened down and she kept them on a leash, not allowing them to run rampant against her commands. Her emotions were much stabler than before and it was easier to tame these iniquitous entities of hers. Elianna couldn't help but always think back of the day she was gifted because she was the one who manifested her grief and acrimony into the shadows. Taming them, was only her way of acquiescing herself. 

This was a side of her that she had to carefully hide from everyone else. It would be better if Rowan and the rest didn't learn this side of her. Withdrawing all her shadows, Elianna looked towards Thunder and smiled, "It's a lot better today, isn't it?" 

The panther nodded at her and jumped up the bed. He lowered himself beside her and rested his head against his crossed forelimbs. Thunder closed his eyes and let out a lazy yawn as the first light of morning shone through the window and Elianna knew that she had lost her chance to sleep. She climbed off the bed, not forgetting to lower the curtains around her bed to shield Thunder away from the brightness and allowing it to fall asleep in comfortable darkness. 

Then, she turned and went into the bath to freshen up. By the time she was done, there was a knock on the door and someone announced, "Lady Elianna, it's me. I'm here to bring you to the dining hall." 

Elianna recognised the voice as Kaylon and she shouted from within her bedchamber, "Please give me a moment!" 

She made a dash into the dressing room and put on the first dress she managed to grab. Thankfully, it was a simple pale blue dress, nothing fancy. She dressed as quickly as she could before opening the door for Kaylon. She smoothed her hands on the skirt of her dress and breathed hard, "I'm ready."  

"What about Thunder?" 

"Thunder sleeps in the day, I'll bring some food for him after the morning meal," Elianna was still trying to catch her breath from the rush. 

Kaylon looked at her funnily and laughed, reminding her that she could take her time to prepare next time. They walked to the dining hall where everyone had already settled around the long table, ready to have breakfast. Kaylon pulled out a chair beside Rowan and gestured for her to sit while she followed as instructed. Making sure that she was comfortably settled on her seat, Kaylon then walked to the opposite side and sat beside Tristan. 

"Did you sleep well yesterday?" Rowan asked, concerned.

"I couldn't sleep at night," she felt troubled.

"Take it easy," Rowan reassured. "Please return to rest should you feel tired during the day." 

Elianna didn't have much of an appetite in the morning as she wasn't used to eating in the day. Moreover, food was scarce in the mountains and it wasn't possible for her to dine as frequently as she would like. Naturally, she ate little than usual and managed to survive with minimal rations. It may be rude to leave the dining hall earlier and she wasn't used to having a meal with so many people so she decided to stay. Everyone also ate in silence and the mood seemed a little too formal and she felt uncomfortable. Elianna used the fork to poke on the scrambled eggs in her plate while munching unappetisingly on the small piece of bread that she took from the basket placed ahead of her. 

"Is the food not to your taste?" Rowan seemed to have noticed her listless mood. 

"N-No, I'm sorry," she stuttered. "I don't usually eat in the morning." 

"That's unhealthy, young lady," Alec frowned at her while throwing a few slices of bread, pieces of bacon and more eggs on her plate. "It's okay if you can't finish but try to eat a little more. Besides, Rowan likes it curvy."

"What?" Elianna laughed, taken by surprise.

"I'm serious." Alec nodded profusely at her.

"Shut up, Alec." Rowan threw a piece of bread at him and he caught it swiftly, giving Rowan a naughty wink as he bit on the bread.

"Eli, that's not true—" Rowan explained.

"Don't lie, Rowan." Ilias, Kaylon, and Tristan said in harmony.

The atmosphere surrounding the dining hall lifted and she was instantly lifted into a better mood. They seemed to realise that she didn't mind them being chatty over the dining table so the knights loosened their demeanour and started to talk casually, forgoing some table etiquettes. Suddenly, Elianna thought that it would be enjoyable to have meals with them with all the liveliness. 

※

Breakfast ended shortly and Rowan went ahead with the rest of his knights, leaving Ilias to show her around and bring her to the work station. As they entered the room stationed at the end of another lengthy hallway, Ilias explained, "This is our first aid room, it was a convenient location from our training grounds." 

Ilias walked towards the window and she followed him closely, gazing towards the direction he was pointing to, she found a large group of soldiers training in the open grounds. Ilias continued, "This shall be your work station from today onwards, Lady Elianna. His Highness also mentioned that you can arrange the room to your liking and should you require any assistance, please feel free to go to the training grounds to grab some soldiers." 

"I have yet taken the exams." Elianna paused for a moment.

"His Highness has affirmed your abilities, but if you feel uncomfortable, you can just tend to minor injuries. If someone comes in with serious injuries, you may transfer them to the Royal Medical Department."

"I can do tend to them, but is it allowed?" Elianna asked.

"By the rules, no." Ilias shook his head slightly, but he added, "However, His Highness runs Lyx. If he says yes, then I don't see why not."

"Thank you, Sir Ilias," Elianna heaved a sigh of relief.

"Just Ilias will do. Formalities aren't a thing within Lyx, we only uphold them beyond the palace."

"Why do you call Rowan, His Highness then?"

"He is the highest power within Lyx. Only in allowed settings, we address him as Rowan," he explained. 

"Oh, thank you. Please simply address me as Elianna too."

"As you wish, Elianna," Ilias gave her a polite smile. "One more thing, His Highness said that you should use those books there to help you prepare for the exam." 

Ilias pointed towards the bookshelves beside the herb cabinet and she quickly combed through the series of books that was placed neatly on the shelves. All of the books looked new, as though someone had prepared this space for her earlier in the day. When Ilias made sure that she could access everything she needed within the first aid room, he bowed slightly at her, "I shall take my leave now, please let the maidservants know if you require anything." 

"Will do. Good day, Ilias."

"Good day, Elianna."

※

Elianna spent the rest of the afternoon reading through the books on the shelves, realising that everything had been taught to her before by Jason. In fact, all the books that she was studying now were way advanced than these. With that, she wondered if it was possible to take the exams sooner than expected. 

Regardless, she flipped through the books and paid attention to the details in case she had missed out on anything. It was also good to refresh her memory on the fundamental theories and knowledge since she may be appointed into an official role in the near future. Occasionally, there would be a few soldiers entering the room with minor cuts and bruises as she tended to them carefully, washing their wounds and bandaging when necessary. 

None of the knights came through the door and deep down she felt relieved. Jason reminded her that no news may be good news because that meant that they are well and uninjured. She smiled at the memory and wondered if Jason was looking at her right now, would he be proud of her? As a child, she always told him that she would continue his endeavours in medicine and she seemed to have taken the first step to fulfil her promise to him. 

After attending to some soldiers and flipping through her third book, she was feeling slightly bored. She left her desk and walked towards the herb cabinet. There was a little of everything. She was amazed that they even had some of the rarest herbs in storage too. Her eyes scanned each label on the glass bottles and grabbed what she wanted. She started pounding and mixing to concoct balms that can be used to heal soreness and minor injuries. She thought about giving them to everyone tonight.

※

Tristan arrived near dinner time to bring Elianna to the dining hall. On the way, she handed one of the ceramic containers to him. She smiled, "For you." 

"Lady Elianna?" Tristan turned to look at her, surprised by her sudden gesture. 

"It's a healing balm for soreness and minor injuries, only for external use and cannot be consumed. Apply it to the affected area one time every six hours and it should heal by the following day," she explained specifically. "I've prepared it for everyone and if it helps, I'll make more of it." 

"I'm honoured to have it. Thank you, Lady Elianna." Tristan smiled widely as he reached over to help her with the rack.

"Just Elianna will do, you're probably not any older than me," she laughed. "I'm nineteen this year." 

"You're just a year younger than me, Elianna. I just turned twenty earlier this year," he chuckled. "Please also feel free to address me as Tristan." 

"You're a knight at twenty?" she gasped. "That's impressive! My mentor became a knight when he was eighteen and he explained that most people become knights only in their later ages!" 

"Your mentor must be a genius like Ilias! He was also knighted at eighteen," Tristan laughed, scratching the back of his head. "I only received my knighthood recently and it's nothing impressive, really."

"Aren't you too humble?" Elianna chuckled. 

"I'm really not," Tristan grinned. 

When they reached the dining hall, Tristan helped her distribute her prescription to Alec, Ilias and Kaylon but insisted that pass it to Rowan herself. Everyone thanked her for the thoughtful gift and Rowan entered the dining hall shortly after to see that everyone had something in their hands. Elianna held her hand out and passed a ceramic container to him. Pleasantly surprised, he asked, "For me?" 

"Yes, nothing bitter. Please don't eat it, anyway." Elianna poked fun at him.

Rowan tipped his head back slightly and laughed, his voice deep and rich. Every sound of those hearty laugh left a warm and fuzzy feeling in Elianna's chest.

Rowan also thanked her, "Okay, I promise I won't eat it. It's really thoughtful of you to prepare this for us. Thank you, love." 

At the thought of it, the day went unexpectedly well and it had been a while since she felt so at peace. Returning to her room after dinner, she took a bath and lay in her bed. 

After a sleepless night before and one tiring day, she drifted off into a restful, dreamless sleep.

※