Rivia: Meissa Palace, Elianna's Quarter

• Elianna •

She had the entire day off as everyone in Rivia busied themselves with the preparation of banquet and celebration later in the night for the Second Princess. Laying in bed with Thunder, she rested her head against its body and asked, "Thunder, what do you think of Rivia?" 

It arched its back slightly and took its human form. Turning his body over, he allowed her to rest on his lap as he tangled his fingers in her soft brown hair. He purred lazily, "Why do you ask?"

"It's really beautiful here," she smiled.

"They wouldn't be so kind if they knew you are a Thethian," he rested his palm on the top of her head and his luminescent green eyes glowed in the dimly lit room. "The world isn't even kind to start with."

"It'll get better, Thunder," she comforted, placing her hand on top of his. Closing her eyes, she prayed silently.

At the sudden moment, two light clinks sounded from outside her quarter's door before a maidservant spoke in a slightly accented voice, "Lady Elianna, may we enter?"

Thunder slunk back into its panther form and she quickly jumped off her bed to pull on the bed curtains to hide it within. Then, she scuffled towards the door and swung it open, taking the two maidservants by surprise. But they recovered relatively fast and bowed respectfully towards her.

She flustered at the way she was greeted, she's merely a Royal Doctor but they greeted her in the same manner as to how one is expected to greet a noble. As she pondered for a moment, she eventually decided to bow towards them too, unsure if it was customary for Rivians to greet each other by a deep bow. The maidservants looked at each other and told her funnily, "Lady Elianna, you're not supposed to greet us like that."

She lifted her head slightly and met with their eyes, she asked, "How should I greet you both?"

"You don't have to," one of them smiled at her.

"That wouldn't do," she shook her head disapprovingly. "I'm just a Royal Doctor, please do not greet me so formally."

"Prince Rowan had specifically requested for us to take good care of you," they explained.

"He did?"

"He even made a list of some things he knew you would like, right Kiran?" one of them giggled playfully and the other hit the back of her arm before hissing, "Jana!"

Pink bloomed on her cheeks, then she passed through the door and moved to hold onto their arms. The two maidservants looked towards her and she mentioned, "Please don't mind the formalities and come on in."

She led the two maidservants into her quarter. They moved slowly, each holding onto a silver tray with a delicately folded set of clothing. Out of curiosity, Elianna inquired, "What are these?"

"These are dresses for the celebration tonight!" Jana replied excitedly.

"We weren't sure how you would like to dress so we chose a set of Rivian clothing and a set of Iftian clothing," Kiran said.

"I think you would really look great in Rivian clothing!" Jana added.

Elianna laughed at her enthusiasm, pleasantly enjoying the energy that she had brought along with her. She picked up the Rivian dress from the tray and her eyes sparkled in anticipation. Turning towards Jana and Kiran she asked eagerly, "Can I try this?" 

"Of course!" Jana squealed. "But let's help you to the bath first."

They moved forward, wanting to remove the thin dress off her but she grabbed onto her clothes instinctively. She wasn't used to having others serve her for these things and she hadn't expected them to treat her like a noble. She stuttered embarrassingly, "I-I can do this m-myself."

"We understand," Kiran laughed softly, bending over to take a small tin jar from the tray and left with Jana towards the bath. Chanting a few lines of magic command, the bath was soon filled with water. The convenience of household magic. She sat at the ledge of the bath and watched as Kiran emptied the contents from the tin jar into the bath waters while Jana threw in a handful of freshly picked flower petals. A familiar fragrance wafted into her nose and she asked curiously, "How did you both know?"

"We were told you like lilacs," Kiran mentioned while helping to add more petals into the waters.

"I do," she replied, running her fingers through the lukewarm waters. "Thank you so much."

"We will leave you be for now," Kiran smiled towards her and left the bath with Jana.

Unknotting her waist tie, the dress slipped off her shoulders and formed a soft heap on the floor. She stepped into the waters, submerging her body in the faint scent of lilacs as she closed her eyes and rested.

After so many years, she still refused to wear any other scent except for lilacs. 

Mother used to wear the scent of lilacs.

Marie was the one who ordered to send lilacs over to Heather Palace from the Royal Palace.

Lylia would always replace the bouquet of lilacs by her bed every few days.

Weirdly, even Jason had a small scent pouch tied to his waist belt that smelled faintly of lilacs.

Holding onto this scent was the only way she knew of to remember the people she loved and grasp onto all the happy memories they used to share with her.

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After her bath, Jana and Kiran helped her into the black satin dress. She smoothed her hand along the exquisitely handsewn gold embroideries that shimmered even in the dark. Tipping her toes, she made a small twirl and the dress swung gracefully with her movements. Jana had also clasped an anklet on each of her feet and its bells jingled with every step she took. "This is amazing, thank you!" she chirped.

"We're glad! See you at the celebration later, Lady Elianna," Jana and Kiran chuckled before picking up their trays and left her quarter.

Following their departure, she walked back to her bed and pushed the curtains aside. Thunder flapped its ear towards her and turned its head to face her. She swayed excitedly from side to side to show Thunder her dress and the big cat bared its teeth, as though grinning happily at her liveliness. Her hand reached for its head and she asked, "Walk with me?"

Purring in acknowledgement, it pushed itself off the bed. They left the quarters but took the path that could avoid the eyes of others. They explored the area and found their way to a vast garden filled with varied colours of flowers. Noticing that the path along the gardens was not the usual concrete ground but the white soft sand, she was beyond thrilled. She ran into the sand. Her feet sunk into the soft white sand and she giggled playfully at the ticklish feeling of sand against her bare feet. As they walked, their paths were traced by the footprints in the sand. However, those footprints were slowly erased by the magic cast on this ground. It was another fascinating knowledge that she had learned about Rivia. They stravaiged the garden, simply enjoying the magnificence of twilight shining the last rays of light over this wondrous land.

"Elianna Evarix."

The same voice travelled through the winds and tinkled in her ears. This time, she turned around and saw a girl who stood not far from her. She still wore a white kaftan adorned with silver accessories that matched the pale of her eyes. Elianna bowed respectfully, "It's an honour to meet Your Highness."

"Please call me Naailah," the princess spoke in a hushed tone, as if not daring to raise her voice higher than she already had. Taking a few steps through the path, she stood closer to Elianna.

"Your—"

"Naailah," she interjected assertively even with a quiet voice. Raising her head, her pale grey eyes speckled in reflection of the silvery moonlight shining through the slow-arriving night. "I have come to seek you with an important foretell in mind."

"Please do tell," Elianna requested, realising that Rowan was right about Naailah. Nervousness jittered in her heart, not knowing what to expect. She met her pale grey eyes, and they suddenly glowed in white.

"Nil desperandum, lux in tenebris lucet," Naailah whispered in an enchanting voice.
(Translate: Never despair, for the light shines in darkness.)

Elianna paused in her position and Thunder trotted in front of her, leaning its body close to her in an alert stance. She asked in a quiet, unostentatious tone, "What should I do?" 

"Veni ad me." 
(Translate: Come to me.) 

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