3 years later
Rivia: Ajayib, Town of Central Rivia, Elianna's Residence

• Elianna •

"Arell!" she shouted, trying to find her son across the wide courtyard. When a reply wasn't returned, she began to panic, "Goddess, where did he go?"

"I got him!" 

She heard Thunder's exclaim loud and clear together with a heavy rustling of leaves as he trudged through the lilac bushes near her. She also heard him complain, "Hey little rascal, what's with you and lilac bushes? You're always hiding here."

Finally, a child's chuckling placed her at ease when she finally heard Arell laughing exuberantly, "Mama!"

She placed both of her arms at her waist as she frowned towards her son, reprimanding lightly, "Having too much fun, aren't you?"

The mischievous imp reached for both sides of her cheeks from Thunder's hold and giggled playfully. Elianna felt something soft and she caught the scent of lilacs. Arell had his hand full of flowers when he placed his hands gently against her skin. He beamed, "Mama likes flowers." 

A laugh burst out of Elianna as she reached over to take her son from Thunder's arms. Hugging him close, she leaned close to his face and kissed the tip of his nose. "You plucked them for me?" she asked, referring to the petals he held in his tiny hands.

"Yes!" he squealed in delight. "All for Mama!"

"Thank you, Arell," she smiled towards him, brushed her nose against his and she heard her son laughing happily. "I'm so glad to have you."

The little child in her hold circled his small arms around her neck and rested his head against her shoulder. He said through his clumsy utterances, "Arell is glad too!"

"Alright, time to give you a shower." Thunder pulled Arell away from her. "You're sticking all the leaves and dirt to Eli."

"Thunder!" Arell called out his name loudly and ordered in a commanding tone, "Turn to panther!"

"It doesn't work that way, you rascal!" Thunder scolded him. Then, an arm held onto her shoulder as she felt Thunder nudged her gently. "Eli, get inside. The sky's dark and it may rain soon."

"The winds are strong today," she commented. "Seems like a heavy storm is coming."

After a warm bath, she sat in the qa'ah listening to the torrential downpour that arrived as expected. 

Rain poured over the town fiercely, overtaking the dry land in an instant. The cacophonous sound of heavy droplets against the grilles and loud raucous clap of thunder had disrupted the quietude within the house. She sat silently, listening to the sounds of disorientated chaos but remained calm and collected with the peace within her. 

At this moment, a small body had rushed towards her and fell against her legs. "Arell?" she asked with concern in her tone though she thought funnily at how her son had always been so clumsy when he's excited.

Arell quickly picked himself up and circled his arms around her waist, chuckling contentedly, "Mama."

"He sure is attached to you," Kiran laughed, before settling a tray on the soft carpet. "I brought tea."

"Let's have it together," Elianna said, picking Arell up from the side and settled him in her hold. "Have Jana here too."

All of them sat around and enjoyed tea together as they bantered. Elianna sensed Arell's sleepiness when he snuggled closer into her embrace and his small hands balled onto the soft material of her kaftan. She assumed that he must be overwhelmed by all the weariness from running around the courtyard earlier in the day. Smoothing her hand into the soft strands of his hair, she asked softly, "Tired already?" 

"Yes," Arell murmured, already half-asleep.

"I'll carry him for you," Thunder offered.

"It's okay, I would like to hold him a little longer," Elianna whispered in a low voice, not wanting to wake the sleepyhead in her arms.

"We will take our leave now," Kiran said quietly, stepping forward towards Elianna and landed a soft kiss into Arell's hair. Jana also followed the gesture and mumbled softly, "Sleep well, little one."

Thunder gave a gentle pat on his back and left the room together with Kiran and Jana. The door carefully clicked close, leaving her with Arell in the room. 

She stacked a few of the plush cushions behind her back and leaned her back into the softness. Humming the usual lullaby that always put her at ease when she was a child, she rocked her body gently to make sure that the child in her arms would rest with only sweet dreams in his sleep. 

She was sure that he had fallen deeply in his slumber when his breathing became paced and his chest rose and fell against hers in a rhythmic manner. Placing her hand over her chest, she whispered a name that was always etched in her mind. 

A soft mist of magic energy danced against her palm and it followed with the thumping of a metrical tempo against her own heart, hammering with vigour in the left corner of her chest. She spoke silently, "Mother only wish that you would never feel empty by his physical absence because we're all here with you."

"Papa," Arell slurred in his sleep, replying as though he had heard what she just told him.

"Yes," Elianna smiled as she combed her fingers through his hair and patted his back softly. "Sleep well, mea lux."
(Translate: my light.) 

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a/n: 

If you're reading this, I just wanted to say thank you so much for taking your time out to read my book and giving this series a chance! 

I honestly can't believe how far I reached with this series! Shadowlight was definitely an emotional ride for me both because of the plot line and the actual writing itself. I wrote this book while I was publishing the first book, Amberstone. And at some point, I got so displeased with the plot that I rewrote the entire thing in a short span of two months (if I didn't remember wrongly). 

I know that the book ended with many questions. And that's the point. The third book is on its way and I'm beyond excited to share! Just a heads up, there will be one more bonus chapter before I conclude this book. I'll try to get it out by tomorrow, and a small sneak peek: the next chapter is about Naailah. 

I'll also be dropping the title and theme quote for the last book of this sequel in the next chapter! And if you're on Instagram, please do give me a follow (chrltt.t) because book trailers leading up to the last book will be released soon! 

With that, see you all tomorrow for the concluding chapter of this book! 

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