Castle of Elyndra
Queen's Chamber — Afternoon
The air in the room was fragrant with the scent of lavender and balsam, creating a calming atmosphere amidst the emotional tension. The white curtains fluttered gently in the evening breeze, enhancing the beauty of the scenery outside. Beyond them, the sky of Elyndra was starting to turn golden, signaling the sunset; yet for Jeanne, time felt as if it were slipping away much faster than it should. Like sand flowing through her fingers, each passing second weighed heavier on her heart, as if the world outside continued its journey while she remained trapped in this moment heavy with sorrow.
She stood before the intricately carved wooden door, gripping Joanna's slightly trembling hand tightly. Her smile felt faded, but behind it lay an unspoken love, a promise to be a source of strength when others began to falter in facing this grief.
"Sister Jeanne..." Joanna whispered, "Mother seems weaker today than yesterday, doesn't she?"
Jeanne nodded slowly. "But she will surely be happy to see us. Come on."
As if understanding the worries between them, the wind greeted them softly, whispering hope that their presence could bring a little light amidst the darkness that loomed. She pushed the door open gently; the hinges creaked softly.
Inside, Sheena lay on the ornate royal bed adorned with white sheets embroidered with violet flowers — the symbol of the Elyndra family. Once radiant, Sheena's golden hair had now turned white and fell weakly over the pillow. Her skin was pale like alabaster, and her breathing was slow yet labored. In the suffocating silence, Jean felt each heartbeat of her mother, who had once been her lifeline, now resonating like a bell of sorrow.
Beside the bed, the flower vase that Joanna replenished daily still stood. Today, Joanna had chosen freesia flowers — symbolizing courage and hope. However, in that stillness, the fresh scent of the flowers seemed to blend with a profound sadness, underscoring the reality that every hope sometimes carries a painful weight.
Jeanne and Joanna stepped inside.
"Mother..." Joanna softly called.
Sheena opened her faded blue eyes. Although the light in her eyes had dimmed due to the illness ravaging her body, a mother's loving gaze remained unyielding. In that gaze, Jeanne felt all the love and sacrifice etched in memory, surging through the silence and flooding away the pain that enveloped them.
"Jeanne... Joanna..." she whispered.
Jeanne sat on the right side of the bed, with Joanna on the left. They held their mother's frail hand, which still felt warm. The faint vibrations flowing from their mother seemed to bridge the souls separated by time. In the silence, the only sound that could be heard was the heartbeat vibrating with hope and sorrow.
"I've been waiting for you all day," Sheena continued in a weak voice. "Every evening feels like years if I don't see you both." Her words flowed gently from her lips, like morning dew hanging on leaves, carrying an overwhelming sense of longing in every intonation.
Joanna lowered her gaze, tears filling her eyes.
Jeanne took a deep breath, trying to stay strong. "We're here now, Mom. And we won't leave until nightfall." Inside her heart, a battle raged between despair and hope, as if a single word could shatter the dreams they had built from shards of memories.
To comfort their mother, Joanna brought an old storybook that Sheena used to read to them when they were little. The book was worn, with a cracked leather cover, yet its pages were filled with memories. Each page they turned was a window into the past, where laughter and tears intertwined, forming an irreplaceable tapestry in their lives.
Joanna began reading the tale of The Star Knight who saved the kingdom from darkness.
Sheena smiled. "I remember... Jeanne always wanted to be that knight."
Jeanne nodded, her eyes sparkling with genuine happiness, like moonlight breaking through the boundaries of night. "And Joanna always said she wanted to be a dragon so she could kidnap the knight."
Joanna blushed, her face turning as red as a newly bloomed flower. "I was small and mischievous back then."
Their hearts mingled with nostalgia and laughter, letting the memories carry them back to simpler times when all dreams felt possible.
"You're still mischievous to this day," teased Sheena, though her tone was soft. Even her teasing now carried a hint of weariness.
Behind the bright smile lies an unspoken shadow of exhaustion, as if all the burdens of life have become entangled in the melody of their voices. Singing has become a refuge from the suffocating shine of reality.
Once the story came to an end, Jeanne began to sing their childhood song. The folk song of Elyndra titled "Flower Among the Snow", which speaks of hope blossoming in the darkest winter.
Jeanne's voice was soft, almost like a whisper, piercing through the cold silence of the night. Joanna joined in, her voice trembling, radiating a longing for the times that had passed.
"Let the storm come and the night be long,
I will be the light that never fades."
Sheena's tears flowed down her cheeks, but they were not tears of sadness. They were tears of gratitude for still being able to be with her children. In her heart, beautiful memories of their time together played back, filled with the joyful laughter that enveloped their home like the warm sunlight on a bright morning. While she missed those times, she found it difficult to let go, just as spring must relinquish the delicate beauty that bloomed in winter.
As the song came to an end, Sheena gazed back and forth at Jeanne and Joanna. Her look was filled with love and strength, as if she wanted to etch this precious moment into their souls. Both of them could feel the warmth of their mother's embrace, but also the shadow of sorrow flickering in their hearts, like gray clouds obscuring the sun.
"Jeanne... you have grown into an incredible protector of the kingdom. But don't forget... you are also the protector of your sister. Your duty is not only to safeguard the kingdom, but also to cherish Joanna's heart."
Jeanne nodded. "I have never forgotten, Mother. Joanna is my world." In the depths of her eyes, there was a light struggling to endure, despite being shadowed by fear and the looming darkness. She understood the gravity of that responsibility, much like holding a flickering candle flame in the midst of a fierce wind, yet she was determined not to let it extinguish.
Sheena then turned her gaze to Joanna.
"Joanna, my child... you possess a strength that the world has yet to understand. That curse... it is not a curse. It is a legacy. You must come to terms with it and not harbor hatred for it."
Joanna bit her lip. "But because of this curse, Mother has fallen ill..."
"No." Sheena shook her head gently. "My illness was determined by time. Your curse is not the cause. Do not shoulder a burden that is not yours to bear." Sheena's words were like fine threads connecting two souls, providing unforeseen strength amidst the storm of sorrow. All the guilt in Joanna's heart seemed to surge, desperate to be voiced, yet too afraid to spill from her trembling lips.
Joanna cried silently, her tears flowing without sound. Jeanne embraced her from behind, offering comfort. In that embrace, Joanna felt the warmth of support, the only solace in the silence enveloping her heart, like an inky black night, reminding her of the significance of their presence for one another during these trying times.
"Mom... don't speak as if you're going away," Joanna whispered. "I... I'm not ready."
Sheena smiled gently, yet her smile held a deep meaning. "No one is ever ready, Joanna. But you and your sister... will strengthen each other." In her smile, there ignited a flicker of hope, like morning dew shimmering as the sun kissed the earth. She wanted to instill in her child the belief that their love would serve as a bridge to withstand whatever lies ahead.
With great effort, Sheena lifted her right hand and reached for a small box on the bedside table.
"This... is for you both."
Jeanne opened the box. Inside, there were two small necklaces, each adorned with a violet wing-shaped pendant. Each piece of wonder within the box seemed to convey a message of love and hope, much like the story etched within themselves. This moment served as a reminder that although the path ahead would be filled with twists and sadness, affection would always guide them.
"This... is the protective charm of the Elyndra family," Sheena said. "Passed down through generations. It is only given to children who are ready to take on the legacy."
Joanna shook her head quickly. "But Mom is still—"
With tears in her eyes, Sheena gazed far out the window, where the twilight light began to fade as if the world outside understood the sorrow that beset her. "Life is full of uncertainty, dear. However, the courage to move forward, even with doubt, is the key to overcoming all that lies ahead."
"Accept it." Sheena's voice was firm, yet weak. "I want you to wear them. As a reminder that I am always with you, even when you cannot see me."
Trembling hands, Jeanne fastened the necklace around Joanna's neck, feeling a strong surge of emotion that seemed to unite them. Her heart resonated, like the gentle night breeze brushing against dry leaves, as Joanna reciprocated by fastening the other necklace onto Jeanne, sensing an unspoken connection—as if the necklaces were threads binding their souls, separated by time.
As the chains of the necklaces encircled their necks, a soft light radiated from the violet pendants. It was as if the Elyndra family spirits were bestowing their blessings upon them, whispering a promise of enduring love. For a moment, they were lost in an atmosphere filled with hope and sadness that touched their hearts.
The twilight gradually faded into night. The soft glow of candlelight illuminated the room.
Joanna fell asleep in the chair, her head resting on her mother's lap. Jeanne remained awake, holding Sheena's hand, feeling the warmth of love flowing between them. In the stillness of the night, the sound of the clock ticking seemed to accompany the restless feelings swelling within Jeanne's heart.
"Mother..." Jeanne whispered. "May I ask you something?"
"Of course, my child."
"Did you ever feel afraid... when you were young? Facing war, politics, curses, and everything?"
Sheena gazed far out the window, toward the first stars emerging. Darkness enveloped them like a heavy blanket, and in the silence, Sheena felt how time could be a cruel enemy.
"Yes. I'm very scared," she answered honestly. "But I've learned that courage doesn't mean not feeling afraid. Courage means continuing to walk forward, even when you are afraid."
Jeanne held her mother's hand tighter, as if hoping the magic of that touch could banish all the fears looming over them. A whisper in her heart reminded her of all the struggles her family had faced, as if every drop of sweat and tear had built an invisible wall of resilience.
"That's what keeps me going. That's what will keep you going too."
The night grew deeper. Sheena took a deep breath, the pain of nostalgia mingling with hope. The horizon seemed to remind them that every ending is accompanied by a new beginning, even if it feels far beyond their reach.
"Jeanne, promise me."
"Anything, Mom."
"If I go… don't seek ways to bring me back. Don't look for forbidden magic. Don't surrender your soul to darkness."
Jeanne bowed her head. "I can't promise that."
Almost like the wind embracing the leaves at night, Jeanne's doubts enveloped her heart. She wanted to scream, to rebel against a cruel fate, but her mother's words kept swirling in her mind, piling up like dark clouds threatening to rain. Inside her, there was a fear that wrapped around her soul, as if she were preparing to face an inevitable storm, yearning for her mother's love to strengthen her spirit.
"Jeanne..."
"I won't let you go like this, Mother."
Sheena weakly shook her head. "If you truly love me, you will let me rest. This world is too harsh for someone who is already weary."
With a face full of longing, Sheena reminisced about the joyful times before turmoil invaded their lives. Each smile, laugh, and embrace became invaluable memories. However, the current reality forced them to look deep into the darkness, where hope and despair clashed incessantly. It was as if this world were a stage of emptiness, where they were compelled to play roles in a never-ending tragedy.
Jeanne's tears fell. But she finally nodded, even though her heart rebelled.
"I'll try, Mother."
That night, Jeanne tucked Joanna into bed and lay down beside her mother. Joanna was on the other side, still holding her violet pendant.
In the silence that enveloped them, a faint vibration of lingering hope could be felt. It was as if the soft wings of hope created a poignant melody only heard by souls connected to one another. Their togetherness became a shield against sorrow, even as uncertainty lurked in the shadows. They were the stars in the darkness, striving to illuminate each other with a dwindling light.
For the first time since they were children, they slept together again, the three of them.
In her sleep, Sheena whispered her final words:
"I am proud of you all. Do not fear the future. For you are hope itself."