"Sari... I'm your mother..."

Narice looked over but to his and everyone else's surprise, Sari only gave her an indifferent smile, "Okay," and turned her head to the queen, "May i have a little more tea?"

The queen poured the tea for Sari. Sari was usually the type to wear her heart on her sleave this reaction was unexpected.

Noone really seemed to know what to say for a moment, but it felt like something had to be said. Her mother looked slightly heartbroken.

"Uh.." Elera started but she was stopped by Venu who simply pointed towards the queen.

The queen was much more casual in her tone, "So where did you learn to cook, Sari?"

"At home, I started with a recipe once for dad and Mika..." she said.

"Ah yeah- was that that one time with the potatoes mixed with the other items that we brought?" Mika responded.

"Yeah!" Sari repied, "And remember you spilled the sauce? But dad simply picked it up and that's when he said that it was an opportunity..."

"That was fun," Mika smiled remembering.

The queen responded, "Did you guys enjoy your town?"

"I would go outside to play, but Sari usually stayed home..." Mika responded.

"Oh? Why was that..." the queen asked Mika.

Mika couldn't answer for a moment. He looked at Sari- who turned her head to the side in shame.

"They thought she was a mistake... and told her that she shouldn't exist... They would have done worse unless dad stepped in and stopped them... he kept her locked away except when i took her out at nighttime and when i helped her escape. "

Tallaeya held her hand to her mouth....

Everyone was silent.

"This is a grave situation..."

Uncharictaristically of Mika he acted very solemn and responded wisely, "It was..." Mika responded, "but now it's in the past and we're having tea."

Mika smiled at Sari and her features lightened up.

Mika looked like he knew what to say. He didn't deny the past but the past was behind them now - that was the message he left Sari.

---

"Sari- is there anything you wanted to add to your mother?" the queen asked.

"Mika..." Sari looked at Mika for a minute.

Sari looked down and then nodded slightly. Tallaeya looked prepared to take in what Sari had to say.

"I heard you were a kind woman- i heard you were beautiful and full of love..."

"I wanted..." She began to choke on air a bit while swallowing- to which her mother started to tear up too… “So I wanted you to be there..."

"At my first step, for my brother's graduation, for when daddy got hurt"

"I kept hoping... But you weren’t there. The moment that the dragon was in front of me…,” She stood up and pointed to the group behind her, “...they were!”

"I'm so sorry, Sari..." Tallaeya spoke while kneeling in front of her.

"I'm here now..." She spoke and held her arms outwards to hold Sari.

"Oh mom..." Sari spoke and moved slowly into Tallaeya's embrace.

Tallaeya whispered, "I'm so sorry you went through that... Let's meet your father again and share everything again."

The queen smiled as she looked at them and the others also.

"Well now..it seems we have a lot to figure out for everyone else here..."

---

"Mika and Venu... you already know, but you will be begin enrolling in knight school - which includes a formal education in addition to the extracarricular activity of training and advanced magic. You will both be housed within the castle barracks among the other students..

"As for you two..." the queen spoke to Narice and Elera, "After hearing your story~ I believe that you two would be adept guardians with proper training- but as Aqayans, perhaps you only wish to go to the northern kingdom and live amongst the Aqayans there...

I'm sure you have some secrets- I can provide you with whatever you need to move ahead. What would you like to do?"

---