Here lies Anna Soto

25.06.1299 - 08.09.1359

Mother

Wife

Knight of the Commonwealth

"I love you, mom," tears poured down the fair skin of a young woman whose beautiful face was framed by her rich shoulder-length onyx hair. "I always will.

I miss you, mom, so much

I don't know what I am supposed to do without. It's not fair and it wasn't supposed to be like this."

The woman choked up for a minute while she tried to keep up with the tears as she wiped them away . "What happened to you and I together to the end like you promised. Surely you did not mean this. What am I supposed to do?"

She paused to look around her and took it all in as she was flooded with memories of years past, "It's only been a week since you left me, and it already feels like an eternity.

What am I supposed to do without you, mom?"

As the sun set it glinted in the fresh tears of the young woman, named for a mother now passed, as she stood in front of several graves and their marker stones. To the left of Anna's grave lie the stones for Erida VanIsle and Myra VanIsle -- though they were largely ignored by the woman embroiled with grief .

To the rear of her mother's grave lie the stones for Harrison VanIsle and Viola VanIsle, Myra and Erida's parents who had passed many years before. Their deaths set off a chain of events that would shake the foundations of the Commonwealth and the Kirral Empire.

But then, with both her parents gone, she felt truly alone in the world for the first time.

Annabelle choked up again as she spoke, "Anna Soto was a loving mother, an adoring wife, and a Knight of the Commonwealth, one of the most prestigious and respected in all the land.

Anna was born to a noble family in a faraway city to the east, but her home was with her family here in Daeyl Brook. To her parents' protests, she became a Knight and served the people of the Commonwealth as a beacon of light and hope. But most importantly, she was my mom, she supported me at my worst and saw me at my best.

This place…my life will never feel full without her laugh, and smile…I'll miss how she fooled around while she waved a stick at me like it was a sword and ,ade the sounds with her mouth as we clashed." Annabelle chuckled for a moment. "You were better as a mother than anyone could have asked for, you sacrificed for me and I never got to repay you. I love you, always and forever. Anna Soto…may you-.

May you rest in peace mom."

The tear-stricken woman leaned down to place a white flower on the fresh grave, then looked up at the grand tree which overshadowed them while she wiped her tears.

"Come on, Annabelle. We should go," a soft voice beckoned the woman from behind her -- its source was her aunt. The forty-four-year-old and beautiful Elise Akire-VanIsle then reminded her niece, "We have to get to the memorial."

Annabelle nodded a few times as she took a deep breath to collect herself. She slowly turned to leave, but not before she stopped to say one last goodbye at her mother's grave, "I promise to make you proud, mom."

The now orphaned daughter approached her aunt, who had come from a distant city in Annabelle's time of need -- they were two of the last six members of the VanIsle legacy,

“It’s sad if you think about it, Aunt Elise. What once was a huge family full of love, is now just the six of us – you, me, Jolene, Bianca, Nairi, and Eva. We went from a full table at the weekend dinners for the holidays, to just us six.”

Elise pursed her lips and nodded a few times solemnly, “I know dear, but it’s not the end. You, Bianca, and Eva, all have your whole lives together. You’re okay, and you’ll be alright.”

"Thanks Aunt Elise, it’s just a lot to take in. But, I just have to fetch mom’s chest from the house. I’ll be back and then we can go."

"Alright, Annabelle, I'll be in the carriage," Elise hugged her niece before she walked to the driver and carriage led by four large, restless horses. Meanwhile, Annabelle made her way to the farmhouse and walked inside, it was devoid of any life. It was eerily quiet without her mother's presence -- it was as if the very soul had been sucked out of it. The only real thing that remained were the memories of all that had happened here. She made her way to her old room and sat down at the desk, which was covered in a thin layer of dust, but she could still make out the names she and Bianca had carved into the wood so many years ago.

After she took a couple minutes to reflect on the past, Annabelle walked upstairs to her mother's bedroom. She tried to open the last chest which remained in the farmhouse. The rest of their belongings were on the carriage, ready to be carted off to Annabelle's new home with Elise. Much to her dismay, the chest was locked, and upon examination, she realized it was bolted to the floor.

After she took some time to search for a key, she inadvertently toggled a switch under the bed; then, to her surprise, the chest made a click as it unlocked. Annabelle cautiously and slowly opened the lid of the dusty chest when suddenly a smile crossed the woman's face, "Oh, my," Annabelle whispered as she ran her fingers along her new discovery.

Annabelle smiled removed fifteen thick and weathered leather-bound journals. The journals were marked along the spine with the names Myra, Erida, and her mother, Anna.

Nearly thirty minutes later, Elise was surprised to see her niece emerge from the farmhouse with a large stack of journals in her arms. Annabelle rushed inside the carriage with her newfound treasure before she placed each in a black canvas kit bag.

"What have you found, Annabelle?"

Annabelle smiled wide as she turned to face Elise, "My mother.

I think I found out who my mother is."

This is the story of Erida and Myra VanIsle, and this is how it starts…