~Serana⚜️

The convoy left four days ago, it took five to get to Kenysiz. Thanks to the Shattered Mountains cluttered shelves, it made any journey longer and more difficult getting through. By this point Nani and the convoy were already well into rebel territory.

Poking at the sliced pallik meat on my plate, I push it around disturbing the rest of the food and threatening to push it off onto the table.

A pair of warm pail arms wrap around my neck accompanied by the sent of woodbee honey and a warm breath tickling my ear. "You need to eat." Mira's voice was soft in my ear.

The dining hall had long since cleared out from the dinner rush and now Mira and I were the only ones left.

"I'm not hungry." I brush off her request, barely lifting my voice enough to be heard.

I felt a soft kiss press against my shoulder just before Mira pulled back to stand up straight. "At least drink something." She suggest instead. "Please?" The concern in her voice made guilt gnaw at my stomach.

Leaning forward I pick up the full glass of water and down it as quickly as possible. By the time I've finished the cup and the water hits my stomach I feel like I'm going to be sick. Setting the cup back down with a heavy hand I fall back into my seat.

Long soft fingers find their way to the sides of my neck and tops of my shoulders, gently rubbing circles into the tender muscles. "Can I ask you something?" Mira inquiries, speaking just as quietly as she had before.

When it became obvious that she wasn't going to continue until I responded I lifted my head to look at her over my shoulder. "What is it love?"

She pauses for a moment as if she's trying to find the best way to word her question. "How do you think Helton managed to get so many people allied against us? Me." She amends, looking unsure of herself.

Looking up in thought I search my mind for reasons why people wanted to join the rebellion, why I had wanted to join the rebellion. "I think he took issues that were already bad and just made them worse and framed you for them. Since you weren't there to defend yourself it was probably easy to make it seem like you were this distant tyrant. Didn't help that no one seems to know anything about you. You are kind of secretive." I point out looking up at her to gauge her reaction.

A frown pulled at her lips as she furrows her brows. "Why do people need to know about my personal life? It's none of their business." Her tone was a bit defensive and definitely bewildered.

"I don't know." I shrug glancing around the room like that would help me come up with a response. "I guess it helps people connect with you. Makes you seem more like a person instead of this larger than life persona that your title makes you out to be." I started rattling off answers without thinking too much on them. "I mean you are a rather frightening person and you have this- thing about you that just feels intimidating. It's almost like when I was standing in front of that vyx and it was staring me down. You're just this- force in the room. Whether you like it or not, your presence is awe inspiring, in both a good and bad way." I finish my mini speech, heart thumping as I try to describe what it was like being around Mira, especially for the first time.

The other woman seems to consider my response for a moment before she hums and resumes rubbing my shoulders. "Wasn't aware I was so intimidating." She quips, digging her thumbs into the tight muscles at the base of my neck.

I couldn't help the snort that came out in response. "I know, you know, that you're intimidating." I fire back with a smirk.

I could practically feel the other woman rolling her eyes at my wording. "Well I didn't think I was that intimidating." She amends, shifting her hands to my wings to continue working out the tension in my muscles. "And you need to take a course in grammar." She chides playfully.

Humming in response I relax a little into my chair.

Mira continued working on my shoulders and wing blades for another minute or two before pulling away to stand beside me. Looking up to see why she'd stopped I find myself looking into dark blue eyes full of concern. "You really should eat." She prompt again, nodding towards my untouched plate.

Groaning internally I reach out and pick up my abandoned fork. Stabbing a piece of meat I shove it in my mouth and force myself to chew.

My efforts are rewarded by a gentle kiss being firmly pressed to the top of my head. "All things end with time. Peace, war, joy, and pain all a temporary state that will pass in given time." She quotes softly.

Forcefully swallowing the food in my mouth. "Isn't that from The Night Book?" I asked turning my head to look up at her once again.

"Aye." She nods with a soft smile tugging at her lips. "I've recently found a new appreciation for many of its verses." She admits, still talking in a voice just above a whisper.

I huff out a small laugh in astonishment. "I didn't know you were religious." My voice was low to match hers, soft in tone so as not to disturb the moment.

"I admit I am not as devote to our faith as some say I should be. But that doesn't mean I am without it." She responds with a steely look in her eyes. "What of you and your faith?" She asks leaning to rest her hip against my side.

I take a moment to look over her features and the honest curiosity in her eyes. "I've found little reason to hold it through my life. I still believe in it though. Or at least- what it can do." I answer truthfully. "I do agree with much of what the Day and Night Books say, there's no question about their truth, but I don't necessarily trust in where it says to be from. Does that make any sense?" I wonder, trying to explain what I felt without fully knowing how to.

Mira takes a moment to mull over what I've said before answering. "I can't say I agree with you, but I can see where you're coming from." She admits slowly.

I hum softly in acknowledgment. "What other verses have you found a new appreciation for?" I ask, curious as to what could have drawn the queen's attention in the ancient scriptures in resent months.

Her eyes are soft and warm as she gives me a dazzling smile that showed just a touch of nervous fear. "Hold fast to the light of love, for it is the source of life and your guide through the darkness that is the void." Her voice has dropped to a whisper as she stares at me with eyes so full of warmth that it took the breath out of my lungs. "The Day Book: verse 23- 9th testament."

Slipping out of my seat to stand up in front of her, I raise up on my toes to plant a firm kiss to her lips. "Isn't that about Sapio?" I question cheekily.

"Aye." She confirms, wrapping her arms around my waist and pinning me between her hips and the table. "But it still holds true to whatever, or whomever, you may find love in."

My pulse spiked at the implications of her words. Looking into the taller woman's eyes, I wrapped my hands around the nape of her neck and pulled her down so our foreheads rest against each other.

I closed my eyes and breathed in her sent of woodbee honey, letting it wash over me in a soothing balm.

"I wanted to ask you something." Mira's voice was soft and gentle as it cut into the silence. "You don't have to agree and I will fully understand if you don't want to." She assures pulling her head back, causing me to open my eyes and look at her. The expression on her face was sincere, letting me know how serious she was.

"Okay." I nod, encouraging her to continue. My pulse had picked up its pace as worry began to ebb at the edges of my mind.

Mira too a deep breath, seeming to gather courage before she asked her question. "I wanted to go to the temple this evening. I was wondering if you would go with me." It was more of an offer than a direct question, and she pulled back out of our embrace far enough to allow me to escape if I wanted to, and for that I was thankful. She was trying to make it as obvious as possible that I could refuse.

I took a second to think about it, but the hope in her eyes made my decision for me. Letting out a long exhale I give a single nod of my head. "Sure." I whisper at the end of my breath. My brows shot up as I lifted a finger to point in her already grinning face. "But don't expect me to start praying." I warn in a louder voice, only half serious.

My remark causes the grin on her face to brighten even farther. "Wouldn't dream of it." She assures, pulling me in for a chaste kiss.

"Are we leaving now?" I wonder, pulling back to properly look at her once more.

"If you're ready?" She asks glancing to the side at my still full plate.

Rolling my eyes I grab another piece of meat and stuff it in my mouth. "Happy?" I question around the food in my mouth.

Mira gives me a flat look as she pulls away. "Gross." She comments before heading for the door.

Laughing I take the cup of water she had abandoned by her own empty plate and used it to wash down the food before sprinting to catch back up with her. Catching up with her right outside the door I snatch her hand and intertwine our fingers before she can react. "So where's the temple?" I ask, changing the subject before she can reprimand my manners.

"You know that giant building shaped like the Drace with his wings spread out around Sapio?" She asks in return.

"The one on the other side of the city, that you can see from our room's balcony?" I fire back.

"Yeah that one." She answers with a solicitous grin. Clearly eager to get in the air and head for said building. "My parents used to take me to the temple at least once a week." The smile on her face dropped just a touch turning a bit more sad and self deprecating. "I've only been a handful of times since they passed. Skies, I don't think I've stepped foot in there in over a decade." She breathes, more to herself than me.

Squeezing her hand gently I draw her attention back to the present. "Then what are we waiting for?" I ask, forcing a smile onto my face. I'd never stepped foot in an actual temple and I was interested to see what it looked like, but the nerves in my stomach threatened to make me throw up what little I'd eaten.

She smiled back shortly, before taking a deep breath as we stepped out into the cold late winter evening. The sun was setting and the sky was turning purple as small ribbons of red began to flicker across the horizon.

Mira let go of my hand as she got a running start at the nearest platform to lift off. Following suit I took off after her and followed her lead around to the eastern side of the castle.

As we passed over the wall four guards rose up and fell into position around us, two to either side of us, one just behind and bellow, and the other above us in a protective formation.

None of the guards said a word as they followed Mira toward the towering frame of the temple.

Looking down upon the city I watched as the traffic of the day began to slow and torches were lit inside homes and at the doors of late night establishments. Carriages were trotting into stalls and markets were closing up shop as the light receded and the cold of the night crept in.

As we got closer to the temple I realized for the first time just how big the building was. Why does it need to be this big? I wonder as I follow Mira down towards the landing platforms at the front of the structure.

Landing with a solid thud I hopped down and trotted to stand at Mira's side. The guards weren't far behind and as they began to take up a close defensive position, Mira flicked her wings motioning for them to give us some space.

The guards stepped back and fanned out behind us just out of sight as long as we faced forward. That explains why we never leave the castle. I grumble to myself.

Mira takes my hand and tugs me towards the entrance, large wooden doors that sat open between Sapio's feet. Looking up at the statue I was in awe of the artistry that went into the structure. Nothing was forgotten or misshapen, from her toenails to the hair cascading around her shoulders. Looking past the statue of the day sky I saw the Drace. Even from directly below the statues he seemed to envelop Sapio with his massive skull hovering over her head like guardian or a threat. His clawed forefeet were planted around her making an entry way of sorts leading to the doors at her feet. His wings were large and flexed just enough to make the statue look larger and more regal, it seemed as if he were about to wrap them around Sapio in an all encompassing embrace.

If Mira wasn't tugging me forward I would have stopped to admire the outside of the building longer. I snapped my eyes forward as we pass through the large ornate doors and into the equally breathtaking building. The floors were black and ran into black and white marbled walls that met a white ceiling. Gold and silver were used for accents in the furniture and statues scattered about the temple. Chairs and benches lined the walls to our left and right with stairs directly to either side of us that led up to a secondary floor that reached out a quarter of the way into the room all the way around in a balcony. This format continued up into at least a dozen more floors if not more. Each floor seemed to have shelves carved into the walls holding innumerable amounts of books and scrolls.

A warm breath hits my ear as my gaze flickers about the room. "The Temple is not only for the continuation and understanding of our faith. It is also an archive of our world's history, both before and after The Purge of Fire." Mira tells me while gently guiding me towards the center of the room.

On the ground floor was a shrine like the ones I had seen scattered throughout the city but instead of only depicting the Drace there was a clear allusion to Sapio in the form of a gleaming white sphere resting between his open jaws. There was a shallow pool of water around the base of the shrine that you had to walk through to reach the step which was occupied by several other people kneeling in prayer.

Looking around I could see more people sitting in the chairs or on the benches reading or simple soaking in the quiet serenity that seemed to be coming from the very walls of the temple and filling the air with their gentle spell.

I follow Mira a few steps into the room before she motions toward one of the walls. "You can go sit if you'd like. I'm going to go pray at the shrine." She whispers in my ear.

A wave of relief washes over me as I nod my gratitude and head for one of the chairs near the wall. I choose a seat a good distance away from the others seated around the room with one of the guards sitting a little ways away from me.

Looking for the other three guards I spot two at the entrance of the temple and another just behind Mira at a respectful distance but close enough to jump in and defend her should the need arise.

My gaze was drawn to Mira as were many of the room's other occupants as they began to register the presence of the royal guard. A woman and her daughter a few seats away from me were looking at Mira with no small amount of awe in their expressions as she knelt down at the step of the shrine.

"Nani, is that the queen?!" The girl loudly whispers in excitement, catching my attention.

Looking over I see the woman hush her daughter with a stern look. This didn't seem to deter the little girl as she began to bounce in her seat with excitement. "Can I go pray with her?!" She whispers no quieter than she had before. The woman shushes her again and the whole display draws a quiet laugh from me.

The room was so quiet that my laugh was easily heard by the pair and drew their attention in my direction.

They both looked at me then to the armor clad woman only a couple seats away. The little girl began to beam as her nani paled with the realization that I'd heard them.

Before the woman could open her mouth to apologize for her daughter's disruptive whispering the girl spoke up, happily bounding over to my side with her nani hot on her heels to catch her. "Nani doesn't think the queen will want me to pray with her. Wait is she the queen or are you the queen?" The girl frowns looking at the lavaliere around my neck.

Chuckling softly at the girl's blunt nature. "She's the queen." I nod towards Mira who seemed none the wiser to the slight disruption her presence has caused. "And I don't think she'd mind at all." I assure the little girl.

Before I realize what I've done the girl is literally sprinting across the room towards the shrine causing a loud echoing of her footsteps hitting the black marble floor. Her nani was red faced as she scrambled to catch her daughter before she started sprinting. Reaching out I place my hand on the woman's arm to calm her down.

The noise had caused everyone to look up including the queen herself as they watched the little girl excitedly splash through the ankle deep water only to stop a few feet away from the kneeling royal. The girl seemed to suddenly become nervous as she tucked her head down and mumble something that had Mira's eyes flickering towards me before returning to the child with a kind laugh that rang around the silent chamber.

I could see that Mira was saying something in return with a bright smile lighting up her features. Whatever she said seemed to ease the little girl's nerves as she happily climbed up onto the cushioned step of the shrine to kneel next the queen in prayer.

The woman beside me seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "Thank you." She murmurs softly before heading back to her own seat.

Slowly the rest of the people in the temple turned away to go back to what they had been doing before the queen had entered. I continued to watch from my seat as the kid seemed to say something to Mira which looked to be answered by a soft shh.

I don't know how long I sat there watching them, tracing the outline of Mira's wings our the faint highlights in her hair cast by the candle light around the room. When I finally saw Mira stand up I knew there were twenty-nine floors and three hundred and seventy-six chairs on the ground floor alone.

I watched as Mira took the girl's hand and began to lead her over towards her nani. The girl was grinning from ear to ear but was much quieter on her return trip than when she'd raced to the queen's side. The woman stands with her book in hand and offers a kind and nervous smile to the approaching monarch.

Standing up myself I notice for the first time just how stiff I'd gotten. My butt hurts. I complain to myself, scrunching my nose up in displeasure.

I stretched my legs as discreetly as I could, flexing the muscles of my rear and wings to work some of the tension out of them from staying seated for so long.

By the time I'm done Mira has handed the child back off to her nani and is heading in my direction. "Stiff?" She asks in a soft whisper with a teasing lilt touching the edges of her voice.

I roll my eyes at her and opt not to respond.

Chuckling at me, Mira reached out and took my hand before heading for the door. "Come on it's getting late." She whispers.