Chapter 20 - Luxana Von Or Mera Eana Kior

  -Helia Pace; Roxana's Room-

  *Door Shuts* Sigh. Finally, I breathe. I’m so tired of dang. Haaaaa... I thought as I plopped onto the bed, stretg out like a cat basking in the sun. *SHHHF* “WHY DID YOU HELP THAT DAMN KING??????????” Veles erupted, his voice eg off the walls, irritatioched across his dragon-like features. “As expected of a dumb dragon,” I remarked, still lying ft with my eyes closed, trying to calm my rag heart. Veles raged. "WHAT?" I cracked one eye open, gng at him. “I will reveal myself in my true form on the day of your bahat’s what that Xerxes guy said.” “And so?” Veles questioned, squinting his eyes as if trying to pierce through my iions. “I really had high expectations of you, Veles.” I sat up, meeting his puzzled gaze. With a resigned sigh, I tinued, “He basically asked me to create a stage for him so he could reveal his identity. The best way to do that was to hold the ba in my o get that done, I needed my father’s approval, hence, I saved his life. Does this answer your question?” “Oh...so that’s why...” Veles muttered, his expression shifting to one of ption as he rested his on his right hand, deep in thought. “What do you pn on doing now?” "What do I pn on doing now? Good questio's see......I pn on sleeping." I said, plopping bato the bed, pulling the covers over my head. “HUH?!” Veles excimed, clearly taken ababsp;“What?” I mumbled from uhe bs. “Ugh...never mind.” He sighed, shutting his eyes and pressing his forehead with his palm. “Where are the witd wolf?” “They’ve goo inform Leena to get the wine preparations started.” “Oh. So, do the witd wolf know who the owner of the wine is?” “No...............they don’t. They will definitely get mad.” “Haaaa.....how do you pn on fronting them?” he asked, a hint of creeping into his voibsp; “That's not the major right...now...” I mumbled, my eyelids growing heavy as I drifted off to sleep.*DRIP* *DRIP* *DRIP**DRIP* Ah. It's the sound of dripping blood again.........seems like I'm dreaming again. Luxana thought Luxana, a ghostly figure in the darkness, wahrough the pitch-bck pit wearing a white nightgown, now stained with the despair of her situation. Her once vibrant reddish-e hair, a fiery cascade that had once framed her delicate features, hung limply down her back, a stark trast to the lifelesshat had crept into her pierg emerald eyes, their entihs now dulled by the weight of her sorrow. The sound of dripping blood echoed in the void around her, each drop a harrowing reminder of the trauma that had shattered her world. Her legs, heavy with the burden of her grief, dragged through the thick, inky mud that seemed to swallow her whole, as if the very earth itself sought to e her anguish. This was not the ending she had envisioned, and the absence of another soul to share her torment only amplified her feelings of hopelessness and isotion. It's not the ending at all........why isn't there anyone? Whom should I kill to wake up, now? Luxana thought. Killing someone in her dreams was the only way she ko break free from these nightmares that had pgued her since her mother's brutal murder right in front of her eyes. Luxana's on heart now bore the scars of that tragiight, her very esseainted by the helplessness and despair that ed her, a darkhat threateo e her very being. The once beautiful and powerful Luxana now resembled a fallen goddess, her soulless body trudging through the endless pit, a mere shadow of her former self. Her orikiures, a testament to her noble heritage and regal bearing, now torted in a mask of anguish, a refle of the torment she endured within the dark fines of her mind. Yet, even in the depths of her despair, a glimmer of the strength that had once defined her remained, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of unimagiragedy. *CRAbsp;*CRAbsp;*CRAbsp;*SHATTER* *CRASH* *CRASH* *SHATTER* Luxana halted, her heart pounding in her chest. She forced herself to look up, watg in horror as the pitch-bck sky cracked, shattered, and fell down like gss. But even as the pieces rained down around her, no light peeked through the darkness. Her eyes widened in shock as she realized she wasn't breathing. Am I.....not breathing? How am I still alive? Luxana thought, feeling no air moving in or out of her nose and mouth, no pulse beating in her veins. Yet, somehow, she remained scious, trapped in this strange, broken world. Just then, a melody reached her ears, carried on the wind: ??"Sasayaki ga hibiku kage no naka,"?? Hmm? What.......was that? Luxana thought. ??"nigaku namida ni somatta sora no shimo,"?? Wait...I know that voibsp;Luxana thought as she turned babsp;??"katsute wa kagayaite ita tamashī ga ima wa haiiro ni ōwa re,-kō no yume wa kiesatta." ?? ??"moku no naka de ikari ga tsunoru, daremoshiranai itami kara." ?? Luxana's eyes widened in shod despair as the realization hit her. "MOTHER?" she cried out, her voice eg through the broken sky. Amidst the chaos of the shattering and crag, Roxana, Luxana's birth mother, stood there, singing the haunting melody with her hands held together. Luxana's heart ached at the sight of her, a thousand questions aions swirling within her. "MOTHERRR!!!" Luxana screamed, her voice filled with longing and pain, as she reached out towards the woman who had given her life, the woman who she lost 7 years ago.Roxana Von Or Mera Eana Kior, the 2nd Princess of the Kior Empire, was a radiant figure of grad beauty within the Kior dynasty. With her fiery, waist-length tresses—a striking cascade of su e—framing her delicate features, she was a vision that captivated all who beheld her. Her pierg emerald eyes held a depth that spoke of wisdom and passion, refleg a heart that was as nurturing as it was fierbsp;Her radiant por skin seemed to glow from within, atuated by the soft luminesce of a delicate silk gown that gracefully hugged her slender form. The gown, a celestial blue, was adorned with intricate gold embroidery, weaving tales of noble heritage with each shimmering stitch. An air of elegand dignity surrounded her, a testament to the i strength ay that defined her every move. As she walked, the whisper of silk against the stone floor echoed the revereh which she was regarded—a woman of unparalleled grace, whose legacy would tio shape the lives of those who knew her. Yet, beyond Roxana's striking physical appearance, her true beauty y in the depth of her character and the brilliance of her mind. An insatiable thirst for knowledge drove her to devour the wisdom of the ages, her intellect as sharp as the fi bde, effortlessly cutting through plex problems. Roxana possessed a keen strategid, allowio navigate the intricate world of nobility with finesse and skill, f alliances with the brightest and most iial minds of her time. Her charm and wit were legendary, and her uny ability to read the iions of others set her apart in the court. Yet, for all her shrewdness, Roxana was deeply passionate. She could sehe needs of others, guidand fort with ahy that was both genuine and rare. A true visionary, Roxana's intelligend strength of character left an indelible mark on the hearts of those fortunate enough to know her. That was the sort of person my mother was before she fell in love with my father. But right now, it was different.She was enveloped in a heavy air of mencholy, wearing a white gown that mirrored the somber mood that had settled upon her. Once a symbol of purity and elegahe garment noeared almost ethereal, its luminous fabric drifting around her like a ghostly shroud, refleg the weight of her sorrow. Her radiant e hair, once a vibrant cascade, hung limply around her shoulders, the fiery hues dulled as if eg the sadhat had taken hold of her heart. The captivating greehat had once sparkled with wisdom and warmth were now downcast, their entihs clouded by a profound sense of loss and longing. The delicate embroidery of her gown, a testament to her noble heritage, now served as a stark reminder of a life once filled with promise, overshadowed by the burden of her grief. As she moved, the whisper of silk against the stone floor seemed to sigh in sympathy, a refle of the depth of her despair. In this gloomy state, she appeared almost otherworldly—a tragic figure of beauty and sorrow, her once-vibrant spirit muted by the heavy weight of her heartache. Yet, despite the sadhat enveloped her, there remained an undeniable strength and dignity in her bearing, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit even in the darkest of times. "MOTHER!!!" Luxa screaming as she ran towards her mother amidst all the crashing and shattering of the gss-like sky. With every step she took, the distaween her and Roxana seemed to stretch further, as if an invisible barrier pushed them apart. Luxana's desperate look and the heavy sounds of her breath made Roxana smirk, a glimmer of amusement flickering in her eyes as she tio sing. ??"Sasayaki ga hibiku kage no naka,"?? ??"nigaku namida ni somatta sora no shimo,"?? ??"katsute wa kagayaite ita tamashī ga ima wa haiiro ni ōwa re,-kō no yume wa kiesatta." ?? ??"moku no naka de ikari ga tsunoru, daremoshiranai itami kara." ?? What? What is that thing mother's singing? Is it some sort of... Luxana's thoughts raced, but before she could plete them, a piece of the breaking sky was only seds away from falling and crushing her. Only millimeters away from being crushed, Luxana saw her mother’s lips move, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Luxana De a Mera Domino, No.....Luxana Von Or Mera Eana Kior." Roxana said with a smile as Luxana was crushed. *GRAP* “Mother?” I shouted, my voice eg in the silence of the room. What was the meaning of all that? I thought, my mind rag to piece together the fragments of my dream. I breathed extremely heavily, my chest rising and falling as I tried to shake off the remnants of the nightmare that had gripped me. “Daijōbudesuka, ojōsan?” A soft, feminine voiquired, evident ione. I turo see a woman I didn’t reize, her kind eyes searg mine for answers. I blirying to gather my thoughts. Who is she? I took a look at my surroundings, the gentle aroma of tatami mats filling my senses as I surveyed the enting blend of traditional and modern Japanese décor. A vibrant silk scroll hung against the wall, its a calligraphy symbols dang beside a porary artwork, a captivating dispy of the room's harmonious fusion of past and present. Outside, a stohway led to a serene Japanese garden, its tranquil pond and casg waterfalls creating a soothing backdrop to the fiery hues of the maple trees that framed the view. The colors were so vivid, so alive, that I felt as if I had stepped into a painting. As I clutched the luxurious silk sheets beh my hands, their vibrant colors remi of kimono designs, I couldn’t help but wonder who this woman was and how I had found myself in this enting, yet unfamiliar room. "Umhh....who.....are you?" I asked, looking into her eyes, hoping she would uand my simple question. But that was definitely a stupid thought. She made a puzzled expression. "Naa ndesu ka, ojōsan?" Haaaaaaaahh..........I 't seem to uand their nguage, I thought as I looked down at the b c me. The woman made a pitiful face, "Dō shita ndesu ka, ojōsan? Totemo komatte iru yōdesu ne. Nanika otetsudai dekiru koto wa arimasu ka, ojōsan?" What is she saying? I thought, making an upset fad turning to the other side, going back to sleep. I didn't want to fayo all anymore. I just wao escape this strange pce where I couldn't even unicate with the people around me. As I closed my eyes, I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder, the woman's voice speaking softly, as if trying to soothe me. But her words were lost to me, a jumble of unfamiliar sounds that held no meaning. I sighed deeply, letting the darkness of sleep envelop me once more. Perhaps when I woke up, I would find myself ba my own world, surrounded by familiar faces and a nguage I could uand. But deep down, I khat was just a dream. I was lost, trapped in a pce where I didn't belong, with no way to express my thoughts or needs. The fear and uainty of my situation weighed heavily on my heart, making it hard to breathe. As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but wonder what would bee of me in this strange, fn nd. Would I ever find a way to unicate, to make sense of this bewildering new reality? Only time would tell. For now, I would rest, gathering my strength for whatever challenges y ahead. With a heavy heart, I let the darkake me, hoping that when I woke, the world would make a little more sense.I awoke slowly, the soft light filtering through the shoji ss casting delicate patterns across the room. For a moment, I y there, disorierying to piece together the fragments of my dream and the reality that surrounded me. The fragrant aroma of tatami mats lingered in the air, grounding me in this unfamiliar pbsp;As I sat up, I noticed the woman sitting nearby, her hands folded in her p, a gentle smile on her face. She seemed to be watg me with a mix of and relief, as if my awakening was a moment she had been waiting for. "Ohayōgozaimasu, ojōsan." she said, her voice soft and melodic, her words tinged with warmth. "I still don't uand you," I muttered, letting out a deep sigh.This woman, who sat beside me had a striking appearance a captivating fusion of tradition and uniqueness. A casg mane of fiery red hair tumbles down her back, held in pce by ornate bs adorned with intricate floral designs. Her almond-shaped eyes, a brilliant shade of golden yellow, glisten with intelligend warmth, framed by long, dark shes that flutter gracefully with each blink. Her por plexion seems lumi in the soft light, a subtle blush grag her high cheekbones as her delicate, full lips curve into a gentle smile. A traditional kimono envelops her slender frame, the rich silken fabric patterned with vibrant es in flight, symbolizing grad loy. The obi tied around her waist atuates her feminine curves, its intricate knot a masterpiece of artistry and skill. As she moves, the gentle rustle of her kimono's hem against the tatami mats echoes the elegand refihat define her every a. To be tinued...