It had been a while since the last time Rania was able to sleep peacefully. Waking up, she rose from her bed. As she walked to the balcony, she embraced herself due to the chilly morning air. Steams came from her mouth as she blew on her palm to keep them warm.
A few moments later, the sun began to rise slowly. It was dawn that time… and the sky was exceedingly beautiful seeing it from the top of the palace.
Rania closed her eyes as she let the sun's rays kiss her cheeks. Then, opening them back up again, she gazed at the morning lights. With nothing but thankfulness in her heart, she prayed to her God - the same God humans taught in their religion and most believed in.
"Thank you, God," she started.
"...for not giving up on me.
I lost sight after losing Zeid. I thought…. my life has no meaning without him and forgot that I still have you.
In my thoughts, I even blamed You for letting it happen.
I'm…. very sorry.
It was never your fault.
You are good and You don't plan evil things.
It is us humans, abusing free will, and choosing to use it for evil.
Our choices, rooted in desires, combined together, are what made this once beautiful world a messy place.
And now, we are captured by unknown invaders."
She paused for a little while and continued.
"Magi…..why did they come here?
What about their planet? What happened? What's their goal?
I still don't know a lot of things…. but I pray that You continue to be with me, and guide me along the way.
Together with everyone here… may Your Will be done….
And as for Zeid…. It was torture losing him...
… but….I know... he's happy now, with You."
With teary eyes, she closed her prayer.
"Zeid, I promise not to let your sacrifice be in vain. I will protect this life you have given me...and protect others as you have protected me. Thank you…"
It was a very long night, both at the banquet and with Rania's life after Zeid died.
But that "night" has now ended, welcoming a new dawn full of hope and future.
Knock-knock-knock!
The door sounded a few moments after Rania's prayer. Maids came rushing inside her bedroom afterward to greet her while bowing their heads. The head maid, as what she seemed to be - wearing no apron, unlike the other maids, with her hair tied into a tight bun, and a stern-looking face making her look like a middle-aged woman -, stepped forward to speak.
"Rania Caeles," she called her. Her voice was strict and commanding. " - Human, from the house of Pémptos, you have garnered the favor of our king. You are now to be treated as a "National Treasure" - for never in the history of Magi has there been anyone like you.
From here on forward, you will have your own palace and move out of Pémptos. The king wishes for you to be…. 'Untainted' therefore, separating you from the rest of your race.
You will also be given anything a woman desires, with only the best maids at your waiting. You are also free to roam around your new palace and do whatsoever you like so long as they don't contradict our laws and customs.
Lastly, the king has scheduled for you to meet every last day of the month or whenever he pleases. We expect you to entertain him during those times."
Rania sighed. In her mind, she thought, "National treasure, huh? Silly king, treating his wife candidates like objects."
One of the maids approached the head maid and whispered in her ear. The head maid's expression went shocked for a moment. Then, with a serious face, she continued.
"One more thing. Though you may be free to do as you like and go wherever you want in your new palace, please bear in mind that you may NEVER ever enter, nor go anywhere near the "Forbidden Chamber". Currently, it is located near your new palace but that doesn't mean you can go there unless you wish to die a very miserable death. You have been warned. Now let us go. The maids will transport any belongings you wish to carry."
As soon as they opened the door to leave Rania's room, a group of girls gossiping to each other welcomed them including Malum, the head of the house.
"It's such a shame that you're leaving so soon, my Odile. And to see you…. so… white," he said while scanning Rania up and down.
Rania bowed her head and replied, "I thank you for your guidance ever since I came here. And I thank everyone else for bearing with me."
"Hmf!" Selena, who was just behind Malum, snorted. "How lucky of you, huh? Getting your own palace and all? National Treasure?" she continued in a mocking tone.
"You're just jealous Selena," said one of the other girls while laughing. "Rania, I hope we could visit you sometimes. You know, to see your new palace and perhaps play?"
"As if she'd let you ruin her place, haha!" said the other.
"I'm not gonna ruin it. I'm just gonna get the things I want from there."
"Oh, ~ stealing are we?" said another.
"You could call it that, she's pure anyway so she doesn't have any worldly desires, right? So that's okay, right?"
"Silence!" exclaimed the head maid. "Let us through."
And with a bit more gossiping, they managed to get through the crowd.
Onwards, they headed to Rania's new palace. On their way to it, a group of magi passed by carrying what seemed to be a corpse covered by a large blanket. Some of the maids were horrified by the sight of it. Some, were disgusted.
You could hear two men whisper.
"Another one, eh? They don't get tired do they?"
"This one's a child, probably wandered off without knowing what's inside."
"We should have left this chamber! Why did they have to carry it with us?"
"Apparently, it's attached itself to the 'Grand Palace'. No Magi could detach it."
"How could that be?"
"It seems like a 'Guardian' lives inside."
At these words, the other magi seemed to have felt a sudden chill in their spine. With fading voices, their conversation persisted. "A Guardian, eh? No wonder…"
After a few more steps, they arrived at "Meracus", Rania's new palace. Upon arriving, some of the maids were surprised by the elegance and luxuriousness of the place. The whole surroundings were shouting white and crystals. The garden was beautiful as well, filled with flowers and trees of pink and white, and with a large dancing fountain in the middle.
The palace itself glittered in white and silver, made with marble tiles all over. Inside, you could find a few blue linings here and there, and silver embroidery in the curtains found in the hallway. The living room was comfy and warm and the dining area was large enough to cater to 20 or more guests. All of the furniture was exquisite and oh, the library, very magnificent. The books were neatly arranged and the tables and couches were properly intact. There were guest rooms at the sides designed in a comfortable yet modern theme.
As for Rania's bedroom located on the next floor, well….
It was a room fit for a princess.
Large windows and curtains, a princess bed, beautiful display cabinets, soft couches, and a walk-in closet of dresses, shoes, and accessories! There was also a section for study and another for musical instruments.
On the balcony, you can find tables and cozy chairs set up for tea with a view of the garden below. And if you extend your vision forward, you'll see the other palaces nearby. Then, a little further away was the palace gate and after it, you could see the town square. Looking at this view, one would feel as if they were transported to another world.
Rania stayed on the balcony while the maids fixed her belongings. Even she was amazed by the beautiful sight. After admiring it for more than a few minutes, she tilted her head eastward and scanned the view there. She walked towards the end side of the balcony and as she approached the end, she was surprised to see the skies extending below the ground!
Were they really that high up?
After a few more moments, the wind blew hard and the sea of clouds cleared up only to welcome the ruined cities below.
Yes, wherever they are, it was a place floating in the sky!
In her months of staying there, this was the first time that she realized the whole place was somehow floating in the air. She guessed being with a bunch of Magi, you shouldn't be surprised anymore.
But what caught her attention most was the ruined cities below.
With frowned eyebrows, she thought, "What a tragic sight. Our world, reduced to ashes.
Where is salvation?
Until when will you be a prisoner?"
Her heart twinged painfully at the very thought of it, remembering the day of their capture. But what could she do? She felt powerless.
"We are now done, my lady. We bid you farewell as we will now be returning to our posts. Your maids-in-waiting will stay outside your room. Should you need them, feel free to call them out."
"Thank you."
Time passed by and with nothing to do, Rania busied herself by reading books or wandering around the place, discovering different sorts of things. Sometimes she would get lessons from tutors, just like what other candidates do, or be trained on how to be the best wife. Aside from that, there was nothing much that kept her busy.
Though the king scheduled it himself, he never really came to see Rania for some reason. With no other people to talk to except the maids who didn't want to converse with her much, due to being scared of "corrupting" her, Rania grew a bit lonely.
Until one day, calamity arrived at her palace by the name of "Rose, Lily, and Iris", her old housemates from Pémptos….