The last day of a dreadful winter in Earstein, was the first Lunar Eclipse in the Imperial year of 3076. As the rays of the red moon slowly filled the long corridors of Lisse palace, the palace shone more brightly than any corals and rubies. But the silence that filled the halls was heart-wrenching. It was as if the whole palace had fallen into a deep slumber. It had always been a quiet sanctuary but that night was especially long and placid. At the end of the endless halls was a large door and behind the closed door was an exquisite room with a large window that led the moonlight falling into distinct architecture but somehow the room looked lifeless despite its beauty. Behind the large window stood a woman so beautiful with a flawless presence and a noble aura filling the entire room. Her ever so mesmerizing pastel green eyes were but tonight filled with immense plight, confusion, and rage. The otherwise flaring eyes seemed as if they were on the verge of pouring all the piled-up frustration into a boundless stream of an emotional outbreak. As she weakly stared at the newborn child in her arms, a piercing pain in her chest continued making it hard for her to breathe. Understanding her pain reflecting through those pastel eyes, a young woman started crying from being unable to stand the crushing waves of pain and maddening silence in the room. She hurriedly broke it.
" Madame Canaria, are you sure you won't regret this?"
"Millie, look at how beautiful she looks with moonlight touching her clear skin."
"She could be more than beautiful if you were to guide her to the vast empire madame. She would become just like you."
"Like me? A bitter smile appeared.
"She deserves a life filled with happiness and adventures. A dull and caged life with jewels and daggers walking forever on thin ice. I would never want that."
"But wilderness? Madame you know it's filled with endless dangers!"She could no longer hide her worry.
"I have no choice and you know that. If they ever find the crescent mark, will they hide their vicious fangs? Their sharp claws will tear her apart. At that time, even if I gather all my strength I would never be able to protect her. Tell me what can I do?"Tears started flowing down as her chest was unable to bear the heavy emotions.
"The consequences to follow would destroy you, madame!"
"As long as you can take her far away I shall handle their wrath all my life but she must never return to Arthedal. Never to Earstein."
"Martin will lead you, so please Millie, that is my last request and command. Raise her as fine as you can. Keep her out of harm's way. That's the only thing I can do as her mother."
Millie as a young woman grown in the Lisse palace all her life. Loyal to her master would never be able to refute their command. There was no way she would rebel so she swallowed her tears and with a deep breath her hands shaking extended towards Canaria to get a hold of the child.
Canaria Ver Lissein, with her pastel eyes took a one last longing glance at her beautiful child, and tears flowing like glistening pearls gave away her daughter. The only person that could bring tears in this beautiful woman's eyes. Her whole world. Her daughter Elissa.
By the time Millie walked out of the large door, behind Sir Martin Lorexein stood at the side listening silently. He could see the lonely woman in the room standing, eyeing at the door impatiently as the door softly closed leaving the woman completely separated. He then reverted his gaze towards the young woman holding the baby and standing frozen and lost. He clenched the handle of a sword hanging around his waist before letting it go and slightly patted the woman's back that jogged her back into reality. They both looked at each other. While the woman seemed like a whole storm was going inside her, the man seemed somewhat calm and reassuring. He gave a slight nod and started leading the way.
Inside the large door, the woman had been staring at her empty hands that still had the lingering warmth of her baby. Her eyes were now bursting like an over flooded river like that after a heavy rain lasting a fortnight. She wanted to scream and yell but she forced her hands to close her mouth. She felt as if somebody had cut a part of her heart and took away. The pain and agony she felt, her whole body numbed at the thought of living her entire life with that same feeling.
Meanwhile, both Millie and Martin had gotten on a carriage and the Eclipse had fallen to the end.
They were heading towards the north. The night was slowly fading. A new day would arrive soon.