A pale , golden light spilled through the sheer curtains , brushing against her closed eyes. The warmth stirred her and for a moment , she forgot where she was . Then she felt it , the steady rise and fall of the chest beneath her cheek.
Her fingers clutched soft fabric as she slowly lifted her head . Ravien lay beside her , his arm curled protectively around her back . His eyes were still closed, browsed faintly furrowed , as if lost in a dream too heavy to escape.
She blinked , confused by the unfamiliar calm that settled in her chest , it felt like silence after a storm.
Then, his voice, groggy yet gently:
"Are you alright now ? "
She didn't answer at first. The echoes from her nightmare were fading but the whispers remained ,it was distance , haunting.
She nodded slowly. "Yes ... thank you".
He sat up , brushing a strand of hair from her face .
"You used to love mornings like this ", he said softly , a sad smile tugging at his lips.
"Always said the sunrise made everything feel possible ".
She looked away , uncertain. Used to love ? She remembered nothing.
As if reading her thoughts, he continued :
"There is a drawing class starting today. I had them arranged it for you. I know it hard to recall everything, but ... maybe your hand remembers what your mind doesn't. "
Drawing . That word sparked something faint in her chest , not a memory but a feeling. She agreed to go, if only to quiet the ache she couldn't name.
The gate opened wide to welcome the prince's arrival . He was the first prince but his subject loved calling him their " Master."
His handsome figure was what stood out for him. He was 6ft inch tall with a broad chest . He had long hair hung below his neck . His eyes were captivating - they were glassy green which were narrow and sharp. Everyone around him was amazed by his beauty.
One of the elders approached him when he entered the court room . " Master , we have bad news" . He knew for sure that something will go wrong somewhere when he was away. "What happened ?", he asked in a cold voice . "We sent lior to get the girl which we told you,that looked like our princess but something went wrong, the second prince kidnapped her and know she is at the Palace with him", he said with a low tone.
" How could you all be so careless , " he said with a cold voice. "Get the horse ready am going somewhere " , he said . "Where to my master?, the old man asked. "To clean up your mess " , he said storming out of the courtroom.
Rayne slowly started drawing while closing her eyes inoder for her soul and heart to guide her. Her mind suddenly went blank as if she was day dreaming. She opened her eyes only to see that she had drew something, it was a man hugging a woman, while holding the sword in one of his hands and it was dripping in blood. The woman seemed like she was in pain.
She hide the drawing so no one else would be able to see. She knew for sure that people are going to easily judge her by that .
The first prince stormed into the Palace shouting " where is she ?" . Ravien walked towards him unbotherd " do you know it prohibited entering other people's premises without an invite , my prince " , he said " l wonder if l should just call you by your name " Aurien", he continued.
On the other hand Rayne decided to drew the second prince face and give it to him as a thank you for being a comforter to her . She planned to surprise her and went directly to his chamber to see him . She did not expect to see what was infront of her when she arrived.
The cold silence that followed the clash of swords heavier than steel. She cried out his name instinctively, throwing her arms around the second prince just before the bled could fall.
Silence followed.
The sword lowered.
She stayed there for a heartbeat for too long , her face pressed against the prince's shoulder , trying to breath past the fear. But then , she felt it . A presence. The air shifted. Warm. Deeper. Heavier. She then turned . And time halted.
He stood there, tall and commanding, cloak in shadows but it was his eyes that undid her. They weren't angry nor were they cold . They were wounded and yet , familiar. As if they'd known her before she even knew herself. Then without warning .... his lips parted.
"Eliora"
A Name. Her name . The one no one had ever spoken before. It echoed inside her chest like an acient bell. Her heart clenched. Her throat tightened and suddenly her vision blurred.
Eliora ..... who is Eliora ?
No , she was Eliora. She is Eliora.
The truth wrapped around her like an invisible thread, too tight, too sudden. Her hand opened and the rolled drawing slipped from her fingers to the stone floor. A single tear trailed down her cheek as she took a trembling step forward. Then all she could see was darkness. Her body crumpled soundlessly, folding like a marionette with its strings out. The second prince rushed to catch her, calling her name " Rayne" but she no longer heard it .
Because only one name echoed in the void now .
"Eliora "