Rivia: Ajayib, Town of Central Rivia, Town Clinic

• Elianna •

"Will my mother be okay?"

Elianna felt a pair of small hands grabbing onto her arm. Perhaps because she would soon become a mother herself that a child's touch had brimmed her heart with warmth and anticipation. Carefully, she reached for the child's head and ruffled her hair. "Yes, she will be fine. You've got to be a good girl and let her rest enough, alright?"

"Maya will be a good girl!" the little girl chirped.

A smile pulled at her face as she bid goodbye to the mother and child. After settling her down in town, Naailah had also arranged for her to work in this clinic that is affiliated to the royal family. It had been a while since she had started to provide medical aid for the people in Ajayib.

The clinic was nothing extravagant, it was comfortably quaint and humble. Townspeople also didn't have to pay in golds and silvers to get treated. They were only requested to offer whatever they could afford, even if it's just some dried goods or a piece of clothing. Their offerings were then presented towards the Temple, to be distributed to the poor. At times, Elianna would also lend a hand in making offerings for townspeople who really couldn't manage to give anything.

After a long day, Jana walked into her office in the clinic and mentioned that it's the end of her shift. She linked her arms with hers and the two had promised to go to the town square together to get some shopping done before heading back home. As they walked out of the clinic, Jana squealed excitedly beside her, "I can't believe that I finally managed to talk Kiran out of this!"

"What do you mean by that?" Elianna chuckled at her elation.

"Do you even realise that this is the first time you're out to town alone with me?" Jana pouted, slightly disappointed that Elianna hadn't seemed to notice.

"Now that you said it, you're right."

"Well, that's because Kiran would always scold me for being too clumsy and careless. But isn't it more fun to be with me? She's just a blockhead and way too rigid," Jana complained.

"You better not let her hear what you just said," Elianna laughed.

"You shall not tell on me, Elianna," Jana beamed cheekily. "Let's go! I need to grab some spices and fragrances from the merchants or Kiran would really hang me."

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Rivia: Alnair Palace, Foyer

• Naailah •

"I'm requesting for an audience from Her Highness," a voice sounded from outside her palace which had once again intrigued her.

"We would deliver your request to her," the guard informed, passing the message to her personal maid, Fariah. Hurried footsteps sounded as Fariah made her way through the main door in haste to seek for her. Her personal maid brushed past her without noticing her at all. Naailah sighed, fully aware of what others meant when they always mentioned that her presence was as thin as air.

"Fariah," she called out in her quiet voice and the pair of scurrying feet halted to an immediate stop. Her personal maid turned around and gasped, "Your Highness, I hadn't noticed that you're here!"

"I noticed," Naailah acknowledged painfully. "Who's outside?"

"The Second Prince of Iftia, Matthias Alvraz."

"Invite him in," Naailah responded simply. "I'll be heading to the qa'ah first."

"Yes, Your Highness," Fariah bowed slightly and turned around towards the main door again.

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Naailah grabbed onto a soft cushion from the side and hugged it in front of her chest. She waited patiently for her guest but her heart thumped rather nervously, wondering if she'd be alright since she hadn't talked to the Second Prince of Iftia in the longest time. Despite being a princess, she had been excused from attending celebration banquets because it frightens her to be surrounded by people and noises when she had spent most of her life alone and in silence. But it was also because of that she had missed out talking to many of the royals and nobles, making it difficult for the blend into their world.  

When the door towards the qa'ah creaked open, she immediately tossed the cushion aside and straight upright. Through the door, a tall man entered. Rather than his usual Iftian clothing that would be unsuitable for the climate here, he was clad in a fitting sherwani suit that accented his lean frame and the expensive dark shawl that draped across his shoulder flared out flatteringly in an air of confidence. She lifted her head to face him directly. To her surprise, his eyes were still of the softest green and infused with the warmest tinge of brown. The kind aura surrounding him hadn't changed at all since the last time she had seen him years ago. She noticed how strands of his wavy brown hair fell forward when he placed his hand over his chest and bowed to greet her.

"Greetings to the Second Princess of Rivia." Matthias' voice was steady and mellow, and his manners were impeccable as always.

"Greetings to the Second Prince of Iftia," she responded, bowing slightly in her seated position towards him. When she straightened her back once again, she asked politely, "To what pleasure do I owe for this rare visit, Your Highness?"

"An encounter and the need for some answers."

"I'm afraid that you should seek the Priestess of Iftia instead," she smiled slightly. "My gift of foretelling do not help to interpret any divine presage."

"Pardon my straightforwardness," Matthias looked towards her with intensity in his gaze as he spoke, "You do know where Elianna is, don't you?"

Nervousness kicked in and Naailah bunched onto the material of her kaftan at his suddenness.

"If you do know, please do tell me," Matthias requested. "I need to see her for myself."

"I don't—"

"Your Highness, I'm begging you."

He stared pleadingly towards her and those hazel eyes brimmed with desperation for answers. Naailah could only wonder how he had gotten the feeling that she would know where Elianna is but she couldn't bear to reject him if he stared at her in that manner. Helpless, she exhaled a sigh, "Do follow me."

They got on the carriage and left Alnair to travel towards Ajayib. On the way there, she would steal glances towards the Second Prince of Iftia as he sat nervously in the carriage seat opposite to hers. His fingers were interlocked against each other and his lips pursed into a thin line. She had wished to say something to comfort him but held back because it would be better for him to see Elianna for himself first. The entire ride was silent and when the carriage came to a stop, she noticed how Matthias had flinched.

"We're here," she mentioned quietly. Standing up, her hand dusted the skirt of her kaftan and left the carriage. They walked through the courtyard together and she greeted Jana who was passing the qa'ah.

"Your Highness!" Jana bowed. "It's pretty late at night, why are you here?" Her eyes widened further in surprise when she witnessed the tall figure standing behind her. However, Jana didn't speak a word to ask about the unfamiliar guest.

"Jana, could I trouble you to call Elianna for me?"

A moment later, Elianna was brought to the qa'ah and she asked," Naailah, is there a matter? You're visiting at such a late hour."

Naailah looked towards her side and saw the perplexed expression on Matthias' face. He must be in question of why he's standing right beside her but Elianna hadn't seemed to notice at all. But if Matthias were to look closer, he would realise the unfocused gaze in those amber-coloured eyes that would explain in full of her ignorance towards him. When Matthias shifted and took a step closer, Elianna caught the sound immediately and tensed. She asked cautiously, "Naailah, who's with you?"

"Elianna—"

"It's me." Matthias' voice broke. Then, he rushed forward and pulled her into a tight hug. "What the hell happened to you?"

"Matthias?" Elianna inhaled.

"Alright, that's enough." Thunder stepped forward and separated them. He held Elianna gently by the shoulder while shoving Matthias away. "You're going to hurt her if you hug that tightly."

Matthias' gaze dropped and a realisation hit him before he looked up and stared towards Elianna with wide eyes again. From the side, Naailah laughed quietly.

"Why had you brought him here, Naailah?" Elianna asked and she immediately saw Matthias' expression darkened.

Naailah swallowed nervously at the sudden tension that rose between all of them.

"Maybe it's only right for me to ask," Matthias cut in. "Why are you here without letting any of us know?"

The silence ensued and Naailah watched as Elianna close her eyes and drew a deep inhale at the weight of his question.

"Matthias," Elianna called out to him in an apologetic tone. "Please come into the house first. Let's talk inside." 

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