The longer I was at the palace, the more I felt at ease. My sister was by my side, though not as often as I would have liked. We would mainly see each other at night when the servants mingled. Though I was settling in servitude, the situation in my room remained the same, no matter how kind I was. The four of us never spoke more than twenty words to each other daily. Though stifling, I tried my hardest to appear friendly to them, but nothing ever changed and I was becoming weary of trying.

   My comfortable standing at the palace was soon shifted when, at the end of two weeks, Feria and I were placed in different shifts. She was to work later in the day, attending to a different area of the palace than where I was placed to serve in the mornings. Due to our new, conflicting schedule, I scarcely ever saw my sister anymore. Tired from working late, she would often retire in the morning when she wasn't working as much, while I would be getting up bright and early to tend to my chores. We tried going to the headmaster and pleading with him to change our schedules, but he remained firm in his decision, confused why Feria would want to lower her status when she was clearly being promoted. It became bitterly lonely not seeing my sister as often. It was a tragic irony that though we slept in rooms adjacent to each other, we hardly ever spoke.

    At that point, I was beginning to wonder if coming to the palace was a mistake. I'd rather be miles away from my sister and speak to her in letters than work in a grand palace that was becoming more and more like a dungeon.

   My melancholia, which was previously eased, crept back to me; the hole in my heart for my deceased teacher widening. My heart ached until my body ached until all I wished to do was lay down and let those few silent tears come rolling down my cheeks onto my pillow.

   One day, my body felt worn of life and though I didn't finish my duties, I dragged myself back to the quietness of my room and let my cycle repeat itself. Since nobody was around, I let myself sob quietly. Every little thing reminded me of her, every fine detail. I thought about her cottage going to ruin, her books going to waste while I worked here miserably day after day. Every day I called myself a fool for coming to the palace. Nothing good had become of it, except a poignant reminder.

   As I laid there sniffling and cursing myself, a voice startled me straight up. My eyes landed on a woman with a concerned frown standing at the threshold. She was a stocky thing with long curly carob hair.

   "You all right, love?"

   Sheepish and somewhat horrified she that would know I was lazing from my duties, I quickly dried my face and recollected myself, getting up from the bed.

   "Nothing," I answered briskly.

   She remained in the entryway, though, her frown not easing up.

   "Are you new here. Sorry for asking, but my mind is scattered."

   "Yes. I've been here soon to be three weeks." I stood in front of her wanting to get by, but she remained firm.

   "Three weeks you say?" She raised both bushy brows. "I guess I'm even more oblivious than I previously thought."

   "It's fine."

   "Well, how are you getting along? Do you like it here?" She asked with a smile.

    I wondered if being honest with her would get her to move, so I glanced away as I mumbled,

   "It's not working the way I wished it would. I'm regretting leaving home."

   Her face became full of surprise as she heard this and I immediately knew I had only made my situation worse.

   "I understand a little bit of homesickness, we all get it every now and then, but regret? What do you mean?"

   Bringing up the reasons for my regret would only cause me to relapse in my pain.

   "I'd rather not explain."

   "Oh. I understand. Forgive me for prodding where I shouldn't."

   "It's fine."

   Finally, she stepped aside, allowing me to exit the room, but her voice stopped me once more.

   "I'm sorry again that I disturbed you, but if you ever want to talk just seek me out. I understand the struggles of settling into a new place with no people you know, I truly do. My name is Swethyna, just for reference."

   Something about her made me pause. Whether it was the unaccustomed friendliness she exhibited or her appearance reminding me of a younger, slightly more attractive Minryn, I don't know for sure, but I only made it about four steps before I froze and turned to look at her. As she began to walk away, down the hall, I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. My sobs were louder than previously and in an instant she was by my side, guiding back into the room and helping me ease down on my bed.

   I cried for a few minutes before looking up at her concerned face and wiping the wet trails on my face.

   "Why the fuss, love?" She asked, pushing a strand of hair from my face. The gesture almost brought on fresh tears of heartache.

   With a person who was lending their ear and attention, I finally broke.

   "I hate it here. It's just so lonely and I can't stand it. I tried to be brave but I can't, it's killing me inside. I have a better existence back at home with my books and my parents. This was a mistake, this was a very poor, hasty idea."

   Her face seemed mature and maternal. It was a different kind of maternity than Feria's, somehow more comforting at that moment as she wrapped one, strong arm around me.

   "Shush now. You don't have to be brave all the time, nobody would ask such a thing of you. You're allowed to break, so go ahead and cry."

   I rested my head against her shoulder and stared at the floor.

   "But the difference is," She guided my chin up so I was looking her right in the eyes. "Not to let those things drag you down till they crush you."

   Wiping the tears from my face, I inhaled patiently then exhaled, letting all my troubles expel from me. Her words were wise, but it was best if I tried not to break as often. I needed to be brave. For if not I then who would be?

   "Aelita is my name," I meekly spoke up. "And thank you for your welcoming words. Not everyone here has been so openly friendly."

   She grinned, "Oh, I know. Don't judge them too harshly because of that, they are kind here, just reserved."

   Smoothing my dress, I nodded.

   We sat in silence for a few more minutes until I remembered my duties were not yet completed. Getting up, I quickly excused myself, but she stopped me before I retreated from the room.

   "I hope we can meet again."

    She said it with such genuineness, I paused and stepped back in for a moment. Without thinking, my mouth moved faster than my mind.

   "You remind me of my old teacher."

   Immediately, I felt like a fool for saying such things even as she tilted her head thoughtfully in puzzlement at me.

   "Do I?"

   "You do."

   "What was she like?"

   I leaned against the doorway, a sad smile coming to my face as I thought about her. Was she happy where she dwelled now? Was her pain obsolete?

   "She was a strong, intelligent woman who always had something to say. She was my mentor and my guide. Even when she didn't know something, she was clever and thought of a new way. She was a beautiful soul."

   Swethyna came up to me and took my hand in her own, sharing my sad smile. At some point, the grieving weight that had been bound to me since her death lifted.

   "What was her name?"

   "They called her Minryn."

   "Minryn. What a lovely name."

   Taking another breath, I looked into her brown eyes and smiled.

   "Thank you."

   She never asked what I thanked her, it was as if she already knew, she merely told me I was welcomed and from that moment on, my loneliness never struck again.