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"Mom?"

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I SPENT THE night in the Sickbay. Miss Moonshine came in with an evening meal and some medication to help with the slight headache I had from my mind being prodded.

Sleep soon overtook me, as I tried to keep my mind blank, fluffing the pillow and sighing, my eyes closing.

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I flipped through the pages of my notebook, my eyes trailing over the poems I had written. I couldn't believe I had already filled up my book.

Well, to be fair, the pages weren't a lot and I did tend to write one phrase covering a whole page so I could get a point across. My eyes trailed to the crumpled pieces of paper a few paces away from my bed, remembering the rage that bounded through me when he was here.

I sighed, running a hand through my stubborn hair, fingers latching onto my roots as I tried to comb through it.

I glanced down at the gown I was wearing, one that made me feel like I was really at a hospital. Feeling bored, I decided to explore the sick bay.

It was almost like the one I had been put in when I first arrived but this one was different because I could see the crown courts from here.

I moved to the window peering down, noticing the uniformed students heading into the crown. That's right- It was time for classes.

I groaned at the thought of missing classes, I wanted to learn more with Miss Almulese but Miss Moon Shine had said I needed a little bit more rest.

The only thing that soothed me was the fact that the first periods were probably human subjects as Miss Almulese had said before.

Your typical mathematics and its sciences. Hopefully, I wasn't missing out too much.

I turned toward the door when I heard a knock, my eyes landing on Gravis who stood by the open door, a shine in his eyes as he stared at me-

"Rough week?" he asked, and I couldn't help the smile that spread onto my features.

If you told me I would be this happy to see Gravis about a month ago I probably wouldn't believe it, but now the mere sight of him standing right in front of me brought a fondness and much-needed stability in my heart.

I missed home badly and he was the only one that truly reminded me of it.

I nodded at his question, it was the second day of the week and so far none of it was going as planned. He took a step in, folding his arms.

"Good to see you're doing better," he grunted, his jaw clenching, "I have suggested to your Alpha that he keeps you out of any convert activity for now," he began taking a firm stance in the middle of the room.

I cocked an eyebrow at this-

"No one will be suspicious but as you heal from this traumatic experience, you shouldn't use your dilect- " he added, a slyness to his tone.

A wave of understanding flooded my face.

I guess this whole incident would save me somehow from the Combat classes whenever it was required to use a dilect, well at least for now.

I nodded in understanding and he returned it, pursing his lips, "on another note," he began and my eyes trailed up to him, hand on the window sill, "someone's awake." He spoke lowly.

My eyes widened at this, my heart beating softly within me. I signed away the one-word question eating at my brain,

"Mom?"

He nodded, "she is still very weak and delicate at this moment but she has requested to see you," he replied as I watched him attentively, " shall we?" he asked gesturing out of the door,

My feet moved of their own accord, walking past him and glancing up at him momentarily before walking by. We walked down the hallway, deeper into the Prime Tower, my mind recognizing each turn and each curve to get to her.

"Princess," Gravis spoke, and I turned around noticing he was a few feet behind me standing at the intersection of hallways, "this way- it is best we travel out of eyes sight."

I paused, turning around, moving the way he was gesturing to. My heart pounded softly within me. I couldn't wait to see her.

"Over there," Gravis grunted as we walked down the hallway, and I froze looking at the half-open doorway, a nurse coming out of it with it pushing a cart, she passed as by nodding at Gravis and my eyes watched her leave.

I bravely took a few more steps standing right out the door, breathing out slowly, my fists clenching.

I wasn't sure what I would see but I hoped she was alright.

Walking in, I was met with a hospital-like setup, the steady beating of a machine the first to reach my ears, vaguely taking note of Gravis' huge frame behind me.

My eyes landed on two figures.

The first was that of my mother, lying on the bed and the second was a woman in a well-fitted suit seated on her bed, eyes focused on my mother, seeming to have been having a conversation or just had one.

The moment I made my presence known I could see my mother pause, her head slowly turning towards me, a smile overtaking her features when she saw me.

The woman beside her also turned to face me and I couldn't believe who it was.

Miss Akhana Amir, the face of Kingsland.

But even though how star-struck I was, my shoulders fell when my mother gestured for me to come closer.

Tears clouded my eyes and I moved to her.

Miss Amir moved out of the way, "she was given a sedative to help her relax, so she will be going under soon," she informed me and I nodded, taking my mother's outstretched hand standing near Gravis, to whom they both exchanged a firm nod.

My mother's hands felt soft and her gaze was soft as she watched me through hooded eyes, seemingly fighting the will to go under.

I could see no visible bruises on her and the bandage I had seen wrapped around her head previously had been discarded, though her lips seemed pale.

"Talanda," she whispered lowly and I nodded, moving closer.

Her hand reached out to touch my cheek and held it close to me, missing her warmth.

She smiled softly, her breathing decreased slightly and her eyes shut momentarily before looking at me.

"Are you-are you alright Tala?" she asked, her tone low and scarce and I nodded once more, closing my eyes to savor the feeling of her hand against my cheek.

This response seemed to make her happier, but the medicine seemed to have played a good part in dragging her down to sleep.

Her eyes fazed out and her hand became numb, her breathing shallow. I watched over her sleeping figure unable to figure out how she still looked like an angel even as she lay there.

"The Queen needs more rest, Princess," Miss Amir called over to me, "Give her a little bit more time."

I glanced up at Miss Amir and then down at my mother for a second before nodding, my hand slipping away from hers.

At least I could see that she was getting better. I looked at the roses by her bed stand, surprised they hadn't wilted a second, still in full bloom.

"I'll take her back to the infirmary, Gravis," Miss Akhana Amir announced and he agreed with a grunt, she walked over to me placing a hand on my shoulder.

I looked up at her, reading the wisdom in her eyes.

"There will be time," she reassured me.

I nodded glancing back at Mother again, moving forward to kiss her on the forehead, lingering there for a while, before backing away.

I would see her again. Hopefully sooner this time around.

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Hope you're enjoying the story so far! Heads up! Once a we reach chapter 100, I'll only be dishing out 2 chapters a week. You'll be able to read 5-7 chapters ahead on my patreon then.
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