#reul

However, the days passed by, and she came to recognize the presence as something familiar, close to her in a way she couldn’t quite explain. She recognized that of course that this power was what surrounded her as a queen, yes, but there was something deeper. Her curiosity burned, pushing past her initial fears, and the following days led to questions, long nights of talking and hours of simply observing this being in her presence.

Some of the servants had been sealed in to the palace with the Queen when she arrived, and she heard their whispers of the sorrow they all felt from the Sphere’s inhabitant. A name was mentioned - Aine - and there were many speculations on who this woman was that brought such a heavy sense of mourning over the creature. The most popular opinion by far was claims that this woman was some lost lover, and that was what caused the Sphere’s pain. 

When this being was not speaking directly to anyone, they would wander the castle aimlessly, occasionally stopping to observe some seemingly meaningless object. However, the Queen had been the first to notice a pattern to these actions - most often, she would observe the creature hovering around Ravenel’s room. Their hands would ghost over toys, sometimes spending hours holding one and staring distantly at it. 

But their favorite came from a small music box, which echoed a lullaby that had been passed along long before even the Queen could recall. She would frequently pass to hear the soft notes pluck at the air, an almost haunting sound in the presence of their grief. With this final piece to the mystery, however, it didn’t take the Queen long to realize what this being mourned.

This day, she followed behind, and reached out to the creature.

“It’s your mother, yes...?” she called out. Reul didn’t stir, but she could feel their attention on her. “This Aine, she...was your mother, wasn’t she? Not a lover.”

Her heart raced, as the creature turned towards her. At first they seemed almost angry, and she felt the sorrow and grief building inside of them. The emotions threatened to overwhelm her, but she continued on. The Queen had seen these feelings in her daughter, once, long before, when her perceived second mother had left their lives - it was difficult for her to stand aside.

“I can’t claim to know what happened...but I know it must hurt you, knowing she’s gone.” Carefully, slowly, the Queen began to reach out, She wanted to comfort Reul, as shining tears began to pool from their eyes. Their demeanor changed entirely, shrinking in defeat, and the sight broke her heart. 

This was more than a godly being, she realized - this was a child. A very hurt one, at that.

“...I’m tired...” Reul finally spoke, their echoing voice soft and pained. “I’m so tired...”

“I know...I know it does.” Her hands cupped the being’s face, and their emotions melded with her own. Tears fell down her own face, but through it she smiled gently. “These things...they’re never easy. And you’ve been living like this for so long, holding these feelings deep inside you. But I--”

A sharp change - alarm. Reul’s expression changed in an instant to surprise, then anger. The Queen leaped back in surprise, her heart racing before the creature spoke again, their voice shaking the very room.