Chapter 16 - Forgotten Past P-2
Even the strongest tree can forget its roots in the face of a relentless storm.
Ravenna realized that she had been caught in such a storm, but now it was time to find her roots again, to reclaim her destiny.
The inner turmoil was like a battlefield within her heart. She felt the fierce desire to rebuild her kingdom, to right the wrongs, and to honor her people.
With each breath, Ravenna felt the fire within her rekindle. She was not just a sorceress; she was the princess of a fallen kingdom, a leader who had a responsibility to her people and to honor all the people who died to protect her land.
She couldn't let the sands of time bury her purpose any longer. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her fingers tracing the curves of her armor. The smooth surface was a small comfort, a reminder of her present strength.
She needed to remember. She needed to find herself again. But the more she tried to focus, the more her head hurt, like a storm raging inside her mind.
Ravenna's confusion was overwhelming. She felt like a wanderer lost in a dense forest, with no path to guide her. The memories of her past life, her kingdom, and her role as a leader were fragments scattered in the wind.
Lumina hovered above Ravenna's head, a glowing orb of light and energy. She understood every storm of thoughts and every rain of emotions that coursed through Ravenna.
Lumina's lights flickered rapidly, mirroring the turmoil in Ravenna's heart, like a human blinking in rapid succession, reflecting the intensity of the emotions she sensed.
Ravenna, lost once more in the storm of her past, felt like a ship adrift on a wild, stormy sea.
Just as she had been about to dock at the shore of her new purpose, the bitter memories of her kingdom's fall and her own forgotten identity had snatched her back into the raging waters.
The pain of remembering was almost too much to bear, threatening to pull her under once again.
Lumina's light flickered in response to Ravenna's inner turmoil, pulsing with a rhythm that seemed to echo the wild beating of Ravenna's heart.
She knew Ravenna's struggle, felt the depth of her sorrow and confusion. Every thought of despair, every flicker of doubt, Lumina perceived it all.
Ravenna's confusion was overwhelming. She felt like a wanderer lost in a dense forest, with no path to guide her.
The memories of her past life, her kingdom, and her role as a princess were fragments scattered in the wind. She had to gather them, piece by piece, to rebuild her sense of self.
Hovering closer, Lumina's light enveloped Ravenna in a gentle, warm glow.
It was a silent reassurance, a reminder that she was not alone in this storm. Lumina's presence was a lighthouse in the darkness, guiding Ravenna back to herself.
"My child, I am here," Lumina's voice felt more like an echo in Ravenna's mind, gentle yet firm, like a guiding light in the darkness.
Lumina's light flickered softly, like the comforting blink of an understanding friend. "You cannot change the past, Ravenna," she said, her tone warm and soothing. "Dwelling on it is like trying to hold onto water - it slips through your fingers no matter how tightly you grasp it."
Ravenna's breathing steadied a bit as she listened, her mind still lost in past.
"What matters," Lumina continued, "is the present. Each moment you spend caught in the past is a moment lost in shaping your future. Your kingdom fell, yes, but you survived. You have the strength to rebuild, to rise from the ashes like a phoenix. The power within you is immense, but it must be guided by your will to move forward."
Ravenna's heart still ached, but Lumina's words began to kindle a spark of hope.
"Think of your journey as a path through a dense forest," Lumina's light pulsed gently. "The past is the shadowy path behind you, full of regrets and what-ifs. But ahead lies a new path, bathed in light, where every step you take can lead to healing and rebuilding. You are not defined by what has happened to you, but by what you choose to do now."
The flickering of Lumina's light seemed to dance with renewed energy. "You have created something remarkable with your armor, a proof of your resilience and creativity. Let that be a symbol of your new beginning. Use it to face the future with courage and determination. Remember, even the darkest night will end, and the sun will rise again."
Ravenna felt a tear slip down her cheek, but it was not of sorrow alone - it was a tear of release, of letting go.
"You are right, Lumina," she said, her voice steadier now. "I will focus on what I can change and build a future that honors the past but is not bound by it."
Ravenna understood, a realization washed over her that thinking for past was like stepping on thorns - you couldn't avoid it.
Even if you removed a few, there were always more waiting, because your past was full of them. Each thorn symbolized regrets, past lives, what-ifs, and thoughts of what could have been done differently.
These thorns were so deep-rooted that not even the storm of thoughts could uproot them. Instead, the waves of thoughts only nourished them, making them stronger and more entrenched.