Chapter 22 - Second Trial P-1

Ravenna closed her eyes, trying to see beyond what her eyes could not see when open.

She sighed, her breath even visible, spreading the dust of the desert with each exhale.

When she opened her eyes, they immediately fell on two Firehorns: a young calf and its mother. The sight softened and warmed her heart.

The young Firehorn was playing with its mother, nudging her playfully and trying to climb onto her back.

The mother, in turn, was gently nudging the calf back, making soft, rumbling sounds.

They were categorized as monsters, but at that moment, they showed something different. They showed love and parenthood.

The mother Firehorn was just like any other mother, protecting and nurturing her child, ensuring it grew up strong and safe.

Ravenna watched the calf as it stumbled and then got back up, determined to play more. The mother's eyes were filled with a fierce love, a love that transcended species.

Ravenna felt a pang in her heart as she realized that, just like in her kingdom, the bond between parent and child was universal.

The Firehorns, despite their monstrous appearance, shared the same emotions of care and nurturing.

Ravenna's mind was flooded with memories of her own childhood, how she was raised with love and care by her family.

The playful scene before her was a clear reminder that even in the world of monsters, there were moments of gentleness and affection.

She saw the young Firehorn's strong will to grow and the mother's constant support. It was a moment of pure emotion, a lesson in parenthood and the bonds that tie all creatures together.

Even though Ravenna grew up with the same love, she couldn't help but wonder if her family had betrayed her. She questioned whether they were truly human or monsters in the skin of wolves.

"How? How?" Ravenna muttered, her voice filled with uncertainty. "How can I kill them?" She raised her hand, staring at her palm. These hands, capable of creating and destroying, could they truly take a life?

"Monster? Devil? What does it mean?" she asked aloud, as if hoping the answer would come from the very air around her.

Lumina, glowing softly beside her, answered, "It's just a concept humans use to describe what they like and what they fear."

Lumina watched over Ravenna, understanding that she was searching into a deep contemplation about the true meaning of life and words.

What did the word 'monster' really mean? As Ravenna watched the Firehorns, she saw love, care, and the emotions that make life.

"They also breathe, they also have love for each other," Lumina whispered. "They live in groups to protect each other."

Ravenna began to understand what Lumina meant, and what this trial was for. It was to grasp the meaning of life, the essence that makes one truly alive.

"Names?" Lumina continued, her tone gentle yet firm. "Humans name what they fear and what they understand. They call these creatures monsters because they don't understand them. But look closer, Ravenna. What do you see?"

Ravenna looked at the Firehorns again. She saw the young one nudging its mother playfully, and the mother responding with gentle nudges and soft, rumbling sounds.

Despite being labeled as monsters, they displayed the same love and care she had known growing up.

The mother Firehorn was just like any other mother, protecting and nurturing her child, ensuring it grew up strong and safe.

Ravenna felt a intense connection to the scene before her. The conflict within her began to settle as she realized that the labels humans placed on things were just that - labels. The true essence of life was far more complex and beautiful.

"How can I kill them?" Ravenna asked herself again, her voice trembling. She looked at her hand once more, understanding that her power to create and destroy came with a responsibility.

She couldn't just follow orders blindly; she needed to understand the deeper meaning behind her actions.

"They are also part of my kingdom. Isn't it the duty of a queen to protect everything under her and destroy anything that harms it?" Ravenna muttered to herself.

Ravenna began to grasp the deeper meaning. Everything within the kingdom, whether human or monster, fell under the ruler's care.

It was her job to protect and nurture, just as the first queen had done.

A memory flashed in Ravenna's mind. She remembered the first time she saw the statue of the first queen, surrounded by serpents.

She couldn't understand why the statue was designed that way. Why would a queen be surrounded by serpent?

Now, the symbolism was clear. The serpents represented the relationship between humans and monsters.

They were a part of the first queen, showing the bond that existed between all creatures within the kingdom. The serpents weren't enemies; they were protectors, just like the queen herself.

Ravenna's eyes widened as the realization settled in, like a light bulb going on in her mind. The statue was a powerful reminder that humans and monsters were not so different after all.

They both played vital roles in the balance of the kingdom. The serpents encircling the queen symbolized unity and protection. It showed that even creatures considered monsters had a place and purpose.

The venom could be a part of life, deadly yet necessary to kill the enemies of the kingdom, with the first queen symbolizing the ruler who controlled it.

Death and life, destruction and creation, were carried by the first queen, showing that she wielded both with wisdom and care.

It represented a harmony, a delicate balance where every being had a role to play, ensuring the kingdom thrived.