Six months
As she neared the castle, a young woman with now cut red hair and red eyes materialized on the balcony. It was Eliana the exact copy of Valeriana .
"Mother!" Eliana exclaimed, her voice laced with surprise. "You are back! But… it has been a day! Where were you? Are you okay?" She shot a barrage of questions.
Valeriana landed gracefully on the balcony, her crimson robes billowing in the wind. "Indeed," she replied, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "It seems time has a different meaning on the other side."
Eliana's brow furrowed. "You left in a rather… awful state," she ventured cautiously, her gaze flickering over Valeriana's face, searching for any hidden emotions. "But you seem… different now. Lighter, somehow."
Valeriana chuckled softly. "Let's just say, I… had a meeting with your brother," she said, opting for a vague explanation.