The School of Amandus

"So I am to be going to the school of Amandus Mother?"

"Yes" Nodding in assent to her words, the conversation between the Queen and the Priest of the Abyss lay within her mind.

They had come to the agreement that they were to go to someplace else that the New Faith already had an influence in instead of going to a school established by the New Faith.

And that place was the School of Amandus Extablished by a renowned mage even by the Queen's terms and had the interests of several people.

So it wasn't a surprise that the New Faith somehow had a hand in the School of Amandus, just like how the New Tower of magic was involved with the place.

However it left a bitter taste in her mouth that she had to compromise with sending her daughter to another place under the coercion of the New Faith.

It was however, a much better choice than sending her child to the New Faith's headquarters where they would be laid bare to the doctrines of the New Faith.

And from the fanaticsm that some of the Upper ranking members had shown that bordered on insanity.

Confidence that her daughter would disappear and would be replaced with someone else wearing the skin of her daughter would appear before the next time they sought each other was high.

So this compromise was one that although she didn't like at the least, was one that she much preferred over losing her child permanently.

Looking at the young flower that to her knowledge hadn't been exposed to the darker sides of society she inwardly sighed at how she would need to learn how to fight with words.

Not that the Heavens were any better as although the Angels and Engels made the majority, Souls who have ascended to the heavens were not small.

Safe to say that they also would like to usurp the throne of Heaven as it was a coveted position after all.

But oblivious of the past as the Lyxian Princess of Heaven and only aware of the history as her child.

Ellora looked at the Queen with blue eyes.

"Ellora"

"Yes?"

Holding out an earring of silver containing a gem of incredible blue, she got up from her throne and walked to the girl.

"This is the royal Heirloom of the Nephele's, it is the proof of our royalty and has been in our family for generations"

Looking at the earring that was adorned by a beautiful sky blue gem, she watched as the Queen of the Clouds handed the earring to her, placing the silver accessory onto her palms.

"Why are you giving me this mother? Shouldn't you have given it to one of my other siblings?" Holding the amulet between her fingers she fingered it within her hand.

Staring at her child with a small smile on her face, the queen answered.

"Your siblings have received something similar" Pushing the amulet that Ellora held between her thin fingers she smiled.

"And it has a certain symbolism to it that you will learn about much later when you need to know it"

Furrowing her brows at that statement, the queen seemed to dive into her memories before turning to look at her daughter.

Whispering to herself as she did so.

"?"

"However we must talk" Changing her slight smile that reminiscence about the past to one that frowned about the future.

The queen gestured for Ellora to follow her.

"When you leave for the academy I can't outright support you as the moment you enter the academy of Amandus you are a part of a separate organization."

Following the queen, she led Ellora through a hidden doorway hidden behind the throne that was covered with a banner of the Royal sigil and symbol.

"The New Faith have already gotten their claws into the Academy when they first appeared so they definitely have an influence in the academy,"

A small room that looked incredibly out of place in the prestigious castle unfolded before Ellora as the Queen manipulated a few hidden magic circles.

"So the help that I can give you is very limited and I do not have much room to maneuver my power in the academy unlike how the New Faith have much more room to do excersize their power." 

"So Ellora" Looking her daughter dead in the eyes she spoke "Do not underestimate the lengths the New Faith will go to bring you to their side"

"So find friends who will be on your side and support you when you fall, because..." Eyes darkening she snapped her fingers.

"When you fall the wolves who were pretending to be sheep, will not hesitate to bite your throat and tear it apart"

Standing above Ellora with a dominating presence that aura soon disappeared like the breeze in the wind.

Turning around and showing her back, the Queen walked to the end of the strange room and touched the walls.

Pushing a stone back into a place a small hole in the wall opened and in that hole the Queen rummaged for moments.

Taking out a small necklace from within the darkness of the hole, upon doing it's job the hole closed back up.

Not that the queen cared of course.

"Take this treasure with you and take care of it, it will be your light in the darkness when it calls for it"

Smiling calmly she continued as Ellora admired the Necklace that was of a different design from the earring that was the symbol of the Royal Family.

"Go back to your room for now and get the maids to pack your things, you will soon be going off to the academy of Amandus"

Nodding her head dully Ellora looked at the Queen who disappeared into the darkness of the Small room even though she didn't leave the room

Walking out of the small room and watching it close behind her with a flourish to get covered by the banner displaying the royal families symbol.

If she checked underneath the banner, she would find that behind it would be no different from a normal wall.

Walking out of the Royal Hall, the Princess of Stratus looked at her maid whom had followed her to the entrance of the Hall.

"Lead me to my room and begin packing my things, I am about to go to the Academy of Amandus."

---

"I won't ask you to call me mom when we part, but soon you will leave the Royal Castle and go to the academy of Amandus."

Flinging open her arms Ellora flushed slightly while carrying a small bag of things on her shoulders, a strap of blue leather holding up her spear.

"But call me mommy"

Saying those words with a straight face, Ellora flushed in embarrassment as the demand was a bit to much for her.

Hurriedly trying to move past her mother, the queen sighed sadly before asking quietly.

"If you aren't going to call me mommy like you were a child, can we settle with you hugging me?"

Hesitance showed on Ellora's face as her emotions were in complete conflict right now, the pride of being a reincarnated princess of Heaven and the motherly love showed to her attacked each other.

The affection destroyed the pride into small smithereens.

Keeping a small smile on her face, the queen watched Ellora ran forwards and buried her face right into her mother's arms, her face right at bosom level as she sank into them.

'Oh Ellora' Patting her daughters head a sly smile appeared on her face. 'You are so easy to manipulate'

'Hopefully you grow out of this habit'

Hurriedly pushing herself away with a flushed away and coughing she attempted to speak "There mother, I have satisfied your whims, now I will be off to the Academy"

Slightly saddened by the abrupt department, the Queen gestured for the maid to go to Ellora.

Walking forwards the maid followed the Princess and opened the door of the carriage for the Princess.

The Carriage was one of white and blue tones carrying the symbol of the Nephele royal family, that being a spear standing behind the Whale.

The driver was a young man wearing a white cloak while holding long reins connected to a long chain of large fish the size of horses.

Taking the offer with reluctance Ellora boarded the white carriage, the maid wearing a white head dress boarding the carriage behind her.

"Gracia" The queen spoke to the maid who got up onto the carriage who than hurriedly turned around to bow to the Queen.

"I am honored you remember my name my Queen"

"Please do away with the formalities Dame Gracia, you will be guarding my daughter from now on"

"I cannot allow myself such Liberties my Queen."

Shaking her head as if it was something sad she glanced at Ellora at the corner of her eye and chuckled when she saw that her cute daughter desperately looking away from her, the red tint in her ears betraying her.

Looking to the skies she sighed sadly and spoke "It seems that I took up to much of your time, you must head to the academy soon I wish you good luck on your journey"

"The Kingdom of Stratus had already moved close enough to the Academy of Amandus so it is only a short trip, goodbye my daughter"

Caressing her daughters hands the queen had a complicated expression on her face before getting rid of it.

"You are old enough to take care of yourself so I won't say anything, but when you get to the academy make some friends alright?"

"Dame Gracia"

"Yes my queen"

"Make sure that you protect my daughter with the best of your abilities"

"I will sacrifice my life for the Third Princess" Standing up and making a half prayer pose and placing her flat palm on her face the queen continued.

"Good, Ellora I won't take anymore of your time, so one last goodbye darling"

Closing the carriage door Ellora looked at the closed door with complicated eyes as the scenery slowly changed.

The driver snapped the reins and the large fish quickly flapped their tails in the air as they propelled the carriage to move forwards.

Looking through the window and seeing the image of her mother slowly get farther and farther away Ellora instinctively felt that she should say something otherwise regret it for the rest of her life.

Opening the door and looking back at her mother waving at the distance Ellora shouted at the wind "I depart now..! Mom! I will come back and satisfy your expectations!"

Slightly dumbfounded the queen chuckled before shouting something back which was then lost in the wind "I L-v- --U -- ---ora"

Entering the carriage quickly while flushed at the face she closed the door, thus blocking the rest of the words.

Not that they hadn't been ingrained into her brain already.

Turning her attention to the wide blue skies, it allowed her to see the grand earth that spanned to the horizon marked by mountains, forests, rivers, plains and many other things.

Nestling in the seats Ellora thought to herself with the quiet chuckles of Dame Gracia in the background.

'It seems my adventure starts now'

Giggling quietly to herself Ellora's beautiful blue and green eyes flashed as a warm feeling filled within her.

'I like this feeling'

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