A Mother and Daughter Moment

Leela cursed and wheezed as she stumbled into her bedroom from a teleportation array. She wasn't sure how it happened, but Genie and that freak had managed to merge their power for a strong attack.

If it hadn't been for her movement talisman teleporting her to a nearby navigator mark, she would've faced hefty damage or even death.

She tossed her damaged mage cape onto her plain four-poster wooden bed, then carelessly shed her armor and clothes until she was naked.

Her mind was a mess of thoughts as she headed for her xelfall, entering the white marble room with foggy cleansing particles filling the space. As the fog covered her, dirt lifted from her body and dissolved.

"I need to rid myself of that alien's filth. Genie is begging for a stabbing. I don't care if he's the demon prince's brother, he's just a specter to make disappear!" She punched a wall so hard it left a deep dent. Fog particles cleared her dark blood. "Curse you, Genie! Curse that alien scum!"

After a while of her body's cleansing and her venting, she felt calmer to re-enter her room and dress in a fresh set of armor and clothes, which were the same design as her last set.

Her mother entered the room from a magical opening, she screwed up her nose at the filthy discarded clothes on the floor.

"Messy child. I taught you better."

"Don't patronize me mother. We have servants." Leela grouchily slumped into her plush red armchair near a large window, which had a view of the palace's valley.

Valerr sighed and eased into the adjacent armchair, sitting upright and proper. "I guess your task failed, again."

"She summoned that Court Visor's squad."

Valerr rose and slapped her daughter hard on the cheek. "I warned you not to go after that pony girl. "

"Then how else are we going to get into the Ancestral Records?" Leela rubbed her cheek as she recoiled from her mother's ire.

The plan had been to capture Lady Bluesteed and probe her mind for ways to access the palace's Ancestral Records Archive. Of course, the horse-woman didn't have access inside the buildings. But she tended to the gardens of the area, so she knew the outer grounds well.

Valerr had disapproved of Leela's direct and impulsive means of information extraction. At least the girl might see the value of doing things her way now. She eased down into the chair again and tended to her daughter's sore cheek with magic.

Leela felt it was wise to let her mother do her thing. She waited for Valerr to resume her discussions.

"You tried your way, now we do it my way. I want you to avoid confrontations with that alien and demon-specter prince."

Leela curled her hands into fists so tight her knuckle bones creaked like they were going to crack.

"Mother, they disgraced me in front of the entire palace!" She hissed through her teeth.

"I know, but..." Valerr sat back with an imposing posture as she sternly said, "You earned that respect when you failed to kill that alien in the trial."

Leela gulped down a nervous knot.

"Life would've been so much easier if you were half as good as you think you are." Valerr sighed and dismissed her sober mood with a wave of her hand. She motherly stroked Leela's cheek, but beneath the show of tender care was a warning. "No more impulsiveness: it would displease mother."

"Yes, mother." Leela soberly agreed.

Valerr relaxed in her chair with a smile. "Prince Manfred will be attending court in the next two moon-turns. I've been told that our demon prince is preparing a derby event to celebrate that alien's induction as House Wizard. He's invited the prince and many noble beys from across the continent. An Andes Power Scroll has been put up as the prize."

"Really?" Leela's earlier anger and foul mood was lifted with the news of the man she most adored coming to town.

Valerr's smile widened. "Prince Manfred is keen to meet you."

"Truly?"

"Yes. So be a good girl and do as mother says. You'll have his hand soon." Valerr found her daughter's girly excitement entertaining. She rose to take her leave but paused at the threshold. "No more acting out on your own."

Leela nodded, her mind dwelling on happier thoughts with her prince.