Not black and white

Arna didn't seemed to mind when Renald just made his escape. She sat down in disbelief near the boulder as weight of her thought bore her down. She stared blankly at the empty valley masking her inner turmoil questioning everything she was thought by her father. Whatever they are doing is for the sake of the people of Zenaad.  

The valley gave a sense of comfort with it oak tree surrounding the valley with a hint a earthy smell. The valley was filled with the yellow tint flowers  adding a feeling of peace and safe to whoever dazing through .The sun set gave the valley a touch of mystic. The boulder at the middle of the valley was the resting place for whoever seeking shelter or wanted to escape from their daily life. With ancient text prescribed onto the boulder it became a famous spot for scholars who seek to understand the ways of the spirit queen and the first king .

None of the beautiful scenery surrounding made her calm down. Arna lent towards the boulder as she pondered for answers for the riddles playing in her mind. 

" You know it was said that when the breeze is blowing through the valley during, the spirit queen and the first king of Zenaad are meeting to share a beautiful dance and the spirit celebrate the  union by dancing around them," the husky timbre voice seemed to shock Arna making her stand and call out for Luciana. 

" Why do every time when I meet you, you look like you are in a vulnerable state," the owner of voice reveal himself from behind the boulder. Arna recognized the stranger as the intruder who came into the forest without Lexdon's permission.  "Well you should not make it a habit sneaking up to people," she retorted. The stranger laughed at Arna disheveled state which bewildered her. When she heard  his resonant laughter, full of genuine mirth, lifted her troubled spirit. 

" I am Rehan, scholar from the ethos city. What brings you to Ophir Valley Ms," the handsome stranger introduced himself. Something about him made Arna to drop her guard, it was weird at the same time felt good for not being responsible for once. "Just thinking about some stuff through and why are you here. You seem like a wandering merchant then a scholar," she replied with glee. Rehan was taken aback,  as she seem to recognized the luxurious robe he was wearing but gathered himself quickly. "I was just here to study about the boulder you were leaning on. Then I saw you and you seemed like you needed someone to talk to," Rehan tenderly smiled at Arna while sitting down and gesturing her to sit beside him. 

Luciana seemed subspinous of Rehan but Arna was warming up to him, so she took it as a sign to get back to her slumber. Arna sat beside him and begam to rant what she encounter moments ago. Maybe a third party can make sense of the situation. A party without any biases. 

" Well, the nobles are taking and are collecting high taxes from the poor. But the rebels are stealing resources without contributing to the economy. What if there is a middle that everyone can agree too," he replied. " Maybe but how ?," she asked hoping whatever way Rehan is suggesting would reduce the suffering for the people. 

"Why don't you meet me at Ethos city at break of dawn. Whatever answers you are trying to find you can surely find it at the city of knowledge," he responded to Arna who was taken aback. She was flustered because no one other then her family as invited her outside besides raiding or rebel related work. Looking at Arna's flustered faced made Rehan to tease her more but he held himself back. " Oh dear I forgot, and you are," before he can finish " Arna Agerman," She enthusiastically replied back. They chatted away till the moon raised. 

Both of them bid farewell as the crescent began to lit up the night sky. One thing was for sure that Arna was determined had to find answers quickly before drastic measures taken by the rebels or the royals.