"I'll pick you up at 4 o'clock tomorrow at the port."
"Raine, I'm not a baby. I can fly a rheiard to Arkylia."
"Genis, we talked about this."
"But Raine-"
"It's not safe to fly."
"Okay, okay, I'll get on a ship. It'll just take me all day to get to you."
"Meet me at the Convention when you arrive, and we'll go from there. I'll expect you at four."
"Sounds like a plan!" He smiled.
She smiled back at him. "I'm looking forward to seeing you."
"So am I! I've got loads to tell you."
"I can't wait."
"Okay. I've gotta go study. Goodnight Sis."
"Goodnight Genis."
His holographic image disappeared, and she was alone at her desk in her office. Raine leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, taking a slow deep breath in and out. It had been a long day, but a long day well spent. And she'd get to see her brother tomorrow. It had been far too long since they'd seen each other last.
Opening her eyes, she swiveled her chair to face the right wall of her office, upon which a map of the world of Aselia hung. The country of Tethe'alla was painted on the left side, and the country of Sylvarant on the right. It was still strange to see a map of the world look this way, even if it had been two years since the World Regeneration.
Time to go home. Raine stood and shuffled the scattered papers across her desk into one pile, packing them into her black briefcase. Her stomach rumbled loudly and she sighed. She had forgotten to eat dinner again. Too busy. Too much to get done. She thought about what her brother would say if he knew. He'd be so mad. What could she do for dinner though? I could cook. Raine shook her head and she glanced at the clock on the wall above her bookcase: midnight. The noodle restaurant is still open. The half-elven woman frowned. Noodles three times a week was definitely not a healthy diet.
As Raine walked out of her office and locked the door, she looked down the empty hallway, dotted with doors leading to offices of other members of the Convention. A smile crept to her face as a feeling of accomplishment washed over her. She was slow to admit it, but the long days, the meetings, the negotiations: it was energizing. Raine never believed that she would like politics, but it challenged her. And the truth was, she had come to enjoy it.
Tomorrow. The thought echoed in her mind. Tomorrow, provided everything went well, would be the culmination of two years of hard work. Changes were finally happening. At least, that's what she hoped.
Two years. I can't believe it's really been that long. It seemed like a lifetime ago she was traveling with Collette and Lloyd. Things hadn't exactly turned out how she thought they would be: Raine became the Chair of the Sylvarant Convention instead of traveling the new world with Genis, who went to study at the Palmacosta Academy.
As she walked out into the night, Raine looked up at the large full moon in the night sky. Tomorrow, the Sylvarant Convention would vote on the Half-Elves Equal Rights Act. It's only a first step. She cautioned herself, but her smile grew wider. Raine had never thought of herself as an idealist, too much had happened in her past to be optimistic, but the vote tomorrow had revived her belief that people could change.
Focused on the happy thoughts swirling around in her brain, Raine missed the shadows creeping behind her in the cold night. She turned onto the dimly lit road towards the noodle house, hearing the sounds of pots and spoons banging together, when suddenly felt herself grabbed by pairs of hands. Her hips were jerked backwards, and her feet slipped from underneath. Raine tried to twist her torso but pain erupted from her cheek. Another punch landed on her stomach, the blow causing her to double over. She coughed and tried to take a breath when pain exploded all over her body. Opening her mouth, she attempted to scream, but a large hand slapped itself over her mouth. Then she felt a sharp pang in the back of her head. Her vision went black.