Her Serene Highness Atia Prescotti was covered in splotches of dirt as she knelt before a row of plantings and tugged at a series of very stubborn roots. Astadar Dyak Javad, Atia's Principal Aide, Dyak Kemal and Adherent Stace from the Monadori Sanctuary, all sat in nearby chairs and reviewed the status of her policy initiatives coursing throughout the Convocation while she tended to the roots.
She had left Presidium Medical a week ago and her Mother insisted she convalesce at the family's private Chateau. Her rationale was that there was too much bustling throughout Presidium proper due to the Convocation to distract her full recovery. She argued to no avail she could easily recover inside her private chambers within Presidium Proper, but her parents would not hear of it. They argued that a period of tilling the soil at the Chateau would relax her mind and so Atia was sent to the Chateau. Atia knew her parents were right; tilling the soil was relaxing, a habit all of her siblings had adopted as a method for relaxation.
With the Convocation in full swing her siblings were all engaged in some type of meeting, event, gala, tour, or more recently, an environmental crisis that could have wrecked devastating consequences on the agriculture of the Prescotti Homelands, if not the entire Realm. Nevertheless, they all checked in with her every day, as well as her extended family and friends. Atia swore she spent half the day on the comms assuring everyone she was fine. Their Majesties planned on spending the next few days exclusively at the Chateau, and so Atia mentally prepared her case to return to her responsibilities as soon as possible. But she was also concerned that her parents seemed very concerned, more so than what she thought was necessary. Granted, she had a mind-quake that shook the Realm, something only her Mother has ever done, but she had assured them she was fine. Her parents seemed unconvinced, and more so, as if they were waiting for something else to happen.
"Your Serene Highness?" The Seneschal prompted upon their approach.
"Which family member is calling this time?" Atia anticipated.
"Your Serene Highness, it is Agent Malikov." The Seneschal replied.
"Okay. Let me dust off the dirt here." Atia replied.
"Your Serene Highness, She is here." The Seneschal clarified.
"Here at the Chateau?" Atia queried.
"Right here, Your Serene Highness!" Kenzi replied as she stepped out a few feet behind the Seneschal and curtsied.
"Your stealth skills are improving." Atia replied as she stood up, quickly followed by her Aides, and acknowledged the curtsey.
"I wanted to see you before I left, Your Serene Highness." Kenzi said.
"That was very thoughtful of you." Atia replied.
"Well, you are my spar buddy, Your Serene Highness." Kenzi said.
"Well, I hope we are more than that." Atia replied.
"I wouldn't be here if we weren't, Your Serene Highness." Kenzi said with a smile. Atia turned to her Aides.
"Let's pick all this up later back at my residence." Atia said. They all extended their courtesies and then left.
"I wanted to stop by to see how you are before I head back. How are you?" Kenzi asked. "You gave us a scare. Heck, you gave all the planes of existence a scare!"
"Gave myself a scare there too, my friend." Atia replied. "Where're you headed?"
"Back to the Human Plane." Kenzi replied.
"To finish your training?"
"Yepper, Your Serene Highness." Kenzi replied. The Seneschal reappeared with what Atia had learned from Kenzi was a drink called Lemonade. The Seneschal served them both them bowed and left.
"It's just you and me now." Atia replied. Kenzi smiled. "How much time do you have?"
"A little time." Kenzi replied.
"Enough to stay for dinner? Mummy and Mother will be here."
"Not that much time." Kenzi replied. Atia laughed. 'It's probably a good thing as they would most likely grill me until dawn about our little adventure to Zandri."
"I think Elena and Emilia have that covered for you."
"Unfortunately, and yet fortunately." Kenzi replied. They both smiled.
"Have you ever been here before? To the Chateau?" Atia asked.
"No, and this place is gorgeous!"
"Thought Antony might have brought you here already."
"We haven't had time to even go a second date yet!" Kenzi replied.
"I hope he rectifies that soon."
"Me too. So when are you headed back to the Presidium?"
"I plan to make my case to Mummy and Mother at dinner this evening."
"Well, you are over 1300 years old."
"Means nothing to them." Atia replied as they both smiled.
"They are worried about you."
"A little more than they should which is concerning to me."
"Well, you did shake the entire Realm."
"I know, but still."
"Parents." Kenzi said with a glint of humor. Atia smiled.
"Well, my friend allow me to take you on a tour of our little Chateau."
"I would love that." Kenzi replied.
"We'll start with Antony's little patch of paradise here first. His farming skills are just a shy better than his cooking skills." Atia replied as she and Kenzi locked arms and proceeded down a rugged path.
"Oh my."
"Oh my is right." Atia smiled.
Later, after Atia and Kenzi had said her goodbyes Atia entered her residence, ventured upstairs, and looked out one of drawing room windows to watch her friend depart. As Kenzi walked along the path towards the main house, she suddenly stopped, seemingly gripped by something then quickly dropped to her knees, bowled over. Atia stepped back from the window, turned and raced for the stairs. As she went, she passed a series of windows that faced Kenzi and saw that Kenzi had, by that time, righted herself. Atia stopped and observed. Kenzi quickly looked around, clearly to see if anyone had noticed what happened. Then was suddenly gripped again, and fell to her knees. Atia raced down the stairs again, and as she reached the main floor she could see out one of the windows Kenzi had righted herself again. What came next made her eyes go wide.
Kenzi extended out her hand in front of her, pleaded at the emptiness in front of her and suddenly disappeared. Atia took a step back from the window, and contemplated what she had just witnessed, then several moments later Kenzi reappeared. Atia stepped towards the window again, and saw Kenzi frantically look around again to see if anyone had seen what happened, and when she seemed satisfied she shot off like a lighting bolt into the crop fields. Atia stepped back away from the window. Eyes wide.
