"From now on, what will you do?"

The question was so premature, so quickly blurted out that it took both sisters by surprise. The light of the moon illuminated through a cracked window - just enough to see Tara's bewildered face light up.

From now on...

Rashiannu studied her sister's face for a moment before her senses came back to her. Not a full day had even passed since her long-lost sister became the savior of the continent. Deep weariness masked the shock even more, and relief hadn't set in for either of them to grow sleepy. Still, the queen's autopilot always seemed to make her ask things she'd regret soon afterwards.

"I apologize. Disregard what I just said, it's just...  much too early for that, I don't know what I'm even going on about right now..."

Tara ruminated on those three words for a while longer. From now on... now on...

"...Instead, we should focus on sleeping," Rashiannu said, fully aware that she'd be doing no sleeping of her own tonight. She rolled over to sleep on her other side, sighing at the rubble and disarray that'd become of the queen's bedroom.

"Tomorrow, we've so much to catch up on, and so much work to do. Please rest for now."

---

What happens beyond the happy ending of an epic novel? When the heroes finally win, with remnants of debris and battle scars in their wake? There is still a castle to be cleaned, soldiers to be recuperated, and lives to be picked up once more.

And despite being the newest hero of Alanjeh, Tara found herself partaking in such efforts.

Despite insistent protests from her sister and the sore wounds suffered from her fight against the God of Harmony rattling in her mind, she found odd jobs around the castle hauling away rubble and putting things back in their place. Menial tasks that gave her less time to think on the mental thoughts.

Tara had prepared herself for waves of appreciation and royal treatment from the inhabitants of the castle, but most put her to work without so much as a glance her way. However, on a few occasions, some had given her a longer, more bewildered look.

"Your Highness, don't tell me your wardrobe was destroyed in the attack! A queen should not be wearing such rags, even if to assist in the recovery!"

It seems like the outfit of the Band of the Scorpions was unpopular no matter where she went.

Right, I look like her... The Queen of this entire continent. My sister. She's my twin sister.

A silent, grim stare honed throughout her childhood usually got people off her case. The faster she was left alone, the less those difficult thoughts would follow her.

(it's actually better if she's not left alone)

Debris in the royal kitchens. Broken pillars in the foyer. Crushed tables at the dining hall. Tara avoided the library, at least, for seeing the portrait of the previous queen standing between two smiling children was just...

Sol had sparked the gist of her forgotten memories, but all they had brought was sorrow and unease. The portrait refused to leave her alone, flashing in the back of her eyelids. She tried not to blink... But the centuries old dust of Alanjeh Castle was simply far stronger.

Her reconstruction assistance eventually brought Tara to the front of the castle. Though mostly cleaned up, she took a breather there on the steps of a staircase as more flashes of that portrait started to rise up. A strange feeling started rising up, too. A feeling of... Being watched?

Tara turned around a bit - and suddenly jumped back instinctively.

Being in the presence of Queen Katia's royal portrait kinda does that. It sure was intense, from the deep reds to the contrasting shadows to the... Well, whoever got commissioned for her portrait sure had a taste for the dramatic.

Tara got up from the rubble she landed on and inspected the plinth standing in front of the large painting.

this part should be on tara trying to piece together current and forgotten memories and if she should even try to remember the past, because the things she has been told still feel shocking and not settling in for her

---

"Why the long face, Tara? Shouldn't a hero be more smiles and joy?" A weak chuckle came from Sol. Tara kept her eyes on his bedside table, with Sol's sword resting against its side.

It had been a long time since she saw him bandaged up so intensely. Those first few skirmishes when he had joined the Band of the Scorpions were still fresh in her mind. Back then it was all just part of the initiation for the strange young man who practically stood in front of their band's carriage, asking to join. Now, she felt something murky in her heart - something that kept her from facing Sol head on.

"You do know, it's all just to secure me so I won't move as much... If I had it my way, I'd be right beside the workers rebuilding the castle by now!"

It wasn't quite that. Dead soldiers, fellow band members, the sight of blood was normal to her eyes now.

(it was actually part of it)

"Those nurses are pretty strict.”