Liona made her way toward her mother's private chambers. The weight of uncertainty regarding Grim's fate pressed heavily on her mind.
The guards at the entrance to the Empress's chambers bowed deeply as she approached.
"Her Imperial Majesty is expecting you, Princess," the senior guard announced, opening the ornate door.
The Empress was seated at a writing desk near the windows. She looked up as Liona entered.
"Daughter," she said simply, setting aside her brush.
Liona took a seat on a chair in front of her mother's desk.
"Events in Port Velmira took an unexpected turn," Liona replied.
"So I gather from Terran's preliminary report." The Empress studied her daughter intensely. "Though his account was necessarily brief. I would hear the full story from you."
Liona took a deep breath and began recounting the events—the strange weather patterns, the flooding of villages, the attack by the Jiaolong. She described the ruins and the glowing water that had swallowed Grim.
