When Small Lady awoke, she found herself in a strange bedroom and in an unfamiliar land. She walked over to the window to see where she was. When she saw the scenes of the world outside, she fell unconscious once again.

“Rini, wake up, Rini,” a strange yet familiar voice called, “Rini…”

“W…what happened!!!??” Small Lady frantically shouted when she was scared awake. “Where am I?????” she cried.

“Shhh….it’s alright Rini,” the strange voice said once again. Small Lady jumped at the sound of her irregular name. “Who said that???” she said. As she looked around the room, she almost fainted again as she saw who was sitting at the edge of the bed.

“H..H…Heli…Helios...??????” she said unbelievingly. “It…can’t be…” she stuttered. “I…I must be dreaming…” she said, not willing to believe who she saw. “It…just….can’t!” she shouted.

“Why can’t it be?” Helios questioned. “Because I can’t be here in Elysium,” Small Lady answered. “It’s just not possible,” she added.

“Oh, my sweet Rini,” Helios remarked with a slight laugh. “Still as stubborn as always,” he said. “I…I just have to wake up now, seeing you is too much to bear, and waiting to see you for so long….,” Small Lady trailed off.

“Well, I’m right here,” Helios stated. “But…there’s too much that I have to do when I wake up, I have to do royal duties and meetings…” she explained. “Forget about all those things; for now, you’re simply Rini,” “But…” before Rini could say another word, Helios walked beside her and lightly kissed her cheek. “My beautiful Rini,” he said as Rini blushed and quickly turned away.

Helios gave her a smile and told her, “I’ll let you have some time to get used to your surroundings.” “I’ll answer all your questions later tonight,” he said.

“Are you sure I’m not dreaming?” Rini asked, still avoiding Helios’ face. “Do you want it to be a dream?” He said. “Well, I….” She didn’t know if she did or not.

“Come,” Helios said. “I will let you get situated,” Helios offered. “Ok,” Rini replied. Rini followed Helios to a huge bedroom with stained glass windows and unique décor all over the walls.

“Wow, this is a beautiful room,” Rini remarked. “Who’s is it?” she wondered. “It’s your room,” Helios said, overhearing her voice. “Mine?” Rini said with awe. “What was the room I was in before?” she ventured. “That was a sitting room,” he responded.

“A sitting room???” she exclaimed. “Why yes, there are about fifty bedrooms alone, and many other rooms also,” Helios said. “And large gardens and ponds, and greenhouses.” he added. “But that means this is a…” she was interrupted, “A palace. Did you not know that Rini?” he said surprisingly. “Well, I…” Rini said uneasily. She felt so foolish. Helios was the Guardian of the Golden Crystal and a High Priest, right? Of course he has his own palace. She also felt embarrassed from the previous event.

“Is something wrong, Rini?” Helios said with concern. “No, I was just thinking about something,” she said. “You’ll find everything you need in this room,” Helios said.

“I have to attend to some official duties, I’m sorry to say,” he informed her. “But I’ll be back later to explain things to you,” he smiled at Rini.

Rini began to feel flushed again. “Um…well…you’ve better be going, don’t want to forget your duties, now do you?” she urged. “There are more important things,” Helios said. Rini felt like she was red as a tomato.

“But I suppose you’re right,” he could sense her discomfort. “I’ll be fine,” Rini said. “Goodbye,” she whispered.