It all felt like a dream. Every step unreal, every sight unclear; but the mark on her forehead made it clear, this was her new reality.

  She couldn’t keep from touching it, again and again, as she tried to grasp the enormity of what had just happened.

  She was a servant of one of the most powerful beings of the cosmos.

  It thrilled her, made her heart beat faster; yet there was fear that lingered within her, clinging to her like her clothes to her skin, wet from sweat.

  She wandered the streets of the city, the masses of people around her like phantoms, her pace ever increasing. Their presence, a hindrance, an obstacle to overcome.

  Home. She needed to return home.

  And there it was. A grand estate, away from the towering skyscrapers behind her, nestled next to one of the many great parks of the city. Through the gate, past the yard, into the warmth of the house, the waiting embrace of her family.

  But there was only a servant to meet her.

  Like herself.

  She bade him to summon the family, so she could tell them what had happened. What had become of her.

  He rushed about, gathered the staff, and notified her parents. All while she waited.

  Waited for them to come.

  And they came.

  And saw.

  Her mother gasped, covered her mouth; she knew what the mark signified.

  Her father ever stout, ever poised, broke. His composure cracked, his hands sought support as knees yielded and he found it in a chair. His face tightened, his grip too.

  “How? How did this… come to pass?” he said.

  She told them… everything.

  The conversation. The offer. The mark.

  At first, they looked at her with wide eyes, blood drained from their faces, their mouths agape. But the longer she spoke the more their eyes seemed to shine, the blood returned, and even a hint of a smile could be seen on occasion.

  And when she finished, her mother’s eyes welled up as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her father simply said nothing, his thoughts, his opinions didn’t matter anymore and he knew it.

  “We will discuss this honor… in the morning,” he said.

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  She would always be their daughter, but now she was the Daughter’s servant.

  The yam was delicious, so was the bread; she took a bite and washed it down with the tea, hot and sweet.

  Morning tea with her parents.

  All seemed like it always was, but it wasn’t.

  Her father had regained his composure, her mother’s tears had dried, and she herself had slept and woken up, to reality.

  Her family’s name would be elevated, tied as they were now to the very ruler of the cosmos. Others would come, offering gifts, seeking association, to gain favor by mere closeness.

  Her father would have made the calls, summoned relatives, associates, underlings.

  Her family’s business would thrive, her name would now open doors, invite opportunities.

  All that it had cost them was… her.

  Her mother’s tears had dried, but her hands still trembled, her tea spilled. She helped her, touched her shoulders, met her gaze.

  Her mother touched her face, brushed her mark, and she whispered.

  “You’re not ours anymore… are you? I shouldn’t say it… it’s…” she said.

  Heresy.

  She knew the word her mother couldn’t say. Mustn’t say.

  “She’s taken you from us. Claimed you… for a world we’ll never know.”

  A lump formed in her throat. No words could escape her lips. Her reality was like a dream, but for her mother… a nightmare.

  Her mouth opened, words formed, but none came before her father’s voice stopped them.

  “Daughter… this is an honor beyond anything we could have imagined. You’re our daughter, our heir. But now… you are bound to her.”

  “A Daughter of the Ambition,” he said.

  “We always believed in you. That you were destined for more than us. But this… this is more than we ever expected.”

  His voice was filled with pride, but his gaze wavered, unable to face his daughter’s eyes.

  The breakfast ended, the bread eaten, the tea emptied. All that could be said had been said.

  The days went as fast as they came, a whirlwind of farewells and preparations. All came to offer their congratulations, friends and family, yet beneath all their joy and celebration, there were also condolences.

  She was experiencing a marriage and a funeral in one.

  She knew, they all knew, that this was more than a simple goodbye, not an extended journey to a distant land from whence one would return when one so desired.

  Would she return? Could she?

  And now it was the night before she would leave them.

  Forever?

  The word hovered in her mind, unseen, unheard by others.

  She sat on her bed, her mother next to her, as the red glow of the beacon filtered through the windows and bathed them in red.

  Her mother gripped her hand and held it firm, her gaze lowered, facing away.

  “I’ll miss you… I’ll miss our talks, your smile,” she said.

  “You were always so clever, even as a child.”

  She was still her child. Her grip tightened.

  “You will be part of something greater… something someone like me cannot understand… but… a part of me still wishes you could stay here… with us.”

  With me.

  Once again there were tears, her mother’s and her own as she hugged her mother firmly, perhaps for the last time.

  Tears dried. Night fell and a new dawn arrived.

  One of farewells.

  They were all there, gathered in the hall, servants and her parents.

  Dressed impeccably, silent, as the soft morning light fell on them through tall windows.

  She stood before them in elegant travelling clothes, her bags packed, her heart pounding.

  She passed the staff slowly, accepted their farewells, every step brought her closer to the door and her parents who waited there.

  Her father faced her, his face stern, composed. He looked firmly in her eyes.

  “You’ll do great things — I know it. We’ll be watching for news about your journey,” he said.

  Her mother kissed her cheek, tears held back, a smile on her lips.

  “Go make us proud, my love,” her mother said.

  “I will,” she said.

  She embraced them, turned away, and stepped over the threshold.

  Love was behind her.

  It was the past.

  Only the future remained.