● Mona Rezart ●
All the interactions in front of her came as a blur. So much had happened she barely had time to catch up with her own thoughts. Not sure what to take of the situation just yet, she waited patiently on the side, trying to take in the hustle and bustle in a calm and collected manner. She had to have some sense around her! After all, to be in a room with such important people with many important titles! Everything felt so new around her and she decided to sit back and watch it all unfold in front of her until an opportunity offered itself to her. Then she would formally engage in the conversation herself.
However, that time came all too late. Before she knew it, there was yelling from the obviously disgruntled Wands and nearly everyone else seemed to take up his attitude. Mona bit her lower lip, fingers curling in and out of each other. How should she approach the situation? Her eyes glanced to the King of Coins, searching for any sign of what to do or how to carry it out. The King, on the other hand, seemed all too concentrated with her furrowed brow and tight lips. How could such an atrocious attitude fall on everyone on the room? If anything, this appeared as a battle ground rather than a inter-kingdom meeting as was revealed. Was she to be tasked with balancing them out? Oh, dear, no, that would be… Difficult. She considered opening her mouth for a moment, just when the Wands - Servius… That was his name…? He began to yell and his King silenced him, just as irked as he - she hadn’t expected the Wands folk to be so easily angered or temperamental but that seemed like the case. She began to explain more into the reason behind this meeting.
Mona’s breath nearly escaped her as the explanation came. Them? Capture the Major Arcana? The term sprung up old memories of the Sorting… Joyous celebrations she often took her brother to, in the company of her parents of course. They’d wander about, trying different treats, viewing rare items from other kingdoms that surfaced more during the event, and then returned home to share the spoils of plays they had seen, food they had consumed, people they have met, and the spectacularity of all it. She would have smiled at the term were it not for the dangerous shadows that forever loomed in stories, the malicious beings under the bed, and the imagined growls that caused misfortune at a flick of a finger. Major Arcana… She allowed the shock to hit her before regathering herself, eyes focused and head high. For a moment, she could feel a gaze on her. Her King? A gaze of a proud monarch, determined with the decision they had made.
And that did not even signal the end of it! Mona’s breath fell further away from her as a man - or woman - or child - or… She could not tell. But a being dressed in regal but humorous garb appeared, dancing about the room with extreme confidence. She knew not what drew her to think the name but it came almost naturally.
’The Fool…’
The Fool carried all the powerfulness the Fool should carry. Their movements, their words, their clever smiles, free of any worldly care but giving the effort to contribute to their existence. She stifled a gasp and incoherent words, holding herself tall and collected (despite being one of the shorter ones in the room). The presence of such an important being could only constitute to the seriousness of the assignment handed to them. Mona took a breath. She released. Mona knew she would take up this duty with the utmost diligence. She could do this! She knew she could! A thought struck her and for a moment she faltered, looking back at the King. Having been caught up by the energy that circulated the room, her own family had slipped from her mind! The King leaned in, whispering in her ear.
“Do not worry. They are capable and are well aware of what you have been summoned for.”
Despite the reassurance...
An image of a growing young man entered her mind. Her brother... Her parents. How long would she be gone? Why would she go so far out of her way to represent her country? She was confident in her abilities but surely there were others. They needed her at home, especially with the trade going so high. As much as she wanted to contribute and knew she could, this would probably beget an undesired response. She turned her head to her King.
"I... Cannot take up this duty, your highness. I apologize. There are others more qualified than me."
There were words of protest. She shook her head. She could feel the stares but refused to acknowledge them as she again reaffirmed her denial of the request. The King paused, nodding.
"It is... Understandable. I should have acknowledged your reluctance before doing this." She turned to the rest, stern and professional. "I will retrieve another representative in the next few hours. Please wait here."
And thus the King and Mona left, both in search of a proper representative.