Volarian Royal Palace: Library

"This is Shanthi we're talking about, Kamil," Avantia snapped angrily. "She's like a daughter to me. You know this. What am I supposed to do, just forget about her? Leave her out there?"

"Avantia..." Kamil replied, resting his hands on her shoulders to look her in the eye. "You're the Matriarch, mother to us all. Sometimes that means making sacrifices for the greater good."

Avantia pulled away from his hands and stalked to a nearby window. It stood open and the cool breeze was refreshing against her heated skin. She was angry and agitated, and Kamil was bearing the brunt of that.

"Kamil, I can't leave her out there."

"When the Losenji wanted to build their factories in the south, you refused. When the Taiyou wanted to erect their military bases, and corporations across Volaria, you stood fast. It would bring in more money, more jobs they said. But you feared what it would do to local companies and local business if you brought in foreign industries. Are you going to cave now, for this Aschen male? This man who would see his company exploit your people to make himself richer?" he asked.

"Leave," Avantia told him.

"Avantia..."

"I said leave."

Kamil sighed heavily behind her before his footsteps receded from the library. She stood then for what seemed like hours at the window, mulling and weighing the situation over in her head until she finally moved to a nearby table. Taking a seat, she picked up a pen and began to write.