Sophie sat on one of the lush green hills overlooking all of Inalia, soaking in the warm rays. She had her arms wrapped around her knees which were pulled up to her chest. She rested her head on her knees, her eyelids droopy. She heard him walk up behind her, letting out a breath as he sat down next to her. He didn't say anything, neither did she, for almost a whole three minutes.

"Everything is going to change," Ruy whispered, not bothering to sugar coat it. Sophie didn't take her eyes off the horizon, but she nodded against her legs.

"This was the one thing my father strived for us to avoid, and here I am, the leader of it all," Sophie muttered. Ruy was silent, but he scooted closer to her, Sophie unraveling her arms around her knees and leaning against his shoulder, small blond hairs flittering in her face.

"It was unavoidable. You know that, I know that, everyone knows that. We have prepared as much as we could for it." Ruy said, wrapping his arm around her and whispered into her hair, placing a delicate kiss on top of her head.

"I still should have done more." Sophie sighed.

"You did everything that was possible, and people know it. You can't keep blaming yourself like this, what will our soldiers think if their own commanding officer keeps doubting herself?" Ruy asked quietly. Though Ruy was right, she couldn't afford to show her worry and regret, that doesn't mean it wasn't there.

"Look at me." Ruy quietly demanded. Only when Sophie turned to look at her lover did she realize her eyes were hot and tears were dripping down her cheeks. Ruy took her face delicately in his hands, wiping away the tears that dripped down her cheeks with his thumbs.

"There is a reason I left the Neverseen to join the Assassins, it's because I saw a future with the Assassins that the Neverseen were vowing to destroy. A future of peace and safety, fierce protectors leading every single race and innocent into an era of agreed equality. That is what I saw in you, that's what your father saw in you as well, that is what each and every one of these soldiers sees in you. You aren't some little girl in the Black Swan anymore. Prove it." Ruy said, his azure eyes never breaking hers. Sophie gulped down her tears, and she let out a shaky breath.

"Are you sure you didn't join the Assassins because the Mentore is hottie?"Sophie asked suggestively. A small smile broke onto Ruy's face, and they both broke into a fit of laughs. Ruy wrapped his arms around Sophie and flopped down on his back, bringing Sophie with him. Sophie's smile was wide as Ruy laughed into her neck, both of them enjoying the calm moments with one another.

But they both knew it wasn't going to last.

It was the calm before the storm, that was all this was.

And there was no telling how the future was going to play out.