With Noxus out of the house, Aurelia found herself back to interacting with Orin and Astrid as they introduced her to the other basilisks.

At lunch time, Aurelia and Astrid, with the help of a few other women, prepared lunch for everyone. Aurelia was able to get to know the women more personally and realized, besides the fact she couldn’t shift into a serpent, she wasn’t that different than them. They shared her same worries and fears.

As they served the lunch and all took a seat, all eyes were on Aurelia to take the first bite. Doing so elicited the others to begin eating their own while they chatted. The dining hall was full of laughter and chatter.

“Did we tell you that Aurelia shot down a great horn hawk?” Her ears picked the words up as Astrid said her name at the other end of the table.

“You’re shitting me,” a man, whose name she didn’t know, said in response.

She looked at them talking, and they all stared at her with their eyes wide and a few with their mouths hung open a bit.

Aurelia was unsure of what to say or do. She couldn’t read if they were impressed or upset.

“How long have you been hunting with a bow?” another of the basilisks at the end of the table asked.

She was frozen and unable to speak, Astrid answered the question for her, “It was only her second time. The first time, she was out with the king and shot a Sylvan stag.”

Their eyes all grew wider.

“You’re just a human,” the first man asked.

She nodded her head. The words crushed her. She would always just be a human.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

The group discussed amongst themselves quietly so that Aurelia was unable to hear and it sent worries through her head. She didn’t think they thought very highly of her and she didn’t blame them.

The woman to her side smiled at her. “They’re impressed. That is not an easy feat.”

Aurelia smiled back at her, thankful that she answered the thoughts within her mind. Exhaling she allowed herself to dig into her food. She noticed that anytime she looked up, there were eyes on her that quickly looked away, around the table.

As lunch ended, Aurelia went around the table to pick up the dishes. Some women walked into the Kitchen as she was placing the dirty plates into the sink.

“A queen shouldn’t be washing the dishes. We will do that for you,” one of the women said as they all looked at her in bewilderment.

With a smile, Aurelia said, “I am just as much a part of this community as all of you, and I am going to do my share. You are more than welcome to help me though.” She gestured to the other side of the sink to rinse and the towel to dry.

Their faces changed from frowns of worry, to smiles. Coming to her side, they either found a way to help or started chatting.

Aurelia noticed that one of the women kept her eyes glued to her throughout the conversation. She smiled at her.

“I’m sorry for staring, my queen. You are just beautiful,” the woma said, “how are you feeling? Are you excited to have the heir to the basilisk throne?”

The other women became quiet, wanting to hear Aurelia’s response.

The smile on Aurelia’s face grew. “Thank you. The sickness seems to come and go throughout the day but is manageable,” she paused, thinking, “I am excited for this baby. I am excited to see the joy that this baby brings me and Noxus, as well as your kind.”

She truly was. The fact that she was helping to continue their species made her overjoyed. She wasn’t one of them, but she was glad that she was contributing in multiple ways to help the survival as a species.

As the day went on, Aurelia spent time with some of the basilisks she hadn’t gotten the chance to acquaint herself with yet. She was surprised at how well she got along with all of them and was thankful that they were all so welcoming.

After supper, she found herself at Odin’s side asking if she could join in on the training that evening.

He was happy to have her join. Thrilled that the other basilisks would be able to see how good she was with a bow and arrow.

Aurelia finished the dishes with some of the other women, and made her way outside to where the men were training. All were lined up, shooting at trees with fake targets on them. She felt a rush, as she played with the bow in her own hand.