Lacrimosa turned toward her other daughter. While Agnus Dei kicked and tugged mightily at Lacrimosa's right hand, little Gloriae walked primly, holding Lacrimosa's left hand with a firm grip. Though twins, the girls looked nothing alike. Gloriae had inherited her mother's pale skin, silvery-blond hair, and light eyes. While Agnus Dei was angry and strong like her father, Gloriae was like Lacrimosa—reserved, proper, always a little sad.

"I know you do," Lacrimosa said, squeezing Gloriae's hand. "You're a little gem of starlight."

"I'm a little bit of fire!" Agnus Dei said, tugging again and struggling to break free.

They kept walking through the forest. Other Vir Requis walked around them, clad all in flowing white. Priests played silver harps, and knights wore burnished armor. All bowed their heads as Lacrimosa Aeternum walked forth with her daughters, the two princesses of Requiem.

Soon Lacrimosa saw it ahead: the palace of Requiem. Many columns soared here, hundreds of feet tall, pale marble that glittered like starlight. A roof rose overhead, engraved with flying dragons of marble and gold. Hundreds of Vir Requis gathered here, all in white, many holding orchids and silver harps. Lacrimosa and her daughters walked among them and entered the hall of Requiem.

The marble tiles stretched between the columns, leading toward the Oak Throne. Upon it sat the old king, his beard long and white, a crown upon his head. At his side stood Lacrimosa's husband: Prince Benedictus Aeternum.

He walked toward her, a tall man, handsome but haggard, many years her senior. His black curls fell across his brow, and warmth filled his dark eyes. He wore garments of green and silver, the colors of Requiem, the Draco constellation embroidered on his doublet.

"Papa!" cried Agnus Dei. She tore free from Lacrimosa, ran across the hall, and leaped on Benedictus. He smiled and scooped her up, and the little girl rained kisses upon his tanned, stubbly face. Gloriae approached her father more slowly but with no less love; he lifted her in his other arm.

"Papa, I want to go home and play with the puppy," Agnus Dei said. "Please. Please! It's so boring here in the palace."

Benedictus smiled and mussed Agnus Dei's curly black hair. "It's the Night of Requiem, Agnus Dei. A special time. Over three thousand years ago, this column was first raised."

Benedictus walked toward one of the hall's columns. It looked much like every other column here, but legend said this one was special. They said that Aeternum himself, the founder of Requiem, had raised this pillar, creating a home for a lost people, a palace for a new nation.