[center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/tgbbhnFP/Elara.webp[/img][/center][indent][color=#ffffff]Elara turned as the taller woman in the Lunarian uniform approached, her striking red hair streaked with grey catching the light like embers in the twilight. The woman's casual demeanour, punctuated by a languid yawn, hinted at a fatigue that resonated within Elara, the echoes of her own long journey still fresh in her mind despite the length of time since then. [/color]

[color=#4169e1]“Hello,”[/color][color=#ffffff] Elara greeted warmly, her voice carrying a note of genuine friendliness. [/color][color=#4169e1]“Yes, it does feel like quite the spectacle, doesn’t it?”[/color][color=#ffffff]  The words flowed easily, buoyed by the crowd's electric energy, their collective excitement a living pulse that mirrored her growing sense of wonder. Moonlight bathed the scene in a delicate glow, transforming the day into something enchanted, a world where the ordinary was woven with threads of magic—and, sometimes, something darker. But not now. Not where the silver-haired woman stood. [/color]

[color=#ffffff]Or so she’d thought for 30 seconds until Ayel made his presence known. [/color]

[color=#ffffff]Elara's eyes narrowed as she watched the man strut about like a peacock, his every movement infused with an arrogance that left a sour taste in her mouth. Each grand gesture seemed designed to draw attention, a calculated display meant to elevate him while belittling those around him. His loud, condescending voice grated on her nerves, each word striking her like nails scraping against a chalkboard, deliberately aimed at provoking a reaction. A surge of protectiveness washed over her, directed toward Cassandra, who stood quietly at her side, caught in the crosshairs of Ayel's disdain. It infuriated Elara to see Cassandra, who had done nothing to deserve this treatment, bearing the weight of such blatant disrespect simply for existing.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Yet it seemed that others held the same thoughts as she, expressing their clear disagreement of the cocky man’s hostility. Elara watched it all in silence until a young Aurelian herald stepped onto the stage, his posture straightening as he caught sight of the approaching figures at the far edge of the square.[/color]

[b][color=#ffffff]“Ladies and gentlemen of Dawnhaven!”[/color][/b][color=#ffffff] His voice boomed across the square, instantly drawing attention. The murmurs of the crowd began to hush, curiosity and tension thickening the air. [/color][b][color=#ffffff]“It is my great honour to present to you—Amaya Selu, Princess of Lunaris, and Flynn Astaros, Prince of Aurelia!”[/color][/b][hr]
[color=#ffffff]The news of Queen Anjali’s passing struck Elara like a blow she wasn’t ready for, even though she'd already felt its sting once before. The sorrow crashed over her, heavy and relentless, threatening to pull her under. And just as she thought she might surface, the announcement of the King's remarriage and the impending birth of a new heir left her heart trembling with fresh uncertainty. What would Lunaris become now, with a new Queen and child to reshape its future? But when Amaya took the stage, Elara’s focus shifted, her heart swelling with sympathy for the princess.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Watching Amaya stand before the crowd, Elara could see the storm raging behind her friend's poised exterior. The pain was palpable, threading through every carefully chosen word, each one a tribute to the late Queen. Elara’s admiration deepened with each syllable that passed from Amaya’s lips, her heart torn between pride and heartbreak. Amaya wasn’t just a princess; she was a friend—someone Elara had grown to care for beyond duty, bound by shared grief and silent understanding. In Amaya’s eyes, Elara saw both fragility and strength, a mirror of the emotions she wrestled with herself.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]But then, Amaya’s voice cracked, the weight of her loss breaking through the brave façade. Elara’s heart twisted painfully, a visceral ache that made her want to leap to Amaya’s side, to shield her from the world’s gaze. She knew better, though. Amaya had to remain composed, had to show the people that their princess could carry the weight of her crown even in her darkest moment. So Elara stood back, watching helplessly, feeling the distance between them grow as the heavy silence fell over the crowd like snow.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]As the first snowflakes drifted down, Elara couldn’t help but notice how they gently settled on Amaya’s hair and gown, glistening like tiny diamonds against the dark fabric. The sight was so beautiful it was almost painful, like watching a dream dissolve into memory. Each flake felt like a goodbye from Queen Anjali, a final, tender touch from a mother to her daughter. Elara’s throat tightened, her breath fogging in the cold air as tears welled up unbidden. And yet, despite the sadness that clung to her, there was also hope—a fragile, flickering light buried beneath the grief, one that whispered they would survive this storm together.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Once the royal couple had departed, Elara turned, expecting to find Cassandra beside her, only to realize the blightborn woman had vanished into the crowd. A fleeting pang of worry rose in her chest, but she quickly pushed it aside. Cassandra would find her way, and Elara knew they'd cross paths again, even if she couldn’t say when. Wrapping her cloak tightly around her, she pulled the hood up to block out the falling snow, her thoughts swirling as she began the long walk home, her footsteps silent against the freshly blanketed ground.[/color][/indent]