[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/LfYOlDb.jpeg[/img][/center] [center] [color=cecece] [sub] [b][Location][/b] Arosa City, Estren [b][Time][/b] Sunday, 03:30 AM [b][Interactions][/b] @name [/sub] [/color] [/center] [indent][indent][indent][indent] [color=808080] This was the biggest event of the year for Laura. She had traveled around the world to different towns and cities throughout the week, attending the festivities and spoken to people, but all those roads lead to this Sunday. Laura was just twenty years old the last time this happened. She had a difficult time to actually remember it, because a lot had happened since then. One such thing was that Laura had learned to manage her sleep better and being able to wake up early in the morning. If there was one trait that North and South Accadians shared, then it was to not really wake up before noon, although for different reasons perhaps. However, this morning, Laura had the alarm set for 3.30 AM. She wanted to attend the closing ceremony day in its full glory, right from the start. Laura was oddly spry when two women from the reception team knocked on the door of her hotel room. Perhaps it was the caffeine from all those energy drinks she had chucked the day prior. She would probably crash and sleep for a bit in the ride to Landow. The two women were going to do Laura’s hair and makeup for the event. It was not going to be anything awfully fancy, however. The current trend for Regalia was to be more down to Earth, modest, and ‘of the people’ so to speak, especially during religious events such as the Festival of Lights. The look for the blonde was to be warm and soft, and ‘inviting even for the old, cranky aunt’ as her media team had so lovingly put it. Apparently, certain focus groups had said that Laura was not all that popular with women at a certain age. They thought that Laura needed to be more modest and dress more appropriately, especially since she was the representation of the Earth Mother, Gaia itself. So, today’s outfit was going to be an oversized, white hoodie, black leggings, and comfortable sneakers. Four years ago, Laura had worn an elaborate, ceremonial dress, but it had apparently revealed too much of her skin according to some people, so it was a no go this time around. The woman doing Laura’s makeup was quite young looking, barely a day past sixteen. The girl took several moments to just look at Laura, almost stare, before continuing. As Laura notice and smirked at the girl, the older woman taking care of that Lion’s Mane on Laura’s head smiled and spoke. [color=cecece]“It’s the first time she sees you in person,”[/color] the woman said. A faint rosy blush crept onto the girl’s cheeks, pausing what she was doing, and giving the woman ‘the look’. Laura giggled modestly and smiled at the girl. [color=b487d3]“Well, it’s so nice to meet you. What’s your name?”[/color] Laura said. The girl promptly continued with doing Laura’s eyes, a smirk forcing itself onto her lips before she answered. [color=e1bfbf]“Emily,”[/color] she said. [color=cecece]“She watches everything you’re in, has all your magazine covers, poster on the wall at home, everything – she’s quite the fan of yours,”[/color] the older woman filled in. The girl abruptly stopped and gave the woman the ‘super stare’ – [color=e1bfbf]“Mom!”[/color] she exclaimed. [color=b487d3]“Oh my god, that’s so cute, I love that,”[/color] Laura smiled, [color=b487d3]“we should totally take a few pics when we’re done here,”[/color] she continued and caught the excitement in the girl’s eyes. [color=b487d3]“So, are you like just trying this out with your mom or do you wanna be like a makeup artist?”[/color] Laura asked as the girl continued. [color=e1bfbf]“Yeah, I think I wanna do this, but it’s just sort of a try out right now, but mom taught me all the tricks and secrets,”[/color] the girl said. [color=cecece]“I’ve actually tried to get her to come along for months, but she hasn’t always been that willing, but when I told her that I’m working the Festival and prepping Laura Genevieve, then she certainly flew out of bed like a rocket,”[/color] the older woman said. Laura chuckled a bit and caught the girl’s eyes: [color=b487d3]“Aww, this totally made my day,”[/color] she said. The girls continued to chat during the preparation. When they were done, they took a few pictures together and a handful of cute selfies. They exchanged socials so they could keep talking, as they hit it off quite well. The girl was ecstatic and it probably made her entire year as opposed to just this day. [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/tnDqpjH.jpeg[/img][/center] [center] [color=cecece] [sub] [b][Location][/b] Arosa City to Landow, Estren [b][Time][/b] Sunday, 05:00 AM [/sub] [/color] [/center] Laura slept on the way to Landow. Just as she had suspected, she crashed into the dream world just a few minutes into the car ride out of Arosa City. Luckily, the ride was on the shorter side, so sleeping for a bit would not disrupt her sleeping schedule later that day. The driver woke her up when they were just a few minutes from arriving. The sky and its clouds had beautiful tints of bluish gray with a spruce of flaming orange. Laura was greeted by some official of the festival responsible for coordinating special guests and arrivals. The man gave her an itinerary specifically for the ‘Regalia of Gaia’. It was a list of things and places that Laura was recommended to do and be at throughout the day. However, it was by no means a requirement. Something that was a requirement, though, was a private security detail. Laura also had to sign a legal document that said that she could not go into her Dominant Form, and that she had to obey the commands of the security detail if a situation were to happen. If she failed these demands, she would be fined. Laura chuckled lightly as she sloppily printed her John Hancock on the digital pad. Laura strolled down the streets of Landow toward the initial opening ceremony location. Lights in the form of candles and lanterns were lit throughout the town. It was a beautiful sight to behold from a distance, a landscape dotted with glimmers of hopes, dreams, and prayers. On her way, she met a few early risers that she chatted and took some pictures with. The site of the morning ritual was a calm little area overlooking the modest harbor that the town had. Proper shrines had been built, assortments of herbs and offerings were available, and the religious officials all wore proper ceremonial clothing. The officials had come from all around the world, representing various cults and organizations. Laura arrived at the location just as the ritual started. The first Dominant to be revered in this long line up of Dominants was none other than Gaia, so it was fitting that Laura made it there just in time. She was urged by a staff member to join the official by the shrine, and just stand there and receive people, if they so chose. The reverence for Gaia only lasted a few minutes before the official moved on to the next Dominant. Laura stepped aside along with a few people that wanted to speak with her. They sat down a few meters from the shrine and continued to chat. Some of them simply wanted to get to know her better, while others wanted to find relief for their troubles. By now, Laura had done this kind of thing so many times that she automatically entered her ‘official role’ as the Regalia of Gaia. Her speech and vocabulary changed along with it, becoming less informal and more inviting. She could help those people with some things, whereas she could only be there and listen for the other issues. There was a time when Laura felt guilty when she could not help someone, but she had learned to deal with that and understood that some people simply wanted a shoulder to cry on – a shoulder of a higher power or someone that did not judge them. Laura could fill both of those roles. Laura spoke with several individuals that sought her guidance throughout the following hour. They shared a nice, serene morning together with the sound of the official’s hymns in the background, and the sun slowly peaking above the horizon. [center] [color=cecece] [sub] [b][Location][/b] Landow, Estren [b][Time][/b] Sunday, 06:00 AM [/sub] [/color] [/center] [/color] [/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent] [center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/KmFtyok.jpeg[/img] ㅤ [color=808080] [i]Elite soldiers wear Crystals in sockets attached to their gear. Crystal Sockets on gear usually indicate defensive effects. Crystal Sockets in weapons indicate offensive effects.[/i] [/color] [/center]