The Muse

Realms of Sun & Shadow

Location: Hot Springs

From her place in the hot springs, Kira watched Orion and Tia with a keen gaze, her eyes half-lidded as she slowly sank deeper into the steaming water, leaving only her glowing orange eyes visible just above the surface. Like a crocodile lurking just beneath the surface, she observed them intently, listening to their exchange with her enhanced hearing—eavesdropping was unavoidable when every word reached her so clearly.

When Orion’s eyes locked with hers, there was a moment of silent acknowledgment between them. His nod to her was subtle, but she understood it well enough—it was a gesture that communicated understanding, recognition, and perhaps a hint of respect. Kira held his gaze, not shying away from the eye contact and even continuing to watch him even as he pulled away to address Tia.

The familiarity between the two intrigued her, sparking a hint of curiosity. She wondered if Tia had taken a piece of Orion in the same way she seemed to have with Gadez. The thought of that meek little priestess entwined with someone like Orion entertained her in a way she hadn’t expected, a small smirk forming on her lips beneath the water.

As she shifted in the water, Kira’s attention drifted briefly to the moon, its pale light cutting through the sky. She leaned against the smooth stone edge of the hot spring, her thoughts turning inward. What was Orion doing here, she wondered—seeking respite, just as she was? Or perhaps he had come for Tia.

Despite being no stranger to others viewing her body, a sudden pang of vulnerability washed over her. It had been a long time since anyone had seen her like this, laid bare and exposed in such an intimate way. Supposedly, this was more natural to an Aurelian, but she had not been an Aurelian for a long time. She could hardly even recall it.

With a shake of her head, Kira pushed those thoughts aside. She took a deep breath and then dunked herself fully into the water, holding herself beneath the surface. The warmth enveloped her face, and for a moment, everything was blissfully muffled—the distant noises, the echo of conversations, all silenced in the comforting embrace of the hot springs. It was a rare moment of peace, where the outside world ceased to exist. If only she could stay here forever…

When she resurfaced, Kira slicked her fiery hair back from her face and wiped the water from her eyes. Her senses returned in a rush—the rustling of leaves, the subtle movements of animals in the forest, the distant hoot of an owl, and most importantly, Orion and Tia’s conversation drifting back into focus. She caught the priestess’s question about another Priestess in Dawnhaven, her interest piqued once more. Kira wasn’t aware of another, but it wouldn’t surprise her if the Prince had brought in reinforcements for Tia. The temples usually required more than one person to tend to that cursed eternal flame, after all.

---

_{Interactions: Tia @c3p-0h, Orion @Qia}

Realms of Sun & Shadow

@Dark Light we're definitely still accepting! I'll shoot you a DM so we can work out the details on what you have drafted.

Realms of Sun & Shadow

Location: Outside Eye of the Beholder

Through knee-deep snow, Eris clutched her notes as if they were a lifeline, trying her best to move swiftly. Her legs grew heavy, each step an effort as her days of sleeplessness became more apparent. She grit her teeth, silently cursing the snow under her breath. There was no joy in it anymore, only frustration. A week of snow—three feet of snow—was far too much for this Aurelian woman. She was barely taller than the snow she was trying to get through! How could Lunarian’s live like this?! She huffed with each strained step, lifting her boots clear of the snow only to have them sink right back in, the cold seeping into her bones. For a moment, she wondered if Ashe would be able to make shoes out of fire as well.

When she finally reached the point where the guards had cleared the snow from the path, she felt a moment of relief. She stumbled onto it, her boots sinking into the hard-packed snow beneath. She took only a few seconds to catch her breath before rushing off toward the tavern again, picking up speed much easier this time. The guards continued their work, barely looking up to greet her as she rushed past, and she didn't bother to acknowledge them either. She only had one mission—find the Prince.

Nearing the tavern, Eris scanned the growing crowd of people, her heart racing as she searched for the Prince. The smell of the food made her stomach growl, reminding her that she hadn't eaten much for the last week. As she searched the crowd, she wondered for a moment why she even brought her notes with her; she could have shown them to the Prince later. He would believe her without them, wouldn't he? But she shook the thought away, clutching the papers tighter.

Suddenly, she spotted a blonde-haired man in the distance. Her heart leapt. He was facing away, but the height and the build... it had to be him! Without hesitation, Eris broke into a full sprint.

“Prince! Prince Fly—Wah-AAHH!”

The snow beneath her feet was slippery, and before she realized it, her foot hit a patch of ice. Her arms flailed wildly in a desperate attempt to regain her balance, but she stumbled sideways, colliding with one of the three blonde-haired women _{[Katherine @SpicyMeatball]} and stepping on some poor creature’s tail in the process. _{[Ranni @Queen Arya]}

Eris squeaked as she bounced off the taller, more sturdy, blonde woman, losing her balance entirely. Stumbling backward, she fell butt-first into a snowdrift, her fire-woven coat instantly melting the snow underneath her. Water seeped into her dress, but worse—her notes went flying in all directions. Panicked, she scrambled onto her knees, desperately gathering the scattered pages before the snow or water could completely ruin them.

"I-I’m so sorry!" she gasped, utterly frazzled, as she snatched up each precious page. Her hands trembled from both embarrassment and anxiety, desperate to salvage her work. In the back of her mind, she could almost hear her brother laughing and see the way he’d cross his arms and shake his head. Classic Eris. Always messing things up. Except this time, the fate of the world could very well rest in her clumsy hands.

When she finally looked up, her heart sank as she locked eyes with the blonde man she had mistaken for the Prince. He wasn't the Prince at all! The man’s blue eyes stared down at her, different from the Prince’s familiar green. Her face turned a deep shade of red, embarrassment flooding her senses.

"Oh, I... I thought...I.." Eris stammered, words failing her. “I’m so sorry.” She repeated, her cheeks flush as she scrambled to her feet, clutching the slightly damp notes to her chest and scanning the group of strangers.

As she tried to formulate words to fully explain herself, her eyes met a familiar figure—Sya, the cyclops woman who ran the tavern. Relief momentarily surged through her. Sya had always been kind to Eris, despite being a blight-born, and Eris had grown to be rather fond of her over the last two months.

“Sya! Have you se—” Eris froze, her breath catching in her throat as her gaze drifted down. Instead of legs, Sya had…. a snake's tail?! A cold shiver ran across Eris’ entire body as she took in the sight. Glimmering, blue scaled, and far too large for comfort. She let out a small squeak in shock, taking an instinctive step back. Was she having a nightmare?

Eris’ phobia of snakes hit her like a brick wall, her skin crawling at the sight of Sya’s new reptilian form. Snakes. She hated snakes. Why, of all things, did it have to be snakes?

“I—uh...” she began to back away slowly, aiming herself for the door to the tavern. “I-I’m sorry, I think I… I must be going.” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper, eyes glued to the snake tail. She let out a nervous laugh, backing away from the group with trembling hands.

As she continued stepping backward, her backside suddenly came in contact with something solid. She flinched, spinning around quickly. Expecting to see the tavern door, her eyes widened in shock—it wasn’t the door. She had bumped into a brown-haired man, who had been just about to enter the tavern, but now she had startled him. _{[Nathaniel @Echotech71]} Her face burned brighter than ever, feeling utterly mortified over the last five minutes.

"Oh! I—I'm so sorry!" Eris said again, her words coming out in a rush. Desperately, she hoped he would just go inside so she could follow him in, away from the awkward stares of the crowd and the unsettling presence of Sya’s tail. And, most importantly, hopefully the Prince was inside too.

---

_{Interactions: Gadez @Dezuel, Katherine @SpicyMeatball, Ranni @Queen Arya, Sya @PrinceAlexus, Nathaniel @Echotech71}

Realms of Sun & Shadow

Location: Temple of Aelios / Hot Springs

As Kira entered the temple, she hadn’t expected to be greeted by a shirtless Gadez, of all people. Her steps faltered briefly as her gaze settled on the familiar man from a week prior, his muscular tattooed chest illuminated by the glow of the eternal flame in the center of the room. She raised a brow at his words, taking in the sight with mild amusement as he greeted her with a smirk.

“That’s one way to keep warm during the storm.” she remarked, a slight smirk tugging at her lips now. Her tone was playful, but the implication wasn’t lost on her. He had slept with the Priestess. It was only slightly surprising—Aurelians had always been known for their looser sense of sexual boundaries—though Kira hadn’t been aware that Priestesses were allowed to dabble in such frivolous acts. Nonetheless, Kira couldn’t blame her. Good for them, she thought.

Kira’s fiery gaze lingered on Gadez for a moment longer, her eyes finding the intricate tattoo sprawled across his chest. It was unlike any symbolism she had encountered before—a curious design that piqued her interest. At first glance, it appeared simple—just a series of geometric shapes—but the longer she stared, the more it seemed to hold purpose.

Kira's brows furrowed as she studied the design. She had encountered many symbols in her time—glyphs of ancient magic, runes tied to forgotten rituals—but this one was foreign to her. There was something almost ritualistic about it, like it carried a deeper meaning—something hidden.

What was its significance? A natural curiosity pulled at her instincts, but she resisted the urge to ask. Whatever that tattoo meant, it wasn’t her business. Still, it stuck in her mind.

Kira’s attention shifted as the Priestess emerged from the back rooms, fully dressed but looking much more frail and delicate than Kira had imagined a Priestess of Aelios to be. The woman looked tired, her steps light, her presence meek. She had never met a Priestess of Aelios before, and frankly, she had expected someone... stronger.

In the back of her mind, she heard her commander, the Dreadmaster, reminding her not to underestimate anyone.

"Priestess." Kira greeted her briefly, her tone polite yet detached. Her eyes flicked back to Gadez, who seemed to be in no rush to clothe himself, intentionally taking his time as if to draw all attention onto himself.

“I need some warmth as well.” she said as she began to walk across the temple. Her boots echoed lightly against the wooden floor as she passed the eternal flame—a symbol she had grown to despise. Aelios’ guiding light and warm embrace seemed to have forgotten her long ago.

“Not all of us had a partner to keep us warm.” she said dryly as she neared the back door, half-joking. Without waiting for a response, she opened the door and stepped outside into the cold once more, making her way to the hot springs.

The warmth beckoned as she descended the stone steps to the larger, lower-level public bath. She longed to shake off the lingering chill and, for a moment, escape the isolation that had pressed down on her throughout the storm. As she reached the edge of the spring, Kira quietly shed her cloak and clothing, folding and placing them neatly on top of a nearby boulder. The cool air sent a shiver down her spine, contrasting sharply with the warmth that rose up from the spring. Her skin, pale against full moons light overhead, bore the marks of her past—small scars scattered across her chest, torso, stomach and hips, some barely noticeable while others stood out more prominently, each one telling a silent story of her struggles and survival.

Stepping into the hot spring, the heat wrapped around her, instantly soothing her tense muscles as she sank deeper into the water. Yet, even as it eased her body, the weight of solitude remained. Somehow, she found herself isolated again, by her own doing, as if she had forgotten how to be around people altogether.

---

_{Interactions: Gadez @Dezuel, Tia @c3p-0h}

Realms of Sun & Shadow

Location: Alchemy Chambers/Eris' Home

During the blizzard, Eris quickly became a woman obsessed, barely stopping for sleep or food as research consumed her. Tia’s words about Willis’ blood echoed in her mind, urging her to research it. She had no idea why a Priestess of Aelios would be interested in such things, but Eris wasn’t one to question the word of a Priestess—not openly, anyway.

On the second day, bundled in Ashe’s fire-woven coat, she braved the storm and hurried to the tavern in search of Willis. She needed that blood sample, and no amount of snow or cold was going to stop her.

Inside the tavern, she found construction workers huddled by the hearth for warmth, their faces lit by the fire’s glow. Yet it was Willis who stood out, creepily seated by himself in a dimly lit corner, his red eyes glowing as he stared at the workers. His blank, unblinking gaze had sent a chill down her spine. His demeanor made her nervous, but she reminded herself of the mission she had come here with. She couldn’t hesitate now. The risk had to be taken.

Summoning her courage, she approached him and, in a quiet voice, explained her request: a few vials of his blood for research. To her surprise, Willis agreed without question. Eris thanked him profusely as they found a private room upstairs. Something in the back of her mind screamed as she followed the man into a room—was she insane?! Being alone with this creature once again?! Surely he would take the opportunity to kill her this time.

Nervously, Eris laid out all her tools on a dresser top. She had come prepared, her satchel packed with vials, needles, and everything she needed to collect his blood. With hands that only slightly trembled, Eris extracted the samples as quickly as she could, though she couldn't help but feel uneasy as she drew dark, purple-tinged liquid from him.

For a moment, she thought it might be the blight itself and she had just made the biggest mistake of her entire life. Her heart had jumped into her chest, and she was sure Willis could hear it, but thankfully nothing seemed to happen after she drew out the first vial of blood. It was thicker than human blood, which made the process take longer than she would have liked, but as soon as she had enough, she thanked Willis again and hurried home, eager to begin her work.

The next few days blurred together. She hardly slept, barely ate, and rarely left her study—she was completely and utterly fixated on finding what was so special about Willis’ blood. She analyzed each vial carefully, noting the purple hue, unusual consistency, and how it interacted with other objects, though she didn’t dare touch the liquid with her own hands. For days Eris worked for hours on end, her eyes burning from lack of sleep, jotting down every observation in a rapidly growing pile of notes. Frustratingly, no matter what tool she used to test it, the blood refused to react any differently than a human's blood. It had all been predictable. It was perplexing, but Eris refused to quit.

By the fifth day, desperation and curiosity pushed her to try something new. Against her better judgment, Eris began experimenting with magic. Without the sun to fuel her mana, she knew this was a dangerous endeavor, but she cast aside her worries. She could not call herself a researcher if she could not explore from all angles.

The first few tries had yielded little to no results. Fire, water and air magic did nothing unique to the blood sample. She could feel her own life force being pulled with each new experiment, but she pressed on.

With trembling hands, Eris infused the sample with light magic, her own energy encompassing the blood and lighting up the room in a purple glow. To her astonishment, the blood reacted almost immediately. As if it were a living thing, it shifted and pulled itself toward a sealed bottle that contained an old, withered carrot crop—a sample she had taken from blight-infected fields. Thin, purple veins ran through the crop, faint but unmistakable. The light-infused blood seemed to sense it, though it struggled to reach the tainted crop through its glass vial.

Eris began moving the vial, and every time, the blood twisted and leaned, always pointing toward the blighted crop like a compass drawn north. Her heart raced at the discovery. Tia had been correct. There was some connection between the blood and the blight. How did she know? How could she know? What else did she know?

Eris’ mind raced with possibilities, but maintaining the light magic was draining. She could feel her strength ebbing away with each passing moment, but she pushed herself to keep going. She documented everything as fast as she could, until her body could no longer take it.

On the morning of the sixth day, exhaustion overwhelmed her, and she collapsed, the vial slipping from her hand as she passed out.

When Eris awoke on the floor of her study, the shattered vial lay beside her, yet the blood had vanished. Her gaze shifted to the blighted crop, and her eyes widened in shock. Dried streaks of purple liquid coated the top of the glass jar containing the blighted plant. The blood had clearly attempted to envelop the crop, but the jar had held it at bay. Now, without the infusion of light magic, the blood had lost its gelatinous form, leaving only the remnants.

Weak and feverish, Eris was forced to put aside her research. She barely had the strength to move, her body aching from the toll the magic had taken on her, but she eventually found the way to her bedroom. On her bed, she curled up in Ashe’s coat, the magical garment the only thing keeping her from freezing in the cold room. It was the only comfort she had as she drifted in and out of consciousness.

When the blizzard finally broke on the seventh day, though still fatigued, Eris forced herself out of bed. Her limbs felt heavy, and her thoughts were clouded, but her determination had not wavered. Slowly, she made her way downstairs, making a beeline for her study, but she hesitated when a knock came at the door. Through the closed door, a guard informed her of a feast being held at the tavern, but Eris barely registered his words. There was no time for feasts or rest. She had something far more important to do.

Disheveled, her hair in disarray and her blue dress rumpled underneath Ashe’s coat, she quickly gathered her notes, undeterred by her appearance. She needed to tell the Prince—he had to know what she had found. It wasn’t a cure, but it was something. Something important.

Clutching her notes tightly, Eris stumbled out of her home, her eyes scanning for the guard who had just come to alert her of the feast. Spotting his footprints in the snow, she bolted after him, nearly tripping and falling twice as she struggled to keep her balance. "Wait!" she called out, almost losing her footing on a patch of uneven snow. Her breath came in quick, visible puffs as she finally caught up.

“Have you seen the Prince?” she asked breathlessly, her voice urgent and tinged with exhaustion, the dark circles under her eyes hinting at her lack of sleep. She gripped the notes tightly, as if afraid they might slip away. “It’s urgent—I need to speak with him right away.” Her words came out in a rush, and she barely paused to breathe, eyes darting around in search of any sign of the Prince.

The guard blinked, surprised at her frazzled appearance. "A-... Are you quite alright, Miss Hightower? Are you... wearing fire?”

Eris narrowed her eyes, impatience flickering in her expression. She didn’t have time for this! “Yes, yes, I’m fine! Have you seen the Prince or not?”

The guard hesitated for a moment, his gaze shifting briefly to the notes she clutched, before answering. "I believe he’s gone to the tavern for the feast. Should I send word that you’re looking for him?"

“No." Eris shook her head, “I’ll find him myself. Thank you.” Without waiting for a response, she turned swiftly, heading towards the Eye of the Beholder, haphazardly rushing off ahead of the guard.

Realms of Sun & Shadow

Location: Eastern Town Gate

Through knee-deep snow, Nyla willed herself to take another step. Her body cried for rest, but she trudged on, her gloved fingers trembling as they pulled her teal and gold colored cloak closer to her body.

Another step.

A large fur-lined hood veiled her face, keeping her tanned skin safe from the bite of this goddess-forsaken land. Despite buying the warmest clothing she could find in the capital’s market, it wasn’t enough. The cold seeped through her thick layers, chilling her to the bone. Her toes hurt beneath her boots and she actively daydreamed about the warmth of Aelios’ sacred hot springs, enveloped by her grace’s warmth.

Just one more step…

Her breathing became labored as her legs shook with each high step into the pristine white snow that covered the entire trail to Dawnhaven. She silently cursed it with every step, hating it for everything it was and wishing for Aelios to melt it all away.

This journey had been excruciating from the very beginning. Her decision to flee the capital had been impeccably timed, leading her right into a blizzard as soon as she entered the mountains. She’d never experienced such ferocity from nature before. She had traveled far and wide in Aurelia, but this landscape was unforgiving. Growing up in the heat of the desert lands made snow feel unnatural and hellish. If not for her new transformation, she surely would have frozen to death by now.

The horse she’d stolen hadn’t lasted long, either. One night, while Nyla sheltered in an abandoned home, a blighted creature tore the poor animal apart. The rest of her journey had to be done by foot or flight. She flew when she could—transforming into a butterfly made of light or shrinking down in size so that her own wings might be able to carry her weight. However, with the blizzard winds, flying seemed more difficult than walking. And it drained her. Made her hungry in ways she couldn’t explain. If she lost too much energy she’d become mean and devoid of emotion. Feral.

Just yesterday she had come across a weary traveler, taking shelter in the same abandoned home she had sought out. She had tried… she really did. She made conversation with the man, helped him make a fire and tried to suffice herself off the bread he offered to eat. But her own needs had won. By morning, the man was dead.

Pausing, Nyla leaned heavily against the rough bark of an oak tree, pressing her icy gloves into the ancient wood. Her raven hair, the ends slick with melted snow, clung to her face as she shut her eyes, just for a moment, letting the cold air fill her lungs as she tried to steady herself. Luckily the blizzard had broken by this morning, but exhaustion still settled deep into her bones. She’d need to find somewhere to rest for the day, though she didn’t want to stop. If she pushed herself much further, she’d need to…

Opening her pale blue eyes, she looked ahead, her breath catching as they settled upon a wooden gate flanked by familiar Aurelian guards. Their polished armor gleamed beneath the full moon overhead. A plume of ghostly mist escaped Nyla’s lips as she exhaled a sigh of relief, the warmth of her breath meeting the cold of the air. She had never held any love for Aurelian guards in the past, but they were a welcome sight now. A small flicker of renewed energy surged through her. Dawnhaven’s gates were just ahead, and beyond them, warmth! She had finally made it.

Just as she was about to move towards the gate, she froze. Her heart skipped a few beats as she remembered how she would immediately appear to them. Skin glittering with golden flecks, sharp pointed ears, monarch wings attached to her back and black horns sitting atop her head. She bit her lower lip in thought, staring at the guards who took notice of her then.

“Who goes there?!”

Despite her horns and wings being covered by her cloak, the thought of revealing her true nature to strangers was unsettling. She knew Dawnhaven was a sanctuary for people like her, but… her heart ached. She did not want to reveal anything at all. Not yet, anyway. And what if Flynn…

Nyla closed her eyes, drawing a deep breath as she focused on the familiar sensation of transformation. She reached within herself, tapping into the energy she had consumed yesterday, channeling it to shift her appearance back to her former human self. The change was instantaneous, and only a tad bit painful. Her head was free of horns, her ears human, her back no longer bore wings, and the shimmering golden skin that defined her blight-born identity had faded to a more familiar shade. For now, she felt a sense of relief, wanting to blend in, to be seen as she once was. She knew this transformation wouldn’t last forever; the energy it required would eventually drain her, forcing her to reveal the truth beneath the facade. Yet for the moment, she embraced the comfort of her humanity, the warmth of familiarity.

“Identify yourself and state your business, traveler!”

With a surge of excitement, Nyla moved forward, her heart racing as she approached the guards. The cool air brushed against her face as she removed her hood, revealing her human self. “Please,” she called out as she grew nearer, “My name is Nyla Zafira. I’ve traveled through a blizzard and come from the capital. I seek a warm bed and a hot meal.” She forced a smile, though the ache in her body gnawed at her with every movement.

The two guards exchanged a glance, their eyes assessing Nyla as she drew closer. After a moment, one of them stepped forward, his expression softening for a beautiful woman. “You’re fortunate to find Dawnhaven then, miss.”

He gestured for her to enter, his tone becoming more welcoming. “You’ll want to head to the Eye of the Beholder. The Prince is holding a feast there. They’ll have beds and plenty of meals to share.”

Nyla’s heart caught in her chest at the mention of Flynn, the Prince, her ex-lover. A mix of longing and apprehension gripped her, twisting like a knife in her chest. Part of her wanted to avoid him, yet the other part ached to see him again.

“Thank you.” she said, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions swirling within. As the guards stepped aside, permitting her to pass through the gates, Nyla offered them a grateful nod before heading in the direction they indicated. Though she had been dreaming of a warm bed for weeks, her thoughts were now consumed by what she would say to the man who awaited her here.

Realms of Sun & Shadow

Boop :)

Realms of Sun & Shadow

Boop :)

Realms of Sun & Shadow

Location: Royal Cabin | Time: 9am

Over the course of the blizzard, Flynn found himself in a relatively quiet and reflective state. Amaya rarely emerged from her room, leaving him alone to occupy his thoughts and fill the long hours. He often sat by the fire to read, write, or just stare into the flames while his mind ran wild. The fire was his constant companion, and Flynn kept it going with a steady supply of logs, carefully tending it to ensure the cabin stayed warm.

By the second day, Flynn tried to busy himself with various tasks. Placing a chessboard near the fireplace, Flynn set up the pieces with the hope that Amaya might want to play a game with him. He was sorely mistaken. On most days, he ended up moving the pieces himself, playing both sides in a game that became more about distraction than strategy.

Occasionally, Flynn would converse with the royal guards and let them inside to warm up before they returned to their shift. They spoke about the storm, the state of Dawnhaven, the blight-born’s gracious volunteer work to help the guards during the blizzard, and at times they would even entertain Flynn with a game or two of chess.

On the third day, guilt weighed on Flynn for making the cooking staff brave the relentless blizzard to cook meals morning and night. Determined to take matters into his own hands, he attempted to cook. The results were mixed, the kitchen often left in disarray after each try. On three occasions, he managed to produce an edible meal and would proudly set aside a plate for Amaya. However, by his final attempt on day six, he forgot a batch of pancakes on the stove, turning them into charcoal. Smoke filled the cabin, forcing him to crack open a window despite the blizzard. After that, the kitchen staff insisted that they do the cooking.

As the days passed, Flynn found himself sitting by the fire and staring out the window watching snowfall more often, silently contemplating his next move. The search for the cure and the prophecy weighed heavily on him, gnawing at his thoughts. If he wasn’t staring at the fire or the snow, he’d find himself staring at the statue he had been gifted by Ashe, his eyes locked onto the visage of Aelios. Placed beside her was the statue of Selune, the two twin goddesses staring back at him. At times, he could’ve sworn they were smirking at him. Eventually he took both statues and put them into an empty kitchen cabinet, hoping to forget that they were even there.

When the storm started to show signs of dying down, Flynn instructed the guards to prepare a feast to be held by the tavern, a gathering for when it was safe for people to emerge from their homes. Though grand gestures had never been his way, it was the Aurelian way, and this felt important—a celebration of their survival, a moment for the town to come together after days of isolation. It was his first blizzard, and for many of the Aurelians, theirs as well.

Despite the cold and the isolation, he found the blizzard oddly beautiful. The quiet of it, the way the snow coated everything in a soft, pristine blanket. It was nothing like the warm, sunny days of Aurelia, but there was a harsh beauty in it that he couldn’t deny.

More than anything, Flynn found himself wondering how the Lunarians had endured this kind of weather for generations. It was a testament to their resilience, their strength in the face of adversity. His admiration for them deepened, recognizing that their survival, like the blizzard itself, was something to be respected.

On the seventh day, Flynn awoke with a rare sense of excitement as the blizzard had finally passed. The winds had quieted, and the heavy snowfall had softened to a gentle flurry. The storm's end brought a lightness to the air, and after a week of confinement, Flynn felt a renewed energy. Though the past week had been stressful, it had also given him a chance to reflect and rest. Now, with the celebration ahead, he was ready to reconnect with the townsfolk and share in the sense of survival.

The guards outside were already preparing the streets, shoveling the snow and calling for people to join the feast at the Eye of the Beholder. As he dressed and got ready to head out, Flynn’s thoughts shifted from the storm to his next steps. The blight still loomed large, but now, after a week of rest, he felt more focused and determined. Today, they would celebrate together, and the work would resume.

Realms of Sun & Shadow

Hey all! Now that the timeskip is up, feel free to start posting as usual again :)