[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/k5wD2tM.png[/img][hr][hr][color=gold]◈[/color] Day 1 [color=gold]◈[/color] [color=red]Time:[/color] Night [color=gold]◈[/color] [color=red]Weather:[/color] Cloudy, Drizzle [color=gold]◈[/color] [color=red]Location:[/color] Main Ballroom [color=gold]◈[/color]
[color=red]Participants:[/color] Anastasia Arslan [@Ti], Raffaella Struna [@Emeth] , Everyone Present.[hr][hr][/center]
The haunting melody swelled, its eerie notes wrapping around the elegant ballroom like a chilling mist. Ana's graceful dance steps faltered, her feet coming to an abrupt halt on the polished floor. A shiver raced down her spine, prickling her skin, as the familiar and dreaded chorus reached her ears once more.

Time seemed to hang suspended as she stood there, her gaze fixated on nothingness, her heart pounding in her chest. The joyful laughter and the lilting music of the ball seemed to fade into the background, replaced by the ominous resonance of that haunting song.

Her fingers, adorned with delicate jewellery, clenched into tight fists, her knuckles turning white under the strain. Her breath caught in her throat, the air heavy with the weight of memories she had tried so hard to bury. It was a sound that had plagued her dreams for years, a sound that now echoed through the grandeur of the ballroom, a cruel reminder of a past she could never escape.

As the chorus reached a haunting crescendo, Ana's gaze remained fixed on the ceiling, her eyes unseeing, lost in the haunting memories that the song evoked. The surrounding ballroom seemed to blur, the elegant surroundings fading into a hazy backdrop as the past collided with the present.

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[colour=red]"Momma, it's so pretty!"[/colour] The young girl's innocent voice chimed like a bell, her small hand tugging at her mother's dress to gain her attention. With a tender smile, her mother glanced down at her, following the direction of her tiny finger pointed toward the sky. The harmonious resonance of the Ni-Seraphi's celestial chorus grew louder, a symphony of impending doom.

[colour=orange]"Magnus! They're coming, Ni-Seraphi!"[/colour] Panic surged through her mother's voice as she rushed back into the house, abandoning the child to her awe-filled gaze at the majestic winged beings above. The girl stood alone, a tiny silhouette against the impending shadow that swept over Herbeumont, her eyes wide as she witnessed the otherworldly forms of the Ni-Seraphi gracing the heavens.

The house erupted into a chaotic frenzy as her parents hurriedly gathered belongings, their lives distilled into hastily packed bags. Ornaments fell and shattered, mirroring the shattering of the island's serenity. Herbeumont, once a haven of tranquillity with its fruitful orchards and rustic charm, was now plunged into a chilling chaos, its peaceful aura shattered by the eerie resonance of the Ni-Seraphi's haunting song.

[colour=gold]"We must reach the port! The airships may already be departing! Maëlle, we can't afford to delay, your grandmother would rather you live!"[/colour] Urgency underscored her father's words, his grip on her mother firm as he dragged her away from their home. With one last look, the girl saw her childhood haven reduced to mere rubble and memories, their entire existence crammed into the small bundles they carried.

[colour=red]"Mama, look! They're at the Mullins' farm!"[/colour] The little girl's voice quivered, a mixture of awe and terror threading through her words. The great being descended upon the Mullins' farmhouse, its song a deafening crescendo that tore the thatch from the roof as if it were mere paper. The child's small hands instinctively covered her ears, eyes wide with a mixture of fascination and horror.

The Ni-Seraphi's gaping maw opened, a portal to oblivion, and the Mullins family, her friend and all, were swept into its ravenous vortex. Time seemed to stretch as the child watched in stunned disbelief, the image of her best friend's anguished face etching into her memory, forever mingling beauty and terror.

[colour=orange]"Grab Ana, there's no time!"[/colour] Her mother's frantic voice broke through the shock, and before she knew it, strong arms enveloped her, pulling her away from the consuming abyss. The girl stumbled, her gaze still fixed on the unfathomable horror before her. She was torn away, her heart and mind forever scarred by the gruesome tableau of innocence devoured.

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A deafening explosion shattered the air, its force slamming Ana to the ground. In an instant, the cacophony of chaos engulfed her senses—shards of glass rained down like deadly confetti, ornate decorations crumbled to the floor in a symphony of destruction, and the world seemed to tremble beneath the weight of the explosion's impact. Ana's mind reeled as the echoes of that haunting night collided with the present, a maelstrom of emotions threatening to consume her.

Dazed and disoriented, Ana's fingers clawed at the cold ground beneath her, her breath ragged as she struggled to make sense of the surrounding turmoil. And then, as if pulled from the very depths of her psyche, her attention snapped to a young face, a first-year student caught in the midst of the chaos. The girl's eyes wide with fear mirrored the terror of another, a memory etched in Ana's mind like a scar.

[colour=red]"No... not again..."[/colour] Ana's thoughts spiralled into a suffocating abyss, the images of that dreaded night resurfacing with cruel clarity. She could almost hear the screams, see the gaping maw of the Ni-Seraphi, and the agonizing helplessness of her past self.

But amidst the tempest of her emotions, a spark of determination ignited within her—a resolve to rise above the weight of her own trauma. [i][colour=red]"Ana, snap out of it,"[/colour][/i] she berated herself silently, her voice a fierce whisper in the tempest of her mind. Clenching her trembling fists, Ana shut her eyes tightly, her focus turning inward.

As if drawing from a wellspring of inner strength, she felt it—a rush of warmth, an inferno of resolve surging through her veins. Her body seemed to radiate with a golden glow, the flames of her gift flickering to life around her like a protective halo. This was her power, her ability to heal and to ignite courage within herself.

Pushing herself up from the floor, Ana's gaze locked onto the frightened first-year, her heart aching with empathy. She couldn't let another innocent life be torn away by the horrors that haunted her. With newfound determination burning bright, she moved towards Raffaella, her touch gentle yet resolute as she reached out to grasp the girl's trembling hand.

[colour=red]"Listen to me,"[/colour] Ana's voice was steady, her eyes meeting Raffaella's with unwavering intensity. [colour=red]"You are safe. We are going to get you to a shelter, away from this danger. Hold onto my hand, and stay close. We will get through this, together."[/colour]

With Raffaella by her side, Ana turned her gaze to the chaos unfolding around her—the shattered remnants of the ballroom, the disoriented students, the palpable fear in the air. Drawing a deep breath, Ana's golden flames blazed brighter, infusing her with a newfound strength as she stepped forward, her voice ringing out above the chaos.

[colour=red][b]"Listen up, everyone!"[/b][/colour] Her words cut through the turmoil like a clarion call. [colour=red]"Our priority is the safety of every individual here. First years and civilians, make your way to the shelters. Combat-trained individuals, form defensive groups around them. Auxiliary roles, establish checkpoints for Reconnaissance, Restoration, and Retreat. We leave no one behind."[/colour]

With the weight of her past and the urgency of the present driving her, Ana's gaze swept over the gathered students, her eyes fierce with determination. Amidst the chaos, her voice resonated with a commanding authority, Ana was ready to fight, to protect, and to lead.

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