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[center][sub]Interacting with: [@The Muse][/sub][/center]

[color=lightgray]Charlotte was silent as Eris approached and consoled her with words of encouragement that hadn’t been directed at her in years. This place, Dawnhaven, had been such a polarizing experience. When most hadn’t given her a second glance, there were a lovely few like Eris and Sir Abel--and to an extent, the rather handsome fellow in the watchtower--that had actually gone out of their way to help.

Especially now, with the kind yet deceptively powerful sage that sat next to her.

As Eris spoke of Sir Abel’s pride, another set of tears slid down Charlotte’s face. [color=A54343]“He [i]would[/i] have been proud,”[/color] she managed, though barely a whisper. 

He was one of the few that respected her ability to confront authority with conviction, even though he also knew that it was something that needed to be tempered. It was a trait that he’d taught her to save for moments like yesterday, where while she did still paint a target on her back, it was done for the right reasons. Right now, he’d be patting her on the back for her courage, before reminding her that chains of command exist for a reason. 

That next time, it would be wise to instead report it to one of the commanders.

The recruit nodded in silence as she listened to Eris’s words of wisdom. It wasn’t anything Charlotte hadn’t heard before, but it was something that she knew she needed to be told. A reminder to not let perfection stand in the way of learning, and that mistakes were a necessary part of the process.

The warmth of the sage’s voice lingered even after she fell quiet. Charlotte sat still, the words echoing gently in her mind. Unlike with others, the silence that fell between them wasn’t awkward. It allowed time for the swirling tempest of thoughts to sink in, to settle, and for the ache in her chest to soften just a little.

And in that quiet, something unexpected stirred.

The soft ring of sliding pottery on wood caught Charlotte’s attention, as the mug of tea moved towards her. She felt the corners of her mouth lift as she realized what Eris was doing, and a small laugh bubbled up and caught her off-guard, escaping her lips with a short, breathy sound. For a moment, she remained motionless, the memory of her past making itself known once more.

She curled her fingers around the mug, letting its warmth seep into her palms and up through her arms, chasing away the lingering chill of the morning. But it wasn’t just the heat that settled her—it was the gesture, the kindness behind it, and the way the scent of the tea stirred a familiarity that could only come from Aurelia.

In that moment, the mistakes of yesterday and the weight of her duties felt further away, and the distance between who she had become and where she came from didn’t feel so wide.

[color=A54343]“Thank [i]you[/i],”[/color] she gently contested, [color=A54343]“These past weeks have been some of the most challenging I’ve ever lived, and before today… before now, I wasn’t sure I’d ever get through to see the brighter days to come.”[/color]

A small, almost sheepish smile played on her lips, [color=A54343]“I didn’t realize how much I needed someone to just… speak to me like a person. Not like a soldier… or a problem to be fixed.”[/color] Her eyes finally returned to look at Eris, now calm despite their piercing color, [color=A54343]“I think… I think I needed to be reminded that it’s okay to feel lost, that the daily struggle doesn’t mean I’m failing.”[/color]

[color=A54343]“I’m sorry, I’ve never been good at this kinda thing.”[/color] She paused, letting out a gentle laugh, [color=A54343]“I don’t know if you meant to help me as much as you did but…”[/color] she took a breath, bowing her head a moment towards Eris, [color=A54343]“Thank you. I won’t forget this.”[/color][/color]