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[sub]Location: Outside the Temple of Seluna[/sub]
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Céline watched as the young woman seemed to assess her response, a contemplative look on her face. The air was quiet around them, her ears twitched at every subtle sound that permeated the treeline. Patiently, intently, she waited; all the while her amethyst orbs reflected the visage of the handmaiden back at her.

“[color=royalblue]You handled yourself just fine.[/color]”

For the second time today, Céline found herself caught off guard by unwarranted commentary, her eyes widening. It wasn’t the comment itself that took Céline by surprise, even without reaching out she could tell it was not an insipid platitude. She had only met a few people since coming here, but each of them held a genuine forthrightness and a willingness to lay bare their truths, just as she shared hers with them. 

The blightborn didn’t expect the treatment to last forever, not every encounter would begin with pleasantries nor truths. To be treated though as if she was someone, not just some monster, it filled her with hope and a determination that she’d made the right decision to pursue a life here. The thought made her smile, [color=60cf11]“Thank you,”[/color] she nodded in return, [color=60cf11]“I’m just trying my best.”[/color]

Her ear twitched again as Orion shifted position, causing the snow to softly crunch beneath his boot. A subtle reminder of his presence here, but one that found her drawing parallels between himself and the white haired maiden before her. Both carried themselves with an air of poise and grace befitting their station; rather they carried their burdens well. While Elara was far less stoic than her guide, she also seemed to hold the wellspring of her emotions together; at least on the outside. There was a turmoil bubbling within, loss and regret, the source made all the more apparent as she revealed to have witnessed the murder.

Céline’s hand had made its way to the strap of her satchel, gripping onto the aged leather tightly as her thumb absentmindedly stuttered over the tacky material. Her mind raced with the new revelation, finally understanding Orion’s hesitancy upon revealing the death. This wasn’t just about the wrong person almost getting killed or potentially a full coffer being left unattended. The attack yesterday was on one of the very minds and visions behind Dawnhaven itself. A man died to protect that vision, to protect the woman in front of her and for the briefest of moments Céline thought she heard a scream. She didn’t even want to think of what the potential repercussions towards her could have been had the princess fallen.

Céline pushed the thoughts away as Elara continued to speak, it wasn’t long after that Orion broke the silence behind her and voiced his opinions. Each one had their own strong view points on Abel’s death, each one struck their own chord within Céline. [color=60cf11]“I think…both of you are right in your own ways.”[/color] She turned herself so as to look at Orion, a soft, sympathetic smile on her face before turning back to Elara. [color=60cf11]“Death is always too much, even for me and no matter how many times I see it, I’m never prepared for it.”[/color]

Céline’s hands clasped together, her fingers interlocking as she processed what she wanted to say, [color=60cf11]“I won’t say I know what’s going through your head, but I think I somewhat understand how you’re feeling. You say you never got the chance to know him, but I think…instead he [i]gave[/i] you that chance to know him.”[/color] Céline started walking forward slowly, [color=60cf11]“what I mean is…you could have just written his death off, another number in service to another noble…but you didn’t.”[/color] She stopped a few feet in front of the two of them, [color=60cf11]“Even if you might never really know him, the fact you want to speak more volumes than I think you realize.”[/color]

Close enough like this now she felt Elara’s emotions a little more vividly; there was a sorrow at the man’s loss of life, but that wasn’t the only loss there. More importantly she felt the tether between Elara and the raven haired handmaiden, a shared grief that bound them together. Céline’s eyes met the other woman’s behind the veil and she proffered a friendly smile to her.

[color=60cf11]“This place…doesn’t have to be one where people are forgotten,”[/color] She turned partway around to face Orion, [color=60cf11]“What if Dawnhaven is a place where all who come can be remembered, where it doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, human or blightborn, whether you sacrificed something or simply existed.”[/color] She turned some more, eyeing a nearby and wide tree she started walking towards it. Once in front of its trunk she lowered herself down, unsheathing a small knife from her boot she stood at full height and started carving into the wood. Slowly the words took shape, line after painful dragging line.

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Stepping back away from the tree where Céline examined her work and spoke up, [color=60cf11]“We can start it here, a monument to the fallen…a reminder to those who remain.”[/color] She stared at the freshly carved wood, blade absentmindedly twirling in her hands. [color=60cf11]“A place where anyone can be remembered…no matter what,”[/color] she whispered to herself.
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[sub]Interacting with: Elara, Orion [@Qia], Ramnoa [@enmuni][/sub]