[center][h2]🌿[color=a36209] 🔥 Caelum Emberhart 🔥 [/color]🌿[/h2][/center]
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	Caelum trickled in amongst the others as the group convened in the hall once more. He knew things were bad, but there was nothing—and no way—that Caelum could [i]ever[/i] have been prepared... for [i]this[/i]. The Queen had looked quite bad before, but after less than an hour, she was not even a shell of her former glory. It was beyond jarring. He had no words to describe what he now beheld—what he felt. The anxious sparrow’s stomach plummeted.

	[i]How could this be happening?![/i]

	He couldn’t even imagine what the Queen must be feeling—what [i]Dandelion[/i] must be feeling.

	[i]This was too cruel. Something had to be done.[/i]

	He lifted his gaze from where it had fallen as she spoke. Gone was the gentle warmth and quiet strength of their majestic leader and guardian. Her deathly form was struggling to speak—[i]and... was she... was she [b]flaking[/b], into [i]pieces?![/i][/i]

	His eyes widened. His brow lifted. In mere [i]seconds[/i]... Mighty, Radiant Queen Celine of the Great Hollow of Fairies...

	[i]...was no more.[/i]

	A small pile of powder was all that remained.

	Caelum just stared. Wide-eyed. Brows raised. His warm flame had turned cold. He was frozen in place, a chill running across his entire body. It was all just so incomprehensible. Someone had fled, unable to bear witness. Others had turned away or shut their eyes. Some cried out in agony and disbelief.  
All Caelum could do... was stare.

	This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. They were supposed to go on a journey. Together. To stop this very thing from coming to pass. Yet...

	Suddenly, something was thrust into his grasp, jarring the sparrow back into action. He looked about, quickly grasping his bearings.

	[color=a36209]“Follow this map,”[/color] came Sir Elric’s voice beside him. [color=a36209]“Kill the Bog. Save us. There isn’t time to mourn or be afraid. Understand?”[/color] Caelum nodded urgently, clutching the items he had been entrusted with closely to his chest. [color=a36209]“Now, go!”[/color]

	Caelum snapped back into practiced motion. Anything to keep going. Anything to avoid replaying that most horrific scene he had just witnessed. He tucked the tools safely away in the bag at his side, then quickly exited with the others.

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	Outside the hall, he found Magnolia off to the side from the others. She was in quite a similar headspace—frozen solid with shock and grief. In desperate need of warmth. It helped rekindle his flame anew. Sure, existence itself demanded great, heroic action. But right now, he could do the most good [i]here[/i], [i]now[/i], with only the slightest effort.

	Caelum quietly approached the lagoon fairy. He hoped proximity would thaw the poor girl from the chilling horrors that no doubt plagued her mind. Eventually, she looked up at him, and his heart squirmed to see that expression. It wasn’t quite as bad as what they had just witnessed together, but it wasn’t much easier to bear either. She looked down to the map jutting from his bag. She said nothing. And neither did he. He was simply there. A small, warm lantern, in this darkest of nights.

	[color=a36209]“Hey,”[/color] he finally said softly, his tone warm and low. He gently offered an open palm. [color=a36209]“Shall we get going?”[/color]

	Caelum slowly spread his soft, mottled wings, gently preparing for flight. The slightest glow emitted from the veins, like the very last embers of a campfire. Sad, but warm, unwittingly mirroring his present state. While he couldn't bring himself to hide the way he was feeling, he still managed to show her a soft smile—even if it didn’t quite reach his eyes.