SpicyMeatball

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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_{Interacting with: @c3p-0h and @The Muse}

Katherine’s eyes returned to the doors of the temple as the muffled sounds of numerous footsteps, though quieted by the snow, broke the otherwise relative silence of inside. The tall double doors announced the group’s arrival with a soft creak as two Aurelian guards entered, and the little warmth that the room had once held now disappeared between them.

Though it wasn’t the weather that caused Katherine’s blood to run cold.

She recognized the pair that followed instantly. They entered in unison, hand-in-hand. Prince Flynn Astaros of Aurelia, and next to him, Princess Amaya Selu of Lunaris. Their steps were measured and unflinching as Katherine watched their silhouettes almost disappear as the doors were shut behind them. She noticed Flynn’s watchful eyes immediately, meeting them with her own look of quiet scrutiny and calculation. The fear of Flynn’s sharp and calculating look--the one he’d shot her way with obvious suspicion last night--was gone, replaced by an indifference to his judgement and power. Her eyes traced his figure out of habitual caution, intrigued by the fact that he’d arrived unarmed and yet completely unconcerned by his entourage outside.

It wasn’t Flynn that had completely caught her off-guard.

It was Amaya.

Amaya, who knew almost nothing of Katherine’s existence, apart from the dagger that she was destined to drive through her heart. Who knew nothing of why this certain priestess might be watching her with a mix of terror and sadness in her heart. Amaya hadn’t even spared her a glance as she crossed the room at Flynn’s side. Not even a faint flicker of recognition.

But Katherine couldn’t look away from her.

She remained in place, tension coiling tightly in her chest. She had known this day would eventually come; the day where she’d have to face the very person she’d betrayed only a handful of short years before. She had steeled herself for the possibility of crossing paths.

And yet—

The vision—No, the memory--struck without grace or warning, a lightning bolt through her mind that came not from the sight before her, but from something deeper. A tiny sliver of the past that had long remained dormant, buried and seemingly forgotten, now rising to the surface. The palace. The small, featureless figure that had waved at her, now crystal clear before her. Piercing, pale blue eyes that contrasted against her dark brown skin. The gentle wave that she’d reciprocated, an innocent greeting between total strangers. The silent look of understanding that they’d shared before Katherine was dragged away by her father.

Another jolt shot through her, this time the memory was much more recent.

The colorful fabrics of merchant tents blurred in the periphery as she saw herself stalking through the crowds of a Lunarian festival. The night was loud with laughter and lantern-light. Music curled through the air like incense, sweet and dizzying, and the cobbled streets of Lunaris pulsed with life. Katherine moved among the revelers like a shadow wearing borrowed skin, her hood drawn low, paying attention to none of it.

The princess was smaller than most around her, but it wasn’t her size that made her easy to find and follow. She was clearly overwhelmed, her head darting side to side with every shift in the crowd, her every step made with hesitation and uncertainty. She never looked back, too occupied to check if anyone was following. Katherine’s eyes never left Amaya—watching, tracking, staying close enough to intervene, but distant enough to remain out of sight.

And yet, despite executing her role with precision, Katherine had still failed the princess.

It hadn’t been immediate. Her silence had held for hours beneath the cold scrutiny of her father. But a nineteen-year-old trained in subterfuge was no match for a military man who had long since mastered the art of breaking people—especially his own blood.

The blows were measured, not furious. Controlled. Designed to hurt just enough. Between each one, Katherine begged—pleaded—for him to let the matter die. To let the secret stay buried where it belonged.

But in the end, her resolve splintered beneath the weight of pain and expectation. The truth left her lips like poison, and he made her carry it straight to the king.

Now she had to face Amaya for the first time since the events of that night.

Katherine closed her eyes and drew in a long, even breath, slowing her heart down from its thunderous race. She’d told herself that the years would dull the guilt, and that perhaps that image of the little blue-eyed girl waving at her would fade. But the moment that she saw Amaya walk through the doors, everything rushed back as if it was all fresh in her mind. The memories. The confession. The way that her father’s voice had left no room for refusal.

The hardest part of it all, is that Amaya never knew of the betrayal. Katherine didn’t know if she had the strength to tell her.

And yet, from her place, Katherine paced towards them in silence. Each step was practiced, almost silent on the stone floors. Her robes gently flowed behind her, their silver trim flickering as it caught the candlelight. She did not allow her eyes to remain on Amaya any longer, as much as she wanted to. Instead, her eyes focused on the wall just passed the two bodies, and her hands were folded neatly in front of her.

The priestess. The servant of Seluna. That was who they would see.

Not the girl who had once watched from the shadows. Not the girl who had waved back.

Not the daughter who had been broken into obedience, and into betrayal.

Now just a few paces away, Katherine stopped and stood in contemplative silence. Her first words to them—to Amaya—had to be the right ones. No apologies. No hints of the past. The Inquisition would never let her admit her past actions this plainly. No one, not even Amaya, was supposed to know of her true purpose.

“Even in the shadow of grief, may Seluna’s light bring you peace.” her voice was calm and clear, perfectly in-character.

“You are not alone in this loss. Though I did not know them, I grieve with you. And I will see that they are returned to the stars above, myself.” Katherine paused, her eyes looking to Flynn for a moment, “While I would not ever ask his highness to leave, if your soldiers are not here to pay their respects, I would request that they step out so as to not disturb the others.”

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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_{Interacting with: @The Muse}

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. “He would have been proud,” 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.

“Thank you,” she gently contested, “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.”

A small, almost sheepish smile played on her lips, “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.” Her eyes finally returned to look at Eris, now calm despite their piercing color, “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.”

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

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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_{Interacting with: @PrinceAlexus Mentions: @Theyra, @Qia and @enmuni}

In the moments following her miniature welcoming ceremony, Katherine couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride. It was her first morning running Dawnhaven’s temple of Seluna and it had truly surprised her that anyone had showed up at all. She had not announced her arrival, apart from to the guards, nor had she been dressed like a priestess at all until this morning.

And yet despite all of it, the faithful had arrived.

No longer was the temple silent. The subtle sound of footsteps momentarily broke through, soon followed by the rustling of offerings being taken from their baskets. The candles watched them in a silent vigil, standing guard in clusters around the room and providing just enough light for Seluna to observe her followers.

The air in the temple felt heavy, weighted with the deaths of the two Lunarians. To many it may have felt as though they were imagining the feeling, that it could be shaken away if they put it out of their minds.

Katherine knew otherwise.

It was a familiar feeling, one that perhaps only the truly devoted followers of Seluna would recognize as impatience. It was a warning. Seluna was waiting for her dead to be returned, so that she may finally cast their souls into the stars and pass her final judgement. The goddess would not be made to wait.

Katherine sighed, nodding to herself--or perhaps to Seluna. She’d need to arrange an expedition to the sea with the deceased.

Which meant she needed to speak with the prince.

You see the situation you’ve put me in? This whole ordeal is on you. She directed the venomous thought at her ever-observant passenger, groaning internally.

You’re a clever girl. Figure. It. Out. Her head pounded with each word. Unless you want to remember what it feels like to betray your kingdom again.

Katherine’s breath caught in her throat. She blinked--and the temple was gone. In its place, the towering stone walls of the palace, torchlight flickering throughout its halls, and her father’s voice muffled beside her. The world loomed tall around her--voices above her head, footsteps like thunder on the stone floors. Her father’s grip was clamped around her wrist, firm and unyielding, steering her through a sea of strangers and silk. Then—stillness. The murmurs around her faded, as if pulled underwater. Her eyes were drawn to a small figure in the crowd, its features indistinct, almost forgotten by time—except for the eyes. Pale blue, unfamiliar, locked on hers with uncanny clarity. The figure raised a hand and waved, slowly and hesitantly, but with a certain understanding.

Then, as the palace quickly disappeared, a new scene materialized before her.

Katherine felt the tears running down her cheeks before anything else. As she blinked them away, she felt the burning ache in her throat that told her she’d been screaming. Her gut throbbed with a familiar pain, one that was always prefaced with her father’s boot. Katherine’s brown eyes darted around and searched for an explanation, finding only faceless, shadowy figures surrounding her. And as another kick landed against her abdomen, the memory shattered like glass.

The temple came rushing back into her vision. Katherine’s mind raced, trying to put together fragments of a vision that disappeared faster than she could grab them. She shut her eyes tightly and pinched the bridge of her nose, willing herself over and over to remember again.

Nothing. Whatever memory…. vision? Whatever it had been, it was gone without a trace.

With a deep sigh, she opened her eyes and was met with the welcome sight of Persephone, holding what could only be the breakfast that Daphne had promised. The thought brought a warmth to the priestess’ face, before she paced forward to meet her guest.

“Quite insistent, was she?” Katherine smiled warmly, trying hard to mask the grin beneath it. She grasped the basket’s handle and gently lifted a corner of the blanket, smiling even wider as the warm steam escaped and the lovely aroma filled the air. The remaining stress was quick to disappear off of her face as she rose back to meet Persephone’s gaze. “It seems I’ve already been spoiled and we haven’t known each other but for mere hours.”

Katherine bowed her head towards Persephone, nodding gently, “I appreciate the gratitude, my lady, but it is my duty to protect those who can’t protect themselves…” she paused for a moment, eyes widening, “Even if they only can’t protect themselves temporarily.”

“Unfortunately I wasn’t in time to intervene,” her attention moved to the bodies, eyes lowering in respect, “May Seluna let them shine brightly among her stars.”

Her attention on Persephone faltered as a familiar tune whispered through the air. Its gentle melancholy touched at familiarity, though Katherine could not place where she’d heard it before. Her head turned, looking for its source before her eyes landed on the little she could see of the raven-haired woman. Then, as Ramona began to sing, Katherine listened more intently as the lyrics of past-times filled the air.

Vague memories of the happier moments of her life drifted through her mind, before shifting to darker ones in unison with the tune. Katherine saw her mother in these memories, at first alive and well, in the precious few moments they’d shared together, then laid out unmoving on a table before her. Then came the all-too-familiar memories of her father, the man that was respected in public by all, but feared by his own family.

She shook the thoughts away, swallowing hard through the ache in her throat. Then, she whispered a few words barely audible to anyone but herself, forcing out the emotions that had threatened to overwhelm her.

“My apologies, my lady Seluna. I will not break down again.”

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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_{Interacting with: @Theyra, @Qia and @enmuni}

A small smirk snuck its way across Katherine’s lips as she watched Daphne depart. Her eyes traced the squire’s figure up until the very last second the door shut behind her, leaving herself and Elara alone momentarily. Katherine felt her cheeks warm briefly, before she took a breath and turned to face Elara once more.

“No need to apologize. It’s my pleasure to meet you, Elara,” she nodded her head in affirmation of her own words, leaving a moment of silence as she contemplated what Elara had said, “Well, any and all help is appreciated. Welcome to the temple of Seluna. Please, make yourself at home. Forgive the darkness, I haven’t yet had a moment to light the candles.” That, and she found comfort in the darkness.

Katherine’s eyes flicked to her side as the temple door opened once more, revealing a raven-haired woman with stunning blue eyes. The priestess met her with a warm smile despite the fact she’d practically frozen in place at the sight of Elara.

“Good morning,” she bowed her head slightly towards Ramona, “Please, make yourself comfortable. I’m just starting my morning preparations.”

“Let me know if you need anyth---” Katherine’s attention was pulled by yet another new face entering the temple, before a flurry of white feathers filled her vision. A moment later, a beautiful snowy owl landed next to her, before her owner followed quickly behind.

“Well, I certainly wasn’t expecting this many people at once, but nonetheless,” she paused for a moment, her eyes flicking between the two ladies and the gentlemen that had just arrived, “Good morning sir, welcome to the temple of Seluna.” She lowered her head towards the last arrival, before pacing towards her quarters off to the side.

“I guess this warrants some haste on my part, please, give me just a few moments.”

A minute later, Katherine returned with a lit-candle in hand, perched upon a small, iron holder. With soft steps, almost silent on the wooden floors, she moved around the room, stopping at each set of candles and lighting each one with the first. Slowly, the warm orange light began to illuminate the room dimly and reveal the details throughout. The once-inky black pool of water in the center now danced with the twinkle of a few dozen flames. The shadows on the wall swayed and spun like silent partners in a waltz, drawn into motion by the flickering firelight. They stretched and shrunk with each flicker, partners in an endless, rhythmic performance—sometimes graceful, sometimes erratic, but never still.

As she finished her walk around the perimeter of the hall, she moved to the edge of the pool at its center. She bent down and carefully placed the dish onto the water’s surface, letting the candle float on the otherwise undisturbed water.

The priestess stood from her place and faced her guests once more, remaining in place as she addressed them. Her voice was louder now, almost commanding, though keeping her usual warm tone, “Welcome all to the temple of Seluna. Please, enter in peace and walk in her grace. Under the ever-turning phases of the moon, all who seek solace, wisdom, and truth are welcome. May Seluna’s light shine upon you, and may her whispers in the night bring you clarity.”

“I am here in service to our Lady, and by extension, in service to those who follow her guidance. Please let me know if I can be of service.” Katherine smiled to the group before her, the crescent-moon pendant around her neck now glowing in a blue and silvery glow.

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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_{Interacting with: @The Muse}

Charlotte felt the tension in her shoulders fade as Eris spoke. Her words were not filled with reprimand, but care and reassurance. It was nice to be in the company of someone who spoke to her, and not someone who barked orders at her.

In the moment of silence that followed Eris’ question, Charlotte let her posture relax out of its parade-rest stance and let out a small sigh of relief. The weight of her armor was becoming more obvious with every passing minute, and though it seemed like Eris had almost given her permission to remove it, the fear of a superior officer walking in far out-weighed the desire to remove it.

She had already taken the dive into her own figurative grave with Aliseth, there was no reason to keep digging it deeper.

“Oh… Tea would be lovely, thank you,” She smiled nervously towards the Sage, her eyes looking around the room out of habit, “This is a very nice place you have here. Reminds me a bit of home.”

“I miss it, y’know? Home? The bustling streets of the city, my family… all of it,” Charlotte took a seat on the floor near the fire, her hands outstretched towards it with palms open, “My little brother will be starting his tutoring soon. He wants to be a sage, much like yourself,” her voice hovered on sadness for a moment, her eyes staring off into nothing, “He’d do these party tricks at our tavern, making people’s drinks slide across the counter like they had a mind of their own, or lighting the hearthfire with the snap of his fingers.”

“He’s a natural… … … you’d like him.” The words came out in cheerful melancholy as she drew her legs towards her chest. Though she tried her best to hide it, Charlotte’s face was conflicted in a fight between pride and sadness.

“I… I don’t know why I ever left. I don’t know why I ever thought becoming a guard was a good idea,” her voice darkened, “All I’ve done is make mistakes, and hurt people in the process.”

She let out a long sigh, letting her head fall until her forehead rested on her knees.

“And everyone just… yells at me… puts me through hell because I’m the new kid and I don’t know any better. The only person…” she paused as her voice broke, letting out a shaky breath but refusing to let the tears that had built in her eyes fall down, “T-the only person who genuinely seemed to give a shit about t-training me… d-died last night.”

Sir Abel’s face came into her mind as she shut her eyes for a moment, and she fought back tears once again. The recruit sat there in silence for a long moment, before slowly raising her head back up and staring into the fire.

“I’m sorry.” She feigned brushing a strand of hair from her face as she wiped a tear from her eye, “D-do you need any help making the tea?” She smiled sadly towards Eris, her eyes now bloodshot and glassy from the tears.

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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_{Interacting with: @PrinceAlexus, @Qia}

Katherine’s dark eyes followed Daphne’s every movement, watching as the firelight returned and flickered across her skin. Despite that much of her body was hidden, there was something hypnotic in Daphne’s movements. The gentle sense of urgency that came of bare feet on a cold floor, the gentle shiver of her body in the cold morning air, and the brief glimpses of her curves beneath heavy furs all brought a warmth to Katherine’s chest. It wasn’t just desire, though that was certainly present. It was something more innocent and genuine, a pull that made her want to reach out and to hold onto this moment of warmth, and to keep it from slipping away.

“Then come back here,” she spoke with a warm, almost sultry voice that surprised even herself, “It’s getting cold without all of your muscle in here.”

It quickly dawned on her that Daphne wasn’t returning as quickly as she wanted her to, and though it required getting out of bed, Katherine mustered the willpower to stand and approach Daphne after wrapping herself in the remaining furs.

“It’s a deal… though keep dreaming if you think this gown is coming off in this weather.” Katherine shot the squire a mischievous grin, the growing flames dancing in the reflection of her eyes. She plopped herself down onto her knees just before the fire, once more leaning against Daphne as she let the wave of heat fight off the small chill that had wrapped itself around her neck.

The priestess slowly became aware of the growing emptiness in her stomach as a quiet, but insistent growl came from within. She pressed a hand lightly against her abdomen as if it might subdue the complaint, but the hunger only grew more demanding, gnawing at her with renewed urgency.

“Maybe we grab some food from the Eye? I’d cook you breakfast here, but I’ve not had a chance to fill the pantry.”

Katherine didn’t wait for a response before rising in place again and pacing over to the large wooden crate of her belongings.

Perhaps it’s time I made an effort to actually look the part of a Seluna priestess. She smirked to herself at the thought, bobbing her head back and forth a moment as if swaying to a song only she could hear. Momentarily lost in her own thoughts, she began laying out her clothing on the now-bare bed before her gaze returned to the leather armor she’d worn the day prior. Brown eyes flicked back and forth between the black and silver robes on the bed and the armor of the same colors.

Maybe both? She raised a brow at her own proposition, tilting her head to the side as if it would help make the decision clearer.

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A few minutes of shamelessly changing outfits behind Daphne’s back later, Katherine had dressed herself back into her leather armor, while now also donning an inky black cloak trimmed in silver and adorned with a sterling symbol of Seluna across it’s back. A hood fell from the back, leading around to the metal clasps beneath her neck that kept the entire ensemble in place. An equally dark, thick leather belt brought the cloak tightly around her waist and let the bottom of it flow much like a skirt.

There, she nodded to herself in self affirmation.

Mixed memories of years prior filled her mind as Katherine habitually ran her hands down the fabric. The day she’d almost died, the day she’d been brought to the temple, and the day she’d devoted her soul to Seluna and had this very same cloak draped around her shoulders for the very first time.

The priestess let out a long breath, before turning to face Daphne once more, “Well, how do I look?” She grinned, before her attention was caught by the sound of knocking.

Katherine stood frozen for a moment, eyes locked in the direction of the temple doors, before letting out another long breath. Surely the threat of an assailant had passed and this was just a commoner looking to commune with their goddess. For good measure, the priestess grabbed her shortsword in its scabbard before nodding to Daphne and leaving the room.

She placed a hand on the door and whispered a few silent phrases. The inky black crescent moon on the door responded, pulsing with every word before slowly fading away into the darkness from where it had come. Then, with a shaky hand, Katherine slowly opened the large wooden door.

An unfamiliar, slender and snowy-haired woman stood outside, wrapped in a cloak that looked far too large for her. Katherine took a moment to glance around at their surroundings as if assessing for threats, before her attention returned to the handmaiden.

“Good morning,” she smiled warmly, “Please, do come in.”

After pausing a moment to let the woman in, Katherine gently closed the door behind them. The main hall of the temple still laid in slumber and its candles that had normally left the room in dim illumination had not yet been lit.

“I do apologize, I haven’t yet had a moment to make preparations for the day. Last night was…eventful, to say the least.” She let the last words linger for a moment, her eyes briefly landing on the remnants of yesterday’s victims, before returning her attention to Elara.

“How can I help you, miss?”

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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_{Interacting with: @The Muse}

There were certainly perks to the assignment she’d been given.

For once, she didn’t have to shiver herself to sleep on the hard benches of the guard tower, stiff-necked and half-frozen. No drafty stone walls and no biting wind sneaking through the cracks. Only the crackling of a well-stoked fire filled the air, in harmony with the soft hiss of lingering moisture escaping the logs.

Though certainly uncomfortable, the recruit had buried herself in the provided linens while still wearing most of her armor. No matter how much she’d wanted to rid herself of all of it--in particular the shoulder pauldron beneath her threatening to dislocate the very joint it was made to protect--the looming fear of being caught unaware and unprepared dulled the ache more than enough for sleep. She’d had far more than enough of the punishments disguised as tough-love lessons to let a luxury like comfort land her in trouble again.

Charlotte had built up a healthy dislike for the majority of Dawnhaven’s military leadership. In her mind, mistakes she’d made back home had been corrected far more fairly than in this science experiment of a town.

Goddess damn it how she missed her home. Sergeant Ward would’ve taken the time to actually train her instead of throwing her into the fray. In the first few months of Charlotte’s training, Ward had been her anchor in the otherwise controlled chaos. He’d been stern, but never needlessly cruel. Constantly pushing Charlotte to her breaking point, but never meeting her failures with scorn, only correction. He had a way of demanding more out of every single recruit without breeding hatred.

If he were here now, he wouldn’t have simply ordered her away as a punishment, especially with an unknown blight-born murderer on the loose.

Sergeant Ward would have made sure she was ready to fight.

The echoes of raised voices and the sting of Aliseth’s reprimand still lingered in her mind behind closed eyelids, her frustration standing alone--but slowly faltering--against the slowly rising tide of sleep.

And soon enough, the currents dragged her consciousness into the inky depths of the night.

* * *

It had been many moons since she’d slept this deeply. It was a silent and dreamless sleep, one devoid of the trials and tribulations of the day prior. Charlotte drank in every second of it. It was a rare moment of blissful ignorance, buried in warm blankets and protected from the elements by four, very real walls. No one woke her in the middle of the night for a surprise assignment or for some cruel, humiliating hazing. There were no alarm bells that called her to action.

Just much-needed, undisturbed rest.

Even when Eris called her name, the only signs that the recruit was even still alive was the rise and fall of the pile of blankets on top of her, and the barely visible flaring of her nares with each breath. It wasn’t until she felt the sage’s hesitant hand on her shoulder that her icy blue-gray eyes opened, contrasting her darker, sun-kissed face. They were calm for a moment as she took in the cozy surroundings of the alchemy chambers, before opening much wider as she processed the warm hand above her.

A jolt of instinctual alarm shot through her body as her mind scrambled to identify her surroundings. Charlotte’s pulse surged and muscles tensed, the ghost of countless drills screaming at her to react before her eyes could even find the figure that had woken her.

But the moment disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. Through the haze of her disorientation came the soft glow of embers in a fireplace, the warmth of the many linens and furs that she’d cocooned herself in, and the gentle--though slightly concerned--face of the sage.

Charlotte let out a slow, slightly shaky breath as her eyes met Eris’ blanket-wrapped figure. A weak smile spread across her lips before being broken by a small yawn.

“Good morning, Lady Hightower.” Her voice was quiet as she addressed Eris, before she felt the cold air tickling her cheeks and saw the gentle fog of their breaths. The recruit was still clearly unsure of how to act around the sage, struggling to maintain formality while not totally walling off being friendly. It was a balance Charlotte had never been good at, and one she hated maintaining. It felt unnatural and fake.

“H-here, let me get the fire going again.” She stammered a bit, her nerves flaring up inside. The realization hit her hard, she was talking to the lead sage. A member of nobility, one that by her superior’s instruction, was to receive help with whatever she needed. In a panic, Charlotte quickly clambered off of the couch with blankets in tow, almost tripping over her own sword as she made her way to the dying embers that remained in the fireplace.

“I do apologize to my lady for my actions yesterday… and for falling asleep when I should have been protecting you… … … and for…” she trailed off for a moment, desperately searching for words, “I swear to you it won’t happen again.” Her apology was fast and unprepared, flowing out like the sputtering water of a broken tap. She forced her attention on the fire as if it was life or death, not yet daring to face Eris.

As the flames licked at the newly added logs, Charlotte slowly stood in place and let the blankets fall. Turning around, she paced a few steps closer to the sage before standing with legs slightly spread and hands clasped behind her back.

“Please forgive me, Lady Hightower. Recruit Hawthorne, at your service."

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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_{Interacting with: @PrinceAlexus}

“The Lord and Lady definitely seem like good souls. I’m glad you were able to find a home after a childhood without one.” Katherine smiled gently as she let her head rest the pauldron of Daphne’s armor. Her mind had finally calmed and the once-tightened chain around her chest had loosened and fallen away. “Yours sounds like a life I would’ve enjoyed, though I guess that’s why I volunteered myself for Dawnhaven. I needed to get away from my old life.”

She squeezed Daphne’s hand gently. “And despite all that’s happened today, I don’t regret my decision for a second.”

Despite the pair’s proximity, Katherine still felt a chill run down her spine. The roaring fire of her chambers did little to warm the main hall, especially with the icy pool of water that took up the majority of the room. Under normal circumstances, the chill wouldn’t have bothered the Lunarian priestess, but her day had been far from normal and her endurance had long faded away.

“I’m gonna go get out of this armor, then maybe you can come join me by the fire?” She let the semi-rhetorical question linger in the air for a moment, already knowing how Daphne would reply, before leaving the comfort of the squire’s company and walking to her chambers. The priestess shot one last coy, playful smirk towards Daphne before disappearing behind the door.

* * *

Removing her armor had been far more exhausting than Katherine remembered, but after a few minutes she’d stowed the last piece of it away in her still-unpacked crate of belongings. In its place, Katherine donned a long silk nightgown that gently reflected the fire’s light with a deep, navy blue sheen. The small section of her legs and feet that would have normally been exposed were now covered in thick wool socks. The hearthfire would certainly keep them warm for a while, but sooner or later it would dull to coals. Though the priestess didn’t doubt that Daphne wouldn’t mind keeping her warm, sunless winters had proven to be even colder than before.

By the time Daphne had arrived, Katherine had just finished moving the fur blankets before the fire, creating a makeshift bed with her bedroll beneath them. It took only moments for the pair to cozy up in the bedroll, and even less for Katherine to feel the squire’s protective arm tighten around her midriff.

Whether it was the sanctuary of Daphne’s presence, or the exhaustion of the day finally bearing its full weight on her, Katherine didn’t speak a word. The silence wasn’t one of emptiness or tension, however, but one of trust and acceptance. There was no pressure for her to justify it. There was no expectation of performance, nor for her to be her usual careful and calculating self. The weight she always carried, the constant vigilance, the tightly wound mask of control—it all loosened in Daphne’s presence.

Katherine couldn’t win the fight against the heavy and insistent fatigue that had crept its way in. She felt the tension in her muscles fade away within Daphne’s embrace, the soft beat of her heart was like a lullaby against her cheek as she turned her body to face the squire’s.

And as sleep finally claimed her, she finally realized what it was like to feel truly safe.

* * *

Katherine’s dreamless slumber was only disturbed once by the faint sound of knocking on the still-sealed temple doors. In a momentary lapse of judgement--likely related to the annoyance of being pulled from her partner’s warmth--Katherine didn’t even hesitate to unseal the doors after the voices identified themselves as members of the guard. There was no surprise in her expression as they dragged another Lunarian body into the temple, nor when the guards reported that it was another victim of the blightborn attack. The sleep deprived scowl that remained on her face throughout their interaction was enough to keep the guards largely silent, only speaking when required.

While the whole scene had only played out in a matter of minutes, it was enough to chill her once again. Silk was certainly comfortable, but did little against the bitter cold of a winter storm.

The priestess finally returned to bed after spending the little energy she’d regained on casting enchantments of preservation on the bodies. She didn’t expect them to deteriorate in this climate, but she’d also kick herself if the stench of a rotting corpse ruined her sleep any more than the guards already had. With a mildly frustrated huff, Katherine wiggled herself back into the bedroll and tucked herself tightly against the furnace that was Daphne.

Seluna protect the next person to wake me up, because so help me they will die by my hand.

* * *

Mornings in a world devoid of the sun were never as nice. There was no ray of warmth to fight away the cold air and no blinding light to signal the beginning of a new day. Even the coals of the fire before them had long died, leaving the air around them as an icy wall.

Had it not been for the two bodies lying just a room over, Katherine would’ve likely just stayed in bed all day. Her muscles protested every movement she made, no matter how little, no doubt a residual effect of the forbidden interrogation. This time, however, there were no flashes of ripping flesh and no screams that filled her mind as she thought of the night before. Just the blissful silence of the temple, broken only by the sound of the wind against its newly-built wooden walls.

For the moment, she stayed closely tucked against Daphne and ignored the outside world for as long as she could. A morning like this was a luxury she’d only just started learning to enjoy, one that she’d enjoyed quite a few times with the escort she’d arrived with. Katherine couldn’t help but smile at the memory of the many very sleepless nights she’d had on the road to Dawnhaven. Maybe it had been an act of rebellion against the years of having prospective husbands brought before her by her father. Maybe it was just pure enjoyment of relative freedom.

No matter. Current company was much more than that. Katherine couldn’t yet put the feeling fully into words, but there was far more than just physical attraction that had sparked between them.

Katherine’s smile only grew as she noticed the familiar violet eyes flicker open before her.

“Good morning.”

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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* * *

_{Interacting with: @Dark Light@The Muse}

The cold night air bit at her exposed face, but it was nothing compared to the chill of being dressed down like a foolish recruit. Aliseth’s words struck like a slap, brief but sharp, leaving Charlotte to mentally hold herself back from digging into a deeper hole. Her pulse pounded in her ears and adrenaline coursed through her veins, but she kept her face carefully blank, refusing to let the sting of humiliation show.

She wanted to argue, to defend herself from his accusation—but what good would it do? There was nothing she could say that would make the situation better. Especially not since Elio had come within inches of her superior’s face with a blow of his own. He’d caught her off-guard with his control over the very ground beneath their feet, and while moments ago she would’ve called him on it, it was probably the only reason that Aliseth wasn’t reprimanding her at a much closer distance.

Charlotte was also smart enough to know that the worst was likely yet to come. Punishments never seemed to be forgotten, especially in cases of insubordination.

Officers have such thin skin, she briefly thought before new orders were given. In a final moment of rebellion--really, how much left did she have to lose--she sent Aliseth the most proper salute she could muster followed by a loud and proud “Yes sir!”.

Then, just like that, he departed without another word, leaving her standing beneath the pale glow of the moon next to Eris. Her cool blue eyes were fiery as she watched her superior walk away, squeezing her dominant hand tightly at her side. A moment passed, and with a deep breath, she steeled her face once more and turned towards the sage.

To Charlotte’s surprise, the response was not an order, but a quiet murmur of gratitude. The words were soft, unexpected, and for the first time that night, she felt the tension in her shoulders fall away . A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she stepped forward, her boots crunching against the frost-covered ground. Closing the remaining distance between them, she reached out and took Eris’ extended hand—gentle, yet firm.

Eris was not what Charlotte had come to expect of nobility, let alone the lead sage. There was no feeling of judgement in her eyes, nor the air of thinly veiled impatience that the recruit had come to expect. Instead, a quiet and unassuming presence stood before her, a presence that completely contradicted the demonstration of sheer power just moments before.

“Respectfully, my lady, I don’t think I would survive disobeying a direct order,” she grinned, “Assuming I survive the punishment for that little stunt…” She let out a nervous laugh as she trailed off. Her eyes glanced around her surroundings habitually before returning to the sage. “Worry not, my lady. I have no other duties to currently attend to, nor are you disturbing me. It would be my pleasure to accompany you, even if only a short distance.”

The recruit took a gentle bow, the metal of her half-plate armor gently shifting with her. “Charlotte Hawthorne, recruit-with-a-deathwish of the Dawnhaven guard, at your service. Present for any and all requests you may have, per Kain’s orders,” she joked, before her face fell back into what was clearly her on-duty expression.

“We should get moving again. From what Kain said, they still haven’t found the blightborn in question.” The recruit brought a hand down to check that the straps of her shield were still tight, before planting her dominant hand on the pommel of her blade. “I’ll follow your lead, my lady.”

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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* * *

_{Interacting with: @PrinceAlexus}

Daphne’s hand found Katherine’s, her grip firm but gentle as she guided her toward the bench. Katherine let herself be led, her legs unsteady beneath the weight of too many emotions. With the slightest pressure from Daphne’s touch, she sank down and exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Daphne stayed close, her presence providing that familiar sense of safety despite the darkness that coursed through Katherine’s veins.

Following Daphne’s advice, Katherine resumed her breathing exercises for a moment and tried her best to let the waves of calm wash over her. With every passing moment, she could feel the tight spring of worry and stress in her chest begin to slowly unwind itself as the squire’s warm, soothing words fill her mind.

Grateful to have the topic changed, the priestess smirked at Daphne’s question with a quiet laugh. “I’ll take you up on the offer of your lap when we’re both free of our armour,” she grinned before leaning against the squire’s sturdy shoulder.

Her mind wandered back to Daphne’s original inquiry to her life in the capitol. It was a question she’d have to answer carefully, as no one in Dawnhaven knew the true nature of her presence here. “I don’t know you well enough to provide all of the details, but the clergy is the only reason I still draw breath. I’ve been with them for…” she paused, reaching to the depths of memories she’d long-since archived, “Four or five winters now. I remember the day that Seluna took me as one of her chosen like it was yesterday, though. Hard to forget being saved from death’s door.”

“I was raised in the castle, however. My family’s name is not as well-known as some, but my father is a prominent figure in the King’s Eye; Master Alexander Sorrowind.” She said the name with more than a hint of disdain. She held no respect or love for the man, not anymore.

To those who spoke his name in the King’s court, Master Sorrowind was a man of unwavering honor, a pillar of integrity whose word carried weight among nobles and advisors alike. He was composed, measured—respected. A man whose loyalty to the crown was unquestioned. But beyond the grand halls and watchful eyes of the realm, within the cold walls of his own estate, he was something else entirely.

Behind closed doors, his honor turned to iron-fisted control, his measured words to sharp-edged cruelty. He ruled his home as he did his affairs—with precision, with dominance, with no tolerance for weakness. And to him, Katherine was never simply a daughter—she was a tool, a blade to be sharpened, a weapon to be wielded in service of the crown. From the time she could walk, he molded her into something useful: trained to listen, to deceive, to slip between shadows and extract secrets from their enemies. He forged her into an instrument of espionage, carving away softness, breaking down innocence, replacing them with cold calculation and the expectation of obedience.

“He’d wanted me educated like a lady of the court, to be involved in politics and military strategy like he was,” she lied, though without falter as the practice had become nearly second nature to the Inquisitor, “And I wanted none of it. Truth be told, I don’t know what I wanted.” This time, the truth.

“All that to say, unless you were regularly in the castle corridors, I’m not sure if we would’ve ever crossed paths. Though now, I wish to Seluna we had.” She shot a cheeky grin to Daphne, her innocent brown eyes briefly showing some mischief.