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hhoneyglasss · 9 months

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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐈 — 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰

☼ 𝙽𝙾𝚃𝙴𝚂 ☼

LMAOAOAOA it's been like. nearly a month since the last chapter. mY BADDDD

also i got to use one of my favorite words in this one—reconnaissance. it's a good day y'all

꩜ 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝 ꩜

2.2k

꩜ 𝚊𝚘𝟹 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚔 ꩜

linky

꩜ 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 ꩜

existential terror & dread, incoming/looming threat that poses extreme danger to characters.

꩜ 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝 ꩜

linky

𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘴 𝘳 𝘷 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 !!! 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 !!!

When I woke up the following morning, too much light poured in from the entrance of the den. I sat up in a huff, worried that I’d be late for training when my mother stepped in front of me.

“Training is canceled today, Tarak,” she said, “I let you sleep in. You seemed like you needed it.”

“What?” I asked, my breathing heavy from my wave of panic, “Training? Canceled? Why?”

“I’m not sure. Your father and the other Ruling House members didn’t specify.”

I looked behind her at her and my father’s shared nest. His side looked untouched.

“Did he come home last night?”

She looked away. “No.”

I didn’t respond and turned towards the exit of the den. “I’m going to find Juno. Maybe she knows more.”

“Alright,” she said, “Be careful.”

I ran out of the den but stopped when I didn’t feel the warmth of sunlight through my fur. I looked up at the sky–it was completely overcast, not a single shred of blue visible through the thick sheet of clouds blocking the Sun. Everything was smothered in a pale, gray overtone, and the warm breeze that blew by was heavy, feverish. The air was thick and humid, making it difficult to breathe as I walked through the plaza.

It was never overcast.

For as long as I’d been alive, never once had I looked up in the sky and not been able to see the Sun. Even a mere cloud was rare, but overcast? Unheard of.

I walked slowly, made nervous by the silence that passed through the plaza. Gone were the playful yips of pups and barks of strict guards—instead, all that was left was the wind. Suffocating wind.

I caught the scent of another wolf from my right and turned to see them leaving the Ruling House den. It was my father’s second-in-command, or Kahn’sôja, Sabik. She appeared to be heading towards the exit from the plaza, her gait quick, yet steady.

But when I trotted after her and called out to her, she didn’t respond. She kept walking, head straightened forward, focused on whatever path she was following.

Strange, I thought and followed after her when she disappeared behind the outline of another den.

While tracking her scent, I felt the unease trickle into my core. What could be wrong? I thought, trying to think of the possibilities, Daemons and demons haven’t been a problem, nor have sunbound vampires… What could have the Ruling House so distressed that we can’t even talk to them? Who could it be?

My thoughts were interrupted when I picked up the scent of other wolves mixing with Sabik’s. Ahead, I saw she was now speaking to two new wolves—one of them was Mahsati, another Ruling House member, and the other was…

Juno.

Her voice was muffled and echoey from afar, but I could hear the anger in it. She stomped her paw against the ground when she finished, looking between them both, her eyes searching for answers.

I trotted closer to hear Mahsati’s response. “This matter doesn’t concern you, Juno. If I had answers you should be aware of, I would provide them.”

“No, it does concern me and you do have answers,” she said, her voice laced with a growl, “When I first came over here, you wouldn’t even talk to me. You ignored me, ignored my questions, ignored my request for answers! We deserve answers, Mahsati-kahn!”

Sabik spoke next and I saw her, Mahsati, and Juno’s ears twitch. They knew I was here.

She said to Juno, “Go back to your family’s den. The matters being discussed here do not pertain to you or any other wolf not a member of the Ruling House.”

Juno looked around them to see me and jerked her head in my direction. “Fine! If they don’t pertain to me, some ‘random’ wolf, then maybe they’ll pertain to the Kahn’méja’s child.”

I walked to stand next to her—Sabik glared down at me. “I thought ignoring you was enough of a hint, Tarak-mé, but it appears not.”

I lifted my head to look at her. “My apologies, Sabik-sôja, but what do you expect me to do when the Ruling House mysteriously cancels training? Then, you and Mahsati-kahn refuse to answer Juno and me? None of it makes any sense and no one is offering an explanation.”

I looked up. “Have you seen the sky today? It’s gray, Sabik-sôja. The Sun’s blocked from any wolf’s view—it’s frightening. Fear is in the air. You can smell it.

“All we want is an explanation. We’re afraid—everybody’s afraid.”

Both Mahsati and Sabik took a deep breath, glanced at one another, then looked back at us. Sabik spoke first.

“The Kahn’méja is supposed to make a formal announcement tonight at dusk. He, along with all Ruling House members, will explain what’s happening.”

Her gaze was softer when she asked, “Does that help you both at all?”

I nodded. Juno thanked her.

Mahsati said, his voice less stern and scathing now, “Let the other wolves know and spread the word–we want to make sure every wolf is there to listen.”

“We will,” I promised, “Thank you again, Sabik-sôja. Mahsati-kahn.”

Juno and I bowed before leaving to return to the village plaza. I could feel the waves of dread emanating from her core, albeit less intense than they were before.

She didn’t look at me when she broke the silence. “I hope everything’s gonna be okay, Tarak. This has all got me really freaked out.”

“I get it,” I replied, “It’ll be fine, though. Especially after my father talks tonight, I’m sure it’s not a big deal.”

I barely believed my own words—Juno could tell. “I don’t know,” she murmured as she looked up at the sky, “We can’t even see the Sun.”

She looked back down, her head hanging low. “We can always see the Sun.”

I saw that her right paw began to tremble while we were walking—something she always did when she was nervous. I laid my tail over it. “Maybe it’s just having an off day,” I joked and lightly bumped her side.

Her quiet laughter echoed in my head, but the amused sparkle didn’t glint in her eyes like it usually did. I pulled her closer with my tail and brushed my fur against hers.

She leaned into me. “The warmth coming from you might just rival the Sun. Are you coming down with something or what?”

I chuckled. “Maybe that’s why it didn’t want to come out today. I’ve got it beat.”

“Next thing I know, we’ll toss you in the sky and swear the actual Sun’s shining,” she quipped, her tail wrapping around mine, “Try not to blind me, okay?”

“I will,” I said, my head nudging hers, “Promise.”

The hours of the overcast day seemed to drag on into oblivion before dusk finally reached us. Juno and I’s paws were tired from visiting each den in the village and letting them know about tonight’s meeting, and the insistence for more answers had our heads aching.

We both bet that this was how Mahsati and Sabik felt when we wouldn’t leave them alone—we swore to apologize to them later.

All of the wolves had gathered in the center of the plaza, anxious whispers caught in the wind. Juno and I were standing with Marici while my mother and hers, Aruna, were talking, Anatoly huddling under my mother’s legs.

Juno’s right paw had begun to quiver again, a nervous fervor that tap-tap-tapped against the ground. I laid my paw on top of it–it slowed until it finally stopped.

She turned to look up at Marici. “Were you able to find out anything from the other trainers?”

“No,” she answered, “They’re keeping this all under wraps, Ju, but Rasalhague-méja will be out soon. I’m sure everything’s alright.”

“Yes,” I agreed, “Maybe it’s just a Ruling House matter they couldn’t talk about until now, like some new treaty that’s been passed with the vampires, daemons, or demons. It’s happened before.”

Juno met neither of our eyes. “I hope you guys are right.”

Before either of us could respond, the powerful footsteps of the Ruling House pounded against the ground. Juno flicked my tail as she walked away with Marici towards her family, who were under the House of Pisces. I followed my mother and brother to the opposite side of the clearing where my father was talking. A few of our distant relatives joined us.

Sabik called for silence before my father began. “Wolves,” he started, “I and the rest of the Ruling House thank you for your continued patience throughout this uneasy day. We apologize for the distress we have caused you, and all will be explained in due time.”

He paused when irritated growls vibrated from the crowd. “Order, please. … Thank you. … The Ruling House and I have called you here to inform you of a disturbance detected near the far-Southern border before dawn this morning. Training was canceled to ensure no trainers or their wolves traveled farther than the South wall before our guards identified the cause of the disturbance.

“We have identified the disturbance as Shades.”

The reveal caused howls to erupt from all Houses, frightened cries from young wolves sounding as they hid behind their parents. Numerous Ruling House members had to call for silence before my father could be heard over the noise again.

Shades? I thought, perplexed, The trainers always made it sound like they were a creation of legend, a myth–the vengeful dead crawling their way back to life just to take it from others? It sounds like something out of a nightmare.

I turned to my left and made eye contact with Juno.

Her right paw was barely touching the ground with how fast it was shaking.

My father continued. “Five Shades were detected at the Southern border, and the Ruling House has concluded that they traveled from a Northeast direction according to their scent trails. The five spotted were slain and their remains were properly disposed of—however, we remain unsure if this is simply a single occurrence or now a consistent threat.

“Strongholds have been built over the past day on both the Southern border and South wall to ensure maximum security and we require that all wolves do not, by any means, leave their dens through the night unless it is an emergency. This is a safety precaution while we continue to investigate this matter. Training will also be canceled indefinitely.”

He took a deep breath. “Are there any questions?”

I winced when every wolf seemed to shout at him, the sound making my head split. My ears flattened against my skull and I cowered, my eyes narrowed as I glanced up at my father. He remained calm as he requested for one wolf from the House of Aries, to ask their question.

“How do you expect us to be able to sleep tonight when you and the Ruling House have barely figured out the problem? My family is scared, Rasalhague-méja, they’re terrified!” The wolf cried.

“I promise you that we’re doing everything we can and the problem will be solved as soon as possible. You and your family will be safe, the Ruling House and I will make sure of it,” my father replied.

The wolf didn’t seem satisfied with his response as he stalked away.

Another wolf howled over the others, “Simple strongholds will do nothing to keep Shades from attacking us! You might as well give them directions straight to the plaza!”

My father called for Mahsati to respond to the wolf’s statement. “My guards and I have placed illusionary scent trails to lead any possible Shades away from the village. A second battalion of guards will be dispatched later this evening to refresh the trails and strongholds throughout the night.”

The same wolf howled with frustration before disappearing into the crowd.

Dozens more questions were thrown onto the Ruling House—by the end of it, the entire meeting was reduced to chasing tails in circles over and over again.

The Ruling House finally ended the meeting with another promise that we would all remain safe and an order to retreat to our dens for the night. The reconnaissance battalion assigned to the Southern border led by Mahsati left as well.

Before my mother dragged me and Anatoly back to our den, I ran over to Juno.

“I’m going to see you tomorrow, okay?” I said, my eyes meeting hers, “We’ll go to the lake we visited yesterday, and maybe we can swim if the Sun isn’t too scared of me again.”

I felt the amusement illuminate her core—I let out a sigh of relief. “Okay,” she said, “Try to give it a break, will you? I would actually like to see it tomorrow.”

“I will, I swear,” I promised and brushed my head against hers, “Sleep well. Good night, Juno.”

I didn’t head back to my den until I watched her disappear into hers. “‘Night, Tarak! I’ll see you and the Sun tomorrow.”

I felt a chuckle within me, but it disappeared when I looked up at the sky–not a single star was visible beside the cold, unforgiving blanket of gray hanging above me.

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emeszcz-is-writing · 10 months

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Dying for love and losing your soul

Ophelia is my mystery

So who would be the key ?

It could set me free from my kingdom

Or cut the wings of Freedom

Usually they disappear

Even when they said they would be here

I gave them a part of me

I am too polite

I thought they needed me

As a result, I lost my appetite

#ophelia #love poetry #elegy #poetry #original poem #hamlet #short poem #sad poem #poem

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butchhamlet · 1 year

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i said i was going to arrange a list of my favorite articles/criticism about shakespeare, so here’s my first little roundup! obligatory disclaimer that i don’t necessarily agree with or endorse every single point of view in each word of these articles, but they scratch my brain. will add to this list as i continue reading, and feel free to add your own favorites in the reblogs! :]

essays

Is Shakespeare For Everyone? by Austin Tichenor (a basic examination of that question)

Interrogating the Shakespeare System by Madeline Sayet (counterpoint/parallel to the above; on Shakespeare’s place in, and status as, imperialism)

Shakespeare in the Bush by Laura Bohannan (also a good parallel to the above; on whether Shakespeare is really culturally “universal”)

The Unified Theory of Ophelia: On Women, Writing, and Mental Illness ("I was trying to make sense of the different ways men and women related to Ophelia. Women seemed to invoke her like a patron saint; men seemed mostly interested in fetishizing her flowery, waterlogged corpse.”)

Hamlet Is a Suicide Text—It’s Time to Teach It Like One (on teaching shakespeare plays about suicide to high schoolers)

Commuting With Shylock by Dara Horn (on listening to MoV with a ten-year-old son, as modern jewish people, to look at that eternal question of Is This Play Antisemitic?)

All That Glisters is Not Gold (NPR episode, on whether it’s possible to perform othello, taming of the shrew, & merchant to do good instead of harm)

academic articles

the Norton Shakespeare’s intro to the Merchant of Venice (apologies about the highlights here; they are not mine; i scanned this from my rented copy)

the Norton Shakespeare’s intro to Henry the Fourth part 1 (and apologies for the angled page scans on this one; see above)

Richard II: A Modern Perspective by Harry Berger Jr (this is the article that made me understand richard ii)

Hamlet’s Older Brother (“Hamlet and Prince Hal are in the same situation, the distinction resting roughly on the difference between the problem of killing a king and the problem of becoming one. ... Hamlet is literature’s Mona Lisa, and Hal is the preliminary study for it.”)

Egyptian Queens and Male Reviewers: Sexist Attitudes in Antony & Cleopatra Criticism (about more than just reviewers; my favorite deconstruction of shakespeare’s cleopatra in general)

Strange Flesh: Antony and Cleopatra and the Story of the Dissolving Warrior (“If Troilus and Cressida is [Shakespeare’s] vision of a world in which masculinity must be enacted in order to exist, Antony and Cleopatra is his vision of a world in which masculinity not only must be enacted, but simply cannot be enacted, his vision of a world in which this particular performance has broken down.”)

misc

Elegy of Fortinbras by Zbigniew Herbert (poem that makes me fucking insane)

Dirtbag Henry IV (what it sounds like.)

Cleopatra and Antony by Linda Bamber (what if a&c... was good.)

#essays/academic articles is sort of a false dichotomy but i wanted to separate these into More Casual versus More Academic. so.#misc category exists because. i like those two things so much. not at all for the same reasons #max.txt #misc #hamlet #merchant of venice #henry iv #richard ii #antony and cleopatra #there we are.

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yourdarlingness · 4 months

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　◞◟　Yuri　names · pronouns · titles　!

　　·　requested by @eyelessraven

　more npts from others　—　1　2　3　4

　◞◟　NAMES　✦

　:　Efulesse . Effuliene . Eloquainte . Eloquesse . Eloquette . Heavensent . Lexaria . Lyrica . Melancholi . Melancholine . Melania . Melaniesse . Metaporielle . Metraphia . Metraphorine . Novelle . Odeaira . Odirra . Oderielle . Proselia . Proselie . Quillara . Quillaire . Solumnia . Solemnia . Sonatae . Sonnet . Sonnetta . Sonnetto . Versana . Versiana . Verseona 　:　Anastasia . Ava . Avery . Cordelia . Elaine . Elissa . Elyssa . Elysia . Evangeline . Freya . Isadora . Lexi . Loraine . Melanie . Noelle . Noemi . Odessa . Odette . Ophelia . Rosalina . Rose . Serafina . Sonya

　◞◟　PRONOUNS　✦

　:　chae / chaer . chae / chapter . cry / crys . hu / hurt . kni / knife . mi / mir . mi / misery . ode / odes . shy / hyr . shy / hym . poe / poem . rhy / rhym (/ rhythm) . rhy / rhythm . ve / ver (/ verse) . ve / verse . 🔪 . 📜 . 📚 . 📖 . 📔 . 🖋️ . ✒️

　◞◟　TITLES　✦

　:　the poetess . the socially inept poet(ess) . the lady of poetry . the sophisticated [x] . the enigmatic elegist . (the / prn) melancholic verses . prn knife collection . prn shyness . prn eloquent writings . prn literary eminence . the (one / [x]) whose eloquence shown (through poetry) . prn metaphorical views / poems . prn wise words

[x] can be replaced with any nouns or terms you prefer

Words used ...

Eloquent

Lexicon

Metaphor

Novel

Quill

Solemn

Yuri's preferred words: Effulgent, Heavensent, Melancholy, Rose, Cry, Hurt, Misery

Poems: Sonnet, Verse, Prose, Ode, Elegy

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vannpz · 1 year

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This is my piece for the @imperazine It was such a joy to have the opportunity to work in this project alongside so many amazing artists, I can’t thank you all enough! ♥

My inspiration for this was Tobias quote for Metal Hammer “This is an elegy for the darkness that most people have inside. When you have a dam, spillways are the run-offs so the dam won’t overflow.” and the Ophelia Painting by John Everett millais.

#myart #imperazine #Spillways #the band ghost #papa emeritus iv #copia #cardinal copia #blood

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thedreadfuldawn · 1 year

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[quotes]: (from top to bottom) Fortesa Latifi, from “The truth about grief” ; Rainer Maria Rilke, from “Fragment of an elegy” ; notes from an exhibition by Patrick Gale ; Florence + the Machine, from the song “King”

[paintings]: (from top to bottom) “the wedding dress” by Fred Elwell ; “ophelia” by Friederich Wilhelm Theodor Heyser ; “the last day of Pompeii” by Karl Bryullov ; “Pietà” by William-Adolphe Bouguereau ; “La Meditazione” by Francesco Hayez

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sofipitch · 2 years

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idk if you read fic for tvc do you have any fic recs ((for someone who's just read the trilogy))???

So I'm assuming you are interesting in loustat fic bc that is what I primarily specialize in, I combed my ao3 bookmarks for basically anything that applied. I lazy about typing out some of the longer titles so if you see a ... it means the title is longer

Creating this list made me realize how much I like one shots, especially when I first come to a fandom I often start with the one shots before commiting to the multi chapter fics 😂

Fics set during IWTV:

Family Portrait c. 1840

Love Bites (and so do I) (I'm fascinated with how well this author captured the style of IWTV's writing, like holy shit?)

A Gift for Claudia

Claudia's Diary September 1846

my prayer has always been love

rose and hawthorn ...

TheSouvenier

Three Ghosts

Two Part Sarabande

A Study in Miscommunication

The Devil is in the Details

Fics set during TVL/QOTD/post QOTD (but not continuing into TOTBT):

lélio and ophelia

Another story about a phone call...

The Shadows of Paris

never seen the sun shine brighter

there was no sacred place

Begin Again

The Act of Leaving

Homunculus or How To Create a Man (this ine mentions the prince lestat timeline but I believe ch1-3 are Lestat reminiscing on his life during TVL and IWTV so I don't think knowledge of PL is necessary)

AUs where you don't need to know the plot of the books:

A Collected History

Summertime Elegy

If you like any of these fics the smartest way to find more great fic is to go and read everything by the author who made the thing you liked, and then go into their bookmarks. Also be sure to give kudos and comments if you liked any of these fics!

#vc #asks #fic recs #fic #fanfic

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shiningdesignersreflections · 3 days

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Mercury: Daybreak Overture

Designer's Reflection: Daybreak Overture

Obtained: Secret in Roses SSR event

Rarity: SSR

Attribute: Purple/Sexy

Awakened Suit: Tracing Dreams

Story - transcripts from Designer's Reflection

Chapter 1 - Guest in Rain

Chapter 2 - Enigma and Synergy

Chapter 3 - Memory and Hope

Chapter 4 - Answer and Elegy

Story - summarized

Years ago, on a rainy summer day, an injured boy showed up at a villa full of roses. The master, Lord Ian, invited the boy inside and cared for him while he healed. The boy was quiet and secretive, but Lord Ian seemed to know what the boy was going through.

None of the servants knew anything about the child, except that he was much different from other kids his age: he seemed haunted, mature, resolute. But no one spoke up or asked questions.

The boy called himself Hoare, and he took interest in Lord Ian's history with an elf girl. Ian didn't have to explain much, it seemed to the servants, for Hoare understood everything implicitly.

One day, Hoare found an injured bird and brought it inside. As he healed, he helped the bird to heal, too. Soon, they would both be free. Even Lord Ian knew this, for he told the boy he wanted change in the world, too.

Now, after forty years, Hoare has come back to the villa - only his real name is Mercury. He and Lord Ian shared a disdain for the elves' "sacred" tradition of keeping humans and elves separate. Ian was in love with an elf girl and gave up his noble titles to be with her. But her parents forbade the marriage and forced her to be with someone else. She gave Ian a birdcage with roses to remember her by.

Lord Ian has since died, so now Mercury takes care of the villa. And he plans to fulfill the lord's dying hope: to change the world.

Connections

-At the end of Mercury's Reflection for Forever Love, he recounts how, when he was a child, he met Aphrodia and she gave him a choice: keep the gun or take the rose. He took the rose and jumped off the train, and that's how he ended up at the estate with a sprained ankle.

-Mercury's fake name Hoare rhymes with his mother's name, Laure. We see her tragic fate in Reminiscence of Flower, as well as why Mercury hates the elves so much.

-Music seems to run in the family, because Mercury has a talent for the cello, and his half-sister, Ophelia, loves the harp and tried to reinstate the music festival in First Light of Dawn.

-Lord Ian and Mercury have suffered from the interracial tensions, and so had Bane, one of Mercury's half-elf companions that died in Snowy Song.

Fun Facts

-Roses are generally a symbol of love, but depending on their color, they can convey other things: red is for true love, white is for innocence, yellow is for friendship, and black is for mourning.

-The word "hoar" refers to hoarfrost, ice, or rime.

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dwellordream · 9 months

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"The snowstorm hushed among the pines, But, intoxicated without wine, There, like Ophelia, silence itself Sang to us all throughout the night."

Anna Akhmatova, "Elegy Before the Coming of Spring"

#anna akhmatova #word to the wise

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hhoneyglasss · 9 months

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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐈𝐈 — 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫

☼ 𝙽𝙾𝚃𝙴𝚂 ☼

trying to upload in the schedule i set originally (mondays n fridays). here goes lol

꩜ 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝 ꩜

2.7k

꩜ 𝚊𝚘𝟹 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚔 ꩜

linky

꩜ 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 ꩜

shades, major character death, major character disappearances, peril, mortal danger, gore, graphic imagery & descriptions.

꩜ 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝 ꩜

linky

𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘴 𝘳 𝘷 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 !!! 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 !!!

I woke up in the middle of the night to peaceful silence, my mother and Anatoly sound asleep. Anatoly slept in her nest tonight, his small frame hidden within her long fur. My nest was pulled closer to theirs as well.

I yawned but nearly gagged at the scent that filled my nostrils.

It was stale–decayed.

I sat up and walked towards the entrance of our den, but didn’t dare leave it. The night was calm—nothing in the plaza could’ve caused the scent.

The wind coursed through my fur and made me shiver–I backed away. I laid back down in my nest, my head on my paws as I watched the steady breathing of my mother and Anatoly.

I closed my eyes, but that awful scent still filled my nose. It seemed to have injected itself into the air, a sickly venom that made me dizzy.

The minutes dragged into hours until I heard a noise from outside—a distant howl from the Southern gate. My ears perked up, but I figured it was just one of the guards calling for another wolf. I’d heard a similar sound before.

But when the howls continued and grew closer, I couldn’t ignore them. I didn’t leave my nest but raised my head from my paws and looked towards the plaza. The wind was gone.

I was about to wake up my mother when I heard a crash at the gate, and I saw that it had been shattered. Jagged stone daggers rained down onto the ground as three wolves ran through the wreckage.

One called out, her voice hoarse in my head, “Shades! Shades are coming! They got through the South–”

But before she finished, a figure shrouded in black tackled her to the ground. I could barely even see it, but I watched as the shadow moved, slithering its way around her as it tore through her fur and skin, its outline growing more solid as it absorbed the life from her.

I backed away, my heart pounding in my ears. My mother and brother awoke behind me, and I could hear her ask me what was happening, but her voice sounded like it was muffled by water. A white noise that echoed in my head so loudly I felt like my skull would split in half.

My mother didn’t say anything as she looked outside toward the plaza. More and more Shades had made their way in, shadowy puddles spilling across the ground towards dens and wolves. She turned towards Anatoly and me–he was shivering.

“We’re going to leave the village,” she instructed, her voice completely calm, “You both are going to follow on my right, do you hear me? Do not trail behind me, move to my other side, or in front of me. Stay on my right.”

She leaned down to look at both of us. “And do not look back. Do you understand?”

We both said ‘yes’, and she backed away towards the den entrance. She paused before motioning both of us to follow quickly behind her.

Once we left the den, we ran along the outer perimeter of the plaza, the sounds of Shades and wolf cries deafening. Don’t look back, I told myself, Don’t look back or you’re dead. Don’t look back. Don’t.

But when I heard the rattled shriek of a Shade behind me, I looked back.

I howled when its thick black claws raked through my right hind leg, blood soaking my fur as I flung it off of me into the wall of the den beside me. I dove and clamped its wiry body between my maw, shaking my head back and forth as tendrils of shadow forced their way down my throat. I choked but didn’t let go, one final crunch tearing the thing into dozens of black, viscous pieces.

Deep breaths filled my throat with flame, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I turned to continue following my mother and Anatoly. They were only a little ways up ahead and I sprinted after them, ignoring the agonizing burn in my leg to keep up with them.

My mother turned to me, her gaze filled with horror. “Tarak, I’m sorry, I heard the Shade after you did and would’ve come to you but I couldn’t leave Anatoly by himself–”

“It’s okay,” I reassured, “I’m okay–we’re okay.”

She must’ve seen the blood on my leg because she cried, “Tarak, you’re bleeding! I’m sorry, I should’ve protected you and I–”

“Mom!” I interrupted, “I am fine. Just a scratch, we’ll worry about it later, when we’re safe. We need to keep running.”

I looked at her and didn’t break eye contact. I had never seen her this scared before.

“Okay,” she said, and she took a deep breath, “Okay. Follow me.”

I could hear her heartbeat begin to slow down, even when it seemed like the massacre taking place around us grew louder. I shielded Anatoly from it, my tail around his body as I directed him straight forward, not letting him even catch a glance at what was happening.

Up ahead, I saw Mahsati and Gunibuu, another Ruling House member, directing wolves away from where the Shades were coming in. Their voices rang loud even over all the noise, and I felt some of my worries dissipate.

We’re gonna be fine. We’ll get out of here, we’ll see Dad and I’ll see Juno, and we’ll go to that lake, and everything’ll–

A crowd of Shades ripped through three dens on the opposite side of the plaza and charged toward us at full speed. I jumped and called to my mother and Anatoly, quickly pushing them forward as the wave grew closer and closer.

But we weren’t fast enough–the undertow dragged us under and suddenly, they were both gone.

All I could see was a tide of black washing over everything in my view, a whirlpool of death and expiry. I turned again in that river of death, hoping to see them, hoping to realize that maybe they were swimming too, but I kept turning, kept looking, kept searching.

Nothing.

Terror gripped my neck and closed it shut and suddenly my world began to spin. The ground became the sky and I was drowning in the starless night, failing to breathe as I struggled to find the surface. Slippery talons raked through my fur and I cried at the burn, my paws flailing out helplessly beneath me as I tried to find my footing.

I finally felt the familiar grit of ground on my paw and I clamped my claws down as hard as I could, ignoring the pain that shot through my leg as I shook myself vigorously, the irritated screams of Shades' ear-piercing as they were sent flying throughout the plaza. Electricity ignited from around my legs, and I directed it to the remaining two Shades in front of me, a strangled growl ripping from my throat as my body pumped the magic from my core.

Two lightning bolts sliced through the solid Shades, their form melting before evaporating into the night air.

My breathing was labored, my attention quickly shifting from the Shades to getting out of there and finding Anatoly and my mother. They must’ve run through the exit before the barrage of Shades overcame me–I told myself they were okay and safe on the other side. They had to be.

As I searched for the exit through the chaos, I caught a glimpse of familiar burgundy fur flash through the flurry of black shadow, and I recognized it as Juno’s. Once the realization hit me, I could feel the aura of her core, a glowing beacon of radiative life and vitality that had me stumbling towards it, the agony and aching in my legs now ignored and tossed aside.

I called to her, a watery, anguished cry that I prayed could be heard over all the noise, “Juno! JUNO!”

Her head poked out from a horde of Shades, her hind leg kicking out behind her as she stomped one of them into the ground. “Tarak!” She called back, her voice strong and mighty, even when I smelled the blood coating her fur.

I began to run even faster toward her, fighting the limp in my leg as I felt the need to get to her grow stronger.

I reached my tail out to her when I finally grew close enough, but I watched in horror as a Shade ran towards her from behind, its massive, solid body towering over her as sickening, wet snarls echoed from its form. I immediately lunged to bite onto her flank and pull her away, but just before my teeth clasped over her fur, the Shade swung its claws down onto Juno, and she launched through the remnants of the plaza gate.

I sprinted towards her, her name punching its way through my teeth over and over when she remained unmoving. When I finally got over to her, her torso was crushed beneath a dense chunk of stone, her small frame misshapen and deformed on the ground. Blood seemed to have spilled onto every part of her body, her coat tinted black from the smeared essence of Shades on her fur.

I pushed the stone off of her, choked, suffering grunts vibrating to the tips of my claws as I kicked it into the middle of the plaza, Shades scattering from the impact. I bit down lightly onto the scruff behind her neck and pulled her slowly, delicately, away from the rubble, careful not to shift the shattered bones or disturb the wounds sliced into her skin.

I pulled her behind one of the dens that were still standing, its large walls safe cover from the Shades running rampant through the village. I stared over her, my eyes trailing over her body again as I assessed her injuries. I had no idea where to start, no clue how to heal her and take away her suffering.

My paws were shaking and I could feel my core stumbling, pitiful wisps of green light flowing around me as I tried to heal her injuries. I grit my teeth together even as the agony grew worse, my exhausted core taking its revenge against my body, but I tried to ignore it.

I ignored it, ignored the agony until I felt my own wounds rip open even further, and the sickening crack of my ribs filled the air before a groan left me and I collapsed against the ground. I lifted my head slowly and looked towards Juno, the world spinning as I saw that her eyes had opened. Her green, familiar eyes, were awake with the gaze that made me feel like I was home.

She looked tired, her lids barely open as she stared at me. “Hi,” was all she said.

The simple, informal greeting made cries close up my throat, and I whimpered. “J–Juno, I–I’m so, so sorry, I just, I can’t–”

“I know,” she whispered, “I know, Tarak. It’s okay.”

I shook my head back and forth vigorously. “No, no, it’s not okay, I can’t–I can’t heal you, I can’t–I can’t do it, Juno, my core, it–it just–”

The words spilled from my core into hers. “This is all my fault, if I just hadn’t called to you, if I had just let you be or–or given you a warning about–about the Shade then–then you wouldn’t be here, you’d still be standing, and you’d be okay, you wouldn’t be hurting, and I could heal you and we’d leave and–”

“Tarak.”

I stopped and blinked at her. She continued, “I don’t blame you, okay? It’s not your fault and you didn’t do anything, so why apologize? That’s what you always say, isn’t it? And as far as I know, the great Tarak, future Kahn’méja, is never wrong.”

“Gods,” I sighed, “Only you would be able to make a joke when you’re about to… when you’re…”

I couldn’t even finish the sentence, the knowledge that I already knew what was going to happen was too much for me to admit out loud. I watched as Juno feebly lifted her tail from off the ground and laid it on top of mine, and I wrapped mine around hers.

“How are you still able to do that? I feel like a bag of bones,” I murmured.

Juno giggled. “I told you I was super-ultra-mega-powerful. My core is gargantuan, far surpassing yours. You underestimate my power, young Tarak.”

“I thought I was the ‘great Tarak’?”

“Two things can be true at the same time, young one.”

“You sound like my father. Stop.”

“But dichotomy is a wondrous thing, o’ Tarak-mé–”

“Juno!”

Her laughter was quiet and hoarse, but Gods, did I savor the sound. I replayed it in my head over and over again even after it ended, and I turned to her again. We sat in silence for a long while and each time Juno blinked, her eyes stayed closed for a little longer. I pulled myself closer to her when I noticed her begin to shiver, a sickening rattle that had me holding sobs in my throat.

“Tarak,” she breathed, “Tarak?”

“Yes, Juno?”

“We’re going to see each other again,” she started, “We will, I know we will, and it better be millions of years from now because you’re gonna get your immortality, and you’re gonna do whatever makes you happy. I may not be with you physically for all of it, but I will be there, behind you, for every step you take–I did tell you I wasn’t gonna ever let you escape, didn’t I?

“And I’ll be okay–I know you’re worrying about that. I’ll be fine, I’ll figure it all out. Maybe I’ll be in the sky somewhere, a star so bright you’ll know it’s me. I’ll twinkle just for you so you know–how does that sound?”

“That sounds perfect, Juno,” I whispered.

A shaky, contented sigh fell from her and I lay closer to her, our coats brushing each other as our paws touched. She rested her head underneath mine, and I kept my cries in as I felt her ending coming ever closer.

“We’ll go to that lake you mentioned when we see each other again, okay?”

“We will, Juno. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Good,” she sighed, “I love you, Tarak.”

“I… I… I love you, too, Juno.”

One last glow flowed from her core when she said, “See you later.” Her core’s radiance faded as she took her final breath, her back raising and lowering one last time before it never moved again.

No amount of Shades’ claws could’ve rivaled the wave of pain that overcame me next, an agony so forceful it penetrated its way into every fiber of my being. I howled into Juno’s chilled fur, cries of anguish pulsing through the thick, suffocating night air. I screamed at the black sky, cursing every Sun and every star above me for taking her away so cruelly, so viciously. Juno lay limp in my arms and suddenly my world was over–everything was over.

I finally pulled away from her, the sight of her tail falling limply to the ground had me swallowing another howl. I moved her behind the den’s wall where she would be protected, where no Shade could go scavenging for the life that had already been taken away from her.

Once I made sure she would be safe, I moved away, but I didn’t get far when I began to sway. I looked down to truly see how much blood I had lost, and I saw that my fur was matted in it, and the ground beneath me had been stained red. The sky above me swung back and forth like a pendulum, a rhythmic movement that had me spinning before I collapsed again.

Consciousness began to leave me, the rim of my vision fading into black. I tried to stay awake, but my lids were heavy, a dangerous weight that slowly closed itself over my eyes even when I fought it. Suddenly my vision mimicked the starless sky and I found myself falling, drowning, suffocating in an endless void of night.

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mortilith-parade · 7 months

Text

The Symphony of Souls

Chapter 1: Shadows of Accusation

In the mystical city of Shadowharbor, Ophelia Nightgale, a Netherkind bard and cleric acolyte of Mortilith, guides souls to the afterlife. When zealous Inquisitor Aldric Ironbane accuses her temple of heretical practices, Ophelia's mission to maintain the balance between life and death is at stake. Aided by her mentor, High Priestess Seraphina Mournshroud, and a mysterious, handsome Sourcer, Ophelia seeks to prove her temple's innocence. The story culminates in a confrontation that tests Ophelia's faith, newfound powers, and budding romance.

Shadowharbour was a town of both hushed whispers and great admiration. Ophelia has been raised with tales of the town's ethereal beauty and mysticism. Nestled within the boundary of life and death, ghostly figures, haunting and melancholic, walked side by side among the living. The town was coated in an eternal fog; swirling greys and purples made it hard to see your shoes, let alone three feet in front of you. Even while following the path she was directed to, Ophelia couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the labyrinth of towering buildings and narrow cobblestone streets. Chattering from the living and echoes of the dead's past life rang through her head as she slipped through the crowd. It was not the dead that she feared as she pulled the hood of her cloak further down her head. No, she was raised to respect the souls of the departed, love and guide them to the next realm. It was the living she feared. Back at the church, no one batted an eye at her Netherkind heritage. Instead, she was regarded for her gifts bestrode upon her by Mortilith, the god of death and grief. This was new territory, though; she rarely left the safety of the church walls, let alone travel this far out of her village. Despite being distracted by her whirling thoughts and anxieties, Ophelia finally found the landmark she sought: a gold street lantern twisted with vines illuminated a tavern sign, The Ebon Elegy Tavern. A tall gothic building that seemed to be built on an angle. High Priestess Seraphina knew the owner and assured Ophelia that there would be a room waiting for her to rest her head and plan her next moves.

The Netherkind girl pulled down her hood, revealing ram-like horns curling from her forehead. High Priestess Seraphina had told her to stand proud in Shadowharbour, to not hide her heritage like she would have to on the roads. However, despite her reassurance, she still felt the pricking sensations of fear as she placed her hand on the door. She knew she was not exactly unattractive if you ignored her hellfire lineage. Ophelia's hair, a vibrant, deep red hue with rich brown undertones, cascades down her back in voluminous curls that frame her. Her skin has a light pinkish hue that reveals her Netherkind background. While covered by her black robes, Ophelia was most proud of the ink that decorated her arms and shoulders. Ethereal depictions of skeletal hands, representing her beloved Mortilith's domain over death, intertwined with celestial constellations and stars. Rendered in shades of deep indigo and pale silver, symbolizing the celestial realm and the mysteries of the afterlife. When anxious, she would trace the swirls and patterns with her fingernail, finding comfort in the repetitive motion. Gods, she wished she could do it now, but even Ophelia knew it would be uncouth for her to strip down that much. Instead, she had to make do by gripping the silver amulet dangling from her neck. She brings the Ouroboros to her lips, kissing it gently and whispering a soft prayer that brings on courage and strength.

"O Mortilith, guardian of the final passage,

We beseech you in our hour of need,

As we walk the path towards our inevitable end.

Grant us the serenity to face the unknown,

The courage to embrace our mortality,

And the hope that in death, we shall find purpose.

Guide our souls through the darkness,

And may your eternal vigil bring us peace.

In your name, we surrender to the eternal cycle."

With one last kiss to the cool silver amulet, Ophelia pushed open the door, forcing herself to raise her head. The tavern was dimly lit by a multitude of floating candles, casting an amber glow that seemed to dance across the wooden surfaces. The main hall is adorned with rich, dark mahogany panelling and plush crimson velvet curtains, which frame tall, arched windows that offer glimpses of the city outside. However, it was the bar that caught Ophilia's eye the most. A polished black granite slab inlaid with intricate silver runes. Behind stood a striking figure with obsidian hair. If Ophelia had to guess, she would put the lady in her late forties. She had an air of elegance and allure that only comes with experience and a knack for holding secrets. She wears a long, flowing gown that shimmers with an otherworldly lustre, and a pendant with an onyx gemstone rests at her throat.

Her feet seemed to move on their own, walking closer and closer to the woman. Only when she sat at the bar did the loud beating of her heart quieten enough that Ophelia could hear the melodious strains of a hauntingly beautiful tune played by a bard in the corner stage. She thought she recognized the song, her finger tapping along to the melody.

"Welcome to the Ebon Elegy Tavern, A haven for those seeking respite from the shadows. A place where stories are exchanged, laughter mingles with soft melodies, and most importantly, where the line between the mortal world and the mystical realm blurs." The dark-haired woman smiled; her voice seemed to bring an air of comfort to Ophelia, allowing the young traveller to relax. Then, she realized the onyx necklace this woman wore had a small silver charm – an Ouroboros. This must be her, High Priestess Seraphina's friend and owner of the tavern.

"Eveline Nightshade?" her voice came out far shakier than she would have liked. Still, she desperately tried to keep eye contact, even when Eveline's green eyes twitched slightly.

"No one has called me that name in years; how on earth do you know it, or I suppose a better question is who told you that name." her long fingers gently reached towards Ophelia, wrapping around her chin and forcing her head up. It wasn't inherently threatening from the look of it. Still, her sharp nails pressed against Ophelia's flesh as if Eveline was just waiting for an excuse to dig them into her throat.

"High Priestess Seraphina", her voice came out as a pathetic squeak now, "My lady told me to find you when I reached Shadowharbour, that you would grant me a room." almost as soon as those words left her lips, Eveline's had pulled away, blinking as she looked over the anxious traveller in front of her. There was silence between the pair; Ophelia felt as if she was examined, like every little detail of her was being scanned and analyzed before Eveline burst into a high-pitched giggle.

"Oh, sweet pea! Why on earth did you not say so sooner? Here, I thought you were some sort of Embezzler. Sweet Seraphina and I go way back; in her last letter, she did mention something about a Netherkind girl due to appear on my doorstep sometime in the month." Ophelia couldn't help but wonder if her kind was common enough in the area that her just entering the tavern was not an obvious enough sign that she was who the priestess wrote about. Still, she bit her tongue on that matter as Eveline grabbed a glass from behind the bar. "So, you must be the little protégé she speaks fondly of." The glass was filled with a dark liquid and pushed in front of Ophelia. It smelt of burnt oak and bitter nettle, but Ophelia held her breath and downed the liquor.

"Miss Eveline, I would be very grateful if you could extend kindness and allow me to stay here. I have been sent by a high priestess to complete a trial given to me by Mortilith himself. I was told that the path would become clear here within Shadowharbour, and while I do not have, "The woman in front of her raised her hand, stopping her speech that she had spent days planning and practising. Eveline's eyes had changed. The playful nature had wholly disappeared now.

"You can stay as long as you need, child. I do not need gold for your board. Seraphina would have my head if she learned I took a piece from your pocket. However, your little mentor did mention you have a particular talent for singing." Ophelia felt her cheeks heat up; it was not a secret that back home, one of her primary roles in the church was to sing and spin the tales of Mortilith's word. It was her natural talent towards the art of music that first led the High Priestess to take an interest in the young girl, but still hearing that she so openly praised Ophelia to those outside of the church made her embarrassed.

"I expect you to spend your evenings using your talent to entertain, as much as I love the old bastard." Eveline tilted her head towards the elf standing on the makeshift stage. "he doesn't really draw in a crowd outside the usual. That is a fair exchange for board. Ophelia got the impression she couldn't refuse this deal, even if she wanted to or had some alternative option, so she just nodded and offered a small smile. "However, you must not mention Mortilith's name again unless you desire trouble." She was almost hissing the words, eyes narrowing as if she was concerned about who could be listening in. "By how openly you mentioned your name, I suppose you are unaware of the presence of the dear old Inquisitor that has laid his claim over this town?" Ophelia could sense that this was not a question she should verbally answer; instead, she simply shook her head. "Inquisitor Aldric Ironbane - a follower of the Order of the Radiant Crusaders." Once again, Ophelia stayed silent, leading the older women to sigh. "You must not leave your little church often if you have not heard of their growing influence, my dear. The Order believes in upholding absolute morality and eradicating what they perceive as evil and that my child includes Mortilith. According to them, worship of him is akin to heresy."

The only thing that went through Ophilia's head was a series of panicked curses. Heresy? Sure, many found followers of Mortilith a relatively morbid sect. Still, there was never direct hatred towards the followers, especially when non-followers came to them to aid their loved ones into the afterlife. Even those weary of Mortilith would not go as far as calling the church evil. Confusion was evident on her face; she knew her trial would not be a walk in the park, but now, with the looming presence of this Inquisitor Ironbane, her task just got twice as tricky. "How long has the Order been in Shadowharbour? Surely the Order can't have taken influence already."

Laughed filled the air as two drunk patrons retold some story to a far more sober woman, their voices filled with cheer and alcohol couldn't cut the tension that lingered between the two women. "there's influence… but it was not obtained willingly. Many of the folk here just try to keep their head down to avoid the gaze of the Order. What is why –' she points at the amulet around Ophelia's neck, "it would be best if you were conservative regarding this. You never know who will open their fat gobs to the Order." The girl took in her words, gently tucking the silver charm under her clothes. The metal was cold against her skin, reminding her of what was at stake.

"Thank you for the guidance, Miss Eveline." the owner cringed at the name but said nothing. Rather much to Ophilia's concern, she filled the empty cup again, perhaps as some cruel form of punishment.

"no need to thank me, child; just know that if that damn inquisitor comes knocking on my door, I will not put my neck on the line for you. I have my own secrets I need to protect from the Order." She pushed the glass closer to Ophelia. There was a twinkle in her eye that confirmed the traveller's suspicion. Eveline knew she was not a fan of the mysterious liquor. "Now finish your drink and head upstairs. The room isn't much, but it's free. And stop calling me Eveline, will you, Lysandra, these days?" She did not wait for Ophelia to answer. She quickly turned and walked towards a group of patrons, a large smile on her face as she filled their cups. Clearly, the conversation was over.

Ophelia glared at the dark liquid in the cup, struggling to work up the nerve to take a single sip, let alone finish it. Instead, she tilted her head back, staring at the ceiling and trying to calm her racing mind. Eveline was right; now that she was alone, she could feel tiredness creep over her. Her limbs felt heavy, and she struggled to process everything that happened, let alone think of the implications the Order of the Radiant Crusaders would have on her journey. Reluctantly, the Netherkind scrunched up her nose and finished the liquor in two large gulps, feeling the burning sensation travelling down her throat until it eventually caused a radiating warmth in her stomach. It still tasted horrible, but it helped quieten her anxieties. Tomorrow would be a new day; for now, Ophelia just wanted to curl up and embrace the sweet embrace of sleep. She could almost fall asleep right there and then on the stool before she heard the tavern's front door slam open. She jumped at the sudden noise and whipped around, somewhat surprised to hear that the Ebon Elegy Tavern crowd seemed elated at the sight of this mysterious visitor.

There stood a fellow Netherkind dressed in flowing, dark-coloured robes. The candlelight caught the silver adornment, revealing constellations and arcane symbols. As he walked into the tavern, we waved and stopped for small talk with a few of the tables. His skin was darker than hers, but what stood out to Ophelia was his hair. It was a deep black that flowed down to his shoulders. Strands of his hair appeared to have a slight iridescence quality when they caught the light, shimmering with faint hints of midnight blue, almost as if the night sky itself had been woven into his hair. Clearly, her kind was not that rare of sight given the reaction he received, but still, she was shocked by how… comfortable he seemed in a room. Her eyes never left him as he eventually took a set at the bar, leaving three stools between them.

He was a magic user. She could smell the metallic sparks of the arcane on him, something he did not seem to try and hide. Her gaze did not break until the man beside her cleared his throat. An eyebrow raised as he stared at her. "Typically, when someone stares so intensely at me, they either introduce themselves or pull a knife on me; what will you do?" Ophelia said nothing at first, still examining his features. They were finely chiselled, with high cheekbones and a strong jawline. His lips bore a perpetual hint of a knowing smile that both frustrated and drew her in.

"Ophelia… Ophelia Nightingale." She could finally remove her eyes from him; she wished she hadn't finished that godawful drink earlier. At least she would have something to distract herself with if her glass was filled.

He hums a look of amusement in his eyes. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lucius Darkthorn." Ophelia heard his stool scrape across the wooden floor before shifting to the seat beside her. If she had any doubt about his magical prowess before, they were gone now. She could almost feel the sparks of otherworldly power on him; it felt like small static shocks. Powerful and untamed – wild. "Ophelia" Lucius said again, almost as if he was testing how her name sounded on his tongue, "Can't say I have heard that name around these parts, and not to brag, but I am very knowledgeable on who comes and goes around here."

"I just arrived, Miss Ev-"Ophelia quickly caught herself. "Miss Lysandra is allowing me to stay here." Again, Lucius' eyebrow raised, and a small chuckle escaped him.

"On what condition? Lysandra isn't exactly known for being nice for free." he barely got the words out of his mouth before 'Lysandra' appeared, her hand swiftly coming down and slapping the back of the sorcerer's head. While it seemed like a playful gesture, Ophelia still flinched at the loud sound.

"Careful Lucius, if I'm not nice, then how come I allow you to keep running up your tab without payment?" Lysandra placed a glass of wine on the counter, sliding it in his direction. "A meaner woman would have had debt collectors chasing you by now." Ophelia flicked her eyes between the two, fearing an argument would break out. Instead, Lucius just smiled and took a sip of his wine.

"You know I'm good for it, Lysandra; I always am in the end." The barkeep didn't answer. She just rolled her eyes and again disappeared to other customers' aid. "Ah, I should be more observant. the lady knows how to sneak up on you, but I'm sure you've already figured that out if you're staying with her." Ophelia hummed and started to find herself relaxing. She didn't realize how tense she was until now; she could enjoy herself and embrace the warm atmosphere of the tavern.

"I suppose so, but you were right; it isn't exactly free of charge. I'm replacing the elf over there." Lucius looked surprised, flicking between herself and the man finishing his song.

"Oren? You're replacing Oren? Oh, thank the gods. I love that old geezer, but he has been playing the same three songs night after night." he clapped his hands together and grinned. His slender hands were decorated with intricate silver rings, small gemstones decorated with some pops of greens, blues and purples that usually Ophelia would find a gaudy display of grandeur that seemed to compliment the man in front of her. "I have to admit I am a little surprised; you seem like the quiet type. Never imagined you as a bard, but I suppose even I can be wrong occasionally."

Ophelia scoffed, feeling a spark of confidence in her. "I am not just some bard; I pride myself in crafting melodies that could make even the hardest of soldiers shed a tear." she felt an unfamiliar spark of warmth when Lucius grinned.

"Is that so? I suppose I will just have to see that for myself, then. A performance like that is not one to be missed." Ophelia could not quite place the emotion he was showing, but she surprised herself by not caring. In fact, she enjoyed the allure of mystery addictive. "Well, since you're new to town, I ought to offer my services to show you around our lovely little town. If you truly are as talented as you say, it would be a disservice for you to feel unwelcomed."

Now, she really wished she had another drink. At least that way, she had something to blame if he noticed the slight tinge of red threatening to paint her cheeks. "I suppose that would be alright. I can't say I really know my way around." Plus, this might speed up discovering what her trial from Mortilith involves. "Tomorrow morning, no later than 10. I'll wait for you here."

With a laugh and another sip of his drink, Lucius stood up from his seat. "I usually don't make an appearance that early, but for Shadowharbour's latest talent, I suppose I can do that. I'll be seeing you again, Ophie." Ophelia scowled at the nickname, but before she could complain, the Neither kind sorcerer had slipped away to a different table. Wine in hand and a lopsided grin decorating his face.

Ophelia took Lucius' departure as an excellent reason to take her leave and retreat from the bustling tavern that did not seem to have plans to empty out soon. Her legs felt heavy as she forced her body up the step, twisting stairs that led towards the room she would now call her own for the foreseeable future. She had spent the last week sleeping on a bedroll while travelling, so the thought of an actual bed relieved her weary body. The room was small; if she stood in the middle and stressed her arms out, she could easily touch the walls. A single bed and a standing wooden wardrobe were the only furniture provided, but Ophelia was fine. There was enough space under the bed to store her beloved Lyre, and the cabinet comfortably fit everything she had stuffed into her pack. She nearly collapsed on the bed, barely having enough energy to kick off her shoes before she felt her eyes grow heavy. Tomorrow, she would explore what Mortilith had planned for her, but for now, she was more than content to let sleep take over her.

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