#Herb Silva

[gunsandspaceships]

Chiron

"Kheiron's name was derived from the Greek word for hand (kheir) and meant something like "skilled with the hands." In myth it was also closely associated with the word kheirourgos "surgeon."" (Source)

Fragment from "The seven physicians"

"Wisest and justest of all the centaurs" immortal Chiron, mentor of heroes. He invented pharmacy, medicine and surgery and taught Asclepius, the god of medicine, himself.

He lived in a cave on Mount Pelion until he was driven out of his home.

Statius, Silvae 1. 4. 98 "If there be any herb [to cure this illness] in twy-formed Chiron's health-giving cave."

Pindar, Nemean Ode 4. 55 ff "Then [Akastos] sought Pelias' son [Peleus], stealing his sword, the blade of Daidalos' (Daedalus') magic, to contrive his death by ambush; saved by Kheiron's (Chiron's) hand, the fate destined by Zeus he made his own."

Ho Yinsen, an Afghan surgeon, saved Tony in a cave using his innovative surgical methods after Tony was betrayed by Obadiah Stane, who stole his weapon and ordered the "wild centaurs" to kill him from an ambush in the mountains.

Propertius, Elegies 2. 1 "Medicine can cure all human pains . . . Chiron, son of Phillyra, healed the blindness of Phoenix."

Ho and the Ten Rings "healed the blindness of Phoenix" Tony by showing him what was really going on with his creations and that he couldn't trust the people in his company. Yinsen also helped Tony see his true self.

Statius, Achilleid 2. 96 ff "Also did he teach me of juices and the grasses that succour disease, what remedy will staunch to fast a flow of blood, what will lull to sleep, what will close gaping wounds; what plague should be checked with a knife, what will yield to herbs; and he implanted deep within my heart the precepts of divine justice".

"Chiron holding Achilles"

Chiron was wounded by a poisoned arrow while visiting the cave of the centaur Pholus. Even though Chiron was a master of medicine and healing, he could not heal himself from the poison and suffered excruciating pain for several days. He wanted to give up his immortality and die to stop the pain.

Chiron went to Zeus and offered to exchange his life for the life and freedom of Prometheus.

He died willingly so that Prometheus could go on living and continue his mission of teaching humankind and bringing it science and technology.

"Chiron sacrifices himself for Prometheus"

Gifs by @thepunisher

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Submerged by flooding, Porto Alegre realizes it was unprepared: 'Everything has to be rebuilt'

Three weeks after being hit by one of the worst climate disasters in its history, which left at least 157 people dead, 88 missing and forced the evacuation of 540,000, the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul is still partly submerged.

After slipping on her rubber boots, Darcilla Melo Da Silva, 58, took a deep breath before she stepped through the metal gates of her house, guided by her husband, Admar, 68. The scene she had so feared to see for the past 12 days appeared before her eyes. The vegetable garden where she had planted cabbage and herbs to alleviate her severe health problems was buried under a layer of mud. The remains of a white hen lay among the tangled planks, next to her new washing machine, which had been swept into the garden by the current and had ended up crushed under a tree trunk.

The interior of her house, which took her 40 years to furnish, was even more desolate. A smell of rot was pervasive. Without any electricity, Da Silva had to discover the extent of the damage by the light from her husband's smartphone: holes in the roof, raised floor, overturned armchairs... "Everything has to be rebuilt," said the grandmother barely able to breathe.

The retired couple, who lived in the Cidade Baixa district in the west of Porto Alegre, were among the 540,188 people who were forced to evacuate their homes in early May when floodwaters engulfed two-thirds of the towns in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, a hilly area on the border with Argentina and Uruguay with a population of some 11 million.

Since April 27, torrential rains have battered the region, raising the level of the Guaiba, a body of water – considered as much a river, lake or estuary – that borders the Porto Alegre metropolitan area, by several meters. On May 6, the day Darcilla Melo Da Silva and Admar evacuated their home, the water level reached 5.3 meters: the most severe flooding since 1941, when the Guaiba had risen to a height of 4.76 meters.

"This extreme event is the result of global warming" aggravated by the El Niño phenomenon, said Francisco Aquino, climatologist and head of the geography department at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. As temperatures rise, "we expect them to become more frequent and intense."

Continue reading.

[magicaguajiro]

Resources for Cuban and Caribbean Folk Magic 🇨🇺

Disclaimer: Cubans are not a monolith so when we say ‘Cuban Folk Magic’ its like saying ‘American Folk Magic’ in the sense that it is a BROAD term that includes multiple different cultural threads and traditions. Start by researching your ancestors and where they were from as a jumping off point.

Also, many of these resources are not Cuban themselves, but they either share the same practices or are academic or general sources. I have made it clear when a source isn’t Cuban. For this reason, I have expanded it to be the Cuban AND Caribbean Folk Magic List.

The List

Creators:

Irka Mateo - Taino - Insta 🇩🇴

Religion.Ancestral.Taino - Insta 🇵🇷

Sancista Brujo Luis - Espiritismo/Taino-Youtube | Blog 🇵🇷

OkaniLuna - Brujería/Taino - Youtube🇩🇴

Juliet Diaz - Brujería/Taino/Author - Instagram 🇨🇺

Sancista 7 Espadas - Espiritismo - Insta 🇵🇷

Odofemi - Regla de Ocha - Tumblr 🇺🇸

Eve the Medium - ATR/Espiritismo - Youtube 🇩🇴

Yeyeo Botanica - ATR/Espiritismo- youtube 🇺🇸

Botanica Candles & More - Great Podcast!! - youtube 🇨🇺 🇺🇸

Connecting w/ Guides and Goals by Adunola - youtube 🇺🇸

Hatuey Museum of Archaeology, Baracoa, Cuba - Taíno archaeologists photos and blog - Link

Florida Memory - Photos and Articles on Folk History of Florida and surrounding areas - Link

Articles

San Lazaro - Wikipedia - Novena - Yeyeo Botanica

Caridad del Cobre - Wikipedia

Orisha and Palo Herbs Directory- Website

Ewe (Herbs) Photo Guide - Website

Pueblo Originario Taino Section - Website

Taino and Agua Dulce essay by Jorge Estevez - Link

Memoir of Florida’s Indigenous People by Hernando Escalante de Fontaneda - Link

Tacachale: Essays on Indigenous Floridians by Milanich and Proctor - Link

Huellas Indigenas en Cuba - Taino Spirituality in Cuban Folk Magic Article - Link

Juracán: The Sacred Meteorology of Swamp and Storm by Jazmin Calderon Torres

Books:

Taino Library* - Amazing resource for books of all kinds, many books about Taino and Caribbean Spiritualities, Folklores and Songs! Multiple books on Cuban Myths and Folktales! Highly recommend - Website 🇵🇷

Espiritismo by Hector Silva🇩🇴

A Year in White by C Lynn Carr

The Modern Art of Brujería by Lou Florez(VERY BASIC just as a general introduction to what alot of modern Folk Practices look like)

American Brujeria by J. Allen Cross 🇲🇽🇺🇸

El Monte by Lydia Carbera 🇨🇺

Palmetto Country by Stetson Kennedy - Link

Movies and Videos:

Cecilia (1982) - Youtube

Las Profecias de Amanda - Youtube

Susie Jim Billie, Medicine Woman Interview - Link

Proyecto Cuba Indigena - Link

Miguel Sague, Taíno Spirituality - Link

**This list will grow as I find more resources that are reliable enough to share. If you have recommendations or would like to be added, please reach out.

Luz y Progreso 🕯️

(I also have included a Research Guide below the Cut!)

Guide to researching based on your ancestry:

If your family has African roots, you can seek Ocha/Lukumi, Palo, Arara, Cuban Vodou and other African Traditional Religions and Practices. Please approach elders within these respective practices to further your connection to them, rather than using books to create a practice for yourself. These are ancient, community based and are lifelong commitments, not just trendy powerful spells for you to get what you want.

If your family has indigenous roots, research Taino spirituality and modern practices , but also know that there were other tribes in the western and centeral parts of Cuba, with their own languages and traditions you can still learn about like the Guanahatabey. You may also consider joining a Yukayeke, but this isn’t required. Reconnecting and decolonizing is a separate and important topic that is not inherently witchcraft or folk magick-y… HOWEVER, researching and informing yourself with these practices can help you to see their influence within modern folk practices.

If your family has Asian roots, research the buddhist cults and folk practices throughout Cuba! Believe it or not, we also have people of Middle Eastern descent in Cuba who brought with them their own Hindu and Arabic Folk Traditions, which can be found throughout Cuba and the Caribbean as a whole.

If your family has Spanish roots, research some open practices like Espiritismo and Folk Catholicism! Look into the Patron Saints of Cuba, La Virgen de La Caridad del Cobre and San Lazaro. These also tie in to many of the other cultures who were forced to adopt certain elements to ensure survival of their traditions! You can also look into Brujería. Much like modern witchcraft, modern brujería has been commodified to hell and back, but there is still some great knowledge and power to be found there.

The fact of the matter is, that most of us can fit ourselves into two or more of these categories, and this crossover is where Folk Magic is often born. Its also important to note, in alot of these traditions you shouldn’t learn or share certain things at certain times, so some sources who share too much about Ocha and other ATRs should be avoided. Also, I can’t stress how important it is to talk to your family! Ask them about folklore or legends and stories! Also research history and folkore of the specific areas in Cuba your family is from. A-lot of folk magic is incorporated into stories.

Bendiciones, good luck on your Journey!🦎🐊

[godspellcraft]

intro post 👋

hello! i’d prefer to stay anonymous but i wanna give a little info about what i do for anyone who may be in the same boat :)

i was raised catholic. i also have ocd which for a long time warped my catholic upbringing into scrupulosity/religious ocd (obsessively trying to always do the “right” thing lest i go to hell, compulsively keeping track of my “sins”, etc).

YEARS ago in middle/high school i had a friend who got into wicca and she invited me over for a full moon ceremony in her yard, and (despite that ocd-voice yelling at me and making me anxious the whole time about whether this was all okay) i was really struck by how beautiful and NATURAL it felt- being outside, including stones and herbal tea, making wishes on candles- and i secretly prayed throughout the whole thing, both as an ocd protective measure (still very much worried about hell), and, now i realize, as a perfectly natural addition to the ritual. i was raised to believe that God created the earth and everything on it…. why couldn’t i connect with Him THROUGH that creation? where church often made me feel anxious and LESS than, i’ve never had any problem feeling connected and distinctly “magical” when i’m outside interacting with the natural world. but at that point i was still too anxious and scrupulous about it all to really do any exploring.

flash forward to college and i started a small crystal collection, mainly for aesthetic, but also with a bit of curiosity. flash forward again and i’ve discovered Christian witchcraft is in fact A Thing, that the Bible’s been translated a million times and that whole “witch” line is pretty negligible, and Hildegarde Von Bingen was doing crystals before it was cool. in a weird way the pendulum has swung back to the other side, and i’m probably more catholic now than ever, but in the healthiest, most fun, magical way that makes so much sense to me. I talk to God & Jesus with tarot cards, i keep candles for some favorite saints (St. Beatrice Da Silva, my confirmation saint, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Michael Archangel, and of course Mother Mary), and I can name the correspondences of a long list of herbs and crystals and use them to set goals for myself and to create what i think of as “physical petitions” (spells). where i used to pray obsessively, never feeling like i “did it *quite* right”, now i can put some herbs in a bottle and truly let it go.

i still feel i have a lot to learn. i know a lot of the theory, but i just need practice really connecting. i’ve definitely had some strange coincidences that are hard to brush off, but i’m still growing and learning every day.

so welcome to whatever this is! i hope you can find some of it useful or interesting.

and im a scorpio? if that’s important lol

edit: tags

[slifarianhawk]

Chapter 6: another tea? (Wriothesley's P.O.V)

As Ms. Silva walked through the doors. I hurried down the stairs and quickly locked them behind her. I'm sure the gaurdes would ask questions later, but that was a problem for later. I had a different problem on my hands at the moment.

I pulled the lever leading to the lower level of my office. I headed down the stairs and into my private quarters. I had opened up to someone I barely even knew. I sighed and scratched the back of my head.

She was warm... I thought as I laid out on my bed. The frustration I was feeling during that was confusing. She was caring and honest. That I knew from the things I witnessed from afar. 

I saw it first hand when she rushed to save the old timer who tipped the gear cart the day of her first match. Yet there was no mistaking her self-loathing, just as I had my dark places. She did, too.

But archons she was exquisite. Her chest pressed flush against mina. What i wouldn't give to feel the exact same contact but with both their chest exposed. I couldn't but help but wonder what she'd feel like under me. Archons, the lecherous thoughts that were running through my mind were distracting.

I smacked myself on the cheek, my hand wrapping stinging slightly. This brought my train of thought back to the prper places.

The rumor mill around Meropide had been filled with ones about her.  One said how she worked for the Fatui, and that's why she has a deep understanding of alchemy. There was one that said she was sent by the abyss order to assassinate the Iudex. I knew for a fact that these were both false.

Being the Duke of Meropide granted me to certain privileged information. My network went out and found what I was looking for. Her exploits in liyue and Inazuma.

The detailed report laid on my nightstand. I had finished it prior to my meeting with Silva. To say she's had an eventful life so far was an understatement.

One of the key highlights was that she was held captive by multiple ronin factions until she was saved by the former head of the Kamisato clan when she was nine. I had a troubling thought about a different inmate. He was a ronin from Inazuma who fled here before his country closed the borders.

I shook my head and let the thought pass. More than likely, I was overthinking the matter. From that point forward, she made a name for herself as an apprentice to Baizhu traveling through Liyue and some of Mondstat. She was currently only twenty-six, same age as me.

There was some information regarding her travel visa. As she said, her main reason listed was to investigate a couple of people linked to a ship leaving Port Ormos in Sumeru. The female having abandoned a man and a young infant at the port after a fight with a group of desert dwelling cultists. According to what my research has found, there was a photo of a couple in the steam bird who matched the description of the couple, not even a month prior, the woman heavily pregnant.

They were herb farmers from Sumeru and had managed to land a very lucrative deal selling to a hotel in the Court of Fontaine. The investigator went to their supposed home and found remains of a fire that had previously transpired.  Nuevillette even made a comment in the paper stating that the farmers had disappeared and weren't able to be found.

I sighed and rolled on to my back. The look on her face... when I caught her, it was quite adorable. I felt a slight growl of annoyance leave my lips. I should not be thinking about that. Even if she was enticing, she was an inmate under my watch. To have those kinds of thoughts was scandalous and downright inappropriate.

Sitting up, I turned to stand. That was when I heard footsteps in my office. There was only one other person in all of Tevyat who had a key to my office. I slicked back my disheveled hair and headed up the stairs.

"Monsieur Nuevillette, for what do I owe the honor?" I asked ascending the stairs.

"Ah, Wriothesley, I came to hand you this. Blood work from Ms. Silva, while in the hospital after the drug, had fully passed from her body." He said, laying down a folder.

"You really didn't have to travel all the way to the underworld for that. You could have sent Clorinde. You have a suspect, don't you?" I asked, opening the folder.

"Not as much a suspect but a lead rather. They recovered the blade that Ms. Silva was stabbed with." Nuevillette said, sitting on the sofa.

"Well, it's been over a  month and a half. I suspect there wasn't much evidence of the person who stabbed her." I said, picking up the blood test and reading it.

"There were trace amounts of a deep purple substance on the blade. It had been treated numerous times with what appeared to be Sumeru rose oil."  He said, "However, even that wouldn't cause the anomaly in her blood work."

I stared at the results, and I understood what he meant. The amount of Dendric energy that was running through her was as if she ingested forest essential oil every day for each day of her life.

"Monsieur, do you think this attack was targeted on her and not just a random mugging?" I asked, setting down the paperwork into the ever growing case file.

"I'm glad that I'm not the only one to think that as well. It seems that might indeed be the case. I can't help but wonder what would cause an anomaly quite like this. I'd jest and say she was the dendro elemental sovereign. However, the dendro the dragon Apep is still very much alive." He said, his knuckles wrapping tightly around his cane.

"I've noticed that she seems to avoid opponents in the ring who have dendro visions and use dendro related weapons. Perhaps her doctor in Liyue noticed this and told her to avoid dendro energy altogether. she received a letter from him today in all actuality. The parcel he sent her is in front of you." I said, scratching the back of my neck, "I was going to deliver it to her bunk after I dealt with a pressing matter."

"That pressing matter, what was it? I noticed your door was locked when I had first arrived." Nuevillette said, looking at the two tea cups in front of the parcel.

"I take it. You just had her sign the transfer, then? That was quite fast, your grace. If it weren't for the reforms you've been implementing, I'd say you have a bit of favoritism towards her." I heard Nuevillettes voice soften as he spoke.

I felt my ears redden, "I can guarantee there is not, Monsieur Nuevillette. I treat all my inmates with various forms of similarity. She's just an inmate we are investigating." I said, noticing my breath coming put as slightly visible clouds.

"Wriothesley, I have known you since you went by a different name. I know you wouldn't treat any exiles differently. However, my young Duke, you should learn to keep your deeper emotions in check. Your vision gives you away. In my long standing as Iudex, I've seen that cryo visions are quite linked with emotion..." Nuevillette quickly stopped and stared down the steps.

"Monsieur Nuevillette?" As I said his name, he lifted his hand up.

"Something isn't right..." He said, as my heart froze, "There was just a massive surge of hydro energy nearby."

"Is it what's kept in the forbidden zone?" I asked, glad he was here if that was the case.

"No, thankfully not, but please follow me. I have a feeling something else that has been on our minds has taken place." He said quickly, standing up and heading down the stairs.

Just as we made it down the stairs, a guarde burst in.

"I'm sorry to disturb the meeting, but we have a serious issue inside the Pankration ring!" The gaurde shouted.

"Tell us what happened!" I ordered as the man's face paled.

Nuevillette placed his hand on my shoulder. I felt a slight lessening of my tension.

"Well, from what it appears, prisoner one zero six four attacked several members of the guarde and inmates  in the Pankration ring." He said as my heart sank.

Without thinking, I rushed to the ring.  The lift is taking so long  to reach the right hallway. I was sprinting out once  it arrived. A strong grassy scent permeated the hall and was even stronger around the ring, dendro elemental reactions.

I noticed five full-grown men scattered about the floor unconscious.   There were two gaurdes and three inmates. Among the injured was Renard and his possy. They look fine, just unconscious. Then I noticed Holland, the guarde who caused Silva' s wounds to reopen her first day. He was supposed to be in the abandoned production zone.

I noticed something out of my elemental sight. While I was no master at it, Clorinde taught me how to use it effectively. Against the wall was a splash of glowing green energy, and on the floor was a medium bottle. I lifted it up to examine the bottle. There was slowly browning red liquid  around the rim.

The smell was obvious, blood. It was faint, but it took me somewhere I didn't need to be. My hands coated in the sticky warm ichor. The smell of copper grazing my nostrils.

"Your grace!" A similar voice shouted.

The grass smell came back, pushing away the smell of red metal. I looked up as Sam limped over to me. He had a bloody lip but looked otherwise unharmed.

"It's not her fault!" Sam said as he fell to his knees.

I ran over to him, bracing him and helping him over to the ring steps. He looked like he'd seen hell, and that's saying something in the underworld.

"What happened here, Sam?" I asked as I heard tiny feet run up behind me and over to the unconscious men.

"Holland, he brought her here telling her her match was rescheduled for earlier. Wosley told her to go so she wouldn't miss her match. That she could start tomorrow. I noticed them heading here, so I followed. I kept my distance." He said, wiping his dripping lip.

"Go on, we're listening." Nuevillette said, walking up beside us.

"Chief Justice, I had no idea you were here." Sam coughed, "but after I got off the lift, Renard and his goons grabbed me. When they forced me in her, I saw Holland pinning Silva against the wall, trying to force her to drink this glowing green liquid. Renard forced me on to my knees and gave Silva a choice. Drink what Holland was trying to make her drink, or they'd  make sure I'd never walk again."

"She chose to drink what was in that bottle, didn't she? Given that you're no longer on the floor out cold." I said, looking over to see Sigewinne treating the beat-up inmates on the floor.

"She did... once she did, Holland slashed at her Achilles tendons in her left foot. She crumpled over, and her highlights started to glow forest green. All four of the others started to laugh and shoved me at her. That's was when I felt it, hot fluids seeping into my uniforms coat." He said, pointing to where he was sprawled out earlier.

I saw it dropped on the floor, his uniform coat laid coating in blood, "Sigewinne, bring me Officer Auclair's coat."

"Of course, Your Grace." She said, grabbing it quickly and rushing it over to me.

Nuevillette's face scrunched at the sight, "it's pulsating with dendric energy, just like her clothes were after  she was detained. My guess is that the liquid was a vial of the drug that landed her here."

"Renard tried to run me through with his spear. She jumped in the way to protect me. She told me to close my eyes. She said that she was going to make sure I could go home tonight and see my wife and newborn. I did just that. The next few moments, there were a lot of wet noises, and suddenly, the room smelled like freshly cut grass. When I opened my eyes, she was gone, and the others were unconscious and had what looked like chains made from water holding them to the floor. I thought she had hidden herself in a corner because there were about seven dendro cores gathered behind the stands. Unfortunately, she wasn't there, and damn cores knocked my lights clean out." He said, looking defeated.

"Chains made of water?" I asked, noticing the puddles of water under each unconscious body and walking over to one.

"That must have been what I felt in your office, your grace. Sigewinne, I trust you can handle getting these fools to the infirmary? And escort Mr. Auclair to Wriothesley's office, " Nuevillette said, standing up his eyes narrowing.

"I know that look. You're pissed Monsieur Nuevillette. What course of action would you purpose?"  I asked, crossing my arms.

"Justice has failed her... I need to make this right. We need to find her." He said, stamping his cane on the metal floor.

I heard shuffling feet come down the hallway. Claude and Anton stopped in front of both me and Nuevillette. They had horrified looks on their features.

"Where did you see her?" I asked, ready to bolt.

"She made it to the lift that leads to the abandoned production zone. Your Grace, if you don't want a dead prisoner, you should hurry. Just follow the trail of blood. It's unmistakable." Claude said.

"I'll help head nurse Sigewinne. Archons, what a mess. Once these idiots are in the infirmary, I'll point Sigewinne in your direction." Anton said, running over to Renard and lifting him onto his shoulder.

I turned to face Nuevillette. He simply nodded, and we headed to the abandoned production zone. There was a pit forming in the bottom of my stomach. One I hadn't felt in a long time. Not since that night.

I couldn't place why I was having these thoughts. Plenty of people I knew died during my incarnation, and during my take over. So why was I so worried.

Nuevillette sensing my inner turmoil faced me once we reached the lift to the abandoned production zone. He had a stern look on his face, but it also bore concern.

"Wriothesley, what's on your mind?" He asked, his catalyst floating beside him.

"Nuevillette, I'm confused about my emotions. I feel as if my judgment is clouded surrounding her. I've watched Ms. Silva from afar as you asked, and we've had tea twice. However, since we first spoke, I can't get her out of my head. It's wrong!" I groan, squatting down and burying my face into my now active gauntlets.

"Ahh, the qualms of youth, tell me your grace, that pressing matter earlier it wasn't the transfer was it?" Nuevillette asked.

"No, it wasn't. I uh had to..." I tried to speak, but Nuevillette raised his hand, and there was a soft smile on his face.

"It's attraction your grace, be it by a physical means or your attracted by her personality. It shows you are human. While you find it cumbersome that she is an inmate, perhaps fate is trying to give you some reprieve." Nuevillette said, his voice calm and almost comforting.

"Maybe you're right, Nuevillette. Maybe when...." I stopped mid sentence, "That's a lot of blood."

I stared towards a grated wall. The water leading to it was deep red, and the crimson fluid smeared across the grate. That path was closed off. It used to lead to old cells, and it was mostly flooded.

"She really doesn't want to be found." I said as a loud shrieking noise rung out from behind the grate, "What the hell was that sound?".

"That, my dear Wriothesley, was the cry of a starved vishap." Nuevillette said, his eyes narrowing.

I walked over to the grate and kicked it down. Metal groaning as it fell flat. Ducking under the wall, I was wondering how someone as injured as her was able to place back that grate. It had to have at least been seventy-five pounds.

Blood coated the walkways as we headed deeper into the sealed off wing of the prison. I remembered this place. The previous warden locked those who questioned him here. I was thrown in here just after my accounts got cleared out. I had it closed off when I became warden.

The vishap howls became louder as we began to reach the center. That was when we saw why. In the center of the main hall was a fully grown hydro vishap chained down by massive brass fetters. Its eyes were bloodshot as it thrashed about.

"It's riled up by the scent of blood that has permeated the air. It's even denser than the smell of dendro. Wriothesley, go find her. I shall take care of this and keep using elemental sight. Im sure it'll lead you straight to her." Nuevillette said, and I simply nodded.

I followed the blood and occasional dendro core. It led deeper and deeper into the old cell block. However, just as Nuevillette predicted, I had to depend on elemental sight. The room was completely flooded when the trail went cold.

Sighing, I jumped into the murky cold waters. Triggering elemental sight in the water wasn't the funnest. In all honesty, it made my eyes burn more than normal. Then I noticed it a red line. It was faint waning almost.

Kicking through the dense grimy waters, I found an outlet. It rose up beyond the waters and opened up into a sickening sight. It was but a rumor, I had thought. My predecessors torture chamber.

Blacken blood along the walls and in the center of the floor was Silva. She had her head held low. I took a single step when she spoke.

"You shouldn't have come, Wriothesley." Her sounded broken like a scratched record.

"And let you die on my watch? Now, what kind of warden would I be if I let that happen?" I asked as I took a look at the position she was in.

"A pretty standard one, in all honesty. At least from what I saw of Inazuma prison wardens." She said.

I stepped towards her, and as soon as my boot clanked against the metal, I was sent flying back by a tentacle made of water. I tried to step forth again. However, something held me in place. Looking down, I saw what was stopping me. The tentacle that just knocked me back had turned into a heavy chain that bound me where I stood.

"Please just go! I hurt them! Even if they were trying to do the same to me, it's not right what I did! I couldn't control myself!" She shouted as if in pain.

Dendro cores surrounded her. They were forming from her body. The drug she consumed clearly activated the latent dendric energy in her body.

"You defended yourself! There is nothing wrong with that! Even if you weren't in control of the clashing elemental energy's radating from you. It's because of you that Sam can see his newborn tonight!" I shouted back, pulling at the chain.

"So he is okay then.... that's..." She mumbled as the dendro cores burst, causing her to collapse onto one arm.

That's when I saw the full extent of what Renard did. Blood was leaking from her tattered shirt. The fabric falling of her body ripped and coated in her bodily fluids. He had run her clean through.

"How are you not dead? The amount of blood I saw on the way here. No one could survive losing that much." I growled as I pulled on the shackle.

"No.... clue... hey Wriothesley, do you think that even after this, we could have another tea break? I....hadn't felt so comfortable around someone in a very long time..." She laughed hoarsely as her arm gave out.

"Silva! Hold on damn it!" I called out unleashing my vision and shattered the chains made of the dense hydro energy.

I quickly made it over to her slumped over form. Deactivating my gauntlets, I lifted her blood-soaked body. This being the second time i held her like this, I couldn't help but notice more details. She had a scar that wrapped around her neck. it matched her wrists and ankles.  Her lips were slowly losing color bit were still a soft pink. Her highlights were dimly glowing, giving off a gentle green light.

"Hey now... you better stay with me damn it." I said while checking her pulse.

I felt a slight but weak flutter in her carotid artery. Celestia hadn't taken her yet. I felt a sigh of relief shake out from my body. I placed my hand over the wound and started to apply my ice to it.

"Aughh..." She unconsciously moaned and shifted in my arms.

Then I felt something shift and roll.

CLANK!

I looked on the ground next to us, a Fontainian hydro vision now laid there on the metal floor. That little ball of glass answered so much.

"See... you can't be leaving yet... you were just chosen by the archons for something." I half-heartedly choke out, placing the vision in her hand.

As soon as I sealed the massive perforation, I lifted her into my arms and stood. The dendro cores had finally stopped forming, and her hair stopped its glow. I quickly moved away from the last few cores and made my way down an open hallway.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, I heard two very familiar voices. I knew right then this ordeal would be put to rest. I had finally met up with the all mighty Iudex and my head nurse.

"YOUR GRACE!" Sigewinne shouted, running over to me and Silva.

"I managed to stop the bleeding. However, we need to..." I stopped as she placed her hand out.

"Help me get her to her bunk, your grace. I'll treat her there." Sigewinne said, her eyes looking bleakly over Silva.

Nuevillette walked up behind Sigewinne and sighed. He looked at the messy state she was in, and his face noticably darkened.

We rushed back to the dorms, only stopping for a brief moment for Sigewinne to grab her emergency kit. It made sense to not bring her to the infirmary where the ones who did this to her were. After all, they were only unconscious. Unconscious.... they were just unconscious.

Arriving at the room, Sigewinne quickly laid out a plastic tarp over Silva's bed. After I laid her on her bed, Nuevillette and i were shooed out, and the cell door closed.

I was about to bang on the door, but Nuevillette grabbed my shoulder for who knew how many times today.

"Wriothesley, let's go to your office. We can't stand around here." He said, trying to comfort me.

I nodded and followed him. We were quiet the entire walk. The tension was palpable. I could tell that he was just as upset as I was.

Once we arrived at my office, I quickly put on a kettle. I knew it was wrong, but I wanted her blend. I prepped two cups and added the  sugar cubes. Pouring the water, I let my frustrations go with the steam.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Nuevillette. I made you a cup without asking." I said, burying my face in my palm, noticing my blunder.

"You normally pour me one anyway. I've never seen you use cor lapis jars to store your tea. Where did you get them?" He asked.

It was clear he was trying to ease the tension in the room. I handed him his cup and sat at my desk. The floral blend of herbs wafting up to my nose slowly sent me to earlier today. When I had caught her from falling down the stairs. I softly laughed.

"They're hers. They were a gift before she left Liyue harbor." I said admiring the large gemstone jar.

"Wriothesley, what's on your mind after all that has transpired in the past hour and a half? Your smile has returned, even though today was, as you would say, a shit show." Nuevillette said as my eyes quickly darted towards him as he rarely swore.

I stared at my small tea cup, "I just have a feeling Silva will survive this."

Nuevillette took a sip of his tea, "You seem quite confident in that. What is giving you that sense of security?".

"Before she fell unconscious, she asked to have tea with me again. We signed a contract to train her in hand to hand combat when I had her sign the transfer. But she didn't ask for that. She asked for me and her to have tea again." I said, chuckling at the end.

I barely saw it, but I did. The mighty Iudex head lowered slightly, and a small smile graced his lips.

"Then I hope she doesn't let you down." He said.

I pressed my back against the chair and closed my eyes. She'd survive. I've never had anyone else actually ask for tea with me. So she would have to be OK, right?

[rexsilvae]

🌟 Hear Ye, Hear Ye! 🌟

Welcome, brave adventurers, to the realm of Rex Silvae! Your journey begins here, in a world of magic and wonder, where legends are born and epic tales unfold. Prepare to immerse yourself in an enchanting adventure, forge alliances, and test your mettle against the trials that await.

Fantasy Roleplay Server on Discord

A mystical kingdom nestled in the woods, infused with all manner of magic and spells. Here, ancient trees whisper secrets of old, while shimmering streams flow with enchanted waters. Mythical creatures roam the forest, and every corner holds a new adventure waiting to unfold, from hidden groves filled with magical herbs to towering castles guarded by powerful enchantments. Beneath the surface, a labyrinthine dungeon awaits, filled with dark chambers and treacherous traps. The walls echo with the sounds of long-forgotten battles, and the air is thick with the scent of ancient magic. At the heart of this realm sits a reclusive king, shrouded in mystery. Once a valiant ruler, he now rarely ventures from his throne, burdened by the past, as the very magic that once flowed through his veins seems to wither like the leaves in autumn, leaving his kingdom to yearn for the hero it once knew.

The prettier blog!

(Dividers by https://www.tumblr.com/strangergraphics-archive)

[medusanova]

Never fear, your anon is here!! 🎶 Hope you had a great start of the week.

I have a few questions for you, dear giftee.

What would you have liked Netflix to explore more with the show: life inside the castle?— as in day to day life or more emphasis on the classes— or life on the Otherworld?— as in world building, creatures, places...

What do you think is the biggest regret/misconception Musa and Riven have towards one another as their relationship (cruelly taken from us) develops?

Until next time ✨

You’re back!! And with such wonderful questions for me to get carried away over (foreshadowing).

1. Definitely would’ve loved to see more of the Otherworld! Like, Netflix literally had it in the name — a whole other world — and they chose to just give us the tiniest of glimpses into it?! Egregious. Literal robbery. There was a whole globe of places to explore.

Also, the possibilities for Flora (hehe) and fauna!! We got a really underwhelming jumble of plants and herbs for healing and combat, sure, but where’s the alchemy?! Are there lust or luck potions? Invisibility potions… can a light fairy just bottle that shit up and sell it to give a non-fairy 30 seconds of invisibility? Same for other fairies! Can I, a civilian, just go to a shop and buy a fireball? Or would this be more underground/black market stuff — bc not everyone can be fairies, right.

Also we only saw bad/evil creatures (+ the contents of Sky and Silva’s stable). But where are the mermaids?! Sirens, phoenixes, harpies.. can mice have antlers? Can gators have fur? Where’s our bestiary, I need to know.

2. Oooh there are so many fandom headcanons for this that I love. But one of the things (that maybe hasn’t been explored as much?) I feel would be a big wedge that drives tensions between them in the future is Musa throwing herself into being a specialist to avoid confronting her magic.

We know Netflix loved to add things and then never follow through on them and I think one of those would be not following up on Riven’s extremely strong reaction to Musa saying she wants to be a specialist. Like, he tried to drive that point home to her particularly brutally for someone who’s blasé about so many things (well, except the existence of mind fairies in general lol).

And sure, the quickest takeaway from that reaction was the ‘protective’ side of it, showing Musa that fighting is brutal and her safety is not something to play around with and that he might even fear for that safety…

But I do think there’s more than a bit of hurt pride and resentment in his reaction too. I think it showed how important being a specialist was to Riven. That it’s something he’s put so much work into, something that he truly excels at, and for her to just claim something he owns with his entire being as a last resort for being magic-less after a few days?? That’s insulting af. The fact that Dane didn’t see as big of a problem with it while Riven did also further drives that home.

So yeah, even though the end of s2 showed us what sparring could look like for those two (which is indeed delicious), I do think some of the resentment from that moment would bubble up for Riven the longer Musa continues to avoid her powers (no matter how talented she is).

Um, well… I should stop here before I spiral (more). And godspeed with these responses, my lovely person !

[thoughtlessarse]

Portugal is the world’s leading producer of cork. In 2023, cork exports achieved a record value of €1.2 billion, 75 percent of which came from cork stoppers, according to APCOR, the Portuguese association of cork producers. The Amorim Group, Portugal's leading cork company, claims that around one out of three wine bottles worldwide is sealed with a cork stopper made in Portugal. About 20 years ago, significant concerns emerged that cork might lose market share to synthetic alternatives, which were less expensive and carried no risk of spoiling the wine with 'cork taint'. -However, the industry has succeeded in removing those substances that could harm the wine, including the molecule trichloroanisole (TCA), responsible for the cork taint. Nowadays, cork has a competitive edge over materials like plastic due to its sustainable properties. […] Cork forests are threatened by global warming However, rising temperatures threaten the survival of these trees. Careful forest management mitigates the risk of wildfires. "These agroforestry systems are managed in such a way that, with small shrubs and patchy areas where herbs and shrubs grow alongside livestock, the amount of vegetation that can burn is significantly reduced," explains Conceição de Silva, secretary general of the Union of Mediterranean Forests, which represents forest landowners in Portugal. But extreme heat brings other dangers too. "Plagues and diseases benefit from climate change. They are fighting back very strongly, and there are currently no solutions to diminish these threats. In some areas, trees are dying."

continue reading

[specialagentlokitty]

Saul silva x reader - the perfect day

Looking at the man from across your classroom, you huffed and went back to the papers in front of you and you heard him sigh.

“Go away Silva.”

“Just talk to me (Y/N), please? It’s been days.”

“I don’t want to talk to you. So, go away.”

You stood up, putting some of the papers in your desk you walked to the side of the classroom and started to look at some jars of herbs.

Saul walked over and placed his hand over yours, setting the jar down before he took your hand and held it between his.

You didn’t look at him, you just stared out the window.

“I never said I didn’t want to get married, I just said I hadn’t thought about getting married.”

“Well it’s basically the same thing Silva. We’ve been dating for years, and we’re not getting any younger, I’ve always wanted to get married, to you. Clearly you don’t want the same thing.”

You looked at him, pulling your hand from his.

“That doesn’t mean I don’t want to get married (Y/N)!”

“Saul we’ve been dating since we were teenagers! We’re both in our 40s now! That’s over 20 years! That’s a good chunk of time to think about this don’t you think?”

You spun around and he grabbed your wrist, turning you back around.

“Then why didn’t you say anything until now? Why now?” He asked.

“Because you nearly died! And I realised if you died I would just be known as your girlfriend and nothing more! I want to be known as your wife! Not just the girlfriend who you apparently didn’t care enough about to marry!”

You pushed him away from you and walked over to your desk, pulling your jumper over your head and you looked at him.

“I’m tired of waiting for something that’s never going to happen. I love you with my whole heart, with every fibre of my being, but we have been at the same stage for years, not going anywhere. I don’t want to just be dating. I want you for my whole life and after, and if you don’t want that then that’s okay. You should’ve just said something to me.”

You walked out of the classroom and he chased you down, calling your name.

When Saul reached out, he grabbed your hand and made you stop walking, and he walked in front of you.

“I love you. You and only you. I don’t want anyone else in my life (Y/N), I’ve loved you since we were kids. And when you agreed to go on a date with me I was so excited, when you agreed to be my girlfriend I bragged to anyone who would listen that I had you and no one else could. I was so happy because you were mine, I don’t want that to go away.”

“Then what are we Saul? Because at this point I don’t know. I love you, I do, but I don’t want to stay in this same position not going anywhere.”

Saul took a step back, and he ran his fingers through his hair, looking at you with sad eyes.

“Exactly. We both deserve what we want, and if you don’t want to be married that’s okay.” You whispered, “but I do. And it’s not fair either of us staying in this position.”

You turned around to leave again.

“I’d marry you in an instant!” He rushed out.

You turned around in shock, wide eyes looking at him.

Saul walked over, taking your hands in his, bringing them up to his lips to carefully kiss them and he looked at you.

“I will marry you right here, right now.” He whispered.

“You would?”

Saul nodded, holding your hands to his chest and you stepped forward, looking up at him.

“I want to spend my whole life with you, I want to marry you I promise you I do. I just.. I never knew how to ask. I suppose part of me was scared that if we ever got married people would know I loved you, and anyone after me would come after you.”

“It’s okay to be scared Saul, but this whole school know we’re together. I don’t care if people come after me, because I’ll fight them.”

You took one of your hands from his and placed it over his heart.

“I’d fight anyone for you, with you. I don’t care who. You are my first priority in everything, okay?”

Saul smiled and nodded his head.

“Then marry me darling. Say you’ll marry me here and now, tell me you’ll marry me, please.”

You smiled a little, giving a small hum.

“I don’t know, I was kind of hoping to marry someone else.”

Saul rolled his eyes at you and brought his hand up, placing it on your cheek.

“Marry me?”

You smiled, taking his face between your hands you pulled him down and kissed him slowly, and when he smiled into the kiss you smiled back.

You pulled away slightly.

“Of course I will…”

Saul captured you in another kiss, and when he pulled away he brushed his nose against yours.

“Two weeks.” He said.

“Saul that’s not enough time.”

He grinned at you as he stood up fully once more, and he ran his thumb along your cheek.

“Just trust me.”

You nodded and he smiled, leaning down he kissed your hairline and pressed his forehead to you.

“I’ll make it the most memorable wedding ever.”

With that, he walked away and you smiled as you watched him leave.

Saul knew what kind of wedding you wanted, he remembered a conversation you had years ago with one of your friends while you were having a double date.

He knew you wanted something simple, lights, good food, music, you wanted everyone to be involved, students and teachers alike.

You wanted him to wear all white, and you wanted to be wearing all sky blue, you wanted white and blue flowers.

He knew how you wanted your wedding to be, so he immediately went to Farah for help with it all.

“You asked (Y/N) to marry you?” She asked shocked.

“Yes. Will you help?”

Farah smiled and got up, hugging her friend tightly.

“Of course I will.”

When you woke up the next morning, you found Saul sitting on the end of the bed, legs crossed, messing with a small box in his hands.

Sitting up, you stretched a little and looked at him, and you picked up a shirt from the floor and tossed it at him.

“Don’t just sit there half dressed, that’s weird.”

Saul rolled his eyes, tossing the shirt back on the floor and you laughed, crossing your legs as you looked at him.

He opened the ring box and held it out to you, and you gasped softly, looking at the beautiful ring, it wasn’t diamond like most people, you noticed it was your favourite gem.

“Marry me?”

You smiled.

“Yes.”

Saul beamed and he took your hand and the ring, and he slipped it on to your finger, then kissed your knuckles.

You smiled and shuffled over, wrapping your arms around to hug him, and while you were doing that, you grabbed the blanket from behind him and pulled the blanket over his head as you stood up.

“Why are you so mean to me?”

You turned around and shrugged and watched as he stood up as well, making the bed while picking up the clothes on the floor to dump them into the laundry basket.

“See why can’t you do that when you take them off?” You asked.

“Because they’re still going to be there in the morning.”

“Not the point.”

“It is the point. Are you going into the bathroom because if not I’m going in there.”

“Not before me!”

You ran to the bathroom and slammed the door on him, locking it with a little grin of victory.

You went about your day like you normally would, and you noticed if Farah, Sky or Ben saw you they would quickly walk away.

And as the next week passed you noticed that with more and more people.

You were growing suspicious as to how many people Saul had managed to coax into this, but he wouldn’t tell you, and when it was the day before the wedding he stood in the room, your hands in his.

“Farah will come by in the morning, bringing everything you need, and she’ll take you to where you have to go.”

“Why do you have to leave now though?” You pouted.

Saul smiled, kissing the corner of your mouth.

“Because it’s bad luck if I see you before the wedding itself. I’ll call you though, I promise.”

You poured a little more.

“Okay…”

Saul laughed, leaning down he connected your lips in a soft and gentle kiss, and you kissed him back but he pulled away after a few seconds.

“I love you.”

“I love you too Saul.”

He kissed your head and left the room, and true to his word he called you a few minutes later, and you stayed on call until you woke up in the morning.

Not long after you woke up Farah came in, holding up two bags.

“Dress or suit?”

You looked between them, and finally you chose the one that you felt more comfortable in.

“Right, change in the bathroom.”

“Ooo bossy. Okay.”

Farah rolled her eyes at you and you grinned, changing into the one you had chosen and when you came back out you found some of the students in your room.

“Hair, and makeup if you want it.” Stella beamed.

You smiled and sat down in the chair while she did your hair, and Terra handed Farah a flower.

Once Stella was finished, Farah tucked the flower behind your ear, in your hair, and Terra used her magic to make it bloom and you gasped softly at the soft blue colour.

“Oh it’s beautiful Terra thank you.”

“You look amazing Professor.” She smiled.

You smiled softly as you looked up at her.

“Thank you so much, all of you.”

“Don’t thank us yet, we’ve got more.”

You looked at Farah confused and she gestured for you to go to the door so you did, and you opened it to find Sky standing in the other side, a bouquet in his hands.

“Sky..” you said softly.

“Congratulations (Y/N). I’m so happy you two are finally getting married. It’s about time.”

You laughed softly, nodding your head.

“It really is.”

He handed you the bouquet and you took it, and he held his arm out to you.

“I know you’re dad can’t be here, so I asked Silva if I could walk you down the aisle. Is that okay?”

You linked your arm with his.

“I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect person Sky.”

He smiled and the three others walked in front of you, leading you towards the quad where Musa, Bloom and Aisha were waiting.

Aisha took a photo and you smiled.

“You look stunning miss!” Bloom grinned.

“Thank you all.”

You heard music start up and they all walked us die, leaving you and Sky standing outside and he looked at you.

“Are you ready?”

You took a small breath, looking at him.

“I am.”

He began to slowly walk you in and you gasped at the sight of all the students and teachers, lined up waiting, it was covered with orbs of lights, and flowers growing up the walls.

And when you looked to the front, you felt your heart skip a beat.

Saul had his eyes glued to you, a smile on his face as he took a shaky breath as he watched you walk down with sky.

You looked so incredibly beautiful.

And your eyes were glued to him, standing in a pure white suit, hair neatly combed, face shaved to just stubble, and a blue flower in his suit pocket.

When you reached the front, you turned to sky and kissed his forehead.

“Thank you sky..” you whispered.

He smiled and passed you over to Saul, who walked you the rest of the way and he stood behind Saul, and Farah came to stand behind you.

“You look so beautiful…” Saul whispered.

“You remembered everything I said..”

“Of course a did…”

You reached up, wiping a tear from under his eye and he laughed softly, ducking his head a little bit as he sniffled.

“God I’m sorry. I said I wouldn’t cry. But.. god you look so beautiful (Y/N).”

“You look pretty good yourself.”

He laughed softly and you both turned to ben who smiled at you both, starting the ceremony.

“Saul I believe you have your vows prepared?” Ben asked.

“Hey that’s not fair you never told me that.” You pouted.

Saul rolled his eyes.

“You’ve had them prepared for years I asked your friend.”

A few people laughed and you grinned at him.

Saul took your hands in his, and held them softly in his.

“I’ve been in love you you since we were kids, I always thought that you were never interested in me, so when you agreed to go on that first date I was so excited I couldn’t sleep. When you became my girlfriend I promised myself I would do anything to keep you in my life. I’ve been told your first love never lasts, but I still you even more than I did back then, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you (Y/N), you’re so beautiful, so caring, so perfect. I love you, and I hope you know this means I’m making you actually change your last name, not to some random name you did last year when you told me you were going to change it.”

Everyone laughed and you laughed at the memory.

“What can I say? Banana-llama was a great name. And I was so, so drunk, they really shouldn’t let you change your name when you’re that drunk.”

“I know, I was there with you. I was the one who told you to change it.”

Everyone laughed again and you playfully hit his shoulder and he grinned down at you.

“(Y/N)?”

You took a small breathe and held his hands tightly.

“When you asked me to be your girlfriend, we climbed up a mountain and I always wondered why you wanted to do that. But when I saw the look on your face that day, I knew one day I wanted to marry you, to take your last name. And I really am sorry I changed my last name to banana-llama, but I’m not saying I wouldn’t do it again. We’ve faced everything together, the good, the bad, the near impossible. I can’t picture a life without you, you were there for me when I was little, just a year young than you trying to run after you through the fields, and you’ve been there for me ever since. And I’ve been there for you. I love you Saul, and from the start of my life to the end of my life, I want to spend every single moment of it with you.”

A few peoples cheered and clapped, and ben smiled.

“Is there anyone who objects to this marriage, if so speak now or forever hold your peace.”

After a minute, he nodded his head.

“Than I pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride.”

Saul wrapped an arm around your waist and he swiftly pulled you into him, connecting your lips with his and you wrapped your arms around his neck, kissing him beck.

People cheered and whistled and you pulled away, pressing your head to his.

“I love you so much Saul.”

“I love you too sweetheart.”

He quickly kissed your again and held your hand, and he looked at you.

“There’s one more surprise.”

You looked at him confused and he laced his fingers with yours, leading you outside and you gazed in amazement and how beautiful it was outside.

“Just like our first dance.” He smiled.

“It’s exactly like our first dance…”

Saul stood in front of you, walking backwards as he pulled you with him, and you stood in the middle of the patch of grass.

He placed his hands on your waist, and you wrapped yours around his shoulders, both of you softly swaying from side of side.

He leant down, forehead touching yours and you closed your eyes, smiling softly.

“You’re so perfect..” he whispered.

“I know…”

Saul laughed loudly, shaking his head at you and you laughed a little, looking up at him.

“You can’t go one day without sarcasm can you?”

“Sorry. Sorry.” You laughed.

He shook his head again, and looked down at you.

“No you’re not.”

“No you’re right. I’m not, but you love it.”

“Yeah. I do.”

It was peaceful as you guys danced for a while by yourself, and slowly everybody else came outside to join you both and you loved it.

It was the perfect wedding.

Just like you always wanted

[starcrossedlovrs]

Marauders meets My Chemical Romance: The fan fiction: “I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love” by me, starcrossedlovrs (AO3)

In a world where darkness lurks beneath the surface, Sirius Black grapples with guilt and addiction while haunted by his brother’s transformation into a vampire. Alongside his friends, they confront supernatural threats and their own inner demons. As they delve deeper into the shadows, their bond is tested by a dangerous pact. Can love and loyalty prevail against the darkness threatening to consume them?

Excerpt from chapter six “All The Things That We Could Be”:

Sunday morning dawned with a crisp chill in the air. The recruits assembled early, bustling with a mix of excitement and trepidation. João Silva, the newest recruit, was officially joining the Order of the Phoenix. His presence had already made an impact; his athletic prowess and unwavering determination had earned him respect among his peers.

After breakfast, João approached the group with a serious expression. “I have a meeting with Moody,” he announced.

James raised an eyebrow. “What does he want with you?”

João hesitated before answering, “I’m not sure, but I’ll find out soon enough.”

The others exchanged curious glances as João walked off to meet with Moody. They speculated in low voices about what the meeting could be about, but their curiosity was soon satisfied when João returned, looking thoughtful but determined.

“What did Moody want?” Sirius asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

João took a deep breath and began, “He wanted to talk to me about the Order of the Phoenix. Recruit me. It’s a secret society formed to fight against the rising vampire threat. We go on missions, gather intelligence, and strike at key vampire strongholds. It’s dangerous, but necessary work.”

The room fell silent as João’s words sank in. The gravity of their situation became palpable. They weren’t just training for their own survival; they were preparing for a war that would determine the fate of the entire world.

“Did you say yes?” James asked curiously.

 

“Of course.” João said with a big smile.

The day began with an intensive vampire biology and behavior lesson. The recruits gathered in a dimly lit room, filled with diagrams and models of vampire anatomy. The air was thick with anticipation, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows on the walls. Professor McGonagall stood at the front, her stern gaze sweeping over the group.

“Today, we delve into the biology and behavior of our enemies,” she began. “Understanding them is crucial to our survival and success.”

As McGonagall lectured, Lily and Remus stood out, answering questions with precision and insight. Lily’s knowledge of potions and herbology allowed her to understand the biological weaknesses of vampires, while Remus’s experience with dark creatures provided a practical perspective on their behavior.

“Vampires have a heightened sense of smell, particularly for blood,” Lily explained, her voice steady. “But they’re also repelled by garlic and certain herbs, which we can use to our advantage.”

Remus nodded in agreement. “And they’re nocturnal by nature. They’re strongest at night, but during the day, they’re vulnerable. We can use daylight to plan our attacks strategically.”

McGonagall smiled approvingly. “Excellent points, both of you. It’s this kind of thinking that will keep us one step ahead.”

After a brief break, the recruits moved on to tactical planning and strategy, led by Alastor Moody. The room was filled with maps and diagrams of potential vampire strongholds, the air buzzing with a sense of urgency. João, Lily, and Remus once again shone, showcasing their ability to think several steps ahead and devise effective battle plans.

“We need to establish strong defensive positions,” João suggested, pointing at a map. “If we can anticipate their movements, we can set traps and ambushes.”

Lily added, “We should also consider decoys and diversions. Vampires are cunning, but they can be lured into traps if we’re clever about it.”

Moody nodded, his gruff voice filled with approval. “Good thinking, both of you. Always plan for the unexpected. That’s the key to surviving out there.”

The day was not without its darker moments. As the session concluded, Marlene McKinnon was called aside by Frank Longbottom. The look on his face was grave, and as he spoke to her in hushed tones, Marlene’s face crumpled. She let out a choked sob, and Dorcas Meadowes quickly moved to comfort her, pulling her into a comforting embrace.

Word spread quickly among the recruits: Marlene’s parents had been killed in a vampire attack. The news cast a pall over the group, and a somber mood settled in as they finished their training. The gravity of their mission became painfully clear, and the reality of their dangerous world hit home.

During a hand-to-hand combat drill, Sirius was paired with James. They practiced diligently, but an unfortunate misstep caused Sirius to twist his ankle badly. He cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground.

“Moony, get Madame Pomfrey!” James shouted, concern etched across his face.

Remus sprinted to the infirmary and soon returned with Madame Pomfrey and a young woman who appeared to be the same age as Sirius. Her name was Mary McDonald, a trainee healer.

“Hold still, Sirius,” Madame Pomfrey instructed as she examined his ankle. “You’ve twisted it quite badly.”

Mary knelt beside Sirius, offering a sympathetic smile. “Don’t worry, we’ll have you fixed up in no time.”

Sirius, despite the pain, couldn’t resist a flirtatious grin. “I’ll be in your capable hands, then.”

Mary chuckled softly. “Just relax, Sirius.”

As they treated his injury, Sirius kept the mood light with his usual banter, making Mary laugh despite herself. By the time they finished, he had made a new friend.

“Why don’t you join us by the fire this evening?” Sirius suggested as Mary helped him to his feet. “It’ll be fun.”

Mary hesitated, then nodded. “Sure, I’d like that.”

If you want to continue reading, here is the link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/56978692/chapters/144893479

[gardenia-clangen]

All my cats from generation 1! These are the cats I started out with (minus the older cats that pretty much passed away/went into the elders den. Phew! This took awhile to finish lol! All of these are the icons I will be using as I finish up gen 1′s story and at the start of gen 2 ! 

Flickerstar - Leader, used to be mates with thymeberry but now they’re bitter exes and shes happly dating the loner Wood instead

Raggedmoss - A chill warrior who like to keep to themselves.

Thymeberry - A handsome cat who is confident but also very stubborn and selfish. He is the one who Broke up with Flickerstar and started dating Larchriiple instead. He is however still interested in flickeerstar and only really cares about himself. 

Larchripple - She tries to be a respected warrior and mentor and cares a lot about what others think of her. She is mates with Thymeberry, a cat she adores. She arrived to the clan as a loner alongside her friend Silva. While she loves her mate Thymeberry it seems that Larchripple is perhaps in denial about her feelings for Silva.

Silva - She joined the clan as a longer and became a medicine cat. She wanted to keep her name. She has a crush on Larchripple and hates seeing how sad Thymeberry makes her. Silva is a kind cat who cares a lot about her clanmates.

Turtletail - The clans medicine cat alonside Silva. He is an akward and careful cat and a very talented med cat. He alwats tries his best to help and is often seen out looking for herbs. 

Bristlefur - The loner who joined the clan with her kit Windkit, she died early on in a landslide.

Thymepaw -Larchripple and Thymeberry’s son. He is confident and a bully. The rest of the clan is worried about this brat turning into his father, who is a talented hunter but also very stuck-up. (It doesn’t help that Thymeberry is his mentor)

Shortcloud - Flickerstars apprentice, they’re a nice cat who has a bit of a prankster side to them. Shortcloud and Windcreek are mates. 

Sloefoot - A calm and nice warrior. Not much can be said about him as he mostly goes about his day, does his tasks and rests in the sun the rest of the day. He is however loyal to his clan and the only cat Raggedmoss seems to tolerate. 

[autism-criminal]

Ramble to me boy

!!!! ohmigosh masc term used for me /vvvvpos

sO!! Silva first because I really like plant. Silva is, essentially, my antagonist. It is not aggressive, but ready to fight if aggravated. Plant caused all of Apparatus’s injuries and memory loss. Silva is a guardian of the forest, but its position was never official. Plant just kinda… decided to be there and murdered/maimed anyone who dissented. It controls vines, using them to strangle plant’s enemies. Silva is usually neutral in fights, but likes to cause arguments.

[the following lore contains self-harm]

Shroom Guy. The original. He started it all. They were born in the forest, but left before Silva arrived. He was infected by an animal bite, which caused them to leave in the first place, and the infection caused the shrooms growing from Shroom Guy’s body. They have tried to forcibly remove the shrooms, but it only resulted in his own injury. While Shroom Guy never received any judgement from their peers or anyone around him, they still view the infection as a disgusting and horrible feature. This causes him to have horribly low self-esteem.

Notata!! Notata is part-spider, part-who-knows-what! She was born this way, and loves herself, even though (unlike Shroom Guy) she was teased quite frequently for it. She can weave very strong webs, but the spiderwebs that serve as her hair are very fragile. She only has four eyes, the other two ripped out by disliked her appearance. She doesn’t talk much.

[the following lore contains self-harm]

Finally, APPARATUS!! Possibly the silliest, most traumatized, goofiest OC I’ve made, other than Phobos. Can you tell I like robots? It had a relatively happy life, and a caring family. The forest was not a place he ventured to often, as it liked to spend his time in its workshop. One poor unfortunate day, Apparatus happened to need some herbs from the forest, and ended up insulting Silva with its ignorance of the rest of the world. Silva, angered by its blissful ignorance, figured that, if he didn’t mind what happened to the rest of the world, then it wouldn’t matter if it knew nothing at all. Plant removed parts of Apparatus’s body, limbs, and part of its head. The only memories he had were how to work machines, mostly muscle memory. It managed to fix himself up after stumbling out of the forest a bloody mess, but when it told the rest of the people in his village about its encounter, it was labeled as insane, and locked away in an asylum, where he slowly lost care for its physical form, starting to pick at the skin that connected to his mechanical parts, causing the screws to rust. This is where its story is currently.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

‘A legend for our people’: Inside an Indigenous activist’s death in Brazil

The shooting of Maria de Fatima Muniz has renewed attention towards Indigenous attempts to reclaim ancestral territory.

Mukunã Pataxó remembers his aunt began to sing moments before the gunfire rang out.

Maria de Fátima Muniz, 52, was a spiritual leader among the Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãe, an Indigenous group in northeastern Brazil. A short, serious woman with dark, shoulder-length hair, she was known to lead her people in prayer and song, her voice deep and steady.

But on January 21, that voice could not quell the violence about to erupt in the rolling green hills outside Potiraguá, a town in the state of Bahia.

About 50 members of Maria’s village had gathered there to set up camp one day prior, in an effort to reclaim part of their ancestral homeland. She, her brother Chief Nailton Muniz and the other Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãe activists had planned to plant traditional crops in the area: beans, cassava and corn, alongside medicinal herbs.

But their presence generated backlash among the local landowners. A social media message soon circulated on WhatsApp, calling on merchants, farmers and landholders to “take back” the parcel.

More than 30 vehicles arrived the next morning, blocking access to the roads. The Brazilian government later estimated there were 200 non-Indigenous “ruralists” present. Some came armed.

Mukuna said police on the scene had assured the Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãe of their safety. Video showed the group chanting at the top of a dirt path, while officers stood metres away.

Law enforcement did nothing, however, as the ruralists raised their guns to shoot, Chief Muniz and his stepson Mukunã allege.

The ruralists opened fire and attacked the group, wounding at least five people and setting fire to Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãe vehicles. Chief Muniz was shot in the kidney. And his sister was fatally injured. She died on the way to the hospital.

“The police were watching everything,” said Mukunã, “as if we were nothing to them.”

Maria became the second Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãe leader to be shot dead in southern Bahia in the past three months.

Her death has raised lingering questions about the ongoing violence against the Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãe community — and whether Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva can follow through with his promises to defend Indigenous rights.

Continue reading.

[rushirufur]

Ineffable

Part one of a little fic imma be writing :3 thank you so so much @terminallydepraved for making me turn off my slav brain and making it more readable for others

Part 1!

Clear sky and sheen silk of stardust seeping through the patches between trees line his path, gentle footsteps lost in the chatter of crickets and owls. It was the lone horse which wandered into his garden and started chewing on his herbs that led him there, intricately engraved reins stopping their clanking as the creature came to a halt. Down. A line of grass leading down a slope near the place where they stopped was bent. Harsh jagged blades either ripped or pressed into the ground. A heavy object? No, it has to be alive. Something had to have fallen down there and, given by the way the horse looked at him, it must've been his rider. Sadly, the horse could not speak, so he had to guess.

The mage slid through the ferns and bushes littered across the tilted earth, falling on his feet once he descended fully. There lay a man, heavy fur coat obscuring his figure, silver locks tangled in the flora that cushioned his fall. He must've fallen unconscious, the mage thought to himself, a hand reaching out to brush away a few strands to properly see the man's face. Sharp angles and hard cheekbones met his fingertips. Moving to his temples, a trail of light traced the skin the half-elf had touched. This was to alleviate pain from any head injury the man wrapped in a mountain of matted hide might've suffered. For now, the mage had to wait, sitting by the beast-like shape. There was no way he could get him out of there without the other man being at least somewhat conscious, considering their very apparent height difference. Unless… The young man tapped his bottom lip before springing up, eyes opened wide in a eureka moment. He crawled back up to the creature awaiting him at the top of the ditch. It would be safer to evoke a spell here rather than do it down there and risk slipping on the terrain. Cloak dropped to the ground, his staff buried itself into the ground just at the edge. A brief flash of light obscured his whole figure. For a moment, there was nothing— not even him. Only the object he sought to manipulate. The location and the image of a man flashed in his mind, vision blurring before returning to normal. As his eyes slowly readjusted, he could now safely levitate the other man onto his horse and transport him like that without risking losing focus and slamming him into the dirt on accident. Not that he didn't do that on his own a few hours or even days prior.

The horse seemed to be excited to see its rider; a white and gray spotted snout nudged the unconscious figure. ,,Don't you worry, he's alright," the mage reassured, reaching out a hand to caress the horse's neck. With a soft thud the body he’d found was now thrown over the horse's midsection, and his cloak left the ground to cover him once more. From here on out, it should be smooth sailing.

-

A soft smell… Lavender? No, there was something else. Acidic, but sweet. Lavender and gooseberries… It filled Silva's nostrils, the first thing he noticed upon waking. Where was he? How did he get here? Where was his—?! Panic set in his chest as he realized he had been stripped down to his undergarments, his weapons nowhere in sight. He was not bound, yet felt more vulnerable than if he were. The fur cloak was layered on top of him at least, giving him some sort of coverage.He laid atop a soft bed. The room itself felt... non threatening. Tons and tons of books and tomes layered on top of each other, not only on the wooden work desk in the corner and in the bookshelves, but also all over the ground, some dusty, some brand new. Potted plants and vines overtook all the spots that were rich in sunlight, and candles scattered around the various dressers and tables, some of them serious fire hazards. It did not feel like he had been kidnapped. No kidnapper would put this much effort into their victim's comfort.

With only one article from his original outfit to wear, he stood up, throwing the... not stained...  cloak over his shoulders, surprised by how soft the fur was to the touch. Did... did someone wash it? Questions later. He needed to figure out what was going on and, with only one door to go through, he knew where he was heading.

Yet another room the silver haired man had to take a moment to bask in, a kitchen of sorts, with a cauldron and dried herbs hanging from every possible direction. Plates and cups and all sorts of glass bottles danced around in the air, going from the washbasin through a cloth into their assigned place in the cupboards. Behind all this was a figure, black ruffled locks with bits of hair sticking out like little horns, a cream-colored, flowy blouse— were those his hunting knives? Silva reached for one of the tools floating around him, a bit of light blue sparkle leaving the wooden handle as he gripped it in his palm. It was clean. So was the remainder of his clothes thatsat neatly folded on a chair next to the man flipping through a book that must've been at least ten times as old as him.

"You're welcome." 

A soft voice, barely audible through the ruckus going on around them, caught Silva's attention. What do you mean, you're welcome? The grip on his blade tightened, arms coming up in a defensive stance. Perhaps now— ,

,,You can put that down," sang the voice again. The raven-haired man turned to face him for the first time. As upset as Silva was that he could not finish his thought, it was very quickly shut down by the pretty face looking up at him. A slender finger redirected his attention to the clothes waiting for their owner. Silva didn't have the option to hesitate with his trust. He was basically naked, after all. Carefully, Silva strode forwards, taking his slacks first, hastily pulling them on so he could regain at least a bit of his dignity before bombarding the strange man with questions.

,,Where am I?" Tone pointed, he could not resist taking out bits of his frustration at being touched without permission, even though he knew it was for the best. Who sleeps with armor on anyway, right?

,,A kitchen," came an answer as uninterested as the person giving it.

,,I know it's a kitchen. A kitchen where?"

,,In a house."

A frustrated groan was the only answer Silva gave him, pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers, ,,okay, this is pointless– Where is my sword?"

,,Right–" with a loud whoosh the sword in question joined the ensemble of tupperware in line to be washed. Chrollo's eyes darted from the honed steel back to his hostile guest, ,,there."

Silva's eye twitched. As grateful he was for the cleaning service, he could not afford to stay wherever he was any longer. A now clothed arm reached for the hilt, bringing the shining steel into its scabbard.

,,I have to leave," he proclaimed. It was not a suggestion nor a question: it was a statement. 

,,The pain suppressants are going to wear off soon. If you leave now you will eat shit like you did last time."

The utter look of defeat on Silva's face could not be described. He's been stripped and drugged; not only that, but he had to listen to this brat talk to him with absolutely zero regard for authority. If it weren't bad enough, Silva actually found him rather pretty. Hearing the shorter man swear was like watching a flower vomit.

,,Your choice." But it wasn't really a choice at all, was it? ,,The infection won't leave on its own. If you want it healed, stay. Go thank your horse once you feel better. She saved your life."

Completely ignoring the bit about the infection, Silva whipped his head towards the closest window. His horse- how could he forget about his horse? It was good that the brat mentioned her. Even though he did not want to admit it, she was not the first thing on his mind when he awoke nor was she the first thing on his mind right now. His stomach rumbled. The two men looked at each other, not breaking eye contact for several seconds. The mage snickered. No offer of food came. Silva knew he would have to ask and by what the other told him, he would need to eat. Anything to get out of here as soon as possible. This time without putting his horse in danger.

,,Could I–’’ he swallowed his words, tripping over one syllable and starting over several times before he could get out a coherent sentence. Short and quick. A plea nonetheless. ,,Could I have some food,’’ came the long awaited query. Silva was met with silence. Was there something else the he-witch wanted? Was this not polite enough for him?

,,Chrollo.’’

,,What?’’

,,My name is Chrollo,’’ a slight pause interrupted his speech, ,,you are free to make food for yourself. Unless you are not capable of that right now.’’

Before the older man could answer, he felt a sharp pain in his lower rib. Oh. He meant this soon. He reached around to place a hand over the problem spot. The same kind of glimmer he saw on his knives and sword unveiled some bandages. Oh. This is why I’m told to stay. Of course, he would not admit it out loud– he was grateful. A little bit pissed at not being able to see the bandages straight away, but grateful. The grunt was all Chrollo needed to hear. This breakfast was on him, then.

,,Bed. Now.’’

Without any hesitation, Silva complied.

[theosilvas]

pedro pascal / 48 / cismale —have you noticed that THEO SILVA is back in town? the BARTENDER is apparently pretty LOYAL, but HE can also be a little JUDGEMENTAL. HE is always blasting IN THE AIR TONIGHT by PHIL COLLINS, as it makes them think of something from their past. i hope the VIRGO has a better time here than most.

tw: illness, death, homophobia

At the age of seven, nearly eight, the Silva family were the targets of a home robbery that left Theo without parents and sent to live with his Uncles at the other end of the continent. They always wanted kids, but not like this.

Uncle Evan was the brother of Theo's mom, but Theo developed a closer bond with his uncle's husband, Uncle Matthew, that he did with his blood relation. The man's quiet nature made him a better companion for the grieving child and together they cultivated a love for the outdoors.

Theo learned how to garden and grew an apple tree from a seed just like his kindergarten class taught him, he grew little herbs on the windowsill and watched Uncle Evan throw them in food and drinks and felt like he contributed. He also liked seeing that he could keep something alive, even if plants weren't the same as people.

He had a green thumb, but also bloody knuckles. Not all of his time was spent growing herbs and participating in 4H club. Not everyone was tolerant of Theo's family and when people tried to take it out on him, Theo pushed back. Uncle Matthew didn't approve of fighting, but Uncle Evan did, and that was the start of lessons at the gym in self defense and for the first time since moving, Theo found something besides blood to share with Evan - boxing.

As all kids do, he grew up, but he never moved far away from his family, attending college only an hour away. He wasn't a phenomenal student, never was, but Theo knew they were proud of him and supported him anyway, through thick and thin. Evan used to say that Theo needed to get a fancy diploma and go on to be a millionaire so he could support Evan and Matt once they were addled old men, and Theo always laughed and said he would, even though he knew he'd never be rich.

What happened next would have been easier if he was. Matt was diagnosed with cancer during Theo's second year of college and bills quickly piled up. Theo eventually dropped out and threw himself fully into work to try helping, but helping with the finances didn't help Matt, who lost his battle and seemed to take part of Evan with him.

There wasn't any returning to college after that, just working and trying to look out for Evan, who was never the same. The jokes about taking care of him in his old age no longer seemed like jokes, for all that Evan was only in his sixties. That still seemed like it was too young for Evan to fall apart, at least in Theo's mind.

It wasn't the life Theo planned, and he knew it wasn't the one Uncle Matt wanted for him, but Theo made do as the years past, time adding up until college was a half forgotten memory. He worked a variety of odd jobs, bouncing around between things that didn't requite any qualifications until one of Evan's friends mentioned needing a new bartender soon, and promising to hire Theo if he got certified. It would cost, but the pay raise would make up for it in a month or two.

That's where he met Lucy, and it felt like love at first sight. She became a light for him, a joy as things with Evan became worse. Theo knew his hours were difficult, that he was often preoccupied and stressed because of his family, and Lucy always seemed to handle it with grace. She handled it with grace for a few years and by the time Evan grew worse, they were engaged. Their apartment was small, and Theo was filled with ideas of moving into Evan and Matthew's old house with her one day, renovating it and having a small family with her.

Then Evan passed away from health complications and Lucy admitted to cheating on him, claiming she hadn't wanted to weigh him down with the knowledge when he was dealing with Evan in the hospital, and then the funeral. In Theo's mind, it wasn't any better finding out his fiancee was leaving him for the man she'd been having an affair with while he was grieving, and the split ended up acrimonious.

With his family dead or gone, Theo's life felt empty and he sold everything tying him to his old life before packing up and crossing the continent once again to restart his life.

[slifarianhawk]

Chapter 3: Osmanthus and Jasmine (Normal. P.O.V.)

"Hush child and listen well. You breathe Dendro as I. You are so much like i strong and just. Do not dwell on the past, for we shall meet soon enough." The deep voice resonated deeply within me, "now awaken."

I jolted awake, sweat dripping down my face. My vision was hazy, but the room I was in smelled different from the hallway I was in prior. This place smelled of medical herbs and antiseptic. I rubbed my hands down my legs and onto what felt like a mattress. Did I make it to the infirmary? No, I couldn't have made it.

"Hey, you're awake!" I heard a gentle voice say as I heard small footsteps walk towards me. I rubbed my eyes, yet my vision was still foggy.

"Hi, um... I hate to be a bother, but do you have a cloth with some water on it? My vision is a bit off currently." I say, looking at a blurred short figure standing by my feet.

"Of course! Let me get you a damp cloth. So you're Ms. Silva?" The sweet voice said, walking away.

"Yeah, I am Silva, although here I guess I'm going to be known as one zero six four. May I ask how you know of me, I had only arrived a few hours ago. I haven't introduced myself to anyone." I said sadly, bringing my hands to my lap.

"Don't be so down. Monsieur Nuevillette wouldn't have told me to make sure you were taken of you if he thought you were evil." The small figure ran back towards me.

I felt something wet dab at my eyes. It was soft and warm. Oh, she must have brought the clothes and the water was warm. That was not a luxury I was not expecting. After she wiped my eyes, I blinked a few times, and my sight was as right as the rain.

I closed my eyes, and a soft smile graced my lips, "Thank you... Ms?"

I looked beside me and saw a kind smile returning my own.

"Sigewinne, head nurse Sigewinne," the small human-like Melusine said.

"Thank you, Ms. Sigewinne." I bowed my head.

"Don't worry about it, but if you should, thank anyone. It would be his grace. He carried you into the infirmary after you fell unconscious." She said, lifting my shirt.

I stared at my side, noticing fresh bandages and a massive reduction of the pain in my side, "Did you heal me? Ms. Sigewinne."

"Yes, while you still have a gash on your side, it no longer requires stitches. I healed it up using my vision. However, you should still take it easy for the next few days." She smiled, sitting at her desk in the front of the room.

"So the infamous Duke of Meropide carried me here, that's sweet of him to do... especially since I had just arrived." I said, smiling, turning to get out of bed.

"You should tell him that. He invited you to his office for some tea. He said no one's first day in Meropide should be spent in the infirmary." She said, opening a drawer and pulling out a large envelope, "Here I need this brought to his grace. Could you take this to him? I have to go make myself some dinner."

"Alright, I can do that. I am remiss, though I haven't been shown where his office is." I said, standing and stretching my back.

She let out a small chuckle, "I'll show you just follow me."

"Alright, lead the way," I said following after the small Melusine.

She led me down the main corridor and to the lift I had taken earlier with that asshole guard. Ms. Sigewinne was greeted happily by both the staff and inmates. It filled my heart with hope that maybe that guard was just a one-off coincidence.

"You seem well-respected, Sigewinne. It's quite nice to see." I smiled.

"Why thank you, Ms. Silva, I can tell by the way you walk, you are well-traveled. Your posture is a bit ridged, but each step has meaning. You're guarded but free-flowing it's quite refreshing." Sigewinne said, leading to a massive set of double doors.

"I guess this is his grace's office?" I ask, marveling at massive bronze or perhaps brass handles.

"It sure is. Now, it's best not to keep him waiting." Sigewinne said, walking off behind me.

I gulped and took a centering breath. As I reached out for the handle, I noticed my fingers twitching. With another breath, I steel myself. I pulled open the huge door open.

I was met with a gentle scent that reminded me of my found home in Liyue. I ascended the stairs that were wrapped around the edge of the room. There was an interesting music playing in the background.

As I reached the apex of the stairs, I noticed a tall man standing in front of a massive desk. There was a coat covered in black wolf like fur draped over his back. There was a small create opened next to him.

"Excuse me, your grace? You wanted to see me?" I spoke, noticing his hair swish slightly at my voice.

"Yes, and thank you for coming, Ms. Silva." He said, turning to face me.

I was stunned, and this man was gorgeous. He was roughly six foot two and well built. But what stood out to me was his cold, calculating, icy blue eyes.

"Please have a seat on the sofa." He said, motioning to the worn red couch snapping from my thoughts.

"Of course." I said, sitting down, noticing the items that were left in my hotel room were either on his desk or in the small crate, "Pardon me, your grace, but why do you have these items? I was told by the guardes they'd be destroyed."

"Ah, monsieur Nuevillette had the champion duelist had them brought here for you. I must say for a traveler from Inazuma you have a lot of documents that don't pertain to your travel in Fontaine." He said, looking over his shoulder at me.

"I was here for research regarding my family. He and my mother traveled throughout Tevat just before I was born. From what I found out, my mother abandoned me and him at Port Ormos when he was trying to escape his family in Sumeru. I was but a newborn at the time. From what I found out during my time in Liyue, they spent the most time in Fontaine. They were herb farmers. I was trying to find where my mother went." I said  the decision to be truthful, weighing on my mind.

"That's quite the story. Would you care for some tea?" He asked, putting a kettle on a small tea nook.

"That sounds quite lovely, actually."  I said Sigewinne did say the invite was for tea after all.

He turned towards his desk, sitting down in the well constructed chair as he interlocked his fingers, "So tell me, do you know why the guard whom escorted you to your room was so rough with you?"

I looked down at my feet, "It's because of my attack on the guards... according to him, I had put his brother-in-law in the hospital. He was seeking revenge. At least, that's my perspective on the matter."

"I feel that I must apologize for being so remiss in retraining my guards. I had just taken over Meropide. It appears some of the guards haven't been properly trained in my new policies."  He said, staring into my eyes.

"There is no need to apologize, your grace. I brought this upon myself." I said a deep sense of remorse coursing through my heart.

"No one brings abuse from others on themselves, no matter the circumstances." He said as the kettle started to whistle.

That struck me deep. It reminded me of something Ayato said to me as I departed Inazuma.

"No matter where the journey takes you, remember you don't have to take the plate given to you." Ayato's voice rang in my ears.

I smiled slightly, "Thank you, your grace."

"Please, if it's not too much, call me Wriothesley while in this office." He said, standing up, going over to the kettle.

"Wriothesley... that's a lovely name." I murmured under my breath.

I stood up and walked over to the crate containing my belongings. I felt his gaze shift to my back. There was a feeling of tension between us. I didn't blame him for the suspension.

"Forgive me, Wriothesley. I don't have any weapons. I was just wondering if we are having tea, could we use the blend that my close friends in Liyue made." I said slightly bowed.

"It's alright, Ms. Silva. I had already gone through the crate. I know there were no weapons in there. Is the tea in those carved cor lapis jars?" His grace said, pulling the kettle of the heat.

"In the largest one, yes. The rest of the jars are other dried herbs that are sensitive to the open air." I said, pulling out the intricately crafted cor lapis jar that had a carving of a dragon on the lid.

He brought the cups over to his desk, " That's quite lovely,".

"Thank you, Wriothesley. It was a gift from two friends whom I became close with in Liyue harbor. They gave them to me along with the tea before I departed for Fontaine." I said, placing the jar on the large desk.

"If you don't mind me asking, what blend of herbs are in this tea?" He asked, turning towards me.

"Mainly osmanthus and jasmine, there is also violet grass and dried glaze lilies. It's meant to help with migraines and exhaustion." I said, taking off the lid, "My friend, Baizhu, blended it with my goal in mind."

"Dr. Baizhu of Bubu pharmacy, maybe you can put in a word for Sigewinne. She has been wanting to order some herbs from them but can't seem to get a response." Wriothesley said, measuring out some of the loose tea for our cups, "We do have a post station here in the fortress. So long as you have the coupons, we can send and receive anything from or to anywhere. So long as it passes inspection first."

"I can at least try. Both you and Sigewinne have shown me a great deal of kindness in the few short hours I've been here. It is the very least I can do." I say as Wriothesley hands me the freshly steeped tea.

"Cream or sugar?" He asked, gesturing to the tray on his coffee table.

"Just some sugar, cream mutes the flavor of the osmanthus petals." I said, sitting down on the couch once more.

"Well, I shall take your word for it." He said, placing a cube of sugar in his cup, and I did the same.

"Do you have any other questions for me?" I asked, slowly sipping the steamy beverage in my hand, warmth spreading through my chest as a sense of familiarity eased my thoughts.

"Yes, actually, this was waiting for you at the front desk of the hotel you were at. According to the champion duelist, it had arrived today." Wriothesley said, pulling a golden envelope out of a folder on the coffee table, "Would you care to read it for me?"

I recognized the golden hue and glaze lily wax seal. It was from the man who had been looking after me when I arrived in Liyue. Mr. Zhongli, he found my travels a curious topic and had taken interest in my quest.

"May I ask why? It's not like I have anything to hide, I'm just curious." I asked, lifting up the wax seal.

"It's a favor to Nuevillette. He, as you know, is continuing to investigate your attack. There seems to be a possibility of a connection to the increase of drug overdoses in the Court of Fontaine. I want to help him get to the bottom of it." He said.

"Ahh, I see. I will read it for you. However, there will be little information to assist you, I'm afraid." I said, pulling the stationary from its confinement.

"I'll guess we will see, won't we." His grace said, his icy eyes closing as he sipped his tea.

I unfolded the nicely penned letter and began to speak, "Good day, Silva, I have heard of what befell you in Fontaine. While I am unsure of all the details, I know that the Fontaine justice system is a fair one. While I have accepted the fact that it may be a fair bit of time before we see or even exchange letters. I want you to know I still shall help you find your family. Once you are able to reach out to me and tell me of your journey. I shall a wait for the day can share tea and exchange stories once again, my honored friend."

"Your friend is quite well written." Wriothesley said placing down his empty cup.

"He is." I agreed with his grace, "Did anything aroused your suspensions?"

"No, it just seems you have someone on the outside of Fontaine who cares for you." He said standing up.

I subtly looked up at his face. His grace looked like he was trying to suppress a sorrowful expression. A face I knew well. I looked at the shelves behind me and happened to notice a small clock reading it was past eight at night.

"I must apologize Wriothesley, but I feel as if I have taken up too much of your time. Someone of your status must be busy. I'm sorry to have wasted your time." I said embarrassedly as he put up his hand.

"No need for the apologies Silva. I was the one who invited you. If I am to be honest I don't view this as a waste of my time. It's not often I invite a prisoner to my office their first day and of the times I have done that, this time has been relatively enjoyable. Now I shall have a guarde bring you this create by tomorrow however I'm sure you wouldn't like your lovely herb jars stolen. So as a favor I'll keep them locked in my office and if you feel you need some of your tea just send a request through Sigewinne. I'll be glad to share another cup of tea with you." He said offering his hand to help me off the couch.

I felt a slight warmth glaze my cheeks as I took his hand, "Thank you, your grace."

"Please, just Wriothesley." He said helping me up.

"Thank you, Wriothesley." I smiled as I felt his gaze soften.

"Your welcome. Now go talk to ban, the robot next to the cafeteria. It'll provide you with your daily wellfair meal." He said walking over to the stairs.

"I appreciate it. Have a good night." I said bowing to him and walking down the stairs. I quickly walked out

Maybe, just maybe.... things will be okay.