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y-rhywbeth2 · 1 year ago

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Gods and Clergy: Bane

Link: Disclaimer regarding D&D "canon" & Index [tldr: D&D lore is a giant conflicting mess. Larian's lore is also a conflicting mess. You learn to take what you want and leave the rest]

Well, I did the murderhobos, might as well cover the deity and daily business of our favourite hot-topic-shopping dictator and co. now? Ahahahahaaaaa There is too much goddamn material on Bane, I'm going to kill Ed Greenwood-

Intro: If you're not consumed with fear and hatred while trying to take over a city which you intend to rule with cruelty and an iron fist then this is not the religion/political party for you. If this is not the religion/party for you, please lower your neck so that I can attach this slave collar to it.

Banites: The hierarchy and rituals and stupid toys of the church of Bane is what you get when Lawful Evil and Lawful Stupid have a horrible, overcomplicated offspring called Lawful Sadistic. Bring me the avatar of Bane I'm going to stab this fucker Also, being goth is mandatory.

Dreadmasters: More teleporting! Bossy, immune to fear and fond of magic rods. Also, do you remember that "divine oath" Durge and Gortash swore...?

The Chosen: Should be way more impressive than what we saw in game. Forging unbreakable oaths! Pet beholders! Detachable shadow spies! Etcetera!

Bane: Boy, the world (and my sanity) would've been a much better off if this dude had gotten intensive therapy instead of divine power!

(This thing is too fucking long and should perhaps be split into two posts but ooooh my god am I not editing this anymore.)

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Bane's clergy often hear their god whispering his dogma in their dreams:

"Serve no one but me. Fear me always - and make others fear me even more than you do. The Black Hand always strikes down on those who stand against it in the end. Defy me and die - or in your death find loyalty, for I shall compel it. Submit to my will, [as uttered by my ranking clergy] since true power can only be gained through service to me. [Spread the dark fear of Bane.] It is the doom of those unguided by me to let power spill through their hands. [Those who cross the Black Hand meet their dooms earlier and more harshly than those who worship other deities.]" - Bane's Dogma [with 14th century addendums in brackets]

Bane is basically the quintessential villain of the Realms. When a person pictures the face of evil, they picture this god and his followers.

The most important thing to know about Bane and his religion, in my opinion, is summed up here:

"The summons [from Ao] had come wearing the face and form of that which each of the gods feared most. [...] To the Black Lord, Bane, the summons came in the guise of absolute love and understanding, its light searing his essence as it carried him from his kingdom." - Shadowdale

You want to give one of the most evil bastard in the pantheon a panic attack? Give him a hug.

Following a brief version of a backstory that has been given for him; the mortal who would be Bane was born on Abeir, Toril's linked twin planet/parallel universe. There he was a nameless battle slave to Maram of the Great Spear - an ancient primordial being of absolute evil whom the Netherese had summoned into the world, where it broke free and started inflicting horrors upon the world. While in the service of said horrifying evil, the young slave nurtured ambitions of having absolute power for himself.

While on Toril he teamed up with his two future frenemies, Bhaal and Myrkul, and they killed (or possibly subjugated) his master and took his power for themselves, before heading off to nag Jergal for his job. After bickering, the ex-slave known only as "the Bane of the Ancients" wins the draw and gets to be what he always wanted - the epitome of tyranny with godlike power. The next step for him is to conquer the mortal world and destroy all the other gods so that none have power and control over him.

Banite religion is founded on the principle of making Bane's dream of global domination possible. Every Banite is a link in the chains of Bane's power. What they rule, he rules. All Banites strive to take over something (village, city, kingdom, army, whatever). All Banites are expected to aid and obey their superiors in this domination.

When in control, a Banite is to use their power to "further the cause of hate, fear, destruction and strife." Doing so within the control of the law is preferable, but chaos is tolerated as long as that chaos is wielded as a tool with perfect control. You can get voted into power by stirring up people's fears of minorities, or start the apocalypse and present yourself as the saviour - but you must not be overwhelmed, or you have failed.

The world is divided into slaves who have no power and exist to serve, and the powerful who command them. Bane is the rightful master of all and all are to serve him, and by extension his followers (those with the strength to seek, take and hold power), willingly or by force. Control is the key virtue in the eyes of the faith. Always be in control and/or be controlled by somebody more capable/deserving of power than you. As their lessers are expected to obey every order perfectly, the superiors are expected to be competent in their leadership and wield perfect command.

Banites pride themselves on being cold and decisive in all that they say and do. They also enjoy cutting sarcasm. It's vital to appear in command of yourself and the world around you - shouting, loss of temper and other outbursts of behaviour that suggest a lack of control/power are avoided like the plague. Two Banites on the brink of killing each other may appear to be in the midst of only a polite, but insistent disagreement.

Bane used to enjoy watching his power hungry idiots backstabbing each other to climb the ranks while overzealous worshippers splintered into factions and started killing each other (most notably a divide between the divine-magic based orthodoxy and the arcane-magic based reformers/"Transformers".) Then Mystra technically killed him during a fight with Torm in the Time of Troubles, and Cyric took over his church. When Bane made a comeback in the 14th century he immediately decided they wouldn't be doing that anymore. Now it's an united rigid hierarchy from top to bottom, and Banites are a well organised, well equipped unit.

The laws of the heathens are irrelevant, but a Banite who gets caught breaking those law trying to achieve their goals is expected to suck it up and do the time for failure - unless they've been doing such a good job that everybody's too far under their control to try and punish them for it, in which case great job. A+ in Bane worship.

Banites typically establish themselves in an area by finding a location out of sight of a civilisation and building a fortress, where they build their power until they are too strong a force to drive off. Taking over an existing fort is also a possibility. The temple is run like a military base: spartan, with only tapestries showing Bane's symbol and religious texts on it for decoration. The courtyard is meant for military drills and rituals, and there's a mass hall for dining and holding prayer. They like pointy architecture. And black. Oh, and the torture basements! Can't forget those. It's also where they keep a variety of trained monsters in pens. You may end up sharing your cell with a displacer beast or something, but don't worry about it.

Banites have a secret network of teleporting spells. The actual "portals" will be any space of stone big enough to stand on, which are magically connected to other points (also stone). If you stand on one and speak the correct password, then it will teleport you to the destination designated by that password. There are no spells or barriers that can prevent the teleporter from arriving at their destination. Banites can bring others along with them if they are physically connected when the password is said. They can't bring more than 100lbs of inanimate matter with them.

All are welcome to convert to Bane. There will be an interview where your intentions are checked, although if it turns out you're not actually evil-aligned you can still join. There's a good chance that they'll use magic to turn you into an "incorruptible champion of evil and uncompromising disciple of order" anyway; "for Bane recognizes the value of those who have seen the lure of good and turned away from it to serve evil."

Or just use dark magic to twist you from a person into a weapon/guard/servant bound to the service of Bane anyway.

Banites are also able to ensure loyalty with a magically binding divine oath called the Dark Promise, cast by his favoured priests (Dreadmasters). It's an old spell, back from the early days when Bane was a new god and his followers were vulnerable, and is not used as often. When the spell is cast and the oath is made, a set of circumstances are set into motion that targets of the spell must follow to the letter. The promise must have Bane's interests at heart and the conditions and stipulations cannot be endanger the individuals' lives. If the oath is violated, it drains the oath breaker's life force. The damage done by this spell cannot be healed, and if the oath breaking does not cease then they will die.

Bane is one of the few exceptions amongst the gods in that his worshippers are all henotheistic rather than polytheistic. Banites consider worship of other deities "foolish," Bane is the only master you should truly serve. All under Banite rule will be forced to convert to the worship of Bane. They are however willing to cooperate with the followers of Loviatar (pain), Talona (disease), Malar (predation), and Mask (thievery) as Bane has terrified these gods into allying with him. From a certain school of Banite thought, this means that they and their followers are part of the chains of Bane's will (the gods/faithful in question probably wouldn't agree). Bhaal was, or perhaps still is, a servant of Bane and he and Myrkul have also been counted amongst Bane's allies in the past, despite their tendency to squabble, so cooperation with Bhaalists and Myrkulites is not unimaginable when it serves both their deities.

Banites do not get on so well with... anybody, but they particularly hate worshippers of Ilmater (compassion), Tyr (justice), Helm (non-Banite order), Lathander (optimism/renewal), Torm (champion of the innocent), Oghma (knowledge) and Mystra. If they get their hands on one they'll usually torture them and leave their mutilated bodies somewhere for the distressed public to find. Bane and Cyric are still at war, both due to humiliation and the fact that they're still fighting over areas of divine power that the other has stolen/reclaimed from the other, and the corpses of Cyricists that fall into Banite hands are usually found with "heretic" branded on their foreheads as a warning to others who worship the usurper.

Banite clergy are expected to always be armed, and it is mandatory that you at least wear something black at all times. For ceremonial purposes, Banites wear black armour or robes with a blood-red cape. Wizards like to enchant their robes so that they swirl and give off illusions of glittering with "black stars" and have blood dripping off the hem. The higher in the ranks you go, the fancier the clothes get. Banites used to have facial tattooing, although this made them rather easy to identify and kill off when Cyric took over and some purges took place. The highest ranking Banites can be identified by a gem that they wear on their forehead. Banites are not expected to wear anything that would identify their religious affiliations if it would get them persecuted, but they do like decorating their clothes with spikes and are are expected to dress in a certain specific colour that I'm getting sick of typing out. When Bane rules the world we will all be dressing as goths under threat of execution...

Each priest has a ceremonial staff denoting their rank, which they will have at these rituals. When a Banite dies they are buried with it. They are unenchanted and purely for ceremony, at most being used to light braziers. It starts with a simple black wood staff [level 1], which at higher ranks has an ivory skull at the top [lvl 2-4]. Higher yet they add silver plating, and the skull is the size of a fist [lvl 5], and the even higher level priests that skull has ram horns [lvl 6]. After that you get real human skulls! [at lvl 7+]! They're allowed to decorate theirs how they like, as well as adding enchantments. So gemstones, magic runes, etc.

Bane's holy symbol is the Black Hand, a symbol of terror recognisable to the entire Realms. Versions include a black handprint, a black claw or a metal gauntlet embedded with jewels. Priests usually wear a replica of the hand as a carved pendant of black stone. There is another Black Hand seen on his high-ranking priests: elbow-length gloves crafted of flexible metal mesh or chainmail, usually worn on the left hand. It emits an eerie dark radiance, i's supposed to be black, and a non-Banite found wearing one can expect every Banite on the planet to hunt them to the ends of the world for this blasphemy (also it's about 50,000gp in value jfc). The gauntlet cannot be damaged by force and absorbs all spells of third level or less. Area of effect spells are not negated, but cannot affect the wearer. It can drain magic out of items, should the wearer touch them with intent to do so. The wearer can then discharge all of the absorbed magic into the body of another by touching them, causing them damage. They can also paralyze undead and living beings via touch.

To question or disobey a superior is to question or disobey Bane himself, and is answered by torture, disfigurement and/or death. The word of a Banite of superior rank is law, and you will do literally anything they ask you to do.

Banites have invented a magic whip (a mystic lash) that does all sorts of fun nonsense in case that happens. It's made of glowing red energy. If the priest needs their hands free then the whip can actually wield itself (need to scourge that annoying initiate, but you don't want to look up from your book? Then good news!) If the wielder choses, a lash of the whip may cause one of the following; paralysis, memory loss, seizures, extra damage plus the disintegration of equipment, or electrocution.

One is expected to greet those of higher rank by kneeling in front of them and kissing their boots

At the bottom of the hierarchy are the novices, who are addressed by the title of "slave." If they're good enough, Bane will send them a dream vision or manifest as a voice speaking from one of his altars - he will name them, and they are allowed to enter the first rank of the priesthood… of which there are 12 ranks with their own unique addresses, which everybody is expected to memorise. Disrespect to a higher rank will, as mentioned, involve insulting Bane and lead to torture, disfigurement and potential death.

The only time you're not expected to use the titles is when in the presence of heathens, Banites will address each other as Brother/Sister Faithful (when speaking to an equal/lesser) or Dread Brother/Sister (when addressing a superior).

Banites do not refer to each other by name, only by the name of their rank (unless there are too many individuals of the same rank. In the case you had a room full of Black Fangs, you would address them individually as Black Fang [Surname].) It's generally impossible for eavesdroppers to learn the names or personal details of a Banite.

The rankings are determined by character level, and are as follows:

Watchful Brother/Sister/Sibling

Deadly Adept

Trusted Servant

Willing Whip

Hooded Menace

Black Fang

Striking Hand

Vigilant Talon

Masked Death

Dark Doom

Higher Doom

Deep Mystery

The Deep Mysteries include the Deeper Mysteries… which have their own ranks! Secret, higher levels which are unknown to those of the first 11 levels who must address all higher ranking Banites as "Deep Mystery." There is no official means by which a Banite is bestowed this title, they bestow them upon themselves if they believe they should have the rank. The test lies in the fact that in order to keep the title their fellow Banites must also begin using them - in other words if you are not a pretender and truly have the power and authority to hold this title, then your siblings in the faith will follow.

The ranks of the Deep Mysteries, in order of authority, from lowest to highest:

Vigilator

Lord/Lady of Mysteries

Lord/Lady of the Hand

Imperceptor

Dark Imperceptor

Grand Bloodletter

High Inquisitor

The High Imperceptor is the Banite of highest rank of the Deep Mysteries, supreme living servant of Bane, and unlike the prior titles this one cannot be self-bestowed. I haven't seen any explanation for how it is bestowed, but I imagine Bane decides.

Banites don't bother with set holy days. We will have a holy day whenever the leading priest decides we're having one, and it will be called whatever they decide it is. This usually means a) somebody fucked up, time for a public punishment; or b) we've got an enemy/traitor, time for human sacrifice.

Rituals are to be held in as close to pitch darkness as is possible, gathered around the Black Altar (a wood table covered in a black cloth, a block of black stone - whatever, just so long as it's black so we can give it an ominous name). The Black Altar is to be made holy by having a replica of the Holy Hand of Bane floating above it (this too has to be black in colour). This is a levitating 6 foot tall stone hand that can sense alignments within a 60 foot radius, and it will attack good-aligned people on encountering them. When not in use it patrols Banite locations, seeking out spies and intruders and killing them.

And that the Seat of Bane will be placed in front of the Black Altar. The chair is black, its back is carved into the shape of a hand. Senior clergy sit in the throne when acting as Bane's voice for the rest of the congregation. So the leader of the area's Banites sits in the chair, and that means Bane is sitting in the chair. While sitting in it, the seated can read the thoughts of all beings within 90 yards. it can project a forcefield around the chair; can nullify magic in the area; allows the seated to see through illusions and invisibility; know the alignment of everyone present; allow the seated to speak with dead; and also conjure walls of fire. If the chair is knocked over, it causes a massive explosion of fire that kills everyone around it.

Then the party. With minimum partying and maximum solemn, ominous chanting and deep, heavy drum beats. Those guilty of disobedience or other failures will be chained to the altar and whipped in front of the congregation. And then there's the human sacrifice: "Sacrifices had to be humiliated, tortured, and made to show fear before dying to be acceptable to Bane, and they usually met their deaths through slashing, flogging, or being crushed by the Hand of Bane."

The traditional power base of the Banite faith was Zhentil Keep, the base of operations for the Zhentarim. The Black Network has once again been taken from Bane by Cyricists however, after the death of Fzoul Chembryl a few decades back - Fzoul was a Chosen of Bane and basically his favourite servant (who has since been made into a quasi-deity bearing some of Bane's divine power, that he may continue to serve) and Zhentil Keep is currently in ruins. The loss of the Keep (for a second time) destroyed Zhentarim power, and now they're mostly just a bunch of mercenaries with good connections on the black market trade routes (slaves, drugs, weapons, etc) as far as I can find.

The Dreadmasters are Bane's specialty priests, making up 10% of all Banites. Dreadmaster is a unisex title. They spend their time doing all the spellwork and making all the delightful inventions that have been giving me a headache. They have a stupid number of spells given to them. Nobody else's specialty priests have this many fucking spells.

They cannot feel fear from sources other than Bane

They can, however, project the feeling of absolute terror into every being within 10 feet of them, usually causing everyone to run screaming.

They can completely destroy the souls of the dying

Create extra evil undead

Create powerful, still sapient undead servants from dead Banites (from ghouls up to vampires)

Create animated suits of armour that serve the Banites, powered by people's souls

Make a warding symbol drawn with a mixture containing three drops of blood from a collection made by sacrificing 30 people. The ward is invisible and cannot be detected, and when activated it drains the life out of everyone present.

They have a supernatural knack for reading other's true moods and intentions They have a supernatural level of charisma and authority over their servants, who cannot help but be fanatically loyal

They are exceptionally skilled in the artificing of magical wands, rods and staves. When they use them the magic of the items is increased.

They're the ones who cast the stonewalk spells that make the teleport network run.

They're also the priests responsible for binding the Dark Promise.

"The Chosen of Bane are tyrants in every sense of the word, consumed with the quest for absolute power. Hand-picked by the deity of tyranny and fear, [they] are both charismatic and filled with hate [...] They seek only to rule with absolute, unchallenged authority over every living and undead create across the world."

They are unbothered by temperature, both hot and cold, as well as resistant to being burned or electrocuted.

They do not age, though they will still die at an age where they would've died if they did age.

Supernatural insight into motives and emotions, and a massive boost to their charisma.

They can mind control people, are immune to fear, can share this immunity with others or increase the fear they feel.

They can also cast gaes, which is basically exactly the same as the Dark Promise, but doesn't necessarily have to benefit Bane (blasphemous as that sounds).

They can summon undead beholders to serve them

They can grant their own shadows independence as an undead creature of the same name (shadows), While separate the shadow is free-willed, though the two remain telepathically linked.

They are served by a retinue of their own master's servants including: doppelgangers; helmed horrors; beholders; undead Banites; hell hounds; imps; displacer beasts; Banelar nagas (evil snake things with human faces)

Bane doesn't like using avatars, if he needs to manifest on Toril he just possesses people in positions of wealth and power who transform into handsome, yet "oily" looking black haired men as long as he's inhabiting them. The souls of these people are forced to watch as the god does what he wants. Once the body is "worn out" from all the punishment he puts them through (mortal shells, so fragile) he'll move to another evil or neutral mortal via touch.

If he strikes out with his gauntleted hand, then there is a good chance that the person stuck will drop dead.

In combat he warps the face into a more beastial visage. His hands become talons capable of "rending flesh and bone" and in the Time of Troubles when he was first forced to manifest as a normal human he immediately started editing the body into a more demonic visage although that might've been because he'd just crash landed in his own temple and destroyed it, and only had a few moments until his torture happy zealots turned up to find what seemed to be some random dude standing in the wreckage. He was in kind of a panic trying to make sure they saw Bane, God of Tyranny not... that.

His other manifestations as a pair of blazing red eyes staring out from the darkness, and a black, taloned hand which was the temperature of ice to the touch. They work exactly like his other manifestation.

Bane sometimes announces his presence, and that he is paying attention to you, with the sudden manifestation of the giant footprint of a boot, scorched into the earth. He shows his approval of his followers through their sudden discovery of a black sapphire. His disapproval is shown through the sudden appearance of red carnelian, ground into dust.

He is served by various devils, beholders, death tyrants (the undead remains of beholders that failed him), black dragons, banelar nagas and pride incarnates

Bane can cast any spell at will, save those that heal or create.

Bane was slain in the Time of Troubles. After his death his followers had an even bigger row between those who were loyal to Bane (orthodoxy) and those who worshipped his portfolio instead of the god himself and switched to Cyric. Many of the Orthodoxy began worshipping Iyachtu Xvim the Godson, son of Bane (whose mother was either a fiend or a fallen human paladin, nobody's sure).

Xvim was doing a pretty ok job in his nascent godhood up until 1372 DR, when Bane hijacked the essence of himself he'd left in his son and destroyed him - being reborn within his body and immediately regaining the rank of Greater Deity. About a few years following the Bhaalspawn Crisis, the year where Bhaal was supposed to be reborn from the death of his kids but failed.

Bane went on to continue being one of the most infamous, powerful and dangerous gods on Faerûn up until the Second Sundering, when suddenly we've got confusion.

In BG3 canon, the Dead Three are clearly greater than quasi-deity status. Due to new rules that WotC pulled out of their ass, gods of lesser deity status or higher cannot manifest avatars. Bane can still empower clerics and have Chosen, so he's most likely still a Greater Deity in BG3.

In Descent into Avernus, the Dead Three are apparently quasi-deities now, forced to exist in permanent avatars on Toril and unable to grant spells of have Chosen.

I think this nicely explains what I mean when I say D&D has no fucking "real" canon, it's all just a mountain of everyone's headcanons.

#Bane doesn't need to torture people; having to learn all the stupid details in his religion is already hell #enver gortash #long post #baldurs gate 3 #bg3

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lilacartsmadsion · 4 months ago

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Decided to show their full designs.

The Shadows of the gods or The Pillars of Darkness:

They guard the borders of Earthbread from the forces outside, Humans, Wizards all of them are a threat to the Light’s wonderful paradise of freshly baked cookies. Each one is a Shadow of the gods entirely and sometimes even worshipped as minor deities called ‘Legends’

They go by many names.

The Shadows of The Divine

The Pillars of Darkness

The Guardians of Earthbread.

Each Pillar follows the will of each god.

Grim Reaper/Deathly Licorice Cookie:

The Shadow and Angel of The Abysmal Gingerdozer…he who places those to eternal slumber. The final sleep of death. By the will of the Abysmal One does he follow, plague, destruction and malnutrition follow his path, for the lone path of death is not one many want to follow…

The Grim Reaper was created as a gift by The Nameless…given away to his brother to keep his titles afloat. Representing the dark black void of death, the quick release of silence the night offers in the dark…The Angel soars from on high guarding the borders from all directions. To the East he resides as that is birthplace. Go east if you wish to enter the realm of the dead, but beware for he is watches upon the endless sky…

The Cookies of this realm worship him as the deity of death, out of respect for keeping the order of this world…as thus he is called ‘The Pillar of Death’

Empyreal Pomegranate Cookie:

The Shadow and Priestess of the Ethereal Strawberry Cookie. She presides over the faithful and grants the blessings of luck upon those whose hearts are pure. The Priestess follows the will of the goddess of love, however blind her faith may be…

The Empyreal Vassal blesses those who put their whole faith in the gods and grants the chosen luck and grace throughout their lives. Protection is sought out once you seek her, as she protects those who are persecuted and scorned. To the North is where she resides for love and faith is the direction of the coldest hatred. She protects her side of the border with her unwavering curses of hatred. Go North if you wish for her aid, pass her trials of faith and she will protect you.

The Cookies of this realm worship her as a deity of protection, due to their unwavering faith in her abilities she is henceforth known as ‘The Pillar of Faith’

Jubilant Poison Mushroom Cookie:

The Shadow and Servant of the Glorious Gingerbright. They guide the young and nurtures the forgotten. Children are called to follow their path and adhere their example. They provide nutrition for the young, tend to the youthfulness of children, and most of all listen to the cries of the forgotten…

The Jubilant Deity brings forth the life within children. The freedom and development of their lives. Some say that this type of love is chaotic, but for the eyes of the deity, children deserve to experience even the slightest amount of joy. They are revered as their patron god and above all protector. They protect their side of the border with the poison of chaos. Go forth South for their protection, for they accept all children in their land.

The Cookies of this realm worship them as a deity of chaos, the reason why their name has switched to poison…though they call upon the freedom of the youth they are also known to be quite the trickster…thus they are named ‘The Pillar of Chaos’

Impervious Red Velvet Cookie:

The Shadow and Knight of The Apoditic Wizard Cookie. He resides over all matters of warfare and battle. The concept of war and strife is etched unto his mind. The Final Witness of the true nature of the Witches, The Impervious one protects his side of the borders with an Iron Fist.

The Impervious Knight reigns over a tower made of cakes, guarded by the legendary cake hounds of the ancient recipes of the Wizards. Using these he creates an army capable of protecting the cookies from all harm. He guards his side of the borders with pure might. Go West to seek out his domain, but beware for none make it back alive…

The Cookies of this realm worship him as a deity of war. Though they fear his might they respect him as a protector. Thus naming him ‘The Pillar of War’

The Dark Enchantress Cookie:

Much like the Nameless, His shadow bears no name, but a title. Created from the dough of the Wizards her might shines the night sky into pure oblivion. The shadows is where she lurks, the endless night is where she wakes. Born with the anger and sorrow of the Light she soars the sky with her army of cakes in tow.

The Dark Enchantress bears the weight of the darkness reminding the cookies of the balance between dark and light. The Shadows can aid and hide those who need protection. But blind those from the sights of their enemies. A reminder that the darkness is neither friend nor foe…She protects the borders of Earthbread with the might of the gods by her side. Go to the center of Earthbread, seek out the Millennial Tree…and pray tell she will be there.

The Cookies of this realm regard her as a deity of darkness, out of respect and pure awe in her the Cookies dub her ‘The Pillar of Darkness’

Each of these Pillars have a role to play in protecting the borders of Earthbread…may they reign eternal in their will of protection…

———————————————

I blame @cuppajj’s Beast Ancients AU for reviving my inspiration back from the dead. I’m trying to plan out the Legends’ backstory but let’s just say I’m also trying to figure out the main story.

Aka the actual plot of the AU. ‘That time I adopted a god’

Cause I haven’t really given Gingerbrave a direct motive for leaving and turning mortal. I’m THIS tempted to do an LMK Nuwa move. For him tbh.

But yeah here’s the Pillars of Darkness folks.

#cookie run kingdom #licorice cookie #pomegrante cookie #poison mushroom cookie #dark enchantress cookie #red velvet cookie #that time i adopted a god au

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songsofadelaide · 5 months ago

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Hello! Recently read a few of your kn8 Soshiro x Reader fics and fell in love with your writing style. It's so lovely, and I really like your portrayal of him! If you're okay with requests, can you maybe write a Soshiro/female!Reader story where the two have a number of memorable chance meetings from childhood to adulthood, until they "officially" meet in the Defense Force? I'm lowkey obsessed with the idea of two people who meet as kids and are repeatedly separated and reunited during different stages of life, before reuniting for good as adults who can be together. Bonus points if the reader is Kafka's silly little sister!

Sorry if this is a lot, and thanks for reading it all!

I love your big brain, anon. The childhood friends trope is really at the top of everything for some reason! But soulmates, too? (Or something like that lol.) These are just a few of my favourite things to write.

Hope you enjoy this!

cw: (F) Reader/OC has a name in this fic, Hibino Mayari, and is six years younger than Kafka and one year younger than Mina. There may be some inaccuracy with the ages. Written with a generic (f) reader in mind. ✧ Mayari is the deity of the moon, night, war, revolution, equality, and strength in the Philippines. Since Kafka had a unique name, I thought I'd give his little sister one, too. Think of it as their mother being some kind of voracious reader and giving her children names they absolutely cannot find in souvenir shops. wc: 3.8k

✧ Stardust - Sakura Fujiwara

stardust

Lucky stars, a trick of the gods, destiny— you could call your meeting so many different things. Strings so intricately twined that you'd think it to be a single rope, raindrops from the same cloud falling into the same ocean, and shadows coming together as the sun reaches a point in the sky. There wasn't a single part of you that wouldn't recognise the soul that touched yours that fateful day.

What was it like to make a promise to someone? Your older brother promised you many things— sweets after school, a piggyback ride whenever you got tired of running after him, and taking you wherever you wanted. Such were the little sister privileges granted to you by your older brother Kafka.

In the wake of your home's destruction, you remember him making a promise to a girl— your next-door neighbour Mina, and how they both swore to rise above and become the coolest Defense Force Officer the world has ever seen. You wanted in on that promise, too, and Kafka agreed only because you were his younger sister, his only one in this world. And Mina agreed because there was no way she could refuse you and your eagerness.

"I want to be a Defense Force Officer, too!"

"Then let's race! Me, Mina, and Mayari! Let's see who becomes the coolest of them all!"

Not long after making that promise, you were caught amid a Yoju attack that separated you from Kafka and your mother. You screamed and wailed for your older brother, for anyone at that point, only to be rescued by a lone swordsman who swept through the field with his single blade. Your nameless saviour brought you to the nearest evacuation centre, where you reunited with your family and the rest of your community.

You only knew swordsmen from legends and anime and not even once in your life did you ever think you'd be rescued by one, but then you were. And you couldn't peel your eyes away from the older man, who was clearly flattered by how you followed him around the evacuation centre with your curious eyes.

"Is there anything I can do for you, little one?"

"I—! I want to be a swordsman, too!"

He chuckled at your declaration, calling it an admirable intention, but the light in your eyes revealed the depth of your earnestness— a rarity for children like you who have lost nearly everything in your life— mostly due to Kaiju attacks.

The old man in the familiar Defense Force uniform crouched down and held out his hand for a handshake with you. "Very well. If you wish to devote yourself to the way of the sword, you must be willing to sacrifice your existing way of life."

He scrounged a wrinkled sheet of paper and a pen and wrote down an address that your practised eyes could read. "Ho… shina?"

"That's correct. If you truly wish to learn more about swordsmanship, come to this place, and I will teach you all that our family knows."

That little scrap of paper became your most treasured possession. After weeks of pestering your older brother to take you to that place, he eventually relented and allowed you a maximum of 30 minutes before he came to pick you up again.

You were almost turned away from the dojo when the students mistook you for a lost child, but your saviour recognised you— and your eyes filled with hope. When you introduced yourself to him once more and reiterated your intention to learn the way of the sword, he acknowledged you with a deep bow, which you quickly imitated.

"I have a son your age. He will be the one to teach you the most basic yet valuable lessons when it comes to swordsmanship," he said before gesturing at a boy in the same haori and hakama as him. "Soshiro."

Rumours about the high schooler Hibino Mayari and her incredible sword arm reached even the ears of her older brother in college. While you remained his adorable little sister for the most part, it was clear to Kafka that you had a gift for the sword you had to continue honing. From his estimation, you won't have any difficulty passing the Defense Force Entrance Exams, but that will depend on your overall combat power and affinity for firearms.

At 23, he had already failed four times, while you had one more year before you could take it yourself. And while you didn't wish for your brother to lose hope, the way things were going for him did not bode well.

You were both home for the weekend, Kafka with his can of beer in hand while you practised your swings with your bokken in your backyard.

"Aniki," you started. "Mina nee-san will take the entrance exams later this year, right?"

"Yeah. Wish her luck when you can," he told you. "Speaking of which, didn't you say your friend will be taking the exam, too?"

"Shiro-kun has family in the Defense Force. Though I doubt he'd try to get in the force by family connections alone," you said with a smile. "It's been years since I last saw him, so I wonder if he's really going to take the exam this year like he said before."

As a child, you learned everything you could about swordsmanship under the tutelage of the age-old samurai clan, but after being assessed at the age of 13, the Hoshina patriarch declared you a shodan, an estimation which meant you already had a clear grasp of the basics of swordsmanship.

"It's a pity they had to let you go just when you were getting good, huh?" Kafka remarked as he drank deep from his can of beer.

"I know, but Shisho said Shiro-kun and I were quickly becoming big fish in a small pond and training with a single person for a long time would narrow our perspective, so we had to start training with others. At least that's what he told me," you replied to him as you rested your bokken on your stiff shoulder. "I'm glad the schools I went to had Kendo clubs with members of varying levels of strengths and skill, so I was able to make use of my knowledge while learning new things at the same time."

"Oh, come on. You learned swordsmanship from an elite dojo. We both know you just wanted to show off— ow!" He said with a small snort, to which you replied by lightly kicking his shin. "Mayari!"

"Well, maybe I do want to show off a little," you huffed at your older brother.

"They even gave you some tacky nickname, right? Crescent blade Mayari! Pfft!"

You kicked his shin a bit harder this time. "Aniki! I didn't ask for that! My kouhais thought it was cool, so…"

"So you ran with it," Kafka nodded at you before gently kicking you back. You could tell from the way he looked at you that he kind of wanted to cry. "I am proud of you, Mayari."

That can't be helped, you told yourself. Aniki is always so honest with himself, after all.

"Thank you, aniki. Don't go crying on me now. I'll always be your adorable little sister," you replied to him with a laugh and playfully batted your eyelashes at him. "Speaking of which, this adorable little sister of yours just saw this pretty dress in—"

"H-Hey! Don't get too ahead of yourself, Mayari!"

"Aniki," you said to him with a smile. "I hope you know I'll always be rooting for you, too, so don't give up, okay? I'm sure Mina nee-san will be waiting for you— and me— when she passes the exam this year."

"Shiro-kun!"

It was an endearing nickname that was even more endearing by the sweet way you said it. If he was being honest, Soshiro did not think much of you back then. For him, you were just a little girl his father invited to learn and train swordsmanship. You were different from him in the way flowers grew from the same bush. While they were equally tended to, some will grow larger than others and bloom more brilliantly, too.

He likened you to a grafted plant— one attached to him by the roots. And brilliantly did you bloom, indeed. A wildflower that thrived from the same water and sunlight as he did. For him, it was only a matter of time until you bloomed in fullness and outgrew him, but that never happened because his father uprooted you to the quick— for growing at a rate he did not expect from someone like you.

That, and he did not expect his sons to start fighting over you. And though you were one of his most excellent pupils, he didn't deem you worth the trouble his sons would stir if you did not permit them to tame you.

You parted your place of learning in good faith and had nothing but gratitude for the Hoshina Family, but there were times you thought it was unfair. He will continue learning under the best of the best while you have to carry on by yourself… But you were more disheartened by the fact that you would not see him again.

Soshiro was truly the best rival you could ever ask for. As you entered middle school and high school and razed through club after club and joined every tournament you could, you soon realised that no one else could ever come close to him— both in skill and in something else you couldn't quite put a finger on. You searched for him in every opponent you came across, only to be disappointed time and again that they were not even at your level.

In your final year of high school, during your school's long-anticipated cultural festival, the drama club needed someone with your skill, and they made you the centrepiece of their performance by teaching you a sword dance that drew spectators to your graceful form.

"She's a marvel."

For once in his life, Soshiro was glad to have let his curiosity win him over. He was glad he sighted you in your high school's silly-looking cultural festival poster— for never did he expect to see the most beautiful wildflower in full bloom, adorned with silk and grace that did little to conceal her thorns as she danced to the strong yet tender rhythm of an equally gorgeous piece of music played on a shamisen.

That was his wildflower.

When he came to see you after your performance, all you could say was his name. "Shiro-kun!"

And it sounded just as sweet as when he last heard it.

"Are ya just dancin' now?"

"Of course not! I was just helping the drama club!" You retorted with a smile. "If you wish to challenge me, all you have to do is ask."

Your wordless duel of wooden swords was akin to dance as well, both of you equally deft, your movements measured and graceful, almost like spinning before a mirror until your dull blades were pressed against each other's necks.

"I see time has not dulled your skills. That's good."

"It looks like time has been incredibly good to ya, too," he said, a familiar glint of mischief in his wine-dark eyes. "You've gotten prettier, Mayari-chan."

"Hmm. Not exactly the words I was looking for, but good enough, I suppose," you shook your head at him before breaking out into a smile. "It's good to see you again, Shiro-kun."

Mina's meteoric rise to the rank of Division Captain did not surprise you. Ever since you were children, she had always been more focused on her goals compared to Kafka, who only desired the coolness associated with being a Defense Force officer. She vouched for your potential when you took the entrance exams and passed with the help of her commendation, though she reassured you herself that your own skills brought you there to where she was.

And though you were subsequently assigned to a different division, she kept in touch with you as you both anticipated your older brother's arrival.

An arrival that never came.

When you last phoned your home, it was only then you found out that Kafka had moved out and started working as a monster cleaner. It was a noble profession for you, of course, but you couldn't help but think—

—of how lonely your older brother must have been to have received rejection after rejection from something he had wanted to do all his life—

And it pains you to think that behind his smile when he congratulated you for passing the exams and becoming an officer was the sting of dismissal.

When Kafka stopped calling to check in on you, you figured he might be busy with his job. Behind your stellar performance during missions was a strong sense of duty and a great fear of failure that allowed you to focus on the things you can control. You missed your older brother, but it was his choice to give up.

However, you sensed a change in the wind after receiving a summon from the Captain of the Third Division out of the blue.

"Captain Ashiro called for you again, Mayari. I know she's always looking forward to seeing you in joint training, but doesn't she realise how stressful it is having to travel to Tokyo so often?"

The Captain of the Fourth Division, Ogata Jugo, was a relatively relaxed man for the most part, but he was also incredibly insightful. He had no qualms about promoting you to a Platoon Leader despite your inclination to use swords in missions. He believes in allowing officers to use their own weapons of choice and that you would eventually use a gun when the situation calls for it.

Captain Ogata trusts your skills, but he trusts your critical thinking even more.

"I don't really mind all the travelling, Captain, sir," you replied to him with your usual cheer. Nagano to Tokyo wasn't a walk in the park but a three-and-a-half-hour car ride.

"Well, I do. You are my Platoon Leader, after all. You must defend this base when the situation arises," your captain said with a sigh. "I'm betting that Ashiro would do just about anything to have you transferred to her division."

"Nonsense, Captain. My place is here," you reassured him. "And while I do enjoy being the apple of her eye, I don't think I'll work well under the Third Division and its Captain."

"Why'd you think that?"

"Because Captain Ashiro would sooner lose herself in the battle than send me out," you said with a small shrug. "Sisterly instincts, I suppose. More importantly, I like working with you and our division, Captain, sir."

"You should tell that to her," your Captain chuckled.

"But for the record, Captain, I enjoy seeing her, too," you replied with an easygoing laugh. "I hope you continue to be lenient with me, sir."

"All right, all right. Go before I change my mind," Ogata stated as he shooed you away with a slow swatting motion. "And don't forget to bring me back some of that stuff you last brought."

You gave him a sharp salute and the same warm smile he enjoyed seeing on your face. "I'll be sure to bring home a bottle or two for you, Captain, sir!"

Tachikawa Base never failed to amaze you. You found it more of a marvel compared to Headquarters, seeing as it was at the centre of the busiest city in Japan, but it was a constant magnet of Kaiju attacks, too.

The entrance exams concluded Tachikawa Base's busiest time of the year, and with fresh recruits to fill in the ranks, more joint training sessions would soon be set to foster a warm relationship and camaraderie among the different members of the Defense Force's Eastern Divisions.

Mina received you at her office as per protocol, the one place where you could simply be friends and not Captain and subordinate.

"Fourth Division Platoon Leader Hibino Mayari at your service," you stated your name with a sharp salute and dignity tied to your esteemed position. "It's good to see you again, Captain Ashiro, ma'am."

"It's good to see you well, Mayari-chan," the older woman saluted right back before offering you a handshake. "I'll have to thank Captain Ogata for permitting your visit this time again."

"I'll buy his clemency before I head back to Nagano, Mina nee-san," you said with a laugh. "How did the entrance exams go this year, by the way? I only heard from Captain Ogata that something… strange happened."

Mina squeezed your hand and motioned for you to sit next to her. "This year's exams were nothing short of strange, I'll tell you that. But there's something I want to show you, too."

Having the Division Captain herself guide you through the many halls and walls of her base meant you had to return many greetings and salutations from younger officers. Mina was evidently well-loved by her division and adored by the masses for her levelheadedness that calmed whatever panic struck them during Kaiju attacks. After what seemed to be fifteen minutes of walking, you finally arrived at the base training ground, where most of the recruits gathered for their routine drills.

"One of these days, we'd like for you to visit again when we host the annual goodwill Kendo match," she stated, eyeing the state of her division's recruits from above the area's gate.

"I'd be glad to take part in…" You answered her, only for her to give you a small smile as she pointed down at one of the Third Division's recruits.

Lagging behind their laps was one older man gasping for breath, while a younger man slowed his pace to keep up with him.

"Aniki…?!"

Kafka turned to the direction of that endearment like clockwork, only to find you and Mina curiously peering down at him from the gate while the rest of his cohort eventually outran him.

"Mayari! And Mina, too!"

"Another 30 laps for calling your superiors by their names, Officer Hibino," Mina shot back at him, to which he replied with a small groan of protest. "You can catch up with Platoon Leader Hibino once you're done with your drills and punishment."

You managed to laugh off your older brother's misfortune over his excitement at seeing you, but your amusement was swiftly replaced by the same kind of shock that came over Kafka when you saw yet another figure in the same sleek black uniform approach you and Mina.

"Captain Ashiro! I didn't expect to see you here today! I was told you have a guest…"

"Ah!"

"Eh?"

"Sh-Shiro-kun?!"

"Huh. So you're that Shiro-kun, Hoshina? Mayari-chan told us much about you when we were young," Mina mused aloud, though you knew from the small smile on her face that she sewed everything seamlessly. "What a small world we live in. To think that one of my oldest friends knows my Vice Captain."

"I-I apologise for speaking out of turn, V-Vice Captain Hoshina!" You mustered a nervous salute directed at your childhood rival, now one of the Third Division's most prominent superior officers. "I-It's good to see you again, sir!"

"Fancy meeting you here, Mayari-chan. Or should I say Platoon Leader—"

"Fourth Division Platoon Leader Hibino Mayari at your service, Vice Captain, sir! I'm here at Captain Ashiro's invitation."

Hibino? He thought to himself. Same as the stand-out candidate from this year's exams— "Wait a second, are you actually Kafka's sister?!"

"I hope my older brother hasn't been causing you any trouble, sir," you let out a nervous little chuckle. "Truth be told, I haven't spoken to him in the last few years and I did not expect to see him here at all. Mina nee-san— I mean, Captain Ashiro only informed me about this today."

"I see. Then you two must have a lot of catching up to do," he replied to you with a warm smile, to which Mina responded by patting him on his shoulder.

"You two have a lot of catching up to do, too, wouldn't you agree, Hoshina?"

"Well, I— It's just that Mayari-ch— I mean, I simply thought Platoon Leader Hibino would like to hear about her brother's exploits so far…?"

"Make good use of your time while you're here, Platoon Leader Hibino. Seeing as Hoshina is here, too, you should discuss the goodwill Kendo match between our divisions as well."

"O-Of course, Captain Ashiro, ma'am!"

She gave your shoulder a quick squeeze as well, before eventually whispering in your ear, "Kafka-kun and I will be waiting for you, so make sure you two catch up well."

As Mina disappeared back to the base's main building, you were left to watch how Soshiro conducted drills and training exercises with his division's recruits. Nearly everyone cheered for Kafka as he finished the last of his additional 30 laps around the training ground before they all shuffled back to the mess hall, you and their Vice Captain trailing them from behind.

"Anything on yer mind, Mayari-chan?"

"How is Shisho? I hope he's been well."

"The old man's as stubborn as a fox, I'll tell ya that. I suppose I'll have to let him know that one of his most prized students made it here again."

"Does he still remember me?"

"'Course he does, even though we only knew you as Mayari-chan. You're one of his most dedicated pupils, after all," Soshiro stated with a grin. "One time he said he regretted letting ya go. But I'm sure he'll change his tune when he finds out how much better you've become, both with a sword and with yer guns…"

"You think I've gotten better with just a glance?" You teasingly asked him. "The last we met, you said I only got prettier."

"Well, pardon me for noticing your face before everythin' else," he shrugged at you. "And I wasn't jokin' about that, either. You did get prettier."

"And now? I can show you how well I've grown. If you wish to challenge me, all you have to do is ask."

Soshiro chuckled at your instigation, only for him to tell you with the most familiar glint of mischief in his eyes, "I think you're mistaken there, Platoon Leader. You're the challenger here."

"Of course, sir. How could I forget that I'm on your turf?" You said with a hearty laugh. "Shall we put on a show for your lucky recruits? It's not every day they see two blade masters battle it out."

Lucky stars, a trick of the gods, destiny— your meeting could be defined by so many different things. But one thing remained constant in your every coming together and parting…

"I'd like that!"

Rivals, friends, colleagues, lovers. The titles didn't matter much to you. This meeting once more proves you were meant to be part of Hoshina Soshiro's life in one way or another, just as he was meant to be in yours.

✦ Thank you for requesting! Nothing makes me happier than writing a request I know I can work with. 🍹 You can read more about requesting here

#songsofadelaidewrites💛#love notes to mari 💌#mari answers requests 🍹#kaiju no. 8 #kn8 #kaiju no. 8 spoilers #hoshina soshiro #hoshina soshiro x reader #hoshina soshiro x oc #starry divider by @/cafekitsune

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yan-lorkai · 25 days ago

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Chapter One: The Deities City

☆ A/N: Finally the first chapter is done, I've been working on this since last halloween but the idea was not developed enough back there so I didn't said anything till I had thought of a good, coherent plot. I said before that this was inspired by movies like Jeepers creepers and Midsommar and it's true. But this take a lot of influence of Setealem too, which is a brazilian legend where sometimes you enter another dimension without knowing through an invisible portal and, if you're lucky you will find your way back home. Otherwise you be trapped there forever (i can talk in more detail later if someone wants to hear).

Also I don't know exactly how many chapter there will be, maybe five to ten because I wrote a lot and I mean A LOT, plus I've created some random names for a few nameless characters (Jade and Floyd's parents, Azul's mom, etc). Anyway I'm rambling now, BUT not everything is what it seems! Have a fun read, y'all! :3

☆ Word account: 10553

☆ Tagging: @harukishiyo @jackalope0 @yuuandtheghost @laythestar @whimsybloom @dandyslibrary @gensou-rakuen @orisaspirin @shironakuronatasa @kiraiyugen

☆ Warnings: Yandere content, gn!reader, lovesick!jade, drugging, this chapter is more slow paced, gotta set the mood first to stole y'all breath later :D

The room was shrouded in dim light, illuminated only by the flickering flames of candles positioned around a dark wooden table. The scent of melted wax mingled with the faint aroma of damp earth, as if it had been brought from a distant place. At the center of the table, among the candles, rested an ancient ceramic bowl, partially filled with grains of black soil, as if it were the pulsing heart of something far greater.

The woman leaned over the table, gazing at the soil with deep, expressionless eyes, the tone of her eyes reflecting against the light. She lightly moved her fingers, tracing circles on the worn wood, as her voice emerged as a whisper, laden with secrets.

“The soil... it's more fertile now,” she said slowly, without raising her eyes. She seemed to be thinking deeply, unaware of the things happening around her. “It's the sign we've been waiting for over the past centuries. The roots have begun to grow more, and they are strong.”

The man, seated on the other side of the table, observed with an attentive expression and eyes trained to recognize such signs, humming in a cheerful tone. His hands rested on his knees, motionless, but his eyes gleamed with a dark curiosity.

“The roots have grown, yes,” he murmured softly. “But it was what we gave them that allowed this. You know that, Meli.”

She nodded slightly, an almost imperceptible movement. “The sacrifices... each one of them, feeding the soil. The earth demands, and we offer.” Her voice echoed in the room, as if carrying an ancient weight, centuries of secrets kept. “But don't you think the soil... has become greedier since our little lost lamb is finally returning home after all this time?”

A heavy silence hung between them, broken only by the faint crackling of the candles. The man leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes fixed on the bowl of soil. “The earth takes what is necessary. No more, no less.” He hesitated before continuing. “But the offerings... They've been brought back home now. Each one... returning to the place they came from. Whoever our little lamb is, we will find them if they've truly come back this time.”

The woman slowly lifted her gaze, locking eyes with the man for the first time. Her expression remained impenetrable, but there was a gleam in the depths of her stare, an unspoken question.

“Could you bear another millennium without them?” Her voice was a barely audible whisper.

He smiled, a brief and enigmatic smile, as if he already knew the answer before the conversation began. “The oracle foretold it, Meli. That’s how the cycle works.” His eyes shone with a mystery she seemed to understand perfectly. “The soil feeds, and so do we. Our child will return, be patient.”

The silence returned, heavier this time. The candle flames flickered again, casting distorted shadows on the walls. Both of them knew they were speaking of more than just offerings. The soil, the blood, the lives that had been given — it was all part of an ancient pact, something neither dared to mention directly.

The knowledge of primordial events, their history, a story marked upon the world, passed from father to son, from son to grandson, never stopping.

She lowered her gaze back to the bowl of soil. “Sometimes I wonder, will the sacrifices be remembered?”

“Not in the way you expect,” the man replied, his voice firm but soft. “They’ll be forgotten, like all the others, but what they gave will live on in the soil. The earth never forgets, and neither do we.”

The woman smiled, a cold but satisfied smile.

“Then so be it,” she said softly. “The soil is ready. Now, it just needs more.”

He joined his hand with hers, their fingers fitting together perfectly as she leaned over the table to seal their lips in a chaste kiss.

“Soon, we will all be together again.”

...

"Hey, Azul, are we there yet?"

Floyd asked in a bored tone, deliberately dragging out the syllables to sound as irritating as possible. His smirk widened, his heterochromatic eyes twinkling with mischief, relishing in the annoyance he was causing - Azul was his chosen target. And Floyd had been tormenting him for a while now with no intention of stopping anytime soon.

It was funny, the way his lips curled and the strict glare he directed to his friend. Floyd was having too much fun to stop, Azul's glasses were slowly slipping down his nose, which he pushed back up and gripping the steering wheel, he turned to look at Floyd exasperated.

There were many things he wanted to shout and say but he remained focused on the silent road, containing a sigh inside his chest as Floyd poked his cheek and made a “bop” sound repeatedly.

For the past thirty minutes, he had been incessantly repeating the same question, fully aware of the answer, or, like he liked to do, poking and pinching Azul's sides. His voice grew louder and more obnoxious each time he asked something, loud enough to rouse you from the deep sleep that had claimed you hours ago and earn a stern glare from his twin brother, Jade. As well as Azul, who elbowed him hard.

"We'll be there in half an hour, if you stop pestering me we'll arrive even earlier," Azul replied, his tone heavy with irritation.

The car trudged along the muddy road, rocking gently with every bump. The warmth of Jade's embrace enveloped you, your eyelids threatening to drop shut once more. You were so comfortable and cozy, and you fought against the tiredness to stay awake, nestled in his arms as if they were made to hold you. It was then that you realized that he had wrapped a blanket around you as you slept. You smiled at that.

A yawn escaped you, drowsiness seeping through your limbs as "Take Me to Church" started to play softly on the radio. The sound was hypnotizing, albeit a little strange and faded. You didn't give it much thought, returning your attention to Azul's explanation.

"We just follow the road and we'll arrive there soon," He said, pointing to the aged map in Floyd's lap. Yellowed and dog-eared, it was evident that they had traveled through this route many times during their childhood.

And, despite having their phones right now, they still decided to rely on the map instead. You could only guess the reason; their hometown was a small city in the middle of the country, not many knew about it. You yourself didn't know much about it.

"But it takes so long..." Floyd complained, rolling up the map and stashing it in the glove compartment impatiently. In a rhythmic pattern he drummed his fingers against the window, humming along with the song. “Can't we take a shortcut?”

Nobody replied.

Though there was no shortcut. Not anymore at least. A few years ago, that road had a number of shortcuts, but eventually nature arranged so that none more could be used. Only the main road was the option now, even then sometimes the fog fell over it, blinding everyone. Even the more reckless motorists had to be careful, otherwise, they'd be put to sleep forever.

Resigned, Floyd retrieved his phone from his pocket, popped in his earphones, and tuned out the world around him.

The travel thus far had been rather lengthy, a solid eight hours of driving at a brisk pace with only a few brief stops for restroom breaks and leg stretches. You hadn't anticipated it dragging on for so long, and your legs were already feeling numb from remaining in the same position for hours.

Despite your discomfort, Jade seemed content to hold you securely in his arms, a soft smile playing on his lips as he looked at you with adoration. He always looked at you like this.

"My face is probably all puffy, huh?" You chuckled.

Jade's mismatched eyes traced over your features, and he chuckled. "Yes, it is, but it only adds to your charm, if I do say so myself. You're so adorable I could bite your cheeks."

"You flatterer," You teased, rolling your eyes but unable to suppress the smile tugging at your lips. Jade may have called you adorable, but in that moment, he was the epitome of adorableness in your eyes.

Turning your attention to the window, you watched as the verdant landscape slowly shifted before your eyes. It was a stark contrast to the bustling city life you were accustomed to, with towering trees reaching towards the orange-tinged sky and birds returning to their nests for the evening. There was a serene beauty to it all and you found yourself captivated by the tranquil scenery. You felt strangely at home, in peace, almost as if it was the first time you were feeling this kind of peace.

On the horizon, a herd of cows and calves caught your eye, and you couldn't help but press your face against the window in excitement.

"Yo, Jade, look at them!" You exclaimed, your voice brimming with childlike wonder as you pointed in their direction. Your boyfriend chuckled beside you, his amusement evident in his tone. "They're so cute."

"How much do you love them?" He asked teasingly.

"A lot!" You turned to face with a playful glare, his hand cupping your face tenderly.

"Then you're going to have a blast when we arrive. There are plenty of cows and hens in Setealem. I'm sure Grandma Marja would let you play and feed them if you ask nicely." Jade chuckled a little as if he knew a secret that you don't. He did this a lot sometimes. “Be careful with the hens though, they can be quite aggressive.”

You nodded, your heart swelling with anticipation as you imagined all the adventures awaiting you in their hometown. The city may have been small, with only about twenty families living there, but Floyd and Jade had told you countless tales and stories, while Azul had explained its unique customs.

They even had their own gods and mythology. You could remember

Setealem sounded like a fascinating place, and you were eager to explore it alongside them. Strange enough searching about it on google didn't work, nor didn't when you searched for their unique gods or history, as if it didn't exist at all - Floyd assured you that it was because many people didn't know the place, as it was just a small district without any nearby state neighbors.

You had been longing to meet Jade's parents for some time now but college was kicking your ass hard and you couldn't afford to travel with them before because of it. Sneaking a glance in his direction as he passed bottles of water to his brother and Azul, you knew you were serious about your future together. One day, you hoped to slip a ring onto Jade's finger and call him yours.

And to do that, you needed to earn his parents' blessing — with a little help from Floyd and Azul to orchestrate the proposal, of course. You had such a clear vision of how you wanted it to be. You and him, traveling through some tranquil and beautiful place like this, and then, boom! A proposal!

There were so many ideas you wanted to explore, so many details to plan and reconsider. Everything had to be perfect. It needed to be perfect. Jade deserved it.

"Do you want some water, love?" Jade offered a bottle, and you accepted it with a small, grateful smile. Love. Oh, how you loved it when he called you that. You loved knowing that you were his love.

Your throat sang with joy at being blessed with that precious liquid, which you sipped slowly, still contemplating the landscape unfolding before you. The serene scenery seemed like the perfect backdrop for the moment you had dreamed of. And as waves of emotion swelled within you, your eyes occasionally drifted to admire Jade's gentle features — the line of his jaw, his neck that you loved to bite gently, his lips so perfectly kissable.

Sometimes, you caught yourself laughing like a little girl with a crush. But it was impossible not to feel that way around him. He was simply perfect in your eyes.

He has been such an attentive love since your relationship started. He took you to a picnic to watch the starry skies, he first kissed you with a gentleness that few had. He treated you as something made of glass, delicate and soft. And you loved it.

"Jadeeeeee, I'm hungry," Floyd interrupted the moment, turning to his brother with pleading eyes. Although they looked so alike in appearance, you found it funny how different they were in personality. "And bored. So bored I might die. I’II die and leave you brotherless," He added as if it were a fact that everyone needed to know.

And honestly, it was.

Floyd had severe mood swings and whenever that happened, he enjoyed annoying everyone, he enjoyed pulling Jade's hair, poking Azul's side and pinching you on the neck, he enjoyed the angry and frustrated looks he received back from each of you. Or the swearing and the failed attempts to hit him. Or, in some cases, he just got really sad and no one and nothing could cheer him up. In this case, it was better to let him be.

Now though, a mischievous smile was spreading onto his lips. He wasn't that bored. He just wanted to annoy someone other than Azul for a few seconds.

As you had known him before Azul or Jade, you had developed your own tricks to deal with his sudden mood swings. Distracting him worked some times, not always though nor did the same trick worked a second time. You knew you had to redirect his attention to somewhere else and you knew just what to do.

"Hey, Flo, here." You grabbed a Rubik's cube from your backpack and handed it to him. “Surely you can solve it, right?” A hint of dare in your voice, a soft, innocent smile from you and he fell into your little trap.

An instant smile formed on his face, and he let out an excited shout, making Azul flinch in the process, taking the cube from your hands and forgetting about his hunger as he promptly tried to solve it.

That would keep him busy for a few minutes. Or hours, if you all were lucky enough. You didn't think poor Azul could handle being Floyd's victim for long; he looked a little tired now, yet he refused to let any of the twins drive his car.

"Besides, should I remind you that there are cereal bars and candy in the glove compartment?" Jade responded with his characteristic smile, pointing to the indicated spot.

But Floyd just grumbled something low, not paying attention, moving his head from one side to another as he enjoyed his song.

You stifled a laugh. Jade would need to repeat that at least two more times.

He playfully rolled his eyes, a mischievous grin tugging at the corners of his lips, before his gaze lingered on you. His eyes traced the curve of your wet, parted lips, silently pleading for permission as his eyes met yours.

You reciprocated his playful eye roll, trying to imitate even the way he furrowed his eyebrows a little. It always amused you how he sought permission for a kiss, even in the most mundane moments. Despite feeling a twinge of self-consciousness about kissing him in front of his brother and childhood friend, you couldn't resist him. Without thinking twice, you pulled him towards you by the shirt he was wearing until your mouths were pressed together and your tongues intertwined.

The kiss started softly, then became faster and more needy. A groan escaped your throat as Jade bit your lower lip with a little more force. Each kiss shared with Jade left you breathless, craving more, and this time was no exception.

But the need for air eventually pulled you both apart.

"You're adorable," You teased, noticing the faint blush coloring his cheeks, a sight that never failed to make your heart flutter. His usual protest didn't surface this time, a silent acknowledgment of your endearment. "My adorable little guy. What would you do without me?"

"Die," He replied simply, his words carrying a weight of absolute certainty, as if the notion of being without you was inconceivable. "I'II die without you around. My own soul would be reduced to ashes and wait till you were reborn again so we could be together. Again and again."

A choked laugh escaped Azul, followed by Floyd's infectious laughter, punctuated by exaggerated kissing noises. You rolled your eyes at their antics, watching as Jade leaned in to playfully reprimand his brother, his gaze fixed firmly on Azul.

"Focus on the road, please," You chided Azul, feeling your whole face heat up in embarrassment.

"Oops, my bad," Azul chuckled, his tone teasing as he glanced at you both through the rearview mirror. "But seriously, that was way too mushy."

As he redirected his attention to driving and changed to another song, playing "Welcome home" by Radical Face, the car shifted to a comfortable silence, the laughter gradually fading into the background. Floyd's loud munching on snacks became the only source of sound, after he proudly handed you the completed Rubik's Cube.

"Now that we've come back, mom's going to be thrilled to see my terrarium," Jade mused aloud, a mix of pride and happiness evident in his voice.

From the moment you two met, Jade had been dedicated to his terrarium. He even took the time to teach you a few things about its care, ensuring you could look after it if he wasn't around. And it was fun to take care of your little plant friends, seeing them grow strong and beautiful. It filled you with a simple sort of happiness.

"I'll never get how you and mom are into this," Floyd whined, glancing back at his brother. "And it’s not even hard to take care of. Just throw in some soil and a random plant, and it’s done or whatever."

You looked at Jade, a vein almost popping on his forehead, incredulous about such absurdity. He chuckled bitterly, shaking his head at Floyd's dismissive remark. "It's a bit more complex than that, Floyd. Each plant needs the right environment to thrive. It's about balance and harmony."

You smiled, remembering the times Jade patiently explained the intricacies of terrarium care. "It's like having a tiny ecosystem in a jar," You added, nudging Floyd playfully. "There's a lot more to it than just soil and plants. You can't water too muc-"

Floyd rolled his eyes, interrupting you. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. I spent my childhood beside him and mom rambling all about it, I know more than enough, Yuu."

You and Jade shared a knowing glance as Floyd turned around once more, Jade placed his hand over your mouth but it was an useless endeavor as you started giggling madly, your laughter echoing through the car.

You couldn't help it.

An annoyed Floyd was simply too funny.

He grumbled something under his breath but otherwise chose to remain quiet. Though you knew that he was plotting something to get back at you for laughing at him.

Well, you wanted to see him try. Back when you were both freshmen in college, he was notorious for his mischievous pranks, a reputation that preceded him, for he pranked everyone, be it student or professor alike. But you, unlike the others, didn't feel intimidated by him - on the contrary, you spent a few days thinking about how to get your revenge, when you turned into his victim.

From harmless jokes to elaborate pranks, you thought about it day in and day out, and when you finally turned the tables on him and left him speechless, unbeknownst to you a prank war was started in Floyd's perspective. No more he made the other students his victim, now his attention was solely on you, thinking how to win this - at first, one-sided - competition. He did it all; hiding your belongings, tying your shoelaces together, annoying stuff like that to make you angry.

But as the days turned into weeks and then months, exhaustion began to set in. The ideas ran dry, and both you and Floyd found yourselves at an impasse. That's why you knew that if Floyd was thinking something dumb, you always had an ace on his sleeve and a second and third plan.

Turning you to be his victim is also how you make friends with him and, later on, how you met Azul and Jade, as they tried to stop your little war a few times, needless to say that their attempts to stop you failed.

Thirty minutes passed calmly, you and Jade were watching some videos on his phone while Floyd was talking about a festival in Ysli's honor to Azul - he seemed really excited and looking forward to it.

Ysli, as far as you understood, was a genderless god, sometimes taking a masculine form and others, a feminine form, when they had to descend to the human world. And sometimes neither.

They were responsible for... You weren't sure. Your head was aching as you tried to remember.

You had no time to recall what you heard because right at that instant Azul's announcement that you had arrived at your destination sparked excitement inside the car. As anticipation filled the air, Floyd leaned out of the window, his laughter mingling with the wind as he soaked in the moment.

Jade's hand found yours, offering a reassuring squeeze as he chuckled at his brother's antics. "Almost there," He said, his eyes lightening with anticipation. "I'm glad you're here with us."

As Azul drove through the quaint town, a surge of excitement filled you. The fresh air and warm sunlight seemed to promise adventure and fun, the soft smell of flowers dancing in the wind. Your legs ache from sitting still for the past two hours, but the anticipation of exploring was enough to soothe any discomfort.

Only a few more minutes, you thought happily.

"Wow, look at all that corn!" You exclaimed as the car passed through the endless corn fields - they were so tall, shiny and beautiful. "Do you have scarecrows too? Are they really as scary as in the movies?"

Jade chuckled at your enthusiasm, his eyes sparkling with warmth. As you approached the charming houses, you noticed a wave of excitement ripple through the town. Everyone seemed to be watching you, waving and smiling.

It was as if you were celebrities.

The kids paused playing and running around, the teenagers stopped working and even the adults paused their conversations. It was a surreal sight. As you drove past them, you saw so many new faces and felt a mix of emotions. A kid with a tiara screaming in glee, a red haired teenager scolding his friends, a well dressed man laughing loudly.

Your heart pounded with excitement and a sense of belonging. It was clear that you were welcome here.

The town's warmth and friendliness made you feel right at home, clearly they were different from the town's folk, always so closed off and rude. You couldn't wait to see more, so excited.

Azul brought the car to a stop in front of Jade and Floyd's childhood home.

"Finally home, thank Lilum!" Floyd leaped out of the car excitedly, opening the door and running inside in a matter of seconds.

“Mooooooom,” You heard him scream, excited to be back.

You watched as Jade's hand hovered over the door handle, his eagerness palpable in the air. But just as he was about to step out, you couldn't help but voice the nagging question that had been weighing on your mind, making him turn to look at you.

"Do you think your parents will like me?" you asked, your voice laced with a hint of uncertainty despite Jade's reassuring smile.

His response was immediate, his confidence unwavering as he turned to face you. "You didn't even have to ask, sugar. I know they'll love you!"

His words were like a warm embrace, dispelling any lingering doubts as he pressed a tender kiss to your forehead. Still you stayed seated there for a few more seconds, gathering your courage and breathing hard.

You were here.

You wanted to be here.

You've been wishing you could come here for months. A growing need to see the unknown, to breathe new airs, to taste new flavors.

Retrieving your backpack, you stepped out of the car with confident steps - they do say that to be confident, first you have to pretend.

As you approached the half open door, a warm feminine voice drifted through the air, a comforting melody that anchored you in the moment. Drawing in a deep breath, you prepared yourself for the impending introduction, for any variable possible.

Floyd was laughing loudly while his mother, you supposed, scolded him for acting foolishly while praising Azul for being a good driver.

What if they don't like me? What if they don't approve of me? Oh heavens… You try not to focus on these negative thoughts for too long. Can I still run to the cornfield and hide there?

A sudden movement caught your attention. Swift and nimble, something darted towards you from the corner of your eye. You turned just in time to see a child hurtling toward you with reckless abandon, a grin stretched wide across his bubbly face.

Though he was still small and very young, the child's smile was warm like the sun breaking through clouds. The boy was wearing a little tiara with cat ears and held another one in his chubby hands, which he extended towards you, his excitement palpable. "Hey Mx, take this!"

You couldn't help but mirror his grin as he held out the second tiara towards you, his chubby fingers trembling with excitement. His energy was palpable, filling the air with a sense of joy and wonder. With a gentle laugh, you reached out and accepted the tiara, marveling at its delicate craftsmanship and the cat ears at its base.

They were soft, akin the real ones.

"Thank you," You said, your voice filled with grace. "This is a lovely gift."

The boy beamed at your words, his eyes sparkling with delight as he giggled to himself. "You're welcome!" He exclaimed. "Now we can be tiara twins! I'm Cheka by the way."

"Oh, what a charming name!" You smiled and ruffled his hair, making him laugh, his eyes enlightening. "I'm Yuu."

"I know," Cheka murmured, his words dripped with a sinister undertone, each syllable carrying a weight that seemed to press down on you like a leaden weight.

You laughed awkwardly, leaning to his height. “And how would you know that?”

For a second his eyes, unnaturally large and filled with innocence, seemed to bore into your very soul with a chilling knowingness. Like he knew a secret that you don't. "Because Jade told me all sorts of things about you in his pho-ne calls.”

You rubbed your eyes, probably still a little tired from the trip and mishearing him. When you looked at him again, Cheka was looking at you with those very beautiful and innocent green eyes again.

Uncertain, you asked him softly. "Only good things, I hope?"

He nodded, smiling. “He said that in the future I'd find myself someone as loveable as you, if I behaved well, that is. Otherwise, Lilum would punish me."

“And who is Lilum by the way?” You asked him, curious to hear more about this God or Goddess of theirs.

For a long second, Cheka looked at you, considering what to tell you - he knew a lot, yet not enough, you could see the screws turning on his head as he squinted his big eyes, trying to remember something specific. Whatever he wanted to tell you though was interrupted by a sharp, angry call.

"Cheka!" A man's voice sliced through the air, tinged with frustration.

It was clear that he was not very pleased that the child had wandered off again. The boy glanced back at you, his expression a mix of feelings. "Be very welcome to Setelarion, Mx Yuu."

After that, Cheka called out to the man - his uncle - and jumped at the man's arms to hug him too, with the same, if not more, excitement than before, almost making both of them fall on the ground.

His uncle begrudgingly held his nephew in his arms, you could tell he was reprimanding the boy for annoying people again for the way he was talking so sternly. You half wanted to go there and explain the situation, that Cheka wasn't annoying you at all.

You didn't need to, though. Cheka had everything under his control as he giggled and smiled at his uncle, changing topics and making jokes.

You giggled, watching the scene with a sense of nostalgia, since you couldn't remember your childhood well. But in your dreams you remember your father, his sun kissed skin and long hair cascading down his shoulders, pushing you in the swing, while your mother's humming song filled the air. It was all you could remember before everything was consumed by darkness.

Car accident, the doctors told you. The car flipped over several times after being hit by a truck, and the driver didn't even stop to offer help.

Years later, you found a newspaper about the accident. The photos… they weren't pretty.

The sun was shining bright and the wind was so gently swaying your hair, like a mother welcoming her child back. You could stay like that for a few more seconds if it wasn't Jade calling you to enter, making you forget all about those bitter memories you held onto, about this Lilum - who must be or not, another deity of theirs -, about everything.

"Mom, I'd like to introduce you to my lover." Jade pulled you from behind him, a gentle smile on his lips as he gazed at you and, by extension, the tiara on your head.

A little blush came to rest upon his cheeks but he brushed it off quite easily, almost giggling to himself because he was too excited.

He turned to face her.

“Oh, heavens, are we finally meeting Jade's lover?” The woman raised her hands to the sky as if giving thanks for something. "Thank Meliantha and Levioron. I've been waiting for this moment for so long."

The voice belonged to a beautiful lady, whose silky, dark hair was tied in a loose bun and had a gentle smile on her lips. The same smile that existed on Jade's face. "His father and I have been asking this stubborn boy so hard to bring you over as soon as we found out about your relationship. It's finally good to meet you, darling!"

The warm intimacy made you feel happy, Jade's mother wrapped you in a big comfortable hug that instantly made you feel calm, even your heart had settled in your chest. At that moment you knew immediately that Jade had acquired the ability to hug warmly from his mother, because you were almost melting in her strong arms.

"Oh my, Floyd, Azul, aren't they a beautiful couple? It reminds me of me and Asher when we were younger." Their mother gestured to the couple, wiping small imaginary tears from the corners of her beautiful blue eyes.

Without realizing it, you released the breath you had been holding all this time, your legs almost turning into jelly as the tension began to slowly dissipate. The woman seemed really happy to meet you and that made you happy too.

Many of your friends had told you about how their in-laws' reactions were sometimes exaggerated and rude, you were glad that didn't seem to be the case here.

Not with Mrs. Leech, at least. Now… You had to wait for Ms Leech's reaction.

"Come, come, I'll serve you a big slice of apple pie. All of you must be so tired." Mrs Leech said gently, holding your hand as she guided you to the kitchen. Jade and the others following right behind you.

“Oh! And I see Cheka already shared his tiara with you, he always gives one to newelcomers.” Mrs Leech praised you, laughing a little at your shy expression. “You're cute like that.”

You thanked her with a smile and a nod.

The house was built with old wood and the floor creaked with every step, yet it was so cozy. You counted the worn boards as you walked towards the kitchen, hoping they wouldn't give way under your feet. Behind you, you could hear Floyd and Azul whispering something about tea and soil.

And Jade was humming, in another room to water his mother plants.

"Ah, what a mind… I was so excited that I didn't even introduce myself properly." She turned to you, a little laugh leaving her glossy lips. Mrs Leech let go of your hand as soon as you arrived at the kitchen, smoothing her apron as she turned to face you. "My name is Amelie, my husband, Asher, should be here soon. And he'll be so happy to meet you too."

“It's a pleasure, Mrs Leech.” You replied, a smile growing on your face as you looked at her.

Then you side-eyed Jade when he returned to the kitchen. “Though I had no idea you were so eager to know me. Jade's been keeping me a little in the dark, I think.”

He let out a laugh, albeit it sounded strange. Almost twisted. Then it was gone just as suddenly.

Mrs Leech wheezed, looking menacingly in her son's direction. Her arms crossed over her chest, her foot hitting the floor in a rhythmic pattern. “Is that so, Jade?” She sounded disgruntled. “And why is that?”

“I presume my motives won't be as good as you want, mom.” He smiled. Then took the tray from her sore hands and placed it on the table, like a dutiful son - a mere tactic. “But Night Raven College was chaotic and had a hectic curriculum and routine. The headmage... Well, he didn't do much. Honestly, I don't know how we graduated from a place like that.”

“Oh please, as if that's a good enough reason.” Mrs Leech rolled her eyes. “Yuu, you have my permission to hit my son now.”

“Oh, goodie.” You smiled.

Without warning, you raise your hand and lightly slap his shoulder. Weak and feather-light, but enough to make everyone laugh as Jade throws himself back, pretending to have been hit by a brutal punch.

“He's not lying, though.” You were quickly to say, intertwining your hand with his. “I was struggling with some classes and he helped me a lot.”

Jade gave her mother a smug look, as if to say “I told you so”. Amelie rolled her eyes.

“Ma,” Floyd pulled her attention to him. “Where 's dad?”

Floyd and Jade's father worked on the plantations while Azul's family and another friend of theirs that you had yet to meet were responsible for making sweets and food with the corn and then selling it to companies. You didn't know much about what the other families did.

Some help, of course, you suppose, maintaining a huge plantation that size was impossible alone.

“He went out to buy some more eggs and flour.”

Amelie then began to skillfully set the table, carefully placing the cutlery and adjusting the napkins. There was a genuine happiness in her eyes as she worked and a peaceful hum left her lips. Little 'ows' were flying everytime Floyd tried to steal a piece of pie and was hitted by his mom's wooden spoon.

The sweet, earthy smell of freshly baked corn filled the air, mingling with the subtle aroma of herbs slowly boiling in a kettle on the stove. The kitchen was full of small details, from wildflower vases on the windowsill to the wooden shelves lined with ceramic bowls, each different from the next, as if they had been collected over the years.

“Mind your manners, Floyd!” She scolded him.

The golden, perfectly baked crust cracked lightly as she cut the first slice, moving the knife with precision and serenity, as if each motion was part of an ancient ritual. Her gestures were slow, almost meditative, and the kitchen seemed to follow this calm rhythm, as if time had a fluidity of its own, unhurried to pass.

The sound of birds chirping, the sunlight slowly fading as the evening approached. Jade, Floyd and Azul sat at the wooden table in the center of the kitchen, and you joined them, your gaze wandering across the walls decorated with old plates and hand-embroidered dish towels.

Floyd, restless as ever, tapped his fingers on the table, but even he seemed affected by the kitchen's serene atmosphere, his eyes drifting to the slices of pie that Amelie was delicately serving.

“I hope you like it,” she said softly, almost like a whisper that floated in the air, as she turned around with a plate in each hand. She placed the first slice in front of you, and the scent of sweet corn and freshly melted butter rose, filling the air with a rich, inviting fragrance.

You were almost salivating. After hours on the road, you hadn’t eaten anything nutritious or that tasted this good. And with the first bite, you smiled, it was so delicious.

“This recipe is one of the favorites here at home. I made it with corn harvested this morning.” Amelie seemed radiant that you liked the pie she had prepared.

You observed the slice of pie in front of you, the thin, crispy crust still warm, with a texture that seemed too perfect to be real. The first bite was soft and sweet, with a touch of salt that balanced the flavor, and as you chewed, you felt like you were tasting something made with more than just ingredients — there was care and attention in every layer.

Jade received his piece with a calm smile, murmuring a “thank you, mother” that was answered with a gentle pat on the shoulder. He cut a small piece and brought it to his mouth, his eyes closing for a brief moment as he savored it.

Next to you, Floyd grabbed the slice even before Amelie could place the plate in front of him, eliciting a laugh from her. He was already chewing eagerly, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

“It’s delicious, ma,” he said, his mouth still full, and Amelie just shook her head, laughing softly.

Floyd would always act that way, no matter where.

Azul, more reserved, watched Amelie for a moment before thanking her and accepting his piece with a simple “thank you, aunt.” He cut a small portion, and when he tasted it, his face softened, losing some of the meticulous control he always displayed.

“I’m glad you liked it,” she replied, returning to the stove to finish the tea. The fire seemed very hot, and you could feel it from a considerable distance.

But Amelie seemed used to it.

The kettle began to whistle, a soft, continuous sound that briefly cut through the room's calm. She turned off the heat and picked up the kettle with one hand, pouring the hot liquid into a light blue porcelain teapot that she had prepared with fresh herb leaves.

The tea exuded a herbal and floral aroma, fresh but comforting, with a subtle note of sweetness that matched perfectly with the pie.

“Ready for the tea of the gods?” she asked her children, looking at each face before moving.

She brought the teapot to the table and began to serve them, first filling Jade, Azul, and Floyd's cups, each receiving the drink in different cups, all with delicate designs faded by time.

Amelie did not serve you.

And you were too embarrassed to point it out. She stepped away. Taking from the fridge, Amelie brought you a very beautiful cup, decorated with designs of the sun and moon, with a liquid that had a slightly unfamiliar scent.

“Since it’s your first time drinking our teas, I made a milder, lighter infusion for you,” Amelie smiled. “Experiment this,” She said, her tone soft and melodical.

“It’s a hometown specialty of ours, something special that will ease your mind and allow you to glimpse our gods, if only for a moment.”

There was something in the way she spoke, a lilt to the rhythm of her words that made you accept the cup without hesitation — in every sense, you didn’t doubt the existence of their gods. But you didn’t want to see them either.

“But what is the tea of the gods?” you asked her, watching as Floyd drank from his cup in big gulps, a very strange and disturbing laugh slipping from his lips as the seconds passed. “What it is made of?”

Mrs. Leech tilted her head to the side, her dark eyes glimmering for a moment under the kitchen's fluorescent light, as if she was considering your question. The smile on her lips was soft, almost maternal, but there was something indecipherable there, a shadow of mystery that made each of her words sound like a riddle.

“The tea of the gods is... an ancient, harmless recipe,” she said finally, her voice low and slow, as if she was sharing a secret, even if she wasn’t telling you anything at all. “Something passed down through generations, from mother to child, from grandmother to grandchild. It is a gift from the earth, a way to connect us with what lies beyond what we can see.”

She paused, pouring a little more tea into her own cup, the hot liquid falling smoothly, almost like a continuous stream of honey. When she finished, she set the kettle aside and watched you for a moment, with a gaze that seemed to delve deeper than usual, as if she was trying to see something beyond what you revealed on the surface.

Floyd, still seated next to you, laughed to himself, a light, childlike laugh, but one that carried a disturbing strangeness, like the laughter of someone seeing something no one else could. He tapped his fingers on the table in an erratic rhythm, his nails making a soft, almost hypnotic sound on the wood, while his eyes gleamed in a way you couldn’t decipher.

“It’s magical,” he murmured suddenly, as if speaking to himself. “Everything becomes... different, clearer.”

You raised the cup to your lips and took a sip, feeling the warmth of the tea spread through your mouth and slide down your throat. The taste was smooth, almost sweet, but there was a slight bitterness that lingered at the end, leaving a trace that didn’t fade immediately. It was a curious flavor, making your tongue tingle a little, and for some reason, it made the world around you seem a bit slower.

You weren’t sure if you were imagining it or not.

“What do you mean by different?” you asked Floyd, but it was Azul who responded before his friend could.

“Sometimes, the gods show us what we need to see,” he said, pouring tea for himself this time, bringing the cup to his lips and gently blowing the steam before drinking. “Other times, they show us what we want, even if we don’t realize it. It’s a way of opening our eyes and seeing beyond, just another one of our customs.”

Jade, who had remained silent until then, was watching you over his cup, his eyes fixed and attentive. It was the same way he looked at you when he wanted to share a secret but couldn’t. He didn’t laugh like Floyd, but there was something distant in the way he drank the tea, as if lost in thought.

Azul, on the other hand, seemed more focused, as if analyzing everything, but even he had a slight smile on his lips, as if he was enjoying a joke only he understood.

You took another sip, the strange taste spreading in your mouth, and a peculiar sensation began to infiltrate your body. It was faint and almost imperceptible, so you ignored it for now. Just as you ignored Cheka and his strange words. You were ignoring a lot of things, afraid of being disrespectful to a different culture. So, you took another gulp of tea.

Floyd leaned forward, and his eyes, now as dark as Amelie’s, glistened with a strange joy. “You’ll see,” he said, his voice soft, almost singing. “Everyone sees when they drink the tea.”

In a leap, he was on his feet, spinning and laughing as if he was truly dancing with someone and didn’t want to ever stop. His movements were erratic, like he didn’t know the dance steps, but what he didn’t know, Floyd made up for in improvisation.

Amelie continued to drink her tea calmly, as if nothing unusual was happening, but her eyes met yours, and you realized she was watching you closely, as if waiting for a negative reaction.

“Don’t be afraid,” she whispered, almost tenderly. “The tea is a portal, a key. Let it show you what you need to see.”

You felt your heart race, the warmth of the tea now spreading through your chest, pulsing in your veins, and you weren’t sure if you wanted that.

Floyd’s laughter echoed through the room, distorted and reverberating, while he tapped his fingers on the table, each beat seeming to mark a rhythm for the shadows only he could see. “They like visitors,” he said, his voice hissing in your direction. “The gods always like visitors.”

Amelie leaned forward, still with that enigmatic smile. “And you are a special visitor,” she murmured. “Drink more, and you will see. You will see what they want to show you.”

The cup was still in your hand, heavy and warm. You hesitated, feeling the beats of your heart echo in your ears, each pulse a call to the unknown. It felt as though time was stretching, dragging you to a place you didn’t know if you wanted to go.

But there was a part of you — a part that couldn’t resist the curiosity, the invitation — that brought the cup to your lips again, drinking what was left of the tea. The bitter and sweet taste mingled on your tongue, and as you swallowed, it was like falling into an abyss, where the shadows finally stopped hiding, revealing what was on the other side.

Your worries began to slowly dissipate as the seconds passed, your back fell right into the chair and your body felt heavy and hot all over.

“This is very good,” you confessed.

Like a mother’s embrace. Like a brother’s laugh. Like a father’s kiss.

Like home.

A strange sensation began to emerge, as if the world around you was melting, expanding and stretching, and softening everything at the same time. The room suddenly seemed vaster, the colors on the walls intensified, dancing slightly around you, as if vibrating with a life of their own while Jade laughed, drinking the rest of his tea in big gulps.

He seemed accustomed to it.

Floyd was no longer dancing alone, you couldn’t discern who this invisible person was, but you could see their silhouette. It was translucent and small, with short hair and formally dressed, yet you couldn’t see their face.

Amelie watched from afar, her smile unchanged, her eyes curious and expectant.

You blinked, feeling a weight on your eyes, as if they were being pulled down. When you tried to focus on the table in front of you, the environment seemed to distort, rippling like the surface of a lake under the wind. The shapes around you began to change – the fridge on the left seemed to stretch, growing in height, while the curtains swayed like smooth serpents sliding across the floor.

The sound of Floyd and Jade’s laughter now seemed to come from far away, distorted, echoing like the song of a distant bird in an unknown forest. But soon you stopped hearing anything, because something else caught your attention out of the corner of your eye.

Silhouettes.

You turned around to see three beings, vaguely human in form but grotesquely elongated, emerged from the shadows of the room. Their eyes – if they could be called that – shone a total, lifeless black.

They didn’t walk; they seemed to float, gliding across the floor towards you, the ends of their thin fingers extending as if they wanted to touch your skin, probe your mind, eat your soul.

Your heart began to race, and you tried to stand from the chair you were still sitting in, but your body no longer responded. It was as if you were trapped, sinking into a bed of soft clouds and, at the same time, too heavy to support. The first of them – a tall female figure with a narrow, mouthless head – leaned over you.

Her shadow covered your face, and you felt an inexplicable chill run down your spine. The tea left you with a warm feeling and this figure… This goddess of theirs made you feel a primal fear.

You couldn't even put into words what she made you feel. But it was horrible.

Then, she spoke, but not with words. Her voice echoed in your mind, a cacophony of murmurs and whispers, and screams, everything overwhelming you beyond words. “You crossed over the bridge. Now, you see what others cannot, it's been a while.”

The room dissolved, the walls faded, and all that remained was a dark field, an infinite abyss dotted with those imposing figures from SeteAlem. In the distance, there was something larger – a colossal form that seemed to watch, waiting. You felt that, somehow, you already knew this place, as if your dreams had tried to warn you of its existence, but you never listened.

Time lost its meaning. Maybe it was seconds, maybe hours. And you kept staring at her, watching her floating, hearing her soft grunts.

“Who are you?” You asked her.

A laugh sounded behind you. And you turned around at the same time. Another figure, this one wearing a mask over his face as he leaned over you, as if to see you from a better angle.

“Oh, I like this one, they have a lovely face,” His voice was loud and exaggerated.

The feminine figure swatted the male figure away with a slap on his back. “Do not come near them to taint them with your ugly face, Leyarion.”

You took a step back, unsure, your heart beating faster. You could hear the sounds of bells echoing through the darkness, the same bells you used to hear in the church you were raised in. You hated that sound with a burning passion.

“Look at what both of you did,” A third voice sounded. Yet you could not see anyone, no matter what direction you looked, there was nothing there. “Do not be afraid, child. They are harmless.”

The voice, soft yet commanding, slithered through the air, its echoes reverberating in your bones. It was as if it came from every direction, creeping closer, suffocating.

The feminine figure tilted her head to look at the other entity, her eyes gleaming with a cold, predatory curiosity. "Harmless?" she murmured, her voice dripping with something far from gentle and something like a smile spreading through her face.

“It’s not every day we get a visitor like them, I just got happy, is all." Leyarion, the masked figure, straightened, and you could feel his eyes boring into you from behind that mask.

“Curious indeed. We’ve seen many wanderers, but none like you. The tea always reveals the interesting ones.” His voice was smooth, but there was a sharp edge to it, like a knife scraping metal

“I shall give you my blessing.”

Your heart pounded, each beat drumming louder than the last. You wanted to move, to run, but your feet felt glued to the floor, held in place by an invisible grip. His fingers touched your forehead and a heat seemed to take over your body for several minutes, like fire melting your skin, muscles and tendons, a muffled scream never got the chance to leave your lips.

After a second, everything stopped. The heat, the pain, sweat was clinging to your head as you struggled to breathe correctly.

“What... What do you want from me?” you stammered, barely able to get the words out without choking on them.

The bells rang louder now, shrill and relentless, twisting the air around you. They were deafening, as if mocking your fear of them.

Another voice, one you couldn’t place, rumbled through the darkness, so deep it made your chest tighten. "We want nothing from you, child," it said, slow and deliberate, each word sinking like a weight. "You have stumbled into our domain, and that is... intriguing. We merely wish to see what kind of person you were."

The shadows writhed, twisting and shifting, and you could make out the vague shapes of other figures. They were immense, towering, their forms impossibly tall and blurred, like ancient statues hidden in the mist. They moved slowly, as if savoring each moment, and though their faces were shrouded, you could feel their eyes on you — heavy, ancient, and unforgiving.

“I thought… everyone who drank that tea, came here?” It was what Amelie had told you, after all.

“So much more complex than this,” Leyarion moved closer, his masked face so near you could almost see yourself reflected in it. Behind the mask, you could sense a grin, wide and cruel, sharp teeth showing as his eyes were glistening, finding joy in how he could fright you. "I could show you the truth, if you'd let me."

He whispered, his voice sickly sweet, curling around you like smoke. "All the truths your world hides, all the secrets it keeps buried... even from you."

“No!” The feminine figure snapped, her voice cracking like a whip. She stepped between you and Leyarion, her presence suffocating, as if the air itself was shrinking away from her. "You will not overwhelm this one."

You could barely breathe, the air thick and suffocating. Panic clawed at your throat, and every instinct screamed at you to flee, but your legs refused to move. You were trapped, caught in the middle of a silent battle between these beings. Leyarion’s mask glinted in the dim light as he pulled back, his laughter echoing, low and mocking. “As you wish. But remember, child, the gods only offer their wisdom once.”

Your hands shook as you tried to steady yourself, every nerve in your body on edge. “Who... who are you?” you managed to ask again, your voice trembling. “And... What is this place?”

The feminine figure looked down at you, her gaze piercing, like she was peeling back your skin, layer by layer. “We are the forgotten gods of the In-Between, you don’t know what Setealem means, don’t you?,” she said softly, but there was no kindness in her tone.

“Sete-alem, the beyond seven, seven gods that shaped this world and once walked your world. Now, we dwell in the spaces between what is seen and what is hidden. You stand at the edge of SeteAlem, where our realms meet.”

Her hand hovered near your face, close enough that you could feel the chill radiating from her. It felt like ice seeping into your skin. “You drank our tea and the earth brought you to us. While everyone can see our realm, not all of them can pass through our borders nor talk to us. You’re special.”

From the shadows, that unseen voice rumbled again, its tone dark and amused. "SeteAlem is the reflection of everything that has been lost... and everything yet to come."

The bells tolled louder, each chime resonating in your chest, vibrating through your ribs. Your heart raced, each beat out of sync, struggling against the crushing weight of the sound. The air was heavy, carried with something you couldn’t quite put into words.

Something else was coming. Something far more frightening than them.

“I... I want to leave,” you said, your voice cracking, barely a whisper. “Please, let me go.”

The gods said nothing, but you could feel their eyes on you, their immense forms looming like dark clouds ready to consume you whole. The silence stretched, cold and suffocating, until the feminine figure spoke again, her tone almost pitying, but not quite.

“You will leave, in time. But the tea you drank binds you here, for now. You must witness what you came here to see.”

Leyarion’s mask gleamed as he leaned in again - he, as Azul had said once, didn’t have any notion about personal space. In fact, he was closer than ever, his voice barely more than a breath against your ear. “And perhaps, once you see, you will find you never truly wanted to leave.”

A hand, heavy and cold, brushed against your shoulder. You gasped, spinning around, but there was nothing there — only the dark, endless void. Then, slowly, another figure began to materialize, taller than the rest, cloaked in shadows so thick they seemed to swallow the light. You couldn’t see its face, but you could feel its gaze, as if it was peeling back your very soul.

“Do not fear,” it said, its voice softer than the others, yet far more chilling. “This place is not meant to harm you. It is meant to reveal. Let it show you what you need to see, if you weren’t ready, it would have brought you here.”

The room around you twisted, the shadows curling and stretching, pulling at the edges of your vision. The gods’ forms began to merge with the darkness, their outlines becoming distorted and monstrous. You could no longer tell where they ended and the void began. Everything seemed to pulse and writhe, as if reality itself was unraveling around you without caring about your permission.

And then, in the distance, you saw it — a vast, ancient presence, rising like a black tide. Dark, towering figures moved within it, their silhouettes barely discernible, but you could feel their power, raw and overwhelming, like a storm ready to consume everything in its path. They were older than anything you had ever known, older than the earth itself, and they called to you, their voices a low, haunting chorus that echoed in your head.

You felt a pull, an invisible force dragging you closer to them, closer to whatever lay hidden in that dark abyss. Your body trembled, fear and a twisted sense of curiosity warring within you, but something in the darkness whispered your name, soft and seductive, beckoning you forward.

"See," the unseen god’s voice rumbled, echoing through the void. "See what lies beneath, and know that you were always meant to find it."

And as the shadows parted, revealing the ancient, twisted truths hidden within, a cold, sickening realization washed over you — you were no stranger to their world. You were trapped, bound to it, as if the very darkness had woven itself into your soul. It was familiar, like home.

Why was it familiar like home?

You took a step ahead. You had to be brave to discover it, to see what you were meant to see.

The darkness felt alive, pulsing like a heartbeat beneath your skin. You couldn’t shake the feeling that you’d walked these shadowed paths before, that each twisted root and jagged rock was an old, familiar friend. The unseen god’s words lingered in the back of your mind, an echo that tugged at something buried deep within.

Home. It felt so wrong, yet so right. The shadows around you hummed in recognition, as though they, too, knew your presence, knew the parts of you that you had long tried to ignore. A cold shiver ran down your spine, but instead of backing away, you felt a strange pull, an urge to press forward.

As you took another step, the faintest memories flickered at the edges of your mind: faces you couldn’t quite place, words spoken in a language you thought you had forgotten. Fragments of laughter mingling with cries, love mixed with a deep-rooted fear. It was more than familiarity — it was like a piece of your soul had always belonged to this place, hidden beneath layers of denial. The very air felt like it knew your secrets, your hidden fears, and still it welcomed you.

You inhaled deeply, forcing yourself to steady your shaking hands. “Show me,” you whispered, barely audible. You weren’t sure if you were speaking to the god or to the darkness itself, but it didn’t matter. You have come this far. You couldn’t turn back now.

And as the shadows deepened around you, something ancient stirred, waiting for you to remember.

The shadows seemed to twist, drawing closer, as if listening to your whispered invitation. A chill seeped into your bones but the unease didn’t deter you. Instead, you felt drawn forward, each step awakening more of the strange, haunting familiarity that clung to you like a forgotten dream. Then, suddenly, the shadows pulled back, revealing a stone altar covered in intricate carvings that pulsed with a faint, dark glow. You stared at it, the patterns and symbols tugging at the edges of your mind.

You felt as though you should recognize them — no, you did recognize them.

As your fingers traced one of the symbols, memories, raw and jagged, began to surface: whispers in the dark, soft words promising you secrets, a cold, comforting presence always by your side. You could see glimpses of yourself, younger, reaching toward the darkness like an old friend. You had once sought it out, welcomed it, allowed it to cradle you when no one else would.

Because this darkness was your home. Your safe haven.

The realization hit you like a punch to the gut. *This wasn’t the first time you had come here.*

You’d been part of this ancient place, this dark world, long ago. The shadows were a piece of you, their promises and secrets entwined with your very being. It wasn’t just a memory, far from this, it was the truth.

"You remember," the god’s voice purred, Lilium, low and satisfied, resonating through your chest. "Your spirit was woven with ours from the beginning. You were lost, child, but you have found your way home."

A hollow ache settled in you, both frightening and strangely comforting. This darkness, this forgotten past, had always been part of you, waiting for you to come back. You weren’t just a visitor here; you were Ysli.

Lilium’s voice softened, almost gentle. "You are ready to see it all, to accept what you truly are. To walk in the shadows and find the power that has always waited for you here, when you would come home."

And in that moment, as you gazed at the ancient carvings and let the memories wash over you, you understood. There was no going back. You were as much a part of this darkness as it was of you, and whatever lay ahead, you would face it — not as a stranger, but as someone finally coming home.

Yet, you couldn’t help but wonder… Why did you escape this place before?

You wanted to question them, you wanted your answers.

Still, when you blinked again, everything started to dissolve like smoke, and the room around you slowly returned to reality. The abyss of SeteAlem was closing, but you knew it was still there, waiting, on the other side of a thin veil.

You finally turned to Amelie, your eyes misty, your breath heavy. She watched calmly, as if she knew exactly what had happened.

“You saw it, didn’t you?” she murmured, bowing her head slightly, as if in respect to your experience. “Now you understand. Sometimes, the gods of SeteAlem show us more than we are ready to see.”

The cup was still in your hands, empty. The drink was gone, but what it had revealed remained deeply etched in your mind. You didn’t even know how to explain to her, to them, what you were. Who you were.

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rhyaxxyn · 10 months ago

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𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒

"𝑻𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈; 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏. 𝑵𝒐 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝑨𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐, 𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒍 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕; 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅. 𝑰𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅."

— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐡𝐢

𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

GENRE: New Adult (16-25) / Contemporary Fantasy SUB-GENRE: Romance / SciFi / Dystopian / Action POV: Third Person (Multi) / Past Tense THEMES/TROPES: War, Found Family, Heroism, Sacrifice, Power, Corruption, Enemies to Lovers, Bigotry, Forgotten Past, Faith, Dark VS. Light STATUS: Seeking Publication

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒:

In the wake of a god being mysteriously killed, the Nameless War has waged between the gods and humanity for fifty-eight years, killing that which is mortal and immortal, and creating constant battles for territory between the divine Creator military and the human Revolutionists. As hope for future peace between the species wanes, the fate of the war lands in unlikely hands. Pandora, a goddess, the lost creator, nameless and chained to the Earth because of duty, yet still running from her true power. Quinn, a god, the skijic and Creator High General, desperate for the memories of a life lost and the familiarity of a purple-eyed goddess. Natia, a girl, heiress to one of the Republic of Valentulus’s most powerful cities, and slave to the Revolutionist Snake General. Loyalties whither, fear awakens, and stories collide as the Nameless War reaches its tipping point. It is up to Pandora, Quinn, and Natia, each of them sworn against one another, to challenge the boundaries of their duties—and their pasts. The only thing that might change their opposing fates is the truth, but letting the past fly free could very well set the darkness loose. The fight between deities and humanity is made equal, and the fate of the universe unsure.

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 - 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐬

PANDORA: Goddess of Nothing, Governor of Domum Deorum, Creator of the Universe. Extremely skilled in both alchemic and physical combat; well versed in a number of chordophone instruments (piano, kaleiscian zarisk, violin); selfless and self sacrificing; compassionate, analytical, cultured, stubborn, witty. QUINN: God of Stars, High General of the Creator Military. Omne’s personal “lap dog” before his capture; good with any blade, has "shit aim"; short with those he doesn’t know/care about; protective, sarcastic, composed, knowledgeable, caring, prideful. NATIA GENESIS: Heiress of Genesis Point. Little Sparrow. Remarkably intelligent in regards to literature, strategy, and divine biology due to intense schooling; the Republic of Valentulus' most renowned deitologist; near non-existent family ties outside of the media; intelligent, kind, self-destructive, abrasive.

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 - 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐬

OPHELIA SERPENTINE – General of the Revolutionist Military Government. Although not a master of strategy like Natia, she is manipulative; willing to do any and everything to maintain her power; manipulative, emotionally intelligent, controlling, dedicated, knowledgeable, passionate. OMNE - Goddess of the Universe (Mind), Queen of the Gods. Like Ophelia, she is extremely manipulative in order to achieve her means, though she keeps them hard to distinguish; analytical, facetious, secretive, manipulative, humorous, rude.

𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆

REPUBLIC OF VALENTULUS – Otherwise known as the R.O.V.; had once been the newly created nation in place of the United States in order to maintain control over the worsening relations between gods and humans. Unfortunately, much of it was destroyed after the beginning of the war, spare for the wealthiest districts and cities. DOMUM DEORUM - Heather’s city she built through the means of alchemy. Gods and humans live in unity here, under the leadership of Heather’s councils: Low Council (general citizens), High Council (divine and human district leaders), Master Alchemists (gods who have mastered the alchemic arts). For fifty-eight years Domum Deorum has existed in secret, though their efforts in the war remain influential. GENESIS POINT - A city with close ties to the Revolutionist military government. Mainly profits from scientific innovations, particularly thanks to Natia's efforts as a deitologist, and diplomatic advisors. As such, they are a major producer of both technology and weaponry. The city has been led by the Genesis family since its creation, Lukyn Genesis the most recent, with Natia Genesis as the next in line to inherit one of the R.O.V.'s most powerful governments.

(order of protags in the images above: Natia Genesis, Quinn, Pandora.)

Note: this is definitely one of several times i've introduced this particular book, but i'm so, so, so happy to do so. infinite tangents is the first book of many in the natural orders series, and i'm so excited to share with you all how far this story has come since i came up with it in 2014 (which is insane to me). hopefully, this story will be published soon... if i can work up the courage to email literary agents.

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skykid-nadir · 6 months ago

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Hi, I hope this is not a bother, I just need some help figuring out the lore in sky:cotl. I’ve been playing for a long time, though not a lot in the past year, and I have no idea where to start as I didn’t even realize there is lore before i came across people talking about it. I tried the wiki but it wasn’t very helpful; so i hope you don’t mind me asking for help🙏

(Also English isn’t my first language, I apologize for any mistakes)

I'm honestly not super familiar with the lore, but I'll try my best! Maybe some other awesome Skyblr folks can leave additions, too!

So to my understanding, the in-game lore is left very vague and open for interpretation. The devs have said on a couple of occasions that they like fans to come up with their own headcanons (for example the spirits are referred to with gender neutral terms not because they're nonbinary but because the devs want players to come to their own conclusions about each spirit's gender).

From the opening sequence in Isle of Dawn and the Eden quest during Aviary, we know that there used to be a flourishing kingdom inhabited by people referred to by the fandom as the Ancestors. The kingdom was separated into six Realms, each one ruled over by an Elder who resided in a temple. But something caused the Ancestors to fall out of balance with the land around them. It's implied that they ran out of resources and started experimenting on the Light Creatures. War broke out between the Realms, seemingly with one side fighting for the freedom of the Light Creatures and the other side seeking power over them. The war ended when the Eden Elder got their hands on a mysterious crystal and caused a massive explosion, either killing or maiming the others. This caused the kingdom to slowly drive itself to extinction.

Centuries later, a nameless deity (referred to as Megabird in concept art, though it's not confirmed in-game) created the Sky Kids, beings of light whose purpose is to heal the land of the corruption caused by the explosion.

As far as I know, that's what we're directly told in-game. Hopefully The Two Embers will expand on things a little more, but we'll just have to wait and see. There's also a lot that's considered fanon, like the names of the Elders or the Eden Elder being the first skykid. A lot of this comes from concept art and interviews, and it's up to you how much you adopt into your lore. At the end of the day, Sky lore is really about what theories you personally find appealing! This fandom tends to be pretty supportive of differing theories, so don't be afraid to come to your own conclusions!

#sky cotl #sky children of the light #sky: cotl #sky: children of the light #sky lore #skyblr

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nonexistent-tales · 13 hours ago

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TODAY IS A YEAR AFTER NAMELESS' RELEASE DATE.

happy bday to the !!!! very wrathful and deific day indeed

#rambles #calamity mod #wrath of the gods #calamity wrath of the gods #calamity wotg #terraria #terraria calamity #nameless deity #nameless deity of light #terraria nameless deity #nameless deity terraria #noxus is somehwere in july #ehhrhrhrhrhr. novembr 25 #modded terraria #wotg

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unpoeticpoison · 2 years ago

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sworn on the stars ~ 01 - genshin impact // sagau // imposter au

a/n: If anyone’s reading this, shall we continue in second person or revert to first person? it was okay at first but rereading second person POV always makes me feel so awkward. anyways, do enjoy!!

————————————

You felt like you were floating. You were light, and your body no longer felt weighed down by that familiar invisible dread. Yet something felt a little strange. The hairs on your arm felt almost ticklish, brushing against the softness of the ground. And your right hand felt cold and wet.

“Mmm?”

A blink. Everything had looked so... bright. Brighter than the blinding lights of those white-walled rooms, but oh-so blue as well.

‘The sky?’

For a moment, you’d wondered if you had finally died and perhaps gone to heaven. Those thoughts were dismissed as soon as you’d gotten up to look around at the eerily familiar scenery.

The gentle rustle of the wind blew past as you took in the view of the cliff. The ever-so-soft grass that acted as your bed as you lay there. There were faint chirps that could heard from the birds nearby, rustling of leaves as a little animals scurried past.

“So I guess I’m really here now, huh?” You muttered to yourself, still a little dazed.

Taking in your surroundings once more, you’d come to the conclusion that somehow you’d ended up on Starsnatch Cliff.

‘Heh. I remember the first time I was here. Tried to jump off before I met Amber and discovered fall damage was a thing.’

You chuckled to yourself. Being in this place was just so calming. There were definitely more noises than there were in the hospital, but the open nature felt so much more freeing than the confines of those blank white walls.

You could feel your limbs, like an old body regaining it’s youth after years of aging (though you’d never aged, just... shut down). You could stand on your own and stretch out your fingers in front of you, something you didn’t think you’d be able to do anymore.

It made you a little sentimental. For someone who had felt- well, almost numb for the past few years, it was an odd feeling. Maybe it was the realization that you were finally in a “better place” or the feeling of calm that this world gives you, but you’d felt yourself tearing up.

It felt as though your soul belonged to this place. Like you were finally being welcomed *home*.

“Hic... oh, geez-“ you sniffled, wiping away a stray tear. ‘It’s certainly been a while, huh?’ Followed by a grimace, you wet streaks stream down your face.

Then you realized your face wasn’t the only thing that was wet.

‘Oh, right!-‘

You looked down beside you to see a small hydro slime jumping happily beside you, only noticing because it had begun to gently nudge at your leg when you started crying.

“Aww, hey little guy.”

You recall slimes being aggressive monsters, but perhaps you were an exception? Perhaps after all you’d been through in your last world, fate had finally taken pity on your soul. You’d sometimes indulged in fanfiction where the world of Teyvat loved it’s creator just as much as the creator loved their world.

‘Heh. As if I’m some divine deity.’

Still, this was a nice feeling. You certainly weren’t going to go find a hillichurl encampment to see if they’d be friendly, but you figured this one slime would be safe to keep around.

After coming to terms with your thoughts a bit better, you got up to walk around. From the peak of the cliff you could see the nameless island, Stormbearer Point and the forest down below. The very forest you’d explored when you first entered the game.

You recall getting your first chest somewhere in there, too.

“A reward on the road!” Lumine remarked as the chest spilled with common goods.

You were curious to see what else this world had to offer.

After that first chest, you’d go on to have so many adventures with all the characters throughout the world. It really was the beginning of it all.

And so you decided to look around for a bit, just as you’d done when you started the game. You’d found that slimes in particular were absolutely adorable in real life. The little hydro slime kept following you around, but you also came across a dendro slime that had grown and gifted you a flower. There was also a group of anemo slimes nearby that were nice enough to take you on a ride through the sky.

You’d just gone along with the flow, but you certainly didn’t expect to get dropped off near a camp of hillichurls by the lake.

‘Maybe I spoke too soon earlier-‘

But rather than be aggressive, they looked (?) at you with calmness, as though you were nothing but another one of their own. On the contrary, one of them came over and pulled you into the group, inviting you to dance with them.

‘Sucks I can’t understand their language though.’

You wished that you could communicate with these now-friendly creatures, and all of a sudden you could make sense of their words, if only briefly.

“Holy one, come! You dance with us!”

“All Mother has come!!”

“Yes, Mother!”

It was a bit odd to hear yourself being called a mother of all things, but you supposed that things could’ve been worse. In a way, it felt like they were young children that just wanted their mother to be proud of their efforts.

And so you joined in on their little dance until your legs gave out from under you.

“Mother, food?” One of them questioned, before handing me a sunsettia.

“Thank you,” I smiled back fondly at them. “Mmm!”

The Teyvat-native fruit was unlike any other that you’d ever had in the last world. Just as it’s description indicated, it was sweet, but not *too* sweet. To put it in comparison, it tasted like a mix between a mango and pineapple with the texture of a ripe nectarine.

And so that was how you’d spent your first little while in the world of Teyvat. Playing with slimes, dancing with hillichurls, and indulging fully in the beautiful world that you could not fully access before.

Elsewhere in the region, a bard felt a shiver run up his spine, followed by feelings of relief that nearly knocked him off his feet. The one who flows with the wind could feel it’s anticipation. Waiting, waiting, waiting for resolution at last.

In another place, the god of contracts clutched at his chest, almost painfully. Like the satisfaction of a perfect contract fulfilled, his old heart became overwhelmed with new emotions that resembled joy, peace and happiness. Such strong feelings that he had not felt in so very long.

Across the wide ocean sat the one who yearns for eternity. She, too, felt a change in the surrounding atmosphere, as though a permanent change had just happened to Teyvat, its citizens none the wiser. She felt herself longing for something new. She found herself changing.

Up in the kingdom of frost and snow, a girl who has fought for much throughout her life found herself speechless. She could feel power beyond her imagination filling her senses, yet she did not feel paralyzed with fear, nor in reverence and awe, nor desire to keep it for herself (maybe just a little bit). She felt like a little girl once again being comforted in the arms of the one that had watched over her for so long.

Up on the throne of Teyvat sat one who concealed their face. Powerless, though intuitive they may be, this being that took solace amongst the stars could feel a sense of dread.

The winds were were finally changing. The true creator had finally descended onto these lands.

But the one bearing the fake crown was merely a human greedy for power. Power that they had long held onto, alongside the respect and reverence of the most powerful figures in the world. Or so they believed.

This was power that they would not give up so easily.

Not without a fight.

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agnoscoveteris-vestigiaflammae · 5 months ago

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Now that I'm all caught up with Doctor Who, here is an update on my (extremely long) Doctor Who Theory Masterpost I made last week !! As I am writing this, there are mere minutes to go before the premiere of the series finale, though I won't be seeing it until it's on BBC in 19 hours lol so hopefully no spoilers !!

So I'm still a firm believer that the *Colour* *Weekday* (or vice versa) or just *Shade of Red* naming convention for several characters was intentional, even if it's just a red herring. If you don't know what I mean, here are some examples

Ruby Sunday

Mundi Flynn (Monday Red) in episode 3

Marti Bridges (Tuesday Red) (Also a direct reference to Mars, ie. Pyramids of Mars, Sutekh, Osirans, etc.) in episode 4

Cooper Mercy (Red Wednesday) in episode 5

Rogue (anagram of Rouge = Red) in episode 6

Poppy in episode 1

Rose in episode 7

Cherry Sunday

While I still think that these names and their associations with ancient deities add to the theme of ‘The Pantheon' and all-powerful beings, and that this kind of repetitive naming convention is reminiscent of a dream-like logic or storytelling convention centred around Ruby, which could play into everyone’s TV show/fairytale/dream theories, I now also think with hindsight that the Red aspect of the names could just be a sneaky reference to Mars as the Red Planet and its associations with Sutekh.

I mentioned how due to her surname, Ruby would be aligned with the Roman God Sol Invictus, but now knowing that we're working with Egyptian mythology, it's more likely that she is aligned with the sun god Ra or the god of the sky, sun, and light, Horus. While both are plausible, my bets are on the latter for a few main reasons.

Horus' was the child of Isis, the goddess of love, magic, fertility, and healing, and the god Osiris, who was killed by Seth (Sutekh), the god of death and darkness, and then resurrected by Isis to conceive Horus. While pregnant with Horus, Isis fled to the marshes of the Nile Delta where she hid her child from Seth because she knew he wanted to kill him to maintain his place on the throne. Horus' birth is commonly accepted to have occurred on the 25th of December. Is this story starting to sound familiar? Could baby Ruby have been left in that snowy churchyard in the early hours of Christmas day because her mother was trying to hide her away amongst humanity and protect her from Sutekh?

In Pyramids of Mars, it is Horus, Sutekh's brother, who attempts to put a stop to Sutekh's evil plan with the Eye of Horus, could this also be related to the object that the Doctor and Ruby have to obtain from the nameless planet?

While Sutekh is the god of death and darkness, Horus is the god of light. Could Ruby be a messiah-like figure created in direct opposition to Sutekh with the sole purpose of destroying him when the time comes?

Isis is commonly associated with the Egyptian FLOOD myth which tells that when Osiris was killed, the Nile spilled over with the tears of Isis's grief. Now, we are aware that Mrs Flood is a widow, that she's always hiding herself away and that she is aware of Sutekh and his power... Could she be Isis in disguise secretly watching over her own child, waiting for the moment they can come together to try to defeat him?

One reason I think these theories are unlikely is that after being revealed as a god or at least some kind of god-human hybrid, I don't think it's likely that Ruby would continue to travel with the doctor, as she is speculated to do in series 15/2. but who knows! that sure would make things interesting.

In regards to the Trickster theory, I was Delighted to even get a trickster as ‘the god of traps’ mention last episode, but with all the talk about traps in UNIT HQ and the references I mentioned in my previous post, I wouldn’t be surprised if he does make a little cameo in this episode, or if he returns in S15/2. Also still not letting go of the Trickster being trapped in the ocean x ‘The War between the Land and the Sea’ x Mrs FLOOD theories idc idc.

Okay finally here’s some more quickfire bananas theories I’m throwing at the red string board

Susan cameo

Ruby has a perception filter that conceals either her true form or something that has attached itself to her but it cuts out at 73 Yards and that’s why everyone ran from her

The Doctor uses Rogue’s ring in defeating Sutekh

Mrs Flood (Mrs F) is Susan

Jenny is Ruby’s mother/Ruby is Susan’s mother/Kate is Ruby’s mother/Ruby is her own mother (i really dont wanna believe this one cause its boring)

Mrs Flood is connected to The Flood from The Waters of Mars

Rogue is Horus - ship shaped like a falcon

Finishing this with seven hours to go until I see the finale!! Still haven’t seen any spoilers but from the official teasers I saw and the fact that the episode is only 50 minutes, I highly doubt anything this lore-heavy could happen lol. thank u for reading and indulging me doctor who besties <3 see u on the other side

#doctor who #dw theory #empire of death #ruby sunday #mrs flood #the trickster #sutekh #horus

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alrikhart · 8 months ago

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@fharzai location: dreamscape (iskaran mines) notes: all good things start with horrific trauma

Most nights, he was restless because he found himself here again, blurring the line between unconsciousness and the waking world. Sleep was something he wished to avoid but was physically necessary; sleeping draughts helped, lulled his weary mind into the dreamscape, and for a few uninterrupted hours, he'd toss and whisper pleas for help into the dark of the night above him.

In the dark, it was hard to discern what was him and what was the cold echo of cavernous walls. Hot. Cold. The Iskarans had dug into the mountains, deeper than anyone should have gone, instead knocking at the halls of the damned. Murder, arduous labor, a sunless life, and hunger were enough to drive anyone towards desperation. In the dreamful hours, Alrik forgot what was and what wasn't; the escape he'd imagined and played over a hundred times in his head had to be a fantasy. Nobody got out, at least not alive; this place made monsters of anyone, he'd felt in the gray matter that squeezed between his fingers. In the shards of a broken skull that was splattered across the cavernous floor.

Where was Alessia? She was here - she must have been here? Had that been her? He should know if his sister was dead. He would have known if he had killed her, but then where had she gone -? It was dark and cold. So dark. The air lingered on his skin like damp, clammy fingers stretched greedily across his flesh. A breath fell from his lips as the haunting whisper of cruelty rattled like a hiss at the back of his synapses, it told him what was to come, and what was inevitable: the Norns had tied his thread long ago, and it was here in the depths of Helheim that he'd wander eternally. Cold and lost, nameless and forgotten.

Overhead, the infernal pitch of the cavern cracked open, and light poured down from above. Bit by bit it broke apart as the warmth of the sun washed over the miner's frame, bringing with it a chorus that rose from something Alrik couldn't place. For so long, hope was an enemy because it brought with it nothing but despair; there was a peace that came to Sisyphus's acceptance of his fate; the last hope of treachery against the Gods was to consign oneself to the trials ahead. But there it was, the sun, the sky, and when the ceiling of the mineshaft broke away, he found himself on his feet. Washed in the warmth of the day he stood before a man with gray eyes, a stranger.

"Who are you?" Asking how hadn't crossed his mind. He had no awareness that this was a dream, no control over what was happening around him, and no ability to truly question the changes. Instead, his fanatical mind went to what he knew, to the Gods he'd learned so much about growing up. If this was Sol, Mani had to be nearby, driving their chariots across the sky. There were stories about falling into pacts with deities, but Alrik did not think of himself first, instead another's name fell from his lips. "Where's my sister? Where's Alessia?" At his side Alrik's hands had balled into fists, mediocre magic met the arms of a blacksmith's son, but God or no he would not be parted from her.

#tqh troupe 1 #fharzai: You Must Be Dreaming #fharzai.dreamscape #fharzai.nornwatch #fharzai.iskaldrik #int. fharzai #fharzai.1 #tqh troupe 1. nornwatch keep

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you-know-honey · 1 year ago

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How does it feel to be in a relationship with the Nameless Ghouls (Based on songs)

I've been listening to music while I prepare a lot of fanfics and have ideas for others and…have you ever thought about what it would feel like to love Nameless Ghouls (in a realistic way)?

Well I think I have the answer...

𝔊𝔥𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔰

Mountain

Say Yes To Heaven - Lana del Rey

He is quite a fan of dancing waltzes and is sure that soft, deep music makes plants and their relationship grow better in those small, intimate dance sessions.

If you dance, I'll dance And if you don't, I'll dance anyway

Mountain is like calm. Not calm before the storm, just calm.

Give peace a chance Let the fear you have fall away

He is a calm and silent child, he has the look of a sweet deer that surrounds your heart with sweetness and keeps it warm and loved.

I've got my eye on you

Even if you doubt his love at first since you wouldn't expect the most serious ghoul to be interested in you, he will reinforce the idea of accepting the happiness and peace that is offered. As if it were about touching the sky.

Say yes yo heaven

He only wants one thing in return: commitment. You have his heart and spirit in your hands, he only asks that you take care of him.

Say yes to me

He could never tie you down, he wouldn't be able to keep you from your dreams. If you leave he will stay at the door waiting for your return. He could change his life but never his love.

If you go. I'll stay You come back, I'll be right here

He will be your lighthouse in the darkness, even if the earth moves and the tide covers everything, even when you think it's all over. He will be there holding you close to his chest.

Like a barge at sea In the storm, I stay clear

Even if everyone told him that going out with you is a bad idea, he would never stop, he has accepted his love for you and has the courage to face life with you with or without the approval of others.

I've got my mind on you

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Phantom

Golden Hour - JVKE

Phantom can promise you a young love, you are his first love, the first person for whom his heart went crazy.

It was just two lovers Sittin' in the car, lintening to Blonde, fallin' for each other

It will be like living in a cheesy movie, dates full of hope and overwhelming emotion.

Pink and orange skies, feelin' super childish, no Donald Glover

He doesn't mind taking risks, he could invent some excuse, no matter how bad it may be, the scolding goes on deaf ears, if it were for you he would do it again.

Missed call from my mother Like: Where you at tonight? Got no alibi

Every second with him is intense, part of a song. He admires you like a deity, the most beautiful and charming person in his eyes.

I was all alone with the love of my life She's got glitter for skin, my radiant beam in the night I don't need no light to see you

An hour with you is like a dream for him and a dream is an eternity. A golden dream.

Shine It's you golden hour You slow down time

He's not afraid to do stupid things for love, he'll steal the car and disappear all weekend with you.

Feet up on the dash, drivin' nowhere fast Burnin' through the summer

I would dedicate every romantic song that comes on the radio to you, I would write the lyrics in a notebook for you.

Radio on blast, make the moment last She got solar power, minutes feel like hours

Love hit him hard, he has fallen for your charms and will refuse to free himself from them.

Can you even imagine fallin' like I did?

He would give himself completely to your wishes, there are no "No" for you.

For the love of my life She's got glowon her face, a glorious look in her eyes

He would give himself completely to your desires, there is no such thing as a "No" for you. You have an eternity to spend with your first and only love.

My angel of light

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Rain

Aengus' Fool - Sleep Walking Animals

Romance hadn't been an option for Rain until you showed up.

Love looks good on you

Explore sensations you don't know you have, he swim upstream to you. He will fight against the current instead of going with the flow like he used to do just for you.

Light as a feather but tough as a stone

It makes him blush to see how you love everything that others consider boring about him, he doesn't understand how he lived without you all this time.

When you're barely together But never alone

He will know how to be there for you when things get bad and will protect your heart from the waves that threaten to break it.

When a hand on the leg is the best you can do

Everyone can see that something has changed in him, there is something refreshing in his heart, a tide of emotion. There is a gift in front of your door always at dawn, you should never forget how much he loves you.

I read you a passage From yesterday's paper

Feelings do not come and go, they stay with him every day and always grow a little more, he has never tried so hard to make someone happy.

With a smile that escapes you

¿Do you know that you bring out the best in me too?

He will leave his love story marked in history, to meet you again in the next life and walk back into your heart.

I've been waiting since the last time i was here For you to come home Took a while but know your here

He feels wild and willing to break the rules, he would pay the price for you. I would raise the waters of the sea if it is part of your wishes.

And somehow Nothing matters Matters now

Live in a dream that he never imagined, delivered to you. Keep discovering something else to love you.

I'll stand by yhe bedside And watch how she sleeps

He never thought that love looked so good on him, he feels that romance was a gift you gave him.

Sifting through poems For phrases to keep

Watching you breathe makes him happy like the sound of the sea, there is always an adventure wherever you go and he is willing to let himself go.

She'll open her eyes- there's a day to pursue

He feels so proud of receiving love that if you are mentioned at the slightest in a conversation, he will divert everything to talk about you unconsciously.

II'll shout from the mountains LIke Aengus' Fool

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Swiss

I See You - Jutty Ranx

This man doesn't play games, he likes you even before you like him. He could spend months flirting with you to bring out the crush in you. The way you refused to let yourself be loved only made it more fun.

You were never young, my love I can tell, not by the way that you smell

When you grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and crashed his lips into yours, his heart exploded. He didn't expect the intensity of emotions you released in him, as if he were a first-time lover.

But by the way you move your tongue, my love Somebody shake me, what can I do?

He touches your body as if it were going to break, it's like being drugged with you, he sees the stars in your eyes.

Am I in love with the night? Am I in love with you?

He knows that with you everything is different. Real. It's not just one night, it's one of many nights alone with you, you will see a hopeless romantic more than a sexy flirt. He has a lot to give, centuries of love to give.

Will you take what I've got? Will we die on the spot?

He is addicted to emotion, to the eternal flutter of butterflies in his stomach, he doesn't want to call it love until you do.

You make me, make moves

He moves like a puppy after you, he likes everything about you. He wants to know everything about you, even what you don't like about yourself. He will let you know that no matter what happens, you won't get rid of him. He will walk over your thorns with a smile, nothing could stop him.

I see you, you know I see you I break through to get to you Its so true

Sometimes he feels like a fool for having wasted his time on other people before meeting you.

How could I How could I pretend I didn't notice? An incision when you looked back

The world stopped existing when your refusals to go out with him turned into a "Yes." Maybe he doesn't have much but it's all for you.

I want you to myself Can we take this somewhere else?

There is nothing hidden from you, see what you want to see, touch what you want to touch. He will make you feel how you deserve to feel.

My heart's an open book and you just took it off the shelf

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(The song looked very good, don't you think? *wink, wink*)

Sodo

Teeth - Five Seconds Of Summer

He got angry with himself when he found himself smiling when talking to you. As if he couldn't feel that happiness with anyone else, day and night you're going to be in his head and he doesn't want that.

Some days, you're the only thing I know Only thing that's burning when the nights grow cold

He is a distrustful boy, he will shout for you to leave only to beg you to stay. He doesn't understand his feelings and fears that they will end up devouring and destroying you.

Can't look away, can't look away

He tries to maintain balance so as not to scare you, he doesn't want to see himself in need of love but he also doesn't want you to think that he no longer feels anything for you.

Sometimes, you're a stranger in my bed

He has a complicated heart and fears that you are smart enough to let him drop and look for something better.

Don't know if you love me or you want me dead.

He wants to deceive himself. Pretending that all your love for him is just a cruel joke but he knows when he hears your voice that it's just him being an idiot insecure.

Something in the way you're looking through my eyes Don't know if I'm gonna make it out alive

He is eager to devour you, to show you how strong, suffocating, eternal and perhaps painful his love is. Like a fire demon he fears that his intensity might scare you, deep down he just wants to burn in a pile love and desire with you.

Talk so pretty, but your heart got teeth Late night devil, put your hands on me And never, never, never ever let go

He doesn't consider himself a romantic in public, one lucky day he might leave a kiss on your lips while walking around. He is not predisposed to be sweet, "I love you" sounds complicated to say. But you can bet that at night he fantasizes about it.

Some days, you're the best thing in my life Sometimes when I look at you, I see my wife

He knows what he is capable of, he takes your heart so high that letting it fall would make it turn to dust. He satisfies your happiness, as he savors the sweetness you pour on him.

Talk so pretty, but your heart got teeth

Sometimes he thinks that you have fallen in love with a version of him that only exists in your mind and wants to become that fantasy inside you. He wants to become the best version of the demon he is.

Blood on my shirt, a rose in my hand You're looking at me like you don't know who I am

Deep down and perhaps in the solitude of his room you can see how desperate he is for you, how he simply became addicted to who you are and how he wants to destroy your heart so he can take you with him forever.

Never, never, never ever let go

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𝔊𝔥𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔢𝔱𝔱𝔢𝔰

Cumulus

Sweater Weather - The Neighbourhood

She saw you from the first day and knew that sooner or later she would fall for you, she's not stupid, she just knew it. She was clear that she loved you.

I want the world in my hands

She makes the world seem only for both of you and her, even when the situation is not pleasant she would do anything to make you smile.

I hate the beach, but I stand In California, with my toes in the sand

His heart breaks when you cry, he just can't stand it, he will tuck you in and stay with you, sometimes you don't need a solution, just a long cuddle session and some tears.

Use the sleeves of my sweater

Even if you are afraid about the veracity of her feelings, she will make sure to take your hand and go through that haze of insecurity with you and let you know that you are and will be the only one in her life.

Let's have an adventure Head in the clouds, but my gravity's centered

Even though she is always in control of her life, when the water becomes turbulent and icy, she knows that she can find a warm home in your arms, just you and her. Holding your heart next to his.

'Cause it's too cold For you here and now So let me hold

He will always make small gestures for you, maybe that cool breeze on that hot summer afternoon was a gift from him, the cup of hot tea after a long day of work. Sometimes you don't need words, just hide your face in the crook of his neck, breathe in his scent and know that you are safe. A touch says a thousand words and she has proven it to you.

One love, two mouths One love, one house Just us, you find out

He has a habit of nuzzling your neck, he likes to see you shiver from his touch, sharing only a long game of glances. A strong and intense connection. She is not a girl of many words, she loves you and will show you in every possible way.

And if I may just take your breath away I don't mind if there's not much to say

When you are together, regardless of whether there are other people around you, all that goes into the background, she will hold your hand with pride and teach the world to see you the way she sees you, like the most beautiful star in the sky.

The goosebumps start to raise The minute that my left hand meets your waist And then I watch your face

She feels nostalgic for the first beautiful moments shared, don't misunderstand her, she loves the present with you but she likes to travel from time to time at the beginning and admire how far you have come together.

Sometimes the silence guides our minds To move to a place so far away

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Aurora

Dandelions - Ruth B.

She was extremely excited when he identified that what he felt for you was love, she walked from one place to another with a smile on his face. She had always read about how magical love was and experiencing it with you seemed like a dream to her.

'Cause I'm in a field of dandelions Wishing on every one that you'll be mine, mine

She longs with all her soul to spend the rest of her life with you, to have a little house in the country and to live in a fairy tale forever. You are her special person, her world, her hope, hers everything. More than once you will catch her daydreaming about that beautiful future.

But it's so good, I've never known anybody like you But it's so good, I've never dreamed of nobody like you

You're always nervous around her, she has too much energy and everyone basically adores her, like you're afraid that one day her feelings for you will just disappear. Every morning she will ask you if you want to be her partner, a cute and tender way to make you understand that every day she gets out of bed and her heart decides to continue loving you.

Maybe it's the way you say my name Maybe it's the way you play your game

Will she make true works of art for you, paint stars on your ceiling, embroider small details on your clothes, ¿did you see something in a store that interested you? It will appear in your room the next day. She is not a superstitious girl but she knows how fragile and ephemeral the nature of dreams and the desires of the heart is, she wants to give you everything it desires so that when she looks into your eyes she sees the living spark of dreams come true.

When you're looking at me I've never felt so happy

His feelings are a clear example of purity and innocence, he is dying of excitement to recreate each of the cheesiest scenes from romance movies with you. He cannot understand jealousy, he runs away from it and will need your kisses and your loving gaze to calm down.

I think that you are the one for me 'Cause it gets so hard to breathe When you're looking at me

She looks at you and knows that you are HIS person, unique and incomparable, perhaps destiny she is grateful that you came into his life and he does not plan to lose you, like a shooting star that does not pass twice.

And I've heard of a love that comes once in a lifetime And I'm pretty sure that you are that love of mine

When distance separates them due to the band's tours, she longs more than ever to be with you, there wouldn't be a night without making video calls almost until dawn. She knows that when she is with you she is free, free from the Ministry, free from his duty to the band, she is simply complete when she is with you.

I've never felt so alive and free

His dreams have come true, she has the deep and true love she always wanted, she will wake up every morning to look into your eyes and smile and know that his deepest desire is real, tangible and completely his.

And I see forever in your eyes I feel okay when I see you smile, smile

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Cirrus

I Was Made For Lovin' You - KISS

You have liked her for a long time, you tried to declare yourself several times but you were very shy so she had to take the initiative, it was a direct declaration full of love and desire.

Tonight I wanna give it all to you

Free time is something that Cirrus doesn't have as often as she wants, so when the night comes and she's finally free, she'll sneak into your room to completely surrender to your arms in the privacy of the night.

We're going to make it all come true

Both of you are predestined to love each other, in some other life she knows that he must have done something very well to deserve you in this life one again.

I wanna lay it at your feet 'Cause, girl, I was made for you

Everything suggested itself organically little by little to end up forming a healthy and symbiotic relationship. They are not together all day, she understands that you may need your space but she will always keep his eyes on you, even if you don't know it. It's his little secret.

And I can't get enough of you, baby Can you get enough of me?

It not only talks about physical love, but also about a deep emotional connection, it knows what you feel even before you know it, it will give you your space if you are upset, it will hug you when you cry and kiss every part of your body to let you know that in his eyes you are the real figure of a goddess and he will not hesitate to fulfill all your wishes.

I wanna see it in your eyes Feel the magic

She has secretly created songs just for you, like a hymn to the passionate love that runs through her veins since she has been with you, a girl who gives her all to make you touch the stars.

There's something that drives me wild

The connection is inescapable between the two, destined to be together or an excellent coincidence of life that finally came to pass.

I was made for loving you, baby You were made for loving me

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