#when her depression and imposter syndrome and eldest daughter cure is at its worst

[saiwola]

Sylvie's on the mind.

cw: themes of transphobia and body dysmorphia; also I may get rambly and disjointed

Okay, so first of all, the story of Sylvia and Alys were both first from the concept of a "chosen one" and what if the wrong person was given the role. Prophecy foretells of a "maiden" who would "bring Spring" to Kaamos. People assume it means the birth of a new avatar of Luleda. A magic signal leads the royal family to this one village. People assume it's Sylvie. Alys gets taken along by accident. But it turns out Alys is the one with the shard of Luleda. Pretty simple and straightforward, right? Until it wasn't.

Now when I decided Sylvie was a transwoman, it was more of a whim. Why not? It didn't mean anything at the time. It just felt right.

But thinking more about the situation and things, it became more ... not important in a plot sense, but well....

Because I thought of why people were so quick to believe Sylvie was this prophesized "maiden". And well, of course, they would. For one, Alys at this point was unable to use magic. And Sylvie is very powerful. She's got a strong familiar and magic able to cleanse and purify. To ward off and fight against the dark creatures of Kaamos. So I want and need to stress that it was very believable to think that Sylvie was this chosen one.

But the conversation also extended past magic to what a "heroine" needs to be: conventionally beautiful, strong, passionate, pure of heart, able to inspire hope and bring light to the dark—things that Alys wasn't, but Sylvie was.

And since this supposed prophecy uses the word "maiden," the question could also be twisted to read as what a "woman" needs to be.

So when it's discovered that it's Alys who is the evlogia and not Sylvie, I can only imagine how hard that hits on a meta-level. To be branded by the story as a "false maiden". A fake. To be told by the narrative that you are not the "maiden" because you weren't born with the right things (in this case, the power). That you could put in all this work but not be considered the "real thing". Now I don't know if Sylvie felt this disappointment and negativity to this extent. She does think it sucks though, because she was putting in the effort. Putting in the work to better the kingdom.

But Sylvie's story doesn't stop there.

Because despite the revelation, those that know (the royal family, Alys, the archmages) decide that no, Sylvie is their "maiden", their Dawnflower. That she may not have this particular innate magic within her, but the kingdom needs her. She put in the work. She is the most deserving. She belongs in that role. They are choosing her. And I like to think something is healing in that for her. But I don't know. I could never fully understand the exact depths of Sylvie's feelings.

BUT! ALSO! When we actually think about this alleged prophecy, it promised a maiden who would bring Spring to Kaamos. Now people would initially connect Spring to Luleda, the Blessing of Life and Creation. Because flowers and shit, right? But Luleda isn't explicitly tied to Spring. None of the evlogia are connected to the seasons. So if not, then what does Spring mean exactly? It symbolizes new beginnings and renewal. It is associated with hope, gentleness, optimism, and an abundance of energy. Things that Alys does not possess.... but Sylvie does.

And if we think about it like that ... is Sylvia even a fake at all? It could very much be that this prophecy really did mean for her to be this "real chosen one".