#zach noble

[coffeecakecafe]

more lil guys! MY lil guys!

also the beginning of the color holding era I’m in

[sweettoothvn]

Can i get a kiss? (･ω<)☆ (to all the LI)

[braininatankwithalaptop]

Has anyone talked about why the Noveda's family had the Sovereign gate artifact in their vaults and then after it was given away and the Noveda family died out Zach was still chosen as the controller? That's too much of a coincidence to be happenstance, and besides being combat mages the Noveda family doesn't seem to have a bloodline. I think there's a possibility that somehow the Noveda family found out about the time loop sometime after Shutar Tana used it, maybe a Noveda ancestor was one of the people he confided in during the time loop (the Noveda family historically is aligned with the Eldemar crown), and the family is dedicated to grooming themselves to be chosen by the angels for the next planetary alignment. Think about it, why would a noble family specialize in combat magic and risk fighting in the frontlines until all the adults are dead? Because they're trying to establish themselves as strong enough, noble enough, perhaps "good" enough to be good candidates for the angel's system of choosing. Shutur Tana obviously did a lot of the conquest and fighting himself, and Zach was expected to fight off the invasion himself, so the Angels obviously value self reliance, combat strength, and courage. If you had possession of a device that gave some unspecified person the same boon that allowed the ikosian empire to first form, why wouldn't you do everything in your power to increase the chances that you and yours would get that boon?

[flavorcrash]

Apocalypse "AU" designs (might color idk!)

[mohammedhaboubsblog]

Urgent request to help save my parents

Deadline 15 Nov !!

Current progress:

USD $ 192 / $ 8,824

Hello my friends, and my second family, as I told you before, my parents should travel as soon as possible, please save my parents, it's cold on them, they must travel immediately, and the bombing is very close to them, and the communications are very weak, day after day the situation is getting worse, please, friends, we can do that

Verified by : @opencommunion @northgazaupdates2

Gofundme :

@riding-with-the-wild-hunt @dlxxv @musicfren

@wellwaterhysteria @fl4xenfields @noble-kale

@buttercuparry @bibyebae @littlestpersimmon

@lesbianmaxevans @lovetododeku @virovac @dlxxv-vetted-donations

@variantsofblue @imlizy-blog-blog @officialspec @o-lanterns

@opencommunion @commissions4aid-international

@paper-mario-wiki @pcktknife

@postanagramgenerator @kinderes @katsunaksu

@khangerinedreams @redbuddi @razzberrydazz @razzberrydazz

@acepumpkinpatrick @appsa @a-shade-of-blue

@sayruq @the-bastard-king @courtjester69420

@loathsome-little-creature @90-ghost

[tassjis]

A list of objects and technologies created by Myne

The gremlin has been busy. Anything red was created by another, but without Myne creating something else, the creator would not have made it, so Myne's name is not listed as the creator but Myne was the reason it was made. Anything blue was improved upon

VEHICLES

A horse-drawn carriage with suspension

FURNITURE

Spring mattress spring upholstery - Zach

COSMETICS + ACCESSORIES

Rinsham - all-in-one shampoo Hair Ornaments Librarians armband Tote bag - improved

FASHION

Bubble skirts Halter-top dress Tie-dye - previously existed Wax Dyeing Stencil Dyeing Water ripple embroidery

EVENTS

Tasting party Charity Concert Dying competition

TOYS

Karuta Reversi Chess Playing Cards Baby Rattle Educational baby toys - such as shaped blocks and holes implied other toys

FOOD - Ingredients and condiments -

Compote Tanieh Cream Gelatin Gnocchi Gratin Herb Dressing Lage Sauce (Basil Sauce) Mayonnaise Yeast Pasta Ponzu Sauce Pomme sauce Rumptopf Rutreb Jam White sauce

- Savoury -

Capellini Caprese Salad Carbonara Consomme Soup Double Consomme Soup - Leise Crispy-Crispy Launeide and Sujaru Salad (Vegetable Salad) Crun-Crun Ju-Ju Farba (Chicken Salad) Cappellini Fikken - improved Fluffy Bread Sandwich - Improved with fluffy bread Hamburg Steak Lasagne Macaroni Gratin Osso Buco - Later improved by Leise Parue Burger Parue Okonomiyaki Pizza Potatoffel salad Pomme Soup Risotto Steamed Potatoffel Steamed Taschitz (chicken) Quiche French Toast Salted Cucumber imitation

- Sweet -

Bavarois Cookies Langues De Chat Crepe Fallfold Tart - Nicola Ice Cream Mille Crepe Mousse Panna Cotta Paru Cake Pound Cake Pudding Short Cake Tiramisu Tanier Cream/Mont Blanc

TOOLS

Chopsticks Clothes Hanger - improved Hairpin Herbal Candles Crochet hook Hand pump Hide Glue Steamer Precision Knife Roller Starch Glue Metal letter types Round Bell Safety Pin

MACHINES

Waxing Machine Letterpress Machine

PRINTING TYPES

Woodblock printing Stencil printing Letterpress printing

STATIONARY

Clay Tablet Mokkan Faux Papyrus Dipitch Dipitch Stylus Soot pencil Linseed and soot Ink Colour Ink Folders

- Paper -

Plant Paper (Volrin paper) Conjoining Paper (Nenseb paper) Effon (Music) Paper Fireproof Paper (Trombe paper) Rinfin Paper - Illgner Wax paper (Wax/Rinfin paper) Trauperle Paper -Illgner

- Magic Paper -

Enhanced Conjoining paper - Drewanchel Spellcasting Nenseb paper (Nenseb/Trombe with magic circle) Spellcasting effon paper (Effon/Trombe with chant) Maximum Quality Fey Paper (Effon/Trombe/Nenseb) improved by Ferdinand

MAGIC TOOLS

Music Box with Effon paper (technically made by Ehrenfest students) Drivable Highbeast Rainbow Highbeast Stenluke Disappearing Ink Plush Toy with recorded messages Magic tool to send books back to their shelves

MAGIC

Water Gun Copy and Place

KNOWLEDGE

Salting Out Lace knitting Written Calculation Decorative shaped vegetables Origami Introductory system Tickets Red seal Trading Graphs Myne Decimal System Rosemyne Magic Compression Method Female Crest Copyright royalties Questionnaire survey

PRINTED PRODUCTS

Black and white picture Book Children's Bible - Supreme God and the Eternal Five Children's Bible - Spring Subordinates Children's Bible - Summer Subordinates Children's Bible - Autumn Subordinates Children's Bible - Winter Subordinates Story Books Knight's Tale (short stories 1-3) - Compiled and translated Knight's Tale (short stories 4-5) - Compiled and translated Mother's Bedtime Stories Collection Unnamed Operation Grimm Book (Groschel) - Lutz Etiquette and Noble Euphamisms Book 1 - Fran Etiquette and Noble Euphamisms Book 2 - Fran Rozemyne's Recipe collection Knight's stories - Elvira Royal Academy stories - Elvira Royal Academy love stories - Elvira A history of Dunklefelger - Compiled and translated Knight stories Ahrensbach - Compiled Ditter Story - Roderick Royal Academy love stories 2 - Elvira The tale of Fernstine Part 1 - 3 - Elvira Sheet Music Concert programs Accounting report Printed illustrations (created to promote a knight's tale) Ferdinand illustations Cinderella Romance Novel (pornographic smut)

Songs

Tulip Anime Song Song for the concert Movie theme song "Under the chestnut tree" A hymn for Eglantine (requested by Anastasius) A couple classical songs

[cosmerelists]

What Autocorrect Does to Cosmere Character Names

@cosmereplay suggested this list about how characters' names autocorrect in my phone--a great idea! However...I write so many lists on my phone that my phone has learned pretty much everyone's name. If I legitimately mistype "Kaladin," the phone will just correct it to "Kaladin." It knows.

So instead...I went into my phone messaging app and looked at what was suggested as I typed the character's name. I also hopped into Microsoft and looked at their suggested spelling corrections. This did produce some...interesting results. 

So here are my phone/computer suggestions for Cosmere names!

1. Kaladin

Phone suggestion: malady

Computer suggestion: paladin

This is so real. Kaladin feels that he himself is a malady while everyone else sees him as a (sometimes literal) knight in shining armor. 

2. Zellion

Phone suggestion: zero

Computer suggestion: zillion 

Ah yes. The age-old question. Is Zellion nothing...or is he everything? Zellion asks himself this question daily.

3. Shallan

Phone suggestion: shall and

Computer suggestion: shall an

If there is one thing both devices know for sure, it's that "Shallan" isn't a word. It's two words. And is there any better representation of Shallan, she who sees herself as multiple people in one? 

4. Leshwi

Phone suggestion: lesbian

Computer suggestion: lechwe

My phone believes Leshwi to be a lesbian. My computer believes her to be the noble antelope, galloping over the plains of Africa (apparently that is what a "lechwe" is). I'm not sure I totally buy either of those headcanons, but I can appreciate them both.

5. Adolin 

Phone suggestion: advil

Computer suggestions: adjoin, adoring, or addling

Yes, yes, I can see it. Adolin truly is a type of pain relief. He brings people together. He adores his wife and his friends. And I guess he...is confusing sometimes? 

6. Dalinar

Phone suggestion: Salina

Computer suggestion: decliner

My phone is trying to find a lovely name for if Dalinar turns out to be trans, while my computer is like "Man he says no to everything." 

7. Navani

Phone suggestion: navigate, java

Computer suggestion: nagana

Once again, my phone takes the positive track: Navani is an explorer! A computer programmer! Maybe the embodiment of coffee! My computer, meanwhile, has identified her as (looks up word)...some sort of parasitic disease that infects animals? Who wrote this? Moash?

8. Renarin

Phone suggestion: Renaissance, remarkable

Computer suggestion: remain

Okay, I'm noticing a definite pattern here. My phone (correctly) sees Renarin as a remarkable Renaissance man! My computer is like, "Well, he sure is there." 

9. Raboniel 

Phone suggestion: rabies

Computer suggestion: baronial

The positivity/negativity polarity has switched! Now my phone thinks Raboniel is a disease with a 100% fatality rate whereas my computer believes her to be "grand, impressive, opulent."

I think Navani would be like, "Both fit."

10. Rlain 

Phone suggestion: flair, email

Computer suggestion: rain

Okay...I think these all sort of work. Rlain definitely has flair. He is the bridger of minds, just like, uh, email? And singers do go into storms to transform, so rain is a fair association too. 

11. Hesina

Phone suggestion: Jedi; hesitate; he's in; he's insane; he's inside

I don't think I even need to go to the computer for this one. It's already a, uh, lovely (?) poem. Well, less lovely and more terrifying...who is the "he" who is terrorizing Hesina?? Luckily, she's a Jedi, so she'll definitely be able to handle it.

12. Vivenna

Phone suggestion: video, vice

Computer suggestion: Vienna

I feel that Vivenna herself would be unhappy with these suggestions. She does not see herself as a person of vice nor is she a big city person. And I feel like original flavor Vivenna wouldn't be a huge fan of videos either. 

13. Zahel

Phone suggestion: Zach

Computer suggestion: hazel

Something about Zahel autocorrecting to Zach cracks me up. "Yup, that's just ol' Zach over there. Zach with his sword. Ardent Zach." 

I'm pretty neutral on "hazel." It has a "z" I guess.

14. Susebron 

Phone suggestion: dude, dude right, dude rocks

Once again, no computer is needed here. The phone has already produced such a lovely poem. And unlike the Hesina one, it's not a horror show! It's like someone is commenting on Susebron himself. "Dude! Dude, right? Dude rocks!"

15. Steris

Phone suggestion: stern, sterile, sterilization

Computer suggestion: steric

I mean...yeah. Steris can be stern. She can seem sterile. She would definitely be a fan of sterilization of, like, equipment after experiments. "Steric" apparently means "relating to the arrangement of atoms" which, uh, sure?

16. Kelsier

Phone suggestion: keep, keeping

Computer suggestion: Kelsie

My phone seems Kelsier as a survivor--someone who keeps on keeping on!

My computer is now the one headcanoning a character as trans.

15. Sadeas

Phone suggestion: safe, safety

Computer suggestion: sides, saddens

I think that, uh, Adolin would have some words to say about my phone's suggestions here. Sadeas as "safe safety"??

But Dalinar might agree with the computer. Sadeas did pick sides. It was indeed sad.

18. Moash 

Phone suggestion: Moana

Computer suggestion: mash, mosh, moat

Yes, yes, the computer is definitely on to something here (he smashes, he's in a pit, he makes himself an island...)

But can we appreciate that my phone just thinks he's a Disney princess? Tumblr's with you, phone.

[zarvasace]

I'm thinking of sharing some more original work, art and lore mostly, but I have... a lot of it. Do any of these sound interesting to you? More detailed descriptions beneath cut, but I tried to capture vibes!

In a slightly more high-tech modern world, the fey live in a floating city. They are aloof and have a policy of non-intervention... which means that the only fey people see are the mischievous, villainous kind. Through fey gifts, curses, and blood, various heroes rise to the challenge. This is a fairytale/superhero/modern fusion!

Original works!

Fairytale Superheroes

Characters include Pine (from The Ugly Duckling), Dawn (from Sleeping Beauty), Blythe (from Snow White), Andrew (from Snow White and Rose Red), Kala (from The Little Mermaid), and Dave (from Aladdin).

Random pieces written, mostly focusing on Blythe's angst.

Unveiled

In a modern, like-ours world, a secret community of magical people thrives: fairies, vampires, shapeshifters, centaurs, selkies, you name it. Their government and organization is scattered, but comes to a critical conclusion one day: to reveal their existence to nonmagical humans worldwide. Cue product placement, social media handles, trending tags, accessibility concerns, new legislation, new controversy.

Story focuses on Vivelle, a vampire, her kidnapped fiance Zachary (she didn't kidnap him, bad guys did), and a huge cast of side characters with different origins and approaches to the new order of things.

Lots of random pieces written focusing on different characters, some plot bits with Viv and Zach, some longer whump-y angsty ones.

Into Technology

The city of Scindite rises a mile above the ground on a massive stalk, built on a disk that turns a full rotation every day. It's protected and policed by graduates of an Academy, which is doing under-the-table research to give people superpowers. Successes are celebrities, elite soldiers and operatives. The Academy's failures are held in a long-term care facility... Except they're actually memory-wiped and dumped beneath the disk of the city, left to fend for themselves among the jungle and gangs of the city's underside.

Characters include Damian, Renna, Bee, Wyatt, Elden, Cosmina, and Cole. They each have little superpowers and are doing their best to survive on the underside.

A whole short story written, other pieces and backstories too. I wrote a FS story in this world once for Febuwhump.

Lucite

Ankifrah is a demon princess of hell, and just a little rebellious. After an incident involving a volcano, she's sent up to the mortal world to go to a year of high school. She's grumpy about it, but it IS just one year. She makes a friend named Will, and together they try to solve a string of violent murders before the killer can sacrifice everyone on prom night.

Maybe half of a novel written?

Vacea

Sci-fi trappings. The planet Vacea has a complicated system of magic that allowed it to withstand attacks from neighboring warring planets. Now they thrive... until the youngest prince, a shadowchild with stigmatized powers poisons a noble, starts a failed revolution, orders the king and queen to be assassinated, and is captured. Behind the scenes, though, is a radical group from a neighboring planet utilizing abandoned technology from before the treaties that would have given their soldiers access to Vacean magic.

Characters include Slyn, Mattie, Rinter, Gin Ha, Emmeline, and Vath, people with a variety of -child magics and expertise. This was whump before I knew what whump was.

Some random scenes and also maybe a third of a book written

Unhallowed

The Unhallowed Lands are their own brand of magic, vibes aiming for a high-fantasy feel without the elves and dwarves of lots of fantasy. Lots of worldbuilding and new humanoid fantasy species! There are the Terrible Royalty, who are more plant than animal; the Saihrwn, with colorful hair and a literally musical language; the Cobbs, immortal Frankenstein-ish people with an eternal outlook; the Lialts, magic-touched humans with a huge variety; the giants, with their agriculture specialties and unique martial styles; and the small folk who don't have a special name (yet.)

Main story follows Ward, the kingdom's heir, Laurel, a giant, and Rike, a Saihrwn, as they try to work through the kingdom's traditions and establish friendly contact with the non-magical people, all while fending off cosmic forces and evil kings.

Big story half-written, but aimless, some smaller pieces written. I also did a FS oneshot in this world, if you remember!

Disabled Princesses

If I only ever get one thing published, I want it to be this. Considering adapting one of my above worlds (Vacea or Unhallowed most likely) for this series. I want to write some middle-grade novels about princesses with disabilities doing cool things. I have a few characters in mind but haven't actually pinned much down yet.

Literally nothing but notes written at this time.

[eorzean-tale]

FFxivWrite2024 - Prompt #11: Surrogate

“There you are Otsuya-tan. I’ve been looking all over for you!” Seigen heard his own voice vibrate through his horns and realised that it had come out far sharper than he intended. Even in his summer yukata he felt hot and sweaty in the Hannish sun, and the sight of his little sister playing in the fountain with some peasant-looking children filled him with a sense of indignation and envy. Why couldn’t she just grow up? Be more dignified, like him. 

At twelve summers he thought he knew quite a bit about such matters, and he was pretty sure that Doman-born nobles weren’t supposed to ruin their clothing by drenching them in filthy fountain water. Even if it did look really refreshing. And he was feeling the places where his scales met skin prickle and itch with sweat. 

Her small face scrunched up, making her scales scrape with disapproval as she waded towards him. “Nareema! It is Nareema now,” she told him, matching his indignation with some of her own. Though tiny and delicate-looking, his little sister could glare with the best of them. 

He had expected her to protest his chosen honorific, not her entire name! He reached up to his left horn to stabilise it the way he had seen elders do when their hearing started to fail them. “Come again?” 

“It’s my Hannish name. Nareema. All the students at the lessons have taken one. Well, except Zach, but he’s stubborn and his name is easy to say,” Otsuya told him, but he was shaking his head in denial before she even finished.

“You’re Otsuya! My little sister. From the clan of…” 

“It’s Nareema now! Everyone else is taking a Hannish name! You would know if you ever bothered to go to the lessons.” 

She interrupted him! She, a girl of eight summers. So tiny he could bodily lift her and carry her with one arm. Well, probably two, but who was counting? She interrupted him, her elder and the heir of their clan!

“I don’t need to go to lessons and learn this crude tongue, we’re going home soon,” he countered, hating how his voice cracked. It felt like a betrayal. Even more so when she reached for him, a cool, wet hand slipping into his.

“This is home now,” she told him gently. Damn. When had she grown up suddenly? Become so dignified? Seigen sniffled, shaking his head again. It wasn’t as vigorous this time. 

“It is,” she insisted. “We’re not going back. Everyone knows there’s still war there. Invaders. Otou-sama wouldn’t have made us leave if he could fight them,” little Otsuya pointed out, referring to their father and the head of their clan. Seigen hated that she, young as she was, had accepted what the rest of the household just couldn’t come to terms with. 

Not just accepted, she thrived here. Everything from the people to the customs to the food to the clothes to the weather. Where the entire clan struggled to keep their connection to their homeland and their sense of identity, she had shrugged it off like a serpent shedding an old skin. They had been here for less than a year, and she already felt ‘local’ to him. Like she belonged here. Was it just age that helped her adapt when the others struggled? Or something in her nature?

“Besides, maybe they’ll finally stop calling me a crocodile,” Nareema added softly, looking down. The wisdom he had perceived in her dropped away instantly, and she was just his little sister again. He frowned so fiercely that his brow scales felt tight. Someone had been bullying his little sister? How dare they.

“Alright, I’ll come with you to the lessons,” he promised, telling himself he was only doing it so he could get a word, or fist, in with whoever had been calling her that. Her green skin was not something to be mocked by some stranger!

She squealed in surprised delight, then tugged on his hand suddenly enough for him to tip, ending up in the refreshing chill of the fountain to the laughter of neighbourhood children. Brother and sister spent the rest of the afternoon playing in that water, and even when their parents scolded them for it later Seigen couldn’t get the grin off his face. He was twelve - nearly a man judging by his own wisdom. But maybe, sometimes, it was alright to still goof off. For his sister’s sake, of course.

[imagoddamnonionmason]

Hey Goose! Since I saw your Shadow Company info! I was wondering of what she thinks of Graves' sister.

Callie "Snipe" Graves

Oooh, Grave's sister, you say? Well, Stephanie is very much just the kind of person who is and wants to be in the background, so it may have taken a while for Callie to even notice that she existed. Stephanie, who goes by Seraph or 117 within the Shadows, would probably think Callie is very... overbearing.

Stephanie is a quiet person, prefers her own company and very much cannot stand people who are in your face; I think Callie and Steph are very opposite ends of the social spectrum, in the sense that one is extrovert and the other would very much prefer to hide in a hole and not talk to anyone unless it is absolutely necessary to do so. Guess which is which, lmao.

However, due to Callie's position in the company and her brother being the leader, Stephie respects her, does as she says, and deals with it. She might get a little snappy, but that's because Stephanie just really isn't good with people. Her husband, Zach and Ester(@walder-138's OCs), Reed (@justasmolbard's OC) and Klaus (my other OC) are pretty much the only people you will see her openly talking to without her looking like she's about to throw herself into a wall to avoid social interaction. Stephanie is much better with animals than people, though she can't bring herself to work with dogs again - not after what happened to Noble.

Overall, I think their interactions would be interesting and fruitful, if only because they are literally the opposite of one another and it'll be fun to put Stephanie out of her comfort zone.

[sweettoothvn]

[fictional-actors-bracket]

Fictional media bracket, Round 1B.3

Propaganda under the cut:

Praying Mantis Joe: [No propaganda submitted]

Kniroun: "OH BOY. A fictional play based on a fictional video game series that takes Arthurian Mythology, shakes it around ‘til it’s a totally unique telling, and turns it into a full-fledged jrpg? Sign me up!!

I think there’s a lot to say about this play, but I’ll try to keep it simple; character-wise, the protagonist (Lancelot) is one character’s absolute dream role that he never knew he needed, being a huge fan of the original game series (understatement), and in the overall story it’s one of the most obvious showcases of how the in-universe theater company has grown, both in terms of acting and in terms of budget!

(Bonus points: some of the names associated with kniroun in-universe heavily imply that the game series is this universe’s Dragon Quest, which is extra points in the submitter’s book.)"

"Knights of Round (Kniroun in Japanese, KotR in English) is an RPG game series created by Hoshii Yoichi and developed by End Links. As of now, there are 9 installments in the series (I to IX), with the 10th game being highly anticipated by many fans. The series has been going on for almost 2 decades. Set in medieval Britannia, you play as Lancelot, a noble knight server under King Arthur, and are usually accompanied by the fairy Gwen. The characters in this game are inspired by characters in the Arthurian mythos.

Specifically, Knights of Round IV: The Stage is a stage adaptation of the fourth Kniroun game (which is chronologically the first game, a la Star Wars). Which, yes, means this is a stageplay of a game in a game. And there's also a real life stage play adaptation of the game (A3!), so there's a stageplay of a stageplay of a game in a game. Crazy. Anyway, actual propaganda time.

Kniroun IV: The Stage (hereafter referred to as Kniroun IV) is the lead play of character Itaru Chigasaki. Now, the focus is also on the events that surround it. In universe, the creator of the Kniroun series is super choosy about adaptations. However, they've decided to allow Mankai Company, an as of yet relatively unknown theater troupe, perform it. Why, you ask? WELL, THE HEAD OF THE PR TEAM IS ITARU'S EX. I WISH I WAS MAKING THIS UP. THEY HAD A DRAMATIC AND TRAUMATIC FALLING-OUT IN HIGH SCHOOL WHICH LEFT ITARU UNABLE TO FORM CLOSE INTERPERSONAL BONDS FOR YEARS. AND THEN HERE HE COMES, THE BASTARD, COMING TO THE THEATER TROUPE THAT ITARU'S PART OF, OFFERING THE CHANCE OF KNIROUN STAGE TO HIM KNOWING FULL WELL THAT ITARU WILL TAKE THE OFFER AND TAKE THE LEAD. YOU'VE HEARD OF CALLING YOUR EX, THIS IS LITERALLY WORSE.

Anyway, Kniroun IV is a super fun fantasy play. You follow Lancelot, and he's accompanied by Gwen. And since you can't see Gwen in the Kniroun games, she's represented by a cute little light. Lancelot has a fruity little camaraderie with Gawain, which kind of falls apart for a while because Merlin is evil and brainwashed King Arthur and Gawain swore himself to King Arthur but Lancelot cares more about the fairies who raised him so they're kind of on opposing sides, and also Gawain's little brother kind of took a hit for Lancelot and now he's dead and Gawain super blames him for that. Anyway, they're fucking TERRIBLE.

There's cool swordfighting scenes, and hot evil wizards, and hot knights, literally what's not to love!!!"

[flavorcrash]

Doodles ~ !

[god-blog]

My spiritual playlist

Artemis songs:

Touch The Sky from Brave

Something Wild by Lindsey Stirling and Andrew McMahon

Running With the Wolves by AURORA

Midnight Love by Girl in Red

Noble Maiden Fair from Brave (this is an Artemis and Leto song)

Girls Against God by Florence + The Machines (also a witch song)

She's Always a Woman by Billy Joel

Mother by Florence + The Machine (also a witch song)

Artemis by Stephan Rezza (also an Apollo song)

Hermes songs:

Dear Fellow Traveler by Sea Wolf

Hermes by Greek Mythologist

Ain't No Rest For the Wicked by Cage the Elephant

Trust Me I'm a Thief by The Guggenheim Grotto

Safe and Sound by Capital Cities

Second Child, Restless Child by The Oh Hellos

Apollo songs:

House of Gold by Twenty-One Pilots (this is an Apollo and Leto song)

Artemis by Stephan Rezza (also an Artemis song)

Apollo's Mood by The Olympians

Witch songs:

Constellations by The Oh Hellos

Free by Florence + The Machine

It Will Come Back by Hozier

the fruits by Paris Paloma

Meet Me in the Woods by Lord Huron

Nina Cried Power by Hozier and Mavis Staples

Season of the Witch by Lana Del Ray

Me and the Devil by Soap & Skin

Seven Devils by Florence + The Machine

Dream Gilr Evil by Florence + The Machine

Family Tree by Ethel Cain

Foreigner's God by Hozier

Jenny of Oldstones by Florence + The Machines

Which Witch by Florence + The Machines

The World Ender by Lord Huron

the last beautiful thing I saw by Paris Paloma

The Hanging Tree by Angus & Julia Stone

notre dame by Paris Paloma

Devil's Resting Place by Laura Marling

NFWMB by Hozier

Girls Against God by Florence + The Machines (also an Artemis song)

as good a reason by Paris Paloma

LABOR - the cacophony by Paris Paloma

Devil's Backbone by The Civil Wars

Mother by Florence + The Machine (also an Artemis song)

Burn Your Village by Kiki Rockwell

Icarus - Live by Bastille

Same Old Energy by Kiki Rockwell

Crack Me Open by Bonnie Medicine

blyth by faery (I also like the extended version on youtube)

Burn the Witch by Shawn James

Aisling's Song from Secret of the Kells

Song of the Sea from Song of the Sea

Amhran Na Farraige from Song of the Sea

Walking in the Woods songs:

Work Song by Hozier

The Night We Met by Lord Huron

Something in the Orange by Zach Bryan

Francesa by Hozier

Jackie and Wilson by Hozier

golden hour by JVKE

She Loves Me Like a Rock by The Wallin' Jennys

Beyond the Sea by Bobby Darin

One is a Bird from Over the Gardin Wall

[cesqdarque]

The Pursuit of Equilibrium

Chapter Three – Obolus

I finally found the time and patience to upload my chapters to AO3 and Wattpad. But I will continue to post them here too :)

Summary: Cassandra is escorted out of the country, accompanied by Zacharias. They pass the Great St. Bernard Pass and receive help from unexpected business partners.

Words: 5k

Tags: fluff | religious references

For the vibes have a song from my Zach playlist: Muse - Undisclosed Desires

Link to the other chapters here: ONE | TWO

Delicate fingers guided the coat belt carefully through the buckle and lashed the black fabric tightly around slim hips. A last look into the silver-framed bathroom mirror, in which moss-green eyes were reflected, and Cassandra was finally ready to start her journey to Hogwarts. The last conversation between her and her grandmother bore fruit. It was too risky to stay here. Mrs. Montague would have to plan and execute the necessary efforts on the political stage meticulously before her granddaughter could return. Patience was a virtue that she had to practice from now on.

She turned on her heel, stepped over the thresholds of her chambers for the last time, and headed towards the old wooden staircase of the mansion to descend to the foyer again.

There stood the tall, handsome gentleman, as he was told to, ready to pick her up. Zacharias Boniface's gaze rose to her figure wrapped in her elegant black traveling coat. His lips curled into a charming smile. "Miss Darque, are you ready to leave?"

Putting one foot in front of the other on the steps, she descended the long stairs when she caught Zachariah's words. She did not like the fact that her former tutor, of all people, would accompany her on her journey. But her grandmother's word was law between these walls, and opposition would only have resulted in further trouble. The stringent lady of the house did not know about the tangled circumstances that her granddaughter shared with her black-haired, involuntary appendage. It was in the interest of both parties that this remained the case.

"As ready as I can be. I guess," Cassandra answered curtly whilst her fingers let go of the handrail. She smoothed the heavy fabric with her palms before she walked up to Zacharias and put her hands in her lap. "Well then. Hesitation is useless. Let's go."

Zacharias nodded, turned to the large gate of the mansion, and pushed it open. With a gallant wave of his hand and a small bow, he complemented his protégé outside.

The soft morning sun touched the stone walls of the mansion and Cassandra blinked away her last nostalgic thoughts that she associated with this place. Together with Zacharias, she moved through the forecourt of the estate and when they had come to a halt in front of an ochre-yellow horse-drawn carriage, she turned to her companion with a puzzled expression.

"A postal coach, really?"

With a wave of his wand, Zacharias opened the carriage door. He smiled entertained as soon as he met Cassandra's questioning mien. "Well, nothing is as inconspicuous as the usual Muggle means of transportation, isn't it?" he replied amusedly and held out his helping hand to her so that she could grab it to get in comfortably.

But Cassandra ignored his noble gesture and crossed the step into the interior of the wagon on her own.

She waited patiently on the leathered bench while her companion instructed the house-elf Alfie to cautiously stow her suitcase in the luggage compartment of the carriage. She overheard how Zacharias gave the coachman final instructions before he finally sat down opposite her. The carriage began moving, and Cassandra caught a last glimpse of the Montagues' country estate before the coach turned into a curve.

She did not know the path that lay ahead of them. Her grandmother had not said a word to her. They were now traveling in a chugging stagecoach, which led her to conclude that they were probably about to leave the country via the adjacent pass road.

Some time passed in silence. It was unthinkable that they would travel to England on horseback. And although she did not like it, she brushed a strand of her chocolate-brown hair out of her face and addressed Zacharias without a second thought.

“I assume we’re taking the route over the alpine pass?”

Zacharia's gaze turned away from the picturesque panorama he had enjoyed looking out of the window until now and nodded affirmatively.

"Well observed, dear," he answered appreciatively, "As you know, the road over the pass falls into the territory of your dear grandmother. Mrs. Montagues thought it best for you to travel by safe routes. We will pass some checkpoints. But I ask of you not to leave the carriage."

Of course, she thought to herself. Cassandra was aware of her grandmother's business activities, which included control over traffic routes. How else could her family smuggle ancient enchanted, dark magical artifacts undisturbed and without being hindered in their activities by uninvited parties? But she probably would not have considered that she would one day act as a smuggled good herself.

"Couldn't we have just used a portkey?" Cassandra snorted, a little unnerved.

The exertions made on her behalf were unpleasant to her, to put it mildly. If it had been up to her, she would have been content with side-by-side Apparition so as not to spend hours locked in a carriage with Zacharias.

He must have sensed her train of thought because he put on his most charming smile again. "Cassandra, think about it. Using a portkey involves magic. And magic can be traced."

"So, I'm being smuggled across the border in an old Muggle postal carriage so that I can't be pursued? What if we are already being followed? Carriages are not very fast..." Cassandra replied snippily.

Her companion giggled quietly. "That's what I'm here for. If we make uncomfortable travel acquaintances, I will take care of them," he said and winked at her coquettishly.

She just rolled her eyes. She did not feel like flirting. With belligerence in her voice, she continued "So you have been promoted from the position of a tutor to my personal guard? Or should I rather say, been demoted again?"

Not impressed by her words, Zacharias leaned a little closer to her and replied in a deep voice. "Degraded? Sweetheart, your grandmother did not hesitate for a second to appoint me as your travel companion. The trust she still places in me was confirmed by this decision. You cannot seriously assess that negatively? After all, you know what I'm capable of."

His hands moved to his knees and were only mere centimeters away from hers. Cassandra did not miss the closeness he was trying to create and gazed at him skeptically.

The twilight of his character, so well-known to her, gleamed in his steel-blue eyes. No matter how hard she tried to constrain herself, she had been unable to resist his questionably charming advances in the past. Despite everything, he had assisted her in taking revenge without questioning her bloodlust, even enjoying it. If she had mustered just a little more willpower, she would not be sitting in a carriage to leave the country now.

As a result, she leaned towards him fearlessly and whispered to him "If she knew about your involvement in the events in Venice, you wouldn't be sitting opposite me in such a relaxed state right now." She was not embarrassed to play along in his games, because he knew exactly what she was capable of. After all, he had taught her a lot of it himself.

Moss green met steel blue hues and the seconds passed like sweet honey. She could see his drifting thoughts reflected in his gaze before he gallantly leaned back against the leather bench, without breaking eye contact.

"I'm pleased to see that you still have that unquenchable fire, dear. I feared that the events in Venice had made you waver in your determination."

It was now up to Cassandra to put on her most charming smile.

"As you aptly stated earlier, inconspicuousness is the best protection."

Her statement made a broad grin on Zacharias' cheeks, and he replied in amusement. "You've always been my most attentive student."

"I was your only student, to be precise," Cassandra added with a smirk.

* * *

Mountainous landscapes, autumnal-colored fields, and meandering paths passed by the windows of the chugging carriage. Soon, it had to strike midday at the distant country estate, for the sun was already high in the sky when the wheels came to a halt for the first time. Zacharias descended, no doubt to make sure with the guards at the checkpoint that their journey had gone undetected so far. Without a word, he climbed back into the wagon and the horse-drawn carriage continued its route.

"We will soon reach the col of the pass, and we’ll have to switch the carriage."

Zachariah's words tore Cassandra out of her thoughtless musings. She looked at him questioningly. She was glad that she would soon be able to stretch her legs and take a short rest in the fresh air. But the way Zacharias furrowed his eyebrows did not bode well.

"Is there a problem?" she inquired.

He shook his head.

"No problem. But the horses are exhausted. A mountain pass is no easy stroll for the animals, and we still have a few kilometers to go until we reach our destination," he explained curtly.

Her gaze lingered skeptically on his tense expression. Something seemed to be bothering him, but she could not press him too much without running the risk of him closing up even more. So, she just nodded at him and hoped that he might speak again. But he did not. The only thing that could be heard was the clacking of the hooves of the horses that mounted the narrow streets of the Great St. Bernard.

The closer the carriage traveled to the summit, the cooler the wind blew gently through the cracks of the carriage. Cassandra wrapped her traveling coat tighter around her chest and prayed that she would have an opportunity to eat something warm during their upcoming rest. Her stomach was already rumbling, as it had been a while since her breakfast.

Zacharias noticed that his protégé shivered slightly. Without further ado, he took off his cloak and placed it in Cassandra's lap.

"I don’t want you to catch a cold under my care," he commented with a little wink.

She blushed slightly, but gratefully accepted his garment and laid the cloak over her trembling body like a blanket. The light scent of citrus fruits caressed the still-warm fabric around her figure. Bittersweet like his nature, she thought smiling softly as she warmed herself. Perhaps the choice of her companion had not been too bad after all. Wrapped in cozy warmth, she closed her eyelids and before she knew it, she was dozing off peacefully.

* * *

The rattling wheels of the carriage came to a halt once again when the supposed postal carriage reached the top of the Great St. Bernard route. Zacharias hesitated to wake Cassandra from her slumber, remembering the dark circles under her eyes in the morning, which testified to a restless night. But the journey was lengthy, and their destination was nowhere near in sight. Therefore, he cleared his throat briefly and moved his hand gently to her cheek to brush away a strand of her brown hair, which had fallen into her delicate face during her nap.

Cassandra thought she could feel fingers hovering tenderly over her pale cheeks. Was she dreaming? Startled,  her gaze caught his steel-blue eyes observing her cautiously

Zacharias quickly pulled his hand back to his torso and hurriedly cleared his throat again. "Time to change the carriage, dear. May I?" he asked as he nodded to his coat, which still covered her body.

She grabbed the soft fabric and handed it to Zacharias, who elegantly threw it over himself before he got out of the carriage and held out his hand to Cassandra so that she could get out of the carriage comfortably. She merely raised an eyebrow, ignored his friendly gesture, and jumped out of the chariot.

Cool mountain air blew through her shoulder-length hair. At these altitudes, the signs of the approaching autumn were already visible. The sparse meadow that covered the barren landscape had already taken on a reddish hue. The midday sun made the surface of the deep blue glacier water that filled the lake to her left glisten. Alpine nature did not care about the fates of travelers. Human life must have seemed insignificant and fleeting in contrast to the majestic mountain peaks towering towards the sky around them.

At the end of a short trail stood a white-bricked, multi-story building, which Cassandra knew was run by nuns to provide hot meals and shelter to travelers of all manners. She had once heard her grandmother talk about the members of the order. They had to adhere to their patron saint’s creed that all kinds of pilgrims had to be welcomed regardless of their status. Thus, travelers and smugglers alike always found hospitable accommodation within the walls of the hospice.

While Cassandra looked around, Zacharias turned away to take care of her suitcase. Since they had to change carriages, as he had explained to her earlier, she wondered where her next means of transport was.

Her gaze swung to the luggage compartment of the carriage, and she reached into the inside pocket of her travel coat to pull out her wand. Zacharias noticed her hand gesture and jumped to her side, abruptly stopping her action.

She looked at him puzzled.

"What?" she asked, slamming his hand rudely away from hers.

"You can't just perform magic around here. We are still well advised to keep a low profile. And we are among Muggles, I might add," he replied with a stern look, lifting the suitcase out of her hand, "We'll settle it the old-fashioned way."

"Now follow me. I can hear your stomach growling all up to here," Zacharias said and began to walk towards the hospice with her suitcase in his hand.

Cassandra rolled her eyes but followed her companion in silent obedience.

The interiors of the hospice were spartanly furnished. Plastered limestone walls, gray stone tiles, and the occasional cross or image of a saint left no doubts about the ownership of the establishment. The two travelers sat down on simple wooden chairs in the dining room and a nun dressed in a light gray habit immediately approached their table.

"A warm meal and an herbal tea for my companion." Zacharias began, turning to the nun. "And for me a moment of your time, if you please, dear sister," he added with a polite smile.

When the nun glanced at him questioningly, Zacharias barely brushed the palm of his right hand across his left hand, which was resting quietly on the table. His gesture revealed a clunky, golden signet ring, which Cassandra noticed in surprise, had been hidden from the bare eye by a concealment charm until now. The distinctive engraved "M" was prominently displayed on the magnificent jewelry. Well, so much for keeping a low profile, she thought. But the nun did not seem the least bit surprised. She simply nodded to Zacharias and gestured for him to follow her.

He stood up immediately and the two withdrew to a quieter corner of the room. Cassandra's gaze lingered curiously on the two and she watched out of the corner of her eye as the gray-clad woman handed something to her companion. Zacharias seemed to thank her with a polite bow before he turned away from her and rejoined Cassandra at the table.

She scrutinized her companion with raised eyebrows. "Are we already corrupting people of faith?" she asked him with a sneer.

Zacharias chuckled slightly amused. "Believe me when I tell you that more dubious deals have certainly been sealed here."

She did not doubt his statement. She was sure that it did not matter whether the business was done under the holy battlements of a church, over the patient papers of a desk, or underhand, they were all corrupt.

A bowl of hot stew and a cup of tea were served to her. And Cassandra gratefully savored both. While she ate her meal, Zacharias made the identifying mark of the Montague Clan disappear again under the guise of a charm.

"Does the lady approve?" he asked her with a sly smile.

Cassandra put her cutlery aside and smoothly wiped her lips with a napkin. "Excellent," she grinned. Her moss-green eyes fixed on his now unadorned hand. "But enlighten me briefly, Zacharias. Since when are you entitled to display my grandmother's signet ring?"

"A mere arrangement to secure the Order’s favor," he explained to her. "Your grandmother places great value on co-operation with the Order, you must know. They allow every guest to enter these halls. Their credo is not to judge those seeking protection. Our luck today."

"So, they were aware of our arrival?" Cassandra questioned.

Her counterpart nodded in agreement. "Certainly. Their authority, the Bishop of Sion, will provide us with a carriage to continue our journey," he elaborated.

Cassandra raised her eyebrows in wonder. "The kind of unholy bonds that are being forged," she commented jokingly, to which Zacharias only reacted with a mischievous grin.

The the meal was finished, the plates were cleared, and Zacharias paid their bill before he and Cassandra left the building through the back door. A magnificent carriage was already waiting behind the hospice, its doors bearing the emblem of the diocese of Sion, a bishop's crosier crossed with a sword on a red background.

The coat of arms reminded Cassandra somewhat of her father's family coat of arms. She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat at the thought of her deceased father. She had not thought about him in a long time. The portrait of her mother had been omnipresent during her stay with her grandmother. But one searched in vain for a photograph of her father in the rooms of her grandmother's country estate. Whether this was pure coincidence or a symbol of her grandmother's dislike of her father, Cassandra did not know. She had simply never dared to ask her grandmother for an explanation.

Once again, she ignored the hand offered to her by Zacharias and suddenly climbed into the interior of the car.

* * *

Just as the sun had passed its zenith, so too did their traveling arrangement began its descent down the alpine hill. The closer carriage horses' hooves inched towards the valley, the warmer it became. The southern part of the Rhone Valley was known for its warm and dry climate. After a few quiet hours, the two significant landmarks of the state capital could be seen through the carriage windows. The two magnificent castles of Tourbillion and Valeria stood proudly on their moraine hills in the middle of the valley.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Zacharias addressed his companion, who was lost in her thoughts as she admired the panorama.

Cassandra turned to him and gave a curt reply, "Stunning."

She could not figure out why they were traveling further up the valley once they had reached neutral ground. She could not explain why they had to travel in a carriage bearing the emblem of the bishopric. ‘Why all the fuss? Why the inclusion of religious societies as business partners?’ she finally asked her counterpart.

Her companion smoothed his raven-black hair and thought for a moment. The longer the journey went on, the more Cassandra disliked all this secrecy. Why couldn't he just tell her what the plan was?

“Zacharias?” she addressed him in a firm voice.

"Very well," he relented. "Did your curious glances at the hospice detect what the Sister handed over to me?”

When Cassandra maintained her penetrating questioning gaze, he continued. “She handed me an Obolus. A coin of some sort. We will have to use it at our destination to send you safely to London."

"And how is a coin supposed to be able to help me get to London?” Cassandra questioned this strange piece of information.

“Menhirs” replied Zacharias. “There are a few of them on the grounds of the diocese. If they are activated, they form transitions to their twins. And as fortune would have it, there is another one of them in London. We will utilize this connection to transfer you to London unseen and untraceable.”

Cassandra's mouth fell open. She was aware of her former tutor's expertise, but the fact that he seemed to be well-versed in such ancient theories was news to her. ''How...?” she began questioningly.

“Professor Fig, one of your teachers at Hogwarts, is an expert in the theories of ancient magic,” he answered her inquiry.

"And the bishopric approves of us - witch and wizard - entering their grounds because...?” Cassandra continued to press on unfazed.

“Because your father, Merlin bless his soul, regularly frequented their circles during his time in the diplomatic service and your grandmother rekindled this connection to give us access to the menhirs,” Zacharias explained.

Her gaze dropped to her folded hands in her lap.

“She doesn't shy away from all kinds of shady deals when it comes to getting rid of her burden...” Cassandra murmured in a low voice.

Zacharias resisted the urge to cup her hands in his. Regret reflected in his eyes. “Everything she does, Cassandra, she is doing to keep you protected. Even if, pardon my candor, she is not always able to express her care for you clearly.” Moss green met steel blue and the familiarity Cassandra had missed since the happenings in Venice was evident in his gaze. He did not need to put it into words, they simply understood each other without saying a thing.

She took a deep breath. “This Professor Fig, why does his name sound so familiar? Am I supposed to know him?” Cassandra asked.

Her counterpart nodded. “You are probably familiar with the name because your grandmother used to correspond regularly with his wife Mirjam in the past. They presumably know each other from earlier days,” he explained. “Mr. and Mrs. Fig researched ancient magic together. After Mrs. Montague realized what forces were at work in Venice, she contacted her deceased friend's husband. He immediately offered his help. Whether out of helpfulness or curiosity about your powers, I cannot tell for certain. But it came in handy for your grandmother.”

Fate seemed to have an extraordinary sense of humor, Cassandra thought quietly to herself. ‘’Murderess, a piece of smuggled cargo and now an object of research. Simply perfect,” she summarized coldly.

“Don't forget my most diligent student on your list,” her companion tried to lighten the somber mood and smiled gently. “You'll settle in quickly at Hogwarts, I am sure of it. You have a talent for adapting to new circumstances.”

“I won't miss your fruitless flattery,” she returned snidely, but not without a hint of a smile gracing her lips.

Zacharias leaned his upper body back contentedly into the upholstered seat, glanced fleetingly out of the window, and closed “We have arrived."

* * *

The day was already drawing to a close as they entered the gates of the bishopric's estates. Zacharias opened the carriage door, stepped elegantly out of the carriage, and held out his open palm to his companion one last time. Cassandra grinned cheekily at him and got out without touching him, as was her custom.

Together, they strolled through the gardens towards the circular stone monuments. Zacharias carefully placed her suitcase beside them and turned to his female companion. He began to fiddle nervously with the lapels of his suit. Cassandra watched him with curiosity. She had seen Zacharias in various states before, but this restless side of him was entirely unfamiliar to her, and she wondered what was bothering him.

"Are you looking for something?" she inquired.

His fingers reached the pocket of his jacket and remained hidden in it for a moment. “I...” he began in an indecisive voice.

Cassandra looked at him in confusion. “Did you misplace the Obolus?” she teased him.

“No... I,” he began again, taking a calming breath, and continued, “Before we part ways, I want to give you something. Something that belongs to you.”

He pulled a silver chain from his suit pocket and held it out to Cassandra.

Her eyes widened. “Jewelry?” Cassandra asked, looking at him in bewilderment. The relationship between her former tutor and his student was complex, but she certainly had not expected a farewell present.

Zacharias placed the necklace in the palm of his hand to give Cassandra a better look at the piece of jewelry.

“Some time ago, I visited your parents’ cottage with your grandmother, not far from here,” he explained in a deep voice. “I will spare you the details. But while we were collecting some documents from your father's study, I found this,” he tapped the pendant with his index finger. “It is the coat of arms of your family, your fathers. I thought you might want it.” His gaze rested on her moss-green irises.

Cassandra took a step towards him and carefully stretched out her fingers towards the necklace in his palm. She inspected the silver piece, on which a wand crossed with a feather was depicted, and the Darque family motto was engraved in curly letters. "Verbum est acutius omni ferrum" she quoted quietly, tears gathering in her eyes.

Her companion nodded silently as he gazed at her.

“But why didn't my grandmother...’ Cassandra tried to formulate her question. But emotions threatened to overwhelm her like a downpour.

“Handed it over?” Zachariah finished Cassandra's attempt to tame her trembling voice. “Your grandmother is a Montague. As you will be one day, once you take over her business and discard your father’s name, as tradition demands.”

Her tear-adorned lashes raised to her escort.

“And I know you will fulfill your obligations with bravura, no question. But no matter how attached you are to your grandmother, Cassandra. You will always be your father's daughter, a daughter of House Darque."

She was at a loss for words. No words of scorn, teasing, or rebuttal were on the tip of her tongue.

With a gentle smile, Zacharias raised the necklace in one hand and his wand in the other. “I could not keep something so valuable from you. But let me make a small stylistic change so that it is worthy of your appearance, and you can wear it without revealing your origins.”

With a gallant movement, he waved his wand through the ether between them, carefully tapped the pendant with the tip of the dark wood and the previously silver piece of jewelry turned into black velvet on which an oval-shaped purple crystal was embedded.

Cassandra watched with admiration as the pretty piece of magic was performed for her sake.

Her counterpart gently opened the clasp of the transformed piece of jewelry in his hand, and with the most compassionate look Cassandra had ever seen reflected on her tutor's face, he parted his lips again.

“May I?” he whispered softly.

Cassandra nodded, turned round carefully, and lifted her hair into a mop with slightly trembling hands. Gently, Zacharias placed the velvet ribbon around his protégé's neck and closed the delicate clasp.

She let her hair fall back onto her shoulders and her hands traveled to the nape of her neck. She felt the soft fabric of the choker and traced it over the sides of her neck until her fingertips touched the cool smooth stone resting on her pale skin above her sternum. She owned many collars, necklaces, rings, and all manner of jewelry. But this piece, she swore to herself, she would never take off as long as she lived. From now on, it would be as much a part of her as the green of her eyes.

She felt the gentle touch of a man's hand on her upper arm and let Zacharias turn her towards him without resistance. It was as if someone had stopped the wheel of time. The world around them blurred and the only thing she recognized was the deep glacial blue of his eyes. The silence between them lay like an unspoken spell over their existences. Neither of them dared to interrupt this moment with words out of fear of turning the unspoken into reality.

In the distance, they heard a church clock strike the hour. As if released from a thrall, Zacharias broke eye contact and reached into the pockets of his cloak, pulling out the small coin. “It's time,” he said tonelessly and turned away from her to resume his duties.

He studied the tallest menhir in front of them more closely, tracing the carved symbols with the tip of his fingers. Cassandra shook herself briefly to regain her composure and followed her companion's activities closely. When he felt a small indentation on the side of the stone, he briefly peeked over his shoulder to let his protégé know that he had found what he was looking for. She nodded approvingly to him before he placed the Obolus in the furrow.

At first, Cassandra thought nothing was happening. But before she was aware of it, the stone around the inserted coin began to turn a reddish color. The edges of the coin seemed to glow and the Obolus turned like a key in a lock. The air around them seemed to vibrate with a slight whirring sound. The surface of the stone changed color from an ordinary grey to a watery light blue. And suddenly, in the light of the fading evening sun, their figures were reflected in a kind of translucent mirror.

Zacharias took a step back from the stone, turned to his protégé, and held out his palm to her with a charming smile. Without hesitation, Cassandra took his hand and together they stepped through the open gateway.