"Luo Jiang, look at the world...what do you see? See anything interesting" A soft voice asked a man with reddish black hair.
"None. People are slowly getting more liberated...and soon they'll use their freedom to do incorrigible things...they are pathetic as usual" A stern masculine reply was heard. The woman in black hair chuckled.
"Luo Jiang....humans are but a bubble suspended in air. Compared to us they are but a speck of dust in sand... they seek to transcend from their own limitations and capable of change.. that's why they are interesting" She said, emphasizing the word interesting with exclamation.
"Astreia...why do you love these mere insects? Soon, you'll disappear because of their actions" The man, Luo Jiang asked and looked at the woman with a crestfallen face. Astreia, the woman with black hair, donned in a pink petal-like dress, took his face by her hand and gave a full smile.
"Don't be silly Luo Jiang.... I'll always be here" Her otherworldly white eyes boring to his molten red ones.
"I'll protect you for as long as I live Astreia" A kiss that landed on the woman's forehead seemed as if a droplet of water disturbed a serene spring.
Her lashes fluttered open as the dream she just witnessed was erased from her mind as if she never dreamed at all. Linthea stared at the galaxy themed ceiling of her room and blinked thrice, a resonating pain from the back of her head made her grunt in pain as she scrambled to stand up and alert her siblings.
Her vision spun when she took her first step from her bed and almost fell if not for a pair of slender and firm hands which steadied her. Linthea looked up to see Kale with his brows furrowed, she gaped for a short while before she shook her head while he guided her back to the bed with him sitting on the edge with her.
"What are you doing out of bed princess?" How she missed that mocking voice of his, nevertheless, he helped her up so she just went for a different approach.
"My, my, how long was I out?"The dark brown haired woman asked him, caressing her head with her slightly long nails.
"You missed my question" that's when a nerve bulged imaginarily from her forehead and to add in her annoyance his hold of her didn't cease.
"Please let go and answer my question" Linthea looked at him with a close-eyed smile. A thin smile that could send other people fear but Kale just shrugged it off and looked at her with a smug one.
She wanted nothing but to wipe it off if she had enough strength.
"Always the dominant one princess..."His hold of her loosens as he relaxed his back, "Apparently you were out for 5 days" Kale answered simply as he stood up from the bed he's been sitting and walked to the sliding door, opening it, "I'm going to call Miss Amidala to check on you"He looked back and saw Linthea's quizzical look.
"They entrusted me with you?" She almost sounded like she's going to laugh anytime soon. It sounded more like a taunt than a question.
"A lot has happened while you were out cold darling and we....were pretty worried" And he slid out before she could utter another word.
"Kale-! Great, he's gone"She exasperated and muttered under her breath. Linthea cleared her throat and prayed the blush on her face was not seen.
-------
"Jiejie! Are you sure you're okay now?" Xiuying hugged her stomach after Adrianna departed, noting that Linthea's condition must still be monitored as she's not yet fully cured while at the same time not in a critical condition.
"I'm fine now my sweet Xiu, don't worry about me. Your big sister is strong!" Linthea pinched Xiuying's cheek and played with them like a dough, their sounds of happiness brought a smile on Soren's face. He sighed in relief and silently thanked the gods.
"I'm glad you're back, Theang" he walked towards them and ruffled his sister's hair.
"Ren, are you crying?" Linthea asked with a snort. Well, she doesn't know what's at stake.
"No, I-.... I'm just glad you're okay" Soren covered up just in time when his voice was about to break, "Stay on your bed Lin, we'll prepare breakfast"
"But-!" Linthea protests, attempting to sit up when Xiuying gently pushes her back down.
"Come on Jiejie, you rarely take a good rest. Depend on us for a while" Her little sister smiled and eyed Kale.
Without a word, she held her hands in a pleading way. Kale rolled his eyes playfully and nods.
"Alright, I charge extra for this"
----
"Stop right there!"
Linthea froze upon hearing an authoritative voice, she eyed Kale with pure contempt.
"Or what?" She sneered, "Both you and I know I'm getting out of this room no matter what" Linthea already tossed her blanket while Kale sighed, his wing covering his face.
"Babysitting. I'm babysitting a grown-up" He pinched his nose while the woman before him guffawed.
"Let's not forget who's in-charge here Kale... that's right, I am" Kale crossed his hands to his chest and rolled his eyes muttering incoherent words.
"Did you know how worried everyone was for you...Soren was restless and Xiuying kept looking over your cubicle...rest for a while" Linthea was taken aback. Her ferocity dissipated, leaving a flustered woman at his words. She reconsidered her actions.
"Alright....30 minutes"
------
"So what do you think of my cooking, it's an Esgardian cuisine introduced to me by a random girl I met at a restaurant of the kingdom"Soren proudly said, taking off his blue oven mitts while wearing an apron with a label 'Kiss the good looking cook', Xiuying ran to take her seat. She rested her head on her hand and gave her brother a smug look.
"Ain't know way I'm going to believe that!"
The door upstairs suddenly opened with Linthea striding downstairs as if she was never in a critical condition in the first place. The two looked at Kale behind her who pointed back to Linthea which meant to say 'I'm not the boss of her'
Soren and Xiuying shared a look and shook their heads with a smile.
"Can't sit still for just an hour?"
"You know full well brother what's the answer to that" Linthea smiled and sat on one of the dining chair while Xuiying was watching Soren cook. Kale took plates and utensils to prepare for their breakfast.
"Glad you guys became friends" Linthea comments as Kale places an empty plate in front of her.
"Easy peasy. My sister's friend is my friend as well" Soren announced as he opened the lid and stirred his cuisine's sauce, checking for its consistency before adding spices for taste.
-------
Loud barking from the door echoed in the whole house as a big fluffy white dog entered. It's fur long and poofy, looking like a walking cloud.
"Snowbelle!" Linthea shifted her attention to the dog as she wags her tail at her master, putting his front legs on her thighs. Soren cleared his throat while Linthea looked at him with a nervous smile, focusing on her plate as Snowbelle encircled them, sniffing the newly arrived guest.
Utensils clacked against porcelain as the four ate their breakfast. "This is good Soren, where did you learn this?" Kale complimented as he took a bite of the potato, Linthea and Xuiying giggled to each other.
"You'll get used to it. With Soren, you can taste other country's cuisine without visiting them"Linthea chuckled as she drank from her glass.
"Even from Kayunta?" Kale asked. Soren shook his head, "Can't. Kayunta is a very special country...even I haven't got into that place since it's protected by a mist"
"Huh?" Xuiying inquired him to proceed while Linthea listened intently.
"Kayunta was locked from the mainland by their Goddess, Goddess Maamyon...the mist that surrounds the country prevents newcomers from entering..only those who are with the residents can only pass" Soren reiterates what he has learned from his master.
"So..."Linthea leaned in a bit, "What would happen if people went to Kayunta without a guide?"
"They'll be lost in the mist and be eaten by corrupted mermaids or whatever the Vast Expanse (ocean) accommodates.... I'm not sure if it's true, I'm only listening to my master's stories"
"What about their affairs? Abyssal attacks?"
"Ah..the Sandatahan can handle those or if not, the Quatro Asuncion will" Kale uttered, adding up information to what has already been stated. Linthea scoffed with a smirk, "Seem like we have our tour guide here,"
"Unfortunately princess, I'm not a resident of the country myself... I've only stayed there for a year" Linthea grew flustered at the given nickname to which her siblings shared a knowing look.
"Don't call me that again or I'll drown you in your country's seas myself "Linthea gave an irked smile, "No wonder your country's regent hasn't sent for an escort yet" She gave a snarky comment to which Kale's smirk grew larger.
"Enough you two" Soren cleared his throat as Xuiying snickered, Linthea's smile subsided but she flashed a glare at Kale which he returned with a wink.
"I'd rather stay with a dog than with you" the dark brown haired woman gave her last comment haughtily, gracefully standing up to deliver her plates to the sink.
"Thanks for the meal~" Soren could only shake his head at their useless banter.
"You're not thinking of reporting are you?" He glanced back at his sister who played with the family dog.
"Of course not, you guys intend me to rest ....so that I will do hehe~"Linthea smiled, ruffling Snowbelle's head before Xuiying joined her.
"Who's a good girl? Yes you aree" They cooed as the white dog rolled on her stomach. Kale looked at Linthea while she was cuddling her pet, enamored by her smile and little laughs before Soren pulled him out of his trance.
"She can be quite a handful but she's really soft inside... she's just putting on a brave front" Soren turned to wash the dishes, Kale's lip pulled upward and back to a thin smile as a gesture to that idea before he proceeds to help Soren in the kitchen.
-------
"She snuck out, has she?" Xuiying inquired Snowbelle with her hands both to her hips. The dog looked at her, panting with brown eyes looking as if she was smiling for helping her master escape.
"Brother! Thea snuck out!" The brown haired girl hollered. Soren gave a shook of his head with a smirk.
"That's not new" He scoffed before he opened his phone, "I'll report later and will try to find her"
Xuiying sighed, Soren looked at her with concern, "She'll be fine... this is not the first time she did this"
"That's the thing brother...she always carries it to herself " Xuiying crossed her hands to herself, pinching her nose bridge.
------
"Lin! How are you feeling?" Shigemi called for her successor as she arrived on her techno-bike, her master's long silvery hair is tied in two buns leaving some of her hair down, she wore a long easterner dress of pale orange color underneath a transparent apricot shawl. Linthea smiled at her warmly, "I'm feeling much better now master....no need to worry"
"Do your siblings know where you've gone?" Shigemi asked, her hunch tells her that her precious apprentice snuck out again and as Linthea gave a nervous smile, Shigemi chuckled.
"Come, come, I'll comb your hair. You must be in a rush that your hair's still frizzy" Her master urged her like how a mother would to her child. As she finished setting her techno bike, she walked up the stairs, her black heeled sandals tapped as she stepped. Linthea wore her usual clothing: A short sleeved attire reassembling a wisteria hued qipao with short slits on each side but instead of a bell bottom pants, she wore a long pale violet skirt underneath with flowery designs of similar colors
"But-"Linthea raised a hand to intercept.
"Shush! Let me take care of you for a while" Shigemi hushed her and wrapped her hand around her apprentice's arm, dragging her to the building.
-----
Shigemi is like a mother to her. The moment Linthea stepped inside the building, underwent training, and trials to be an apprentice of the fan, Shigemi was always there for her, cheering her like a mother she didn't have. Linthea always tries her best not to serve her any failure to return her kindness but the strawberry blond always assures her to be herself. For Linthea, Shigemi is a keen woman with a sharp eye for everything, consequently asking her of her well being and providing the emotional support she needs.
Nobutaka Shigemi was alone the moment she was torn from her mother and younger sister by their father and sold her off to the Yoshinori estate where she became the royal siblings' attendant. Not knowing what happened to her family, she remained optimistic about her life and sought to buy them off the moment she had enough money but things never went to her favor which led her to serve the Aureole with her potential; she had no choice but to leave since she had no one to return to.
----
Linthea's presence in the Aureole was short-lived when Arch Lady Velaria dismissed her to rest and recuperate much to her dismay, Shigemi could only chuckle at her student's indirect disappointment. Before they went out of the office, she gave the Arch Lady a bow as a gesture of thanks for letting Linthea off for a day to which Velaria responded with a smile before the doors closed.
"Thea, I know you're disappointed, don't hide it from your master"Shigemi said as Linthea's thin smile faded into a pout.
"Alright mom, you got me"The auburn haired woman chuckled at the nickname, "We need you to rest child...you just recovered" She turned around and placed a comforting hand on her student's shoulder, squeezing it lightly.
"You're right..everyone seems busy with the new homicide issue around Missenia that I don't want to stand idle" Shigemi's face softened after hearing those words, she held Linthea's cheek and smiled warmly.
"My dear... don't think of yourself as a burden. You did great on your last mission, give chances to others to show their abilities okay? Everyone needs rest, even you" Her thumb drew circles over her skin. Linthea thought about it and surrendered to her master's words. After all... mother knows best.
"You're right...sorry for being stubborn"Linthea lowered her head before Shigemi raised her up with her index finger, her master gave a close eyed smile, "That's my girl" she let go and walked ahead with Linthea following.
"By the way master... who's this new adversary? Everything seems centered to this individual"
"Hmm...The Caretaker, responsible for countless deaths connected to animal abuse. International detectives are still investigating their origin and next target but it seems they're too unpredictable." Shigemi explained.
"They?"
"We still don't know for sure but victims were killed in a messed-up pattern.. it's most likely that the Caretaker had help" The sun was up and shining brightly amidst the slaughter of many people across countries that light glowed behind translucent curtains. The halls of the capacious building is noisy as usual with the rumbling of wheels and heeled sandals tapping on its polished floor.
The Stellarium was like the nation's city hall. Complete with an annex library bigger than that of a greenhouse, rooms for court, meetings, offices for humanitarian affairs and a small medbay for rushed medical assistance, all that in three floors. Other commission groups and offices were separated from the building in order to maintain order inside the building amidst its school-like hallway.
The two climbed down the third floor and passed the commission of human rights where the people of Icycilis lined up to report inhumane things done including the crimes of the Caretaker.
"Ahh I remember what Adrianna told me...they deserve what's coming to them" Shigemi already knows what Linthea's answer is going to be, afterall, she's watched over her since she was 14 years old but the older woman still hopes her outlook in life would change.
"Definitely" Linthea giggled darkly and it was time to change topic.
Shigemi sighed.
"I remembered someone under your supervision...how is he now?" The two walked down the marbled stairs to the first floor where they will soon part ways.
"Ah..that would be Kale, master. He's doing okay ...too okay for my siblings to share secrets with"Her answer came out annoyed and Shigemi laughed lightly before covering her mouth. The atmosphere is no longer dull, she was glad by it.
"Is that so~ I remembered long ago you told me of a playmate you have back in Samaari"
"I'm surprised you still remembered that"Linthea sweat-dropped with a nervous chuckle. Aside from her massive wardrobe, Shigemi Nobutaka is known to be the best archive in Icycilis.
"Y-yea..turns out it was him" Linthea sheepishly said with her lips forming a small smile.
Shigemi gasped almost unladylike. A smile formed and brightened as she giggled like a teenager, "Haha! Finally!"She exclaimed so suddenly on their way that made the other people stop and look at them.
"Relax Shigemi, my bet is still on the row"Naetalya Rolskv giggled, her foxian ears twitching to match her emotion with Kiovan nodding his head as they walked opposite to the duo's direction, probably to assess the Caretaker problem.
"Oh shut up Nat... it's not over yet"Shigemi retorts while her best friend chuckled behind her back, she held onto her husband's arm as they waved goodbye.
"What was that about master?" Linthea questioned as they walked away to the entrance.
"Oh, nothing ~ it was an inside joke" Linthea scrunched her face but let it slide, her master does random things she can understand.
"Sorry Thea, your master's quite the baby mind" Shigemi chuckled nervously with both her hands clasped.
"Oh...I don't really mind" Linthea replied, hoping to add another statement but it never came out of her mouth... perhaps another time.
--------
The two crossed the street and passed some food stalls on their way and saw the Gun Shijo, Maxiane Micazuh together with Yato, both holding an ice-cream while happily talking.
"Wait, is it just me or did they somehow looked alike..."Linthea mentioned abruptly and the two stopped to peer over the two from a distance, Shigemi squinting her eyes after seeing her partner with a somewhat big smile on her face.
"She never smiles with me!" came a high pitched whisper, almost angry. Linthea chuckled.
"It's as if they're mother and son no?" Shigemi nods her head and walks away with her apprentice following her.
"But Maxiane never married, its pretty impossible....that woman is very strict and sharp tongued all the time but I've never seen her so happy with him"Shigemi straightened the sleeves of her dress, drawing out a sealed letter from it.
"Mmm, well... we'll just have to see for ourselves" Shigemi nods before reading the letter. Linthea tilts her head in inquiry.
"Uh.. it's a letter from the Yoshinori court" at that absentminded mention, the brunette made a smug smile.
"Hey! Stop that!" Shigemi's face reddened in embarrassment after realizing what she sowed in Linthea's mind.
"Now, now, don't get so worked up ....it was just a meeting-"
"With the prince?"
"Ye- no! Not just him!" At this point Shigemi should just give up, Linthea eyed her with an incredulous expression but snuffed her flames out.
"Alright~alright~ You should go now master...the sooner you leave the earlier you get to spend time with 'them'" She emphasized the last word with a knowing smile and Shigemi being a kind mother figure turned a blind eye to her embarrassment and just let her be.
"You're lucky you're my apprentice" came an inside joke. Linthea chuckled and pushed her master back to their original route.
"Don't get complacent with me young lady, you just want me to get out of your sight so you can practice right?" Bingo. The blonde smirked, "Predictable, try harder sweetie" Linthea huffed and followed her forward.
"Nevermind about them, I'm sure Maxiane has her reasons to take Yato with her. They look rather like an odd pair"Shigemi stated, "Now Linthea, no more fuss, I need you to rest to regain your strength, anything from Tiolas spells danger"
"Duly noted master....but I'm improving well aren't I?"Linthea asked her in clarification to which she nodded.
"You have no idea how proud I am of your progress"The older woman gave her a light pat on the back given she can't reach her head.
"Now.. isn't it time for you to head your merry way to Jadetown?" Shigemi scowled before a whimsical smile replaced it. She just can't argue with her daughter's gleeful countenance.
"Fine, fine! I'll be out of your hair- Hey, Mr. Von Vyrien!" Hair swished to the side as Linthea turned to the direction her master was calling with an abrupt negative change of her expression.
Upon hearing his name, Calyx turned his attention towards Linthea to find the woman calling to be her master. Approaching them close finally got him a glimpse of Linthea's subtle frown which the young man smiled about. His capelet swung against the semi-cold air dancing around the country.
He opened the closed umbrella he was carrying when the clouds obscuring the bright sun slowly moved away and held it over the two women after he greeted them with a courtly bow.
Shigemi smiles soundly and pats her apprentice's arm, "Can I place my sweet Thea in your care, young duke?" Linthea scoffed at their honorifics. Calyx hid a light laugh behind his fist, "Such a small matter Lady Nobutaka, fret not..not even a fly can touch a lock of her hair" He replied like a swain to his lover's father..mother rather.
Satisfied with their half lie-half truth exchange, Shigemi walked away to her journey to the west. Calyx shifted the umbrella to fit the both of them underneath it.
"You are a Duke??" Linthea asked in bewilderment. Calyx blinked twice before he stifled a laugh, he didn't hide it behind his fist that Linthea gave a quizzical look at his antic.
"....er no, unfortunately" He rasped, still catching his breath from her sudden naivety.
The fact that she was convinced of their inside joke was rather...a new side of her, "Shall we?" He motioned Linthea to move amidst her muddled stare.
"Where to?"
"You'll understand" Calyx closed his eyes and smiled, escorting her deeper towards the food alley of the city.
"The cafe?" Bingo! She looked at him with radiance in her eyes that the amyrethis flower pales in comparison. Calyx cheeks reddened at the sight, he slowly gave a nod as if recovering from a short-circuit conundrum.
"Niceeee!" The woman in front of him gave a thumbs up before turning to her heels.
The alley was in its usual loud and busy atmosphere. Bustling with hungry citizens and food connoisseurs, waiters and workers alike ran to and fro to deliver their orders. Scent of freshly baked pastries and roasting meat filled the air the moment they stepped in. Linthea engrossed herself in the ambience of the national food central of the land while Calyx turned his head to the incoming noise.
"Look out!" The sound of a deranged yell prompt him to immediately grab the woman's right hand, pulling her close to him while his other hand held her back as he spun them around a second before the animal swiftly passed inches away from them swinging a wooden cart close to wreckage side by side like a gust of wind blades. He held her close with his back as a shield from the accumulated dust and powerful slipstream. Citizens scrambled out of their seats, some called the authorities while others peeked to where the animal was heading.
"Thea?"
Linthea blinked twice and turned to look the the commotion before her cheeks reddened from their close contact while the man who saved her silently thanked the Goddess for this kind of bravery, "I-I'm glad you're alright" He cleared his throat to compensate on that small stutter, letting go of his hold over her. Linthea shook the confusion off herself and gave him a light punch.
"I owe you one" She smiled back at him.
"Calyx! Thank the Goddess!" A voice screamed in relief as if their problems bursted like a bubble. One finally happy to avoid the awkwardness while the other lamenting the loss of contact, both turned to acknowledge their colleague Gabriel Tal Mino, who ran to them in panic with fear etched across his face.
"My, my, what happened to you?" Linthea chuckled at his dilapidated state while Calyx glared at him, unamused for ruining the moment. Gabriel stopped to catch his breath before shaking his friend's shoulders, "Why the hell are you two chased by girls!?" He asked in an almost deranged tone, "Lady Haina save me! Amanda's chasing me at lance point!"
"What did you do to make her mad?!"Calyx densely asked him that cause the man slap his face so hard it resounded with a loud 'plak'.
"Fucking dammit Calyx! I can't explain! She'll have my head any minute! You know she liked Soren and no one else so I openly joked about turning into a girl and flirt with him so she got mad...." Gabriel explained in a hurry with his hands flailing in the air.
"I only wanted to take her out! Why is it so hard unlike you two!" He confessed as he forcefully slammed his hands down, catching his breath in between.
"There you are!" The three looked behind to see Amanda holding her spear ready with its point gleaming from the sun's light.
"Gih! Gotta go!" Gabriel waved goodbye before dashing off like an antelope from a lion whilst laughing or was it a cry? I'd never know with Amanda hot on his trail not even stopping to say hi to her best friend, "Soren is mine fool!" Her saccharine voice gone as she yelled those words with malice.
"Amanda just couldn't let it go"Calyx looked at the woman who sighed and shook her head.
"And Gabriel can't let go of her" He replied with a serious expression causing Linthea to look at him, "People does fall in love in mysterious ways..."She spoke absentmindedly.
"So who's the lucky one?" The question caught him off guard. Even with multiple practices, he'd still look like an idiot answering that. Her azure orbs stared at his teal ones with profound curiosity and adorableness he couldn't resist.
"No one" Calyx inched his face away and walked off.
Linthea followed with her hands around her back. She got in front of her friend and bent a little, putting a finger to her lips. "Come on, it'll be our secret" She whispered with a smile. The proud Von Vyrien was taken back, the umbrella over them trembled in his hold as he turned away from the hazel haired woman as they continued walking.
"Awww come on, you can tell me the lucky girl.. I'm your best friend!"
Linthea uttered those words not knowing how much they would haunt Calyx Von Vyrien for a long time.
----
Deep in the night where little children are supposed to be tucked in bed already frolicking in their dreams, Princess Sayaka was not one of those. Beneath the stingy pungent smell of earthly organic, behind the countertop where heaps and bundles of various plants lay dormant, and before the shelf of well preserved flowers and seed bearing shells stood Princess Sayaka of Jadetown brewing a sort of tonic reassembling that in her book. The young princess, a different one than her siblings, immerse herself in the study of botany and pharmaceuticals. A study which includes most of her time in the laboratory built just for her utilisation and experimentations of her own brew she conducts on herself that puts an amount of stress on her retainer and family. Amidst their horror-stricken faces, the princess herself was never afraid. Long ago, she'd sometimes sneak out of the estate to forage for poisonous fauna and intake them gradually to improve her immunity.
"Theo, hand me the datura plant." She stuck her hand out without turning to her retainer as she pounds the first batch of constituents for her potion.
"Theorin?" The pestle stopped as the redhead turned to see her retainer asleep on the floor surrounded by leaves discarded recently.
"Later your majesty, I'll.... cultivate the poisonous honey you wanted" The boy murmured in his sleep. Sayaka hid a light chortle behind her kimono as her sleep-deprived face showed a weary smile.
"I'm sorry Theo..I should look out for you more" Sayaka drawled and yawned as she picked the fallen leaves off his face and picked him up through his right hand she swung over her shoulder before she carried him to the patient bed across her tables.
"I'm getting drowsy myself... it's just past eleven" She muttered as she laid him to rest, bee-lining her way back to work as the liquid in her distillation flask began to boil and drop the needed substance.
...
...
...
...
"Huh"
In a domain filled with stars, galaxies and an infinite bottom, Sayaka looked around as she floats in suspension; Theorin is nowhere to be found and so is her laboratory that left her confused for answers. Among the three siblings, she was never interested in the discussion of the Gods and Goddesses in this plane.
The domain was breathtaking, indescribable by art, and unimaginable by the human mind. The young princess absorbed the beauty of the vast astral body that she feared the image would embed itself in her mind when she returns to reality. Spirals of astral dust decorated the place with star bearing trees. Constellations she has studied that were distances away from her warped to their physical forms of opulent stars and cosmic composition prancing around her, trailing specs of glittery dust as they jump platform to platform invisible to her. Wisps of violet and pink hues swirled to form a translucent path towards an abode of opalescent white.
"I've been waiting for you" An airy voice sounded behind her. Sayaka spun and she could not simply believe her eyes. A woman of great stature with curves on the right places stood before her. Her hair composed of glittering stars and moving cosmos that follows their motion in the absence of wind presents an inhuman mien. The woman of pristine white skin bore a crescent moon on Her forehead and a beauty mark of the same under Her right eye of silver irises. Her arms (?) hidden under Her long attached sleeves designed with light pink cosmic wisps with dozens of stars Princess Sayaka wonders if there's another galaxy inside Her dress. Her skirt long and flowy with similar motif with a slit extending from her thigh obscuring Her toes.
"Moon Goddess Rosalind" Princess Sayaka has heard about Her before: The Warden of Strandethorn and the Lady of Mystery. True to Her godship, Rosalind wore a crescent moon headdress over a lotus flower with a hairpin similar to those worn in Jadetown. The Goddess has a warm smile plastered, carrying with Her a soothing aura as She glides towards the roseate haired princess from the entrance of Her abode.
If she remembered correctly, the Moon Goddess was a passive aggressive aeon out of the Nocturnal Ones. Her son, Somnus, the God of Sleep may grant dreamers of their gift of prophecy but She was the Omniscia who resides to watch as humans run about Her dominion. Many temples in Her honor was built and female priestesses to carry Her will where some people would flock to ask about their fates but the Goddess would only favour those who catches Her interest, so far none has succeeded after the infamous Ivanov clan 50 years ago; "one" she quotes, "daresay, they have picked a rabbit's foot if the apathetic Goddess graced them with her divine presence"
Her nose scrunched at the statement. The Aeon looked nothing like what they have described of her. She looked peaceful and radiantly comforting. Rosalind gave a cryptic smile as if She read her thoughts and slowly hovered towards the young princess and that was when Sayaka felt a dominating force that led her to fall on her knees over the infinite cosmic darkness, the surrounding space was colder than what she was accustomed to. She felt small under the deity's presence but maintained her composure lest she wants to gain the goddess's hostility.
Her cold hands held the girl's cheek as she spoke such words Sayaka would soon fear.
"Time to pay your debt Yoshinori"
/////////
Trivia:
Suspiration of the Damned
Bone-chilling weather phenomenon that can either be the result of witch activities or the souls of the damned spiralling around the dense forest of Tiolas. Active during rainfall which creates an effect on the traveller or its inhabitants where someone is supposedly speaking outside together with the heavy pouring. Incoherent whispers that can make one go crazy or murmurs that can lead to injury or death that even the witches of this nefarious forest exercise caution in the storm.